At a recent press conference, Mayor Zohran Mamdani remained silent on the NYPD's gang database, despite previously criticizing it as a "vast dragnet" targeting young New Yorkers of color. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch defended the system, saying it is essential for combating gun violence, according to Gothamist.
The Criminal Group Database lists presumed gang members and associates, with 98% being Black or Hispanic, prompting claims of racial profiling and a federal lawsuit. Tisch stated, "I have been very clear that the gang database is a tool that has helped us in terms of fighting gun violence," emphasizing its role in precision policing, as reported by Gothamist.
Commissioner Tisch confirmed she is in direct contact with Mayor Mamdani and noted their developing working relationship after questions arose about the NYPD’s reporting structure following the mayor’s executive order assigning the first deputy mayor to oversee several departments, including the NYPD. Tisch reported a record-low number of shootings in 2025 and said, "At this time there is no change planned to the crime fighting strategy that has delivered historic results," despite ongoing legal challenges to the Criminal Group Database, as per La Voce di New York. Mayor Mamdani also spoke about the new Department of Community Safety, which will support the NYPD and connect residents with services. In a federal case, Black men claiming they were wrongly labeled as gang members were ordered to reveal their identities, and the case was not certified as a class action, though it may be renewed after limited discovery.
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