New York City Emergency Management Director Zachary Iscol publicly denied reports of his resignation on September 23 and stated that he will continue to serve in his position.
Iscol reposted a Politico article about his supposed departure on X platform, where he wrote, “I do not intend to resign. I will focus on the daily work that New York City Emergency Management Agency needs to do.”
According to Politico’s report on September 23, multiple sources claimed that Iscol had expressed his desire to leave his current position on numerous occasions.
In response to Iscol’s denial of resigning, Politico’s Senior New York Editor Sally Goldenberg later posted on X, saying, “Iscol has told many people he wants to leave – some of whom, without conserving the secret, have told us.”
Goldenberg further stated that Iscol had told editor Michael Gartland an hour ago in a statement about his love for New York, “and there is no dispute about this (resignation report).”
Following the senior editor’s rebuttal in the media, Iscol posted again to acknowledge the report as “accurate” – indicating that he ultimately chose to stay.
In his post, Iscol wrote: “Their report is accurate, I have had multiple conversations about this, but I have decided that the right thing to do is to stay.”
On February 17, 2022, New York City Mayor Eric Adams appointed Iscol as the Director of the City’s Emergency Management Agency. Iscol previously served as a retired Navy veteran and the head of the non-profit healthcare organization “Headstrong Project,” which provides care services for thousands of veterans in 30 cities each week.
Additionally, Iscol ran for City Comptroller in June 2021, competing against the incumbent Comptroller Randy. However, Iscol lost in the Democratic primary.
According to a press release from the Mayor’s office, Iscol’s immediate superior is not Mayor Adams but Public Safety Deputy Mayor Philip Banks III, who is currently under FBI investigation and corruption allegations.
Since several of Mayor Adams’ core staff members have been investigated by the FBI and had their phones confiscated, former NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, former Chief Legal Advisor Lisa Zorberg have successively resigned, and current New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan recently tendered his resignation citing personal and family reasons, and will leave early next year.
With many high-ranking members of Adams’ administration seeking to leave amidst the controversy, Iscol’s decision on whether to stay or go has drawn significant media attention.