By Colin Benjamin
Photos: YouTube Screenshots
After becoming the first sitting Mayor of New York City to be indicted on criminal charges, Eric Adams, who used to call himself “the Biden of Brooklyn,” insinuated he was being targeted by the Biden White House because of his criticisms that “the federal government did nothing as its broken immigration policies overloaded our shelter system with no relief, I put the people of New York before party and politics.”
For now, let’s ignore his humorous statement about putting the “people of New York before party and politics.”
Adams’ responses, on the immigrant issue in New York City, highlight his lack of steady-handed leadership. In fact, Adams proved he cannot be trusted during tough situations. Instead of using his brain, and enlisting the help of the many capable New Yorkers, to address the migrant situation, he wilted and became rattled under pressure.
Consequently, Adams then engaged in bellicose behavior attacking Biden for not doing enough on immigration. The migrant question is a serious one. So why after lambasting Biden for months did Adams scurry back to New York before a scheduled meeting with Biden on immigration? Is it just a coincidence he did this on the day when his top campaign fundraiser had her home raided?
One thing Adams is good at is kneecapping his own arguments and testifying against himself with his tall tales.
Adams defended his actions by saying he returned to New York to comfort her. This is why he left, apparently without notifying the White House, after demanding to have a meeting on the migrant topic? Coaching, excuse me, comforting her was more of a priority than dealing with immigration?
This brings us to one of the allegations being made by the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
Eric Adams, allegedly, changed the password on one of his phones before the FBI seized it. When asked for the new password, the day after he changed it, Adams said he forgot it. Early onset dementia symptoms perhaps?
This puts much into perspective when you consider his decision to flee from DC in the panicked way that he did in hightailing it back to New York City. Didn’t any advisor tell him the political optics here signals a desperate man with a guilty conscience? Did he not realize the FBI would analyze this as the likely conduct of a criminal perp?
Adams is now playing the race card to muddy the waters.
He wants people to believe he is being singled out because he’s a high-ranking Black politician. Because of American racism, Adams’ canard will resonate with some segments in Black communities, especially those who live outside New York City.
What is outrageous here is this: Eric Adams is worse than Black political opportunists like Tim Scott, Byron Donalds, Clarence Thomas, etc.
If Eric Adams was identified, politically, as a Republican, more Black Americans would reject his race card lie. But because he is fraudulently operating as a Democrat this tactic will be believed by some.
But how many people know Eric Adams was a Republican for years who even labeled himself as a conservative Republican?
In fact, it seems he made a strategic decision, when he launched his political career, to run as a Democrat—because he knew he could advance further faster up the political ladder. Can anyone name a noteworthy Black Republican from New York in recent years?
This explains why he likes to pick fights with progressive Democrats. Many characterize Adams as a moderate Democrat. But this man is really a right-wing Republican wolf in Democratic clothing. This is why he fearmongers on things like immigration and crime—which means, for the latter, more and more money for the ballooning NYPD budget. His whole scheme is to use the Democratic Party platform as a springboard to running for the White House. Here is another noteworthy item to remember: after he was criticized for his callous response to Jordan Neely’s killing a fundraiser was held for him—at the home of a family member of former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, where he reportedly received thousands of dollars, from Republicans.
Now he wants Black New Yorkers to believe he came under criminal indictment because he was working for the people. Which people? It has not yet been proven, for sure, if he was working for Turkish interests. But we know he works for the police, and right-wing interests, not for Black New Yorkers.
Who was he working for when he fought the New York City council on the issue of solitary confinement even before being sworn in as mayor? How about when he tried to get lawmakers in Albany to shred the 2019 bail reform bill? Or when he sent former NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell to complain to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg that his pledge not to prosecute certain low-level “crimes” would be allegedly perilous to police safety?
Adams also had his veto of new police reform legislation overridden by the New York City Council this year. Adams’ mayoralty can be characterized by him repeatedly defunding city services—except for anything having to do with the NYPD. And now he is promoting the New York “Cop City” plan.
One final thing. Remember the Bronx fire that killed 17 people in 2022? Why did Adams seem to conceal his ties to the building landlord? And while trying to discourage reporters’ questions about safety issues in the building, he said a key message from the tragedy was to “close the door,” as one is running for their lives from being roasted by fire. Where was his concern for the deaths of these Black people?
Eric Adams now wants Black Americans’ help to shield him from federal criminal prosecution. But all along Eric Adams has been playing us as political pawns.
