Mamdani Administration Criticized for Recycling Indigenous Peoples' Day Video

The administration of Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani has faced criticism for using repurposed video footage from a previous mayor's staff to commemorate Indigenous Peoples' Day. The clips, which highlight the history of the Lenape people, were originally released by the administration of former Mayor Eric Adams for NYC's 400th-anniversary celebration.

Fabien Levy, who served as deputy mayor of communications under Adams, questioned the decision on social media, stating, "But it’s concerning to see him devalue the Lenape by just repurposing whole chunks of video Mayor Adams put out 2 years ago for NYC 400." Levy noted that the video, originally posted in January 2025, was used again for Indigenous Peoples' Day on Monday. The social media posts accompanying the recycled footage included messages such as, "Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day to the Indigenous New Yorkers who continue to shape our city, sustain ancestral traditions, and carry forward generations of resilience," and "From Inwood Hill Park to the shores of the Rockaways, Indigenous history is all around us. Long before New York City bore its name, this land was home to the Lenape people."

Mamdani's administration also did not acknowledge Italian-Americans or Columbus Day, a move that has reportedly angered some members of the community. The mayor has previously expressed his disapproval of Christopher Columbus, posting an image of himself giving a middle finger to a statue of the explorer and calling for its removal.

City Hall did not respond to requests for comment regarding the use of recycled content.