Mayor Zohran Mamdani, the newly elected mayor of New York City, chose to remain silent during his first joint press conference with NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, where she defended the city's controversial gang database. The decision has raised eyebrows and highlighted the uncertainty surrounding Mamdani's stance on the issue.
During his campaign, Mamdani had vowed to dismantle the database, citing concerns that it disproportionately targeted young people of color and served as a "vast dragnet" for those with loose connections to gang activity. However, in a stark contrast to his past rhetoric, he remained mute when Tisch was asked about the tracker.
The NYPD has defended the database as an invaluable tool for solving crimes and reducing gun violence, but critics argue that it unfairly targets people of color based on factors unrelated to criminal activity. Civil rights groups have also raised concerns about the lack of transparency and due process in the database's use.
Tisch claimed that the database has helped take down 70 gangs in 2025, including one involving a 14-year-old attempting to kill a rival near a Queens school. However, critics like Dana Rachlin, founder of We Build The Block, argue that the database serves as a list of kids who need help rather than providing meaningful solutions to gang violence.
The debate surrounding the database has sparked a heated discussion about public safety and surveillance in New York City. While some argue that the tracker is essential for preventing shootings, others claim that it leads to confusion and mistakes among officers.
With a federal civil rights lawsuit underway and efforts to abolish the database gaining momentum, Mamdani now faces a high-stakes decision that could define his relationship with the NYPD and the city's broader approach to crime and surveillance.
During his campaign, Mamdani had vowed to dismantle the database, citing concerns that it disproportionately targeted young people of color and served as a "vast dragnet" for those with loose connections to gang activity. However, in a stark contrast to his past rhetoric, he remained mute when Tisch was asked about the tracker.
The NYPD has defended the database as an invaluable tool for solving crimes and reducing gun violence, but critics argue that it unfairly targets people of color based on factors unrelated to criminal activity. Civil rights groups have also raised concerns about the lack of transparency and due process in the database's use.
Tisch claimed that the database has helped take down 70 gangs in 2025, including one involving a 14-year-old attempting to kill a rival near a Queens school. However, critics like Dana Rachlin, founder of We Build The Block, argue that the database serves as a list of kids who need help rather than providing meaningful solutions to gang violence.
The debate surrounding the database has sparked a heated discussion about public safety and surveillance in New York City. While some argue that the tracker is essential for preventing shootings, others claim that it leads to confusion and mistakes among officers.
With a federal civil rights lawsuit underway and efforts to abolish the database gaining momentum, Mamdani now faces a high-stakes decision that could define his relationship with the NYPD and the city's broader approach to crime and surveillance.
this is super worrying... i dont no what to think about mayor mamdani right now. he said all those things during his campaign about dismantling the database but now its like hes just gonna sit there and be silent when it comes to actual questions? 
its like his word means nothing anymore. whats going on with our city? 
we deserve better than this. NYPD commissioner tisch sounds like she's just trying to spin things to keep the status quo. this is all so frustrating 
So the question is, what's more important: being silent for now or taking a stand? I think this whole thing reminds me of when you're trying to navigate an uncertain path in life. You might feel like standing up for what you believe, but at the same time, it's scary to rock the boat. 
What if you make the wrong move and end up getting flamed? 
But on the other hand, what if you don't take a stand and someone gets hurt because of inaction? 
It's hard to know which way to go when everything feels so high-stakes. The key is to stay calm, gather your thoughts, and think about what's truly important. And sometimes that means taking time for yourself before speaking up. 
The database is a big deal, and I think the mayor needs to be more vocal about how he plans to tackle it if we want some real change around here.
NYPD commissioner tisch thinks she's some kinda hero for using this "valuable" database to solve crimes, but all i see is a bunch of people getting wrongly targeted just because they're in the wrong neighborhood or something 
and what really gets me is that there's no real plan for actually helping these kids get out of gangs. it's like, we gotta try less of the same old thing and more of actual solutions to this problem 
. Mayor Zohran Mamdani went from being anti-gang database all of a sudden to just shutting down and not saying anything during that press conference... doesn't add up 
. Mamdani needs to come clean about his true intentions and what he plans to do with that database, or we'll just be left wondering if he's playing us all 
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i mean i know people say be strong & silent but come on! it's like he didn't even prepare for that moment or something? anyway, gotta wonder if the whole "we're gonna dismantle the database" thing was just a campaign slogan to get votes lolol not sure what his real intentions are now... and honestly, i'm kinda curious to see how this all plays out 
. What if he's secretly still down with the NYPD on this? 
We don't know much about his true intentions or what he's getting out of this situation 
. I gotta keep an eye on him 
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. It's like, where's the leadership? The transparency? The clarity on what he plans to do about it?
. This silence is just going to fuel more speculation and outrage.
. We need accountability here, not more surveillance 
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maybe mamdani is thinkin hard abt how 2 tackle dis issue... maybe 
. But now that he's in office, suddenly he's lost his voice 
? Instead, we're just getting vague statistics and empty promises 
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. We need to have a real conversation about the impact of these kinds of systems on our communities, not just sweep it under the rug 
.
So much drama in NYC right now! 
️ Mayor Zohran Mamdani just got elected and already facing heat over his silence on that gang database thingy 
. He said he wanted to dismantle it, but now he's just chillin' like a villain 
. But let's be real, it's all about who gets targeted and how 
. And can we get some answers on how to really address gang violence instead of just sweeping it under the rug? 
. It feels like a major flip-flop, especially considering the controversy surrounding this program.