New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has firmly rejected a staggering $700 million proposal to provide free bus rides across New York City, igniting a fiery policy battle with Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and his progressive wishlist, as the New York Post reports.

This confrontation between Hochul, a moderate Democrat, and Mamdani, a self-identified Democratic socialist, highlights a critical divide over safeguarding the MTA’s shaky finances versus pushing ambitious social programs.

During a press conference at the SOMOS political retreat in Puerto Rico on Saturday, Hochul laid out her reservations, refusing to endorse a plan that would strip essential fare revenue from an already beleaguered transit network.

Hochul Highlights MTA Financial Risks

“We’re spending a lot of money, so I cannot set forth a plan right now that takes money out of a system that relies on the fares of the buses and the subways,” Hochul emphasized with evident concern.

Let’s face it: she’s got a valid worry -- the MTA is perpetually on life support, and yanking away fare income might just be the final shove into fiscal collapse.

Still, Hochul didn’t completely slam the door, suggesting she’s open to finding alternative paths to make transit more affordable for those in genuine need, offering a glimmer of compromise in this heated debate.

Mamdani Stands Firm on Transit Goals

Fast forward to Monday, and Mamdani, speaking at an unrelated press event, brushed past Hochul’s opposition, instead reiterating his unwavering commitment to revolutionizing the city’s notoriously slow bus system.

“I continue to be excited at the work of making the slowest buses in America fast and free,” Mamdani declared with persistent enthusiasm.

That’s a bold vision, no doubt, but without a clear funding blueprint -- especially with Hochul holding the power to block it -- his plan risks being little more than a catchy slogan lost in political gridlock.

Policy Clash Reveals Deeper Tensions

This disagreement isn’t a one-off; it’s the latest in a string of tensions between Hochul and Mamdani, despite her public endorsement of him in September, underscoring a profound rift over the direction of New York’s policy landscape.

Hochul has expressed general agreement on the need for affordability but balks at Mamdani’s more extreme proposals, such as imposing steep taxes on the wealthy to fund $10 billion worth of free public services like child care and transit.

Meanwhile, legislative figures like Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins appear more willing to entertain Mamdani’s ideas, yet without the governor’s support, these initiatives could easily stall before gaining any real traction.

Public Pressure Meets Hochul’s Resistance

Adding fuel to the fire, Mamdani’s supporters have taken their cause to the streets, chanting “Tax the rich” at Hochul during two recent public appearances, evidently hoping to force her into backing these expansive measures.

Hochul, however, isn’t caving, cautioning that such aggressive approaches might actually harden her stance against adopting these sweeping, budget-busting programs in the immediate future.

On a somewhat softer note, she shows more openness to statewide free child care, referring to herself as the “mom governor” and committing to a gradual push, though she warns that the enormous cost -- potentially billions from state reserves -- means it’s a long-term endeavor rather than a quick win.