Statement From Mayor Bill de Blasio on The Passing of John Zuccotti

November 20, 2015

“Today we mourn the loss of John Zuccotti, a public servant who dedicated his career to improving lives of New Yorkers. John long served his city and his country – as an officer in the United States Army, First Deputy Mayor under Mayor Abraham D. Beame, Commissioner and then Chairman of the City Planning Commission under Mayor John Lindsay, on committees to improve public welfare under Mayor Ed Koch and Governor Hugh Carey, as well as at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. After the tragic terror attacks on September 11, 2001, John was a powerful voice for the revitalization of downtown Manhattan, overseeing the regrowth of Liberty Park.

I turned to John often for advice, and he would often share his stories of guiding the city in tough times. He was widely admired for being an honest broker, and was equally respected in the public and private sectors. The park’s renaming to Zuccotti Park in 2006 is a fitting and lasting memorial for John’s compassionate and tireless efforts to rebuild and fortify our city in its gravest time of need. He will be remembered by New Yorkers for his spirit and his unwavering commitment to the city he loved.”