Eric Adams and Gov. Cuomo Meet in Brooklyn to Discuss Curbing Violence, Redefining “Progressivism”

By Yehudit Garmaise

Eric Adams, the Democratic mayoral candidate for New York City, is not yet mayor-elect, however, he appears to be transforming Democratic politics less than four months before the general election, which became evident today when he met with Gov. Andrew Cuomo to discuss gun violence at a church at 1356 Nostrand Ave.

     “Eric Adams and I will work very well together,” Gov. Cuomo said, adding that they both come from the “same political philosophy” as progressive Democrats, which is notable considering that Adams was perhaps considered the most conservative of the 13 candidates who ran to be the Democratic mayoral nominee on June 22. 

After declaring gun violence a state disaster emergency last week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced 4,000 summer jobs and full-time jobs with training for at-risk youth in New York City on Wednesday.

“We will target the violent hotspots, where you have the majority of the shootings, just like we did with COVID,” Gov. Cuomo explained. In those violent hot spots, we are going to “provide, jobs, interventions, and local community groups with state resources.”

Adams, a Democratic candidate who refused to engage with the progressive idea to defund the police, and who also has doubted the wisdom of the legalization of marijuana, seems to be steering the issues of the Democratic party back to what he called today, “bread and butter issues.” 

Adams said that he and Gov. Cuomo, “see eye to eye to make real changes for people on the ground.

    “That is what I represent. I am the face of the Democratic party,” said Adams, and he does appear to be redefining the party’s agenda.

    “Those countless number of men and women: every day workers who want safe streets, their children educated, they want to stop hearing gun shots instead of alarm clocks.

“They want to ensure that they can be employed and live in a comfortable city.

“Those are the issues that I believe are crucial that are not only to the city of New York, but this entire country,” on which Adams’ rise seems to be having an effect.

Yesterday, Adams met with President Joe Biden to discuss federal anti-gun violence initiatives, and today, the Brooklyn borough president described Gov. Cuomo’s plan as a “compliment” to the president’s plan.

“You remember when people said the city was doomed,” said Gov. Cuomo, who said he “was so excited about Eric Adams. “But don’t underestimate New Yorkers.

“With quality leadership and a person who is willing to stand up with courage and competence to get it done. That is the formula to get it done.”

Adams pointed out that his brand of Democratic politics and police reform, “started so many years ago: ending Stop and Frisk, testifying in federal court to do so, equality in our classrooms, all of these issues: we have allowed the term ‘progressive’ to be hijacked by those who do not have a track record of putting in place real progressive changes.

“Being progressive is not just closing Riker’s Island. It is closing the pipeline that feeds Riker’s Island.”

     “I am the original progressive voice in the city,” said Adams. “And being progressive is not what you tweet, it is what you do to help people on the streets every day.”

(Photo by: Kevin P. Coughlin / Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo)