FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM NOVEMBER 4, 2021 • THE QUEENS COURIER 15
Eric Adams wins mayoral race by large margin
BY MORGAN C. MULLINGS
editorial@qns.com
@QNS
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 aft er about 12% of
the votes were reported on Nov.
2 just minutes aft er polls closed.
His Republican opponent
Curtis Sliwa was a long shot from
the beginning, but he and his
base put up a strong fi ght 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 .14% of
the vote, according to unoffi cail
results from the city’s Board
of Elections.
A representative from Adams’
campaign appeared on stage
shortly aft er 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 aft er he was injured
in a traffi c 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 aft er 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.
Th ough he touted his history
of holding his fellow offi cers
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.
Still, he was never endorsed
by his own police union. Adams
was also subject to a few investigations
by journalists, the most
recent one resulting in a stakeout
that showed him driving on the
sidewalk and blocking a driveway
in his neighborhood, to
the dismay of several cars stuck
in traffi c. While the stakeout
proved that he does come home
to his Brooklyn apartment, he
had to do more than just show
up in the middle of the night
to prove to reporters that he
lives in Brooklyn (and not New
Jersey). Adams showed reporters
his home, to mixed reviews, and
there wasn’t much to do aft er
that but let the media talk.
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 Gift ed and
Talented programs in schools.
De Blasio tweeted shortly aft er
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.
@EricAdamsForNYC embodies
the greatness of our city. He
will be an outstanding mayor.
Congratulations, my friend!”
Brooklyn Councilman Brad Lander secures victory in comptroller’s race
BY BEN VERDE
general election against Republican longshot
comptroller — our budget watchdog, pension
editorial@qns.com
candidate Daby Carreras.
fi duciary and chief accountability offi -
@QNS
At an Election Night watch party at
cer — I’ll fi ght hard every day to build that
Th rees Brewing in Gowanus, Lander
city,” Lander said in a statement.
Brooklyn Council
thanked supporters and vowed to carry
Lander also used his speech to vow to
member Brad Lander
out his campaign promises of fi ghting for
divest city pension funds from fossil fuels,
offi cially secured his
a more equitable city.
bring accountability to city agencies and
role as the city’s next
“New Yorkers voted overwhelmingly for
ensure COVID-19 economic aid was spent
comptroller, cruising
a just and equitable recovery, a thriving city
equitably in every corner of the city.
to a win with 70%
that works for all neighborhoods, and one
“New Yorkers in every single neighborhood
of the vote in the
that’s more prepared for crises to come.
can go to sleep at night knowing
Nov.
As New York City’s next
2
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
offi cials in New York City. He ran on
progressive credentials in the crowded primary
race for comptroller with endorsements
from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-
Cortez and Th e New York Times editorial
board, trouncing other candidates who
emphasized their fi nancial expertise rather
than ideological politics.
Th e 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 Th ompson, attempt to use it as a
launching pad to higher citywide offi ce.
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 fi rst 100 days in offi ce
to identify what exactly is being spent and
whether that spending is bringing about
the desired services.
“Th e 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.
QNS fi le photo
Photo by Ben Verde
/WWW.QNS.COM
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