Mamdani Has a Good Idea. Yes, Really.

I’ll probably end up disagreeing—vehemently—with 99.9 percent of what this guy does and says.

But I have to give credit where credit is due.

This makes sense.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has announced more than 50 reforms aimed at reducing the bureaucratic burden on the city’s small businesses.

And that burden is apparently even more ridiculous than you might imagine.

Restaurants that already have permits to serve food need a second permit to serve ice cream. Yes, ice cream.

Bodegas need another license to display fruit or flowers outside.

Restaurants can be cited under two overlapping allergy-poster requirements.

The plan would eliminate or simplify those rules, reduce several fines and give businesses an opportunity to correct minor violations before being fined. New businesses would also receive a single case manager to help them navigate the city’s collection of agencies, permits and inspections.

I can’t believe I just wrote that. New businesses in New York need case managers just to navigate the bureaucracy.

Incredible.

Of course, plans are one thing. Actions are another.

Some changes take effect immediately, while others require approval from the City Council or state government.

Still, this is the right idea.

If a regulation serves no meaningful purpose beyond making government more difficult to navigate, get rid of it.

Even Mamdani can be right once in a while.