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 at once visited the home of the fallen NYPD officer Didarul Islam and then held a press conference with Islam's brother at the Facility Employees International Union SEIU headquarters in Manhattan Mamdani was peppered with questions from reporters about his past program stances including his call to defund the police and his contemporary pledge to disband the NYPD Strategic Response Group SRG which responds to riots civil disorder and mass shootings such as the occurrence in Manhattan on Monday evening My statements in were ones made amidst a frustration that a great number of New Yorkers held at the murder of George Floyd Mamdani responded when a reporter inquired 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 settled 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 commented on Wednesday What I have declared 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 population safety approach In an special interview on Wednesday Cuomo narrated 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 explained he plans to address police department staffing shortages as mayor What I am speaking of is a vision that will not only address masses 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 mentioned 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 demanded Mamdani if he bears any responsibility for several 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 countless New Yorkers of the immense vulnerability that so numerous take upon when they do this work Mamdani declared 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 invariably focused on the outcome of population safety Mamdani again criticized Cuomo for trying to outcome political points for criticizing his past comments We spend far more of our time trying to sum these kinds of points than asking ourselves how can we ensure that New Yorkers are safe Mamdani revealed 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 announced 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 commented