July 31, 2025 NEW YORK, NY – The tragic New York City office building shooting, which claimed the life of NYPD Officer Didarul Islam and three others, has ignited a fierce political battle, ensnaring the ongoing mayoral race. At the center of the storm is Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, who, in a rapid pivot, is now actively working to align himself with the New York Police Department and quell mounting fears regarding his past anti-police sentiments.

Upon his swift return from Uganda on Wednesday, Mamdani's immediate priority was a poignant visit to the grieving family of fallen Officer Islam. This was quickly followed by a press conference designed to mend fences with the police force and distance himself from a series of controversial social media posts, some dating back five years, that have recently resurfaced.

"I am not defunding the police. I am not running to defund the police," Mamdani emphatically stated, addressing concerns head-on.

Mamdani Softens Tone on NYPD's Strategic Response Group

In the wake of the devastating Park Avenue shooting, Mamdani has gone to considerable lengths to express solidarity with the NYPD and articulate his vision for public safety in New York. A particular point of contention has been an old tweet in which he advocated for the disbandment of the Strategic Response Group (SRG), the very NYPD special operations unit that bravely responded to the Park Avenue tragedy.

When pressed by CBS News New York's Marcia Kramer on whether his views had evolved, Mamdani offered a nuanced response. While praising the SRG's crucial actions this week, he suggested their primary focus should remain on such critical incidents, rather than crowd control during protests.

"In asking the members of that unit to respond to protests, as opposed to what was the stated reason, is a decision that has led to the violation of a number of New Yorkers' civil rights, and it's a decision that has been the basis of my critique of the use of the group towards that end," Mamdani explained.

Political Heavyweights Slam Mamdani on Public Safety

Mamdani's attempt to recalibrate his image has not gone unchallenged. Mayor Eric Adams, a former NYPD captain, wasted no time in criticizing Mamdani's past proposals, emphasizing the Strategic Response Group's vital role in combating terrorism and lone-wolf threats.

"When you start dismantling the pieces of the law enforcement apparatus that are specifically designed to carry out functions, that is extremely dangerous in a lack of knowledge and understanding of these roles," Adams asserted.

Former Governor Andrew Cuomo also weighed in, rebuking Mamdani for his stance on the SRG. "Public safety is job one. It always has been, and the assemblyman shows a disdain for NYPD and seems like he has no concept of the importance of public safety," Cuomo declared.

Mamdani, clearly emotional, responded to his critics by lamenting the perceived political opportunism in the face of tragedy. "What I would also say in this moment is that it is beyond me that politicians are looking to use these days to score such cynical political points on the very day that I held the father of Officer Islam in my arms as he could not utter a single word and as I felt him sobbing at the memory of his 36-year-old son, who will never come home," he stated.

Fundraising Woes and Policy Concerns Loom for Mamdani

Beyond the public safety debate, Mamdani faces an additional hurdle: significant opposition from various groups concerned about his progressive policies. Organizations like "Protect the Protectors" are reportedly raising millions to highlight his past policing stances, while other groups express apprehension about his business policies and proposals to increase taxes on the wealthy. The coming weeks are expected to see these concerns further amplified as the mayoral race intensifies.