
NYC socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani a fan of abolishing SHSAT
Socialist NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani once pushed to abolish the city's admissions test for Gotham's elite public high schools because he thought it was racist, The Post has learned.
The Queens assemblyman – who is second only to ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo in most polls heading into Tuesday's Democratic mayoral primary – hasn't said much about the topic on the campaign beyond telling Chalkbeat last week he'd support an independent study of the Specialized High Schools Admission Test for signal out gender and racial bias.
However, when asked by the Jim Owles Liberal Democratic Club in February 2022 to describe legislation and policy changes he supports to address 'the ongoing effect of slavery, racism, colonialism and discrimination' Mamdani – a former specialized test tutor – singled out spiking the SHSAT.
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'As a graduate of Bronx Science, I have personally witnessed just how segregated New York City public schools are, especially our specialized high school,' he said at the time.
Socialist NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani once advocated for abolishing the city's controversial admissions test for Gotham's elite public high schools because he feels it's too racist.
Paul Martinka
'I support measures to integrate our public schools and fully fund our education system, including the abolition of the SHSAT.'
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The SHSAT under state law is the sole criteria for entry into the city's eight elite public high schools, including Bronx High School of Science, Stuyvesant and Brooklyn Tech.
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the favorite to win the Democratic mayoral nomination, has long supported keeping the SHSAT.
Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock
Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi said the ex-gov has been and 'continues to be in favor to keep the exam is.'
Former far-left Mayor Bill de Blasio tried twice to change the law while Cuomo ran the state, failing both times.
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His chosen chancellor, Richard Carranza, once called the elite high schools 'the epicenter of privilege,' citing a lack of black and Latino representation.
Reps for Mamdani did not return messages.
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Miami Herald
24 minutes ago
- Miami Herald
Florida Democrats look to stop the bleeding during annual political conference
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USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Trump is winning on immigration – and Democrats are falling right into his trap
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Opinion: Democrats scream democracy is in peril ... while proving that it's absolutely fine Liberals may be freaking out, but the reality is that Trump is following through on his promises to restore safety at the southern border and to deport as many illegal immigrants as possible. It was one of the pivotal reasons Trump won a second term. And the majority of the country is still on the president's side. Polling confirms Americans want Trump to fulfill immigration agenda Immigration remains Trump's strongest issue. A recent NBC News Decision Desk poll found that 51% of Americans approve of Trump's handling of border security and immigration; 49% disapprove. The poll was conducted while Trump was sending in the National Guard and Marines to help contain rioting in LA. Similarly, a CBS News/YouGov poll from earlier in June found the majority of Americans side with Trump's deportation agenda. In that survey, 54% said they approve of the administration's program to deport illegal immigrants, and the largest group – 42% – say these policies are making the country safer. Opinion: Hey, Democrats, LA riots make Americans like me glad Trump is president However, while 55% of those surveyed say they like Trump's deportation goals, just 44% like the way Trump is fulfilling that agenda. The gap between approval of Trump's goals versus his execution of those goals is seen in other areas, too, including the economy. Let's face it: Trump is Trump, and he's consistent in his unpredictability and bravado. Voters should have known by this point what they were getting. Yet, for the most part, he is standing firm on his immigration goals. Within weeks, Trump had effectively closed the border that former President Joe Biden had opened wide. Monthly border encounters have dropped to record lows, to fewer than 10,000 a month from more than 100,000 a year ago. 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From transgender athletes in women's sports to halting illegal immigration, Democrats keep finding themselves on the wrong side of issues that Americans care about. Good for Trump for getting it right. Ingrid Jacques is a columnist at USA TODAY. Contact her at ijacques@ or on X, formerly Twitter: @Ingrid_Jacques You can read diverse opinions from our USA TODAY columnists and other writers on the Opinion front page, on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and in our Opinion newsletter.


New York Times
3 hours ago
- New York Times
Bill Clinton Endorses Andrew Cuomo for New York City Mayor
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