Mamdani PRESSED over rising antisemitism amid far-left BACKLASH

[0:01] Welcome back. His one-year anniversary as New York City's mayor is on the horizon. [0:05] Here's more of our conversation with Zoran Mamdani. [0:10] You have those on the right who are not fans of yours who are critics, but let's talk about the left [0:14] because you've got some far left as well. Let's talk about the NYPD. Some critics there say you [0:18] haven't done enough to strip it, to disempower it of certain things. Politico reports this. [0:24] Mamdani's police department continues to employ a controversial DNA database used in criminal [0:28] investigations. His administration is seeking to expand a public housing camera program that has [0:33] sparked lawsuits from tenants over surveillance and invasion of privacy concerns, and six people [0:38] have died in NYPD custody this year, some of them being held on low-level charges. The piece goes [0:44] on to say that so-called sex workers are still being arrested and prosecuted after you signaled [0:49] legalizing prostitution, and that there are those who think you've let the NYPD continue with things [0:55] they thought you were going to end. So I had always been clear over the course of the campaign, [0:59] and I continue to be clear in office, that New Yorkers need not choose between safety and justice, [1:04] and I'm proud that we have delivered the lowest number of murders in recorded history, the lowest [1:08] number of shootings, the lowest number of shooting victims. Things have been going well to the extent [1:13] that Vice President Vance actually tried to take credit for those very safety results that we're [1:17] talking about, and also that there continues to be more work that we have to do, and we're proud that [1:22] when it comes to our work with the police department, that it understands both of those [1:27] necessities. And so we've taken steps like ensuring that we're treating bicyclists the same as we're [1:31] treating drivers, that we're bringing a parody and a consistency in some of our policies. And also, [1:35] we know there's more work to be done, because that's New York City. You have to be relentless [1:38] and unapologetic about the fact that no matter what you achieve, there's another day, there's more. [1:43] Well, are you running up against the reality, though, of what it takes to police in a city like this, [1:47] despite the promises that you made and what the left says they want from you? Because we know that, [1:51] you know, another issue is the counterterrorism and protest unit that the left wants you to [1:55] disband here. The New York Post reports this, that you're trying to save face with your DSA [2:00] comrades, they say, about that, that you issued an urgent mandate to police brass and city hall [2:05] officials last month to cobble together police policy changes about the department's strategic [2:10] response group, this counterterrorist protest unit, trying to craft a move that would appease the base [2:15] about ignored campaign vow while juggling the realities of actually having to police here in the Big Apple. [2:19] I have to be honest, I didn't think you'd be the first person to say comrade in the conversation [2:23] between the two of us. It's a quote. [2:24] But here we are. It's a quote. [2:26] And look, when it comes to the strategic response group, I've said time and again that I'm committed [2:30] to disbanding it and decoupling our response to First Amendment activity versus terrorist activity. [2:36] And we've been clear about that. And that continues to be something that we're working on. [2:40] And I think it's important to both be honest with the public to keep working and then to deliver. [2:45] And that's exactly what we're going to do. [2:46] OK, the left is also upset about your appearance at the October 7th vigil, marking three years [2:52] since the anniversary of the horrific crimes against Israelis, most of them civilians, on [2:57] that day. You were called a, quote, effing traitor and a sellout by people who went to [3:02] that vigil where you are. What's your reaction to those on the far left who think you shouldn't [3:07] even be present at a vigil remembering the victims of what happened that day? [3:12] Well, look, I think the first thing I would say is when you run to become the mayor of [3:16] New York City, you sign up for hearing from the opinions of all eight and a half million [3:21] New Yorkers. And your job isn't to begrudge them of those opinions. It's to hear them. [3:25] And then it's deliver for everyone, those who agree with you, disagree with you, those [3:28] who don't even have an opinion on you at all. And when it comes to my attendance of a vigil [3:32] of October 7th, it comes out of a belief that there must be room in our politics to mourn [3:36] everyone who has been killed, to mourn every violation of international law, to oppose all war crimes. [3:41] And that's something that I will continue to do because it speaks to a belief in humanity [3:46] that has to be universal, that doesn't pick and choose what life to mourn. [3:50] New Yorkers do have very strong opinions. [3:52] Yes, they do. [3:52] That's clear. [3:53] And if they didn't, I'd ask myself where I was. [3:55] Yeah, exactly. Well, Hassan Piker, who you are friendly with... [3:58] Who