Top Democrats call on de Blasio to re-fire hateful son of ex-FDNY commissioner
City Comptroller Scott Stringer and Public Advocate Letitia James called on Mayor de Blasio Monday to rescind the Fire Department’s rehiring of Joseph Cassano, who had been forced to quit in 2013 after making hateful remarks about blacks, Jews and women.
They were joined by more than a dozen Democratic City Council members on the steps of City Hall in railing against the mayor’s support for what amounts to a promotion of Cassano, 28, the son of former Fire Commissioner Sal Cassano.
The younger Cassano was quietly hired back as an EMT in 2015 and was officially sworn in as a firefighter on Monday.
“When our city government hires a person who has a known history of racist tweeting, our own government is, therefore, tolerating it and validating it,” Stringer said.
“Well, that’s not the government we believe in.”
James called the personnel move “embarrassing,” “appalling” and “shocking.”
“It’s time for the commissioner and the mayor to stop this promotion — to say no to bigotry,” she said.
Last week, de Blasio defended the rehiring of Cassano, even as he acknowledged the former EMT’s comments had been “unacceptable.”
“[I] am someone who believes in redemption,” Hizzoner said when asked about the move.
City officials said Monday that Cassano had expressed remorse for his behavior, sought counseling from a rabbi, and volunteered with two organizations before returning to work as an EMT.
Before resigning in 2013, he had publicly posted messages on social media including that he liked Jews “about as much as hitler [sic].”