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Letters to the Editor — June 24, 2021

Councilman: Eric Adams’ rivals undermined minority votes

Saying, “America is failing in running cities,” leading New York mayoral contender Eric Adams on Thursday declared himself the new “face of the Democratic Party” and said adopting his anti-crime agenda was the only way for his party to turn its fortunes nationwide.

During his first public remarks since Tuesday — when he topped the field following the first round of ranked-choice primary voting — the Brooklyn borough president and former NYPD captain also predicted that he’s “going to impact national politics” by increasing public safety and turning around the Big Apple.

“I am the face of the Democratic Party,” Adams said outside Brooklyn Borough Hall.

“If the Democratic Party fails to recognize what we did here in New York, they’re going to have a problem in the midterm elections and they’re going to have a problem in the presidential election.”

Although he stopped short of actually declaring victory, Adams said, “I’m the American story. I’m the American dream….and we’re going to continue to turn this dream into reality so we can stop the nightmare of how it’s been going in this city and this country.”

“I’m going to show America how to run a city,” he said.

“Right now, America is failing in running cities.”

Adams’ speech came one day after President Biden said crime-ridden American cities — mostly run by Democrats — can spend their leftover federal COVID-19 relief money to hire more cops and pay for police overtime.

“First of all, kudos to President Biden for hearing my voice, hearing what I have been saying,” Adams said.

“Public safety must be intervention and prevention. Everyone was talking about prevention. No one was dealing with intervention.”

The latter remarks appeared aimed squarely at rival Maya Wiley, who came in second on Tuesday after running on a platform that included a pledge to defund the NYPD by $1 billion and shift the money to schools for “trauma-informed care.”

“New Yorkers want to be safe and they don’t want to exist on programs,” Adams said.

“They want to exist on possibility and opportunity.”

In a statement released by her campaign, Wiley said she opposed spending the federal funds on additional cops.

“Emergency pandemic relief funds have been a lifeline to New York City families struggling to get by. And we need the flexibility to apply these funds in proven strategies that keep New Yorkers safe,” she said.

“Evidence-based strategies includes smart policing that partners with communities and requires more mental health services, trauma-informed care, job training and community-based violence interruption – not more police on the streets.”

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