Crime Takes Centre Stage in New York City’s Mayoral Race as Candidates Shift Stances on Policing
As crime remains a top concern for New York City voters, the 2025 mayoral race is shaping up to be a battleground over public safety. Democrats vying to unseat mayor Eric Adams are scrambling to distance themselves from the controversial “defund the police” movement while positioning themselves as champions of law and order.
The slogan, which gained traction during nationwide protests over police brutality following the killing of George Floyd in 2020, called for cutting law enforcement budgets and investing in criminal justice alternatives. However, the movement has faced important backlash, notably from conservatives and moderates who argue it alienated voters alarmed by a pandemic-era rise in crime.
Now, several of Adams’ challengers, who once supported defunding the police, are adopting more pro-police stances. Scott Stringer, the former city comptroller, recently announced he would hire 3,000 additional NYPD officers if elected mayor. Brad Lander, the current comptroller, called the defund movement a “failed political strategy.”
Mayor Adams, a staunch supporter of law enforcement throughout his first term, has seized on this shift. “I’m not like other people who call for just defunding the police department and now have a different belief about funding the police department,” Adams said this month. “I’m going to keep New Yorkers safe.”
Whitney Tilson, a former hedge fund manager also running in the primary, went further, labeling “defund the police” the “three dumbest words of all time.”
The public safety debate comes on the heels of a national election where Republicans successfully campaigned on pledges to crack down on crime and disorder, making inroads even in traditionally democratic strongholds like new York City.Despite a steady decline in the overall crime rate, polls show that many New Yorkers continue to view the city as unsafe. A New York Times-Siena survey last October found that more than a quarter of voters identified crime as the most pressing issue facing the city.These concerns have contributed to low approval ratings for both Adams, who is facing federal corruption charges, and Gov. Kathy Hochul, who is expected to face competitive challenges in 2026.
State Sen. Zellnor Myrie, another mayoral candidate, has also shifted his tone on policing.In 2020, Myrie joined calls to transform policing, stating that police brutality was “in the DNA of this country.” He even sued the NYPD after being pepper-sprayed and beaten during a demonstration. Now, Myrie is emphasizing the importance of law enforcement, often invoking his mother’s experience of being robbed at gunpoint.“Feeling safe means seeing a police officer,” he frequently shares.Democratic political strategist chris Coffey noted that voters’ perceptions of crime and disorder are driving the candidates’ evolving positions. “We certainly no that in polls, folks are choosing public safety and the feeling the city isn’t being managed well,” Coffey said. “If that’s what the issue is in June when they’re voting, it very much favors the moderate in the race.”
| Candidate | Position on Policing | Key Quote |
|————————|——————————————————————————————|——————————————————————————-|
| Eric Adams | Staunch supporter of police funding | “I’m going to keep New Yorkers safe.” |
| scott Stringer | Plans to hire 3,000 additional NYPD officers | “We need more police on the streets.” |
| Brad Lander | Calls defund movement a “failed political strategy” | “The defund movement was a mistake.” |
| Whitney Tilson | Criticizes “defund the police” as the “three dumbest words of all time” | “We need to support law enforcement.” |
| Zellnor Myrie | Emphasizes the importance of policing, citing personal experience | “Feeling safe means seeing a police officer.” |
As the race heats up, the candidates’ ability to address voters’ concerns about crime and public safety will likely determine their success. with the primary just months away, the stakes couldn’t be higher for New York city’s future.n
As the 2025 New York City mayoral race heats up, the role of the NYPD and public safety has emerged as a central issue, with candidates offering starkly different visions for the future of policing in the city. From calls to defund the police to increased funding for mental health services,the debate reflects broader national conversations about law enforcement and social justice.
Mayor Eric Adams, a former NYPD captain, has positioned himself as a staunch supporter of the department. His governance has been marked by high-profile law enforcement actions, including joining officers in a raid on a suspected migrant crime ring and participating in the perp walk of suspect luigi Mangione after the fatal shooting of a health insurance CEO. However, critics argue that these actions are more about publicity than substantive policy. “Andrew will likely be in the race and that will obviously change the trajectory,” said political strategist George Arzt, referring to former Governor Andrew Cuomo’s potential candidacy.
