Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has generated debate following his pledge to dismantle the NYPD’s Strategic Response Group (SRG), a unit that was first to respond to a recent mass shooting on Park Avenue. His proposal follows earlier statements made after the George Floyd protests, including a call to "Defund the Police." In December 2024, Mamdani stated on social media, "As Mayor, I will disband the SRG, which has cost taxpayers millions in lawsuit settlements and brutalized countless New Yorkers exercising their First Amendment rights," this statement was noted in a New York Post article.
In addition to his proposal to disband the SRG, Mamdani has introduced a broader public safety plan that includes the formation of a new city agency: the Department of Community Safety. The proposed agency would assume responsibilities currently managed by the NYPD, including responding to mental health and homelessness-related calls, as well as violence prevention programs. To fund this department, Mamdani has suggested reallocating $600 million from existing funds and securing an additional $450 million in new revenue, largely through increased taxes on high-income earners and corporations. According to a report by Gothamist, Mamdani has stated that his plan does not include reducing current police staffing levels but calls for an expansion of crisis response personnel through licensed professionals.
Policy experts have raised questions regarding the effectiveness of a new department. Richard Aborn, president of the Citizen’s Crime Commission, told Gothamist, "That central coordinating authority is really important, but it has to have clout," emphasizing the need for the department to carry enough influence to enact change. Some public safety analysts have echoed this concern, stating that the department would need to match the operational strength of the NYPD to be effective.
Mamdani’s previous public statements continue to draw criticism, particularly in the aftermath of the Park Avenue shooting. While he expressed support for first responders, critics have pointed to his earlier positions on policing. A source quoted in the New York Post said, "He only wants to ban SRG because they are the ones responding to his people’s protests." Political consultant Ken Frydman added, "Mamdani is hypocritical and irony-deficient. He can’t say he’s ‘heartbroken’ over the Midtown mass shooting and praise first responders while calling for disbanding the Strategic Response Group."
Campaign adviser Josie Duffy Rice addressed the complexity of establishing a new agency, telling Gothamist, "A department like this is a process." She added, "It takes a lot of different voices, and some of those voices are not going to be on the same page." As the campaign continues, Mamdani’s public safety proposals remain a subject of ongoing discussion within the broader debate on policing and reform in New York City.
