Morning Note
The Latest
Mamdani Taps Felon Taxi Robber as “Criminal Legal System” Advisor
Zohran Mamdani may do a good job of tapping into voters’ economic anxiety, but he’s completely off the rails on other issues. This story serves as a reminder.
The New York mayor-elect has chosen a convicted felon who served seven years in prison for a string of armed robberies as an advisor on the "criminal legal system,” positioning the criminal to serve on a committee that will make personnel and policy recommendations.
Rapper-turned-social justice activist Mysonne Linen committed his violent crimes in 1997 and 1998, whacking one taxi driver with a beer bottle and holding another up at gunpoint to steal a trove of jewelry and cash. A court convicted him on weapons possession and felony robbery charges.
It is unclear why Mamdani selected Linen, as the pair has only met “a few times.” Linen has a storied history of spicy comments, including calling one X user a “closet Fag” and instructing another to “suck my dick faggot.” How progressive.