New Hope or New Dope?

November 17, 2021

By Megan Gleason

New Yorkers took to the polls on November 2, 2021, to pick the next mayor but despite the overwhelming approval in the polls, it seems not everyone is sold on mayoral elect Eric Adams. In interviews with over 20 people in Central Park this past weekend many have strong feelings about NYC being run by a former cop. New to New York following a job opportunity, Jarett Pitts, 31, from Fort Collins Colorado said, “I feel like electing a cop as the next mayor might not have been the best thing for NYC especially following the death of George Floyd. I feel like he will be a good mayor, but it might take him a while to gain the general respect of the public. It just wasn’t the right time.”

Adams plans to use his background to crackdown on crime in the city. Despite overall crime rates being down by about 5%, hate crimes and random acts of violence are still happening at an abnormal rate. Many New Yorkers no longer feel safe walking or riding the subways alone. Some, like Albert Shilman, 21, a medical student from Staten Island, feel hopeful that Adams may be able to combat this, saying “ I think it’s great that he has that background. I believe that law enforcement has been treated horribly recently totally understandable as to why but defunding the police, as De Blasio did before, doesn't solve the issue at hand but creates more of an issue of increased crime as the men and women who swore to protect and defend the law are at a current disadvantage where they aren’t receiving the correct training and funding for the needs of the people and equal law protection. Adams' law background could bring a new age of police reform that will better law enforcement for the long run and make the city safer overall.”

Lastly, reports on Adams have made the public weary as he doesn’t necessarily fit the public persona he tries so hard to display. Reports have been made about how Adams conducts his workday at the Borough office in Brooklyn, like sleeping there, walking around without shoes, and working out in the office. and not all people seemed at ease with it. A woman who was asked her opinion said, “I think he’s strange. I just don’t understand why he would want people to know how weird he is, it doesn’t make him relatable, it just makes him weird. I don’t like him and I think someone should tell him to keep his shoes on”.

The verdict is still out on whether or not Eric Adams will rise to the occasion or drop the ball but New Yorkers are opinionated and eager to find out.