Zohran Mamdani’s radical-rich transition team bodes ill for public safety

Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has recently made a statement indicating that he no longer supports the idea of “defunding the police.” However, his selection of individuals for his transition team seems to contradict this statement. One notable pick is Alex Vitale, who has been appointed to the “community safety” committee. Vitale, a professor at Brooklyn College, is known for his strong stance against policing, as evidenced by his book titled “The End of Policing,” which was published in 2017.

In his book, Vitale argues that the problem lies not in police training, diversity, or methods, but in the concept of policing itself. He is critical of practices such as broken-windows policing, which focuses on cracking down on minor offenses to prevent more serious crimes. Vitale has also accused NYPD officers of targeting minorities, adding to his anti-police sentiments.

Mamdani, who himself has made derogatory comments about the police in the past, has chosen other anti-cop leaders for his transition team. One such individual is Elana Leopold, a former advisor to Bill de Blasio, who co-signed an open letter in 2020 calling for a drastic reduction in the NYPD’s budget. The team also includes advocates for defunding the police and promoting police alternatives, such as Joo-Hyun Kang and Jose Lopez.

One particularly controversial pick is Lumumba Bandele, a black nationalist affiliated with the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement. Bandele has ties to members of the Black Liberation Army who have been convicted of killing police officers. The transition team consists of members from various left-wing organizations, with a focus on soft-on-crime and anti-police advocacy.

While Mamdani’s transition team only serves as advisors, their views and recommendations raise concerns about the future of policing in New York City. The proposed shift of funds from the NYPD to a new Department of Community Safety, along with plans to dismantle certain police units and databases, suggest a de facto defunding of the police force.

The lack of representation from charter school advocates among the 400 members of the transition team also raises questions about Mamdani’s education policies. With a focus on increased school spending and left-wing indoctrination, the team may not prioritize student achievement and excellence.

Overall, the composition of Mamdani’s transition team signals a worrisome direction for key issues such as policing and education in New York City. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch and the city as a whole may face significant challenges ahead.