A suited-up Mayor Zohran Mamdani leapt into an East Harlem pool Saturday morning to officially kick off the Big Apple’s summer pool season.
Hizzoner joined dozens of young kids at Thomas Jefferson Pool for the plunge and broke the rules in the process, which requires all swimmers to wear bathing suits in the water.
Mamdani even kept his black socks on as he made his half-hearted cannonball.
“It was so fun. I didn’t think he would do it! And then he shook my hand. That felt amazing,” said Mila Mader, 12.
“I told my brother, Leo, I was like, ‘Oh my God, the mayor shook my hand.’ He shook my brother’s hands, too.”
The socialist mayor had committed to the leap after being pressed by Katie Honan of The City Reporter, who asked if he would resume the obscure practice of mayors jumping into pools on opening day.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg was the last to get wet, with Bill de Blasio and Eric Adams tapping out on the tradition.
“I’m gonna be honest, I may do it. I may commit to it,” Mamdani said in March, though he only officially confirmed his daring leap this week.
All swimmers are required to wear bathing suits in Big Apple public pools, and males need to have mesh lining in their trunks — unless they prefer Speedos, which are also allowed.
The rules are to maintain healthy chemical levels in the pools, according to the Parks Department.
It’s not the first time Mamdani got wet in a business suit.
The mayor jumped into the waves at Coney Island for the annual Polar Bear Club Plunge while on the campaign trail last year as part of a gimmick in which he promised voters he would freeze rent.
The New York City Rent Guidelines Board approved his promise Thursday — freezing both one-year and two-year leases for the Big Apple’s roughly 1 million rent-stabilised units.
-New York Post
Hizzoner joined dozens of young kids at Thomas Jefferson Pool for the plunge and broke the rules in the process, which requires all swimmers to wear bathing suits in the water.
Mamdani even kept his black socks on as he made his half-hearted cannonball.
“It was so fun. I didn’t think he would do it! And then he shook my hand. That felt amazing,” said Mila Mader, 12.
“I told my brother, Leo, I was like, ‘Oh my God, the mayor shook my hand.’ He shook my brother’s hands, too.”
The socialist mayor had committed to the leap after being pressed by Katie Honan of The City Reporter, who asked if he would resume the obscure practice of mayors jumping into pools on opening day.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg was the last to get wet, with Bill de Blasio and Eric Adams tapping out on the tradition.
“I’m gonna be honest, I may do it. I may commit to it,” Mamdani said in March, though he only officially confirmed his daring leap this week.
All swimmers are required to wear bathing suits in Big Apple public pools, and males need to have mesh lining in their trunks — unless they prefer Speedos, which are also allowed.
The rules are to maintain healthy chemical levels in the pools, according to the Parks Department.
It’s not the first time Mamdani got wet in a business suit.
The mayor jumped into the waves at Coney Island for the annual Polar Bear Club Plunge while on the campaign trail last year as part of a gimmick in which he promised voters he would freeze rent.
The New York City Rent Guidelines Board approved his promise Thursday — freezing both one-year and two-year leases for the Big Apple’s roughly 1 million rent-stabilised units.
-New York Post
