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Mamdani Taps Mysonne Linen for Criminal Legal System Panel

The activist, a former rapper once convicted in a 1999 Bronx robbery case, will advise on justice policy during the mayor‑elect’s transition.

Overview

  • The transition roster lists 17 committees and includes Linen on the Committee on the Criminal Legal System, with his name corrected on the website after an initial misspelling.
  • Linen, 49, served seven years for two late‑1990s Bronx taxi robberies before focusing on criminal justice advocacy and gun‑violence prevention.
  • He welcomed the appointment on Instagram, describing it as recognition of years of work in Black and Brown communities.
  • The selection drew online criticism, including a post from Jews Fight Back objecting to giving a convicted armed robber a role in shaping policing policy.
  • The committee is set to offer personnel and policy recommendations as Mamdani readies a public‑safety agenda featuring a proposed $1.1 billion Department of Community Safety and plans to reduce jail populations toward closing Rikers.