Mayor Mamdani Uses NYPD Gym for Basketball

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is holding private late-night basketball games at the NYPD Police Academy in Queens.

Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Corruption

Mayor Mamdani Uses NYPD Gym for Basketball

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Should government officials be allowed to use restricted public facilities for personal recreation?

Mayor Zohran Mamdani has been using the NYPD Police Academy gymnasium in College Point, Queens, for private pickup basketball games. These sessions reportedly interrupt official police training activities at the $1 billion facility.

Why it matters

The use of a high-security law enforcement facility for private recreation by city leadership raises questions regarding the accessibility and management of taxpayer-funded municipal resources.

The NYPD Police Academy gym occupies 45,000 square feet and cost $1 billion to construct. Official records confirm the mayor and his associates have conducted six separate basketball sessions at the site.

The players

Zohran Mamdani

Zohran Mamdani is the Mayor of New York City who is currently facing scrutiny over his use of municipal facilities.

NYPD Police Academy

The NYPD Police Academy is a billion-dollar training facility located in College Point, Queens, designed for law enforcement instruction.

The details

The mayor and his group typically access the gymnasium around 10 p.m. or 11 p.m. by entering through a loading dock that leads directly to the gym stairs. These late-night games have been occurring regularly since late June 2026, following the Knicks championship.

Late June 2026 marks the beginning of the basketball games.
July 16, 2026, was the date the NYPD facility was renamed for Det. Steven McDonald.

Legal Context

This situation is viewed against the New York City Conflicts of Interest Law, which governs the use of municipal assets for non-official purposes. It marks a departure from standard protocol regarding the limited access allowed to high-security police infrastructure.

Residents in College Point may see altered security protocols at the academy facility during late-night hours. The public is monitoring whether this access creates a security risk or impacts training availability for police personnel.

The takeaway

Taxpayer-funded facilities are typically reserved for specific government functions, and high-profile access often prompts public review of ethics policies. Citizens should monitor city council proceedings to see if new guidelines are established for the use of restricted municipal sites.