–
Former cop Eric Adams becomes New York’s second black mayor. The 61-year-old Democrat won the vote in the city of eight million on Tuesday against the Republican Curtis Sliwa, as reported by the AP news agency and the CNN and CBS broadcasters. Previously, he was the mayor of Brooklyn. At first, unofficial figures from the electoral body saw Adams ahead of about 66 to 28 percent.
In his victory speech, Adams conjured up solidarity among the people in the largest city in the USA, which had recently suffered: “We are so divided right now. And we lose the beauty of our diversity. ”It doesn’t matter whether you come from neighborhoods in Manhattan, Queens or Brooklyn or where you go to pray. “Today we take off the jersey of our neighborhoods and we put on a jersey: Team New York!” Adams will succeed the rather unpopular Mayor Bill de Blasio in January.
Adams was considered a moderate candidate who wants to lead the highest office with a course between left and centrist forces. In addition to the economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – which killed more than 30,000 New Yorkers and plunged the city into serious economic trouble – one of his toughest tasks is likely to be dealing with the police properly. In the election campaign, he had promised a balance between his rather friendly position towards the often criticized emergency services and justice, especially for blacks in the face of structural racism.
Adams was a former police officer himself and is opposed to the huge $ 6 billion budget cut by the New York City Police Department (NYPD). He sees the fight against crime as one of his most important tasks. In addition to security, the future mayor also promised measures against overpriced housing, investments in schools and 480 kilometers of new bicycle lanes during the election campaign.
The new town hall chief grew up as one of six children in a poor family in Brooklyn and Queens. According to his own account, he himself experienced police violence at a young age. However, he then became a police officer himself and tried to change the often racist structures of the NYPD from within. He later moved to the capital Albany as a New York State Senator and eventually became Brooklyn’s mayor. Adams has been vegan since he was diagnosed with diabetes.
Politically, New York City is more important in the USA than other cities. It is considered a yardstick for progressive politics. In the liberal stronghold, Adams’ victory over Sliwa was almost a formality. In addition, the influential Manhattan District Attorney was newly elected on Tuesday: Alvin Bragg will be the first black man to take over the position.
There was also a vote on new members of the city council – according to media reports, many of those elected are likely to be clearly left of Adams politically. In addition, the New Yorkers opted for a constitutional amendment that establishes the right to pure air, clean water and a healthy environment.
–
