Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani vowed to end the city’s Gifted and Talented public school program for children five years and younger, his campaign confirmed to amNewYork on Thursday.

The democratic socialist’s pledge, which he first revealed responding to a questionnaire in a New York Times article, quickly drew a notable rebuke from his rival, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who called it “destructive.”

The program has been widely criticized for exacerbating school segregation by creating majority white and Asian classrooms while shutting out Black and Latino students, as Chalkbeat previously reported.

Mamdani’s spokesperson Dora Pekec said the plan is aimed at eliminating a program that inequitably separates children at a young age and replacing it with a universal child care system that will benefit all students.

“Zohran knows that five-year-olds should not be subjected to a singular assessment that unfairly separates them right at the beginning of their public school education,” Pekec said. “His agenda for our schools will ensure that every New York City public school student receives a high-quality early education that enables them to be challenged and fulfilled.”

Implementing universal free childcare for children aged six weeks to five years old is one of the three core campaign pledges that helped Mamdani secure the Democratic nomination. Similar to other items in his agenda, Mamdani promises to pay for the expansion by hiking taxes on corporations and millionaires — something which would require approval from Albany. 

Mamdani, in a statement to The Times, said he plans to follow through on former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s move to end the Gifted and Talented program, which was announced shortly before the former mayor exited office in 2021. The action was part of de Blasio’s efforts to desegregate city schools.

The outgoing mayor, Eric Adams, reversed that decision when he took office in 2022 and has since expanded the program, although he did eliminate a controversial admissions test for it. Adams announced on Sunday that he is no longer seeking reelection.

Cuomo says, ‘Don’t eliminate the program’

Cuomo released a Thursday statement blasting the frontrunner’s pledge as “emblematic of a deeper problem in today’s Democratic Party” — that the “surface level appearance of a solution is sufficient.”

The former governor argued that the large volume of applications for the Gifted and Talented program, which has limited space, means it should be expanded rather than eliminated. He added that, according to Department of Education survey data, a sizable portion of families who left the public school system reported doing so because of a lack of academic rigor.

“The answer isn’t to say good riddance to those families,” Cuomo said. “If there are issues with how young children are selected, then fix that and expand opportunities — give more at the start of education and more on-ramps later. Don’t eliminate the program.”

Cuomo also chided Mamdani for “flipflopping” on his position on the specialized high school exam — known as the SHSAT.

Mamdani, an alumnus of The Bronx High School of Science, one of the city’s specialized schools, once advocated for eliminating the test, but has since shifted to saying it should remain in place.

“That’s not leadership, that’s pandering,” Cuomo said. “Our kids deserve clarity, not chaos, when it comes to their education.”

Good Days, a new restaurant from the married duo chef Stephany Burgos and sommelier Amanda Norton, opened its doors on Oct. 1. The Williamsburg location will debut a seasonal New American menu that prioritizes local sourcing, bold flavors and a strong sense of community. 

The pair has over 30 years of combined restaurant experience. They met working in the restaurant industry, and Good Days is their first joint venture. 

“We wanted to showcase our love, passion and deep appreciation for hospitality in its truest form,” Burgos and Norton said in a statement. “The restaurant is a representation of our progression through this industry as women who embraced opportunities and experiences along the way. In its simplest form, it’s a love letter to our community, hospitality and each other.” 

Armed with the goal to “bring back the community element to dining out,” Good Days’ menu is designed to be social and shareable. Small plates, raw bar offerings and main dishes to encourage mix-and-matching grace the menu. Diners will find choices like Sobrasada Bocadillo alongside fontina croquettes with chili bomba. For those craving lighter fare, raw bar options include Hamachi Crudo with brown butter yuzu vinaigrette and a Shrimp Cocktail dressed up with burnt onion dijonnaise. 

Larger plates lean into rustic Italian influences and seasonal produce. The Bottarga Linguini is tossed with crispy pangrattato, while the Rosa Casarecce combines ‘nduja, Swiss chard and pecorino for spice. More substantial choices include pan-seared duck with parsnip puree and cherry vinaigrette and a Swordfish Milanesa paired with herbed tahini.

Even a classic burger stands out — “a blend of chuck, brisket, and short rib, topped with housemade remoulade with banana peppers and ketchup, grilled onions, thinly sliced and house-made dill pickles, served on a sesame brioche bun.”

Bread service comes daily, sourced from Williamsburg’s Northside Bakery. Each loaf is accompanied by rotating house-made butters, which currently employ port shallots, miso nori and kalamata olive. 

On the beverage side, Norton has developed a program as ambitious as the food. The cocktail list features “thoughtfully layered craft cocktails” and a wine program. The Cafecito con Chisme features extra anejo rum, licor 43, amaro braulio, Cuban coffee liqueur and cold brew; while the Moon River includes gin, chamomile shochu, Vietnamese amaro, sweet vermouth and celery bitters.

The space itself, bearing resemblance to 1970s and 1980s Florida, is made to feel equally personal. Inside, guests are welcomed to large windows, cloud-painted ceilings, a mustard-tiled bar and a back patio tucked under the Williamsburg Bridge. 

Good Days is located at 91 South 6th St., with dinner hours Wednesday through Sunday.

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