Zohran Mamdani built his career railing against privilege, but he is a walking advertisement for it. The self-described socialist and New York City mayoral front-runner has vowed to eliminate the city’s Gifted & Talented program at the kindergarten level if elected, offering fewer opportunities to some of the city’s most marginalized students, all in the name of “equity.”

The program, which offers accelerated instruction to eligible elementary school students, would not be open to kindergarteners next fall under a Mamdani administration, the campaign told the New York Times earlier this month. The move continues a 2021 policy when then-Mayor Bill de Blasio announced plans to phase out the Gifted and Talented program, which Mayor Eric Adams reversed upon taking office.