New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani's Silence on NYPD Gang Database Sparks Concern
In a joint press conference with Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Mamdani remained mum about the city's gang database, sparking concerns over his stance on the contentious issue. As a mayoral candidate, Mamdani had previously expressed opposition to the database, labeling it a "vast dragnet" that disproportionately affects young people of color.
However, in the face of mounting criticism and pressure from civil rights groups and City Council members, Mamdani's silence has raised questions about his commitment to dismantling the database. Critics have long argued that the tracker perpetuates racial profiling and surveillance without transparency or due process.
Tisch defended the database as a critical tool for combating gun violence and solving major crimes, citing its role in taking down 70 gangs in 2025. She also emphasized the importance of the database in anticipating retaliatory violence following shootings.
On the other hand, community leaders and advocates have highlighted concerns about the database's accuracy, with critics pointing out that it disproportionately affects Black and Hispanic youth. Dana Rachlin, founder of We Build The Block, argued that police are not equipped to address the root causes of gang violence and that the database merely ensnares young people who may not be involved in criminal activity.
A federal civil rights lawsuit is currently underway over the database, with plaintiffs alleging that it violates their constitutional rights. Meanwhile, City Councilmember Althea Stevens has authored a bill to eliminate the tracker, but faces uncertainty about its prospects.
As Mamdani navigates this high-stakes issue, his silence has only added fuel to the fire, leaving many wondering whether he will follow through on his campaign promise to dismantle the database or quietly let it stand.
In a joint press conference with Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Mamdani remained mum about the city's gang database, sparking concerns over his stance on the contentious issue. As a mayoral candidate, Mamdani had previously expressed opposition to the database, labeling it a "vast dragnet" that disproportionately affects young people of color.
However, in the face of mounting criticism and pressure from civil rights groups and City Council members, Mamdani's silence has raised questions about his commitment to dismantling the database. Critics have long argued that the tracker perpetuates racial profiling and surveillance without transparency or due process.
Tisch defended the database as a critical tool for combating gun violence and solving major crimes, citing its role in taking down 70 gangs in 2025. She also emphasized the importance of the database in anticipating retaliatory violence following shootings.
On the other hand, community leaders and advocates have highlighted concerns about the database's accuracy, with critics pointing out that it disproportionately affects Black and Hispanic youth. Dana Rachlin, founder of We Build The Block, argued that police are not equipped to address the root causes of gang violence and that the database merely ensnares young people who may not be involved in criminal activity.
A federal civil rights lawsuit is currently underway over the database, with plaintiffs alleging that it violates their constitutional rights. Meanwhile, City Councilmember Althea Stevens has authored a bill to eliminate the tracker, but faces uncertainty about its prospects.
As Mamdani navigates this high-stakes issue, his silence has only added fuel to the fire, leaving many wondering whether he will follow through on his campaign promise to dismantle the database or quietly let it stand.
. He campaigned on taking down the gang database, but now that the pressure's on, he's mum 
. It's like, what's the real story here? Is he still for the database or has his stance changed of the fly? 
The fact that Tisch is pushing it as a tool to combat gun violence and solve major crimes doesn't necessarily mean it's the right approach 
.
That's what critics are saying. It seems like Mamdani's not taking a strong stance on this, which is worrying 
. The community leaders are right to say that the police aren't equipped to handle the root causes of gang violence, so maybe we need to rethink our approach entirely 
.
, but it's up to Mamdani now to make a move 
. Will he stand by his campaign promise or backpedal? The city is watching 
.
the fact that it's disproportionately affecting black and hispanic youth is just wrong, you feel me? 
we need to hold our leaders accountable for this kind of thing. 