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Elected Brooklyn borough president in 2013 and ending his second and final term this year due to term limits, Adams has made public safety and poverty-fighting central themes of his mayoral campaign. Before entering politics as a state senator, he was an NYPD officer, rising to the rank of captain, and became a public figure through his leadership of the dissident group 100 Black Men in Law Enforcement Who Care.
As borough president, Adams, 60, has been largely supportive of the real estate development boom that grew out of Brooklyn’s increasing popularity as a place to live and work. He has used his visibility to promote health and wellness, saying he cured his own diabetes through disciplined diet and exercise — and urging Brooklynites to follow his lead.
Adams has a reputation for intense commitment to his work, evidenced by sleeping in his office during the height of the pandemic and criss-crossing the borough to distribute masks to constituents. Sometimes his zeal for the job has crossed lines: He has unapologetically used his nonprofit One Brooklyn organization to raise money from people with business before his office and allowed his chauffeurs and staff to turn part of the public plaza in front of Borough Hall into a parking lot.
Website: ericadams2021.com
Positions
THE CITY sent three multiple-choice surveys to every Democratic and Republican mayoral candidate on the ballot for the June 22 primary, starting in February. Adams responded to our first survey, containing 20 questions, but not to the second or third. We have filled in missing responses where possible using his public statements.
NYPD
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Should the NYPD uniformed force be downsized beyond currently planned levels?
No response / no position
-
Should the NYPD respond to 911 calls involving people in severe emotional distress?
Yes, where the call suggests a risk to others’ safety
Yes, under most or all circumstances
No, NYPD officers should not respond to these calls
"I will never put a city employee, psychiatrist, family members or anyone else in a situation that could endanger the lives of innocent people or the person who's going through a mental health crisis.... So no, I will not just openly state, ‘Under no circumstances should a police officer respond.’"
from Citizen Action mental health town hall, Dec. 15, 2020 -
Should NYPD officers reside in the five boroughs?
No response / no position
-
Should the NYPD commissioner have final say on disciplining officers for conduct violations?
The commissioner should retain decision-making authority in all cases
The commissioner should retain decision-making authority in some cases
Decisions should be made by a newly empowered Civilian Complaint Review Board
The mayor should have the final say in all cases
"The police commissioner should not have the final say on discipline — the mayor should — and the timeline for determining punishment should be shortened significantly."
from POLITICO, Feb. 16, 2021
Education
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Should admission to existing specialized high schools continue to depend on a single Specialized High School Admissions Test (SHSAT)?
No response / no position
-
Should New York City have more charter schools?
No response / no position
-
Should middle school admissions remain limited to students attending school in or residing in a district?
Yes
Allow applicants outside the district, through set-asides or other means
No
“I think we need to re-examine any method or barrier that is preventing us from diversifying our schools.”
from Columbia Law School education panel, Jan. 27, 2021 -
Should public school parent associations continue to be able to raise unlimited sums?
Yes, keep fundraising as is
Yes, but a system is needed to share funds between schools with many wealthy families and those with many poor families
No. Limits or further ground rules are needed for fundraising
"Let’s share the knowledge to share the dollars so that we can have all our children succeed together.”
from UFT Mayoral Town Hall, April 7, 2020
COVID Recovery
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Should New York consider mandatory vaccinations (with appropriate medical exemptions) if voluntary uptake of COVID vaccines does not reach sufficient levels?
Yes
Yes, for health, education, law enforcement and other workers interacting with the public
No
-
Should the Open Streets program, including outdoor dining, become permanent?
Yes, ban vehicular access to current open streets
Yes, and expand the program to include more streets
No
"It’s a shame that it took a pandemic to embrace public space ideas that have become commonplace around the world. We must expand this program to underserved communities and communities that have a dearth of public space options."
from Streetsblog, Dec. 14, 2021 -
Should NYC provide economic relief to undocumented immigrants who do not qualify for federal aid?
Yes, ongoing aid for the needy
Yes, one-time assistance
No
-
Which statement most closely reflects your view of Mayor de Blasio’s approach to school reopening?
