Brooklyn to Host New Christopher Columbus Statue on Private Property

A newly formed nonprofit, the Preserving Italian Heritage Coalition, is planning to unveil a Christopher Columbus statue in Brooklyn this October. The project is led by New York State Assemblyman Lester Chang, a Chinese‑American representative of Bensonhurst and Dyker Heights. To sidestep the city approval process and opposition from Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the statue will be installed on private land at the John Hughes Club in Dyker Heights.

The coalition is seeking $100,000 to cover construction and future maintenance. Chang said the idea was inspired by the 2020 election and President Donald Trump’s Columbus Day proclamation. He highlighted his personal connection to the Italian‑American community, noting his father’s early work in an Italian restaurant. Mayor Mamdani, who previously posted a middle‑finger gesture toward a Columbus statue, is expected to oppose any public placement, prompting the private‑property strategy.