New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani faced criticism online after a video showed two police officers issuing a ticket to a man for roller skating.
In the video circulating online, one officer could be seen writing the ticket while the man stood nearby with his friends. The man repeatedly questioned why he needed a permit to film and argued against receiving the citation. One of his friends could also be heard commenting, “ticket for skating.”
The man then asked the officer whether he was being ticketed for filming, as he had apparently been recording himself while roller skating. However, the officer denied this, explaining that the citation was for “improper use of roller skates.”
Surprised by the explanation, the man responded, “Improper use of roller blades? What the [expletive]?” It remains unclear what happened afterward during the encounter with police, as the second part of the video simply showed the man roller skating.
X user @ImMeme0 shared the footage and criticized the officers for issuing the ticket, arguing that police should be focusing on more serious crimes instead. “Yeah, some things are a nuisance, fine. But no matter what the headlines and the Democrats keep lying about, crime in NYC is through the damn roof and the cops are out here writing tickets for this kind of ridiculous [expletive] instead of locking up the actual criminals. It’s a complete joke,” they wrote.
The video also prompted criticism of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, with some viewers accusing the NYPD of prioritizing minor violations over more serious crimes. Critics questioned why officers were ticketing someone for roller skating when they believed the city faced more pressing public safety concerns.
Others expressed frustration over what they considered excessive enforcement of minor infractions. They argued that police resources should instead be directed toward preventing crime and apprehending dangerous offenders. Some also blamed Mamdani for the NYPD’s priorities, although there is no indication that the mayor was personally involved in the decision to issue the ticket.
Viewers Slam New York Mayor Mamdani Over Roller Skating Ticket
Many viewers online criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani over the video. Some blamed him for what they considered unnecessary police enforcement. “Who are these foreigners dressed up like police? Deport Mamdani. He’s ruining NYC,” one person wrote. Another expressed concerns about the direction of policing in the city, commenting, “NYC residents had better wake up fast. This is only the beginning. Look at how they treat UK citizens. They are trying to crush you.”
Others continued criticizing Mamdani and the NYPD, with some using harsh language to express their frustration over the incident. “Mamdani’s Gestapo. Working up camps eventually,” one person wrote. Another argued that officers should focus on more serious crimes rather than ticketing people for roller skating. “That’s crazy, kids are by the projects doing videos with skates for clicks and videos, harmless [expletive]. [Expletive] has the NYPD come to, you should be looking for the kid s slinging drugs, robbery crews. The only thing you should be doing with these guys is trying to build a rapport with,” they commented.
The incident raised questions about whether police officers should prioritize serious offenses over issuing tickets for minor violations. It also highlighted how some residents hold elected officials, including Mamdani, responsible for police enforcement priorities. This is even when their direct involvement in individual incidents has not been established.
