Tamika Mallory Named To Mamdani’s Public Safety Team — Reveals Past Pill Addiction, Sought Help From Ex‑NBA Star

Tamika Mallory, an activist chosen to advise Mayor‑elect Zohran Mamdani on community safety, has publicly disclosed a past prescription pill addiction that at its height she says reached 20–30 pills a day. Mallory shared details of her struggle while promoting her memoir, I Lived to Tell the Story, and described how she ultimately sought help and entered rehabilitation.

Mamdani has picked activist Tamika Mallory for his community safety transition team advisory role.

Addiction, Intervention and Recovery

In interviews earlier this year, Mallory described how stress, public pressure and an initial offer of Xanax from a friend led to escalating use. She said she began by splitting pills, later switched to Percocet, and at one point was taking as many as 20 to 30 pills a day. Mallory said the ability to keep functioning while medicating made the addiction especially dangerous.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced new executive orders Wednesday that could be viewed as a challenge to Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.

'When I first contacted Jayson Williams, the NBA All‑Star, you know, he is in the healing space after all the things we know he went through,' Mallory said. 'My first contact with him, I was kind of like, "Hey, my friend is going through something, what can you tell me?" He let me do that two times — two, three calls. By the third call, he was like, "Sis, I already know what it is. It's all good."'

Mallory said she initially reached out to former NBA All‑Star Jayson Williams — who now works in recovery and trauma services — by asking about a 'friend' until Williams confronted her and urged her to seek treatment. She later entered a rehabilitation program and has since spoken openly about her recovery.

Mysonne Linen served seven years for armed robbery convictions in late 1990s taxi driver holdups.

Role On Mamdani's Transition Team

Mallory's appointment to the mayor‑elect's public safety and criminal justice transition teams comes through Until Freedom, the activist group she co‑founded. Until Freedom announced that Mallory will serve alongside human rights lawyer Angelo Pinto and rapper‑turned‑activist Mysonne Linen as part of the teams helping shape policy recommendations for the incoming administration.

Activism And Public Controversies

A Harlem native, Mallory rose to national prominence as a co‑chair of the Women’s March and has been a prominent figure in left‑wing activism and police‑abolition movements. Her public record includes moments of controversy — notably past praise for Louis Farrakhan, criticism during the Women’s March over antisemitism, public criticisms of the Anti‑Defamation League, and previous comments on Israel and on White women in politics. Mallory has acknowledged public scrutiny of these ties and statements.

Mallory is also a single mother; she has spoken about the murder of her son's father in 2001 and how personal tragedy influenced her life and work. Fox News Digital says it has reached out to Zohran Mamdani and Until Freedom for comment.