Peloni
The New York Post published a shocking report regarding a digital rooftop taxi ad campaign involving some 4,000 yellow taxi cabs in New York City which was pulled due to the ad being considered to deride Mamdani’s signature proposal to make city buses free. The ad, created by the Jewish advocacy group JewBelong, read, “Not gonna hide my Jewish star for a free bus ride,” a slogan intended to encourage Jews not to conceal visible signs of their identity amid rising antisemitism. However, its reference to a “free bus ride” was widely interpreted as a pointed dig at Mamdani’s free-fare bus plan.
The ads were placed through the out-of-home advertising firm Somo, which removed them after complaints and media attention. In a video meeting obtained by the Post, Somo executive vice president Jaime Lo acknowledged the ad had created a controversy following coverage and indicated concern that it might be viewed as attacking City Hall. He stated that he did not want to offend the mayor’s office and suggested altering the ad to remove any perceived reference to Mamdani, but JewBelong refused. Lo also cited complaints which had been made to the company and the Taxi and Limousine Commission, and emphasized that he did not care to carry advertising which could be inferred as targeting the mayor.
JewBelong said the removal marked the first time in five years that one of its ads had been censored. JewBelong co-founder Archie Gottesman stated that, “Pulling [the ad campaign] sends a chilling message that speaking out against hate is acceptable, until it makes someone uncomfortable. We refuse to be silent.” The Anti-Defamation League’s CEO Jonathan Greenblatt added his own objections regarding the ad campaign being cancelled, warning that suppressing awareness does not reduce antisemitism, and that this is particularly relevant in light of the surging tide of antisemitism today.
Yet, amid all this controversy over complaints being made over this rather subtle criticism of the political establishment in NYC, the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission has denied having any role in the removal of the ads. Indeed, the Commission’s Spokesman Jason Kersten related that no complaints had been made with the commission regarding JewBelong’s ad campaign, and stated further that the ads were in fact not in violation of TLC rules, rules which are intended to bar material which is considered offensive to public morals. The Post notes that this episode has intensified debate over free speech, political sensitivity, and the mayor’s already strained relationship with the Jewish community, while citing the mayor’s well publicized support for the BDS movement, his accusations that Israel committed genocide in Gaza, and past remarks about potentially arresting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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