Comptroller Brad Lander spoke at a rally in 2020 against police brutality. He recently called the defund the police movement a “failed political strategy.”
Erik mcgregor/LightRocket via Getty Images
Cuomo, who has yet to declare his candidacy, has a mixed record on criminal justice. as governor, he signed the 2019 reforms that ended cash bail for many nonviolent defendants but later expanded the list of bail-eligible crimes. He also took unprecedented steps to address homelessness and disorder on the subway system, including ordering the overnight shutdown of trains during the pandemic for cleaning.
on the other end of the spectrum is Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist and state assemblymember from Queens. Mamdani has been a vocal critic of the NYPD,particularly the rise in illegal stop-and-frisk tactics under Adams, which disproportionately target Black and Latino men. “We are led at the city and state level by executives for whom no matter the question, the answer seems to always be more police,” Mamdani said. “We are seldom given any other option.”
While Mamdani did not explicitly commit to cutting police funding, he pledged to eliminate the NYPD’s strategic response group, a unit he accused of “brutalizing” protesters and costing the city millions in legal settlements. He also vowed to cancel plans for a $225 million police training facility in Queens.
Despite their differences, the candidates agree on one key issue: the need for increased funding to address mental health and homelessness. Adams has committed $650 million to build supportive housing and provide additional support for mentally ill New Yorkers. He has also advocated for state legislation to make it easier to forcibly hospitalize individuals deemed unable to care for themselves.
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New York City Mayoral Candidates Clash Over Public Safety and Homelessness Solutions
Table of Contents
as New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary heats up, candidates are presenting starkly different approaches to tackling public safety, homelessness, and mental health crises.With the city’s subway system often serving as a focal point for these issues, the debate has intensified, highlighting the challenges of balancing safety, equity, and fiscal responsibility.
The Subway as a Mental Health Crisis Zone
State Sen. Jessica Ramos, a Queens Democrat and mayoral candidate, has been vocal about the need for a more robust mental health workforce. “It’s not OK that the MTA has become our de facto mental health asylum,” Ramos said. She emphasized that while increased police presence in the subways might “help many new Yorkers feel safe,” undocumented immigrants may not share that sentiment due to former President Donald Trump’s pledge to begin mass deportations.New York’s sanctuary city laws, which limit NYPD cooperation with federal immigration officers, have been a point of contention, particularly for Mayor Eric Adams.
Housing First: A Proven Model?
Candidate Brad Lander has proposed expanding outreach teams in the subway system and moving approximately 2,000 people into single-room-occupancy units, where tenants share bathrooms and kitchens. “We already have enough of them vacant to actually get people off the street,” Lander said.“And 70% to 90% of the time when you make that investment, people are able to stay stably housed.” this “housing first” model, which prioritizes providing stable housing before addressing other issues, has seen success in cities like Houston and Denver. New York City is currently running a pilot program with around 80 participants.
A New Approach to Public Safety
Zellnor Myrie has proposed creating a new “Department of Public Safety,” inspired by cities like Eugene, Oregon, and Olympia, Washington. These cities employ specially trained workers to assist police departments in responding to mental health crises and homelessness.Mayor Adams and Governor kathy Hochul have already deployed similar programs in the subway system, albeit on a smaller scale.
NYPD Under Scrutiny
Despite Adams’ pro-police rhetoric, his opponents argue that he is vulnerable on public safety issues. The NYPD is currently facing corruption and misconduct investigations at the highest levels, and overtime spending has skyrocketed to a record $1 billion, despite Adams’ promises to cut costs.Scott Stringer has pledged to overhaul the department if elected. “I will not hesitate to get rid of every corrupt player,” he said. Myrie echoed this sentiment, stating, “We’ve seen that it’s crucial who you appoint within the police department to ensure that there isn’t corruption and abuse of taxpayer money.”