Schools have reopened for in-person/hybrid learning too quickly
Schools have reopened for in-person/hybrid learning too slowly
Schools have reopened at an appropriate pace
Transportation
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Should New York proceed as soon as possible with congestion pricing, charging vehicles to enter central Manhattan?
Yes, supporting current plan to capture funds for the MTA
Yes, while pursuing city control over the revenue
No, or further evaluation is needed
"Need it now. Also we lockbox all the money goes into transit. Commissioners and others with cars, on the subway system, MetroCard. I use the subway all the time. I think it's important to do it right now.”
from NYC Mayoral Leading Contenders Debate, June 10, 2021 -
Should New York City gain control of its subway and bus systems?
Yes, while splitting bridge and tunnel toll revenue with LIRR and Metro-North
Yes, provided the city also gains full control of bridge and tunnel toll revenue
No
“What we should do is expand the MTA board. A member from every borough should be added to the board. We need a lot of voices on the board to ensure that New York City, which really is the feeder for our MTA system, is in place, but no, if we don't have the dollars attached to it, it's the wrong thing to do, in my opinion.”
from District Council 37 forum, Jan. 26, 2021 -
What course will you chart for the city-funded NYC Ferry system?
No response / no position
-
Choose the statement that best describes your position on bike lanes:
NYC needs to expand its bike lane network into underserved areas, even where lanes have met some local resistance
Expand bike lanes, while being responsive to local objections in deciding where to put the lanes
Alter or remove existing lanes where warranted
"People connect bike lanes with gentrification.... Bike lanes have received a bad rap because people believe it’s an indicator that they’re going to be displaced, and it’s not something that’s part of the overall build-out of their community."
from Bike New York forum, March 5, 2021
Housing
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Which statement describes your preferred approach to spending the city’s affordable housing dollars?
Focus city funding on development projects that mix affordability at a range of incomes, using rents paid by higher earners to help cover costs for the lowest-income tenants
Focus city funding on 100% affordable development projects for the lowest-income tenants, even if that may create fewer units overall
Scale back city subsidies to affordable housing development, focusing resources on helping renters pay for existing housing
Adams wants housing built on public land to be 100% affordable to low- and moderate-income residents.
from NYC Mayoral Candidate Forum on Tenants Rights, Feb. 27, 2021 -
Do you intend to “upzone” (increase permitted building size) areas of low-density neighborhoods to promote affordable and other housing development?
Yes, as part of area-wide rezonings
Yes, for specific blocks or properties
No, the city is already overbuilt
“We have our upzoning wrong. We've upzoned in poorer communities and displaced poor residents for richer communities, and I would do just the opposite. I will upzone in affluent areas where you have transit, rich communities, great schools, access to healthy food. So we need to reverse that.”
from NYC Mayoral Candidate Forum on Tenants Rights, Feb. 27, 2021 -
Should NYCHA continue toward its goal of placing half of its apartments into private management under the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program?
Yes, this is the best way for NYCHA to upgrade its deteriorating apartments
Yes, but keep a substantial number of apartments out of RAD to maintain oversight of those apartments by the monitor
No, NYCHA should not rely on private firms to manage its buildings
"I'm going to give [NYCHA residents] an attorney that they are going to interview and decide — not a city intern attorney, but someone in private practice that we would pay for so they can be in the room negotiating these important issues such as RAD."
from Housing Conservation Coordinators' forum, Dec. 8, 2020 -
Should surplus funds received by the city from Battery Park City — an estimated $400 million over 10 years — be steered exclusively to NYCHA?
Yes, NYCHA needs a dedicated revenue stream to pay for much-needed apartment upgrades
Yes, but split the money between NYCHA and other affordable housing programs
No, 100% of this money should continue to be dedicated to general affordable housing programs
Immigration
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Should non-citizens be allowed to vote in local elections?
Yes, permanent residents (green card holders) only
Yes, all New Yorkers, regardless of their immigration status, should be allowed to vote
No
"Say it loud and say it clear: Immigrants are welcome here. I'm proud to support expanded voting rights in municipal elections for lawful permanent residents of our city."
from Twitter, March 10, 2021 -
Should government cash assistance be available to low-income undocumented immigrants?
