Mayor Zohran Mamdani is scrambling to clean up a political mess after his office cancelled the annual pre-Puerto Rican Day Parade reception at Gracie Mansion, The Post has learned.
An aide in what critics call Mamdani’s new “propaganda office” sent out an email saying the mayor ditched the traditional event in favor of “prioritizing” his attendance at the parade — triggering a backlash in the Latino community, sources said.
“As mentioned in our call, we will not be hosting a reception at Gracie Mansion,” Alvaro Lopez, the Brooklyn borough director of the Mayor’s Office of Mass Engagement said in a note to Latino community leaders obtained by The Post.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani is cleaning up a political mess after his office cancelled the annual pre-Puerto Rican Day Parade reception at Gracie Mansion. John Jones-Imagn Images“In an effort to celebrate the National Puerto Rican Day in the company of as many working class New Yorkers as possible, Mayor Mamdani and our administration are prioritizing his attendance at the 5th Avenue Parade and the Knickerbocker Parade on June 14th instead of hosting an invitation-only reception,” the missive said.
Advocates were infuriated by the diss.
“Since Mayor [Ed] Koch, every mayor has celebrated the contributions of our community with a reception at Gracie Mansion held during the week leading up to the National Puerto Rican Day parade, which is the largest parade in New York City,” a Puerto Rican advocate fumed.
“If this mayor chooses to end that tradition, it’s a real slap in the face to our community — not just to those of us here in New York City but to the many government, community and business leaders who travel here from Puerto Rico each year and look forward to the Gracie reception.”
A City Hall insider blamed a “junior staffer who spoke out of turn” for the blunder — and claimed that Mamdani always intended to host the Puerto Rican Heritage reception at the mayoral residence.
“We are excited to welcome community members and leaders to Gracie Mansion for a reception celebrating Puerto Rican Day and the generations of Puerto Ricans whose organizing, culture, and contributions continue to strengthen New York City,” a Mamdani spokesperson said.
A Mamdani aide sent out an email saying the mayor ditched the traditional event in favor of “prioritizing” his attendance at the parade — triggering a backlash in the Latino community.
“The gathering will recognize the vital role Puerto Ricans and Nuyoricans play in the civic, cultural, and economic life of our city.
The City Hall rep added “More details to come soon” — and couldn’t immediately say exactly when the event would be held.
The reception will take place sometime on the weekend of the Puerto Rican Day parade and pre-parade festivities from June 12-14 — either Friday, Saturday or before the parade up Fifth Avenue on Sunday, the spokesperson said.
A PR Heritage event at Gracie Mansion was originally set for Thursday, June 11, according to the schedule listed on the PR Heritage Celebration website.
Lopez made headlines last year after The Post revealed he celebrated ripping down posters calling for the release of Israeli hostages.
His appointment to the Mass Engagement Office sparked backlash from the Jewish community.
The latest snafu comes amid other acrimony pitting Mamdani against the Latino political establishment in New York.
Mamdani endorsed fellow Democratic Socialists of American member Darializa Avila Chevalier over veteran incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat in Manhattan/Bronx House District 13.
He has also alienated retiring Rep. Nydia Velazquez over who should replace her in the upcoming Democratic primary in District 7, which covers parts of Brooklyn and Queens.
Velazquez backs her protege, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, while Mamdani has endorsed fellow DSA member and Queens Assemblywoman Claire Valdez.
