The largest city in the United States, New York, has chosen a former police officer and anti-racist activist as its new councilor.
After David Dinkins, elected from 1990 to 1993, Eric Adams will be the second African-American mayor in the history of the “Big Apple”, guarded by the Statue of Liberty, which still embodies so many dreams.
The elected 61-year-old Democrat crushed his Republican rival Curtis Sliwa, 67, as planned, according to preliminary results from the city's elections office.
Eric Adams thus won 67% of the votes cast against around 27% for Curtis Sliwa, in a city classified on the left, but where the economic and social inequalities between different communities are extremely marked.
"Tonight, I have made my dream come true and, with all my heart, I will lift the barriers that prevent you from achieving yours," Adams said with a smile, white shirt and thumbs up in front of his supporters gathered in a hotel in Brooklyn.
The Brooklyn borough president since 2014 will succeed Democrat Bill de Blasio in January, whose term was limited after eight years in office.
"New York chose one of you"
“Graduated from our public schools.
Decorated New York Police Veteran.
A courageous voice for justice in our streets.
A daring official with the spirit and style of Brooklyn.
Eric Adams embodies the greatness of our city.
He will be an outstanding mayor.
Congratulations my friend !
», Tweeted his future predecessor.
A graduate of our public schools.
A decorated NYPD veteran.
A brave voice for justice in our streets.
A bold public servant with Brooklyn spirit and style. @ EricAdamsForNYC embodies the greatness of our city.
He will be an outstanding mayor.
Congratulations, my friend!
- Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) November 3, 2021
“Tonight New York chose one of you, one of us.
I am you.
I am you, ”Adams told a cheering crowd at his victory party at a hotel in his hometown of Brooklyn.
“After years of prayer, hope, struggle and work, we are heading towards the town hall”.
This victory is in fact a consecration for Eric Adams, raised by disadvantaged parents from Brooklyn and Queens where he experienced delinquency and violent police arrests before becoming a police captain and co-founding 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care. , an advocacy group that rose up against police brutality.
After his retirement in 2006, he entered politics, becoming an elected local Democrat in New York State and City.
Presenting himself as a “blue collar” New Yorker, he said working-class Democrats had been ignored by the more liberal wing of the party. He wants to act against the strong social inequalities, reinforced by the pandemic which killed 34,500 in the city, for affordable housing - although his campaign was largely funded by the real estate sector -, to bring more diversity in the recruitment of officials with responsibilities, restore public schools, renovate many infrastructure in very poor condition.
Twice as many shootings in 2020 as in 2019, 44% more murders: the surge in crime has prompted the two candidates to focus their campaign on insecurity. Curtis Sliwa, still wearing a red beret, also had a CV to defend: in 1979, he created a kind of militia, the "guardian angels", volunteer patrols supposed to fight against attacks in the metro, alongside the police. Until the end, the Republican candidate tried everything to make people talk about him, including coming to vote with one of the stray kittens he takes in in the small apartment he shares with his wife and a dozen felines. But the kitten was not allowed to enter the polling station. Then he was asked to take off his red jacket, which bore his electoral slogan. And when he finally voted,the machine was caught in a jam, requiring the intervention of a technician. "You will have Curtis Sliwa for fun," he vowed Tuesday night, conceding defeat.