No response / no position
-
Should NYC pay for attorneys to represent New Yorkers facing deportation in immigration court?
Yes, immigrant New Yorkers facing deportation should have a right to counsel
Continue existing city funding sponsoring legal services for immigrant New Yorkers held in detention
No
Adams supports expanding funding for immigration legal services, including the New York Immigrant Family Unity Project.
from City & State NY/Documented, April 12, 2021 -
Do you support measures to legalize basement and attic apartments?
Yes, revise building codes to allow current illegal apartments to be compliant
Yes, revise building codes and encourage conversions through financing, counseling or other means
No
“Thousands of New Yorkers live in SROs and basement apartments, or in single family zones where leasing accessory units is illegal. By allowing for all of these units to be built or legally used, we can add hundreds of thousands of affordable apartments.”
from Twitter, May 28, 2021
Labor
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With hundreds of thousands of low-wage workers facing extended unemployment, which of the following would you make your top priority for investing federal aid dollars?
Wage subsidies to help employers bring back and retain their employees
Extended unemployment benefits to all impacted people
Access to loans for entrepreneurs and worker cooperatives
Government jobs in underserved communities to rebuild local economies
Adams' campaign told the Daily News he would expand tax credits for low-income working people and make the benefit available for the recently unemployed.
from New York Daily News -
Should New York reclassify gig workers — including food deliverers and Uber drivers — as employees?
Yes, require companies to classify workers as their employees
Yes, give workers flexibility to decide whether they are classified as employees or independent contractors
No
"First of all, I will push for gig-economy workers to have all of the rights and benefits of traditional employees."
from Community Service Society NY questionnaire -
Which statement best describes your approach to bargaining with municipal labor unions?
No response / no position
-
New York has been a leader in increasing the minimum wage. Should the state increase it above $15 an hour in the first two years of your term?
Yes, and be indexed to inflation so the wage automatically rises each year
Yes, but not indexed to inflation — the wage should come under review before future increases
No
"We should also support efforts to increase the minimum wage."
from CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute
Criminal Justice
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Will you direct the NYPD to stop arrests for drug possession?
Marijuana only
Marijuana and one or more other drugs
No
“I support 100% legalization of marijuana.... I don't support legalizing crack, cocaine. It is devastating when you see what it does. I don't support the legalization of heroin. I don't support the legalization of, you know, those hard, serious drugs at all.”
from VOCAL-NY’s Mayoral Candidate Forum, March 17, 2021 -
Should NYC stay on course to close all jails on Rikers Island by 2027?
Yes, build all new planned smaller borough-based jails on the current timeline
Yes, build new smaller borough-based jails but consider changes to plans or timeline
Reevaluate closing Rikers
Close Rikers, but build no new jails
In backing a new jail for downtown Brooklyn, Adams urged "rehabilitation over incarceration, providing workforce and educational opportunities for inmates, providing mental health services and mindfulness training to those struggling with trauma, as well as finally addressing the taboo around the prevalence of people with learning disabilities in our jails."
from Statement as borough president, July 9, 2019 -
Should NYC ban solitary confinement within jails?
Ban solitary confinement entirely
Maintain current plan to allow minimum 10 hours per day out of cells
No
Adams said he would end solitary confinement only for non-violent detainees.
from Mental Health Town Hall, Citizen Action of New York, Dec. 15, 2021 -
Which of the following would you choose as your top priority in addressing individuals charged with a crime and awaiting trial:
Promote use of city supervised release programs for more people
Promote release without supervision programs for more people
Promote pretrial jail for more people who currently must be released
Leave the current system as is
Adams recommended expanding the city’s supervised release programs to include a “broader range of non-violent crimes.”
from The Brooklyn Eagle, July 9, 2019
Taxes
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The next mayor will inherit well documented inequities in property tax assessments. What will you do?
Respond without impacting overall tax dollars collected, even if that means some will pay more than before
Respond without increasing anyone’s tax burdens in the process — potentially reducing tax dollars collected
Maintain existing property tax assessment system
"New York City’s property tax system is fundamentally unfair, allowing wealthy people in Manhattan high-rises to pay significantly less than lower-income and middle-class, single-family homeowners in the outer boroughs. We need to shift the tax burden off renters and homeowners in less affluent areas to the owners of pricey apartments in wealthy areas."
from Commercial Observer, April 29, 2021 -
Should NYC resume collecting taxes on stock transfers?
