Mayor Adams Calls on Fellow Democrats to Address New York City Crime Rate

On Thursday, November 10th, Mayor Eric Adams, said he is excited to work with the newly elected Governor Kathy Hochul to reform New York’s bail law and lower the city’s crime rate.

Adams said that Hochul would be a “real partner” in combating crime and changing the bail laws, days after Hochul defeated Republican candidate Representative Lee Zeldin in a governor’s race that became more competitive as Zeldin criticized Democratic leaders for disregarding public safety issues.

Adams urged his fellow Democrats to stop “being afraid to talk about” rising crime and “feeling unsafe.”

Adams acknowledged on Thursday’s “Morning Joe” episode of MSNBC that the 2019 Albany law has contributed to the problem of increased crime in the boroughs.

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In a tone change, weeks after blaming the media for fostering a false “perception” about safety in the city, the mayor used the nationally broadcast post-election discussion to call on Democrats to address the “feeling” of New York City residents that the crime rate in the city is out of control.

Adams’ remarks marked a shift from an interview he gave on October 20, in which he downplayed concerns about an increase in crime on the subway, arguing that only a small number of severe crimes were committed underground daily.

The mayor stated that a significant portion of Hispanic and Asian voters—who are typically ardent Democrats—backed Republicans on Election Day because they felt the party was failing to solve quality-of-life issues.

“We’re losing the base of our black and brown people who really believe in those basic things: public safety, housing, education; we cannot talk our way out of this. We have to be realistic as to what people are facing on the street,” he added.

Even if there have been fewer murders in the boroughs this year and police have made a record number of criminal arrests, according to Adams, perception is reality when it comes to municipal and state governance.