New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and presumptive City Council Speaker Julie Menin appeared together for their first joint press conference on Monday, signaling a desire to work together – despite underlying tensions.
While they’ve largely played nice throughout the transition and the last few days, Mamdani and Menin are opposed in several areas, perhaps the most glaring difference being their position on Israel. Menin, who will be the City Council’s first Jewish speaker, told the New York Post in an interview published Monday she was “extremely concerned” about Mamdani’s repeal of some of his predecessor’s executive orders in support of Israel. There’s also the fact that Menin reportedly pitched herself as a check on the lefty then-incoming mayor while running for speaker – while Mamdani lobbied behind the scenes for her competitors to win instead. Menin also declined to endorse Mamdani for mayor even after he secured the Democratic nomination.
But flanked by Menin, Attorney General Letitia James and other local elected officials at an outdoor gym in Long Island City, Mamdani made it clear that tackling illegal subscription tricks and hidden “junk fees” tacked onto purchases like concert tickets or gym memberships is a shared priority…