Former Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York has been an enthusiastic supporter of Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee and front-runner in the mayor’s race. So it seemed odd on Tuesday when an article appeared in The Times of London in which he was quoted saying he had concerns about Mr. Mamdani’s policy proposals.
Mr. de Blasio told The New York Times on Tuesday evening that the comments attributed to him were invented and that he had not spoken with the British newspaper. (The New York Times and The Times of London are not connected.)
“I’m astounded,” he said. “It’s a complete fabrication.”
Indeed it was.
The Times of London took the article down, about two hours after publication, “after discovering that our reporter had been misled by an individual falsely claiming to be the former New York mayor,” the paper said in a statement. The Times of London, a respected publication with a 240-year history that has been owned by the Murdoch family’s News Corp since the 1980s, also said it had apologized to Mr. de Blasio.
Mr. de Blasio reiterated his support for Mr. Mamdani’s plans to make buses free, to freeze the rent on rent-stabilized apartments and to institute free universal child care, comparing them to his own quest to create universal prekindergarten.
“I’ve said repeatedly that everything I’ve heard of Zohran’s vision is achievable,” Mr. de Blasio said. “It may take time, but it’s achievable.”
Both supporters and critics of Mr. Mamdani have raised questions about the feasibility of enacting his campaign promises. They are expected to cost more than $7 billion per year, and most would require support from state lawmakers.
The fabricated article had quoted Mr. de Blasio as saying “in my view, the math doesn’t hold up under scrutiny, and the political hurdles are substantial.”
A spokesman for Mr. Mamdani’s main rival, former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, shared a New York Post story about the interview on social media and said that Mr. de Blasio had read the “fine print” on Mr. Mamdani’s plans and found they were made only of “glitter and vibes.”
Mr. Mamdani has called Mr. de Blasio, a fellow progressive Democrat, the best mayor of his lifetime. During this year’s campaign, Mr. de Blasio has criticized Mr. Cuomo, whom he often warred with as mayor, and has publicly praised Mr. Mamdani.
“I believe in his vision,” he told The New York Times on Tuesday.
Andy Newman contributed reporting.
Emma G. Fitzsimmons is the City Hall bureau chief for The Times, covering Mayor Eric Adams and his administration.
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