In every civilized society, liberty and law must walk together. When liberty runs ahead and leaves law behind, chaos follows. When law becomes oppressive and forgets liberty, tyranny begins. The enduring strength of a democratic city like New York City lies in maintaining this delicate balance.
In recent years, however, a disquieting debate has taken root—one that calls for “defunding the police.” The slogan, emotionally powerful in moments of anger and frustration, may satisfy political passions, but public policy cannot be built upon slogans. The idea of weakening the police force in a sprawling metropolis of over eight million residents demands sober reflection. Law and order alone are the ultimate guarantee of people’s security.
The Reality of Crime in an Urban Giant
A city like New York is a living organism—restless, diverse, vibrant. It is also vulnerable. Shoplifting incidents that went unchecked, brazen robberies in broad daylight, random assaults, shootings, subway crimes—these have deeply unsettled citizens. When stores are looted and culprits appear to walk free, when repeat offenders return to the streets within hours, the social contract begins to fray.
No reasonable citizen wants to live in fear while commuting, operating a business, or sending children to school. The right to life, liberty, and property—enshrined in the American constitutional tradition—presupposes a state capable of enforcing law. Without enforcement, rights become abstractions.
“Liberty Drunk”: A Cultural Drift?
Sometimes I feel that parts of American society, particularly in metropolitan centers, have become “liberty drunk.” Freedom is cherished—and rightly so. Yet freedom divorced from responsibility is self-destructive. Consider the simple example of traffic discipline. Heavy traffic flows through the arteries of the city; suddenly a driver makes a reckless U-turn. What is that if not disregard for collective safety? Such conduct can cause accidents, injuries, even fatalities.
Traffic violations may seem minor in comparison to violent crime, but they are symptoms of the same malaise: a growing casualness toward rules. Rules are not arbitrary instruments of oppression. They exist to protect human life and ensure orderly coexistence.
Brawls in public spaces, assaults in transit systems, organized retail theft, shootings—who shall control these if not a trained, adequately staffed, and empowered police force?
Utopia Does Not Exist
If society were so enlightened and disciplined that no crime occurred, police would indeed be unnecessary. But that is a utopian fantasy. Even the most advanced societies confront some degree of lawlessness. In a dense urban ecosystem like New York, with its enormous demographic variety and economic contrasts, instances of disorder are inevitable.
Therefore, until we reach the distant ideal of universal law observance-perhaps generations away-we must maintain an agency dedicated to enforcing law. Call it police or by any other name; its function is indispensable. Without it, society risks descending into lawlessness.
Leadership and Moral Clarity
Political leadership matters in moments of symbolic significance. Recently, when incidents occurred where individuals pelted members of the New York City Police Department with snowballs during a park event, the official response became the center of debate. Regardless of whether one views the act as trivial mischief or minor assault, the symbolism cannot be ignored.
When elected officials appear to defend or trivialize acts directed against law enforcement personnel performing their duties, they inadvertently send a message that disrespect for authority is permissible. That is a dangerous slope.
A mayor’s foremost obligation is to ensure rule of law. Zohran Mamdani—as the city’s leader—carries a solemn responsibility: not merely to interpret events politically, but to reinforce norms that sustain civic life. Condemnation of misconduct, initiation of inquiry where necessary, and unequivocal support for officers who are lawfully discharging their duties—these are essential signals.
New York City is not, and must never become, a lawless society. To give even the appearance of a “free hand” to disorder is to invite greater disorder.
The Police: Not an Occupation Army
To argue for a strong police force is not to argue for an overbearing or militarized presence. On the contrary, the police must be trained to be civil, dignified, and fearless. Their role is not to dominate but to protect. Courts punish; the judiciary adjudicates. The police enforce the law and ensure safety.
Reform, where needed, must focus on training, accountability, and professional excellence—not on dismantling capacity. A stout, healthy police force means:
Adequate staffing to prevent burnout.
Modern equipment and technology.
Continuous professional training.
Courses in ethics, community relations, and de-escalation.
Transparent accountability mechanisms.
Police officers must be reminded constantly: you are not masters; you are public servants. You are friends of people. You are guardians, not executioners.
At the same time, society must also understand disrespecting or attacking police officers performing lawful duties is an attack on the rule-based order that protects everyone.
Education as the Long-Term Solution
Law enforcement alone is insufficient. A deeper transformation must begin in schools and homes.
Children should be taught from a young age:
The value of discipline.
The necessity of rules.
The meaning of civic duty.
The dignity of being law-abiding citizens.
There should be civic education programs that instill pride in responsible citizenship. Following laws should not be seen as compulsion but as a badge of honor.
It may take generations to cultivate a deeply internalized law-observant culture. Until that day arrives, enforcement mechanisms remain essential.
The Cost of Weakness
History teaches that when the state hesitates to enforce law, alternative forces emerge—gangs, vigilantes, parallel power structures. Businesses shut down, residents relocate, investment dries up. Ultimately, the most vulnerable suffer the most.
Ironically, calls to defund police often arise from a desire for social justice. Yet weakened policing frequently harms marginalized communities first. They are least equipped to hire private security or relocate to safer neighborhoods. Lawlessness disproportionately affects those with the least protection.
A well-trained, accountable, and robust police force is a social equalizer. It protects the store owner in Brooklyn as much as the tourist in Midtown. It safeguards the subway rider at midnight as much as the executive returning from Wall Street.
Balancing Reform and Strength
None of these arguments deny the need for reform. Instances of misconduct must be addressed transparently. Accountability strengthens, rather than weakens, law enforcement legitimacy. But reform does not equal defunding.
Investing in mental health support units, community policing models, and technology-driven crime prevention does not contradict strengthening the force. They are complementary strategies.
The slogan “defund the police” may resonate emotionally, but governance requires nuance. Cities are complex organisms. Stability cannot be reduced to catchphrases.
A Direct Word to the Mayor
Mr. Mayor, leadership demands clarity. The people of New York entrusted you with responsibility—not to experiment recklessly with public safety, but to ensure it. Strengthen the police force. Enhance training. Demand civility and dignity from officers. Create oversight mechanisms that promote trust. But do not weaken the shield that protects millions.
Public statements should reinforce order, not ambiguity. When officers are targeted—whether with snowballs or stones—the principle at stake remains the same. Law must not be mocked.
At the same time, continue building bridges between communities and law enforcement. Organize town halls. Encourage dialogue. Promote transparency. When citizens see police as partners rather than adversaries, tensions ease.
The Ultimate Guarantee
In the final analysis, security is the bedrock of civilization. A peaceful, enjoyable city life requires law-abiding citizens and firm, just enforcement. Without safety, liberty becomes hollow. Without order, prosperity evaporates.
New York is a great city—dynamic, creative, resilient. It deserves governance that recognizes this fundamental truth: law and order alone are the ultimate guarantee of people’s security.
Strengthen the police, reform where necessary, educate the young in civic virtues, and cultivate respect for law. Do this, and you will have fulfilled your duty—not only as mayor, but as guardian of one of the world’s most important cities.
The measure of a city’s greatness is not only its skyline or its culture. It is the confidence of its people when they walk its streets—confident that law protects them, confident that order prevails, confident that their leaders understand the sacred balance between liberty and discipline.
Let New York remain not merely a symbol of freedom—but a model of responsible freedom.
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