Brad Lander Aims to Shift Focus Away from His Controversial Stance on Police and Hamas

Progressive city Comptroller Brad Lander, who previously advocated for defunding the police, claims to have reconsidered his stance now that he’s in the mayoral race; he’s also humorously promoting a bridge deal down by Front Street.

With crime and disorder now top concerns for voters, Lander has unveiled a public safety initiative aimed at increasing police recruitment to 35,000 and pledging to retain NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch should he secure election.

In response, Tisch delivered a powerful address on Wednesday, making it clear that progressives like Lander contribute significantly to the crime problem.

While Brad claims to have recognized the “challenges” around issues like gun violence, mental health, homelessness, retail theft, and hate crimes, he previously voted as a City Council member to decriminalize public urination and drinking alcohol in public, supported not prosecuting fare evaders or shoplifters, and endorsed sanctuary-city policies, including expelling ICE from Rikers Island.

However, it’s not just his extensive record on crime and public safety that Lander has to overcome.

He has also been lenient regarding Hamas, calling for a ceasefire early in the war that would have left the terrorists unscathed after their horrific actions on October 7, 2023. Furthermore, he has not denounced the rising public antisemitism from the left in the months that followed.

The Park Slope Democrat tends to conflate the increase in antisemitism and anti-Jewish violence with the plight of Palestinians and nonexistent Islamophobia.

Unsurprisingly, Lander’s Democratic Socialist allies are staunchly anti-Israel, and he maintains close ties with the controversial Palestinian activist Linda Sarsour.

In fact, shortly after assuming the comptroller role in 2021, he expressed support for Ben and Jerry’s decision to halt sales in the West Bank.

Lander is also an advocate for tolls, having taken legal action when the governor (temporarily) paused the “congestion pricing” initiative last summer and is promising to restore it after its repeal by Trump.

Though Lander may try to position himself as a pro-crime champion advocating for low-income and working-class New Yorkers, he risks revealing his disingenuousness and unsavory character.