Add The New York Post on Google Council Speaker Julie Menin is expected to fast-track a new bill to create a buffer zone around schools during protests — after Mayor Zohran Mamdani vetoed the previous legislation, The Post has learned.
The slightly tweaked legislation — which will narrow a previous bill by explicitly limiting the no-protest zones to around schools — is slated to sail through the full council in the coming weeks with an overwhelming majority, avoiding another legislative standoff with the mayor, according to insiders.
The School Safe Access bill spells out that the buffer zones will apply to student-serving educational institutions, which sources say is a minor change that will help garner support from those who were previously on the fence.
Robert Miller for NY Post The amendments also drew praise from members of the Jewish community, who had been up in arms after Hizzoner nixed the first iteration of the law.
“We commend Speaker Menin for consistently advocating for the safety and well-being of Jewish families,” the UJA-Federation of New York said in a statement. “At a time when too few elected officials in New York City are willing to take meaningful action against antisemitism and hate, Speaker Menin has shown real courage and moral clarity.”
“By clarifying and refining the bill’s language, she helped keep the focus where it belongs: protecting students and ensuring safe access to schools while bringing more stakeholders together behind that goal,” said Moshe Spern of United Jewish Teachers.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani vetoed the first proposed law, which was sponsored by Eric Dinowitz (D-Bronx) and fell just short of a veto-proof majority, claiming the language was too vague and could stifle protests at universities, museums and teaching hospitals.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani vetoed the first proposed law, claiming the language was too vague. Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock “This could impact workers protesting ICE, or college students demanding their school divest from fossil fuels or demonstrating in support of Palestinian rights,” he said last month.
The new amendments are expected to address those issues.
The school zone bill was nearly identical to another that also created a no-protest zone outside of religious institutions.
The mayor had also been opposed to the religious buffer zone bill, however, that legislation passed with a veto-proof majority.
Mamdani notably did not to sign it into law, but let it languish on his desk until it automatically went into law late last month.
