Political Tensions in Brooklyn
It seems Comrade Elly is no longer in the picture.
Mayor Zoran Mamdani has been in the spotlight, particularly after a heated exchange with his former aide, Antonio Reynoso, regarding his visit to President Trump’s White House. This disagreement is part of a larger struggle between socialists and progressives vying for dominance in the Democratic Party.
As the Brooklyn Borough President, Reynoso is in the running to succeed the retiring U.S. Representative Nydia Velazquez. He took the opportunity on Wednesday, during a debate with candidates including State Rep. Claire Valdez and City Councilwoman Julie Wong, to criticize Mamdani’s actions.
“I really don’t see the need to visit the White House and talk to President Trump,” Reynoso stated during the NY1 debate.
He went on to describe the president as someone who is terrorizing communities and committing various crimes, suggesting he should face impeachment and accountability for his actions.
This critique didn’t sit well with Mamdani. He responded with a frosty demeanor, defending his controversial visit to the White House by highlighting that it led to the release of a Columbia University student, Elaina Agayeva, from ICE custody.
“I’ll let the mayor explain why he thinks it’s better for New Yorkers to face wrongful detention by ICE rather than for me to meet with the president and secure their release,” Mamdani remarked to reporters at a separate event.
This back-and-forth illustrates a widening divide not just between Mamdani and Reynoso, but also within their respective factions in the Democratic Party.
Reynoso, a progressive linked to the Working Families Party, had previously supported Mamdani, a dedicated Democratic Socialist, during last year’s mayoral election. However, when Reynoso announced his candidacy to replace Velazquez, Mamdani opted not to support him in return.
Instead, the newly appointed mayor threw his weight behind fellow DSA member Valdez.
In a similar vein, Mamdani backed Dalializa Avila Chevalier for the Assembly elections in Upper Manhattan and the Bronx, choosing her over Rep. Adriano Espaira, who had previously supported Mamdani because of her DSA ties.
This pattern raises eyebrows, showcasing Mamdani’s inclination to prioritize DSA allies over other liberal associates.
Such dynamics illustrate the ongoing tug-of-war between the far-left factions of the Working Families Party and Democratic Socialists of America for control within the Democratic Party.
Some political operatives view this division as both unproductive and perplexing.
“When candidates are practically identical, turning NY-07 into a battleground is a curious choice,” one operative commented. “Combine the pettiness of political narcissism with similar attitudes, and what you’re left with is just plain absurd.”
