United States | Black Ex-Cop Becomes New York City's New Mayor

According to forecasts by the US broadcaster, the Democrat Eric Adams won the mayoral election of New York. He becomes the second black chief in the city's history.

According to unanimous forecasts by US television stations, the Democrat Eric Adams won the mayoral election in the metropolis of New York. As the broadcasters NBC, CNN, CBS and New York 1 report, the black ex-police officer clearly prevailed against the Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. According to unofficial projections by the election commission, Adams won with more than 70 percent of the vote. The 61-year-old will be the second black mayor in New York's history from January. He replaces the unpopular Bill de Blasio, who was no longer allowed to run after two terms in office.

In his victory speech, Adams conjured cohesion among the New Yorkers, who have recently suffered: "We are so divided right now. And we are losing the beauty of our diversity," he said. It doesn't matter whether you come from neighborhoods in Manhattan, Queens or Brooklyn or where you go to pray. "Today we're taking off the jersey of our neighborhoods and we're putting on a jersey: Team New York!"

Adams is considered a moderate politician who wants to lead the highest office with a course between left and centrist forces. He was previously the district mayor of the New York borough of Brooklyn. One of the toughest challenges Adams now faces is likely to be the city's economic recovery from the corona pandemic that killed more than 30,000 New Yorkers. Adams will also have to deal with the police. He sees the fight against crime as one of his most important tasks.

Adams was a former police officer himself and, unlike some New Yorkers, is against the cuts to the New York City Police Department's massive $ 6 billion budget. In addition to security, the future mayor also promised measures against overpriced housing, investments in schools and 480 kilometers of new bicycle lanes during the election campaign.

New York City is more important in the USA than other cities, as it is considered a yardstick for progressive politics. The city of 8.8 million people has been a liberal stronghold for years. Accordingly, the Democrat's victory over the Republican Sliwa was almost a formality. Adams will succeed Bill de Blasio from January, who was no longer allowed to run as mayor after two terms in office.