“I don’t speak because I have the power to speak; I speak because I don’t have the power to remain silent.” Rav Kook z"l

Wednesday, November 5, 2025

Jewish FDNY chief resigns on the same day city elects socialist mayor Zohran Mamdani

 


New York City's Fire Department Commissioner reportedly handed in his letter of resignation hours after Zohran Mamdani was elected mayor of the city. 

Robert Tucker, who is Jewish, will step down from his position with the city's fire department on December 19, sources told The New York Post

His resignation came hours after Democratic Socialist Mamdani, who is anti-Israel, defeated Republican Curtis Sliwa and former state governor Andrew Cuomo

It remains unclear exactly why he tendered his resignation. The Daily Mail has approached Tucker for further comment. 

A source told the New York Daily News that there were no talks between Tucker and Mamdani's team about him staying on in his role under the new mayor. 

The same source added that due to Tucker's religion and pro-Israel stance the commissioner felt that he wouldn't fit in well with Mamdani and his team. 

According to the Post, Tucker will make a return to running a private security firm he had led before joining Mayor Eric Adams' administration. 

The Post also reported that Tucker was set to fly to Israel later today to meet with a fellow fire commissioner. 

Mamdani's win, which saw him take over 50 percent of the vote, means he will become the city's first Muslim mayor. 

He told supporters: 'I am Muslim. I am a democratic socialist. And most damning of all, I refuse to apologize for any of this.'

The 34-year-old directly addressed the president, saying: 'Donald Trump, since I know you're watching, I have four words for you: turn the volume up!'


Relatively unknown as a state assemblymember when the race for City Hall stared, he gained momentum by running a campaign focused on affordability.

His campaign pushed populist ideas like free public buses, rent freezes for rent-stabilized apartments, and grocery stores that would be owned by the city. 

In his ferocious speech promising a 'new dawn' for New York, he quoted late socialist politician Eugene Debs. 

He also bragged about 'toppling a political dynasty' and launched into a blistering attack against Trump - who has called Mamdani a 'communist'.

'If any city can show a nation how to stop Donald Trump, it is the city that gave rise to him,' said Mamdani.

The race was called almost immediately as polls closed at 9pm, with the vote tally at its highest for the mayor's race since 1969, as over two million people had already voted before closing. 

Cuomo conceded just before 11pm, congratulating Mamdani to boos from his supporters before expressing no regrets in his comeback bid. 

Tucker was only brought in as commissioner last August, having no actual experience as a firefighter. 

His father Barry Tucker held a copy of a Tanach that was used at Tucker's bar mitzvah during his swearing in ceremony alongside Mayor Adams. 

Gothamist report emerged last December that highlighted how just six weeks before being sworn in, eight employees from Tucker's firm donated to Adams' re-election campaign. 

The Campaign Finance Board flagged the payments as they all came from employees of the same firm, on the same day, raising questions. 

The donations flagged were for $200 each and were all made on June 30 of last year, Adams appointed Tucker on August 12. 

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