Prepare for a leftist lovefest between NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and the Metropolis Council.
Not like outgoing Mayor Adams — a centrist Dem who instantly clashed with the Council upon arriving at Metropolis Corridor in 2022 — the novel socialist ought to discover a way more receptive viewers when he takes workplace in January.
Democrats will maintain 46 of the Council’s 51 seats, together with 9 new members — all Dems.
The far-left Progressive Caucus is predicted to get 4 new members, bringing its complete to a robust 21, sources instructed The Submit.
That’s simply 5 in need of the bulk wanted to ensure any Mamdani-backed invoice passes.
Different Dems normally would doubtless step as much as ship remaining votes to cross the end line, a number of pols and operatives mentioned.
Some Mamdani efforts — together with his deliberate $1 billion Division of Group Security that may have civilians as a substitute of cops take care of the mentally ailing — “may run into points with some Democrats,” a Dem council supply mentioned.
“But when he’s transferring forward with different packages he’s proposed like common little one care, I’m positive he’ll have overwhelming assist,” the supply added.
Harvey Epstein (D-Manhattan), Elsie Encarnacion (D-Manhattan/Bronx), Justin Sanchez (D-Bronx) and Ty Hankerson (D-Queens) are the newly elected Council members anticipated to hitch the caucus, whereas Kayla Santosuosso, a Dem who’ll symbolize a “purple district” in southern Brooklyn, is contemplating it, sources mentioned.
In the meantime, Mamdani ally and woke caucus member Crystal Hudson (D-Brooklyn) is neck and neck within the race to change into the subsequent speaker with Julie Menin, a average Manhattan Democrat representing the Higher East Facet.
Right here’s the newest on NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani
Menin is closely backed by unions and celebration leaders in Queens, The Bronx and far of her house borough.
She was the clear frontrunner heading into the annual SOMOS political retreat in Puerto Rico this weekend, as she unofficially had the 26 votes lined as much as win the race, with Hudson having 15 and 10 others undecided, in keeping with a number of sources.
Hudson — who seems to have a lot of the Brooklyn delegation’s assist — additionally has big wild playing cards in her favor: Mamdani and Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries (D-Brooklyn).
“Crystal comes with Hakeem’s assist, and Mamdani needs her to be the subsequent speaker,” mentioned a prime Democratic operative.
Mamdani has but to become involved within the race, and sources mentioned it’s unclear if he’ll.
Such a transfer backfired for Adams. He failed months after being elected mayor in 2021 making an attempt to drum up assist for Councilman Francisco Moya (D-Queens) to change into the subsequent speaker.
As an alternative, his meddling led to underdog Adrienne Adams, no relation to the mayor, securing the submit after which spending a lot of the subsequent 4 years preventing with the administration on loads of coverage points.
Council Minority Chief Joann Ariola (R-Queens), who’s backing Menin within the race, mentioned the legislative physique is “heading into uncharted waters.”
“I’m hoping we land with a average speaker, but when we find yourself with a radical who’s in lockstep with Mamdani, this Council may flip into little greater than a rubber stamp group for the far-left agenda,” she mentioned.
Menin already has a historical past of working nicely with far lefties: she ran a number of metropolis companies beneath ex-Mayor Invoice de Blasio.
Not like Hudson, who campaigned for Mandani, Menin didn’t endorse a candidate on this yr’s mayoral race.
“Within the midst of an affordability disaster and Donald Trump coming for New York, the mayor and speaker should work collectively to create a extra reasonably priced metropolis — one the place little one care is free, lease reasonably priced, and our neighborhoods protected,” she mentioned.
“I look ahead to working with the mayor-elect, together with the council as an unbiased physique, to enact these necessary insurance policies.”
