NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch apologized to Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani after her brother called him an “enemy” of Jewish people, the mayor-elect said Thursday.
Benjamin Tisch, who is the commissioner's younger brother and CEO of the Loews Corporation, criticized Mamdani on Wednesday night during remarks at a Met Council gala, according to the Daily News.
Benjamin Tisch's remarks come two weeks after Mamdani announced he would keep Commissioner Tisch in her role. But the partnership between the scion of one of the city’s wealthiest families and the democratic socialist mayor-elect will be tested by their political and policy differences. Mamdani has faced strong opposition from parts of the Jewish community over his criticism of Israel and past defense of the slogan “globalize the intifada.”
Mamdani, who will be the city’s first Muslim mayor, was asked about Benjamin Tisch’s comments during a press conference in Gramercy Park on Thursday.
“The commissioner apologized to my team for those remarks, and I look forward to being a mayor for each and every New Yorker, including Jewish New Yorkers,” Mamdani said. The mayor-elect has vowed to appoint a senior adviser to tackle antisemitism upon taking office.
In a statement, the police commissioner said, “I understand the fear in the Jewish community. My sincere belief is that the mayor-elect will live up to the commitment he’s made to be a mayor for all New Yorkers, including the Jewish community.”
Tisch previously alluded to her differences with her incoming boss in an internal email to the police department. “Do the Mayor-elect and I agree on everything? No, we don’t,” she wrote.
Tisch has blamed bail reform for rising crime while Mamdani has cited studies refuting that. She's called abolishing the gang database — which Mamdani has vowed to do — "dangerous." Mamdani has praised Tisch for rooting out corruption within the department.
During the mayoral race, several members of the Tisch family donated more than $1 million to a super PAC for Andrew Cuomo.
A spokesperson for Loews did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Benjamin Tisch’s comments came two days after Marc Rowan, the CEO of private equity firm Apollo Global Management, called Mamdani “our enemy” at another Jewish charity gala. Rowan accused Mamdani of normalizing antisemitism.
The episode was the latest example of how Mamdani continues to face allegations of antisemitism and questions about how he will protect Jewish New Yorkers.
Mamdani was criticized last month for his response to a protest over an Upper East Side synagogue that rents space to a group that helps Jews relocate to Israel, including the West Bank. Protesters shouted “globalize the intifada” and “death to the IDF.”
Mamdani said he discouraged use of such language, but added that “these sacred spaces should not be used to promote activities in violation of international law.”
The police commissioner reportedly apologized to the synagogue.
