Democratic mayoral hopeful Zoran Mamdani faced questions on Wednesday regarding his connection to Hasan Piker but chose not to engage with them.
Oren Barzilay, the head of EMS Local 2507, which represents about 4,100 paramedics and EMTs in the city, criticized Mamdani for not addressing his ties with Piker, a Twitch streamer known for his controversial remarks. Barzilay described the situation as “co-disease,” stating that it was unacceptable for Mamdani to associate with someone who has made disparaging comments, particularly about events like 9/11.
“It’s outrageous to think we could date someone who believes America deserved what happened on 9/11. That suggests Mamdani might share similar views,” Barzilay added.
During a press conference in the Bronx, which focused on upcoming World Cup events, Mamdani deflected questions about Piker. Instead, he stated, “I’m here to talk about the World Cup.”
The scrutiny surrounding Mamdani’s relationship with Piker surfaced just before the anniversary of the tragic terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, which claimed nearly 3,000 lives.
In a related incident, a 9/11 first responder named Saltartulich, who is now battling stage 4 neurogenic cancer, denounced Mamdani during an interview with Piker, aligning himself with Mayor Andrew Cuomo’s stance.
Barzilay, representing a community that has faced ongoing health issues since 9/11, emphasized the lingering impact of the attacks. He remarked, “Twenty-four years later, we’re still dealing with the aftermath. It’s far from over.” His union had previously backed Cuomo during the Democratic primary.
Fire Chief Tom von Essen expressed frustration, stating that if Mamdani weren’t connected to Piker, he would confront him directly. “I want to punch him in the face,” he said regarding Piker’s comments.
Jim McCaffrey, who responded during the 9/11 attacks, noted that Mamdani has not condemned Piker’s remarks about the attacks. He stated, “There’s no neutral ground when it comes to 9/11; that’s just unacceptable.”
Mamdani’s repeated avoidance of straightforward answers regarding Piker raised concerns for some, including Debra Burlingame, whose brother was a pilot killed in the attacks. She stated, “This is not leadership.” Instead of addressing the controversy, Mamdani redirected issues toward Cuomo when pressed by reporters.
His campaign later suggested that Cuomo was employing anti-Muslim tactics by linking Mamdani to Piker, who is a Muslim himself. Meanwhile, critics online noted that Democratic candidates often revisit the same themes every year for the 9/11 anniversary, which can feel somewhat disingenuous.
