Eric Adams agreed to completely work with Zohran Mamdani’s transition team.

Transition Plans in New York City

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The transition is being handled with care.

Zoran Mamdani has talked with Eric Adams, his incoming predecessor, regarding the move to City Hall. However, there hasn’t been a meeting set up yet with New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, which Mamdani has emphasized. A spokesperson from City Hall mentioned that Adams is committed to fully cooperating with Mamdani’s transition team during these next two months before the inauguration.

The lingering question centers on Tisch’s future in the administration. Mamdani noted on Thursday that he hasn’t arranged a meeting with her yet.

“I’m just focusing on the meetings I have in the next few days,” he said while attending a SOMOS political retreat in Puerto Rico.

Mamdani has indicated that keeping Tisch as police chief could alleviate concerns among more moderate New Yorkers worried about a potential uptick in crime. This is particularly significant given Mamdani’s previous remarks on social media that criticized the NYPD as “racist.”

On the other hand, some of Mamdani’s progressive supporters seem uneasy about Tisch’s continuation, as her views on criminal justice reform differ sharply from those of the Democratic Socialists of America.

The situation heated up recently as the New York Daily News reported that Tisch had mentioned being warned by the Trump administration about a controversial ICE raid that took place in October.

When asked if Tisch’s actions were appropriate, Mamdani stated it was expected that the NYPD wouldn’t engage in immigration enforcement. “It’s crucial to maintain a separation between the NYPD and ICE,” he remarked. “We need to move past what Eric Adams said publicly about private immigration enforcement.”

Adams suggested on Wednesday that Mamdani would benefit from keeping some of the existing staff, including Tisch, for their experience. “If he’s smart, he’ll want to retain members of my team,” Adams stated.

Before the elections, Mamdani had mentioned to Tisch that they would discuss her role after November 4. Meanwhile, influential Democratic Party figures, including Governor Kathy Hochul and House Majority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, are reportedly encouraging the new mayor to keep Tisch on board to help maintain their support.