New York City voters handed Zohran Mamdani the keys to City Hall in November, betting on his vision for a transformed metropolis. But as the democratic socialist assembles his incoming administration, one choice stands out like a cracked sidewalk in Times Square: appointing Mysonne Linen, a convicted armed robber, to advise on public safety and criminal justice. It’s the kind of decision that leaves working families wondering if their streets will get safer or just more unpredictable.
Linen, a 49-year-old Bronx native who once chased rap stardom with a Def Jam deal, saw his early career cut short by two felony convictions in 1999. Court records show he was found guilty by a Bronx jury of robbing taxi driver Joseph Exiri on June 8, 1997—striking him with a beer bottle during the holdup—and holding up another cabbie, Francisco Monsanto, at gunpoint on March 31, 1998, making off with cash and a ring. Both victims pointed him out in court, sealing a sentence that could have stretched to 25 years. He served seven before parole in 2006.
Linen has long insisted on his innocence, claiming at the time he had no need for quick cash since he was penning tracks for stars like Lil’ Kim and Mase, with a debut album lined up alongside heavyweights such as LL Cool J and Busta Rhymes.
These days, Linen channels his energy into activism, co-founding Until Freedom, a nonprofit pushing for investments in marginalized communities through gun violence prevention and reform efforts. The group touted his spot on Mamdani’s 20-member Committee on the Criminal Legal System in a November 26 Instagram post, posing him with fellow leaders Tamika Mallory and Angelo Pinto.
“We are proud that Until Freedom leaders have been chosen to serve on Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani’s transition team on committees for public safety and criminal justice respectively,” the announcement declared. “This is a testament to our decades of work advocating on behalf of Black and Brown communities and our expertise in gun violence prevention, legislative advocacy, and criminal justice reform. We are building something different.”
Linen echoed the line in his own post, framing it as a nod to hard-won community insights.
Mamdani’s team bills the panel as a brain trust for overhauling the “criminal legal system,” feeding into broader pledges like slashing Rikers Island’s population, erecting borough-based jails by 2027, and redirecting over $1 billion toward a new “Department of Community Safety” rooted in public health models rather than traditional policing. It’s part of a clean break from outgoing Mayor Eric Adams, including a halt to homeless encampment sweeps starting January 1. But handing the reins on crime policy to someone with Linen’s record feels less like fresh ideas and more like handing matches to an arsonist.
The backlash hit fast. Jews Fight Back blasted the move on X, posting: “Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani just appointed a convicted armed robber to help shape NYC’s crime and policing policy,” and labeling it “insane.” They tacked on a photo of Linen with Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, whose long trail of antisemitic barbs has kept him on the fringes for decades—a connection that only amps up the unease for a mayor-elect already dogged by accusations of anti-Israel rhetoric and a recent dust-up where the NYPD commissioner apologized after her brother dubbed him an “enemy of the Jewish people” at a gala.
Benny Boscio, head of the Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association, called it “both disheartening and deeply disturbing that individuals who are convicted felons and have a history of breaking the law are being given the opportunity to help shape the future of New York’s criminal justice system.”
His point lands hard in a city where cab drivers—many immigrants scraping by on long shifts—still remember the terror of late-90s stickups like the ones Linen was nailed for. Mamdani himself campaigned hard on championing those same cabbies as “unsung heroes,” yet here he is elevating one of their old nightmares to policy influencer.
This isn’t Mamdani’s first eyebrow-raiser. His transition rosters brim with voices like Janos Marton, a failed Manhattan DA candidate who pushed to gut pretrial detention and cap sentences at 20 years, and Dana Rachlin of We Build the Block, who once boasted about mobilizing “impacted blocks” for votes by spotlighting gang database numbers over NYPD headcounts.
Then there’s Max Rameau, an activist who openly mused about “one day we can abolish police.” It’s a lineup that smells like a deliberate pivot away from cops and toward what critics see as unchecked radicalism—folks who view every police scandal as a chance to shrink badges and budgets, even as violent crime ticked up 3% citywide last year, per NYPD stats.
Is this redemption, or a signal that accountability takes a backseat to ideology? Linen’s post-prison path—mentoring at Rikers, interrupting street beefs—shows real grit, no question. But when the guy crafting your safety blueprint once left cabbies bleeding and broke, it begs the question of whose streets this “something different” really protects.
New York has clawed back from the brink before, with broken windows policing and zero-tolerance vibes that kept the wolves at bay. Mamdani’s crew risks unraveling that hard-won progress, all in the name of equity that feels anything but equal for the law-abiding.
As January 1 looms, taxpayers footing the bill for this experiment deserve straight answers, not Instagram platitudes. Will Mamdani’s office address the firestorm, or let it simmer while the transition chugs on? One thing’s clear: In a town built on second chances, third strikes on public trust come at a steep cost. New Yorkers didn’t vote for chaos—they voted for a city that works. Time to see if Mamdani delivers, but at this point it’s not a safe bet.
Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
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- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.
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