Mamdani vetoes buffer zone bill opposed by unions

Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced on Friday that he would veto a City Council bill criticized by unions representing academic workers that would have tasked the NYPD to erect “security perimeters” around educational facilities across the city. Intro 175-B's critics warned that the bill would stifle free speech and possibly affect the ability of unions to picket and organize.  

In a statement announcing his veto, Mamdani said the “problem” with the bill is that it defines educational institutions too broadly as well as the “constitutional concerns it raises regarding New Yorkers’ fundamental right to protest.” 

 “This could impact workers protesting ICE, or college students demanding their school divest from fossil fuels or demonstrating in support of Palestinian rights,” Mamdani said. “Int. 175-B is not a narrow public safety measure; it is a piece of legislation that has alarmed much of the labor movement, reproductive rights groups, and immigration advocates, among others, across this City. Nearly a dozen unions have raised the alarm about its impact on their ability to organize.” 

The Mayor added that he would allow a similar law that applies to houses of worship, and that passed the Council by a much larger margin than the bill on educational institutions, to come into effect. 

In a statement, James Davis, president of the Professional Staff Congress of CUNY, who was one of several outspoken union leaders opposing the bill, praised Mamdani for vetoing the legislation.  

“Mayor Mamdani proved himself a champion of students, faculty and staff once again today when he vetoed Intro 175-B,” he said. This ‘buffer zone” legislation would jeopardize First Amendment rights to free expression for all New Yorkers irrespective of religion, race, or nationality, imposing new restrictions near any vaguely defined ‘educational facilities.’ That includes CUNY campuses, which are worksites and sites of political expression” 

The PSC was one of over 200 local groups to send a letter to Mamdani last week urging him to veto the legislation. The news website The City reported that labor leaders from over a half-dozen unions and the New York City Central Labor Council met with City Hall officials last week via video call to urge Mamdani to veto the bill. 

A spokesperson for the CLC said they did not have a comment on the veto.

The City Council could potentially override Mamdani’s veto, but the legislation passed with a 30-to-19 margin in the 52-member body, a majority that is not enough to override Mamdani’s veto.  

In a statement, Council Speaker Julie Menin did not signal whether she would move forward with a veto vote. 

“Ensuring students can enter and exit their schools without fear of harassment or intimidation should not be controversial,” she said. “This bill simply requires the NYPD to clearly outline how it will ensure safe access when there are threats of obstruction or physical injury, while fully protecting First Amendment rights.” 

Jewish groups that were backing both buffer zone bills said they were "deeply disappointed" by Mayor Mamdani's veto.

"At a time when Jewish and other communities across our city are facing heightened threats, this legislation represented a crucial step toward ensuring school and community [institutions] can be better protected," reads the joint statement from United Jewish Appeal-NYC, the American Jewish Committee New York, the Anti Defamation League of New York and New Jersey and others. "Actions speak louder than words. This veto is a profound failure of City Hall to demonstrate to all New Yorkers that our safety is a priority."

Council Member Eric Dinowitz, who sponsored Int 175-B, said that by vetoing the bill, Mamdani is breaking his campaign promise to keep New Yorkers safe.

"The untrue claim that this bill infringes on free speech or is constitutionally unsound is not supported by the text," said Dinowitz, who is Jewish. "While the Mayor turns his back on student safety, I will stand firm in my commitment to keep our students safe."