Mother's Survival of Two WTC Attacks Becomes Focal Point in NYC Mayoral Race Controversy

New York City's contentious mayoral race has intensified with a powerful personal account shared by resident Fil Aronshtein, whose mother survived both the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Aronshtein publicly criticized mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, asserting that his political stance demonstrates a profound disconnection from the city's shared experience of these tragedies. This emotional testimony emerges amidst a heated campaign marked by controversial exchanges regarding the legacy of 9/11.

Aronshtein's mother, a Jewish immigrant from the Soviet Union, was employed as a mainframe programmer at Morgan Stanley in the World Trade Center. She was working on the 67th floor of the 2nd Building during the 1993 attack and on the 56th floor during 9/11, having been relocated there just weeks prior. Recalling the earlier bombing, her "gut instinct was to get out of there" on 9/11, prompting her and several coworkers to evacuate the South Tower before the second plane hit.

Morgan Stanley was a major tenant in the South Tower (2 WTC) on September 11, 2001, with approximately 2,700 to 3,700 employees present. The company's head of security, Rick Rescorla, is widely credited with the successful evacuation of nearly all Morgan Stanley personnel, resulting in only 13 fatalities. This highly organized and swift response, honed through rigorous drills, is recognized for saving thousands of lives.

Aronshtein's social media post directly challenged Mamdani, stating, "> For someone running for MAYOR of New York City to have such little understanding of this core truth, to go as far as to try to leverage it in a POLITICAL COUNTER-MESSAGE OF SHAMING AND RALLYING, is to admit that they are fundamentally disconnected from the reality of what it means to be a New Yorker." He emphasized that 9/11 represented "a New Founding" for the city, shaping its "grit and tenacity."

The criticism follows a series of recent controversies where Mamdani, the Democratic nominee, has faced accusations from opponents, including former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who made remarks implying Mamdani would "cheer" another 9/11. Mamdani has vehemently condemned these comments as "racist" and "disgusting," while also addressing the Islamophobia he and other Muslims experienced in the aftermath of the attacks. Vice President JD Vance also attacked Mamdani for comments about his aunt feeling unsafe after 9/11 due to Islamophobia.

Concluding his emotional account, Aronshtein urged New Yorkers to carefully consider the implications of Mamdani's candidacy. He asserted, "> If we want our city to continue to survive and thrive, we simply cannot," implying Mamdani's unsuitability for office based on his perceived insensitivity to the city's 9/11 legacy. His mother's remarkable survival of two terrorist attacks on the same iconic landmark serves as a poignant backdrop to this intense political debate.