From subway slashings to surging antisemitic attacks, crime is a centerpoint of debate in New York City. Concerns about the future of law and order in the Big Apple are heightened with the election of incoming socialist mayor Zohran Mamdani. This past week, he stoked worries with his new chief of staff appointment: a woman regarded as the “architect” behind his campaign proposal to radically overhaul the NYPD. Makenzie Frost reports on hopes Mamdani can deliver safer streets versus worries he intends to erode the thin blue line.

The following is a transcript of a report from “Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson.”
Watch the video by clicking the link at the end of the page.

More than 8 million people call New York City home and it plays a larger-than-life role. Wall Street is the center of the financial universe, and Times Square the crossroads of the world.

Now, all eyes are on newly elected mayor Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic socialist, who soared to victory on November 4 with more than a million votes in the largest turnout since 1969.

Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani: Safety and justice will go hand in hand as we work with police officers to reduce crime.

The 34-year-old campaigned on sweeping changes for New York City. A new direction brings support from New Yorkers – and hesitancy.

New York City resident: I’m hopeful. You never know with these things.

On the campaign trail, Mamdani called to defund the police. He softened that with promises of a new direction for the NYPD: from current police responding to all calls, to creating a new department staffed with social workers and mental health professionals to handle nonviolent calls instead of police; keep the force at roughly what the mayor-elect’s office claims is around 36,000, but cut overtime spending significantly; and decriminalize many misdemeanors like prostitution and reduce arrests and prosecution for nonviolent offenses.

Fewer police resources are something Bronx hardware store owner Robert Morales is worried about – especially given the current criminal activity.

Robert Morales: This is the wild wild west.

This store has been in Morales’ family for 40 years. Shoplifting has been such a major problem for him since COVID that he crafted this makeshift loss-prevention system.

But if someone does slip through and slip out with stolen merchandise, Morales says he’s concerned Mayor-elect Mamdani’s policing plan will cut into his bottom line.

Mikenzie Frost: Are you hopeful that things will change when it comes to shoplifting and police response?

Robert Morales: I don’t think it’s gonna happen. He wants to turn this into a little misdemeanor, so he is just gonna give them a little slap on the wrist.

NYPD spent $955 million on overtime in budget year 2024.

Cutting that could mean fewer officers on the street and available to prevent crimes that have impacted innocent bystanders on the street and below. Mamdani’s history of calling the NYPD racist and backing the defund-the-police movement raises red flags for Jim Quinn, former executive assistant district attorney in Queens, New York.

Mikenzie Frost: He has apologized for some of his comments and, you know, made a public apology to NYPD overall. Do you believe and trust his apology?

Jim Quinn: Look, I’m willing to give anybody a chance. These statements were not made, you know, when he was 16 years old; he was 28 years old. He was running for the New York State Assembly, and he seemed very comfortable saying them. He’s basically saying, “I’m sorry I said it.” I mean, sorry, I think, that it came out.

With the lowest number of NYPD officers in 25 years, Quinn says the staffing problems will get worse.

Jim Quinn: The ranks of the New York City Police Department are going to decrease because police officers are not going to stay under this mayor if he does what he says he’s going to do.

Leaving less police to step in to protect against rising antisemitic attacks.

In 2017 there were 116 Jewish hate crime complaints in New York City. That number jumped to 344 in 2024.

Rabbi David Algaze: One of the things that I would think that the good mayor should do is increase security for the synagogue. Increase security for Jewish areas, not decrease them.

David Algaze has been the rabbi of Havurat Yisrael Synagogue in Queens for 45 years.

Previous comments about the police aren’t the only concerns he has with Mamdani.

Mikenzie Frost: Do you think that the language that he uses could harm the Jewish community?

Rabbi David Algaze: Of course. Political leaders, like all leaders, whatever they say has a great influence.

Mikenzie Frost: Do you have extra security precautions in place now?

Rabbi David Algaze: We are planning, yes. Yes.

Mikenzie Frost: What do you need to hear from him to make you feel more reassured?

Rabbi David Algaze: I would be willing to forget what he said. But he needs to act and he needs to speak in a very different tone. And that should be done pretty quickly.

Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani: The conventional wisdom would tell you that I am far from the perfect candidate. I am young despite my best efforts to grow older. I am Muslim. I am a Democratic socialist. And most damning of all, I refuse to apologize for any of this.

New York City’s mayor-elect is dynamic and defiant, but it’s his direction that New Yorkers are anxiously awaiting to unfold. For Full Measure, I’m Mikenzie Frost in New York City.

Watch video here.