New York City has endured fires, riots, epidemics, fiscal collapse, terrorism, and the shockwaves of global conflict. In its darkest moments, leadership has often determined whether the city fractured or found a way forward. The mayors featured in this list confronted extraordinary crises, from financial ruin to public health disasters, each leaving a mark on the city’s trajectory. Their decisions—flawed or heroic—shaped the resilience for which New York is now known.
#1: Fiorello LaGuardia (1934–1945)
LaGuardia guided New York City through the difficult late years of the Depression and the long grind of World War II. He confronted collapsing services, entrenched corruption, and widespread unemployment, all while rallying public morale. His…..