Mamdani Holds 200-Person Puerto Rican Event as Invite Mix-Up Fuels Snub Backlash
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Jun 12
Mamdani Holds 200-Person Puerto Rican Event as Invite Mix-Up Fuels Snub Backlash
3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Jun 12
Summary
About 200 people attended Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Puerto Rican heritage reception at Gracie Mansion, but the event was notably smaller than past years and several prominent Puerto Rican leaders were absent.
The backlash stemmed from City Hall first telling community leaders the annual reception would not happen, then reversing course and sending some invitations only last week while failing to contact others.
The pared-down midday format also broke with the usual large evening gathering before the Puerto Rican Day Parade, prompting some offended leaders to stage an alternative event in Brooklyn.
The episode has sharpened concerns that Mamdani’s new Mass Engagement office has sidelined traditional outreach channels even as he presses broader fights with established Latino political figures.
Still, the controversy has not yet shown up in polling: a May 20-26 Data for Progress survey found nearly 60% of Latino respondents viewed Mamdani somewhat or very favorably.