Transit union backs Cuomo for NYC mayor, opposes Mamdani free-bus plan
ATU Local 726 endorses Cuomo, citing expansion of Fair Fares and opposition to free-bus proposal tied to failed Kansas City pilot
A New York City transit union endorsed former Gov. Andrew Cuomo for mayor Saturday, backing his transit-focused agenda and opposing Zohran Mamdani’s bid to implement universal free bus service. Amalgamated Transit Union Local 726 and the ATU New York State Legislative Conference Board announced their support during a Staten Island rally, saying Cuomo’s mass transit vision would expand the Fair Fares program and address riders’ needs while opposing Mamdani’s plan to provide free bus service.
“Cuomo has always recognized the unique challenges facing our borough’s transit system and is one of the rare elected officials to actually deliver for Staten Island riders and workers alike,” said Daniel Cassella, president of Local 726 and chair of the ATU New York State Legislative Conference Board. The unions described Cuomo’s approach as one that would preserve targeted subsidies like Fair Fares—half-price fares for low-income New Yorkers—while resisting a universal free-ride model that they argue is financially unsustainable.
The endorsement comes as Mamdani, a socialist candidate, proposes a citywide free-bus system. Union officials cited a recent test in Kansas City, where a roughly $50 million pilot funded by federal COVID relief money offered free buses in 2020 but was halted last month after city officials concluded it was unaffordable to sustain. “ATU members who endured Kansas City’s failed experiment are united in their opposition to repeating the same mistake in New York,” Cassella said.
Cuomo’s allies have argued that the city can expand Fair Fares and modernize the transit system without promising universal free service. The endorsement highlighted Cuomo’s track record on Staten Island, asserting he understands the borough’s transit needs and has delivered improvements for riders and workers there.
The union’s backing signals a broader debate in the NYC mayoral race about transit affordability and fiscal sustainability. Advocates for targeted subsidies underscore the importance of protecting low-income riders, while opponents of universal free fares warn of long-term funding challenges amid ongoing budget pressure and service reliability concerns.