NYC Council Member Suggests Deportation of Mayoral Candidate
Controversy erupts over comments directed at Assemblyman Mamdani
New York City Council Member Vickie Paladino has sparked controversy after suggesting that State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani should be deported due to his political views. Paladino, described as one of the Council's more conservative members, made the statement on social media platform X, referencing Mamdani's citizenship status and characterizing him as a "radical leftist." Mamdani, who was born in Uganda, became a U.S. citizen in 2018.
Mamdani, currently a candidate in the New York City mayoral race, responded by connecting the incident to broader political tensions. In his statement, he noted that since launching his campaign, he has faced various threats and attacks. Mamdani, who identifies as Muslim, referenced what he described as the current presidential administration's immigration enforcement actions in New York City.
KEY POINTS
- •Council member suggests deportation
- •Mamdani is a mayoral candidate
- •Mayor Adams avoids direct comment
Polling data indicates that Mamdani has established himself as a significant contender in the upcoming June 24 Democratic mayoral primary. Recent surveys suggest he is consistently placing second behind former Governor Andrew Cuomo, with some polls indicating the gap between the candidates may be narrowing. Mamdani's platform includes proposals such as rent freezes for stabilized tenants.
The current New York City Mayor, Eric Adams, declined to specifically address Paladino's comments during a press conference. Instead, Adams made a general statement about the need to moderate public discourse, extending this observation to include media coverage. Adams had previously withdrawn from the Democratic primary following legal developments in April.