Summer Violence, New York City, and Politics

I’m on a reporting trip and at a journalism conference this week, so I’m keeping the roundup light and just posing a question.

I’ll have a full roundup next Friday!

Question of the Week

Summer is about to start, which means cities are preparing for the possibility of increased violence, since it regularly peaks during this season. If you’re a regular reader of this page, you know what most cities lean on when it comes to violence: the police.

That seems to be the case in New York City. The NYPD is planning to send nearly 4,000 police officers to high-crime areas this summer. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, but what might raise some eyebrows is that Mamdani’s office supports the effort, despite his campaign promises to reduce criminalization in the city. It’s a notable snapshot of the difference between campaigning and governing.

So here’s my question:

Is Mamdani going back on his promises, playing the political game that every mayor eventually plays, or simply adjusting his policies with more insight?