Mamdani, Adams focus on building bonds with police, community during National Night Out
BROOKLYN, New York (WABC) -- National Night Out is all about fostering relationships between the community and the police, but on Tuesday night, New York City's mayoral candidates also looked to strengthen their bonds with law enforcement and the community.
For Zohran Mamdani, his stop at the Grand Army Plaza was important to prove he is not hostile to law enforcement.
Five years ago, Mamdani called the NYPD "racist, anti-queer and a major threat to public safety."
Now that he is the Democratic frontrunner for New York City mayor, his rhetoric has softened, and he no longer calls for defunding the police.
"I am looking forward to working with the rank and file of our police department, the union leadership that represents those same police officers," Mamdani said. "And I've been clear throughout the entirety of the campaign, that I am not running to defund the police."
Meanwhile, current Mayor Eric Adams, a former member of the NYPD, brought his best dance moves and his police commissioner to a National Night Out event with the 73rd Precinct in Brownsville.
"I fought for you as a law enforcement officer, as state senator, I did it as borough president, and I'm going to do it as the mayor of the city of New York," Mayor Adams said.
"Murders in the month of July are down 49%," said NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. "We are working to get gangs and guns off of our streets. We're also flooding streets we know for propensity for violence with cops."
National Night Out takes place the first Tuesday of every August.
Whoever wins the mayoral election this fall, will be in charge of the largest police department in the country.
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