Mayor Adams Receives Strong Endorsement from Law Enforcement Unions

In a show of support, over a dozen law enforcement unions gathered outside City Hall to endorse Mayor Eric Adams’s re-election campaign. Adams, a retired NYPD captain, praised the police and criticized his Democratic socialist opponent, Zohran Mamdani, arguing that Mamdani’s policies could jeopardize public safety in New York City.

Mayor Adams at a rally outside City Hall where he accepted the endorsement of 13 law enforcement unions — Mayor Adams during the rally endorsing police unions.

Adams emphasized his commitment to public safety, stating, “You can’t romanticize public safety. It’s real,” and expressed gratitude for the unions’ support, which he said is vital to his campaign. He added, “They want a leader who will guide them into battle, not abandon them.”

Despite the endorsement, crime rates under Adams have risen since 2021, with a 29.2% increase compared to the same period last year, and a 26.5% jump from 2019 figures. Nonetheless, Adams claims to have implemented effective policies, with police leadership asserting that tangible action is making a difference.

Adams blasted Mamdani over his record on public safety — Adams criticized Mamdani’s stance and record on safety issues.

Recent polls place Adams behind Mamdani and former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is also running as an independent. Mamdani, a progressive who previously advocated to defund the police and questioned incarceration policies, has alarmed law enforcement unions, leading many to support Adams instead.

A tweet from Mamdani in 2020 calling for police to be defunded — A 2020 tweet from Mamdani advocating for police defunding.

Union leader Benny Boscio Jr. criticized Mamdani’s policies, warning they could revert the city to the failed approaches of past administrations. “We can’t risk having de Blasio 2.0 back in office,” he remarked, praising Adams for his leadership on safety issues.

While Adams has taken steps to improve policing, critics point out that the city continues to grapple with crime increases. Nonetheless, Adams’s appointment of Jessica Tisch as police commissioner has been seen as a positive move towards reform and accountability.

During the campaign, Adams plans to emphasize that proposals like city-run grocery stores and rent freezes could be harmful, advocating for support of small property owners and local businesses to preserve the city’s economic stability.