If, as analysts overwhelmingly expect, Zohran Mamdani wins New York City’s mayoral election on November 4, he will be the first self-identified democratic socialist to take up residence in Gracie Mansion since David Dinkins in 1990. But Mamdani’s reformist agenda has significantly more recent precedent: the mayoralty of Bill de Blasio, who served from 2014 to 2021 and struggled with only partial success to enact an ambitious slate of progressive policy initiatives over his two terms.
In a new essay, Katie Way argues that de Blasio’s lofty hopes were ultimately dashed in large part because of his muddled and inept approach to dealing with the New York City Police Department. Unprepared for the ferocity of the NYPD’s opposition, de Blasio adopted an attitude of halfhearted conciliation that alienated his supporters while failing to pacify the police. Read Way on what Mamdani can learn from de Blasio’s mistakes, and be sure to subscribe to get Issue Sixteen in your mailbox.
Walking the Thin Blue Line | Bill de Blasio, Zohran Mamdani, and the NYPD
KATIE WAY
If Mamdani is elected, the most reactionary voices in the department will have their knives out. Already, there are signs that his campaign may be bowing to the pressure. But Mamdani cannot flinch.
