Remaining NYC mayoral hopefuls court Black women voters at Harlem’s Apollo Theater in Harlem

On Monday evening at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York City’s last-standing mayoral candidates—Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo, and Curtis Sliwa—took the stage to address their plans to meet the needs of Black women in New York should they take on the role. 

New York’s mayoral election has captured global attention, with an international audience deeply invested in the outcome after newcomer and current state assemblyman Mamdani beat former governor Cuomo as the Democratic nominee in June.  

Noticeably absent was the city’s current mayor, Eric Adams. The forum took place on the heels of Adams dropping his bid for mayoral reelection just one day prior, bringing renewed interest in the battle to win the hearts of New Yorkers—or at least their votes.  

The event was organized by The Links, Incorporated, an international service nonprofit for African American women; Higher Heights Leadership Fund; the National Action Network; the National Urban League; and the New York Urban League, and took place at the Apollo Stages at the Victoria where it was open to the public.  

“The importance of our voices in today’s world is crucial,” said Jamila Beckford, president of the Greater Bronx chapter of The Links, Incorporated 

The group tapped NY1 news anchor Cheryl Willis to interview each mayoral candidate on how they intended to address various issues as they are uniquely experienced by Black women—particularly topics related to healthcare, domestic violence, entrepreneurial efforts, and the workforce.  

Interestingly, the forum was devoid of face-to-face contact between the candidates: They were individually brought before the audience to participate in a series of 20-minute-long interviews. 

On housing 

Housing insecurity is a major challenge experienced by Black women. When asked about his plans to secure safe and affordable housing, Sliwa suggested opening the 8,000 NYCHA apartments that are currently unoccupied—which Willis was quick to shut down, pointing out how the empty apartments are “dilapidated” and therefore unhabitable.

Sliwa replied by stating that he would devise plans for New Yorkers to become homeowners, particularly for apartments they had resided in for years. 

“I think I know what can be done, and the fiscal limitations for what can’t be done,” he said.  

Mamdani, whose mayoral campaign has championed a rent freeze for two million New Yorkers living in rent-stabilized apartments, reiterated these plans and points to how such a tactic would impact Black families.  

“The previous mayoral admin did it three times,” he said. “We know it’s a question of political will.”  

He added that affordability isn’t just about tenants, but landlords and homeowners, pointing to the issue of deed thefts and his plans to protect homeowners. 

Cuomo’s solution was to “build more housing,” though Willis clarified that new housing was usually priced at market rate 

“What we are doing now is destroying historically Black communities with gentrifiers, where people have to move out because they are being priced out of their neighborhoods,” he said. 

On the workplace and leadership 

Willis pressed each candidate about their take on the attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies by the The President administration as well as the purging of government jobs, which, among other factors, has reportedly led to an exodus of 300,000 Black women from the U.S. workforce. 

A concern for many in the room was the visibility of Black women in senior leadership positions. Mamdani, often critical of Eric Adams’s tenure as mayor, made a positive observation about his opponent: “His leadership team looks like the city.” 

“When we speak about the necessity of excellence and diversity and a team that looks like the city that it serves, that it’s intentional,” Mamdani added.  

Emphasizing the need for vocational school and training, Sliwa said, “Obviously, qualified Black women have to be prioritized. They’re raising families for a future generation.”

Willis rebutted by mentioning that many Black women are highly educated beyond vocational school. 

As for Cuomo, he stressed that his administration would look like New York City.  

“I believe deeply in the power of Black women,” he said. In response to a question about widening pay gaps between white men and Black women, he insisted that lawsuits were the answer.  

On mental health 

Willis mentioned that domestic and intimate partner violence against women are especially high among Black women.

When asked what he would do to protect this vulnerable population, Sliwa stated that “sending social workers is not the answer”—an apparent dig at Mamdani, who has previously shared this strategy as part of his public safety plans. 

“You team up police with social workers—if a man is continually abusive, he has to be out of the house, he has to go through therapy,” Sliwa said, citing his experience as founder of the Guardian Angels.

The volunteer-based organization enlists people to defend against crime on the city’s public transit system and, most recently, perform wellness checks on homeless people.  

Mamdani, in his response, stated plainly, “One of my primary responsibilities is to uplift the existing agendas.”  

The The President administration’s deliberate takedown of DEI efforts and its subsequent impact on the Black community was a charged topic, and one that the candidates appeared aligned on pushing back against. 

When asked how he would deal with The President’s attempts to meddle in local politics, Mamdani said, “I would remind them who I work for, which is the people of New York City.” 

Cuomo, who has dealt with The President’s many threats during his prior tenure as New York State governor, said “Let him come with his demands, and we’ll say hell no, we won’t go.” 

New York’s mayoral election is on November 4. Most polls show Mamdani in the lead by a significant margin.

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