Mamdani Appoints Retired Lesbian As NYC Fire Commissioner

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani tapped retired New York City Fire Department (FDNY) veteran Lillian Bonsignore on Tuesday to lead the nation’s largest fire department.

Bonsignore will become the department’s first openly gay and second female fire commissioner when she assumes the role following Mamdani’s Jan. 1 inauguration, according to CBS News. Bonsignore accepted the appointment during a news conference at Fort Totten Park, home to the department’s EMS training academy, calling the role a solemn responsibility and pledging a deep commitment to the city.

“I am honored, so honored, and humbled to stand before you as the new fire commissioner,” Bonsignore said. “This appointment represents a significant responsibility, one I accept with humility, dedication, and a deep sense of commitment to the city and its people.”

Mamdani praised Bonsignore’s long service record and operational experience, saying the department’s work reaches every corner of the city and demands leadership rooted in firsthand knowledge.

“The work FDNY does stretches over every corner of our city. These are the heroes of our five boroughs who save lives on a moment’s notice, and they deserve a leader who cares about their work, because she did it herself, who understands every detail and who will [work] tirelessly to empower FDNY and make it the best firefighting force in the world,” Mamdani said. “In Lillian, that is exactly what we have. Her record speaks for itself — 31 years of service, the former FDNY chief of EMS Services, leadership on the front lines of 9/11 and the COVID pandemic.”

Mamdani added that Bonsignore’s leadership will focus on lowering response times and strengthening public trust in emergency services.

“I want Lillian’s leadership to be felt, not only as we continue to lower response times and save lives, but as we continue to ensure that FDNY is exactly who New Yorkers turn to [in] their times of need,” Mamdani said. “She is the kind of leader. I am so proud to have in my administration, and [who] possesses the kind of excellence that stands out, even in New York City, where she was born and raised.

Mamdani’s appointment of Bonsignore comes as he continues to finalize senior leadership roles ahead of his inauguration. The mayor-elect said he is retaining Department of Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol and Sanitation Commissioner Javier Lojan on an interim basis in the interest of continuity, according to CBS News.

Mamdani has previously tapped rapper Mysonne Linen, who served seven years in state prison for armed robbery, to sit on his transition team’s criminal legal system committee, even misspelling Linen’s name as “Mysoone” on the official roster. During a Friday appearance on “The Breakfast Club,” Linen repeatedly mispronounced Mamdani’s last name, cycling through several variations that appeared inaccurate.