The organizers of an annual Puerto Rican heritage event that’s been held at Gracie Mansion for nearly 30 years have doubled down on their statement that this year’s celebration is moving, and why, despite repeat assertions from Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s office a day ago that no plans had changed regarding the location. In a statement early Thursday, the Puerto Rican Heritage Committee, which typically organizes the annual city-hosted heritage celebrations, said there was no confusion about the 2026 site. “The Office of the Mayor was clear in the email sent to Mildred Martinez: ‘We will not be hosting a reception at Gracie Mansion.’ In light of this, the New York City Puerto Rican Heritage Committee has identified an alternative location to celebrate this tradition,” the committee said. The reception has been at Gracie Mansion since the 1990s. Organizers say the event will still happen, now at Pacha New York in Brooklyn instead. “The continuation of this event demonstrates the strength, resilience, and unity of the Puerto Rican community,” leaders of the NYC Puerto Rican Heritage Committee wrote in a letter to Mamdani. “While the venue may have changed, our purpose, tradition, and commitment to serving our community remain stronger than ever.” On Wednesday, the Mamdani administration disputed any suggestion that the longtime event would not be at Gracie this year. It said it was aware of no planned changes. However, in a June 1 email obtained by News 4, Alvaro Lopez, the Brooklyn borough director for the mayor’s Office of Mass Engagement, asked directly about the event location, said it wouldn’t happen at Gracie. “As mentioned in our call, we will not be hosting a reception at Gracie Mansion. In an effort to celebrate the National Puerto Rican Day in the company of as many working-class New Yorkers as possible, Mayor Mamdani and our administration are prioritizing his attendance at the 5th Ave Parade and the Knickerbocker Parade on June 14 instead of hosting an invitation-only reception.” These are photos from the 2025 celebration hosted by then-Mayor Adams at Gracie Mansion. Mamdani says he’s still hosting the event. City sources say that Lopez email was meant to address a prior discussion about the event. The sources said some event attendees were unhappy that the city planned to scale back from a 300-person tented event that provided access to stakeholders and community leaders but did not necessarily improve the lives of working Puerto Rican New Yorkers. A reception, more likely a breakfast or small luncheon, is being considered for the weekend of June 12, sources say, rather than an expensive nighttime event in difficult economic times. That’s the same weekend NYC’s iconic Puerto Rican Day Parade marches up Fifth Avenue. The gala had been planned for June 11. The Puerto Rican Heritage Committee says that date will hold. Puerto Rican Heritage Reception flyer for 2026 The committee, meanwhile, shared an updated flyer for the event in its release on Thursday, along with a letter to the mayor’s office. The flyer reads in part, “Join us to keep the tradition alive. This event has moved from the lobby of City Hall to the People’s House at Gracie Mansion, and now it continues in the community’s hands.” Read the letter. The Upper East Side mansion has hosted the Puerto Rican Heritage Reception since the 1990s. The yearly tradition brings together elected officials, community leaders, artists, and others. ...read more read less