It's the Brian Laris Show on WNYC.

Good morning, everyone.

Now we continue our summer round of interviews with the New York City mayoral candidates.

We've heard so far from third party candidates

Andrew Cuomo and Jim Walden and the Republican Curtis Slewa. Today it's the Democratic nominee,

the Assembly member from Queens, Zeran Mamdani. As with the others, we'll talk for about 20 minutes.

Then we'll have analysis and your reactions. Our political reporter Liz Kim is listening in

and standing by for that.

Issues will discuss, include the Assembly Member's proposal for free universal child care and how to

pay for it, the evolution of his views about the NYPD, school segregation in the city, including

the specialized high schools. He went to Bronx Science. And what he might do is

mayor regarding the Middle East. And we'll touch on the new political development from the New York Times

story that President Trump is thinking about intervening in the race on behalf of Andrew Cuomo.

Mr. Mamdani, always good of you to come on. Welcome back to WNYC.

Thank you so much for having you, Brian. It's always a pleasure, and I want to express my condolences as well for Leonard's passing.

Thank you. Let's start with public safety, including the NYPD, after the mass shooting at the Midtown Office building that took the life of NYPD detective, did a roll Islam among the victims.

Your critics highlighted something you

posted in 2020 that said, quote, the NYPD is racist, anti-queer, and a major threat to public safety,

unquote. I know you no longer speak publicly in those terms, but do you still believe the NYPD

is racist, anti-queer, and a major threat to public safety?

No, I do not. And I've made clear over the course of this campaign that the NYPD and police

officers in general are critical partners in creating public safety for each and every New Yorker,

...