Re-Election-seeking embattled Mayor Adams – a Pulse check on his administration

By Nayaba Arinde
Editor at Large
Mayor Eric Adams seeks re-election in 2025, but on Sunday, December 16th and 17th, after a couple of months of Adams indictment-free news, two massive stories broke; his decades-long political advisor and confident Ingrid Lewis-Martin announced her resignation and probable indictment this week; and on Monday, it was announced that the Adams was denied $4 million in campaign matching funds by the New York Campaign Finance Board, because of “conduct detrimental to the matching funds program.” The CFB said their position was based on Adams’ bribery, solicitation, fraud, and corruption charges and failure to adhere to rules to receive the $8 to $1 in public taxpayer funds.

Adams said, “There are always hurdles”
Then, this past Tuesday federal judge Dale Ho denied Adams’ legal team request to dismiss the bribery charge accusing him of swapping his political prowess for more than $100,000 worth of Turkish travel upgrades, hotels and illegal campaign contributions.
Adams has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Lewis-Martin also said, “I’m being falsely accused of something.”

While in September, she was stopped and devices snatched by feds arriving at JFK from a trip from Japan, her Brooklyn home was also raided. That night, she appeared on her lawyer’s radio show, saying, “We’re human beings. We are imperfect, but we’re not thieves…I do believe that in the end, the New York City public will see that we have not done anything illegal to the magnitude or scale that requires the federal government and the DA’s office to investigate us.”
It was a move that reportedly infuriated Adams.

Multiple reports state that a Manhattan grand jury may indict Lewis Martin this week, partly over her alleged involvement in leasing city properties.
In a statement, Lewis-Martin stated, “I am a native New Yorker… I will continue to do everything in my power to fight for this great city every day as a private citizen.”
“Ingrid has not been just a friend, a confidant, and trusted advisor, but also a sister,” Adams proclaimed.

Meanwhile, President-Elect Donald Trump announced that he may be considering granting Adams a pardon from his legal woes.
Adams said, “I cannot confirm that. My lawyer is handling the case. You know, the president also stated that he felt I was unfairly treated. President Biden stated that his Justice Department has been politicized. President Trump said that. I said that…I should not have been charged. I did nothing wrong, and I’m going to continue to lead the city.”
“I think he was treated pretty unfairly,” Trump said. “ I’d have to see it because I don’t know the facts.”

Adams asked for an early date, but his trial is set to begin on April 21, 2025.
Adams said he supports closing the southern border, will aid the new administration in deporting immigrants charged with crimes, is looking into changing NYC’s Sanctuary City status, and has not ruled out running as a Republican. Brooklynites have a lot to process.
Three years in office, four Police Commissioners. In September, at least ten members of Adams’ inner circle resigned after they had their phones, electronic devices taken, and/or residences searched by federal agents.

“Think about your favorite soap opera; Mayor Adams’ term and administration thus far has been just that soap opera that we are being forced to watch, even though many of us want the show off the air,” Brooklyn activist Jamell Henderson told Our Time Press. “Since the federal indictments, when it comes to funding, policies, and resources to help our unfortunate working poor, working-class families in NYC, nothing’s been done for us.

For our middle-class New Yorkers who are patiently waiting for infrastructure improvements or looking to see lower property taxes, this administration has done nothing for you. And in the midst of all this, more resignations take place. This mayor is intent on betraying the over 300,000-plus voters who supported him by considering turning Republican.”

Henderson charged, “This mayor is kissing the ring and praying that he will be pardoned. New Yorkers experiencing major mental health issues are on the rise, hunger is greatly impacting our communities, and public safety gets an asterisk when it comes to Black communities. We have among the highest unemployed as we speak; our youth and young adults need programs and resources like yesterday, and he is choosing not to address any of these issues. It’s beyond shameful, and this is not the leadership the people of our great city have asked for.”

Adams’ one-time 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement colleague Marquez Claxton told Our Time Press, “With all the activity around Mayor Adams, his tone has been consistent, clear, and familiar to those who have followed his career.

In spite of some misrepresentations of his actual opinions on everything from migrants and asylum seekers to revising NYC’s status as a sanctuary city, to the City of YES-housing expansion, the possible Federal receivership of Rikers Island to finding points of agreement with the incoming Republican President and his cabinet, his long-standing political party affiliation and loyalty, the historic success of the MWBE contracts program and his plans to provide mental health and other wrap-around services to the chronically homeless and even his assertions that his indictment on corruption charges is politically motivated, Mayor Adams has taken an on the record position and provided detail.”

Retired detective Claxton concluded, “It’s clear based on his statements as of late and his public pronouncements that he is readying to do battle to preserve his legacy, protect his reputation, and once again defy the odds and beat back the nay-sayers.”

Rev. Herbert Daughtry told Our Time Press that he had known Adams since he was about 20 years old. “He grew up in the movement, so I’m going to stay with him until I see evidence, and I’ll still be with him.”

Asked by s if it made a difference to him if Adams became a Republican or was pardoned by Trump, he continued, “Yes, politically it would make a difference, but spiritually it wouldn’t; he’s still my friend. That’s why we could build the National Black United Front. You don’t have to believe as I believe, but we should at least agree on the objective of the goal. So, I don’t know which way he might turn, that he might see the best political course that I would disagree with, but it could be only the reality of that time. And, I would use whatever persuasive influence that I have to try to impact to deal with the party, assuming the party is right. There’s no given that the Democratic leadership is going to be on the right path. The point is he’s my friend, and he will be that until the end.”

While several electeds and community advocates told Our Time Press that they did not want to go on record with Adams administration analysis, one local politician suggested that “The Mayor isn’t going to Washington. Trump doesn’t want Eric in DC with him, he can tell him to do what he wants here in New York.”