Mamdani hands out free theatre tickets

[orangecrush]

Pure class.

Love this guy.

“When I speak about making our city more affordable, my vision is not limited to the homes that we live in or the child care that we’re making universal — it’s also a vision where we make it possible for working people to afford lives of joy, of art, of rest, of expression.”

— Amanda Litman (@amandalitman.bsky.social) 2026-01-10T00:22:44.244Z

From the NYT article -


"“The shared laughter in a crowded theater, the eager debrief after a musical, the heavy silence that hangs over all of us in a drama — these are moments that every New Yorker deserves,” Mamdani said later, explaining the initiative during a news conference at one of the festival’s venues, Brooklyn College’s Leonard and Claire Tow Center for the Performing Arts.

Mamdani spent about 20 minutes before the news conference standing outdoors, behind a folding table with black, purple and red Under the Radar beanies, shaking hands with passers-by who had been told that if they waited in line they could meet the mayor and get a theater ticket. (The free beanies were a bonus.)"

A true Gentleperson befitting the office.

[CrispyQ]

1. Too many people believe that only the wealthy deserve leisure time.

If you're unhappy with your lot in life it's your own damned fault cuz you're not working hard enough.

[orangecrush]

2. Damn right, Crispy

The unions gave the working people leisure in their lives.

Part of why they hate them and us.

[CrispyQ]

3. I hope he's hugely successful!

I'd love if he does so many great things we can tip the "socialism is bad" narrative to our favor. Not that I'm pushing socialism as a system, but our side has never properly challenged the trickle down bullshit the repubs have been pushing for over 40 years now. Why shouldn't our tax dollars make our lives easier?

[orangecrush]

5. One sided class warfare

Since Reagan.

[malaise]

7. THIS

Rec

[jls4561]

4. The arts are necessary to nourish mind and soul.

That’s why museums have free days. That’s why there’s Shakespeare in the park.

That’s why until the Rethugs came along, we had arts in schools. And PBS and NPR.

I applaud Mamdani for making the arts a priority.

Perhaps he can give Fat Donnie from Queens a few tips on running the Kennedy Center.

[orangecrush]

6. Well said

[PatSeg]

8. That's one special guy

[Igel]

9. Indeed. Almost nobody else could have done this.

His mother got him the tickets. And it's not Broadway, it's experimental theater.

[PatSeg]

10. He's not only an excellent politician,

he's also very likeable. Shoot, even Trump liked him for five minutes.

[orangecrush]

12. Even better imo.

[orangecrush]

11. A happy note

In the middle of the gloom.

I thank him for that.

[PatSeg]

13. We certainly can use one!

[SamKnause]

14. Good for him.

What art has done for my life is immeasurable !!!

I support the arts 100%.

Everyone should be able to take advantage.

Not just the well off.

[orangecrush]

15. Thanks

[Melon]

16. That's a great benefit. Those tickets can be very expensive.