Mamdani Surges Amid Rally, Knicks Dispute

A “NYC Is Not For Sale” rally in Forest Hills drew about 13,000 people a week before the Nov. 4 mayoral election, headlined by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Bernie Sanders and Zohran Mamdani and energized by a diverse, Gen Z-heavy crowd. Polling as early voting began shows Mamdani — a 34-year-old leftist who could become New York’s first Muslim mayor — leading the race with roughly 47% support over Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa. High-profile allies and local power players have rallied for him, and City Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez is expected to endorse, offering a bridge to Hispanic communities. The campaign produced flashpoints: the New York Knicks sent a cease-and-desist over an ad that altered their logo, and the ads were later removed from social platforms. Mamdani also faces organized opposition on foreign-policy grounds, including a public letter from more than 650 rabbis and cantors criticizing his past comments on Israel, underscoring vocal resistance even as his insurgent campaign consolidates momentum.