The Democratic mayor-elect of New York City appointed a former rapper convicted of armed robbery as an adviser to his transition committee
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Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani faces growing controversy after appointing rapper and activist Mysonne Linen, who served seven years in prison for armed robberies, as an advisor on his transition committee for the "criminal legal system."
Linen, convicted of two assaults on taxi drivers in the Bronx in the late 1990s, always denied his involvement, but court records and reports from the time place him as a member of the gang that committed the robberies in 1997 and 1998.
After receiving a sentence of 7 to 14 years and being released on parole in 2006, the former rapper reinvented himself as an activist, founded the organization Rising Kings, and worked as a "violence interrupter." He also created the socialist group Until Freedom alongside Muslim Democratic activist Linda Sarsour. On social media, he celebrated his addition to Mamdani's team, stating that it recognizes "decades of work" in vulnerable communities.
Mamdani designó al convicto Mysonne Linen como asesor de su comité de transición
However, his appointment has caused severe criticism from police and public safety sectors. New York society has also launched strong reproaches against the controversial designation of the Democratic jihadist.
The recently retired chief of the New York Police Department, John Chell, stated that Linen's selection reflects a trend within the mayor-elect's transition team, made up of "anti-police" figures, warning that these decisions could compromise public safety.
Linen is not the only controversial name among the 400 members of the 17 transition committees. The same group includes Vincent Schiraldi, former head of the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, who resigned under pressure due to allegations of mismanagement.
La designación generó durísimas críticas en la sociedad y sectores policiales
Lumumba Bandele, leader of the extremist group Malcolm X Grassroots Movement and defender of figures convicted of killing police officers, was also included; his name, like Linen's, appeared misspelled in the official announcement on November 24, which caused comments about the lack of rigor in the process.
Other questioned appointments include sociologist Alex Vitale, an outspoken critic of police practices; activist Zakiyah Shaakir-Ansari, who praised Assata Shakur, a fugitive after being convicted of killing an officer; anti-traffic activist Ben Furnas; and Susan Herman, former director of the criticized ThriveNYC program. In addition, figures close to Democratic Socialists of America, an organization with which Mamdani keeps close ties, were also added.
The reaction from civil groups was equally forceful. Jews Fight Back denounced that Mamdani is handing the city over to extremists, accompanying their message with a photo of Linen alongside Islamic activist Louis Farrakhan.
El sociólogo Alex Vitale se encuentra entre las polémicas designaciones del demócrata Mamdani
