Last week, a coalition of downtown Democratic organizations held a town hall with Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, where he was asked about Mayor Adams’ plans to demolish rather than repair the Tony Dapolito Recreation Center; WATCH THE VIDEO HERE, or read the transcript below:
 

Moderator: 
“The City Council has allocated $120 million to repair the Tony Dapolito Recreation Center. But the current administration has delayed and now plans to demolish it. How would you approach a situation like this, where commitments to provide a public resource have stalled and the community now risks losing it?”

Zohran Mamdani: 
“You know, Tony’s story is also a story of fighting back against Robert Moses to save South Village. And I have run a campaign with an incredible team some of whom are here today premised on the idea that we can hope for a better New York City, we can believe in our democracy’s ability to deliver for working people. And I also know that I am coming to so many who have had experiences of betrayal time and time again. 

“I mean, this question is about a commitment that had been made that has since been walked back. And how can someone who was so excited about that more than $100 million commitment, about honoring the legacy of someone who fought for these very neighborhoods, how can that person continue to believe in democracy if this is their experience? 

“And so it’s quite clear to me that the important thing to do here is not just to fulfill the promises you have made but also do your best to fulfill the promises that have been made prior to you. And so with this question, to me, it is working with the City Council to ensure that we actually allocate the money that was promised and follow through on this commitment.”
 

Village Preservation is reaching out to all the candidates to get their position on the Mayor’s plan to demolish rather than save the Tony Dapolito Recreation Center, and will continue to report back. 

To urge all candidates to support preservation of the Tony Dapolito Recreation Center, Village Preservation and a coalition of downtown groups will be holding a rally and press conference in front of the Center at 1 Clarkson Street (Carmine Street/Seventh Avenue South) on Wednesday, October 8 at 1 pm. More details will follow, but save the date!