Brad Lander Detained? NYC’s Mayoral Race Just Took a Wild Turn

Doctor Chelsea McGee

What do you get when the city’s Comptroller is detained by ICE in the middle of a mayoral campaign? Well, apparently, you get a New York City mayoral race that’s gone from wild to, I mean, full-on rollercoaster. And I’m not just saying that because Brad Lander literally filmed a campaign ad on the Coney Island Cyclone. This week, the headlines have been coming at us fast—arrests, endorsements, polls flipping upside down, and, honestly, a level of drama that even the Real Housewives would envy. But, as always, the story is never just the headline. Today on The Real 4-1-1, we’re digging into the drama, the data, and the decisions that could reshape New York City in 2025. We’ll talk about the candidates, the controversies, and what’s really at stake for New Yorkers. And, yeah, I’ll share a little about my own experience volunteering as a poll watcher—because, trust me, elections are about so much more than the latest viral moment. We’re also going to get real about the city’s economic crunch, the housing shortage, and how policy—good or bad—trickles down to your rent, your commute, and your daily life. So buckle up, remain seated, and let’s get into it. This is The Real 4-1-1.

Doctor Chelsea McGee

Alright, let’s start with the basics. The NYC mayoral race this year is, honestly, a crowded field—twelve candidates, if you’re counting. Incumbent Eric Adams is running as an independent after leaving the Democratic Party, which, I mean, that’s a whole story in itself. Then you’ve got Democrats like Brad Lander, Zohran Mamdani, Adrienne Adams, Scott Stringer, Jessica Ramos, Michael Blake, and a few others. On the Republican side, Curtis Sliwa is back, hoping to capitalize on the divisions among Democrats. And, of course, Andrew Cuomo is looming over the whole thing, leading in some polls, trailing in others, and generally stirring the pot.

Doctor Chelsea McGee

Now, endorsements have been flying around like confetti. The New York Times opinion panel just picked Brad Lander as their top choice for mayor, which is a big deal—remember, in 2021, the Times’ endorsement gave Kathryn Garcia a real boost. Streets PAC, the livable streets political action committee, also ranked Lander number one, calling his plan for safer streets and better transit the most comprehensive they’ve ever seen from any candidate. Meanwhile, Michael Bloomberg threw his support behind Cuomo, which, depending on who you ask, is either a game-changer or just more fuel for the fire.

Doctor Chelsea McGee

The polls? Well, they’re all over the place. One has Cuomo at 40%, Mamdani at 19%, Lander at 8%. Another puts Mamdani ahead, but within the margin of error. And, honestly, with ranked-choice voting, it’s anyone’s guess how this shakes out. I always say, don’t get too hung up on the horse race—especially in New York, where turnout and last-minute momentum can flip everything.

Doctor Chelsea McGee

I want to pause for a second and talk about something that doesn’t get enough attention: community engagement. I’ve volunteered as a poll watcher in city elections, and let me tell you, it’s not glamorous. You’re sitting in a school gym for hours, watching people come in, some excited, some just trying to get it over with before work. But you see democracy up close. You see neighbors helping neighbors, you see the confusion over ballots, you see the real impact of local races. It’s a reminder that, as much as we love the drama, elections are about people—about who shows up, who gets heard, and who gets left out.

Doctor Chelsea McGee

Now, let’s talk about the elephant—or maybe the ICE agent—in the room: Brad Lander’s arrest. If you missed it, Lander, who’s the city’s Comptroller and a leading mayoral candidate, was handcuffed and detained by ICE agents at a Manhattan court while trying to assist a migrant facing deportation. The footage is, honestly, hard to watch—federal agents, not local police, grabbing a high-profile elected official on camera as he’s loudly protesting that they have no legal grounds to hold him. He was released a few hours later, but the message was clear: if they can do that to him, they can do it to anyone.

