DSA table at Mamdanis city-run town hall raises ethics questions: Deeply concerning

A “bus rider town hall” hosted by Mayor Zohran Mamdani crossed a “deeply concerning line” by allowing the city’s Democratic Socialists of America chapter to have a table at the government-run meeting in Brooklyn, experts said Friday.The NYC-DSA’s dedicated kiosk during Thursday night’s event for bus riders at the Brooklyn College Conference Center raised concerns among good-government groups and critics about City Hall mixing politics and civic engagement.“There needs to be a bright line between government-led civic engagement and political organizing,” Citizens Union Executive Director Grace Rauh told The Post.“A government-run town hall that crosses that line is deeply concerning,” she said.The head of the government watchdog group called on the Mamdani administration to explain why the far-left political organization — which the mayor is a member of — was allowed to take part in the town hall.“The public needs an explanation from City Hall about how a partisan political organization was able to set up a table at an official city event, and what steps will be taken to ensure there is a bright line between partisan activity and government-run civic engagement going forward,” she said.The mayor arrived at the event at about 7 p.m., sitting down in front of a cardboard cutout of a bus as Councilwoman Rita Joseph asked him and three “bus riders” questions about what bus rides mean to them.The riders included a member from the PSC CUNY and SEIU 1199 unions each and an advocate for the non-profit Riders Alliance transportation advocacy group.

About 100 other participants were also present.Mamdani delivered a short speech at the end, telling the crowd he was excited to bring the city’s first “Bus Rapid Transit Route” to Flatbush Avenue.The mayor unveiled the project last month alongside Gov.

Kathy Hochul, and it is said to be completed in 2030.“It will go so fast that it won’t just be those who have no other option that a...