Following a recent mass shooting in midtown Manhattan, which included the killing of an NYPD officer, New York City socialist mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s past rhetoric on policing has drawn widespread concern. A city crime expert, Rafael A. Mangual, expressed that Mamdani’s history of expressing visceral disdain for the police and his calls for defunding and dismantling the NYPD are legitimate reasons for New Yorkers to be worried. Mangual, who recently wrote an op-ed for the New York Post on Mamdani’s recent attempts to walk back his anti-police comments, stated that despite these efforts, there are still substantial concerns about the potential impact on public safety.
Mangual emphasized that Mamdani’s past advocacy for initiatives that could weaken public safety, particularly in high-risk communities, is a major concern. He outlined several possible scenarios under a Mamdani mayorship, such as potentially working with the city council to eliminate the NYPD gang database, which Mangual described as an ‘absolute disaster’ for the city’s security. Mangual also warned that a Mamdani administration could lead to an NYPD that is even less equipped to handle the growing demands of modern policing, which include increased 911 calls and counter-terrorism responsibilities.
Additionally, Mangual pointed to Mamdani’s legislative background as a state assemblyman, where he supported bail and discovery reforms that have likely reduced the likelihood of successful prosecutions and accountability for criminal offenders. Mangual noted that these reforms could have a negative impact on police recruitment and the overall safety of New York City. He warned that Mamdani’s political agenda could create a hostile relationship between the mayor and the NYPD, which is already struggling with staffing and resource constraints. The expert emphasized that Mamdani’s potential leadership could signal to potential recruits that working for the department would be less appealing, further exacerbating the problem.
In response to the expert’s concerns, Fox News Digital reached out to the Mamdani campaign for comment, but the response was not provided. Mamdani’s past comments and policies continue to raise alarms, highlighting the potential risks of his proposed reforms to the city’s public safety and the NYPD’s ability to effectively serve the community.