Pirate's Cove

It’s not like they weren’t warned many, many, many times

Democratic discontent with Mamdani mounts in New York City’s outer boroughs

When Queens Borough President Donovan Richards accused the Democratic Socialists of America of perpetuating “white supremacy” earlier this month, it marked a rare instance of a well-known local Democrat taking direct, withering aim at the group that propelled Mayor Zohran Mamdani into City Hall.

Since Mamdani’s ascension there, local elected Democrats have been hard pressed to publicly blast him and his hard-left base. The mayor’s approval ratings remain strong and the DSA has emerged as a serious political force in the city. So Richards’ X post — which was referencing the DSA’s majority white membership nationally — hinted at a potential turning point.

His attack also points to a more broadly felt symptom: Growing discontent with Mamdani from Democratic politicians in the city’s outer boroughs.

I wouldn’t necessarily call it white supremacy, but, let’s be honest, the amount of DSA members who are white is almost as much as at Sheldon Whitehouse’ yacht club. How many times have we seen photos of uber-liberal this and thats which are mostly whites, especially women? Then you get some like a Mamdani who pretend to be DSA and get the backing of all those AWFLs (which includes liberal men-folk, you know)

Days after Richards’ online lament, more anti-Mamdani sentiment erupted in the Bronx, where City Councilmember Oswald Feliz accused the mayor of giving his community “crumbs” by not pairing a bus lane project in his district with enough infrastructure upgrades in surrounding areas. Like Richards, Feliz made a reference to race, albeit a more subtle one.

“Is this community not trendy enough to justify the kind of improvements that other communities receive, even without asking?” Feliz said in a statement last week. “If this was a wealthier neighborhood, I have no doubt that a more ambitious proposal would have been on the table. Minority communities are important, and deserve better.”

OK, are these just standard complaints, which are being vocalized because maybe they aren’t getting the responses they want from City Hall? I don’t think I’ve quite seen this in NYC before.

After Feliz issued his remarks referencing trendy neighborhoods and minority communities, Mamdani’s office told him the mayor was upset with the suggestion he doesn’t value outer borough enclaves, a person with direct knowledge of the exchange said. The mayor’s team then scheduled a meeting with Feliz to discuss his concerns further — a sit-down that took place this past Monday and also included Gibson, according to the person, who was granted anonymity to discuss the private talks.

Deputy Mayor for Operations Julia Kerson, Department of Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn and other Mamdani administration officials were on hand for the meeting and told Feliz and Gibson they would look into their requests for improved road paving, street signs and expanded pedestrian areas. But the officials made no immediate capital commitments, saying that would have to wait until next year’s budget, the person with knowledge of the discussion said. The mayor didn’t attend the meeting.

That’s a “we’re listening to placate you” meeting. Nothing will happen.

The thing about backing this kind of stuff is that the crocodile will eventually get around to eating you.

Read: NYC Democrats Upset They’re Getting What They Voted For From Mamdani »