Mayor’s office admits secret Signal chat breached NYC record-keeping rules
City Hall’s chief counsel said officials used a self-destructing Signal group with pro-Mamdani influencers, violating state record-keeping law.
New York City officials broke state record-keeping statutes by operating a private Signal chat that automatically erased messages, according to Chief Counsel Ramzi Kassem. The group, overseen by Emilia Rowland, a $175,000-a-year director of new media, was used to coordinate pro-Mayor Zohran Mamdani influencers and disseminate talking points. City officials only acted after a reporter revealed the auto-delete setting, issuing a reminder to turn off disappearing messages.
Councilman Phil Wong announced a bill to impose safeguards on how the municipal government engages influencers, calling the episode a major scandal. Legal experts noted the practice mirrors past controversies involving former Mayor Bill de Blasio and ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Watchdog group Reinvent Albany said the use of Signal raises transparency concerns, though it acknowledged influencer outreach can be legitimate if disclosed.
Why it matters
It shows how city officials may hide communications, undermining transparency and public-record laws.
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