Mayor Adams picks rival-turned-campaign donor Zach Iscol as NYC emergency management chief
Mayor Adams tapped onetime political rival-turned-campaign donor Zach Iscol to serve as the city’s top emergency response official Thursday, declaring that his combat experience as a U.S. soldier makes him “so ready” for the task.
Iscol, who ran a short-lived Democratic campaign for mayor last year before dropping out to mount a failed bid for comptroller, was introduced by Adams as the Emergency Management Department’s new commissioner during a press conference at the agency’s headquarters in Brooklyn.
After accidentally introducing Iscol as “Jack,” Adams noted that he used to “talk all the time” with him when they were both candidates for mayor last year.
“Zach knows how to lead a team, we need to be clear on that. He has done that in the most difficult moments, and actually, that may be an understatement,” Adams said, referencing Iscol’s time commanding U.S. troops during the Iraq War as a Marine Corps officer.
“He is so ready to lead this new platoon — a platoon of New Yorkers — to ensure that we are prepared,” Hizzoner added.
Iscol, who is part of a wealthy and politically-connected family that donated and fundraised for Adams during the 2021 campaign, also cited his time as a Marine as his primary relevant experience.
But he admitted that he doesn’t foresee his new job will be a cakewalk.
“There’s no doubt I’m going to drinking through a firehose in this position, but my career has been defined by seeing that government works best when it works together,” he said. “I’ve seen that in the frontlines in Iraq.”
As commissioner, Iscol will be tasked with ensuring the city’s preparedness for and response to all manners of emergencies and disasters, from floods and snowstorms to terror attacks.
His most recent professional experience is as the CEO of Grid North Group, a media production company with a stake in several military-related content and advertising ventures.
In a sign that he will work hand-in-hand with one of Adams’ top lieutenants, Iscol went out of his way in his remarks to twice thank Phil Banks, the deputy mayor of public safety, for putting his trust in him, referring to him as “Chief Banks.”
Zack’s parents, Jill and Ken Iscol, deep-pocketed philanthropists who made their money in the cellphone industry, each donated $2,000 to Adams’ campaign on Aug. 17 and 21, respectively, according to campaign finance records.
The records show Zach Iscol contributed another $2,000 on Aug. 21. That’s the same day Iscol hosted a high-dollar fundraiser for Adams at his Martha’s Vineyard waterfront home, as reported by the New York Times at the time.
A City Hall spokesman downplayed the Iscol family’s ties to Adams’ campaign as irrelevant to his appointment.
“Mayor Adams is choosing the best people for the best jobs in the best city in the world, and he knows that Zach Iscol is the best person to lead NYCEM at this critical time for New York,” the spokesman said. “The mayor has made and will continue to make all personnel and policy decisions based solely on their merits.”
