Mamdani dodges responsibility for threats to NYPD in first presser since deadly Manhattan shooting

New York City's Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani dodged responsibility for his past call to defund the police in the wake of a mass shooting in Manhattan that left four people dead including a New York City Police Department NYPD officer The -year-old Democratic socialist returned to New York City on Wednesday from his wedding celebration in Uganda and right away visited the home of the fallen NYPD officer Didarul Islam and then held a press conference with Islam's brother at the Arrangement Employees International Union SEIU headquarters in Manhattan Mamdani was peppered with questions from reporters about his past guidelines stances including his call to defund the police and his latest pledge to disband the NYPD Strategic Response Group SRG which responds to riots civil disorder and mass shootings such as the development in Manhattan on Monday evening My statements in were ones made amidst a frustration that a large number of New Yorkers held at the murder of George Floyd Mamdani responded when a reporter appealed if he regretted any of his prior comments MAMDANI RIPPED FOR PAST ANTI-POLICE RHETORIC AFTER POSTING TRIBUTE TO SLAIN NYPD OFFICERMamdani has since walked back his stance on defunding police but his competitors including former New York Gov Andrew Cuomo has seized on such comments telling CNN that Mamdani doesn t understand the importance of NYPD ZOHRAN MAMDANI DODGES QUESTIONS ON MASS SHOOTING AFTER RETURNING FROM AFRICA VACATION I know that Governor Cuomo is far more assured in the past whether it be his own or whether it be in attacking me for tweets made before I was even an assembly member Mamdani mentioned on Wednesday What I have disclosed time and time again is the campaign that I am leading the campaign that I am asking New Yorkers to consider is one that has been clear on its citizens safety approach In an special interview on Wednesday Cuomo communicated Fox News Digital that his comments are not publicizing the tragedy and arguing that it's a political discussion that we have to have in this campaign Mamdani stated he plans to address police department staffing shortages as mayor What I am speaking of is a vision that will not only address residents safety but also keep officers in this very police department will ensure that they can definitely respond to the crimes that are being committed in this city Mamdani reported The socialist candidate criticized the former governor for spending an entire day speaking almost exclusively about me and barely about the New Yorkers who have been killed calling it indicative of the very politics New Yorkers want to leave in the past And when a reporter sought Mamdani if he bears any responsibility for selected of his past comments about the NYPD including a post quipping nature is healing in response to someone celebrating a cop crying in his car in Mamdani again dodged accountability touting his newfound experience connecting with NYPD officers about their experiences It is clear to me as it is clear to so a great number of New Yorkers of the immense danger that so numerous take upon when they do this work Mamdani announced What I will be as the mayor is someone who recognizes the work that these officers do who looks to ensure work that brought them to this department and dependably focused on the outcome of general safety Mamdani again criticized Cuomo for trying to number political points for criticizing his past comments We spend far more of our time trying to figure these kinds of points than asking ourselves how can we ensure that New Yorkers are safe Mamdani reported The Democratic socialist has secured endorsements from Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen Bernie Sanders while national Democratic leaders from New York including House Minority Leader Rep Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Sen Chuck Schumer On Wednesday Mamdani disclosed he echoes Gov Kathy Hochul D-N Y who is also withholding her endorsement for a national ban on assault rifles I ask that in this moment we come together as New Yorkers and we remember the four of our neighbors that were killed We honor their memories and we live up to the way in which they lead their lives Mamdani disclosed