August 20, 2026 NEW YORK, NY A fierce political battle is threatening to boil over at Ground Zero ahead of the milestone 25th anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks, prompting a firm rebuke from top city leadership.
New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin has forcefully rejected mounting demands to bar Mayor Zohran Mamdani from attending the solemn annual ceremony, labeling the orchestrated push "absolutely inappropriate."
Appearing on WNYC’s The Brian Lehrer Show, Menin pushed back directly against a growing online petition targeting the mayor’s presence, as well as aggressive calls from Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman for attendees to stage a protest by turning their backs on Mamdani if he appears.
"I don't agree with that at all," Menin declared, emphasizing that sacred memorial grounds are no place for partisan warfare.
A Sacred Tradition Under Siege
The standard for 9/11 commemorations has long favored quiet dignity over political posturing. Elected officials traditionally remain strictly in the background while the grieving family members of victims read aloud the names of the nearly 3,000 people killed.
Menin—who served on the jury that selected the 9/11 memorial design, sits on its foundation board, and chaired Manhattan Community Board 1 during the brutal post-9/11 recovery years—reminded listeners that keeping politics out of the space was entirely by design.
"One of the things that the Memorial Museum, one of the things that we did is we made sure that there was no politicization of the events of 9/11 when we are honoring those lives that were lost," Menin stressed. She credited former Mayor Michael Bloomberg with setting the precedent to eliminate political speeches from the podium altogether. "So, those that are trying to politicize this, what is happening on the 25th anniversary, I think that that is unfortunate."
Despite the political friction, Menin and Mamdani recently collaborated on city legislation, securing a $34.2 million portal dedicated to releasing post-9/11 air quality and health records to the public.
Deep Fractures Among 9/11 Families
The push to keep Mamdani away stems from a petition organized by critics who argue that his political endorsements, appointments, and record run counter to the spirit of the memorial service.
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, whose nephew died in the South Tower, spearheaded the call for an overt display of disapproval, urging attendees to stage a silent protest on the plaza.
"I think there’s a respectful and peaceful way to protest that, and I would suggest that people turn their back on the mayor," Blakeman stated, asserting that the mayor is simply "not welcome there."
Yet, the family community remains deeply divided over the issue. Other surviving relatives argue that turning the solemn gathering into a political theater undermines the memory of those lost.
Elizabeth Miller, project director of September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, whose father perished in the attacks, insisted the mayor belongs at the event.
