NYC Mayoral Candidate Wants to Divest City Pension Funds from Israel

Zohran Mamdani, a leading Democratic candidate for New York City mayor, stated his intention to divest New York City's retiree pension funds from Israeli bonds if elected. He argues that such investments violate international law.

<img src="https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/601-w-125th-st-manhattan-110981904.jpg?w=1024" alt="New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani">

Mamdani's stance aligns with the current comptroller, Brad Lander, who has chosen not to reinvest in Israeli bonds upon their maturity, although the city maintains over $300 million in investments in Israeli firms.

<img src="https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/09/democratic-mayoral-candidate-zohran-mamdani-107215697.jpg?w=1024" alt="Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani">

However, the incoming comptroller, Mark Levine, supports reinvesting in these bonds. This creates a potential conflict, as the mayor appoints members to the pension boards alongside the comptroller and unions. Therefore, Mamdani's proposal could lead to a significant battle over investment decisions.

The CEO of Israel Bonds, Dani Naveh, issued a statement highlighting the substantial recent investments in the bonds, emphasizing American confidence in Israel's economy. Former City Comptroller Scott Stringer also criticized Mamdani’s stance, calling it a “colossal mistake”.

Key Points:

• Mamdani's Divestment Proposal: The Democratic mayoral frontrunner plans to remove NYC pension funds from Israeli bonds if elected.
• Lander's Precedent: Current Comptroller Brad Lander already stopped reinvesting in these bonds.
• Levine's Opposition: Incoming Comptroller Mark Levine plans to reinstate the investment in Israeli bonds.
• Potential Conflict: The mayoral appointment power on pension boards could create a major showdown on this issue.
• Strong Reactions: The CEO of Israel Bonds and former Comptroller Scott Stringer have voiced strong opposition to Mamdani's stance.