Key Proposals at a Glance
| Candidate | Key proposal | Inspiration/Model |
|———————|—————————————————————————–|—————————————|
| Jessica Ramos | Expand mental health workforce | N/A |
| Brad Lander | Move 2,000 people into single-room-occupancy units | Houston,Denver (Housing First model) |
| Zellnor Myrie | Create a Department of Public Safety | Eugene,OR; Olympia,WA |
| Scott Stringer | Overhaul NYPD,remove corrupt officials | N/A |
The Road Ahead
As the primary approaches,the candidates’ contrasting visions for new York City’s future are coming into sharper focus. Whether it’s through expanding mental health services, adopting proven housing models, or reforming the NYPD, the next mayor will face the daunting task of addressing these interconnected crises while restoring public trust.
for more on the ongoing debate over sanctuary city protections, click here.To learn about the NYPD’s overtime spending surge, visit this link.
Editor:
What are the key issues that the New York City mayoral candidates are focusing on in this primary race?
Guest:
The primary race is largely centered around three critical issues: public safety, homelessness, and mental health. These challenges are deeply interconnected, especially in a city like New York, where the subway system frequently enough serves as a focal point for these crises. Candidates are presenting starkly different approaches to addressing these problems,weather it’s through expanding mental health services,adopting proven housing models,or reforming the NYPD.
Editor:
How are candidates addressing the issue of mental health in the subway system?
Guest:
State Sen. Jessica Ramos has emphasized the need for a more robust mental health workforce,criticizing the current situation where the MTA has effectively become a de facto mental health asylum.She acknowledges that while increased police presence might help some New Yorkers feel safer, undocumented immigrants may not share that sentiment due to fears of deportation. Other candidates, like Brad Lander, are proposing expanding outreach teams in the subway system and moving peopel into single-room-occupancy units, using the Housing First model, which has seen success in cities like Houston and Denver.
Editor:
What are some of the proposals for improving public safety in New York City?
Guest:
Zellnor Myrie has proposed creating a new Department of Public Safety, inspired by cities like Eugene, Oregon, and Olympia, Washington, where specially trained workers assist police departments in responding to mental health crises and homelessness.This approach aims to reduce reliance on customary policing in situations where social services may be more effective. Meanwhile, Scott Stringer has pledged to overhaul the NYPD, vowing to remove corrupt officials and address the department’s skyrocketing overtime spending, which has reached a record $1 billion despite promises to cut costs.
Editor:
How are candidates tackling the issue of homelessness?
Guest:
Brad Lander’s Housing First model proposes moving approximately 2,000 people into single-room-occupancy units, where tenants share bathrooms and kitchens. This approach prioritizes providing stable housing before addressing other issues and has shown success in other cities. Mayor Eric Adams has also committed $650 million to build supportive housing and provide additional support for mentally ill New Yorkers. He has advocated for state legislation to make it easier to forcibly hospitalize individuals deemed unable to care for themselves,a controversial proposal that has sparked debate.
Editor:
What is the stance of candidates on NYPD reform?
Guest:
Despite Mayor Eric Adams’ pro-police rhetoric, his opponents argue that he is vulnerable on public safety issues due to ongoing corruption and misconduct investigations within the NYPD. Scott Stringer has pledged to overhaul the department and remove corrupt officials, while Zellnor Myrie emphasizes the importance of appointing the right leadership to prevent corruption and misuse of taxpayer money. These reforms aim to restore public trust in the NYPD while addressing the department’s financial inefficiencies.
Conclusion:
The New York City mayoral primary is highlighting the candidates’ contrasting approaches to tackling public safety, homelessness, and mental health. From expanding mental health services and adopting Housing First models to reforming the NYPD, the next mayor will face the daunting task of addressing these interconnected crises while restoring public trust. Voters will have to weigh these proposals carefully as they decide who is best equipped to lead the city forward.
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Candidate | Position on Policing | Key Policies |
---|---|---|
Eric Adams |