Eric Adams (mayor)

Eric Adams (mayor)
Name	Eric Adams
Caption	Adams in 2022
Birth date	1 September 1960
Birth place	Brooklyn, New York City, New York
Residence	Gravesend, Brooklyn
Alma mater	John Jay College of Criminal Justice; Marist College
Occupation	Politician; former police officer
Party	Democratic Party
Spouse	Tracey Collins

Eric Adams (mayor) is an American politician and former law enforcement officer who has served as the Mayor of New York City since 2022. A longtime representative of Brooklyn, he previously served in the New York State Senate and as the Borough President of Brooklyn. Adams is known for his focus on public safety, public health initiatives, and economic development in New York City.

Early life and education

Adams was born in Brooklyn and raised in the neighborhood of Bushwick and Coney Island; his upbringing involved interactions with local institutions such as New York City Housing Authority developments, PS 1, and neighborhood organizations. He attended New York City public schools before studying at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, where he earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, and later received a master's degree in public administration from Marist College. Influences during his youth included community leaders from Bedford–Stuyvesant, mentors connected to African-American community organizations, and clergy from local Baptist churches.

Law enforcement and policing career

Adams joined the New York City Police Department and rose through the ranks to become a captain, serving in commands that included patrol boroughs and community policing units in Brooklyn and Queens. During his tenure he worked with units such as the Transit Bureau and collaborated with District Attorney offices including the Brooklyn District Attorney and Manhattan District Attorney on community safety initiatives. Adams founded or participated in organizations including the 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care and was a visible figure in debates over policing reforms, stop-and-frisk practices associated with the Guiliani administration era and litigation involving the United States Department of Justice. His law enforcement career intersected with public figures and entities such as Rudolph Giuliani, Michael Bloomberg, Bill de Blasio-era policies, and civil rights groups like the NAACP.

Political career

Adams was elected to the New York State Senate representing parts of Brooklyn and Staten Island-adjacent districts, where he served on committees interacting with statewide actors such as the Governor of New York and the New York State Assembly. He campaigned on issues tied to urban neighborhoods, partnering with local elected officials from the Democratic Party and civic groups including the Local 237 and 32BJ SEIU. In 2013 he was elected Borough President of Brooklyn, a position involving collaboration with the New York City Council, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the New York City Department of Education, and cultural institutions like the Brooklyn Museum and Brooklyn Academy of Music. His boroughwide initiatives engaged stakeholders such as NYC Small Business Services and New York City Economic Development Corporation.

Mayor of New York City

Adams announced his candidacy for mayor in the lead-up to the 2021 New York City mayoral election and won the general election after securing the Democratic nomination in a contest that included candidates like Bill de Blasio, Scott Stringer, Andrew Yang, and Kathryn Garcia. As mayor he has overseen city agencies including the New York City Police Department, New York City Department of Education, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and NYC Emergency Management. His administration has addressed crises involving the COVID-19 pandemic, urban transit challenges with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, homelessness issues involving DHS and veterans' services, and fiscal negotiations with the New York State Legislature and United States Congress. Adams' mayoralty has interacted with federal actors such as the Department of Justice and the Federal Emergency Management Agency on public safety and emergency response.

Political positions and policies

Adams has emphasized public safety policies focusing on partnerships between the NYPD and community organizations, criminal justice approaches involving prosecutors like the Brooklyn District Attorney and diversion programs with non-profits such as Center for Court Innovation. On public health he promoted initiatives addressing chronic conditions and nutrition, engaging institutions like NYU Langone Health, Mount Sinai Health System, and Medicaid administrators. His economic agenda involved incentives for businesses working with the New York City Economic Development Corporation, workforce development programs coordinated with CUNY campuses, and housing measures interacting with the New York City Housing Authority and state housing agencies including the New York State Homes and Community Renewal. Adams has taken stances on immigration enforcement that required coordination with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and local immigrant advocacy groups like Make the Road New York; on education he negotiated with United Federation of Teachers leaders and Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education appointees; and on transportation he engaged with MTA leadership over subway and bus operations. His policy record has prompted responses from advocacy groups such as the ACLU and public safety coalitions.

Personal life and public image

Adams is married to Tracey Collins and has family ties in Brooklyn; he maintains relationships with community leaders from neighborhoods like Flatbush and Bedford–Stuyvesant. His public image has been shaped by media coverage from outlets including The New York Times, New York Post, The Wall Street Journal, and broadcast networks such as WABC-TV and WNYC. Adams has authored or contributed to discussions on public health and policing in forums alongside figures from institutions like Howard University and Columbia University. His personal interests have included advocacy with organizations such as 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care and participation in civic events at venues like City Hall, New York City and the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

Category:Mayors of New York City Category:People from Brooklyn Category:New York (state) Democrats