Mayoral hopefuls' allies launch grassroots operation with potential for trouble.
A new non-profit organization called Our Time has been launched by former Zohran Mamdani campaign volunteers, aiming to harness the grassroots energy from his mayoral victory. The group is classified as a tax-exempt 501c4 social welfare organization, allowing it to fundraise and lobby for Mamdani's policies.
Over 650 people joined the first hour-long "mass call" on Thursday night, indicating high levels of interest in supporting Our Time's mission, which includes promoting affordable agendas. The group plans to launch a series of campaign-style door-knocking events across 17 neighborhoods to build support for universal child care and other initiatives.
However, critics are concerned that the use of non-profits to support mayoral campaigns could lead to issues with corruption and pay-to-play politics. John Kaehny, executive director of Reinvent Albany, warned that the group should tread carefully, citing concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
Our Time's leadership, however, insists on transparency and openness, stating that they will not accept donations from entities with business before the city and plan to publish donor information online. The group aims to build a sustained wave of civic engagement to fulfill Mamdani's promises.
The launch of Our Time has drawn comparisons to previous efforts, including Mayor Bill de Blasio's Campaign for One New York, which was criticized for its fundraising practices and soliciting donations from individuals with business before the city. Lina Khan, co-chair of Mamdani's transition committee, acknowledged that external support is necessary to advance his agenda.
While some critics have expressed concerns about Our Time's structure, others see it as an opportunity for high-energy organizing efforts in service of government directly. As the group prepares to take on state lawmakers and push for policy changes, its success will depend on maintaining transparency, avoiding potential pitfalls, and successfully building a movement that can drive meaningful change in New York City.
A new non-profit organization called Our Time has been launched by former Zohran Mamdani campaign volunteers, aiming to harness the grassroots energy from his mayoral victory. The group is classified as a tax-exempt 501c4 social welfare organization, allowing it to fundraise and lobby for Mamdani's policies.
Over 650 people joined the first hour-long "mass call" on Thursday night, indicating high levels of interest in supporting Our Time's mission, which includes promoting affordable agendas. The group plans to launch a series of campaign-style door-knocking events across 17 neighborhoods to build support for universal child care and other initiatives.
However, critics are concerned that the use of non-profits to support mayoral campaigns could lead to issues with corruption and pay-to-play politics. John Kaehny, executive director of Reinvent Albany, warned that the group should tread carefully, citing concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
Our Time's leadership, however, insists on transparency and openness, stating that they will not accept donations from entities with business before the city and plan to publish donor information online. The group aims to build a sustained wave of civic engagement to fulfill Mamdani's promises.
The launch of Our Time has drawn comparisons to previous efforts, including Mayor Bill de Blasio's Campaign for One New York, which was criticized for its fundraising practices and soliciting donations from individuals with business before the city. Lina Khan, co-chair of Mamdani's transition committee, acknowledged that external support is necessary to advance his agenda.
While some critics have expressed concerns about Our Time's structure, others see it as an opportunity for high-energy organizing efforts in service of government directly. As the group prepares to take on state lawmakers and push for policy changes, its success will depend on maintaining transparency, avoiding potential pitfalls, and successfully building a movement that can drive meaningful change in New York City.
they're trying to make universal child care a reality and i'm ALL IN 
i know some ppl are worried about corruption and pay-to-play politics, but if the group is transparent and open, that's all that matters 
we need more people getting involved in our community and making their voices heard 
i mean we need more people like mamdani who want to make a difference in the city. and 650 people joining in just one hour is insane! that's some serious grassroots energy 
... I mean, I get why folks wanna support Zohran Mamdani's agenda, but let's keep it real for a sec 
. That's what we need more of - community engagement and collective action.
We need to make sure Our Time stays true to its mission and doesn't let power or $$ cloud their judgment. Fingers crossed they can navigate this stuff without making things worse 
We gotta take control of what we want for the city, but at the same time, there's that thing with money and influence... corruption, you know? It's like, if people are passionate about a cause, they shouldn't have to pay to be heard. But, I guess it's also true that without some structure, things can get lost in translation. What's the goal here, anyway? Is it just about Mamdani's policies or is it something more? 
! It's like, so important to have groups like Our Time pushing for affordable agendas and universal childcare. But at the same time, I get where the critics are coming from - all that transparency is key, you know? Like, we don't want any pay-to-play politics or corruption going on 
. I hope they're really committed to being open about their donors and stuff. It's all about finding that balance between supporting the cause and avoiding potential issues. Fingers crossed it all works out