Mamdani Appoints Anti-Cop Radical as Deputy Mayor for Community Safety

New York City mayor's pick previously led Soros-funded group pushing to defund police and abolish jails

Mar. 28, 2026 at 3:48pm

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Mayor Mamdani has appointed Renita Francois, a former executive at a George Soros-funded group that advocated for defunding the police and abolishing prisons, as the new deputy mayor for community safety. Francois will oversee the mayor's new 'Office of Community Safety' which aims to shift responsibility for some 911 calls from the NYPD to civilian responders.

Why it matters

The appointment of an anti-cop activist to this high-profile role raises concerns about the mayor's approach to public safety and criminal justice reform. Critics argue the new office is a waste of taxpayer money and will undermine the NYPD's ability to respond effectively to emergencies.

The details

Renita Francois, 42, previously worked as the chief program officer at Beyond Impact, a George Soros-funded group that supported initiatives like the 'Dream Defenders' and 'Movement for Black Lives Action' which embraced 'Defund the Police' and prison abolition. In her new role, Francois will oversee a $260 million budget and work to shift responsibility for 'nonviolent' 911 mental health calls from the NYPD to social workers and other civilian responders. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch has questioned whether the new office is necessary, estimating only about 2% of calls would be diverted from the NYPD.

  • Francois was appointed to the $290,000-a-year post last week.
  • Beyond Impact, the group Francois previously worked for, received over $51 million from George Soros' Open Society Foundation over the past decade.

The players

Renita Francois

Francois is the new deputy mayor for community safety in New York City. She previously worked as the chief program officer at Beyond Impact, a George Soros-funded group that advocated for defunding the police and abolishing prisons.

Jessica Tisch

The New York City Police Commissioner who has questioned the necessity of the new Office of Community Safety, estimating only about 2% of calls would be diverted from the NYPD.

David Carr

The Republican Council Minority Leader who criticized the new office as a '$260 million boondoggle' to fulfill a campaign promise and keep dangerous criminals out of jail.

George Soros

The billionaire philanthropist whose Open Society Foundation has donated over $51 million to Beyond Impact and other groups that have pushed for criminal justice reforms like defunding the police.

Bill de Blasio

The former New York City mayor for whom Francois previously worked in the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice.

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What they’re saying

“I don't want to predict this, but with my experience I think it's just going to go very bad quickly if there's confusion.”

— Michael Alcazar, Retired NYPD Detective and Adjunct Professor

“This entire agency is just a $260 million boondoggle to fill a campaign promise and find new ways to keep dangerous criminals out of jail.”

— David Carr, Council Minority Leader

“We don't want to lead with fear. We want to lead with hope.”

— Renita Francois, Deputy Mayor for Community Safety

What’s next

The judge will decide on Tuesday whether to allow Renita Francois to take on the deputy mayor role amid concerns about her background and the new Office of Community Safety.

The takeaway

The appointment of an anti-police activist to a high-profile public safety role in New York City highlights the mayor's controversial approach to criminal justice reform. Critics argue the new office will undermine the NYPD's ability to respond to emergencies, while supporters say it will lead to a more 'compassionate-first' approach.