Mamdani Draws from Elon Musk While Assembling a Partisan Team
Several months into his term, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has created a Commission on Government Efficiency, or COGE, explicitly taking cues from Elon Musk's approach to streamlining operations. The initiative aims to review the city charter, eliminate bureaucratic obstacles, and modernize processes for infrastructure, services, and budgeting. Unlike Musk's efforts focused on broad cost-cutting across federal agencies, Mamdani's version emphasizes support for working people through progressive priorities such as housing, transit, and childcare.
Leadership and Composition Raise Questions of Balance
The commission is chaired by Patrick Gaspard, a veteran Democratic operative who previously led the Democratic National Committee and served as president of the Open Society Foundation funded by the Soros family. Additional members include Susan Kang of the Democratic Socialists of America and Theodore Moore from the progressive group ALIGN, along with other activists and community leaders aligned with Democratic causes. No Republicans from New York City were included in the group. The commission plans ten public hearings across the five boroughs before advancing proposals to voters on the November ballot.
New Yorkers deserve and need a government of the possible — one that can urgently build infrastructure, promote small business growth, and make the city more livable with accessible childcare and affordable groceries.
Goals Focus on Removing Barriers and Modernizing Operations
According to city statements, COGE will target outdated rules that delay projects, grant agencies more flexibility and enforcement tools, and update budget practices for greater savings. Mamdani stated that bureaucracy has long obstructed delivery of essential services and that restoring public trust requires demonstrating government's ability to perform effectively. The effort follows Mamdani's meeting with Alex Soros at his Manhattan residence. Critics, including former Republican councilmember Joe Borelli, noted the absence of diverse political voices and questioned whether the commission can achieve genuine efficiency under its current makeup.
Key Elements of the Commission Mandate
- Review the full New York City Charter for efficiency improvements
- Hold public hearings in all five boroughs to gather input
- Propose charter changes for the November ballot
- Equip agencies with tools to deliver programs without delays
- Modernize reserve and budget practices for long-term savings
