Sunday, March 9, 2025 – ROCHDALE VILLAGE, NY – Democrat Adrienne Adams joined elected officials, family, residents and supporters at an electrifying rally on Saturday to officially kick off her campaign for mayor on International Women’s Day.

Replete with music and stirring speeches, the event was held inside an open shopping center located inside Rochdale Village, a housing co-operative in Southeast Queens, in the heart of her council district.

Adrienne said: “The neighborhoods that New Yorkers call home may vary, but the problems and possibilities New Yorkers face are the same. We all want to have enough to live in New York. We all want to be safe. And we expect our leaders to be accountable to the people.

Too many New Yorkers can’t raise a family in our city.

Too many lack opportunity and safety. The trust in city hall and the focus on public service to New Yorkers has been weakened. Donald Trump’s corruption of our city’s independence is growing and every single day he is spreading chaos that is harmful to our city and families. New Yorkers are fed up, so it’s time for us to stand up.”

Chants of “run, Adrienne, run!” could be heard over music as supporters danced, waved signs and cheered as over a dozen elected officials and community leaders stood up to pledge their support for Adrienne’s nascent campaign.

“Adrienne is the type of mayor our city deserves with so much chaos at this moment,” said New York City Council Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala. “Leadership that puts New Yorkers first, brings stability and doesn’t come with scandal or make everything about themselves.

I have seen this firsthand with how she has empowered and worked with me as someone who knows what it’s like to be homeless or lose a loved one to gun violence.

I look forward to working to elect Adrienne as the first woman to be our mayor and to move this city forward.”
A steady leader known for her ability to unite diverse members of the city council as its speaker, Adrienne was drafted to run by community leaders and city stakeholders to deliver the effective, drama-free leadership the city needs.

Born and raised in Queens by union-working parents, Adrienne proudly wears her outer-boroughness as a badge of honor.
“Where I’m from is who I am; Adrienne, from Queens,” she said to applause.
In that spirit, her campaign will focus on issues that affect New Yorkers but she says have too often been cast aside.

At the same time, Adrienne plans to utilize her positive relationships with state and federal elected officials to fight for the city against draconian policies arising from the White House that affect everyday New Yorkers.

Adrienne said: “Since last November, New York City has been clouded by fear and despair. Crisis requires strong leaders who unite. Governance guided by values. Management steered by vision. We need leaders who stand up for us. They truly care about us because they are one of us. They live in the neighborhoods of New York City with us, not those who now come around to exploit us.”

This weekend, the campaign also began collecting petition signatures to get Adrienne on the Democratic ballot. Green sheets for residents to sign were seen during the event and throughout the shopping center. To appear on the June ballot, candidates must collect 3,750 signatures from registered Democratic voters by April 3.

As the campaign builds quickly, a webpage, www.AdrienneForThePeople.com, was launched to receive contributions. Adrienne will participate in the city’s matching funds program.
Adrienne said: “New Yorkers deserve a government that is accountable to them. I think I speak for every New Yorker when I say we are so done with the drama. The people of this city can’t afford more of it at their expense. It’s embarrassing.

“I will bring a competent, ethical, and results-driven team to city hall that puts the people first. No drama, no scandal, no nonsense – just competence and integrity.”

Endorsements on site Saturday included:
Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala (Upper Manhattan/Bronx)
Majority Leader Amanda Farias (Bronx)
Assemblyman Andrew Hevesi(Queens)
Senator James Sanders (Queens)
Former Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields
Former Council Member I. Daneek Miller (Queens)
Council Member Kevin Riley (Bronx)
Council Member Althea Stevens (Bronx)
Council Member Sandy Nurse (Brooklyn)
Council Member Yusef Salaam (Harlem)
Council Member Chris Banks (Brooklyn)

Adrienne Adams currently serves as Speaker of the New York City Council. A woman of many firsts, Adrienne was elected in January 2022 by her colleagues as the first Black speaker and leads the most diverse and first-ever, women-majority council in New York City history.

Elected to the city council in November 2017, Adrienne is also the first woman to represent District 28, which encompasses the Queens neighborhoods of Jamaica, Richmond Hill, Rochdale Village, and South Ozone Park.
For more information on the campaign, visit www.AdrienneForThePeople.com.