On Thursday (June 26), Mayor Adams of New York held a press conference in front of City Hall to officially announce the beginning of his re-election campaign. Hundreds of Adams’ supporters gathered at the scene, representing various religious and ethnic communities in New York City, including Jewish, Muslim, Black, Latino, and Asian faces.
Adams has clearly identified the socialist newcomer, Zohran Mamdani, who recently won the Democratic primary, as his opponent. While speaking to the media about his political experience and achievements, Adams emphasized the differences between himself and Mamdani.
“I am not interested in Twitter politics; I am interested in cleaning up the mess,” Adams told his supporters, contrasting himself with Mamdani by saying, “I am not interested in slogans, I am interested in solutions.”
Adams also repeatedly highlighted his mother’s background as an early morning janitor, contrasting Mamdani’s privileged upbringing with a director mother and professor father. He framed the election as a choice between a working-class candidate and one born with a silver spoon.
Adams passionately praised New York City, stating that it cannot become a socialist city. He highlighted the city as a place where individuals can rise from dishwashing to owning a chain of restaurants, from a cab driver to a doctor, or from homelessness to building homes. He emphasized that providing opportunities and dignity through work is more important than offering things for free.
Therefore, Adams stated that this election is a choice between real progress and hollow promises, between creating a future for broken people rather than a utopian society.
Chinese supporters at the event agreed on the distinction between idealism and practicality, emphasizing the need for a mayor who will govern New York City effectively on the ground level.
“There’s one walking in the sky, and one walking on the ground. We need a mayor who walks on the ground to govern New York City well,” said Yu Jinshan, leader of the Democratic Party in Chinatown’s 65th District. He listed safety on the streets, non-discrimination on public transport, improved education, and job security as priorities for the community.
Yu Jinshan expressed skepticism towards idealized socialist visions, stating, “Before the age of 30, you may believe in socialism to show you have a heart, but after 30, believing in socialism shows you have no brains.”
Prior to Adams’ speech, several individuals disrupted the event by shouting “criminal” at him, citing concerns over corruption allegations against him that were later dropped by the Justice Department. Victor, a Chinese supporter and lawyer present at the event, believed that with the federal case being dropped, the mayor’s innocence was vindicated, viewing the lawsuit as a political skirmish.
Victor highlighted that during Adams’ first term, the Chinese community appreciated his achievements in public security.
“We Chinese immigrants here like a safe and non-discriminatory environment, that’s the first point,” he said. “The second point is that whether it’s children, young people, or adults, we all have a fair chance to live in a city that offers equal opportunities without discrimination, and that’s the American Dream we cherish.”
The Chinese community also raised concerns about the homeless shelter on 86th Street in Brooklyn. Yu Jinshan praised Adams for his ability to listen to community needs.
“He listens to the requirements of the community, whether it’s special high schools, the Chinatown prison, congestion fees, etc. He has heard the community’s demands,” said Yu Jinshan. “Regarding the 86th Street homeless shelter, Adams proposed a fair proposal. Politics is about compromise, since the mayor is willing to stand on the side of the community and convert the shelter into a safer facility for women, many of us can accept it.”
After surveying supporters of various ethnicities at the event, Yu Jinshan concluded that Adams has solid political strength and shouldn’t be underestimated in the general election.
Therefore, Yu Jinshan urged former Governor Cuomo’s supporters to “return to Adams.”
While there is still a possibility for Cuomo to continue the election campaign, after being defeated by Mamdani two days ago, rumors suggest that many business representatives who dislike socialism are preparing to abandon Cuomo and support Adams instead.
“The situation in the November general election is basically a battle between Adams and Mamdani. One is a pragmatic administrator, the other is a dream-chasing star chaser— the choice is very straightforward,” said Yu Jinshan. “Although Adams may not have satisfied every citizen perfectly in the past four years, he has managed difficulties steadily, and I believe that after another four years, he will achieve great success.”