New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is looking to oust the chairwoman of the Big Apple’s Commission on Racial Equity.
Hizzoner and Linda Tigani haven’t seen eye to eye on implementing the city’s long-delayed racial equity plan, sparking criticism from the former social worker and community advocate after references to toxic diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) were removed from a draft of the committee report earlier this year.
Voters approved a ballot measure in 2022 that created the commission, with a mandate to implement “a study on Reparations and a Truth, Healing, and Reconciliation process.” Tigani has been the commission’s chair since 2023.
The New York Times first reported that the Uganda-born socialist was seeking to boot Tigani from her spot and replace her with Christopher Alexander, who serves as executive director of New York’s chapter of the NAACP, asking the City Council to sign off on the move.
NEW: @NYCMayor seeks to oust head of Commission on Racial Equity, over objections from City Council’s BLAC and some faith leaders, @JeffCMays reports:
https://t.co/dRiXT4eaFC via @NYTimes
— Sally Goldenberg (@SallyGold) October 28, 2026
“It takes a leader like Christopher Alexander to ensure we deliver on that vision and hold us accountable when we fall short. That’s because he has spent his career working in and outside of government advancing the cause of racial equity,” Mamdani said.
But the move drew instant protest from Tigani’s supporters in the black community, with protesters descending on City Hall on Wednesday bearing signs reading “Stand up to Zohran.”
The New York City Council’s Black, Latino and Asian Caucus fired off a letter to the mayor urging him to keep Tigani on board.
https://t.co/HMtSUXdORp
— NYC Black, Latino and Asian Caucus (@BLACaucusNYC) October 27, 2026
“The Council has entrusted CORE with significant responsibilities, including an expanded mandate under Local Laws 91 and 92 of 2024 to advance a truth, healing, and reconciliation process and a study on reparations related to slavery and its legacies in New York City,” the letter read.
“These responsibilities reflect deliberate legislative action taken by the Council and require sustained leadership, institutional knowledge, and meaningful community engagement. As this work enters a critical foundational stage, retaining Ms. Tigani would preserve continuity in its planning, partnerships, and implementation,” the caucus wrote, arguing that a change in leadership risks interruption of the process.
“He wants to put it under his thumb, because she criticized him,” one insider said, according to the New York Post. “You can’t retaliate against someone because they are criticizing their administration.”
“The one commission that is supposed to deal with issues in the black community, and he tries to fire her,” the insider added.
According to The New York Times, Tigani described Mamdani’s effort to kick her to the curb as a “deeply political decision” that “undermines the independence” of the commission.
Tigani also called into question Mamdani’s “commitment to racial equity and justice” and suggested that she was being treated differently because she’s black, pointing out that white New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch is allowed to stay in her position despite complaints from civil libertarians and advocates for police reform.
“So you’re willing to keep Jessica Tisch, who is allowing for our people to be beaten and killed with no accountability to officers,” she said. “But the black woman that’s holding you accountable in racial equity, this is the leadership that you’re saying you don’t want in the city.”
The backlash has caused the mayor to at least temporarily back off on replacing Tigani.
“Alongside the City Council, we have agreed to extend her term to next summer, and we’re excited to work with that same council to put forward Christopher Alexander as the next Commissioner,” Mamdani said at a Wednesday news conference.
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