New York City, June 17, 2025—Zohran Mamdani, the democratic socialist state assemblyman surging in the polls as a leading candidate for New York City mayor, has thrust the contentious issue of defunding the NYPD back into the spotlight. In a recent campaign event in Queens, Mamdani reiterated his support for reallocating portions of the NYPD’s budget to social services, drawing fierce criticism from opponents who argue the stance threatens public safety. As the June 24 Democratic primary nears, Mamdani’s position has intensified the already heated race, raising questions about the city’s approach to crime and governance.
Mamdani, polling second behind former Governor Andrew Cuomo, has built his campaign on affordability, promising free buses, rent freezes, and city-run grocery stores. His public safety plan, detailed in a 17-page proposal, calls for redirecting $1.1 billion from the NYPD’s $5.8 billion budget to create a Department of Community Safety, emphasizing mental health teams and violence interrupter programs. “We need police focused on serious crimes, not homeless sweeps or protest crackdowns,” Mamdani said at a Brooklyn rally, citing the NYPD’s $225 million training facility as an example of misplaced priorities. His plan also seeks to eliminate the NYPD’s Strategic Response Group, accused of brutalizing protesters.
Critics, including Cuomo and mayoral candidate Whitney Tilson, have pounced, framing Mamdani’s stance as a reckless revival of the 2020 “defund the police” movement. Cuomo, who proposes adding 5,000 officers to the NYPD’s 34,100-strong force, called the idea “dangerous” during a June 13 debate, pointing to a 2021 budget cut of $1 billion that he claims weakened policing. Tilson, a former hedge fund executive, accused Mamdani of undermining safety amid rising concerns about crime, with 65% of 2025 crimes unsolved, per NYPD data. A Quinnipiac poll shows 60% of New Yorkers prioritize public safety, favoring candidates who support police funding.
Mamdani’s supporters, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, argue his plan complements policing by addressing root causes like homelessness and mental health crises. The Working Families Party, endorsing Mamdani, points to his success securing $450 million in taxi driver debt relief through a 2021 hunger strike as proof of his commitment to working-class New Yorkers. At a Manhattan tenant rally, Mamdani emphasized that reallocating funds would free police to tackle violent crime while social workers handle non-emergency calls, a model piloted successfully in cities like Minneapolis. His campaign has raised $7 million, with 16,000 small donors, per FEC filings.
Opponents warn of practical and political risks. The NYPD faces a staffing crisis, down from 40,000 officers in 2000, and further cuts could exacerbate shortages, per the city’s Independent Budget Office. Mayor Eric Adams, running as an independent after federal corruption charges, mocked Mamdani’s plan as a “socialist pipe dream,” citing the city’s $4 billion budget gap. Business leaders, like Kathryn Wylde of the Partnership for New York City, express cautious concern, noting that Mamdani’s affordability focus aligns with their goals but his police budget cuts could unsettle investors.
The debate has polarized voters. Mamdani’s base—young, progressive, and diverse—sees his plan as a bold reimagining of public safety, while older and moderate Democrats lean toward Cuomo’s law-and-order stance. A recent Emerson College poll shows Mamdani trailing Cuomo 46% to 54% in ranked-choice voting, with Black and Latino voters favoring Cuomo. As early voting begins June 14, Mamdani’s defunding stance could either galvanize his coalition or alienate swing voters in a city grappling with safety and affordability.
