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Mayor Mamdani Admits 'Not Good' Press Pass Policy
City Hall Press Pass Controversy
Mayor Zohran Mamdani has publicly conceded that City Hall's policy for issuing press passes is “not” good. This admission follows a controversy where three self-proclaimed 'Mangionistas' celebrated the alleged murder of a healthcare CEO while brandishing newly minted press passes. These individuals stated that the children of slain UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson were “better off without their Dad” and posed for photos with their passes, an image featured on the cover of The New York Post, which squarely blamed City Hall for the fiasco.
Mayor Mamdani stated that these three individuals should not have received press passes. He announced that his administration would review the city's media credential application process. This process was previously handled by the NYPD but changed after 2020 protests in response to George Floyd's murder raised questions about police control over journalists' access.
Mayor's Efforts to Mend Ties with Business Leaders Face Setback
Mamdani's internal review of press pass policies comes as he has sought to publicly ease tensions with business leaders. The mayor previously filmed a “Tax the Rich” video outside the pied-à-terre of Citadel CEO Ken Griffin, which inflamed the hedge fund titan and other business leaders. Griffin criticized Mamdani's actions, referencing the Thompson murder, and indicated plans to move much of his company's operations to Miami.
Since then, Mayor Mamdani has been in damage control mode, praising Griffin publicly and reportedly meeting with other CEOs, including JPMorgan Chase's Jamie Dimon and Goldman Sachs's David Solomon. However, the 'Mangionista' press pass debacle certainly does not help his tension-easing efforts. City Hall refused to answer questions regarding when these passes were awarded, though The Post indicated they were issued under Mamdani's administration.
*Source: Politico (2026-05-19)*
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