On Friday, July 18, residents organized a rally at the garden of the Confucius Tower in Chinatown in support of Mayor Eric Adams’s re-election campaign. The event was hosted by Democratic leader Yu Jinshan from the 65th district, with hundreds of residents wearing light blue t-shirts that read “Support Adams” in attendance. Chants of “Four more years” could be heard intermittently at the rally.
Yu Jinshan, at the gathering, expressed his unwavering support for the Democratic Party but stated his lack of support for the Democratic mayoral candidate chosen in the June primary, Zohran Mamdani. Yu Jinshan said, “Whether it’s the socialist democratic party or the democratic socialist party, I do not support them because they belong to the past and are not suitable for New York City.”
He also indicated his lack of support for independent candidate Andrew Cuomo, citing his loss in the primary. Yu Jinshan elaborated on why he supports Adams, stating that “he listens; though he may not please everyone, he works hard to look after everyone’s interests.”
However, Chinese residents in South Brooklyn differ in their opinion and have been complaining that Adams disregards community opposition by establishing homeless shelters in their neighborhoods. Additionally, many Chinatown residents oppose Adams for bringing the prison system into the community after the closure of Rikers Island.
Despite facing lawsuits from former high-ranking police officials, Mayor Adams recently garnered support and received $1.5 million in political donations from various law enforcement unions. During the rally, Adams emphasized the importance of public safety in Chinatown, stating, “Some are putting criminals back on the streets, I want to put them behind bars.” This was a clear reference to former Governor Cuomo’s cashless bail reform.
Currently, there are five candidates on the ballot for the November election: Democratic dark horse candidate Mamdani, former Governor Cuomo, Mayor Adams, Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, and former prosecutor Jim Walden.
Recent polls show Mamdani and Cuomo leading the race. Among the Chinese community, there are supporters of Cuomo, Adams, and Sliwa, as well as a younger generation supporting Mamdani.