Why the Next Mayor’s First Trip Should Be Across the Bronx—Not Across the Ocean

It’s been several weeks since a moment of political clarity briefly cut through the noise of New York’s mayoral race. When Democratic nominee Zoran was asked what foreign country he would visit first if elected mayor, his response wasn’t rehearsed or calculated — it was grounded.

“I’m not going to Israel. I’m staying home. I’m the mayor of New York, and my first job is to serve the people of New York.”

It was a simple answer, but one that spoke volumes.

While every other candidate named Israel — without hesitation — Zoran’s refusal wasn’t a slight against any nation or group. It was a statement of priority. And in a city as complex and vibrant as New York, that kind of clarity matters.

Zoran’s message wasn’t about foreign policy. It wasn’t about Israel, or any other country for that matter. It was about the people of New York — all of them. Black, white, Jewish, Muslim, Christian, atheist, immigrant, native-born. Every neighborhood, every borough, every block. That’s who he’s accountable to. That’s who elected him — not a foreign government, not international lobbyists, and not donors with outside agendas.

This is not controversial. It’s leadership.

Some tried to spin his answer as politically risky or dismissive, but it’s neither. It’s responsible. Because when you’re running for mayor of the most diverse city in the world — a city of over 8 million people from more than 180 national backgrounds — your job is not to pick favorites abroad. Your job is to fix what’s broken here at home.

From housing affordability and public transit decay to underfunded schools and overstretched hospitals, New York has pressing challenges that require laser focus. Zoran’s stance is not anti-anything — it’s pro-New Yorker.

To put things in perspective: New York State is home to one of the largest Jewish populations outside of Israel — around 1.8 million people. That’s significant, meaningful, and part of the very soul of this city. But it’s also home to over 2 million Latinos, 3 million African Americans, 1.6 million Asians, and 1.5 million people with Puerto Rican roots — not to mention hundreds of thousands of Caribbean, African, Arab, and Eastern European New Yorkers.

So if a mayoral candidate wants to make a symbolic visit abroad, why just one country? Why not many? Why not any number of places that reflect New York’s beautiful mosaic?

But more importantly — why make any international trip the first order of business at all?

Because let’s be real — symbolism only goes so far. The first few months of a mayor’s term are crucial. That’s when priorities are set. Budgets are shaped. Teams are built. Lives are impacted. That time should be spent with the people of Queens, Staten Island, Harlem, the Bronx, and every public housing project, every union hall, every food pantry and subway platform where real New Yorkers live their lives.

It’s not about shutting out the world — it’s about remembering who you work for. And New Yorkers are tired of feeling like second-class citizens in their own city.

Yes, lobbying exists — in every corner of politics. Pro-Israel lobbyists, pro-China, pro-India, pro-EU — it’s nothing new. But when that lobbying begins to dictate the first moves of elected officials before they’ve even taken office, it should raise eyebrows, not applause.

The United States — like any country — has every right to strong international relationships. But municipal leaders are not elected to conduct foreign policy. They’re elected to take out the trash, fix the roads, and fund the classrooms. That’s the job.

So when Zoran says he’s staying in New York — not as an act of defiance, but as a matter of principle — he’s setting a powerful tone. He’s saying: New Yorkers come first. All of them. Equally. Fully. Without exception.

He’s saying a single mother in Flatbush deserves a mayor who’s present. A teacher in the Bronx needs leadership that sees her. An immigrant in Jackson Heights shouldn’t feel invisible because his background doesn’t come with political leverage.

This isn’t about religion. It’s not about one community over another. It’s about refusing to let elected office be shaped by foreign interests when homegrown issues are screaming for attention.

Zoran didn’t make an anti-anything statement. He made a pro-New York statement. And that should be the minimum standard we expect from our leaders.

Let’s remember: any country — be it Israel, France, China, or Canada — puts its own people first. That’s not selfish. That’s governance. And New York deserves the same. A mayor who wakes up every day focused on this city, this state, this population. Not as a political gesture. But as a duty.

This city has enough complexity, enough culture, enough challenges to keep any mayor busy for decades. So when someone wants the job and says, “My loyalty is here. My time is for you. My energy is for this city,” we shouldn’t attack them. We should listen. We should support them.

Because public service — real public service — means everyone in the city matters. Every community. Every faith. Every block.

And New Yorkers deserve a mayor who never forgets that.