As New York City prepares to host millions of visitors for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Mayor Zohran Mamdani is pushing a bold — and expensive — idea: suspend bus fares across the five boroughs for the duration of the tournament.
The proposal would make city buses free for roughly five weeks while an estimated 1.2 million fans flood the region. Mamdani frames the plan as a way to promote “affordability” and ease congestion. But critics see something else — another taxpayer-funded experiment at a time when New Yorkers are already stretched thin.
Mayor Mamdani has long advocated for “fast and free” buses as part of his broader progressive transit agenda. Now, he wants to use the World Cup as a test run. Under the plan, bus fares would be eliminated citywide during the tournament, with the city absorbing the financial hit.
The price tag? Around $100 million.
That’s $100 million in lost fare revenue — money that currently helps keep the transit system running. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority depends heavily on fare collection to maintain service, pay workers, and manage an already strained system. Eliminating fares, even temporarily, raises serious questions about who ultimately foots the bill. Spoiler alert: it won’t be international soccer fans.
Supporters argue that free buses would reduce traffic and make it easier for tourists and residents alike to get around. But New Yorkers have heard this tune before. “Temporary” government programs have a way of becoming permanent — especially when they align with a broader ideological push for taxpayer-funded services.
At a time when the city is grappling with public safety concerns, budget pressures, and infrastructure challenges, many residents are asking whether a flashy transit giveaway is really the top priority.
The World Cup should be an opportunity to showcase New York’s strength, efficiency, and fiscal responsibility — not a proving ground for sweeping progressive policy experiments. Welcoming visitors from around the globe is something to celebrate. But sticking local taxpayers with a nine-figure bill to score political points? That’s a different story.
New Yorkers deserve practical solutions, not symbolic gestures. And they deserve leaders who remember that “free” is never truly free.
- Article Source:
The Post Milllenial
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