Andrew Yang’s mayoral campaign has been forced to start withholding the exact locations of its events after Yang was chased away by left-wing hecklers Thursday when he tried to troll Mayor Bill de Blasio.
The mayoral hopeful’s attempt to mock de Blasio’s much-maligned Park Slope Y workouts backfired when he was ambushed by protesters shouting slogans such as “Hedge Fund Mayor” — causing him to quickly abandon his planned presser in front of the gym.
The following day, Yang, 46, appeared on WFAN to talk sports, and later held an event closed to the press in Brownsville.
Then on Saturday, Yang’s campaign schedule listed a “community canvas launch” at an unspecified spot in Manhattan.
He’d also later hand out campaign material somewhere in Brooklyn, according to the public schedule.
On Sunday, Yang — who has typically been the candidate most accessible to reporters — appeared at two churches in Brooklyn, but the events were closed to the press, with COVID-19 protocols cited.
Later in the day, he would hand out campaign literature in Queens, his campaign schedule said. Reporters wishing to cover the event were asked to RSVP in order to learn the exact location.
That was also the case for an 11 a.m. Monday press conference with Rep. Ritchie Torres regarding the Cross-Bronx Expressway.
“RSVP to press@yangforny.com for address,” reads the schedule, with a link to a video stream of the campaign stop.
On Monday evening, the campaign released a schedule that included canvassing in the Bronx — but again without an exact location in the borough.
Yang turned up in Co-op City Tuesday for a tour of the voter-rich affordable housing complex.
Asked by a reporter about hiding the locations of his campaign stops, Yang deflected and suggested all his hecklers were sent by a rival.
“We all know that certain people who showed up to another event were sent from like, people who weren’t just wandering around, let’s put it that way it was people who had an express purpose,” Yang said.
But when another reporter noted that some hecklers were simply people who didn’t agree with his policies, Yang said “New York City is a very diverse and passionate place.
“It’s been great getting to know people in different communities and talk to people about different points of view. As mayor I’d never expect people to with agree with everything that I decided and that’s just New York.”
Yang then claimed he’d have no problem facing naysayers if he’s elected to lead the city.
“I think New Yorkers can fully expect me to show up and be someone who’s going to be on the street and in people’s neighborhoods all the time,” Yang said.
Before the failed press conference outside the Park Slope Y, Yang’s campaign schedules listed exact addresses for his busy, press-friendly campaign.
Meanwhile, Yang’s campaign on Thursday claimed that a mayoral rival, city Comptroller Scott Stringer, was behind the disruption.
“Andrew doesn’t think we should defund the NYPD at a time of soaring gun violence — Scott Stringer’s campaign found the 7 people in Brooklyn who disagree in a desperate attempt to distract from his failing campaign,” campaign spokesperson Jake Sporn said at the time.
Yang’s standing in the race has dropped recently, according to a new NY1/ Ipsos poll conducted in May and released Monday.
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams now holds a six-point lead over Yang — after Adams trailed him by nine points in April.
The Democratic mayoral primary will be held on June 22, with early voting beginning Saturday.