New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani traveled to San Juan on Friday for a conversation with the Puerto Rican band Chuwi, putting Mamdani and Chuwi gentrification concerns at the center of a broader discussion about the island’s future. The sit-down was part of the annual Somos Conference, a four-day gathering where New York State lawmakers meet with Latino advocates in Puerto Rico. This year marked the conference’s 40th anniversary, and the mayor’s attendance is customary.
A Platform for Puerto Rican Voices
Chuwi, made up of siblings Lorén, Willy, and Wester along with their best friend Adrián, has built international recognition over the past two years. The group collaborated with Bad Bunny on the song “WELTiTA” from his Grammy-winning album DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS and later served as the opening act on his 59-date world tour. Their debut album, Libertad, released last month, addresses government corruption and the economic and social consequences of colonialist policies.
Mamdani’s visit focused on connecting the archipelago with the nearly 600,000 Puerto Ricans living in New York City. He said that Puerto Rican New Yorkers have expressed concern about displacement and gentrification, both in the neighborhoods they have helped build in the city and on the island itself. During his 72 hours in Puerto Rico, the mayor also met with coalitions and activist groups including Defend Cabo Rojo, FURIA, La Tejedora, and PR No Se Vende, all of which work against those challenges.
Artists as Truth-Tellers
Lorén opened the conversation by recalling her time in New York City the week before the 2025 election, describing the enthusiasm she witnessed for Mamdani’s campaign as inspiring for a Puerto Rican. Mamdani returned the compliment, praising the band for conveying important messages through their music without sacrificing artistic quality. He observed that speaking from outside a desk makes it easier to tell the truth and noted that artists have a unique privilege to speak out, with their music serving as a connection to home for many fans. Bad Bunny himself said last year that listening to Chuwi while living in Los Angeles before making DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS made him homesick.
Staying Connected to Constituents
Willy asked the mayor how he has managed to enact policies that other mayors could not. Mamdani said that elected officials become disconnected from the people they serve, describing an environment of tinted SUVs and private hotel rooms. He cited intentional habits such as biking around the city to stay grounded. He remarked that institutions change more slowly than people do, and that excessive patience can lead to complacency. The more time spent with residents, he said, the more impatient one remains, and he stressed the importance of keeping them around.
Chuwi raised the skepticism many citizens feel toward politicians, especially in Puerto Rico, which has suffered economically for nearly two decades, even before Hurricane María damaged its infrastructure in 2017. Mamdani acknowledged that skepticism, suggesting Puerto Ricans understand their history and recognize the gap between political promises and delivered results. He said inspiration is a stronger force than disillusionment and that he tries to wake each day ready to fight and to use pressure productively.
Willy also asked how the mayor handles mudslinging and negative rhetoric. Mamdani said that treating people who disagree harshly or judgmentally leads both sides to feel there must be a winner and a loser. He emphasized the importance of speaking with people beyond those who feel comfortable with him.
Looking Ahead
Mamdani then asked Chuwi about their plans. The band said they will return to cities they visited over the summer and hinted at a major tour of their own. The mayor playfully recalled his own time as an indie rapper performing under the alias Mr. Cardamom, describing the difficulty of his early years. He joked about being the opener to the opener to the opener and once performing at 5 p.m. for a band scheduled at 9 p.m., singing to seat savers. He said he was delighted by the possibility of Chuwi taking their music to different countries, because through that, others will hear and see their own struggles.
Lorén thanked the mayor and shared that her grandparents were among the families who moved to New York City during the post-WWII migration wave and married there. Her grandfather worked at a textile factory in the city. Mamdani stressed the importance of Puerto Ricans in New York’s history, particularly in organized labor movements. Willy closed the meeting by thanking the mayor for meeting with organizations working on the ground in Puerto Rico, emphasizing their goals of abolishing the island’s tax haven status, protecting the coastal maritime-terrestrial zone, and stopping large developments that threaten habitats, such as Esencia in Cabo Rojo and Moncayo in Fajardo. He noted that politicians in Puerto Rico will not meet with these groups unless in a courtroom or public hearings.
