Mayor Zohran Mamdani's first 100 days in office reveal a mixed record on his ambitious campaign pledges. The 34-year-old Democrat swept into City Hall promising sweeping changes from free buses to universal child care, but has encountered the realities of governing New York's complex, cash-strapped city.

On free city buses, Mamdani's vision of eliminating fares on all 340 routes has stalled. While he campaigned on a $700 million annual plan, Governor Kathy Hochul and the MTA have rejected the proposal. Instead, the administration is pursuing limited pilot programs and new bus lanes. The rent freeze for stabilized units remains in limbo, with the Rent Guidelines Board set to vote this spring on whether to implement Mamdani's pro-tenant agenda.

Universal child care shows the most progress, with a $1 billion state-city agreement to expand preschool for 3-year-olds and launch a 2,000-seat program for 2-year-olds. However, the new Department of Community Safety has been drastically scaled back from a $1.1 billion agency to a two-person mayoral office. Other promises like city-owned grocery stores and tax increases on corporations remain incomplete as Mamdani navigates political realities.