Logo

He’s turning it into Graceless Mansion, critics say.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani raised eyebrows Friday for using his taxpayer-funded housing at Gracie Mansion to film a slick campaign video for a lefty New York congressional candidate.

The social media clip showed Hizzoner palling around with Parkland shooting survivor David Hogg on the steps of the Upper East Side mansion as the pair solicited donations for Democratic Socialists of America member Claire Valdez, who is running for New York’s 7th House District seat.


  Mayor Mamdani filmed a slick campaign video for a lefty candidate and Democratic Socialists of America member Claire Valdez at Gracie Mansion. Instagram/claireforny Mayor Mamdani filmed a slick campaign video for a lefty candidate and Democratic Socialists of America member Claire Valdez at Gracie Mansion. Instagram/claireforny

“Zohran can’t do it alone,” Hogg says in the video, released Thursday, as he and the mayor move over to reveal Valdez standing behind them while saying “And he doesn’t have to.” 

Mamdani then hypes Valdez’s campaign donations website and asks viewers to “chip in whatever you can” — with Gracie Mansion seen behind him and Hogg.

The use of the People’s House for a partisan fundraising video quickly drew fire from watchdogs and local lawmakers, with City Councilman Phil Wong (D-Queens) filing a complaint with the city’s Conflicts of Interest Board.

“City resources exist to serve the public, not to advance political campaigns or preferred candidates,” Wong told The Post. 

“If these reports are accurate, New Yorkers deserve answers and accountability, and I am calling for a full investigation by COIB.”

The media-savvy Mamdani’s willingness to propagandize with the city’s digital kiosks, taxpayer-funded door knockers and a DSA-modeled new “Office of Mass Engagement” has already raised alarms during his still-fledgling mayoralty.


  NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani and NY State Assembly member Claire Valdez speaking to supporters at the Covenant Lutheran Church in Queens, NY. Brigitte Stelzer NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani and NY State Assembly member Claire Valdez speaking to supporters at the Covenant Lutheran Church in Queens, NY. Brigitte Stelzer

The latest alleged propaganda was in service of Valdez, a state Assemblywoman and union organizer who’s running in the Democratic primary to replace retiring Rep. Nydia Velázquez, whose district includes parts of Brooklyn and Queens.

Valdez, who hails from Lubbock, Texas, is a staunchly anti-Israel leftist who has called to abolish ICE, pass Medicare For All, a four-day work week and for federal rent control.

A City Hall spokesperson said Friday no city resources or staffers were used in the making of the Valdez video, and that it was funded, shot and produced by her campaign. 

But several critics argued Mamdani crossed a line by letting Gracie Mansion serve as the backdrop to a campaign video, even if he didn’t technically break the law.

“This administration has pushed the ethical boundaries of public office by creating an army of taxpayer-funded propagandists and activists, using public kiosks for self-promotion, and running city government like a campaign TikTok video,” railed David Carr, the City Council’s Republican minority leader.

“If this doesn’t violate the letter of the conflicts of interest laws, it certainly violates the spirit of them.”

The video prompted government watchdogs at Reinvent Albany to review the law on Friday, said Rachel Fauss, senior policy adviser with the group.

She argued the mayoral manse could reasonably be part of bans on public servants using government funds or services for fundraising.

“It’s not like the steps of City Hall where lots of people can go there and everyone can access it,” she noted. 

“It’s paid for by the public and we think there should be bright lines on that,” Fauss said. “It’s a city resource and paid for by the people and city law says you can’t use city resources for campaigning.”


  The video also shows Mayor Mamdani palling around with Parkland survivor David Hogg at Gracie Mansion. Instagram/claireforny The video also shows Mayor Mamdani palling around with Parkland survivor David Hogg at Gracie Mansion. Instagram/claireforny

One Democratic operative, who did not want to be named, called the video “unseemly,” but noted they weren’t sure if it actually crossed a legal line.

“[If] Eric Adams had done it; they would have a f–king aneurysm,” the source griped.

One staffer of the former mayor fumed that the video was an example of “Rules for thee but not for me.”

“He’s turning the entirety of city government into a DSA propaganda tool,” charged ex-Adams staffer Menashe Shapiro.

Valdez, a DSA member like Mamdani, had been an organizer with the United Auto Workers union. Her aggressive organizing wing, United All Workers for Democracy, helped elect outspoken Trump critic Shawn Fain as the union’s president.

She is running in the June primary against Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, who has been endorsed by his longtime ally Velázquez, a member of Congress for over three decades.

Wong’s letter argues that Mamdani has frequently appeared alongside Valdez on the campaign trail while acting in his official capacity.

He specifically cited a March 14 event in Ridgewood with Mamdani and Valdez at the Hungry Monk Rescue Truck as one of three potential conflict of interest violations 

The others were a celebrity-packed Brooklyn fundraiser for Valdez that the mayor attended, and another Gracie Mansion-based video centered around the board that could pass Mamdani’s proposed rent freeze.

A COIB spokesperson declined to comment on whether the board had received Wong’s complaint.

“As to Gracie Mansion, since Gracie Mansion is a personal residence in addition to being a city building, the board has generally advised the occupants of Gracie Mansion that they may use their living space in Gracie Mansion in ways similar to how they might have used the apartment or brownstone in which they lived before their mayoralty,” the spokesperson said in a statement. 

“Of course, there could be specifics that might change this general guidance, but those specifics could only be discussed with an individual seeking prospective advice.”


  Assemblywoman Claire Valdez asks questions as New York City Mayor Eric Adams gives testimony before the New York State Senate Finance and Ways and Means Committees about Gov. Kathy Hochul’s 2026 Executive Budget Tuesday, Feb., 2025, in Albany, N.Y. Hans Pennink Assemblywoman Claire Valdez asks questions as New York City Mayor Eric Adams gives testimony before the New York State Senate Finance and Ways and Means Committees about Gov. Kathy Hochul’s 2026 Executive Budget Tuesday, Feb., 2025, in Albany, N.Y. Hans Pennink

The COIB has penalized elected officials before for apparently using official resources to back candidates.

Last year, Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Queens) was dinged by the COIB for using City Council letterhead when issuing a social media post in support of then-GOP nominee for mayor, Curtis Sliwa.

“The press release contained the seal of the City Council, a City resource that cannot be used for political endorsements,” the board wrote.

Ariola paid $2,000 to settle the foul.

“I got dinged for a violation for using a Council Seal in a statement regarding a candidate, but this guy is out here using Gracie Mansion for a campaign shoot and nobody seems to care,” Ariola fumed.

“It seems the old saying, ‘Rules for thee and not for me’ is still holding true. Where is COIB on this?”

Comments
anonymous profile image
Powered by RoundtableBuilt on infrastructure designed for real-time media. Learn more at RTB.io.© Roundtable 2026. By using this site you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy