Activist Takeover? Mamdani’s Picks Fuel Fears of Radical Shift

Paul Riverbank, 12/16/2025Mayor-elect Mamdani’s progressive staffing choices, led by Ramzi Kassem, ignite fierce discussion about City Hall’s future—drawing both praise for bold change and sharp warnings of deepening political division.

Take Ramzi Kassem. A Professor at CUNY’s law school, he’s suddenly found himself at the center of the commotion. Mamdani is reportedly set on appointing Kassem as Chief Counsel—a position that wields significant legal authority inside the corridors of city government. Kassem’s legal résumé reads like a flashpoint—his defense of Ahmed al-Darbi, infamously tied to a 2002 al Qaeda attack on a French oil tanker, is the chief example critics cite. Years later, he took on the high-profile immigration case of Mahmoud Khalil, turning his legal advocacy into headlines during Khalil’s over three-month-long detention by ICE.

This pattern, some say, smacks of an activist streak. Ken Frydman, a Democratic operative not usually caught clutching pearls, framed it bluntly: “Everyone’s entitled to legal representation...even Mahmoud Khalil. But that doesn’t mean Ramzi Kassem had to represent him.” The message: legal principle is one thing, but public perception, especially among certain communities, is another.

Past words and columns from Kassem’s academic life are being exhumed, adding kindling to the controversy. He referred to an “Israeli wrap” as offensive, accused Israel of conduct he termed “ethnic cleansing,” and dismissed the two-state solution outright. Some tie his academic ties—a Columbia Law fellowship linked to Soros family philanthropy—to a broader, more activist agenda.

Not all of his work stirs this kind of opposition. Back in 2009, Kassem founded a legal clinic at CUNY aiming to serve Muslim and immigrant communities, with much of its support—over $3 million in all—flowing from George Soros’ Open Society Foundations. That same work, which has earned him recognition from advocacy groups such as CAIR, now faces fresh scrutiny because CAIR itself was recently tagged as a foreign terrorist organization by the states of Texas and Florida, a move as controversial as it is unprecedented.

But Kassem isn’t the only lightning rod. Jack Gross, a prodigious fundraiser for Mamdani, is being scrutinized for social media posts that celebrate anti-NYPD demonstrations and critique America in language that is, at best, jarring for more conservative ears. His affection for Karl Marx and sharp condemnation of ICE aligns with Mamdani’s activist reputation, but now, as a newly-named member of the transition team’s economic development committee, those old messages are being pored over with renewed rigor.

On top of that, Mysonne Linen, a rapper whose past includes time in prison, and Lumumba Bandele, identified with Black nationalist circles and known for controversial remarks about law enforcement, have joined the transition team. A misspelling in an early memo led some observers to overlook Bandele’s inclusion at first, a detail emblematic of how quickly events are unfolding—and how easily loaded names escape initial notice.

Where some see a slate of bold, community-oriented advocates, critics warn the city is stepping into a period of militant change. “Mamdani hiring terror apologists is the least surprising news ever,” cracked one detractor on Twitchy. Another commentator went further, arguing the appointments confirm long-held suspicions about the administration’s ambitions.

No one from Mamdani’s camp has stepped forward to defend the choices, at least not in public. Their silence, as is often the case in politics, speaks almost as loudly as any press release.

For now, the city waits. Hopes for transformation, anxieties over division—these emotions now swirl around every name added to the roster. And as the inauguration looms, the direction of the next city government remains a matter of speculation, applause, and real concern, depending on whom you ask. One thing’s clear: each new appointment is more than just a personnel matter—it’s a signal, and not everyone’s reading it the same way.

As City Hall prepares for its changing of the guard, there’s a charge in the air—a sense that Zohran Mamdani’s new administration is already making waves, even before official business gets underway. It’s not just the policies people are studying; eyes have turned to the people being tapped for top seats, with many whispers about how much the leftward tilt is about to become the new normal.Take Ramzi Kassem. A Professor at CUNY’s law school, he’s suddenly found himself at the center of the commotion. Mamdani is reportedly set on appointing Kassem as Chief Counsel—a position that wields significant legal authority inside the corridors of city government. Kassem’s legal résumé reads like a flashpoint—his defense of Ahmed al-Darbi, infamously tied to a 2002 al Qaeda attack on a French oil tanker, is the chief example critics cite. Years later, he took on the high-profile immigration case of Mahmoud Khalil, turning his legal advocacy into headlines during Khalil’s over three-month-long detention by ICE.This pattern, some say, smacks of an activist streak. Ken Frydman, a Democratic operative not usually caught clutching pearls, framed it bluntly: “Everyone’s entitled to legal representation...even Mahmoud Khalil. But that doesn’t mean Ramzi Kassem had to represent him.” The message: legal principle is one thing, but public perception, especially among certain communities, is another.Past words and columns from Kassem’s academic life are being exhumed, adding kindling to the controversy. He referred to an “Israeli wrap” as offensive, accused Israel of conduct he termed “ethnic cleansing,” and dismissed the two-state solution outright. Some tie his academic ties—a Columbia Law fellowship linked to Soros family philanthropy—to a broader, more activist agenda.Not all of his work stirs this kind of opposition. Back in 2009, Kassem founded a legal clinic at CUNY aiming to serve Muslim and immigrant communities, with much of its support—over $3 million in all—flowing from George Soros’ Open Society Foundations. That same work, which has earned him recognition from advocacy groups such as CAIR, now faces fresh scrutiny because CAIR itself was recently tagged as a foreign terrorist organization by the states of Texas and Florida, a move as controversial as it is unprecedented.But Kassem isn’t the only lightning rod. Jack Gross, a prodigious fundraiser for Mamdani, is being scrutinized for social media posts that celebrate anti-NYPD demonstrations and critique America in language that is, at best, jarring for more conservative ears. His affection for Karl Marx and sharp condemnation of ICE aligns with Mamdani’s activist reputation, but now, as a newly-named member of the transition team’s economic development committee, those old messages are being pored over with renewed rigor.On top of that, Mysonne Linen, a rapper whose past includes time in prison, and Lumumba Bandele, identified with Black nationalist circles and known for controversial remarks about law enforcement, have joined the transition team. A misspelling in an early memo led some observers to overlook Bandele’s inclusion at first, a detail emblematic of how quickly events are unfolding—and how easily loaded names escape initial notice.Where some see a slate of bold, community-oriented advocates, critics warn the city is stepping into a period of militant change. “Mamdani hiring terror apologists is the least surprising news ever,” cracked one detractor on Twitchy. Another commentator went further, arguing the appointments confirm long-held suspicions about the administration’s ambitions.No one from Mamdani’s camp has stepped forward to defend the choices, at least not in public. Their silence, as is often the case in politics, speaks almost as loudly as any press release.For now, the city waits. Hopes for transformation, anxieties over division—these emotions now swirl around every name added to the roster. And as the inauguration looms, the direction of the next city government remains a matter of speculation, applause, and real concern, depending on whom you ask. One thing’s clear: each new appointment is more than just a personnel matter—it’s a signal, and not everyone’s reading it the same way.