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4d ago

Musk Denounces Mamdani’s Pick of EMS Veteran Lillian Bonsignore to Lead FDNY

The dispute turns on whether the FDNY’s civilian commissioner must have firefighting credentials.

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In November, ahead of the mayoral election, Musk backed Andrew Cuomo on X and criticized both Mamdani and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.
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Overview

  • Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani announced Tuesday that former FDNY EMS chief Lillian Bonsignore will become commissioner when he takes office on Jan. 1.
  • Bonsignore is a 31-year FDNY veteran who retired in 2022 and has not served as a firefighter, and she would be the department’s first openly gay commissioner and second woman to lead it.
  • Elon Musk wrote on X that "people will die because of this," echoing conservative critics who argue her lack of firefighting experience makes the choice unsafe.
  • Mamdani and supporters cite her leadership during the COVID-19 crisis and emphasize that the commissioner role is a civilian, managerial position as most 911 calls involve EMS.
  • The New York Post reports the three FDNY unions have endorsed her appointment, which follows the recent resignations and interim leadership shifts under outgoing Mayor Eric Adams.