A Democratic City Council slammed Mayor Zohran Mamdani over a bus lane redesign plan for one of the Bronx\u2019s busiest thoroughfares \u2014 saying the Boogie Down needs investment in street safety instead of \u201ccrumbs.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mamdani didn\u2019t even show up to the ceremonial groundbreaking for the bus lanes on Fordham Road Wednesday \u2014 which irked Bronx Council member Oswald Feliz who said Hizzoner\u2019s absence showed how he felt about the borough, which needs funding for street signs, medians and more lighting.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe bus lane project presents an opportunity to make transformative investments on Fordham Road, the busiest commercial corridor in the Bronx,\u201d Feliz said in a statement on social media. \u201cIt is disappointing that, rather than making meaningful investments, the administration has chosen to offer crumbs.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mayor Zohran Mamdani\u2019s bus lane redesign was called \u201ccrumbs\u201d by a Bronx councilman. Gregory P. Mango for NY Post<\/p>\n
Feliz told The Post he protested the lack of investment in his district by skipping the administration\u2019s ceremony, which saw officials touting the redesign will speed up the Bx12 by adding an \u201coffset\u201d away from the curb, with the curb lane for parking and loading. <\/p>\n
Bronx Councilmember Pierina Sanchez also skipped the groundbreaking, saying the plan failed to address concerns she had already raised with the administration.<\/p>\n
With Mamdani not in attendance, Department of Transportation Commissioner Mike Flynn addressed members of the press instead.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have heard some concerns from some of the local stakeholders, some of the electeds,\u201d Flynn told reporters. \u201cRight now we are moving ahead with the toolbox we can do through a bus project.\u201d<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for the mayor\u2019s office insisted the administration has an \u201copen dialogue\u201d with the community. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe will continue to deliver these critical projects while maintaining open dialogue with community members and elected officials.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bronx Councilman Oswald Feliz endorsed Mamdani but is now accusing the mayor of offering only \u201ccrumbs\u201d to his Bronx district. Stephen Yang for NY Post<\/p>\n
But Feliz said that in meetings with Mamdani aides he asked for \u201cbasic investments\u201d along Fordham Road and walked away feeling brushed off.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis administration scheduled meetings with no purpose other than creating the appearance that they\u2019ve listened to the community,\u201d Feliz said.<\/p>\n
When he pushed for more trees and plantings in the median, Feliz said, City Hall told him it wasn\u2019t possible because of concerns at the Department of Environmental Protection. <\/p>\n
Later today, @NYCMayor<\/a>‘s @NYC_DOT<\/a> will break ground on its Fordham Road bus lane redesign project. Project presented an opportunity to bring real investments to a historically-neglected minority community; and the admin has instead chosen to deliver crumbs. Full statement below: pic.twitter.com\/KvlyGYqwGT<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Oswald Feliz (@OswaldFeliz) July 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n But when he contacted DEP directly, officials there told him they had no problem with adding greenery, Feliz claimed.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve repeatedly created obstacles to discourage the community from fighting for investments,\u201d Feliz said of the Mamdani administration.<\/p>\n Mayor Zohran Mamdani hopes to speed up the Bx12 on Fordham Road by giving buses their own lane away from the curb, known as an offset bus lane. Tomas E. Gaston for NY Post<\/p>\n The Fordham Road flop isn\u2019t the first time Mamdani has been accused of shortchanging poorer neighborhoods. <\/p>\n Bronx Councilmember Althea Stevens \u2014 the lone Democrat to vote against<\/a> Mamdani\u2019s $126 billion budget \u2014 blasted the mayor in June for funneling bigger investments to wealthier areas while leaving her high\u2011poverty district behind, arguing that \u201cequity means directing resources where the needs are greatest.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\tStart your day with all you need to know\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMorning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n Mamdani and his comrades in the Democratic Socialists of America are also facing growing scrutiny over a disconnect with the concerns of black communities in the city.<\/p>\n Queens Borough President Donovan Richards tore into the 85% white DSA<\/a> on social media as a new face of \u201cwhite supremacy,\u201d accusing the group of brushing aside black and Latino communities as it hunts for more power.<\/p>\n \u201cWhite supremacy comes in all forms,\u201d Richards posted on social media<\/a> late Sunday. <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t