By Trendsetter Tribune 
The phrase “getting socialism good and hard” has become a rallying cry for critics of New York City’s newly inaugurated mayor, Zohran Mamdani, the city’s first Democratic Socialist leader. As of February 20, 2026, Mamdani’s administration has moved from the campaign trail to the balance sheet, unveiling a $127 billion budget that targets the very “barista proletariat” that propelled him to victory.
The term—coined to describe the coalition of service workers, adjunct lecturers, and young creatives living in the outer boroughs—is now being used to highlight the gap between socialist campaign promises and the reality of municipal governance.
The “Barista Proletariat” Budget (Feb 2026)
Mayor Mamdani’s preliminary budget, released earlier this week, has triggered a wave of “ideological whiplash” across the city. While the platform was built on universal free services, the fiscal reality is more complex:
- The Property Tax Surge: To fill a $5.4 billion shortfall, Mamdani has proposed a 9.5% property tax increase. Critics argue that while the “barista proletariat” may not own homes, this tax will be passed directly to them via increased rents in neighborhoods like Astoria and Bushwick.
- Child Care Compromise: After promising universal free child care, the budget includes $1 billion in new spending—a significant boost, but far short of the “free for all” model many voters expected.
- Public Safety Shift: The budget slashes a planned 5,000-officer increase to the NYPD, diverting those funds to new city commissions on racial and gender equity, as well as a beefed-up Climate Office.
“No Contract, No Coffee”: The Starbucks Pullback
The labor struggle that defined Mamdani’s base has also reached a boiling point this month:
| Action | Current Status |
| Starbucks Closures | Starbucks has shuttered 42 stores in NYC since January, citing soaring labor costs and “operational challenges.” |
| The $35M Settlement | In a massive win for the union, the city’s Department of Consumer and Worker Protection secured $35.5 million in back pay for 15,000 baristas over Fair Workweek violations. |
| Ongoing Strikes | As of mid-February, “rolling strikes” continue at dozens of locations, with Mamdani and Sen. Bernie Sanders frequently appearing on picket lines. |
The Internal Critique: “Is This Working?”
The Washington Examiner and other conservative outlets have been quick to point out the ironies of the Mamdani era, suggesting that the “barista proletariat” is about to experience the “misery of socialist policies” firsthand.
“They voted for a rent freeze and free buses. Instead, they’re getting a property tax hike that will devour their security deposits and a transit system where the police have been replaced by ‘safety ambassadors.’ They are getting exactly what they voted for, good and hard.” — Washington Examiner Editorial, Feb 20, 2026
Mamdani’s Defense: The “Hochul Blockade”
The Mayor has blamed the budget’s “regressive” elements on Governor Kathy Hochul, who has blocked his attempts to raise taxes on billionaires and high-income earners. Mamdani argues that his budget is a “moral document” that prioritizes the most vulnerable, even if it requires shared sacrifice from his own base.