Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has incurred the wrath of NYC gardening lovers by saying he’d reverse Mayor Adams’ determination to save lots of decrease Manhattan’s Elizabeth Avenue Backyard from being transformed into inexpensive housing.
On the finish of a candidate discussion board hosted by the Hell Gate information website final week, Mamdani was requested a “lightning spherical” query: “In your first yr (in workplace), will you evict Elizabeth Avenue Backyard and construct inexpensive housing on that lot?”
After briefly laughing, Mamdani answered, “Sure.”
A progressive like Mamdani would possibly usually be anticipated to seek out sturdy assist among the many usually liberal crowd that backs the backyard.
However his place has turned some towards him.
The Elizabeth Avenue Backyard is a nonprofit and doesn’t endorse political candidates. However on Tuesday it posted its newest publication on Instagram — together with a video clip of Mamdani’s assertion — saying the battle isn’t over.
“Perpetuating the false hope of housing vs. neighborhood gardens is a divisive tactic weaponized towards communities throughout NYC. … We are going to proceed to do all the pieces we are able to to guard Elizabeth Avenue Backyard from anybody who seeks to destroy it,” the put up stated.
Barry Williams/New York Each day Information
Patti Smith performs in assist of the Elizabeth Avenue Backyard on April 1, 2025. (Barry Williams/ New York Each day Information)
As of Friday afternoon, the put up had racked up a whopping 139,000 views and greater than 2,400 feedback — most of them addressed on to @zohrankmamdani and decrying his stance. Specifically, Mamdani’s outburst earlier than answering the query was deeply galling to many.
“You will have misplaced my vote,” declared one commenter.
“The chuckle is a horrible dismissal,” the Downtown environmental group Earth Celebrations posted. “It exhibits his ignorance to not see the massive image to guard wholesome wellbeing of communities which requires balancing inexperienced open area and neighborhood cultivated gardens that serve a myriad of direct very important wants throughout the metropolis and concrete options to the local weather disaster.”
Joseph Reiver, the backyard’s govt director, declined remark, as a substitute referring The Information to the backyard’s Instagram put up.
Magali Regis, a board member of the New York Metropolis Group Gardens Coalition, representing an estimated 20,000 Large Apple gardeners, admitted she was thrown for a loop by Mamdani’s assertion — to the purpose she now plans to “sit out” this election.
“It might have been a no brainer: ‘Let’s vote for this younger, energetic candidate who desires to eliminate the established order,’” Regis stated. “Individuals are actually sad and there are lots of people calling Mamdani and saying, ‘Hold off the backyard.’”
She stated the Elizabeth Avenue Backyard holds a particular significance, calling it “the poster youngster of neighborhood gardens in New York.”
Mamdani has to this point declined to reply NYCCGC’s mayoral questionnaire, which features a query on whether or not to save lots of or develop the Little Italy backyard, she stated, including that Cuomo and Sliwa have each informed the group they might save the backyard.
Some Mamdani-supporting gardeners are saying on-line they aren’t abandoning him, however hope they’ll persuade the hardline leftist to vary his place if he’s elected.
A Mamdani spokesperson didn’t reply to requests for remark.
Mamdani’s opponents in Tuesday’s normal election, unbiased mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa, each strongly assist saving the backyard.
Posting on X on Tuesday, Cuomo stated, “@ZohranKMamdani desires to evict the Elizabeth Avenue Backyard — that may be a mistake. The Elizabeth Avenue Backyard is considered one of NYC’s most cherished treasures, a inexperienced oasis in the midst of a concrete neighborhood that has introduced pleasure, schooling and neighborhood to residents, particularly kids…
“I’m dedicated to saving this valuable backyard and to delivering inexpensive housing — not by destroying what’s lovely, however by constructing smarter and higher.”
For his half, Sliwa informed The Village Solar a yr in the past that he would get arrested to save lots of the beloved backyard, if it got here to that.
“All of the hipsters and millennials love that spot,” Sliwa stated. “The old-timers, they adore it. It’s so tranquil. It’s a temper elevator, simply sitting there.”
Barry Williams for New York Each day Information
The Elizabeth Avenue Backyard in Manhattan. (Barry Williams for New York Each day Information)
The Little Italy inexperienced area, between Spring and Prince Sts., has been the middle of a heated battle — marked by lawsuits — pitting the Downtown Manhattan neighborhood and backyard advocates versus Metropolis Corridor ever because the plot was designated for an inexpensive senior housing undertaking a dozen years in the past.
The undertaking gave the impression to be shifting ahead earlier this yr. However in a shocking reversal, Adams in June modified metropolis coverage and scrapped the senior housing undertaking, Haven Inexperienced, slated for the backyard.
As an alternative, working with native Councilmember Christopher Marte, the administration recognized three close by websites the place a complete of greater than 1,000 models of housing can be constructed, with 623 of these slated for completely inexpensive housing — contrasting with Haven Inexperienced’s a lot smaller quantity of inexpensive housing, which might not be everlasting.
Marte didn’t reply to requests for remark.
