Mamdani’s switch on COPA is one small sign the mayor is bowing to common sense

A glimmer of sanity emerged from City Hall this week, as news emerged that former mayor Eric Adams’ last-minute veto of the “Community Opportunity to Purchase Act” — which would give “mission-driven non-profits” a first crack at buying apartment buildings — will stand.

To the disappointment of COPA’s supporters, there aren’t enough votes to override the veto, and neither Mayor Zohran Mamdani nor Council Speaker Julie Menin have the appetite or will to shove it through.

Menin was never a fan, and abstained on the COPA vote in Dec., so it’s not surprising that she’s not whipping her delegation into line. But Mamdani vigorously backed COPA in his campaign, saying it was a needed defense against “corporate landlords” and “slumlords.”

So why’s he changed his tune?

It’s reported widely that the city’s Law Department questioned the constitutionality of COPA, which would insert the government into private transactions, disrupt “freedom of contract” and possibly violate the clause against unjust “takings.”

No kidding: Many critics of the bill raised just this issue during debate, and warned that any reasonable judge would throw the law out. COPA would delay property sales for months while politically-connected non-profits poke around to find funding — all the while driving prices down and facilitating the DSA’s wacky vision of “social housing.”

We are seeing what happens when socialistic dreaming gives way to the practical realities of governing. It’s one thing to rally for radical housing policies as a legislative back-bencher; it’s a whole ‘nother issue to be in the position of executing and defending unworkable policies.

Not to mention the embarrassment of having a signature piece of legislation get struck down by the courts.

Everyone needs a dash of cold water to the face sometimes to shock us to reality. Let’s hope we are seeing the dawn of pragmatism rising over City Hall.