Zohran Mamdani Explains Ex-Inmate Mysonne Linen's NYC Transition Team Appointment

New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has issued a robust defence of his decision to appoint Mysonne Linen, a prominent activist and former convict, to his transition team, arguing that the city's approach to justice requires input from those who have survived the prison system.

The appointment has ignited a fierce debate regarding the balance between rehabilitation and public safety, with critics questioning the wisdom of elevating an individual convicted of armed robbery to a policy-making role within the criminal justice administration.

The 'Lived Experience' Argument

Mamdani's office framed the decision as a necessary evolution in governance. In a statement, the transition team insisted that traditional advisers often lack the necessary perspective to dismantle systemic inequities.

The announcement was amplified by Until Freedom, the social justice organisation co-founded by Linen. The group declared on Instagram: 'We are proud that Until Freedom leaders have been chosen... on committees for public safety and criminal justice respectively.'

From Linen's perspective, the role is a recognition of years of advocacy. 'This is a testament to our decades of work advocating on behalf of Black and Brown communities and our expertise in gun violence prevention, legislative advocacy, and criminal justice reform,' the post continued. 'We are building something different.'

A Career Derailed by Crime

Linen, now 49, was once a promising rapper signed to Def Jam, but his music career derailed in the late 1990s when a Bronx jury convicted him of two armed robberies of taxi drivers.

Prosecutors detailed how he and accomplices robbed cab driver Joseph Exiri—striking him with a beer bottle—on 8 June 1997, and later held up driver Francisco Monsanto at gunpoint on 31 March 1998. Facing up to 25 years behind bars, Linen ultimately served seven years before being paroled in July 2006. He has consistently denied the charges, even as he accepted the court's verdict.

Activism and Redemption

Following his release, Linen re-invented himself as a community activist. He co-founded Until Freedom, which campaigns against racial injustice and seeks to reduce gun violence. He also founded Rising Kings, a non-profit that runs educational programmes for inmates at Rikers Island.

Supporters argue that this trajectory represents the ideal outcome of the justice system. It highlights redemption—the notion that those who paid their debt to society can later contribute meaningfully to shaping policy. For many activists, this offers hope that the city's approach to crime and punishment will become more humane and grounded in reality.

Police Pushback and Administrative Scrutiny

Yet critics warn the move may undermine public confidence in safety and policing. The Police Benevolent Association (PBA) and other law enforcement unions have historically opposed the appointment of individuals with violent records to oversight positions.

Furthermore, the rollout of the transition team has faced logistical criticism. Some reports noted that several names—including Linen's—were misspelled in the official November announcement, raising questions about organisational oversight within the incoming administration.

What Comes Next: High Stakes for Mamdani's New Administration

With inauguration day approaching, all eyes will be on how much influence Linen and others with similar backgrounds actually wield. Will his lived experience translate into pragmatic policy that reduces crime, recidivism and inequality? Or will critics' concerns about safety and accountability prove well-founded?

If nothing else, the appointment of Mysonne Linen signals a new approach: one that pushes boundaries and challenges traditional gatekeepers of public safety. Whether this gamble pays off—for reformers, for former prisoners, and for everyday New Yorkers—remains to be seen.