The mayor formally rejected Intro. 175-B, which might require the NYPD to determine protest buffer zones at academic amenities throughout the town. Mamdani defined his perception that the legislative language too broadly outlined an academic establishment and would end in “constitutional concerns … regarding New Yorkers’ fundamental right to protest.”
“As the bill is written, everywhere from universities to museums to teaching hospitals could face restrictions,” Mamdani stated in his April 24 announcement, stating that the provisions of Intro. 175-B, have been it enacted, would “impact workers protesting ICE, or college students demanding their school divest from fossil fuels or demonstrating in support of Palestinian rights.”
Mamdani ‘allows’ home of worship buffer zone invoice to be regulation
The opposite protest buffer zone invoice, Intro. 1-B, would set up protecting measures close to homes of worship. Mamdani stated he would “allow it to become law,” however didn’t point out that he would put his signature to it. Below the town constitution, laws despatched to the mayor’s desk might turn into regulation inside 30 days if the mayor neither indicators nor vetoes it.
Concerning Intro. 1-B, Hizzoner stated the ultimate model of the invoice “is narrower in scope and effect” and “requires the NYPD to document its existing practices related to protests near houses of worship.”
“That said, I disagree with its framing of all protest as a security concern,” Mamdani added.
Each payments, sponsored by Metropolis Council Speaker Julie Menin, have been born out of two high-profile demonstrations exterior Manhattan and Queens synagogues in current months, which noticed pro-Palestinian protesters utilizing inflammatory language, together with in a single occasion open help for the terrorist group Hamas.
In December 2025, outgoing Mayor Eric Adams signed an government order directing the NYPD to determine buffer zones for protests close to homes of worship. Upon taking workplace, nonetheless, Mayor Mamdani signed an government order wiping out Adams’ earlier directive, amongst others.
Menin’s payments echoed a lot of the language of the beforehand excised Adams order, however with modifications to guard constitutional rights. The complete Council handed each payments on March 26, with Intro. 1-B permitted with a veto-proof majority. Nonetheless, Intro. 175-B handed with simply 30 votes, six wanting the two-thirds majority required to overturn a mayoral veto.
It’s unclear, right now, whether or not the Council will transfer to override Mamdani’s veto of Intro. 175-B. A supply with information of the Metropolis Council informed New York News that Menin will probably be discussing “next steps” along with her colleagues.
Reacting to the veto of Intro. 175-B, Menin reasserted her perception that the invoice protected constitutional rights and shouldn’t have been “controversial.”
“Ensuring students can enter and exit their schools without fear of harassment or intimidation should not be controversial,” Menin stated in a press release. “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.”
Mamdani’s veto drew fierce backlash from Rabbi Marc Schneier, president of the Basis for Ethnic Understanding and senior founding rabbi of The Hampton Synagogue. He recalled pitching the concept for Intro. 175-B. to Mamdani in a private telephone name in an effort to guard college students from campus protests. Mamdani informed him that he “loved the idea.”
“What have we done to ourselves? A mayor who is redefining antisemitism, days before Jewish Heritage Month, and most certainly will boycott the Celebrate Israel Parade. Now, during a period of mourning—the Omer—the mayor of the largest Jewish city in the world outside of Israel is slapping us in the face,” Schneier stated. “Who will protect Jewish students on campuses, being attacked by vicious antisemitic protesters day in and day out? I, along with the entire Jewish community, demand to know what the mayor plans to do to protect students who simply want to walk around their campuses.”
Donna Lieberman, government director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, applauded Mamdani’s veto of Intro. 175-B, suggesting that if enacted, it will have endangered the general public’s proper to specific themselves, “and make it more likely that going to school, a library, or even a hospital leads to an encounter with police.”
“At a time when New Yorkers are taking to the streets in historic numbers to defend our hard-won freedoms and resist the Trump regime – as we must – the City should be looking to support, not stifle, our right to speak out,” Lieberman stated. “We’re glad the Mayor takes free speech seriously and honors our city’s long legacy of activism.”
