On Tuesday evening, I observed pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathering in midtown Manhattan to mark a particularly tragic event: the October 7, 2023, attack on innocent Israelis by Hamas.
The scene was quite disturbing on multiple levels. I saw masked protesters marching down Sixth Avenue, shouting slogans like “From the River to the Sea” and “Israel Does Not Exist,” creating an unsettling atmosphere for people leaving work.
They effectively brought traffic to a standstill during peak hours to present their twisted narrative of history.
This demonstration ought to be a serious wake-up call for the city’s leaders, including business executives, especially as we head into next month’s mayoral election where more violent events seem likely.
It’s genuinely alarming that political figures are seemingly oblivious to this escalating situation in New York City.
It should be emphasized that a significant police presence was necessary to manage this potentially volatile crowd and avoid more serious confrontations.
That night, I was supposed to attend a concert at Carnegie Hall.
As I maneuvered through protesters, nearly getting caught in clashes between different groups, I chatted with a police officer. I asked him a basic question that many New Yorkers might be pondering: “How is this allowed?”
Currently, City Hall is led by Eric Adams, a former police officer, but his time there is limited. He just bowed out of the upcoming mayoral race, largely because of ethical concerns that have made him unelectable, despite some success in lowering crime rates.
I find it mildly ironic because, honestly, living conditions in this city still leave much to be desired. The subway system continues to feel unsafe, and the issue of homelessness is pervasive.
The reason the police permitted that troubling protest on October 7th lies in Adams’ controversial interpretation of the state’s right to assemble.
During the Giuliani administration, permits were mandatory, and gatherings were restricted to designated areas.
However, when Bill de Blasio took over, it seemed like any protest was fair game under the guise of First Amendment rights, allowing disturbing chants like “From the River to the Sea” to echo through Sixth Avenue.
grim outlook
And if anything, conditions are likely to deteriorate further—this is something our city’s leaders need to grasp urgently.
Aside from ethical issues, Adams has shown more support for moderate mayoral candidates, stepping back from his campaign to prevent Zoran Mamdani, a declared Marxist opponent of Israel, from taking office after the November 4 election.
Adams is probably going to endorse fellow “moderate” former Governor Andrew Cuomo in the race this week, but realistically, it probably won’t change much, especially since Cuomo has his own controversies.
The election seems to be mainly a three-way battle, with Republican Curtis Sliwa, the Guardian Angels founder, polling at about 15%.
This places Mamdani well ahead in a city that tends to lean left—he currently stands at 46% compared to Cuomo’s 33%.
With the election looming in less than a month, one would expect Cuomo and Sliwa to ramp up their campaigns against Mamdani’s radical agenda.
They’ve made a few attempts to criticize him, but their efforts feel somewhat subdued.
Where is their detailed plan to rejuvenate the economy while exposing how leftist policies like Mamdani’s could be disastrous, particularly with excessive taxes and calls to defund police?
And why haven’t they clearly stated that protests celebrating a tragic October 7 would not take place if they were in power?
What about business leaders, like Kathy Wilde from the Partnership for New York City? Why haven’t they taken a stand, declaring “Enough is enough!”?
With so much at stake, it’s crucial for them to hold Cuomo and Sliwa accountable.
The city does have a rich history of ethnic parades, celebrating pride like the recent events honoring Christopher Columbus.
This protest, however, felt very different.
Why is there support for chaos while simultaneously allowing lawlessness to undermine civility?
“You’ll have to ask the city about that,” the officer said, shaking my hand as we parted ways.
far left vision
It’s clear that Mamdani is vocal about his vision, which includes left-leaning views on taxes that could harm businesses and aggressive police policies.
Nevertheless, he’s committed to fighting for his beliefs, and unless something significant changes, he looks set to become the next mayor.
After managing to host an event at Carnegie Hall, a venue that speaks volumes about New York’s culture and economic history, I felt the weight of the room.
As I mingled with bankers and lawyers, particularly those involved with the New York City Partnership, I couldn’t shake the feeling that they remain largely unaware of the impending challenges facing the city and their role in allowing these developments to unfold.
