Mayor Eric Adams officially started his re -election campaign on June 26, two days after the Democratic primaries, although this time he no longer appeared on the ballot of that party. Postulating as independent, Adams thus marks a new political course while looking for a second mandate in which, he says, he will continue to prioritize the affordability, security and well -being of New Yorkers
In a recent conversation with news NY, Adams defended his history on key issues such as immigration, housing, security and education, and detailed what a second mandate would mean for Latin New Yorkers.
“I did not leave the Democratic party – the Democratic Party left me and the working class,” Adams said. “My agenda has always been focused on affordability, public safety, quality of life and supporting families.”
Adams, a historically unpopular mayor, faces a difficult uphill in his attempt to re -election against progressive assembly Zohran Mamdani, who seems to have won with extensive advantage over former governor Andrew Cuomo, whose campaign had many similarities with the successful Adams candidacy in 2021. The mayor avoided participating in the primary due to a case of corruption that was finally dismissed. It is not yet clear if Cuomo will participate in the general elections along its own independent line.
Curtis Sliwa, founder of Guardian Angels, and the independent lawyer Jim Walden will also compete in November.
A sanctuary city in uncertain times
Under the national political climate marked by Donald Trump’s second term, Adams reaffirmed his commitment to keep New York as a sanctuary city:
“We must provide services to both documented and undocumented persons. Regardless of who they are, they must be able to go to school, receive medical attention and, if they are victims of a crime, have police protection. That is what we have done, and we have done well.”
Faced with criticism about an alleged disconnection with immigrant communities, Adams defended himself firmly. He said that national leaders on migratory issues, after visiting the city, described him as a model to follow. “When we talk about defenders, we must distinguish between those who do politics and those who really care for people,” he said.
Immigration: “I’m doing my part”
On the accusations that his administration has not done enough against the Trump anti -immigrant agenda, Adams was emphatic:
“Immigration is a federal, non -municipal issue. But I am complying with my part: provide services, submit judicial demands and disseminate legal information. To those who criticize, I ask them: What else should we do? Nobody has an answer.”
Housing and Economics: Priorities for Latin communities
Adams highlighted housing achievements as one of the pillars of his management, especially for communities hit by the increase in rent.
“We have built and rehabilitated more affordable homes than any other administration. We have taken more people from homelessness and we have taken them to permanent housing, many of them black and Latin,” he said.
As for the local economy, he mentioned a historical investment of $ 19 billion in businesses owned by women and minorities, in addition to reducing the cost of child care from $ 220 to less than $ 20 per month.
Achievements and lessons
The mayor identified as one of his greatest successes to have faced “the great issues that affect the Hispanic community”, including public security, bilingual education and support for Latin entrepreneurs. As repentance, he admitted that he had to communicate his achievements better:
“We should have learned before we had to talk directly to our citizens. I was disappointed to trust people I shouldn’t. I did not do anything wrong, but there were people around me who did things I did not expect.”
Why find a second term?
Adams states that his administration has achieved “historical corrections” on issues such as unemployment, crime and housing crisis. His promise for the next few years is to continue advancing with policies focused on tangible results for working communities.
“I will convince the voters that we will continue advancing and deepening those achievements,” he said. “Especially our Hispanic community, I tell you: this city is still your home, and under my leadership, they will be fine.”
