NEW YORK (Diya TV) — Left-leaning mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani says NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch will follow his lead if he wins the race for New York City mayor, promising sweeping criminal-justice reforms and a new vision for public safety. Speaking on the Hell Gate podcast Friday, Mamdani, 34, dismissed concerns that Tisch would block his reform agenda. The Democratic Socialist lawmaker told host Christopher Robbins that if he becomes mayor, he expects full cooperation from the city’s top cop.
“Everyone will follow my lead,” Mamdani said confidently. “I’ll be the mayor.”
Robbins pressed Mamdani on why he would keep Tisch as commissioner, noting that she has often opposed the same reforms Mamdani’s supporters want. Tisch has previously criticized parts of bail reform and judicial-discovery changes, arguing they contributed to rising crime. She has also defended the city’s controversial gang database and supported tougher enforcement of low-level offenses.
Tisch, who became commissioner under Mayor Eric Adams, has built a reputation for taking a hard line on crime. She has frequently pushed back against progressive efforts to limit police powers or reduce funding for the NYPD.
Her continued defense of the gang database — a system critics say unfairly targets young people of color — has drawn sharp criticism from criminal-justice advocates. Tisch has also backed maintaining NYPD’s focus on street-level crime enforcement and quality-of-life policing, arguing that these efforts help keep neighborhoods safe.
These stances have made many of Mamdani’s supporters skeptical about her willingness to embrace his agenda. Robbins noted this tension during the interview, asking whether Mamdani truly believed Tisch would reverse her positions.
Mamdani defended his choice to keep Tisch, claiming she has already shown openness to some of his ideas. He pointed to her involvement in developing plans for a Department of Public Safety, which he calls a key part of his proposed restructuring of city policing.
“She’s already been working to accomplish some of the same goals,” Mamdani said, suggesting that Tisch could adapt to his administration’s priorities.
Still, Mamdani admitted he has not yet had a private discussion with Tisch about her future if he wins City Hall. “I haven’t had a private conversation with her on that,” he told CNN on Sunday.
He added that he has not spoken with her one-on-one since July. Tisch has so far stayed silent on the mayoral race and has made no public comments about potentially serving under Mamdani.
Mamdani also dismissed comparisons to the tense relationship between former Mayor Bill de Blasio and ex-Commissioner Bill Bratton. The two frequently clashed over policing reforms before Bratton’s resignation in 2016.
When asked whether his dynamic with Tisch could follow a similar path, Mamdani insisted it would not. “This will be different,” he said. “We’ll work together to make real change.”
Mamdani’s signature policing proposal — creating a Department of Public Safety — sits at the center of his campaign. The plan would bring police, fire, and emergency services under a single umbrella agency to coordinate responses and reduce duplication.
He argues that the department would help shift the city’s focus from punishment to prevention. His platform calls for investing more in mental health care, housing, and community-based safety programs rather than expanding police powers.
But to make it happen, Mamdani would need Tisch’s full cooperation. The commissioner would oversee much of the restructuring process, from merging departments to managing staffing and funding.
