Just weeks after taking office, Mayor Zohran Mamdani is already facing criticism over how quickly he has stepped into the spotlight — this time on thousands of digital screens across New York City.
According to the New York Post, Mamdani now appears around the clock on the city’s 2,220 LinkNYC kiosks in a public service announcement encouraging families to enroll their children in pre-K and 3-K programs.
The ads feature the mayor inside what appears to be a classroom, delivering a message aimed directly at parents.
“Last week we announced we won more than $100 million in new funding to make 3-K truly universal and today is a great day to sign up,” Mamdani says in the video.
The rollout, however, has sparked backlash from critics who argue the mayor is using public platforms to promote himself just three weeks into his administration.
Some have accused Mamdani of indulging in self-promotion rather than focusing on governing, especially given his rising national profile and social media popularity.
“If Adams did this everyone would be cringing and saying he was using the kiosks for shameless self-promotion,” said Manhattan Institute fellow Nicole Gelinas, referring to former Mayor Eric Adams, who left office at the end of 2025.
Melissa DeRosa, a former top adviser to ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo — whom Mamdani defeated in last year’s mayoral race — went further, pointing to legal concerns.
“There’s a state law that bans this and for good reason — tax dollars shouldn’t be spent propping up elected officials,” DeRosa said.
A 2007 state law bars elected officials from appearing in government-funded public service advertisements. City and State was the first outlet to report on the debut of Mamdani’s PSA.
The controversy has revived memories of criticism leveled at City Hall under Adams, when LinkNYC kiosks displayed ads highlighting favorable city statistics, including crime reductions.
Those ads directed viewers to a “deliveringforyou.nyc” website, but Adams himself did not appear in them, nor was he named.
Mamdani’s office has rejected claims that the new ads violate the law.
Using the mayor’s image is permissible, officials argue, because the city did not purchase the advertisements. According to mayoral spokesperson Dora Pekec, the kiosks are required to air city public service announcements under their franchise agreement.
“LinkNYC is required to broadcast city public service announcements as part of their operating agreement and the City did not use any taxpayer dollars to place this advertisement,” Pekec said.
She added that past mayors have appeared in similar public service spots on LinkNYC and TaxiTV.
A spokesperson for LinkNYC confirmed that the ads are provided free to the city and noted that previous administrations have used the same arrangement.
