Restaurant Owners Clash Over Mayoral Candidate Mamdani

A prominent restaurateur in New York has voiced strong opposition to Zohran Mamdani, a mayoral candidate, aligning himself with those who support democratic socialism, notably Keith McNally.

“I don’t want Mamdani to be the mayor,” said David Rabin, the force behind several well-known bars and restaurants like the Rams Club and American Bar. “I’ll do whatever it takes to stop him.”

In contrast, McNally, who owns renowned establishments Balthazar and Minnetta Tavern, has seemingly thrown his support behind Mamdani. This support has included publicly criticizing Rabin, labeling him a “raving mad” figure in a recent Instagram post.

The tension began with what seemed to be a friendly online exchange between Rabin and McNally, who later expressed regret over that interaction. Rabin had previously mentioned McNally in his memoirs.

“I’ve admired him for years,” Rabin shared, recalling how he sent McNally some posts related to Mamdani, only for McNally to take one of them and label it as racist.

Rabin mentioned that what he intended as a private conversation quickly spiraled out of control. He had just wanted to discuss his views on Mamdani—but it took an unexpected turn.

Without prior notice, McNally shared Rabin’s post and linked it to Mamdani, featuring a photo of Mamdani with Mahmoud Khalil, an activist known for organizing protests against Israel.

Rabin elaborated on the situation, describing his frustration with how McNally responded to his sentiments. He noted the irony of having what felt like a constructive discussion, only to be branded as racist later.

Despite attempts to reach out for comments, McNally has remained silent. He is known for his provocative statements and past controversies, including remarks about Lauren Sanchez and his well-publicized conflict with comedian James Corden.

The personal stakes for Rabin are high. He recounted a disturbing visit to Times Square after the Hamas attacks on Israel, where he encountered a pro-Hamas demonstrator displaying troubling imagery. “It’s 2023 and people are flaunting flags in my face,” Rabin said, revealing the impact this had on him.

From Rabin’s perspective, Mamdani’s leadership would harm businesses, largely due to Mamdani’s lack of experience in governance. Rabin expressed concern about Mamdani’s policies, particularly his proposals for freezing rents and establishing government-run grocery stores.

“He’s basically a con artist looking to push a Marxist and anti-Zionist agenda,” Rabin claimed, voicing strong sentiments regarding Mamdani’s political direction.

However, Mamdani has recently attempted to soften his image by meeting with influential business leaders and assuring them that he would avoid controversial language interpretations linked to violence against Israel.

He maintains that his criticisms of Israel do not equate to anti-Semitism. Meanwhile, McNally has criticized Democratic leaders such as Governor Kathy Hochul and Senator Chuck Schumer for not backing Mamdani.