Zohran Mamdani should refrain from interfering with Jessie Tisch’s role as police commissioner and allow her to independently manage the department.
Mamdani has long been known for his outspoken critique, labeling the NYPD as “racist, anti-queer, and a significant threat to public safety,” and has called for its defunding. His stance, however, does not align with the reality that as mayor, he will rely on the NYPD to ensure the safety of over 8 million residents in New York City.
Under Tisch’s leadership, the dedicated officers have been making strides in public safety. From January through October, New York City recorded the lowest number of shooting incidents and victims since record-keeping began, even surpassing the prior record low in 2018, before the COVID-19 pandemic. The improvements in street and subway safety are evident, and maintaining this trajectory is crucial.
Recognizing Tisch’s effective management, Mamdani wisely retained her as commissioner. Despite his initial reservations, he has expressed his desire for her to continue in her role, contingent on her willingness to work alongside him as mayor. Tisch has conveyed her confidence in being allowed to lead the NYPD independently, which should reassure New Yorkers about the ongoing reduction in crime rates.
As Tisch approaches her one-year anniversary on November 25, her leadership has proven highly effective. She has eradicated cronyism from the upper echelons of 1 Police Plaza and provided stability following a string of commissioners, all while emphasizing her precision policing strategy. The success of her efforts is evident in the CompStat data.
The organizational structure for reporting to the mayor remains unclear, whether directly or through the first deputy mayor. Regardless, Tisch is the expert in policing, and it is essential to allow her to continue her work while Mamdani focuses on his mayoral duties.
Mamdani wrongly (and illegally) wants to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, due to his fanatical hardline position against Israel, a country whose very existence he opposes. Tisch, a proud Jew and a proud Zionist, who wore a Hebrew dog tag in solidarity with the Israeli hostages held by Hamas, must ignore any such order by Mamdani and should give Netanyahu an honor guard due any visiting foreign dignitary.
Mamdani also wrongly wants to end the arrest of pimps and johns who victimize people trapped in prostitution. Here again, Tisch must ignore Mamdani and keep arresting pimps and johns.
Tisch must not cave on her views that bail reform in Albany went too far (which it did) and that state’s “raise the age” law should be reversed. She also needs to have the final say on officer discipline, not surrendering it to the Civilian Complaint Review Board, as Mamdani has indicated he wants.
At the most recent NYPD graduation ceremony, held the day before Election Day, Tisch told the new officers that “We’re on pace for the highest hiring year since record keeping began more than four decades ago.” And “we got here focusing on the most strategic thing this department can do: hire more cops.”
She wants more cops, as does the public. Mamdani should listen and get the additional officers that Tisch says she needs to carry out the mission. It may anger his most extreme left wing followers, but it will make for a better city and a better mayoralty for Mamdani.