Doctor Chelsea McGee

The reaction was swift. Even Lander’s rivals, like Andrew Cuomo, had to come out and defend him—though, let’s be real, some of those statements felt more like checking a box than genuine outrage. Advocacy groups, especially those on the left, are calling for abolishing ICE altogether, saying this is exactly what happens when you have a federal agency operating with, well, let’s call it “creative” interpretations of the law. StreetsPAC, which had just endorsed Lander, doubled down, saying his arrest only highlights the need for city leadership that stands up for vulnerable New Yorkers.

Doctor Chelsea McGee

And then there’s Lander’s campaign ad—him riding the Coney Island Cyclone, talking about how New York City is a ride in itself, and you’ve got to buckle up. It’s a little on the nose, but honestly, after the week he’s had, I get it. The path to City Hall is unpredictable, and this year, it’s more like a rollercoaster than ever.

Doctor Chelsea McGee

But here’s the thing: this isn’t just about one candidate or one viral moment. It’s about the broader debate over immigration enforcement in New York, about the role of federal agencies in local politics, and about what kind of city we want to be. As we discussed in a previous episode, when federal power gets weaponized—whether it’s ICE, DHS, or anyone else—it’s not just politicians who pay the price. It’s families, it’s communities, it’s the very idea of democracy.

Doctor Chelsea McGee

Let’s shift gears and talk about the stuff that actually keeps New Yorkers up at night: the economy, housing, and whether the city is actually working for regular people. According to the latest numbers from the Comptroller’s office, the job market in New York is, well, mixed. Private sector jobs are up a bit, unemployment is down, but most of the job growth is in lower-paying sectors like health and social assistance. The high-paying industries—finance, tech, information—are basically flat. And only about one in three New Yorkers has what the city calls a “good job”—meaning it pays enough to cover basic needs, offers health insurance, and is stable. That’s not great.

Doctor Chelsea McGee

Inflation is slowing a little, but rents are still climbing. The rental market is tight—Manhattan rents are up 5% from last year, Brooklyn up 4%, Queens up 3%. And if you look back to pre-COVID, rents are up nearly 25%. That’s wild. New residential development picked up in 2024 but has already started to taper off this year. Lander’s big pitch is to declare a housing “state of emergency” and build five hundred thousand new homes—including on underused city land like golf courses. He wants to protect tenants from eviction and create new paths to homeownership for working families.

Doctor Chelsea McGee

But here’s the reality: housing supply has lagged way behind job growth for years, except during the COVID crash. Even with new incentives for office-to-residential conversions, it’s going to take a lot to make a dent in affordability. And while the city’s cash balance is up—almost eleven billion dollars at the end of May, up 40% from last year—the budget gaps are still looming. The city’s out-year budget gaps are projected to hit nearly six billion dollars by 2028.

Doctor Chelsea McGee

And all of this trickles down. Rising rents mean more people are squeezed out or forced into shelters. Subway and bus ridership is up—about 6% for subways, 10% for buses compared to last year—but still not back to pre-pandemic levels on weekdays. The number of asylum-seekers in city shelters is trending down, but the overall shelter population is still stubbornly high. And, as we saw with the One Big Beautiful Bill in a previous episode, federal policy changes—like cuts to Medicaid or SNAP—can hit New Yorkers hard, especially the most vulnerable.

Doctor Chelsea McGee

So when you hear candidates talk about “affordability” or “safety” or “integrity,” it’s not just campaign talk. It’s about whether you can pay your rent, get to work, and feel safe in your neighborhood. And, honestly, that’s what this race should be about.

Doctor Chelsea McGee

If this episode made you rethink the mayor’s race—or just made you want to scream into a pillow—drop a comment below. Share this with your NYC friends who think local elections don’t matter. Because, trust me, they do. Follow The Real 4-1-1 for more bold truth about the leaders shaping your streets, your rent, and your rights. Subscribe now, because the story is never just the headline. And, as always, we’ll be back soon to dig even deeper. Stay curious, New York.