Dozens of New York City racial equity advocates gathered on Oct. 28 at City Hall to rally in support of Linda Tigani, claiming that Mayor Zohran Mamdani pushed to have her removed as executive director of the Commission on Racial Equity (CORE).
Chants of “Protect Linda” and “Racial equity is law, hands off CORE,” rang throughout the demonstration.
Later in the day, Mamdani announced at a Brooklyn press conference that Tigani’s term would be extended. The next day, he and City Council Speaker Julie Menin formally appointed Chris Alexander, leader of the NAACP New York State Conference, who is set to begin in the new role August 1, 2027.
“Our administration and residents across our city owe Linda Tigani thanks for her work to advance racial equity across the five boroughs,” said Mamdani in a statement released on Oct. 29. “I am confident (Alexander) will help us deliver for communities that have been historically underserved, while remaining undeterred in holding us accountable should we fall short.”
While Tigani’s three year term ended in July, she and others had sought for her to remain in the role as they point out their work relating to equity issues, including reparations, are at a critical juncture and felt she was being pushed out as a result of her calling out inaction from the Mamdani’s administration.
“It is the mayor’s job to uphold racial equity law. It is not his job to appeal racial equity law,” Tigani told the Amsterdam News. “This is not a moment, after holding him accountable, to undermine CORE’s work or independence. It is never acceptable.”
Mamdani reportedly had been attempting to replace Tigani with Alexander immediately citing his work as the first Executive Director of New York State’s Office of Cannabis Management. However, he would have needed the support of Menin, who has reportedly been resistant to the abrupt removal of Tigani, supporting the sentiments of her with her colleagues in the Black, Latino and Asian Caucus.
“We are deeply grateful that speaker Menin is holding the line and sees this for what it is,” Tigani said, regarding the speaker, who has reportedly been critical of Mamdani’s effort to replace her.. “My job is to hold the mayor accountable, to speak up and share what the community is telling us.”
CORE’s work has included hiring researchers studying how slavery and systemic racism has impacted African American New Yorkers with final recommendations for reparations, truth and reconciliation set to be announced in February 2027. Supporters say replacing her now would risk continuity and halt the momentum.
They also pointed out that CORE’s work is needed to address issues like deed theft, affordability, access to education, and police accountability.
“Our Black homes and land are being stolen right from under us,” Tigani said in her remarks. “The Commission on Racial Equity is the only government agency supporting and funding ending deed theft in Black and Brown communities.”
Under the New York City Charter, Section 3404, there are five charter mandates that are focused on holding the city accountable to the racial equity plan.
“The city has not upheld any of the work that they must do to advance racial equity according to the dates that are in the charter..The one date that is in the charter that the mayor wants to move on is the date to remove the chair and executive director,” Tigani shared.
The Amsterdam News reached out to the mayor’s office for a response, but officials have not specifically responded to requests to comment about the claims that TIgani was being pushed out.
“The Mayor has said we must be honest and accurate when it comes to our city’s complicity in the history of slavery, which is why he strongly supports the commission’s work to study reparations,” Jeremy Edwards, a spokesperson from the mayor’s office said.
Activists Push Back
“Without Linda Tigani, the deed theft work that we’ve been doing would be erased,” Evangeline Byers, leader with the Coalition to Stop Deed Theft said.
Byers contended there has been virtually no follow up to their work with the mayor’s office in the Office of Deed Theft Prevention established earlier this year.
“We were good enough to bring us in to establish an office of deed theft prevention. We were promised $10 million in funding. We have received nothing…Linda has been the anchor,” Byers continued.
In response to this claim, the mayor’s office told the Amsterdam News that their budget allocated $500,000 to the deed theft prevention office during this fiscal year and $1 million in the years after.
“Saying that you are going to put [in] someone from the NAACP does not move the people on the ground,” Tanesha Grant, founder and executive director of Parents Supporting Parents said. “As a Black organizer, I have never been able to call the NAACP. You know who I have been able to call? Linda Tigani….Linda is the connection to make sure the people are getting what they need in real time.”
Black Lives Matter Greater New York co-founder Hawk Newsome, had further criticism for Mamdani. “He has moved from conscious disregard to anti-Blackness,” Newsome said.
In addition to activist groups, elected officials including city councilmembers Farah Louis, Althea Stevens and Carmen De La Rosa spoke out at the rally.
“Under Linda’s leadership, every statutory deadline has been met,” Louis said at the rally. “Why would we disrupt a process that’s working…It risks delays and derailing a process that Black New Yorkers have waited generations to see.”
Carmen De La Rosa highlighted the perceived double standard and inconsistency with his stated commitment to racial equity with supporting Jessica Tisch as Police Commissioner while targeting Tigani.
“I don’t hear the buzz about removing Tisch, while I hear the call for Linda Tigani…a Black woman doing her job to make sure the abuses that we see on the ground do not continue to happen,” De La Rosa said. I’m asking the mayor, my friend, to not have two standards.”
Tigani looks to push forward with CORE’s work, noting that more community organizations can work alongside them to amplify their concerns.
“Community groups can partner with us. We will lend our resources to make sure they are as loud as possible…As an independent commission, we bring government and community together,” Tigani said.
