Mayor Eric Adams’ victory in the 2021 Democratic primary was in no small part due to Brooklyn’s East New York, where he won more than 60% of the vote in some areas.
But days after he was indicted on federal charges that included bribery, wire fraud and conspiracy, many residents in the area were reeling over the scandals looming over City Hall. At Broadway Junction on Sunday, some said they felt betrayed by Adams, while others said New Yorkers shouldn’t judge him until he’s had his day in court.
By any measure, the mayor’s indictment was the talk of the neighborhood — and some said they were disappointed by the thought the city’s leader could end up in prison.
“I hope that news is false because there’s all these people putting hope on him and he’s a person of power,” said Louis Brito, 25, who works in East New York. “He’s supposed to be a mayor. He’s supposed to be hope for the people, not somebody that’s taking advantage of the people.”
The charges against Adams revolve around bribes he allegedly took from the Turkish government in the form of illegal campaign contributions, luxury airline flights and hotel rooms. U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damian Williams during a news conference on Thursday alleged “a multiyear scheme to buy favor with a single New York City politician on the rise.”
Adams has denied the charges against him and remained defiant in the face of calls for his resignation. He’s pleaded not guilty, called the allegations “lies” and said he would be proven innocent in court.
The mayor attended a service at Emmanuel Presbyterian Reformed Church in the Bronx on Sunday, where he reiterated that defiance.
“You hear the small number of loud people saying, ‘Well he should step down,'” he said. “No, I’m going to step up. I’m going to step up. I’m going to step up. I’m not going to resign, I’m going to reign.”
His defiance was shared by some of his most loyal supporters in East New York, like Margarita Estrada, who said Adams should stay in office throughout his impending trial.
“Why not? Trump did, and he messed up in the White House… And he’s still running for president,” Estrada, 61, said. “Let them find him [Adams] guilty or innocent. I’m still with him no matter what. People are entitled to mistakes, but I say he’s innocent until proven guilty.”
Still, some residents in East New Yorkers on Sunday said they were already unhappy with Adams’ job as mayor even before his indictment was unsealed on Thursday.
LaAaron Mealy — who worked on Isaac Wright Jr.’s 2021 mayoral campaign — pointed to the recent NYPD shooting at the Sutter Ave. L train station as an example of Adams’ lack of accountability.
“Now, he’s thinking they can get away with stuff as a police officer,” said Mealy. “Well, nah, that’s not the case. You are an elected official where people hold you accountable. We voted for you. The police are not elected officials. They’re not the government.”
Adams is the first mayor in New York City to be indicted on federal charges while in office. Former Mayor Bill de Blasio was investigated by federal prosecutors and agents who were looking into his campaign fundraising, but he was never charged for any crimes.
Brito, who said he didn’t vote for Adams in 2021, described a frustration over the type of corruption he thinks runs rampant in the city.
“The temptation of money, the temptation of having more power … that temptation is always there,” he said. “So either him or the next mayor or the next mayor after that mayor, temptation is going to be there. It’s just a choice: either you take it or not.”