else? [3:59] Don't that me up. [4:00] No, sorry. My bad. My bad. [4:01] He seemed to support the people who were coming after you at the vigil. He said Zoran [4:06] Mamdani is definitely very fearful of negative press coverage. He said that's pressure that [4:11] he's responding to with material support to organizations like the JCRC, Jewish Community [4:16] Relations Council. So listen, he said things like Hamas is better than Israel. The U.S. [4:21] deserved 9-11. This city, New York City, deserved 9-11. He also said the Middle East would be [4:27] more stable if Iran had a nuclear weapon. Where do you break with him on any of that? [4:31] I would say those are all things that I disagree with, and I've made very clear about my own [4:35] opinions. And I think that it's important to both be able to be confident in your opinions [4:40] and be able to have a conversation with those that you disagree with, those that you agree [4:43] with. Because if you just surround yourself with people who echo everything that you say [4:47] and think, you're going to just end up at home looking at a mirror. [4:50] Well, Democrats have spent a lot of time with him on the campaign trail and have embraced [4:53] him. He's fundraised for them. Do you think that's a wise move, given these comments that [4:56] you said you wouldn't associate yourself with? [4:58] Well, look, I have to be honest. I didn't look up everything that you'd said before agreeing to [5:02] come on this show. Because for me, it can't be a precondition to agree with you on those things. [5:07] What it has to actually be is a willingness to speak to all the people who tune in, because [5:11] they are just as deserving of a government that works. And I believe that's the truth, [5:15] no matter which network we're speaking about or which correspondent. [5:17] Well, yeah, I don't expect that you coming on here would be in agreement with me on anything. [5:21] I mean, but if he's on the campaign trail and raising funds and appearing with people, [5:25] that would seem to be that they are in league with their same ideas. [5:28] I think it's being in conversation with Americans across the country. [5:32] And I think it's up to us to expand who we speak to, as opposed to start to pick and choose. [5:37] And what I think last night is also a reflection of is that if you build a party big enough [5:41] to have so many Americans find a home in it, they will come and they will make clear that [5:46] what they want to see is action, urgency and delivery on their problems. [5:50] OK, according to data on the CityZone website, hate crimes are up here in New York. [5:54] NYPD statistics show this. Year to date, the number of confirmed hate crimes has increased [5:59] by 12.9 percent, almost 13 percent. More than half of the confirmed hate crimes this year to [6:04] date, or 52.9 percent, were anti-Jewish hate crimes, despite Jewish New Yorkers making up [6:10] approximately 10 percent of the city's population. So what do you think is causing a spike in hate [6:18] crimes against your Jewish constituents? That's a shocking number. Why do you think it's happening? [6:23] It is shocking. And it has to be opposed with every fiber of our being. And it is precisely [6:27] why, when I was on the campaign trail, I said that I was going to increase funding to the office [6:31] to prevent hate crimes by $26 million. And to the point you were saying earlier about promises, [6:36] I made that promise, I kept that promise. We increased that funding by more than 800 percent. [6:40] And we did it because we have to do more than just condemn a hate crime when it happens. [6:44] We have to invest to ensure that we can prevent those hate crimes. And so one of the things we've [6:48] done with that funding is double the grant funding to organizations across the city that work to [6:54] prevent that kind of violence. Because, as you're saying, we're talking about a continuation of hate [7:00] crimes that are affecting New Yorkers, and a disproportionate number of them, Jewish New Yorkers. [7:04] As the mayor of the most Jewish city in America, I'm proud of that legacy. I'm proud of that status. [7:10] It's our job to ensure that it's one that we can keep sustaining for years to come. [7:14] How do you respond to Jewish leaders in this city, rabbis and others who think [7:18] your comments have led to some of those actions? [7:21] Look, I think there's no doubt about the fact that there are Jewish New Yorkers and Jewish Americans [7:26] who have a different view when it comes to Israel and Palestine. And my job as the mayor [7:30] is to deliver for them as well. My job is to deliver them safety, deliver them dignity, [7:35] deliver them a city that they can flourish in. And that is something that I take very seriously. [7:38] Because what we're talking about is a city that has become the greatest city in the world [7:44] precisely because people from everywhere can find their home in it. And the job of the mayor is to [7:49] sustain that. [7:49] All right. Well, we appreciate you stopping in, Mayor. And we hope you'll come back to Fox News Sunday again. [7:53] It's been a real pleasure. [7:53] Thank you. [7:54] Thank you. [7:54] Be sure to like and subscribe for all the Fox News latest on YouTube and catch full shows streaming now [8:01] on Fox One.