Mayor Zohran Mamdani and several associates have used the New York City Police Academy’s gymnasium in College Point, Queens, to play pickup basketball games since July. According to people familiar with the matter, the mayor’s group has visited the 45,000-square-foot facility approximately six times, typically arriving between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. through a loading dock.
The games began shortly after the New York Knicks won the NBA championship and around the time Mamdani attended the July 16 ceremony renaming the $1-billion facility for Detective Steven McDonald. While the Mayor’s Office stated the use of the gym was intended for off-hours to avoid interference, two sources reported that the games disrupted recruit training on at least three occasions. The NYPD and the Mayor’s Office maintain that no recruit training was disrupted.
Specific instances of disruption reported by sources included recruits having to move exercises to a hallway or outdoors, and one occasion where gym activities were rescheduled. On Thursday, October 22, 2026, staff reportedly had to delay or adjust the setup of 1,000 chairs for a health and wellness event because the mayor’s security team announced his arrival. David Carr (R), the City Council minority leader, stated the mayor should use public facilities like the YMCA instead of the academy.
The scale of the facility involved is a $1-billion, 45,000-square-foot training center located in College Point, Queens, which is more than 10 miles from the mayor’s residence at Gracie Mansion. Beyond the physical logistics, the situation affects the relationship between the mayor and the Police Benevolent Association (PBA), which represents more than 20,000 rank-and-file officers. PBA President Patrick Hendry stated that the mayor’s use of the facility occurs as officers have been working without a contract since August 1, 2025. Hendry noted that a declaration of impasse was filed and mediators were assigned by the state Public Employment Relations Board in July 2026.
This development follows Mayor Mamdani’s February 2026 decision to cancel a plan to hire 5,000 new recruits, a move that has already drawn criticism from Republican lawmakers and police labor leaders. The mayor’s spokesperson, Dora Pekec, stated that Mamdani would find a different location to play if his use of the facility were found to cause disruptions. No specific deadline or date for a change in venue has been set, but the PBA continues to call for focus on contract negotiations rather than the use of department facilities for personal recreation.