'Progressive bromance' over? Zohran Mamdani and Brad Lander's alliance grows strained
In what has become the worst-kept secret in New York City politics, Lander has been telling people he wants to become the first deputy mayor — the no. 2 role in City Hall — should Mamdani win the general election, according to multiple sources who have spoken to him.
But weeks after the primary, Mamdani told Lander, the city comptroller, to knock it off. In July, before leaving for a wedding celebration in Uganda, Mamdani called Lander to address the chatter the campaign had been hearing and told him that no personnel decisions had been made, according to two sources with knowledge of the call.
The conversation shows how Mamdani is keeping a tight rein on talk of who may be in consideration for jobs in his administration – and shutting down speculation over appointments that will be highly scrutinized given his lack of experience in city government.
Deputy mayors manage the day-to-day operations of the city and its more than 300,000 employees.
https://gothamist.com/news/progressive-bromance-over-zohran-mamdani-and-brad-landers-alliance-grows-strained