Public Outcry as 86-Year-Old Holocaust Survivor Faces NYC Housing Crisis After Mamdani No-Show at Key Meeting

An elderly Holocaust survivor has expressed disappointment after New York City’s Mayor, Zohran Mamdani, missed a scheduled meeting intended to address his challenging living conditions. Sami Steigmann, who was born in Romania and endured deportation to a Nazi labor camp at the tender age of two, had hoped to discuss solutions to his housing difficulties.

Steigmann’s early life was marked by harrowing experiences, including enduring medical experiments for over three years during his time in the labor camp. After the war, he relocated to Israel, where he served in the Israeli Air Force before moving to the United States in 1968. Since 1988, he has been a resident of New York City, according to details from his biography.

Now at 86, Steigmann is facing the harsh reality of being priced out of his apartment in Harlem and is grappling with the challenge of securing a safe and affordable place to live. His predicament underscores the city’s ongoing housing crisis, a pressing issue that Mayor Mamdani, known for his pro-Palestinian stance and advocacy for affordable housing, has campaigned on.

Earlier this year, Steigmann arranged to meet with the mayor, aiming to seek assistance and discuss his dire situation. However, the anticipated meeting did not take place, leaving Steigmann struggling to find much-needed support. The incident highlights the broader challenges faced by many New Yorkers who are seeking affordable housing solutions in one of the most expensive cities in the world.

At the beginning of the year, Steigmann scheduled a meeting with the pro-Palestine mayor, who campaigned on affordable housing. 

 Steigmann has now revealed that Mamdani bailed on the meeting.

‘Promises made, not kept. His claim to fame was affordable housing. I’m not disappointed because I didn’t expect him to keep his word. It is what it is,’ Steigmann told Fox News.

‘It would have been nice, but you know politicians,’ he said, adding that he was no longer interested in the meeting.  

Steigmann said he is struggling to find an apartment that is safe for his medical condition and accessible to public transportation.

Holocaust survivor and IDF veteran Sami Steigmann said he is struggling to find affordable and safe housing in New York City

Steigmann said he scheduled a meeting with Mayor Zohran Mamdani to discuss his options, but the mayor bailed 

‘I was subjected to medical experiments, so I’m in pain every single second, but I learned to live with it. Now, because of my age, 86, I have difficulty walking and climbing stairs,’ he said. 

Steigmann, who lives on a fixed income of $1,649 per month, added that moving into a nursing home would be his last resort.

‘New York is the most expensive city in the country, especially for independent living,’ Steigmann said.

‘If I’m going to a nursing home, which I may have to go to if I cannot find something, basically, it’s the way to die because there is no life there.’

‘It’s not for me. I’m still active. I don’t need assisted living in the sense that I can take a bath by myself. I can still do a lot of things,’ Steigmann said. 

The Daily Mail contacted Mamdani’s office for comment. A spokesperson for the mayor told Fox News that he is supporting Steigmann.   

‘[Mamdani is] working hard to help Sami find an appropriate new housing situation, and has connected with several community organizations and housing providers over the past several months to help him with it,’ the spokesperson said. 

The Chicago Jewish Alliance launched an initiative called Project Ahava to help raise funds for Steigmann.

Steigmann was recently denied a speaking opportunity at a Brooklyn middle school that featured art by Mamdani’s wife in a social change class

However, the school did use art from Mamdani’s wife, Rama Duwaji, who is known for her political artwork and pro-Palestinian views, in a social change class

The Math & Science Exploratory School Public School 447 in Brooklyn displayed art from Duwaji in an activity for students

The group identified that Steigmann is racing a $2,200 monthly shortfall, and aims to raise $132,000 to help cover his expenses for five years.

The initiative comes after Steigmann was denied a speaking opportunity at a Brooklyn middle school that featured art by Mamdani’s wife in a social change class.

The Math & Science Exploratory School Public School 447 in Brooklyn displayed art from First Lady Rama Duwaji, who is known for her political artwork and pro-Palestinian views. 

One of her drawings used by the school shows three women surrounded by flames with the inscription, ‘Sooner or later people will rise against tyranny.’

Another illustration shows three women locking arms, accompanied by a caption that reads, ‘They carry the pulse of protest.’ A third image shows a woman crouched and appearing to cry, which Duwaji refers to as a ‘stillness of displacement.’ 

Months earlier, a parent had asked Principal Arin Rusch to bring Steigmann in for a speaking event, a request that was met with hesitation.

Rusch said she believed Holocaust survivors offered important lessons to students, but expressed concern about inviting Steigmann, adding that she would ‘love to explore other speakers,’ CBS News reported at the time.

In looking at his website materials, I also don’t think that Sami’s presentation is right for our public school setting, given his messages around Israel and Palestine. I’d love to explore other possible speakers,’ Rusch added at the time.

The denial prompted a wave of criticism, with former Mayor Eric Adams among those who condemned the decision.

Steigmann did eventually speak at the school following the backlash. He met Rusch after his speech and said their conversation was cordial.