A Democratic Metropolis Council slammed Mayor Zohran Mamdani over a bus lane redesign plan for one of many Bronx’s busiest thoroughfares — saying the Boogie Down wants funding in avenue security as a substitute of “crumbs.”
Mamdani didn’t even present as much as the ceremonial groundbreaking for the bus lanes on Fordham Street Wednesday — which irked Bronx Council member Oswald Feliz who mentioned Hizzoner’s absence confirmed how he felt concerning the borough, which wants funding for avenue indicators, medians and extra lighting.
“The bus lane mission presents a possibility to make transformative investments on Fordham Street, the busiest business hall within the Bronx,” Feliz mentioned in an announcement on social media. “It’s disappointing that, quite than making significant investments, the administration has chosen to supply crumbs.”
Feliz advised The Submit he protested the shortage of funding in his district by skipping the administration’s ceremony, which noticed officers touting the redesign will pace up the Bx12 by including an “offset” away from the curb, with the curb lane for parking and loading.
Bronx Councilmember Pierina Sanchez additionally skipped the groundbreaking, saying the plan failed to deal with considerations she had already raised with the administration.
With Mamdani not in attendance, Division of Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn addressed members of the press as a substitute.
“We have now heard some considerations from a number of the native stakeholders, a number of the electeds,” Flynn advised reporters. “Proper now we’re transferring forward with the toolbox we are able to do by a bus mission.”
A spokesperson for the mayor’s workplace insisted the administration has an “open dialogue” with the group.
“We are going to proceed to ship these crucial tasks whereas sustaining open dialogue with group members and elected officers.”
However Feliz mentioned that in conferences with Mamdani aides he requested for “primary investments” alongside Fordham Street and walked away feeling dismissed.
“This administration scheduled conferences with no objective aside from creating the looks that they’ve listened to the group,” Feliz mentioned.
When he pushed for extra bushes and plantings within the median, Feliz mentioned, Metropolis Corridor advised him it wasn’t doable due to considerations on the Division of Environmental Safety.
However when he contacted DEP immediately, officers there advised him they’d no downside with including greenery, Feliz claimed.
“They’ve repeatedly created obstacles to discourage the group from preventing for investments,” Feliz mentioned of the Mamdani administration.
The Fordham Street flop isn’t the primary time Mamdani has been accused of shortchanging poorer neighborhoods.
Bronx Councilmember Althea Stevens — the lone Democrat to vote in opposition to Mamdani’s $126 billion price range — blasted the mayor in June for funneling greater investments to wealthier areas whereas leaving her excessive‑poverty district behind, arguing that “fairness means directing assets the place the wants are best.”
Mamdani and his comrades within the Democratic Socialists of America are additionally dealing with rising scrutiny over a disconnect with the considerations of black communities within the metropolis.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards tore into the 85% white DSA on social media as a brand new face of “white supremacy,” accusing the group of brushing apart black and Latino communities because it hunts for extra energy.
“White supremacy is available in all varieties,” Richards posted on social media late Sunday.
