Zoran Mamdani’s Mayoral Campaign and Support for NYPD Commissioner
Zoran Mamdani, a prominent candidate in New York City’s mayoral race, expressed confidence that NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch would align with his approach to criminal justice reform if he wins. He stated that “everyone will follow his lead.”
During a recent discussion on the Hellgate podcast, Mamdani, 34, faced questions regarding Tisch’s commitment to the kind of reforms advocated by Democratic Socialists and their supporters. The host, Christopher Robbins, pointed out that many of Mamdani’s supporters prioritize criminal justice reform, while Tisch has previously stood against such changes.
“A lot of people who support your candidacy care about criminal justice reform and reforming the NYPD, and she’s been standing up for the past year to stop that,” Robbins noted, prompting Mamdani to clarify why he would retain Tisch’s position in the party if he wins.
In his defense, Mamdani argued that Tisch is already making strides toward some initiatives he champions, including the establishment of a public security bureau.
However, Tisch’s history includes opposition to several reforms. She recently claimed that a rise in crime was linked to policies enacted by former Governor Andrew Cuomo, which has prompted skepticism from Robbins and others.
Additionally, Tisch has backed maintaining the city’s controversial gang database, advocated for stricter enforcement of minor offenses, and opposed certain bail reforms, as highlighted by Robbins.
Robbins pressed further, questioning whether Tisch would alter her stances on these issues and what that would mean for Mamdani’s proposed agenda: “Is she going to reverse her position on all these matters?”
Mamdani responded, asserting, “I think everyone will follow in my footsteps. I’ll be mayor.”
He also attempted to alleviate worries about his relationship with Tisch mirroring the past tensions between former Mayor Bill de Blasio and ex-NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton, who resigned over policy disagreements.
Despite his confidence, Mamdani conceded that he hasn’t had direct conversations with Tisch regarding her ongoing role in the government if he is elected.
“I haven’t had any private conversations with her about it,” Mamdani admitted, noting that since July, they have not spoken one-on-one. Meanwhile, Tisch has chosen not to comment on the mayoral election.
The formation of a public security bureau, a central part of Mamdani’s police policy, will require Tisch’s complete backing to be successful.
