Retiring Rep. Nydia Velázquez is backing Carl Wilson in the race to replace Erik Bottcher on the City Council, amNewYork has learned — deepening her rift with Mayor Zohran Mamdani as the two powerful progressives continue to line up behind rival candidates in a growing series of proxy fights across the city.
Velázquez’s endorsement gives Wilson another prominent boost in the closely watched special election for Manhattan’s District 3, a West Side seat that includes Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen and the West Village.
