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New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani announced Wednesday that Jessica Tisch will continue serving as police commissioner, a significant decision that suggests a more moderate approach to policing than many expected from the democratic socialist.
The appointment represents a crucial early move for Mamdani’s incoming administration, potentially alleviating concerns from business leaders and moderate voters about his previous calls to defund the New York Police Department during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests.
“I have admired her work cracking down on corruption in the upper echelons of the police department, driving down crime in New York City, and standing up for New Yorkers in the face of authoritarianism,” Mamdani said in a statement announcing the decision.
The partnership brings together two figures with markedly different backgrounds. Mamdani, 34, campaigned on progressive policing reforms, including shifting some responsibilities from officers to mental health professionals. Tisch, heir to a multibillion-dollar family fortune, is widely viewed as an establishment moderate with nearly 20 years in public service.
In an email to NYPD officers Wednesday, Tisch acknowledged their policy differences but expressed confidence in their ability to work together effectively. “In speaking with him, it’s clear that we share broad and crucial priorities: the importance of public safety, the need to continue driving down crime, and the need to maintain stability and order across the department,” she wrote.
Later that day, both Mamdani and Tisch appeared together at a Manhattan memorial for fallen officers, where they declined to discuss their past policy disagreements. Tisch specifically noted she wanted to “leave politics out of it today.”
The appointment comes at a critical juncture for the NYPD, which has weathered significant leadership turbulence over the past year. Tisch took over as commissioner last November amid federal investigations that led to the resignations of her predecessor, Edward Caban, and his interim replacement, Thomas Donlon, after federal agents searched their homes and seized their phones.
During her year-long tenure, Tisch has made substantial changes to departmental leadership, reassigning several top officials, including some considered allies of outgoing Mayor Eric Adams. The department’s top uniformed official, a longtime friend of Adams, resigned in December following harassment allegations.
Her leadership has coincided with decreases in shootings and several categories of major crime, earning praise from both the business community and some police reform advocates.
Governor Kathy Hochul, who endorsed Mamdani in the election, called the appointment “a very good outcome” and suggested it could help prevent federal intervention in the city. “This is an important step to send a message to the Trump administration that, if you’re coming here on the pretext that we need the National Guard because crime is going up in the city, that is not the story being told here in New York,” Hochul said.
The reappointment of Tisch, who is Jewish, may also help mend relations with some Jewish New Yorkers who have been wary of Mamdani due to his criticism of Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
However, the decision has generated mixed reactions among Mamdani’s progressive supporters. The Justice Committee, a police reform organization, condemned the move as “a rebuff of his promises to New Yorkers and a disturbing endorsement of NYPD’s ongoing violence and corruption.”
The New York Civil Liberties Union offered more measured support, while urging Tisch to “join the Mayor-Elect in seeking to reduce the City’s misplaced demands on police to solve entrenched problems, like the city’s lack of housing or mental health care.”
Since winning the election, Mamdani has moved to surround himself with experienced government officials, perhaps addressing concerns about his limited public service experience. He appointed a veteran budget official as his first deputy mayor and assembled a transition team that includes two former deputy mayors.
Tisch brings significant experience to her continued role. The Harvard-educated commissioner previously led the city’s sanitation department, where she gained social media fame for her declaration that “The rats don’t run the city, we do” in 2022. Her government career began in the NYPD’s counterterrorism bureau, where she helped develop post-9/11 security infrastructure. As deputy commissioner for information technology, she spearheaded the department’s adoption of body cameras and smartphones for officers.
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7 Comments
This is an interesting move by the incoming mayor. Keeping the current police commissioner signals a more pragmatic approach to policing reforms, rather than a radical overhaul. It will be worth watching how the relationship between Mamdani and Tisch develops.
This is a pragmatic move by Mamdani. Keeping an experienced commissioner like Tisch on board could help ensure a smoother transition and maintain stability in the police department. It will be interesting to see if they can find ways to implement reforms while also addressing crime concerns.
I’m somewhat surprised Mamdani decided to keep Tisch as police commissioner, given his previous calls for defunding the NYPD. However, this decision could signal a more measured approach to policing reforms. It will be worth watching how Mamdani and Tisch navigate their differing priorities.
The partnership between Mamdani and Tisch could prove to be an interesting dynamic. Blending progressive and moderate perspectives on policing may lead to more nuanced solutions that address both reform and public safety concerns.
Retaining the current police commissioner suggests Mamdani is willing to take a more balanced approach to policing rather than enacting sweeping changes. This could help ease concerns from moderates while still allowing room for reforms. It will be crucial to see how Mamdani and Tisch collaborate on these issues.
The decision to retain the police commissioner suggests Mamdani may be taking a more balanced approach to public safety than some expected. Bringing together his progressive views and Tisch’s more established law enforcement background could produce meaningful change.
Curious to see if Mamdani and Tisch can find common ground and work together effectively, despite their differing backgrounds and priorities. A collaborative approach could benefit New Yorkers.