New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he believes Lori Lightfoot’s loss in last week’s mayoral election in Chicago could have implications for the entire country, calling it a “warning sign.”
Adams has campaigned extensively on issues of public safety and combating growing crime with his unique perspective gleaned from his time working in law enforcement.
I think it is a warning sign for the country. Eric Adams has been talking about public safety not only during the campaign, but for the coming year,” the mayor began.
You came to the crime scene. I knew what New Yorkers were saying. And I saw him all over the country. I think, if anything, it really indicates that’s what I was talking about. America, we have to be safe,” he said Tell CNN on Sunday.
During his campaign, Adams emphasized how public safety is not just a political issue, but a basic necessity for the prosperity of American cities.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s re-election loss is a warning sign for the entire country, not just Democratic mayors.
Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot has lost her re-election bid due to criticism of her soft-spoken approach to crime amid a steady surge in violence. Pictured: Lightfoot at her election rally on Feb. 28
“Mayors, we’re closer. We’re closer to the problem. We’re focused on public safety because people want to be safe.
Adams described public safety as “a prerequisite for prosperity” in American cities. he He said that mayors must be able to see firsthand the impact of crime and work with law enforcement officials and community leaders to find solutions.
But Adams has faced criticism from some Democrats, who argue that his rhetoric on crime hurts the party and plays into the hands of Republicans.
Adams responded to this criticism by pointing out that the everyday concerns of the working class could not be ignored.
Adams emphasized how he claims to have seen firsthand the fear and anxiety many New Yorkers feel about rising crime rates, and believes their concerns should be taken seriously.
‘The polls were clear. New Yorkers felt unsafe, and the numbers showed they were unsafe. If we want to ignore what the everyday audience says, it’s up to them. I’m on the subway. I walk the streets. I talk to ordinary working class people. And they were worried about safety.
We have a recidivism problem in New York and there’s a very large number of people, there are about 2,000 people who get arrested and released and repeat offenders repeatedly. If we don’t get them off our streets, they will continue to prey on innocent people.
Last month, the NYPD revealed a 5.6 percent decrease in major crimes for the month of February compared to the same year ago, including 10 fewer murders than in 2022.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who is notoriously soft on crime, garnered just 17 percent of the vote in the race for city council, forcing former schools CEO Paul Fallas and Cook County commissioner Brandon Johnson on April 4.
Lightfoot, the first black woman and first openly gay person to lead the city, won her first term in 2019 after promising to end decades of corruption and backroom dealings at City Hall.
But opponents have blamed Lightfoot for the crime surge that has occurred in cities across the United States during the pandemic and criticized her as an overly divisive and controversial leader.
With crime still rising during the final years of her term, Lightfoot came under fire for promoting things other than public safety, including a citywide karaoke contest and dancing in the street during a festival.
Speaking to supporters Tuesday night, Lightfoot called the Chicago mayoralty the “honor of a lifetime.”
“Regardless of the outcome tonight, we fought the right fights and put this city on a better path,” said Lightfoot. She told her fellow mayors across the country not to be afraid to be bold.
Lightfoot first faced a backlash after joining calls from Democratic mayors in 2021 to cut the budget for police departments, a movement that has also resulted in officers quitting the force and a rise in violent crime.
Then, the beleaguered mayor made a U-turn, opting instead to “pay the police back” and hire more officers, but the move did little to reduce crime.
According to the latest Chicago Police Department report, rape cases are up 16 percent so far this year compared to the same time in 2022.
Thefts also rose 13 percent, with aggravated battery and burglaries both up 11 percent.
Theft rates in the windy city were up 31 percent, and car thefts specifically were up 143 percent.
Homicides and shootings were the only category that saw a decrease, down 18 percent and 8 percent, respectively.
While total violent crime increased by 52 percent over the same period last year, it increased by 102 percent compared to 2021.
Source: | This article originally belonged to Dailymail.co.uk