New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has sparked a firestorm with a bold choice for his transition team, raising eyebrows over who gets to shape the future of criminal justice in the Big Apple.
Mamdani confirmed Tuesday that he appointed Mysonne Linen, a 49-year-old convicted armed robber, to advise on public safety and criminal justice policies, Fox News reported.
While Mamdani frames this as a nod to diverse perspectives, many wonder if a man with a violent past is the right voice to guide a city desperate for safer streets. Linen’s history, including seven years in state prison for robbery convictions from the 1990s, hardly screams trust for a role so tied to public confidence.
Back in 1999, a Bronx jury convicted Linen for his role in two armed robberies targeting taxi drivers. Prosecutors detailed how he was part of a group that attacked driver Joseph Exiri in 1997 with a beer bottle and held up Francisco Monsanto at gunpoint in 1998, taking cash and a ring.
Both victims pointed to Linen as one of their assailants during trial testimony. That’s a heavy rap sheet for someone now tasked with influencing policies meant to protect everyday New Yorkers.
At the time, Linen’s defense claimed he had no motive for the crimes, citing his income from writing songs for artists like Lil’ Kim and Mase. Yet, the jury didn’t buy it, and he faced up to 25 years before serving seven.
Mamdani defended his decision, telling Fox News correspondent Alexis McAdams, “We put together a team of more than 400 New Yorkers who are on 17 different committees, and these are New Yorkers who bring with them both a fluency of the policies and politics of the city.” Fine, diversity of thought matters, but fluency in policy shouldn’t mean a firsthand tutorial in felony.
He added that the team’s experiences, successes, and failures would shape a city “for each and every person.” That sounds noble, but prioritizing symbolic inclusion over proven judgment risks alienating citizens who just want to ride a cab without fear.
Linen, now a leader with Until Freedom, a social justice group, was announced as a transition team member in a Nov. 26 Instagram post. His arc from convict to activist might inspire some, but it’s a gamble when public safety hangs in the balance.
Supporters might argue Linen’s time served and subsequent activism show a changed man, especially since he claimed to be falsely accused during his trial. Still, personal redemption doesn’t automatically qualify someone to steer citywide criminal justice reforms.
His past as a Bronx native and once-promising rapper signed to Def Jam paints a complex picture of talent derailed by crime. But complexity shouldn’t override the need for advisors whose records don’t clash so starkly with their appointed roles.
Mamdani’s victory as a democratic socialist in November already signaled a sharp left turn for NYC politics. Appointing figures like Linen suggests a deeper push for progressive ideals that could clash with the practical demands of governing a restless metropolis.
New Yorkers deserve leaders who prioritize their safety over ideological experiments, even if the intent behind Linen’s appointment is to highlight lived experience. Mamdani’s heart may be in broadening representation, but the streets aren’t a laboratory for untested theories.
This move could set the tone for how Mamdani handles tougher calls once in office, and skepticism is warranted. If public safety policies falter under the weight of such controversial picks, the backlash will be swift and loud.
For now, the city watches as this transition team, with Linen among its ranks, begins to shape the future. One can only hope that Mamdani’s vision of a city for everyone doesn’t forget the silent majority craving order over optics.
