New York, US:
New York Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani has issued a blunt warning that New York City should begin preparing for what he believes is the “inevitable” deployment of the National Guard. His remarks come amid heightened debate over public safety, homelessness, and the city’s strain under mounting economic and social pressures.
A Call for Urgency
Mamdani, who represents parts of Queens and has been a vocal critic of city leadership on issues ranging from housing to policing, argued that state and federal intervention through a National Guard presence is no longer a hypothetical question but “a matter of time.” Speaking at a recent community meeting, he said the city’s current challenges—rising costs, increased visible homelessness, and mounting tensions over public safety—are laying the groundwork for Governor Kathy Hochul to take decisive action.
“The city is teetering under stressors we cannot ignore,” Mamdani remarked. “When the state determines that the situation has crossed a threshold, the deployment of the National Guard will not be a surprising decision. It will be a predictable reality.”
Rising Tensions in the City
New York City has faced growing strain on multiple fronts. Officials are working to manage a shelter system stretched thin by both long-term housing shortages and an unprecedented influx of asylum seekers. Public transit safety has become a flashpoint following several high-profile incidents in recent months. Business leaders, particularly in Manhattan, have pushed the city to take more visible action in restoring a sense of order…