The deadliest mass shooting in New York City in decades has become the focal point of the mayoral race, with candidates scrambling to address public safety amid the tragedy. Four candidates—including Democrat Zohran Mamdani, Republican Curtis Sliwa, and independent incumbent Eric Adams—are using the incident to showcase their policies, with some facing sharp criticism over past statements. The tragedy, which took four lives including an NYPD officer, has sparked intense debates about the city’s approach to policing, gun control, and mental health.
Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist, drew immediate backlash after condemning the shooting and honoring the fallen NYPD officer, Didarul Islam, a Bangladeshi immigrant who joined the force four years ago. While Mamdani emphasized the need for public safety, his past calls to defund the police and his promise to disband the NYPD’s Strategic Response Group (SRG) were highlighted by critics as inconsistencies. On social media, some accused Mamdani of insincere support for the police, citing his previous statements that defunded the department and his post suggesting