Mamdani Hires “Defund the Police Bible” Author as Police Reform Signals Coming to NYC Under New Mayor

Author and police-abolition advocate joins mayoral transition, signaling philosophical shift toward fundamental policing restructuring rather than incremental reform

Policing Philosophy: Mamdani’s Hiring of Police Abolition Advocate Signals Fundamental Governance Shift

Zohran Mamdani’s appointment of the author of what critics term the “Defund the Police Bible” to his mayoral transition signals that police restructuring rather than incremental reform will characterize his administration’s public safety approach. This hiring choice provokes intense concern among law-and-order constituencies while energizing police reform advocates. The selection indicates that Mamdani intends to pursue ideas beyond traditional criminal justice reform–body cameras, bias training, procedural accountability–toward more fundamental reimagining of what public safety means. Police abolition frameworks typically advocate shifting responsibilities currently assigned to police–mental health response, homelessness intervention, addiction treatment, housing enforcement–toward dedicated specialized agencies. Rather than eliminating police entirely in short term, this approach reduces police workload to core public safety functions. Mamdani’s hiring choice signals receptiveness to such frameworks despite their controversial positioning. Whether such police restructuring can function within city fiscal constraints and political opposition from police unions remains uncertain. The symbolic significance of the hiring proves substantial: it establishes clear signal that Mamdani’s administration rejects centrist police reform approaches in favor of more radical reimagining of public safety governance.