Cheri Sparacio is a September 11 victim's family member who has participated publicly in debates about commemoration of the attacks. Her husband, Tom Sparacio, worked for Euro Brokers in the World Trade Center's south tower and was killed on September 11, 2001.
Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Gov. George Pataki, and some relatives of September 11 victims say Mayor Zohran Mamdani should not attend the 2026 commemoration, citing concerns about his rhetoric and associations. Mamdani says he will attend to honor victims, families, survivors, and first responders. Other elected officials and September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows say excluding the sitting mayor would politicize a ceremony meant for collective remembrance. The dispute is over the civic meaning and appropriateness of attendance, not over whether Mamdani has endorsed the September 11 attacks.
