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Adams wins mayoral race by large margin
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | NOV. 5 - NOV. 11, 2021 17
BY BEN VERDE
Brooklyn Council member
Brad Lander officially
secured his role as the city’s
next comptroller, cruising to a
win with 70% of the vote in the
Nov. 2 general election against
Republican long-shot candidate
Daby Carreras.
At an Election Night watch
party at Threes Brewing in
Gowanus, Lander thanked
supporters and vowed to carry
out his campaign promises
of fighting for a more equitable
city.
“New Yorkers voted overwhelmingly
for a just and equitable
recovery, a thriving
city that works for all neighborhoods,
and one that’s more
prepared for crises to come.
As New York City’s next comptroller
— our budget watchdog,
pension fiduciary and
chief accountability officer
— I’ll fight hard every day to
build that city,” Lander said in
a statement.
Lander also used his
speech to vow to divest city
pension funds from fossil fuels,
bring accountability to
city agencies and ensure COVID
19 economic aid was spent
equitably in every corner of
the city.
“New Yorkers in every
single neighborhood can go to
sleep at night knowing they’ve
got a New York City that looks
out for them,” he said.
Lander, 52, has represented
Park Slope, Carroll Gardens,
Gowanus, Cobble Hill and
parts of Kensington and Borough
Park in the City Council
since 2010, garnering a reputation
as one of the most far-left
elected officials in New York
City. He ran on progressive
credentials in the crowded
primary race for comptroller
with endorsements from Rep.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and
The New York Times editorial
board, trouncing other candidates
who emphasized their financial
expertise rather than
ideological politics.
The comptroller, otherwise
known as the city’s chief bean
counter, is responsible for auditing
city agencies and overseeing
the city’s nearly $300
billion pension fund. Many
politicians who hold the post,
including the outgoing Comptroller
Scott Stringer and his
two predecessors, John Liu
and Will Thompson, attempt
to use it as a launching pad to
higher citywide office.
In the lead-up to the general
election, Lander has targeted
the city’s disbursement of
COVID aid, which he claims is
being spent without accountability
or adequate tracking.
He pledged to set up a tracking
system within his first
100 days in office to identify
what exactly is being spent
and whether that spending
is bringing about the desired
services.
“The money that has been
spent has been a random wish
list as opposed to a strategic
approach,” he told Bloomberg
News.
“I’m deeply grateful for the
support of New Yorkers, and
eager to make government
work better for all of us. Let’s
get to work,” the incoming
bean counter said.
BY MORGAN C. MULLINGS
Congratulations are due
for the Brooklyn borough
president, who is now the
upcoming mayor of New
York City. Eric Adams (D) is
the mayor-elect, according
the Associated Press, which
called the race after about
12% of the votes were reported
on Nov. 2 just minutes after
polls closed.
His Republican opponent
Curtis Sliwa was a long shot
from the beginning, but he
and his base put up a strong
fight at the ballot box. As the
polls closed, it became clear
that Adams would certainly
become the second Black
mayor of this city.
As of Wednesday morning,
Nov. 3, Adams had secured
66.14% of the vote, according
to unofficial results from the
city’s Board of Elections.
A representative from
Adams’ campaign appeared
on stage shortly after the AP
announcement and shouted,
“We won!” According to NY1,
Sliwa conceded the election
around 9:45 p.m. but was
not able to get Adams on the
phone.
Earlier on election day,
Sliwa started off the day with
a negative polling experience,
the sour icing on the cake after
he was injured in a traffic
accident on Oct. 29. He was
denied access to the voting
booth until he complied with
the polling place’s rules, including
“no pets allowed.”
Sorry, Gizmo.
Adams was in an emotional
space after he cast his vote,
with several important realizations
weighing on him: If
elected, he would be the second
Black mayor; he would be
representing blue-collar essential
workers; and he would
be putting Brooklyn on the
map once again.
Adams’ campaign was
dinged by several credible
claims against his dedication
to the borough and his history
as a captain in the NYPD. Just
because he is a Black Democrat
does not mean that he
went unscathed during a year
of negative attitudes toward
police — including a successful
campaign to lower the
NYPD’s budget. Though he
touted his history of holding
his fellow officers accountable
and going to court to protect
victims of police brutality, all
while dealing with the trauma
of his own negative experience
with police, his association
with the force proved to
be a constant distraction.
His most unique asset
during the race was his veganism
and purported bicycle
riding. At one point, he promised
to bike to City Hall during
his commute if he were
elected. He also toured a
garden on Eastern Parkway
and hand-picked kale for his
morning smoothie. Adams’
strongest support came from
Mayor Bill de Blasio, who
practically ignored all other
candidates once the Democratic
primary was decided.
Since July, they have publicly
aligned on the vaccine mandate,
but seemed to differ on
the removal of Gifted and Talented
programs in schools.
De Blasio tweeted shortly
after the announcement, saying,
“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. @Eric-
AdamsForNYC embodies the
greatness of our city. He will
be an outstanding mayor.
Congratulations, my friend!”
Eric Adams celebrates at his election night party.
Photo by Andrew Kelly/REUTERS
Brad Lander speaks at his victory party. Photo by Ben Verde
Lander leads comptroller’s race
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