New York City Mayor Adams, who is about to step down, expressed strong concerns about the future public safety and social order of the city in a recent interview with the New York Post. He warned that if Mayor-elect and democratic socialist Mamdani implements his campaign promises in governing, New York City may face a “dark period”.
Adams reiterated his warning from this summer, expressing his belief that there are already “early signs” of troubles. He highlighted the significant proportion of the homeless population in New York City suffering from mental illnesses and emphasized the government should not allow them to stay on the streets long term but should intervene through institutionalized means. Adams stressed that the city has established an effective public safety model in recent years that should not be easily overturned.
Regarding Mamdani’s camp proposing adjustments to policing strategies, including the idea of disbanding the NYPD’s Strategic Response Group (SRG), Adams bluntly stated that this would pose a significant risk to city security. He pointed out that the SRG was the first response unit during a fatal shooting at the National Football League’s Manhattan headquarters this summer, weakening or disbanding such specialized units would diminish the city’s ability to respond to extreme violent events.
Adams once again emphasized the importance of boosting police presence, stating that the city had planned to hire around 5,000 officers to offset the impact of retirements on public safety. If the new administration fails to maintain the police force size, community safety will be directly affected.
He also expressed serious concerns about Mamdani’s policy of “halting the clearing of homeless encampments”. Adams mentioned the negative impact observed in other cities allowing street camping, cooking, and public urination on public safety and quality of life. He questioned whether New York could attract the same high number of tourists as in 2024 if there were numerous tents and homeless individuals in key tourist areas like Times Square.
Adams further stated that such policies not only affect the city’s image but also directly impact the living environment of families and children, causing parents to worry about the safety and values of their children in the community.
On the issue of anti-Semitism, Adam acknowledged the Jewish community’s anxiety about the next four years and believed that stronger actions were needed to combat anti-Jewish hatred. He emphasized that the future mayor must unequivocally condemn slogans like “globalize the intifada” and take a zero-tolerance stance against any incitement of hatred or threats towards specific ethnic groups in front of religious places. The mayor’s responsibility lies not only in words but in actions, sending a clear message across the city that any form of religious hatred is not welcome in New York.
Adam concluded by expressing his hope that Mamdani would re-evaluate some policy ideas of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) faction after taking office officially and recognize the potential harm they could cause to the security and stability of New York City. Otherwise, the citizens of New York City “should remain vigilant”.