Exclusive | Mamdani should be probed for using taxpayer money to push political agenda: pol
Mayor Zohran Mamdani should be investigated for using $1.6 million in taxpayer funds to push New Yorkers to back ballot proposals with messaging that plastered his face on buses and kiosks, a city lawmaker said.Councilman Phil Wong (D-Queens) is calling on state leaders to open a probe into Hizzoner after the city’s own ethics watchdog said it wouldn’t get involved in claims that Mamdani improperly used the dough.“No one appears willing to investigate these serious allegations,” Councilman Phil Wong wrote in a letter to fellow Democrats Gov.Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James Tuesday, demanding they investigate.Wong said “immediate intervention” was required to investigate whether the social media-happy Mamdani had illegally spent the cash, which was spent on a series of ads urging voters to back a series of ballot proposals that could give the administration more power.Mamdani’s was recently seen grinning in videos on LinkNYC wifi Kiosks, while signs pushing his policies even appeared on the side of city trash trucks.City Hall has insisted the ads were merely public voter education even though the series of ads appeared to urge New Yorkers to support the ballot measures.“How fast does government run? That’s up to you,” the mayor said in an ad.
“This November, there will be five questions on your ballot aimed at making government work more efficiently for New Yorkers.”The mayor’s spots were jaunty as ever, but Wong’s fears were no small matter — if true, he said Mamdani’s video spending could “constitute misdemeanors.”“Section 1136.1 of the New York City Charter expressly prohibits the use of government resources for electioneering, including communications designed to influence support for or opposition to ballot referendums.Knowing or intentional violations can constitute misdemeanors,” he wrote.
“While City Hall claims this is voter education, the campaign emphasizes the supposed benefits of these proposals ...