Mayor Zohran Mamdani offered general comments about the Dominican Day Parade, remaining tight-lipped about his reported "icy relationship" with Rep. Adriano Espaillat, who also attended the Sunday event. Both officials marched in the parade, but were seen keeping their distance from each other.
Mamdani declined to confirm if he and Espaillat had spoken at a press conference regarding parade security held on Friday. "We're all just focused on the parade," Mamdani told reporters on the parade route in Manhattan.
When asked specifically if he had seen Espaillat on stage during a ceremony at the parade, Mamdani stated, "It was good to see everybody on stage, good to see everyone out here." The mayor was observed celebrating with other parade attendees, separate from the congressman.
Espaillat, when approached by a reporter, shook his head when asked about seeing Mamdani again at the parade. The congressman was seen walking with Gov. Kathy Hochul, appearing friendly, while Mamdani was with his own group.
The reported tension between Mamdani and Espaillat stems from Mamdani's endorsement of Darializa Avila Chevalier, a progressive candidate, in a primary election for Espaillat's congressional seat in New York's 13th district. This district encompasses Harlem, Washington Heights, and parts of the Bronx.