NYC mayoral candidate under fire for 'disrespecting' firefighters

New York Post

24-05-2025

Socialist NYC mayoral wannabe Zohran Mamdani has a long track record of burning New Yorkers as a state legislator by pushing an anti-firefighting agenda, smoke eaters and other critics told The Post.
The Queens assemblyman — who is polling second behind ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo in a crowded race to become the Democratic mayoral nominee — has shown a complete lack of respect for firefighters and other first-responders since taking office in 2021, according to Nicholas Spinelli, chief of the West Hamilton Beach Fire Department in Queens.
It's shocking that the Queens assemblyman has repeatedly refused to sign off an annual, non-controversial resolution simply commemorating May 4 as 'Volunteer Firefighters Day,' Spinelli said.
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4 Socialist mayoral wannabe Zohran Mamdani has a long track record of taking anti-firefighting stances as a state legislator — and critics are burning mad over it.
Kevin C Downs forThe New York Post
And bringing his lefty policies to City Hall would likely cause already-surging emergency response times to rise even more, he warned.
'It seems like he has a complete disregard for public safety,' said Spinelli.
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Mamdani was also one of the few Assembly Democrats to vote against a bill eventually signed into law creating a task force to help with recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters in New York.
In 2023, he also voted against providing $25 million to volunteer fire departments statewide for new equipment and facilities and another $10 million to provide stipends to volunteer firefighters for offset training costs. The pots of cash were delivered anyway through the state budget.
The city is home to eight other volunteer fire departments, including 123-year-old Richmond Engine Co. 1 on Staten Island and others in Broad Channel, Queens, and Gerritsen Beach in Brooklyn.
Spinelli and other critics are also peeved with Mamdani for appearing in a 2021 satirical video with Sen. Jamari Brisport (D-Brooklyn) pushing socialized healthcare statewide.
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4 Mandani (right) with Sen. Jamari Brisport (D-Brooklyn) in a 2021 video that critics say mocked firefighters to push socialized healthcare.
nyhcampaign.org
4 Mamdani is second to only ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo (pictured) in most polls about the Democratic mayoral primary.
Robert Miller
In the segment, both socialist lawmakers donned FDNY uniforms and pretended to be lazy firefighters who wouldn't put out a nearby blaze because they didn't have the right paperwork – a shot taken at insurers who refuse to honor legitimate healthcare claims.
4 Richmond Engine Co. 1, a 123-year-old volunteer fire department on Staten Island.
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'Assemblyman Mamdani has real lack of respect for our firefighters, and that's simply unacceptable,' said Council Minority Leader Joann Ariola (R-Queens).
'The fact that a politician would make videos mocking our first responders and vote against legislation to help them is truly troubling, especially for a mayoral candidate.'
Mamdani has previously come under fire for refusing to sign off on two other resolutions this year besides the measure supporting volunteer firefighters, including one denouncing the Holocaust and another celebrating Israel's 77th anniversary.
'Zohran is deeply grateful to the men and women of the FDNY for their exemplary public service — rushing towards danger when others flee and saving countless lives,' said a Mamdani campaign spokesperson.
'He is running to make New York City safer and more affordable for them, their families and communities.'
The campaign, however, didn't address the criticism about the pol's lack of support for volunteer firefighters.