Mayor Zohran Mamdani is cleaning up a political mess after his office cancelled the annual pre-Puerto Rican Day Parade reception at Gracie Mansion, The Post has learned.
An aide in what critics call Mamdani’s new “propaganda office” sent out an email saying the mayor ditched the traditional event in favor of “prioritizing” his attendance at the parade — triggering a backlash in the Latino community, sources said.
“As mentioned in our call, we will not be hosting a reception at Gracie Mansion,” Alvaro Lopez, the Brooklyn borough director of the Mayor’s Office of Mass Engagement said in a note to Latino community leaders obtained by The Post.
“In an effort to celebrate the National Puerto Rican Day in the company of as many working class New Yorkers as possible, Mayor Mamdani and our administration are prioritizing his attendance at the 5th Avenue Parade and the Knickerbocker Parade on June 14th instead of hosting an invitation-only reception,” the missive said.
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Advocates were infuriated by the diss.
“Since Mayor Koch, every mayor has celebrated the contributions of our community with a reception at Gracie Mansion held during the week leading up to the National Puerto Rican Day parade, which is the largest parade in New York City,” a Puerto Rican advocate fumed.
“If this mayor chooses to end that tradition, it’s a real slap in the face to our community – not just to those of us here in New York City but to the many government, community and business leaders who travel here from Puerto Rico each year and look forward to the Gracie reception.”
Following the uproar, a mayoral rep told told The Post the Puerto Rican Heritage reception will take place on Saturday June 13 or before the parade, set for Sunday June 14.
Lopez made headlines last year after The Post revealed he celebrated ripping down posters calling for the release of Israeli hostages.
His appointment to the Mass Engagement Office sparked backlash from the Jewish community.
The latest snafu comes amid other acrimony pitting Mamdani against the Latino political establishment in New York.
Mamdani endorsed fellow Democratic Socialists of American member Darializa Avila Chevalier Chevalier over veteran incumbent Rep. Adriano Espaillat in Manhattan/Bronx House District 13.
He has also alienated retiring Rep. Nydia Velazquez over who should replace her in the upcoming Democratic primary in District 7, which covers parts of Brooklyn and Queens.
Velazquez backs her protege, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, while Mamdani has endorsed fellow DSA member and Queens Assemblywoman Claire Valdez.
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