Mamdani announces pared-down NYC community safety office that will combat hate crimes

New mayoral body is less expansive than mayor’s campaign pledge to set up an agency with a $1.1 billion budget, will initially comprise only 2 people

NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Thursday announced the establishment of an Office of Community Safety, a pared-down version of a campaign promise that will be involved in combating hate crimes in the city, which overwhelmingly target Jews.

Mamdani’s office said in a Thursday statement that the Office of Community Safety will take a “whole-of-government approach to crime prevention and public safety that addresses gun violence prevention, mental health and substance abuse treatment, hate crime prevention, victims services, and subway safety.”

“The Office will focus on addressing the root causes of crime and violence, streamlining and expanding evidence-based crime prevention programs and strengthening wraparound services so no New Yorker is left behind,” it said.

The new body will coordinate the work of the city’s Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes, as well as the Office of Crime Victim Services, Office to Prevent Gun Violence, Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence and Office of Community Mental Health.

During his campaign, Mamdani had vowed to establish the body as a city agency, but the executive order signed Thursday sets up a mayoral office, a less significant measure than a full-fledged agency.

Mayoral offices established by executive order are easier to establish than city agencies, but can be revoked by a future administration.

Mamdani also vowed a $1.1 billion budget for the proposed department during the campaign, but the office’s budget is only $260 million, and that funding is drawn from other programs and will not bring in any new funds, The New York Times reported.

Mamdani’s proposed budget for the city, announced last month, left out allocations for the community safety office.

The city is dealing with a budget deficit in the billions, a major stumbling block for Mamdani, who had promised far-reaching and costly reforms, such as free childcare and buses.

The Office of Community Safety will also only be staffed by two people at first.

At a Thursday press conference, Mamdani said the office’s budget will be increased and that there will be more staff, without providing details.

Mamdani announced that Renita Francois, a veteran of city government and the nonprofit sector, will head the office as the Deputy Mayor for Community Safety. Francois will report directly to Mamdani.

“The cornerstone of a dignified life is true community safety — and that safety is built through relentless investment in the services that keep New Yorkers safe,” Mamdani said in a statement. “Our administration will not wait for change, we will build it.”

“Renita will lead this work with clarity, compassion and an unwavering commitment to New Yorkers too often left behind — from families confronting gun violence to people navigating mental health crises, hate crimes or substance use issues,” the statement said.

The hate crimes office, under the Office of Community Safety, will advise the mayor on preventing the crimes, and will be involved in raising awareness, investigations and prosecution, and addressing the impact on communities, the executive order said.

The office will also review budget requests for city agency programs related to hate crimes; prepare an annual report on the prevalence of hate crimes and mitigating their impact; study the efficacy of neighborhood safety plans; liaise with community groups; inform community members of violent hate crimes; and notify officials when they occur.

The Office of Community Safety will also be involved in issues such as mental health responses and gun violence.

Last year, Jews were targeted in 57% of hate crimes in the city, despite making up around 10% of the population.

The rate of hate crimes is tracked by monthly NYPD data.

It will be difficult to compare the prevalence of hate crimes under Mamdani’s tenure to previous administrations, though, because the NYPD said this month that it will report its monthly tally of hate crimes differently.

Previously, the police had reported hate crimes that were under review, but will now only report incidents that have been investigated and confirmed as bias incidents. The different measurement means comparisons will not be relevant.

The NYPD said the methodology will provide a more “accurate representation” of the incidents, but experts have said that the new system could give the false impression that hate crimes are decreasing.