He’s Mum-dani when his allies need him.
Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani dodged and avoided taking a position on ballot measures going to public vote in November — as some would-be City Council allies are getting frustrated with his word-salad explanations for staying out of the fray.
The democratic socialist’s latest dodge on Wednesday comes as a fight continues to brew over Measures 2, 3 and 4 on this year’s election ballots that would shift power to the mayor from the council on housing and zoning.
“I’m continuing to have those conversations,” Mamdani said, when asked by a Post reporter at an unrelated press conference about when he would take a position on the issue.
“What I can say is that I’m appreciative of the fact that it’s on the ballot and that New Yorkers have a chance to weigh in,” he said.
The ballot measures have pit lawmakers against current Mayor Eric Adams, who dropped his re-election bid last month. With Adams out, it would be Mamdani who would benefit from the increased influence of the mayor’s seat if the ballot measures pass.
Some council members – including politicians who have endorsed him – feel like they have been blindsided and that he’s only listening to lame duck city Comptroller Brad Lander and not the elected officials he will have to work with if he wins in November, sources said.
“I’ve heard from progressive and DSA-aligned Council Members who are frustrated,” one source said. “They think Brad should be standing with them and New York’s major labor unions instead of cozying up to [Real Estate Board of New York] and other housing advocates seen as anti-union.”
Lander ran against Mamdani in a ranked-choice Democratic Party primary but the two became allies in a bid to pick up shared support on the ballots. Lander has been advising Mamdani since the latter won the June primary.
Lander has been vocal in supporting the ballot measures, going so far as to record a PSA urging New Yorkers to vote yes.
“Why does he think Brad knows best? It’s a recurring theme,” the source continued.
One longtime political operative told The Post that the growing rift between council members and the mayoral front-runner spelled bad news for a potential Mamdani mayoralty.
“The marriage hasn’t even been consummated yet and the honeymoon period is already over,” the insider said.
The Mamdani campaign didn’t respond to a request for comment.
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