Tens of thousands lined the streets for the city’s 82nd annual celebration of Italian American culture.
But while high-profile state leaders like Governor Kathy Hochul, State Controller Tom DiNapoli, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and New York Attorney General Letitia James were front and center, a major city figure was conspicuously absent.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani skipped the parade, breaking a multi-decade tradition of New York City mayors leading the procession.
Mike Leventhal was on Fifth Avenue taking in all of the political firestorm surrounding the mayor’s no-show.
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