At a Glance
- NYC Mayor Eric Adams says media only highlights legal issues, neglecting success of his administration
- He emphasizes improvements to immigration management and education as well as a lower crime rate.
- Adams is facing criminal charges of accepting illegal campaign donations, bribery and conspiracy for dealings with Turkish officials.
- He could be removed from office if found guilty.
Is Media Ignorant or Strategically Neglecting Adams?
Eric Adams, the Democratic mayor of New York City, isn’t happy with the media. At a recent multi-faith event, he said the media’s consistent focus on the legal challenges he’s facing has distracted from the many achievements of his administration — including crime rates dropping, as well as reforms to immigration management and education.
“There is a very coordinated effort to not acknowledge what we have done,” he said.
Adams provided tangible figures to back up his point, such as historic lows in subway robberies and a drop in gun violence. The city also seized 50,000 illegal mopeds and also undertook efforts to improve educational outcomes for all students. The programs, he believes, showcase how his administration has prioritized public safety and community welfare.
Legal Issues Rising
There’s a big storm cloud that hovers over Adams’ head, all revolving around allegations that he conspired to commit bribery and wire fraud. He’s being accused of taking in illegal financial commitments from representatives of the Turkish government. In the indictment against him, Adams is accused of accepting bribes totaling more than $100,000 in luxury offerings in exchange for exerting pressure on the city’s fire department so they could favor a Turkish consulate building.
Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney in Manhattan, commented:
“This was a multiyear scheme to buy favor with a single New York City politician on the rise: Eric Adams. Year after year, he kept the public in the dark.”
The mayor has denied all the charges, saying media misrepresentation and political motivations have obstructed any attempt he’s made to improve the city. In demanding that media outlets diversify more so fair reporting can be ensured, he said:
“I ask New Yorkers to wait to hear our defense.”
What’s Ahead
Adams’ political future is in doubt because of these charges. Many of his high-ranking officials have already resigned, and it’s possible that federal oversight could soon be on the horizon. Governor Kathy Hochul has even contemplated trying to remove Adams from office, which could create ripple effects throughout the political landscape in New York.
Adams is also toting along racial lines, emphasizing that there’s an inadequate representation of diversity in the media.
“I’m a Black man that’s the mayor. But my story is being interpreted by people that don’t look like me,” he said. “Diversify your newsroom, so I can look out and see people that look like me.”
Adams further said media outlets, and the public as a whole, shouldn’t reduce any complex achievements to minor soundbites, all of which could ultimately define his legacy as mayor.