Source: Noam Galai/Getty
New York Mayor Eric Adams has been actively positioned as “Hip-Hop,” but a close look at his tenure thus far shows why it's the opposite.
Since being elected as New York City's first black mayor since David Dinkins, Eric Adams' tenure has been filled with controversy, missteps and arrogance directed at his constituents.
Mayor Adams has also earned a reputation as a party buff, putting himself in the spotlight as a champion of Hip-Hop as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. A notable example was the press conference where Hip-Hop icon KRS-One was present with the mayor to announce the parties the city is holding in each municipality for Hip-Hop's birthday in August 2023.
Even with such swagger, when asked if Mayor Adams is “Hip-Hop,” the answer so far has been an emphatic “no.” Here are seven reasons why this case can be made.
1. Police stoppages are back on the rise.
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When Adams was elected mayor, one of his campaign promises was to reform the New York Police Department from within. But two years on, it seems the promise of reform has become an afterthought. This was underscored by recent data showing that civilian traffic police stops have increased to over a million since Mayor Adams took office, with 90% of those arrested following those results being black or Latino. Pedestrian stops by the NYPD have also increased, by the same margin – only 5% of them were white.
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES – 01/03/2024: Mayor Eric Adams speaks as Police Commissioner Edward Campan listens during the release of year-end crime statistics at One Police Plaza. (Photo by Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)
2. The immigration crisis.
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The influx of immigrants heading to New York from Republican-governed states like Texas has been a crisis since last year. For Mayor Adams, it made him at his best — and at his worst, as his administration fought unsuccessfully to suspend the city's right-to-housing laws amid his comments that the crisis would “destroy the city”. Adams drew the ire of residents who don't want immigrants in the city at all and those who support them, who were told by protesters in Mexico during a trip last fall to “go back to Jersey.” The mayor recently said he would approve the NYPD working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials to arrest and deport immigrants suspected of – not convicted of – criminal activity. “There are some people who think they should be able to stay here, continue to do their deeds until they are finally convicted,” he said at a press conference. “I don't subscribe to that theory.
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES – AUGUST 31: New York City Mayor Eric Adams hosts a rally and delivers remarks calling for expedited work permits for asylum seekers in New York, United States on August 31, 2023. (Photo by Selcuk Acar/Anadolu Agency via (Getty Images)
3. Disaster preparedness.
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The effects of climate change hit New York in two stark moments – wildfire smoke from Canada in June gave the air a Blade Runner feel and the remnants of a tropical storm. The mayor's office was criticized for a lack of quick response and information on both occasions, and soon after it was discovered that he had attended gala events on both occasions – one of which was a fundraiser for his re-election campaign.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 14: Xenos and Fivio Mayor Eric Adams attend Universal Hip Hop Museum's 50th Anniversary Hip Hop Celebration on November 14, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
4. Chasing celebrity.
While New York City has had its share of mayors who enjoy the nightlife, Mayor Adams' adventures in the city have become a constant topic in the media. From hanging out with rappers like Jim Jones (who he linked up with at Drake's concert at The Apollo in Harlem) to appearing on Supreme Group Mass Appeal and Nas documentaries and attending his son's album release party, Mayor Adams has been on these streets well after work, which calls into question his commitment to the office.
5. Delivery of clapbacks.
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Mayor Adams has shown that he has a bit of a sensitive side, responding harshly to critics of his policies. The targets for his comments have ranged from progressive Democrats to comparing a woman and a Holocaust survivor to a plantation owner at a town hall meeting on housing advocacy. He even infamously attacked Black Lives Matter activists after the 2022 subway attack in Brooklyn.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 08: (LR) French Montana, NYC Mayor Eric Adams and Melissa Gorga attend the after party at Avra for the opening night of the Tribeca Festival & the world premiere of Netflix's Halftime on June 08, 2022 in New York. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for Netflix)
6. Extended travel.
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Prior to the aforementioned trip to Latin America, Mayor Adams already made a trip to Israel in August and visited the Dominican Republic when he was Mayor-elect. He also visited Athens last December and competed in the World Cup in Doha, Qatar. He was even called because he was in the Virgin Islands as the city prepared for a winter storm. When asked if taxpayer dollars fueled his trip from the New York Times, replied: “It's on my dime. When I make my money, I can take my time and I don't want to hear anybody complain.”
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK, New York, United States – 09/22/2019: Brooklyn President Eric Adams notes. Hundreds of white-clad Puerto Ricans took part in a silent procession through the streets of New York City to focus the nation's attention on this cruel and callous neglect of US citizens in Puerto Rico still struggling for survival in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. (Photo by Erik McGregor/LightRocket via Getty Images)
7. “Backing The Blue” no matter what.
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As a former captain, it was questioned how serious Adams would be about reforming the NYPD. While she took a major step by appointing Keechant Sewell as the force's first black female commissioner, she will step down just nine months into the role amid rumors that Adams prevented her from disciplining a top commander in the force. Additionally, he has publicly sided with NYPD officers following their misconduct. He has also touted new technological additions to the force, including drones introduced ahead of Brooklyn's Labor Weekend festivities and a new patrol robot that will roam the Times Square subway station.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 17: New York City Mayor Eric Adams speaks during a news conference at the NYPD 40th Precinct on July 17, 2023 in New York City. Mayor Adams announced the appointment of First Deputy Commissioner Edward A. Caban as his new New York City Commissioner in the district where his career began, making him the city's first Latino commissioner. Adams also appointed Tania Kinsella as the new first deputy constable, the first woman of color to hold the position. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
