To Save a Life or Gas; How People Today Weigh Values

 Nadene Goldfoot                                       

                     The line grows at Costco

Everyone in the USA are bemoaning the cost of their gas for their cars.  This is even hitting New York City where Zohran Mamdani is the mayor of New York City.  He was sworn in on January 1, 2026 and operates out of City Hall. 

This city is one of the largest but possibly has the least amount of cars due to other available transportation, like subways which take so many to work.  Gas in New York City is currently averaging around $4.20 per gallon for regular unleaded, while premium costs roughly $4.73 per gallon.  Gas prices in NYC hit their lowest point in January 2026 , when the monthly average retail price for regular gasoline fell to $2.749 per gallon.  

In early October 2023, just before October 7, the average price for regular gasoline in New York City was approximately \(\$3.54\) per gallon.   At that exact time in 2023, statewide averages for New York fluctuated between \(\$3.59\) and \(\$3.70\) per gallon . Premium fuel was hovering just over \(\$4.05\) per gallon.  

Gas prices drove people at the election booth to vote for a Mamdani favorite of the same political persuasion of Democracy;  Democratic Socialism.   Mamdani endorsed in three competitive House primary matchups in New York City, breaking with Democratic leaders by throwing support behind leftist candidates who were unafraid to criticize Israel and push for ambitious economic policies.                            

Darializa Avila Chevalier: pro-Palestinian doctoral student steps into politics with ‘faith in the future’  Mamdani-backed candidate won New York’s 13th congressional district with no experience in office but ideas for how politics can ‘actually invest in life.’ I see her as Mamdani's choice since she is a pro-Palestinian Dominican-therefore against Israel.                            

No wonder The View today member, Sunny Hostin,  who has a background as a former lawyer.  Prior to her television career, she worked as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Department of Justice's Antitrust Division and as a trial attorney in the Child Sex and Physical Abuse Crimes division.  Ever since I've watched The View, she has been against Israel.  Finding Sunny's many criticisms of Israel should be covering all the people voting along with Mamdani supporters.  So here goes: 

Sunny Hostin's criticism of Israel stems from her focus on the humanitarian crisis, civilian casualties, and international human rights law. She is biracial, of Afro-Latina heritage, and identifies as a practicing Catholic.  She identifies as biracial, Black, and Puerto Rican, and uses the term Afro-Latina . Her heritage also includes a mix of white, Jewish (Sephardic from Spain) what %?, and African ancestry.  

While her commentary has sparked backlash, she maintains that her opposition is directed at the Israeli government's military policies rather than the Jewish people, and I say the Jews in USA/NYC since Israel is a Jewish country.  Criticize one and you are criticizing both.  There must be a few Jews in the USA that have a good understanding of Israel's plight.  

Hostin, a co-host on ABC's The View , has frequently discussed the Middle East conflict through the lens of human rights and international law. Her specific stances and the reasons behind them include the following that I personally have written defense position about; going into the fact that Hezbollah and Hamas do not do a thing to protect their people but that the worst only adds ammunition to use against Israel: 

• 1. Focus on Civilian Casualties: Hostin frequently emphasizes the high death toll of Palestinians in Gaza, particularly women and children, often referring to the situation as a humanitarian crisis . She has argued that her advocacy is meant to give a "voice to the voiceless" in conflict zones . Even the numbers they use are inflated to make Israel look bad.  Israel does numerous acts to keep from killing people when engaged in warfare;  more than any other country.  
• 2. International Law Arguments: She has openly criticized Israel's military strikes and blockades, accusing the government of committing war crimes under international law—specifically citing the collective punishment of civilians and attacks in densely populated areas. They gather in such places on purpose to do exactly what Sunny charges:  Terrorists are out for themselves, not their people. 
• 3. Support for Anti-War Protests: Hostin has defended student and pro-Palestinian demonstrations on U.S. college campuses, arguing that many participants are engaging in anti-war advocacy and exercising their free speech rather than expressing antisemitism. Task Force Findings: A scathing report from Harvard’s Presidential Task Force revealed that Jewish students experienced bias, suspicion, alienation, and exclusion in both curricular and co-curricular spaces .Harvard's task force reports on antisemitism found pervasive anti-Jewish and anti-Israeli bias surged following the October 7, 2023 attacks . In response to the hostile campus climate, intense protests, and resulting federal lawsuits , the university apologized, reached legal settlements, and committed to ongoing reforms to disciplinary and academic structures .
• 4. Separating Government from Faith: In response to viewers who have accused her of antisemitism, Hostin has stated publicly that criticizing the Israeli government and its military operations is not inherently anti-Semitic. Attacking Israel crosses into antisemitism when the criticism uses classic anti-Jewish tropes, denies the Jewish people the right to self-determination, or holds Jewish individuals collectively responsible for the actions of the Israeli government. However, harshly criticizing the specific policies or actions of the Israeli government is not inherently antisemitic, but remember, it is made up of a good 80% Jews.

Hostin's debate style and pointed criticisms on the show have generated varied reactions. Critics argue that her focus disproportionately singles out Israel and ignores the complexities of the broader conflict, including the actions of Hamas and Hezbollh and other terrorists . Supporters, on the other hand, view her comments as necessary pushback against wartime policies and a defense of innocent populations caught in the conflict. (It could be much worse if by other countries !!)  Israel is fighting a defensive battle against people who want to wipe her off the map who have an extensive population of terrorists to use against Israel.                       

The biggest upset of the night came in New York's 13th district, where Mamdani-backed candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier, a 32-year-old community organizer and democratic socialist, narrowly defeated five-term incumbent Democrat Adriano Espaillat, 71, to represent Upper Manhattan and part of the Bronx. That's according to a race call by The Associated Press. Darializa Avila Chevalier is a working-class Afro-Latina organizer, UAW member, and the daughter of Dominican immigrants who has spent years fighting for her community in upper Manhattan.

 Espaillat, who was the first Dominican-American elected to Congress and chairs the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, had a slew of endorsements from powerful elected Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

So Mamdani has cut the Democrats in half as I see it; one being Democrat Socialists.  As for moral values;  gas prices have won out over the lives of Israelis.  People hate them, the victims of terrorists,  and praise those people who attack them, the Palestinians out of which are the terrorists.