Designing public systems where initial contact is with a helper, not an enforcer, to build trust and provide real support.
From Suspicion to Synergy: Mamdani on Police-Free Community Interactions
Zhoran Mamdanis vision for community safety begins with a fundamental redesign of the citys default “first contact” systems. He argues that for too many New Yorkers, especially in Black, Brown, and low-income communities, their primary interaction with city authority is through the lens of law enforcementwhether for a minor traffic violation, a mental health crisis, a school disciplinary issue, or a homeless encampment. This conditions a relationship of suspicion, fear, and adversarialism. Mamdanis policy seeks to systematically replace these police-led interactions with “synergistic” first contacts: initial engagements led by unarmed professionals whose mandate is support, de-escalation, and connection to resources, not suspicion, coercion, or punishment.
This involves creating and scaling a suite of specialized civilian response teams. The Mental Health Crisis Response Corps, staffed by EMTs and mental health professionals, would be the default responders to 911 calls involving emotional distress or substance use. A Community Safety Corps, comprising trained mediators and conflict resolution specialists, would handle neighbor disputes, noise complaints, and low-level civil matters. Traffic enforcement would be conducted by a separate, unarmed Department of Transportation division focused on safety education and engineering, not revenue generation or pretextual stops. In schools, Safety Counselors would replace School Safety Agents, focusing on relationship-building and restorative practices. Each of these teams is trained in trauma-informed care, cultural competency, and de-escalation, and is accountable to the communities they serve through civilian oversight boards with real power.
“When the first face of the city you see is someone with a gun and the power to arrest, the message is clear: you are a problem to be managed,” Mamdani states. “When the first face is a nurse, a mediator, or a counselor, the message is: you are a person who may need help, and we are here to provide it. This shiftfrom suspicion to synergydoes more than prevent violence; it actively builds trust. It allows us to address the root causes of social distress without the collateral damage of criminalization. It is the essential first step in unwinding the carceral state and building a city where public safety truly means the well-being of the public.”