No response / no position
-
Should New York impose a “pied a terre” tax on homes that are not a primary residence?
Yes, for all part-time residents (less than 180 days a year)
Yes, for international owners only
No
Adams has proposed a “pied-a-terre tax surcharge" on all nonprimary luxury residences worth $5 million or more.
from "Real Recovery NYC" plan -
Will you further tax the ultra wealthy?
Yes, increase the income tax rate for those who earn more than $5 million annually
Yes, increase the income tax rate for those who earn more than $10 million annually
No additional taxes
"If you make more than $5 million a year, we are asking you to pay a little more to stabilize our city."
from NY1 News, April 6, 2021
Borough Edition
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The Bronx: Do you support building a stadium for the NYCFC soccer club next to Yankee Stadium?
No response / no position
-
Brooklyn: Do you support the National Grid’s proposal to expand its natural gas facilities, including building a pipeline through parts of Brownsville, Bed-Stuy, Bushwick, and Williamsburg?
Yes
Yes, but the proposed route requires more review
No
A spokesperson for Adams said he “will stop projects like the North Brooklyn pipeline that threaten[s] to move us backwards toward greater reliance on fossil fuels”.
from BK Reader, March 26, 2021 -
Manhattan: Do you support commercial rent control?
Yes — I’m ready to work toward implementing a system
Let’s study the issue and see if any model could possibly succeed in Manhattan
No, commercial rent control does not work
Asked if he would support rent control for commercial tenants, Adams said no.
from NYC Mayoral Candidate Forum on Tenants Rights, Feb. 27, 2021 -
Queens: The Sunnyside Master Plan envisions 12,000 affordable homes, a new regional rail station, 60 acres of open space and more to be built atop a platform over the western Queens rail yard. Will you work to realize the plan?
No response / no position
-
Staten Island: Will you commit to restoring 24/7 half-hour service on the Staten Island Ferry? If so, when?
No response / no position
Leadership
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Should NYC’s next mayor appoint campaign contributors to boards, commissions and other posts?
No response / no position
-
Should city officials be able to raise funds from private donors for affiliated nonprofit entities?
Yes, as currently permitted
Yes, adding disclosure of the nonprofits’ spending and recipients
No
“I did not go from being a person that enforced the law to become one that breaks the law,” Adams said when questioned about fundraising for his Brooklyn borough president's office nonprofit One Brooklyn.
from The New York Times, May 16, 2021 -
Which of the following leadership styles will best serve NYC’s next mayor?
The decider — centralize decision-making with the mayor and close advisers
The delegator — hire top talent to run agencies and rely on their judgment
The partner — make decisions in coordination with the City Council
"I believe I have the Bloomberg style with an asterisk — put the right people in place and then use his favorite quote: Don’t f+++ it up. But I also believe, and I live by this, you have to inspect what you expect or it’s all suspect. When I see a pilot in the cockpit of a plane, he has in front of him a bunch of instruments and dials to let him know about wind speed, takeoff, view, everything. If he flies that plane without those instruments, I don’t care how competent he is, he is liable to crash."
from Bloomberg Opinion, Feb. 22, 2021 -
Should NYC’s next mayor veto any bills presented by the City Council?
No response / no position
Homelessness
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NYC is legally required to guarantee a “right to shelter.” Should related agreements be updated?
No response / no position
-
Should hotels remain residences for homeless people post-pandemic?
No response / no position
-
Should the NYPD play a role in response to people living on the streets and in the subway system?
Yes, generally
Yes, specifically when public safety risks arise
No, NYPD should not be involved in homeless response
Adams's campaign proposes refunding the Transit Homeless Outreach Unit, a partnership between the NYPD and the city social service agency. The proposal also includes “more active oversight of units that could have a more significant presence, such as the midnight train unit that is meant to focus on sleeping and intoxicated passengers.”
from The Subway Safety Plan, May 18, 2021 -
Should NYC’s next mayor close the 30th Street shelter, the main point of entry into the system for single men?
