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Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic mayoral nominee in New York, is working to shift his political stance after facing criticism for his past “defund the police” comments in light of a recent mass shooting in Manhattan. Some critics believe his efforts are too little, too late.
“I’ve consistently stated that every decision I make regarding the NYPD will prioritize public safety. We understand that public safety also involves listening to the officers themselves. Two hundred officers are leaving the department every month, with forced overtime being a major reason for their departure,” Mamdani stated on Monday.
“Every year, we add more responsibilities to their plate, making it increasingly challenging for them to fulfill the duties that initially attracted them to the job,” he added.
Mamdani has proposed the establishment of a Department of Community Safety to address specific issues like “mental health programs and crisis response,” according to his campaign website.
“When I consider the seven major crime categories outlined in CompStat, I recognize that this is not the only tasks officers are expected to handle. The NYPD receives 200,000 mental health calls annually. How can they effectively respond to all these demands? New Yorkers have valid concerns about public safety, and I aim to empower police officers to address serious crimes and hire mental health professionals to handle mental health calls,” he elaborated.
Fox News Digital reported that Mamdani has publicly advocated for “defunding the police” since June 2020, but has slightly altered his stance during his campaign.
“We don’t need an investigation to understand that the NYPD is racist, anti-queer, and a significant threat to public safety,” he posted on June 28, 2020. “What we need is to #DefundTheNYPD. But your compromise uses budget tricks to maintain as many cops as possible on the streets. Say no to fake cuts – defund the police.”
“We need a socialist city council to defund the police,” he declared on July 3, 2020.
“Queer liberation means defund the police,” Mamdani emphasized on November 6, 2020.
He even called for the police to be “dismantled” in December 2020.
“The City Council attempted to slash the NYPD’s overtime budget in half,” Mamdani shared. “They simply refused. There is no negotiating with such a wicked and corrupt institution. Defund it. Dismantle it. End the cycle of violence.”
During a mayoral debate in the primary, he shifted his rhetoric from previous years.
“I will not support defunding the police. I will collaborate with the police because I believe they play a crucial role in public service and safety,” he affirmed.
His comments came under renewed scrutiny following the mass shooting at 345 Park Avenue, where five individuals lost their lives, including the gunman and a police officer named Didarul Islam.
“I am devastated by the tragic shooting in Midtown, and my thoughts are with the victims, their families, and the critically injured NYPD officer. I appreciate all the first responders at the scene,” Mamdani shared after the incident, cutting his trip to Uganda short in response to the tragedy.
However, New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a former police officer, believes that Mamdani’s recent statements and actions, such as attending Islam’s funeral, are merely a political strategy.
“Officers had lost their lives before he ran for mayor. Where was he then? Did he believe those officers deserved recognition as he now highlights Officer Islam during the election? We must question his past actions,” Adams told reporters at City Hall on Monday, as reported by the New York Post.
