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New York. — Although his re-election campaign faces a growing storm of legal accusations, Mayor Eric Adams added an important political backing this Thursday: 14 unions representing city security forces expressed their public support for his management and candidacy for a second term.
A high-ranking officer of Hispanic origin, present at the event, expressed his rejection of political sectors that in the past promoted the defunding of the police. "We know who turned their backs on us. We cannot allow those people to now present themselves as leaders of our city," he said, alluding to progressive movements.
However, the Police Benevolent Association (PBA), the largest NYPD union representing over 24,000 officers, has yet to define its support for the November municipal elections.
A campaign under legal fire
Despite union support, Adams faces increasing pressure from a series of lawsuits. The most recent was filed by Tom Donlon, former NYPD commissioner, who accuses the mayor's administration of operating as "a criminal organization" and alleges corruption within the police force.
This lawsuit represents the fifth legal complaint involving the NYPD and former city officials in just two weeks, which has generated an environment of uncertainty in local politics.
Despite this, union leaders like Louis Turco, president of the Lieutenants Association, downplayed the accusations, claiming that "it's all about politics." Turco emphasized that his support for Adams is due to the fulfillment of promises and working conditions: "We evaluate crime, our contracts, and fair treatment. And that's why we support him."
A Fragmented Electoral Landscape
Adams is running as an independent candidate in a competitive electoral scenario. In the recent Democratic primaries, former governor Andrew Cuomo came in second behind the progressive Zohram Mandani, who leads the initial polls.
Cuomo's entry into the race as an independent further complicates the scenario for Adams, who is trying to maintain his electoral base among moderate sectors, unions, and traditional communities in New York.
From the steps of City Hall in Lower Manhattan, Adams emphasized the achievements of his administration in public safety, highlighting that "this year we are seeing the lowest number of shootings and homicides in the city's recorded history."
Support from security unions
A high-ranking officer of Hispanic origin, present at the event, expressed his rejection of political sectors that in the past promoted the defunding of the police. "We know who turned their backs on us. We cannot allow those people to now present themselves as leaders of our city," he said, alluding to progressive movements.
However, the Police Benevolent Association (PBA), the largest NYPD union representing over 24,000 officers, has yet to define its support for the November municipal elections.
A campaign under legal fire
Despite union support, Adams faces increasing pressure from a series of lawsuits. The most recent was filed by Tom Donlon, former NYPD commissioner, who accuses the mayor's administration of operating as "a criminal organization" and alleges corruption within the police force.
This lawsuit represents the fifth legal complaint involving the NYPD and former city officials in just two weeks, which has generated an environment of uncertainty in local politics.
Despite this, union leaders like Louis Turco, president of the Lieutenants Association, downplayed the accusations, claiming that "it's all about politics." Turco emphasized that his support for Adams is due to the fulfillment of promises and working conditions: "We evaluate crime, our contracts, and fair treatment. And that's why we support him."
A Fragmented Electoral Landscape
Adams is running as an independent candidate in a competitive electoral scenario. In the recent Democratic primaries, former governor Andrew Cuomo came in second behind the progressive Zohram Mandani, who leads the initial polls.
Cuomo's entry into the race as an independent further complicates the scenario for Adams, who is trying to maintain his electoral base among moderate sectors, unions, and traditional communities in New York.
Context in numbers:
- 14 unions officially endorse Adams.
- 5 recent lawsuits involve the NYPD and former officials.
- +24,000 officers are affiliated with the police union that has not yet spoken out.
- Lowest rate of shootings and homicides in NYC's recent history, according to municipal data.
