Trending Now - NYC Mayor Mamdani Establishes New Community Safety Office

WHO:

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani

Deputy Mayor Renita Francois

New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Jessica Tisch

Public Advocate Jumaane Williams

Office of Community Safety (OCS)

WHAT:

Mamdani announced the creation of the Office of Community Safety (OCS) on March 19th, 2026.

The OCS will oversee multiple existing public safety programs and is part of Mamdani's $1.1 billion Department of Community Safety.

The OCS will centralize agencies including the Office of Crime Victim Services, Office of Gun Violence Prevention, Office to End Domestic and Gender-based Violence, Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes, and Office of Community Mental Health.

The Behavioral Health Emergency Assistance Response Division (B-HEARD) was launched in 2021 and will be expanded under the new office.

Mamdani stated that officers handle 200,000 mental health calls a year, indicating a need for change.

Mamdani's initial vision was for a $1 billion-per-year agency, but the launch will start with only two staff members.

WHERE:

New York City, specifically at City Hall where the announcement was made.

WHEN:

The executive order to create the OCS was signed on March 19th, 2026.

The B-HEARD program was initiated in 2021.

WHY:

Mamdani aims to shift the response to mental health crises away from police intervention, addressing the inadequacies of the current system.

The creation of the OCS is part of Mamdani's campaign promise to reduce the role of police in non-criminal emergencies.

HOW:

The OCS will be overseen by a deputy mayor and will implement a centralized approach to public safety.

The plan includes expanding funding and support for the B-HEARD program to ensure mental health professionals respond to relevant 911 calls.

(UPDATED March 20, 2026 01:27 UTC)

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the creation of the Office of Community Safety on March 19, 2026, during a press conference at City Hall. This new office, part of Mamdani's $1.1 billion Department of Community Safety, will centralize various public safety programs and expand the Behavioral Health Emergency Assistance Response Division to better address mental health crises without police intervention. Mamdani emphasized the need for change, noting that officers respond to around 200,000 mental health calls each year, and the office will initially start with just two staff members.