NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani Under Fire for Signing Just 1 Law in 10 Months While Churning Out TikTok Videos

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is coming under fire as critics question whether his administration is spending more time creating social media content than getting work done at City Hall.

Mamdani, 35, has signed just one bill into law during his first 10 months in office, despite nearly 100 bills reaching his desk since January, the New York Post reported on Thursday, October 22. The low number has raised eyebrows among City Hall insiders, who accuse the mayor of prioritizing social media videos over government business.

A source described the situation as “lazy government,” arguing that allowing bills to take effect without a signature avoids the responsibility of publicly supporting or opposing legislation, per the report.

According to an August announcement from the New York City Mayor’s Office, Mamdani signed a bill allowing year-round outdoor dining on city streets. Other bills have become law without his signature through a process known as “returned unsigned,” per the New York Post. Under New York City rules, legislation automatically becomes law if the mayor neither signs nor vetoes it within four weeks.

His record stands in sharp contrast to previous mayors. At the same point in their administrations, Eric Adams had signed 30 laws, Bill de Blasio had signed 47 and Michael Bloomberg had signed 28, the outlet reported.

Among the bills Mamdani allowed to become law without his signature were measures requiring wellness checks on elderly New Yorkers when temperatures exceed 95 degrees, expanding free childcare programs and creating a rent-assistance program.

Some City Hall insiders have questioned why Mamdani isn’t signing bills he actually supports.

“It is a little bit weird. It gives the impression that enough attention is being paid or they disagree, but they don’t. I haven’t seen anything he’s disagreed [to],” former City Council member Diana Ayala said. “Those are his initiatives.”

Ayala added that signing the bills would also show support for the City Council members who worked on them.

“It would be nice to elevate their initiatives,” she said. “It shows goodwill and that they are in alignment on specific issues.”

Meanwhile, according to the article, Mamdani has maintained an active social media presence, regularly appearing in TikTok videos and comedy sketches.

“The mayor and his team are obsessed with becoming a content farm, often delaying or can-kicking boring governmental meetings so the mayor and his staff can hold pitch sessions for social media videos,” a source said, per the New York Post.

Another City Hall source offered a similar criticism. “It’s easier to govern by TikTok than to actually perform the duties of the job,” the second source said, according to the article.

As Globe previously reported, Mamdani’s administration has built a network of more than 200 social media influencers to help promote its message online.

According to a Columbia Journalism Review report, the creators receive talking points, video clips and access to city officials to share information about government programs and policies. While influencers aren’t paid simply for covering the administration, some have received between $5,000 and $20,000 per campaign through marketing agencies working with city departments.