Eric Adams Championing Change for future of New York City
Mayor Eric Adams has served the people of New York City as an NYPD Officer, State Senator, Brooklyn County President and now the 110th Mayor of New York City. He voiced a diverse coalition of working families in the five boroughs and led the fight to revitalize New York City’s economy, reduce inequality, improve public safety, and build a stronger, healthier city that provides for all New Yorkers.
As one of six children, born in Brownsville and raised in South Jamaica by a single house cleaning mother, Eric and his family didn’t always know if they would come home with an eviction notice at the front door or food on the table. When he was beaten by the police in the basement of a police station at 15, Eric faced a life-changing act of injustice.
But instead of giving in to anger, Eric turned his pain into purpose and decided to change the police department from the inside. He joined the NYPD and became one of its most outspoken officers, denouncing racism and bias in the department and pushing for major reforms.
As founder of 100 Black in Law Enforcement Care, Eric sometimes patrolled the streets of New York City in a bulletproof vest, during the 1980s and 1990s, always protesting against misconduct by certain cops the next day, as he marched side by side with his fellow police officers, and civil rights defenders. He rose to the rank of captain, helping build the city’s first computerized crime tracking system, leading to historic gains in public safety.
Eric’s efforts to change the police began his lifelong work to improve and protect New York. From the NYPD, he moved on to the State Senate, where he represented sections of downtown and neighborhoods of Brooklyn Brownstone. In Albany, Eric built winning coalitions to promote New York City’s values and goals, helping push forward measures to protect tenants and workers, combat gun violence, end NYPD abuses of detention and inspection, and advance law enforcement humans, including marriage equality. He also became the first person of color to preside over the Senate National Security Committee..
Eric was then elected president of Brooklyn County in 2013 bringing together a diverse coalition of Brooklyn residents to become the county’s first black leader. As a representative of one of the nation’s largest counties, Eric fought tirelessly to grow the local economy, invest in schools, reduce inequality, improve public safety, and advocate for smart policies and better government that provides for all New Yorkers.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the city, Eric moved a mattress into his office and worked tirelessly to deliver donated meals and personal protective equipment to essential workers and vulnerable New Yorkers, demanding the government produce more equitable help.
Besides continuing to fight for struggling New Yorkers and a better quality of life for all, Eric became a national leader in public health policy after learning he had developed type 2 diabetes. After his diagnosis, Eric completely changed his diet and body, reversing the disease and launching a personal mission to educate New Yorkers about preventative care and wellness. His work has already led to successful proactive public health efforts across the city and an increase in education in schools and with high-risk populations in low-income areas, collaborating with civic organizations and health experts.
Eric is a New Yorker for life. He earned his Master’s in Public Administration from Marist College, and is a graduate of New York City Technical College and the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He’s also a proud alumnus of New York City public schools, including Bayside High School in Queens. Today he lives in Bedford-Stuyvesant, where he has resided for more than 20 years.. Eric is the proud father of Jordan, an aspiring filmmaker and graduate of American University..
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