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Two ex-mayors, Gov. Kathy Hochul and NYPD Commish Jessica Tisch stood in solidary with the Big Apple’s Jewish community for the Israel Day Parade on Sunday, while Mayor Zohran Mamdani instead spent the day touting his 2029 re-election bid — and riding his bike.
Former Mayors Eric Adams and Michael Bloomberg joined the unifying celebration along with thousands of New Yorkers on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, as did Hochul, the city’s top cop and a slew of other leaders and elected officials across the state.
Bloomberg, a staunch Israel supporter who marched in the parade for all 12 years he was in office, wore blue and white and waved the flag of Israel as he walked beside Tisch.
The crowd started chanting “We miss you, Mike!” and “Jessie for mayor!” when they saw the pair marching behind the Police Department’s banner, flanked by a cadre of New York’s Finest.
Tisch last week stood beside her boss Mamdani at a press conference about security at the event and said, “It’s the mayor’s decision not to march, and it’s my decision to march proudly.”
Adams, who also attended the parade every year of his administration and earned his own cheers for his presence Sunday, trolled Mamdani in an X video.
“At a time when antisemitism is rising across our country and Jewish New Yorkers are facing hatred, intimidation and attacks at unprecedented levels, you cannot afford silence,” Adams said in a video.
A parade-goer shouted as Adams started marching, “The real mayor is here, Mr. Adams!”
Rabbi Yoav, 59, of the Lower East Side yelled, “We miss you, Mayor Adams!”
No-Show Zo meanwhile spent his morning on a call-in radio show gushing about how much he loves the job and can’t wait to run for a second term — just months into his first term and more than three years from the next mayoral election.
Mamdani then went out for a leisurely Sunday afternoon bike ride, bizarrely wearing a white collared dress shirt, black suit and dress shoes as he peddled around — without a helmet.
Helmets are required for bicycle-riders under age 14 and strongly recommended by Mamdani’s administration — which encouraged their use just last month with a slew of free-helmet giveaways.
“A safe bike ride is a good bike ride,” Mamdani said in a city press release touting the event. “Safe cycling starts with the right gear, like a well-fit helmet.’
The mayor, who is Muslim and has long been a vocal critic of Israel — supporting the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement the country and not recognizing it as the Jewish state — has made no secret of the fact he wasn’t showing up to Sunday’s parade.
“While I will not be attending the Israel Day Parade, my lack of attendance should not be mistaken for a refusal to provide security or the necessary permits for its safety,” he told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency in October.
“I’ve been very clear: I believe in equal rights for all people — everywhere. That principle guides me consistently.”
Blakeman, the GOP hopeful for governor in November, told The Post on Sunday, “I’m glad he’s not here.
“We don’t need a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”
Mamdani’s conspicuous snub of the unifying parade is a staggering break with tradition and might be the first time a city mayor has skipped the parade since its 1964 inception.
But in a history-making precedent from another prominent Muslim, interfaith activist Anila Ali, founder of the American Muslim & Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council, led the first-ever Muslim group to march in the parade.
Ali and the group walked tall along 5th Avenue despite being hit with threats and intimidation tactics at every turn, from random phone calls warning them to wear bulletproof vests to lefty loon city Councilwoman Shahana Hanif saying she hoped pro-Israel Muslim organizers like Ali be condemned “to Jahannam” — the Islamic equivalent of hell.
All in all, Mamdani’s absence didn’t seem to put a damper on other attendees, who told The Post they’d rather not see him there, anyway.
“He’s disgusting, and it’s better off that he’s not here. There would be a lot of angry people if he was here,” said Stella Englard, 41, of Westchester County, while waving an Israeli flag.
“He’s the most divisive mayor that I have seen in my lifetime. This is the first time a mayor has not been to the Israel Day Parade. That tells you everything you need to know,” she said, adding he hasn’t showed an “ounce of support for the Jewish people.”
Hedy Aldima, of Brooklyn, who wore a t shirt reading “F–k Mamdani,” said, First of all, we don’t want him here.
“We don’t need him here.”
In what is almost certainly a low blow, she compared the Democratic Socialist mayor to one of his most least-liked predecessors to emphasize her distaste for his administration.
“At one time I thought [Bill] DeBlasio was the worst mayor. This guy makes him look like a cupcake,” she said.
“DeBlasio was the worst mayor there ever was of time. This guy takes it all away from him.”
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