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Mamdani’s curious chicken scratch notes revealed at City Hall hearing: ‘Who is our DHS commissioner?’
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s handwritten notes were shown during a City Hall hearing on horse-drawn carriages and housing. Among the partly legible questions was “Who is our DHS commissioner?”, prompting attention because the notes appear to span several meetings and topics.
Mamdani was considering whether to sign a City Council bill banning horse-drawn carriages, passed last month; existing law requires carriage horses to have at least five weeks of annual furlough. The hearing also covered a proposal giving community groups the first chance to buy some residential properties, while the notes referred to hospitals, schools and a possible financial cap. A City Hall representative did not immediately comment.
In short
- Mamdani’s notes included a question about the city’s DHS commissioner.
- He was weighing a carriage ban passed by the City Council.
- A housing proposal would give community groups first chance to buy some properties.
Explained simply
Zohran Mamdani is New York City’s mayor, while the City Council passes local laws and the mayor decides whether to sign them. One issue raised at the hearing was a council bill to ban horse-drawn carriages; current rules require carriage horses to have at least five weeks off each year.
The hearing also addressed a housing proposal that would give community groups the first chance to buy certain residential properties. “DHS” refers to the city’s Department of Homeless Services, which oversees services for people without housing. The handwritten notes appeared to cover several subjects, including hospitals and schools, so the commissioner question does not by itself show what decision or discussion it related to.