No response / no position
Climate Change
-
By 2024, big NYC buildings will have to meet energy efficiency targets or face fines. Which one of the following should the next mayor prioritize to make sure they don’t fall short?
Help owners finance upgrades
Institute a cap-and-trade program that lets owners buy credits to offset their emissions
Revise the law’s timeline or penalties
None — Local Law 97 is solid as is
Adams pledged to "provide tax credits for innovative waste management and energy-efficient design."
from Twitter, April 22, 2021 -
What should the next mayor’s top priority be for neighborhoods in the most vulnerable flood zones?
Limit new development and enable owners to sell properties to the city
Invest in elevating and fortifying homes and other buildings
Construct protective infrastructure such as seawalls and restore wetlands
No new action
"I will utilize New York City’s capital budget to advance infrastructure that will strengthen our shoreline with hard and soft infrastructure."
from Waterfront Alliance survey -
NYC’s current mayor vowed to ban gas hook-ups in new construction by 2030. Are you on board?
Yes
Yes, and move the goal sooner and/or make strides to phase out fossil fuels in existing buildings
No
Asked whether NYC should ban all new fossil fuel infrastructure, Adams said "Yes."
from NY1, April 21, 2021 -
The newly revived organic waste recycling program will be available only in some community districts and only on demand. Should that change?
Maintain the program as is
Expand organic waste collection to all New Yorkers, but keep it optional
Expand organic waste collection to all New Yorkers and make it mandatory
Get rid of the program
"My goal as mayor will be to ensure that every New Yorker participates in the organic waste renewal program."
from City & State NY, April 23, 2021
Building NYC Better
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What route should NYC’s mayor take to expand access to broadband internet at home?
Create a publicly owned and operated municipal broadband network
Build on the existing city plan inviting companies to build out low-cost service
New state law requiring $15/month broadband for low-income customers is sufficient
“We need to turn our wifi services into a utility company, just as gas and light are part of the utility companies. We need to do the same with our WiFi.”
from Law and Leadership Series: 2021 NYC Mayoral Election Conversation With Eric Adams and Kathryn Garcia, April 15, 2021 -
Should real estate developers be allowed to construct bigger buildings if they pay for elevator installation at nearby subway stations without access?
No response / no position
-
Should new real estate development require approvals beyond those that currently exist under the city land use review process?
Yes, require additional review
Stick with existing procedures and customs
The process needs fewer obstacles to development
“We need to modify the ULURP process in two ways to ensure we are building supportive housing quickly and efficiently. First, we need to fast-track 100% affordable supportive housing projects, immediately moving them to the front of the review line.… Second, we need to set a time limit for agency review during the pre-certification process, ending the monthslong wait.”
from Correct Crisis Intervention Today NYC questionnaire -
Which of the following should NYC’s next mayor do first about sidewalk sheds attached to buildings?
Champion, sign and enforce a City Council bill that would require property owners to complete facade repairs within 90 days
Review existing building codes and enforcement to ensure the Department of Buildings doesn’t go overboard in requiring sheds
Focus on managing the current facade inspection and repair system
“New legislation I'm introducing with @JustinBrannan will make building inspections more cost-effective, saving building owners and the City millions. It will help us take down sidewalk sheds that stay up for years. Most importantly, it will make us safer.”
from Twitter, Dec. 22, 2019
Quality of Life
-
Should the mayor’s office crack down on short-term rentals from services like Airbnb, which are illegal under state law if the owner is not present during the stay?
Yes, large-scale professional operators only
Yes, all illegal rentals
No, let Airbnb be
"What cannot be allowed, what I do not support, and what we have increasingly seen, are commercial operators who make an end-run around our laws, displacing actual tenants for their own profit by illegally warehousing dozens of housing units that could be available for long-term rental."
from Crain's New York Business, June 19, 2018 -
Should NYC be home to full-fledged gambling casinos?
No response / no position
-
Should city government open public restrooms as a widely available amenity?
No response / no position
-
A new law creates 4,000 new street vendor licenses over 10 years, most outside Manhattan. Should the city:
No response / no position
Candidates
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