New York City's incoming socialist mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has ignited controversy with a key appointment to his transition team. He has selected Alex Vitale, a sociologist and prominent advocate for defunding and abolishing police forces, to serve on his Committee on Community Safety.
Who is Alex Vitale and What Does He Advocate?
Alex Vitale is the author of the influential 2017 book, 'The End of Policing'. The book argues that traditional law enforcement is fundamentally flawed and should be abolished for most crimes. Vitale's central thesis is that 'the problem is policing itself', claiming officers work to uphold societal inequalities rather than prevent crime.
His ideas gained mainstream traction following the murder of George Floyd in 2020 and the subsequent global Black Lives Matter protests. In his writings, Vitale calls for an end to police involvement in a wide range of issues, including:
- Drug use and possession
- Border control and immigration enforcement
- Prostitution and sex work
- Dealing with 'misbehaving adolescents'
He has also argued against police efforts to combat street gangs, suggesting such actions are often racially motivated. Furthermore, on his social media accounts, Vitale has expressed support for abolishing the US presidency and dismantling agencies like the DEA.
A New Direction for NYC's Public Safety
Vitale's appointment aligns with policy proposals championed by Mayor-elect Mamdani during his campaign. Mamdani has pledged to reduce the number of NYPD officers and replace them with social workers under a new 'Department of Community Safety'. The aim is to address the root causes of crime rather than relying on punitive policing.
Vitale was one of 26 advocates named to Mamdani's Committee on Community Safety last week. Announcing the news on X (formerly Twitter), Vitale proclaimed it marked 'A New Era for NYC'.
Backlash and Broader Committee Concerns
The appointment has sparked significant backlash from critics who fear a reduction in policing could have catastrophic consequences for a city of over eight million people. Mamdani's independent rival, Jim Walden, reacted sharply on social media, writing: 'Just when a glimmer of centrist hope started to flicker, THIS.'
This criticism is compounded by the fact that Mamdani had sought to distance himself from his own past anti-police rhetoric during the election campaign. Vitale is not the only controversial figure on the new committee. Other appointees include:
- Joo-Hyun Kang, a director of Communities United for Police Reform and a vocal 'defund-the-police' campaigner.
- Dana Rachlin, an advocate who helped create the Brownsville Safety Alliance, a 'police‑alternative' zone where community groups handled low-level issues instead of the NYPD—an experiment some city leaders labelled 'reckless'.
The formation of this committee signals a radical potential shift in how New York City approaches public safety, setting the stage for a deeply contentious political battle as Mamdani prepares to take office.
