New York State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani recently appointed Judge Milton Tingling to his Advisory Committee on the Judiciary. This decision comes amid a lawsuit alleging that Tingling, who also serves as board chair of the West Harlem Development Corporation, failed to address discriminatory behavior by that organization's leadership.
The friction between Mamdani’s committee and the West Harlem Development Corporation
The appointment of Judge Milton Tingling to the Advisory Committee on the Judiciary has created a political flashpoint due to his concurrent leadership role at a controversial non-profit. According to court papers,Tingling was appointed to Mamdani's committee last month, even as he holds the position of board chair at the West Harlem Development Corporation (WHDC).
This dual role is significant because the WHDC is currently embroiled in legal action involving allegations of systemic discrimination.. The intersection of a judicial advisory role and a leadership position at an organization accused of misconduct raises questions about the vetting process used by Assemblyman Mamdani's office before finalizing the appointment.
Zaed Ramadan’s alleged use of code words to mask antisemitism
A lawsuit filed against the West Harlem Development Corporation alleges that Executive Director Zaed Ramadan engaged in a pattern of unprofessional and ethnically offensive behavior. As the report states, the legal filing claims that Ramadan used specific "code words" to make antisemitic remarks while attemting to avoid direct accusations of bigotry.
The allegations against Ramadan are extensive, including claims that he asserted Jewish individuals control the politics of New York City. The report also notes that Ramadan is a board member of the Council on American and Islamic Relations and maintains ties to an imam who was identified as an unindicted co-conspirator in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. These connections add a layer of complexity to the ongoing legal dispute regarding the culture at the WHDC.
Judge Milton Tingling’s alleged failure to stop WHDC misconduct
The legal claims against the West Harlem Development Corporation extend beyond verbal misconduct to include allegations of retaliation involving Judge Milton Tingling. The lawsuit alleges that Tingling, in his capacity as board chair, refused to intervene when the discriminatory comments made by Zaed Ramadan were brought to light.
Furthermore, the plaintiff—a former board member—claims that Tingling actively retaliated agianst them for reporting the behavior.. The former board member alleges they were subjected to tormenting language and were effectively prevented from performing their professional duties as a result of their whistleblowing efforts.
The missing response from Assemblyman Mamdani’s office
Several critical pieces of information remain absent from the current pbulic record regarding this appointment. It is currently unknown whether Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani was made aware of the specific allegations against Judge Tingling and Zaed Ramadan prior to the committee appointment last month.
Additionally, the West Harlem Development Corporation has not yet provided a formal rebuttal to the specific claims of retaliation and antisemitism detailed in the lawsuit. Until the parties involved address these allegations, the extent to which the judiciary committee's integrity has been compromised remains an open question for the New York State Assembly.
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