Mayor Zoran Mamdani decided against a previously agreed increase in NYPD staffing in the city’s final budget, facing pressure from his socialist allies.
The mayor’s executive budget proposal, released in May, had initially included $70 million to hire 580 new officers as part of a $125.8 billion budget.
However, Mamdani has recently changed his stance. During a press conference on Tuesday, he mentioned discussions with agency heads, including Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, aimed at saving budgetary funds while maintaining the NYPD’s staffing level at the previously authorized 35,000 officers. “We’ve found ways to meet our crime-fighting needs without expanding the police force,” Mamdani explained.
City Council President Julie Menin expressed her disagreement with the mayor’s reversal the day before the final budget vote. “I believe we need those additional officers,” she stated, raising concerns about the rise in crimes, including rapes and assaults.
Menin emphasized the council’s intent to advocate for the proposed staffing increase.
The NYPD’s budget has seen an increase of $300 million in the current fiscal year.
Mamdani is a member of the Democratic Socialists of New York City, who have been urging him to uphold his campaign promise to keep police staffing flat. The group has also pushed for investing in community safety initiatives rather than expanding police numbers.
They noted that the proposed increase contradicts the values of the socialist movement that supported his election, voicing concerns over police as default responders.
In a statement, the NYPD acknowledged the city’s financial struggles, indicating that they have managed to reduce crime effectively with the current staffing levels.
NYPD funding became a key issue last year during the mayoral election, especially following Mamdani’s past comments about defunding the police, where he labeled the force “corrupt” and advocated for its dismantling.
Council Member Tiffany Caban, a Democratic Socialist and chair of the council’s Progressive Caucus, endorsed the mayor’s decision to maintain staffing levels. “We should be investing in housing, mental health care, and economic stability instead of policing,” she remarked.
The notably large budget was adopted by the City Council and signed by Mamdani shortly thereafter.
