Mamdani says he will veto schools buffer zone bill, drawing ire of Jewish groups

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani says he will veto a bill that would establish protective zones around schools, but will not take action against a second buffer zone bill meant to protect houses of worship.

The two bills were introduced to the City Council after two vitriolic protests outside New York City synagogues and were approved by the Council last month.

The bill for houses of worship passed the Council by a veto-proof majority, meaning the Council could have overridden a mayoral veto.

The schools bill was four votes short of a veto-proof majority in the 51-member council.

Leftist groups opposed both bills, calling the measures an attack on freedom of expression.

The bill for houses of worship initially called for a buffer zone of up to 100-feet, but the mention of distance was removed after the NYPD expressed concern about logistics.

Mamdani says in a statement that he will “allow it to become law,” without confirming that he will sign it himself. If Mamdani takes no action, the bill becomes law tomorrow.

“It initially raised constitutional concerns. However, the final version of the bill that passed is narrower in scope and effect,” Mamdani says in a statement. “Following a thorough legal review, I do not believe it poses the same risks it once did, and that is why I will allow it to become law. That said, I disagree with its framing of all protest as a security concern.”

Mamdani says the schools bill is “meaningfully different.”

“The problem is how widely this bill defines an educational institution and the constitutional concerns it raises regarding New Yorkers’ fundamental right to protest. As the bill is written, everywhere from universities to museums to teaching hospitals could face restrictions,” he says. “This could impact workers protesting ICE, or college students demanding their school divest from fossil fuels or demonstrating in support of Palestinian rights.”

“That is why I am vetoing this legislation,” he says.

Leading Jewish groups say they are “deeply disappointed with the decision.”

“At a time when Jewish and other communities across our city are facing heightened threats, this legislation represented a crucial step toward ensuring that every school and community institution can be better protected,” says a joint statement from UJA-Federation of New York, ADL New York/New Jersey, AJC New York, Conference of Presidents, JCRC-NY, New York Board of Rabbis, Orthodox Union, The Rabbinical Assembly, StandWithUs, Teach NYS and the Union for Reform Judaism.

“This veto is a profound failure of City Hall to demonstrate to all New Yorkers that our safety is a priority,” the statement says.

New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin also condemns the veto.

“Ensuring students can enter and exit their schools without fear of harassment or intimidation should not be controversial,” Menin says. “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.”