In spite of the Bezos-related backlash simmering around the Met Gala, a handful of New York City politicians were in attendance on Monday night.
The New York City Council speaker Julie Menin, deputy speaker Nantasha Williams, comptroller Mark Levine, councilwoman Gale Brewer — all Democrats — didn’t seem phased by the protests, or the city’s eat-the-rich appetites, as they arrived at the gilded fund-raiser.
The presence of these lesser-known elected officials was in stark contrast with the absence of New York City’s most visible political figure, Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who, along with his wife Rama Duwaji, declined the Costume Institute’s invite.
In previous years, mayors including Eric Adams, Bill de Blasio and Michael Bloomberg have attended the Met Gala. (Bloomberg was also in attendance Monday night.) It’s not unusual for the city’s comptroller or City Council members to attend the event. Brad Lander, the former comptroller, and Adrienne Adams, the former Council speaker, have both attended the gala in recent years.
For political onlookers, the attendance of Menin might also carry added political meaning. The speaker, whose district includes the city’s wealthy Upper East Side, has emerged as an early political foe to the democratic socialist’s administration. Menin has sparred with the mayor over property taxes, policing and even the mayor’s political appointments.
Meanwhile, Menin’s husband, Bruce Menin, also in attendance on Monday, is a high-powered property developer. He is a partner at Crescent Heights, one of the country’s largest real-state firms, which is currently involved in multiple projects with the grocer Whole Foods, owned by Amazon.
In a statement, Menin said, “The City Council is proud to partner with this world-class museum and other arts and cultural institutions across our city.”
Nathan Taylor Pemberton is a reporter covering politics and culture for The Times.
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