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Like so many New Yorkers, Mayor Eric Adams
grew up with adversity—and overcame it.
As one of six children, born in Brownsville
and raised in South Jamaica by a single mom who cleaned
houses, Eric and his family did not always know if they
would come home to an eviction notice on the front door or
food on the table. And when he was beaten by police in the
basement of a precinct house at 15, Eric faced a
life-changing act of injustice.
But instead of giving into anger, Eric turned
his pain into purpose and decided to change the police
department from within. He joined the NYPD and became one
of its most outspoken officers, calling out racism and bias
in the department and pushing for major reforms.
As a founder of 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement
Who Care, Eric would often police the streets in a
bulletproof vest one day during the high-crime 1980’s and
1990’s and protest bad behavior by cops the next, marching
side-by-side with his fellow civil rights advocates. He
rose to the rank of captain, helping to build the first
computerized system for tracking crime in the city, which
led to historic gains in public safety.
Eric’s efforts to change policing began his
lifelong work to improve and protect New York. From the
NYPD, he moved on to the State Senate, where he represented
sections of central and Brownstone Brooklyn. In Albany, Eric
built winning coalitions to advance New York City’s values
and goals, helping to push through measures to protect
tenants and workers, combat gun violence, end the NYPD’s
abuses of stop and frisk, and advance human rights —
including marriage equality. He also became the first person
of color to chair the Senate’s Homeland Security Committee.
Eric was then elected Brooklyn Borough
President in 2013 by putting together a diverse coalition of
Brooklynites to become the borough’s first Black leader.
As the representative of one of the nation’s largest
counties, Eric fought tirelessly to grow the local economy,
invest in schools, reduce inequality, improve public safety,
and advocate for smart policies and better government that
delivers for all New Yorkers.
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck the city,
Eric moved a mattress into his office and worked around the
clock to deliver donated meals and PPE to essential workers
and vulnerable New Yorkers, demanding government produce
more equitable relief.
In addition to continuing to fight for
struggling New Yorkers and a better quality of life for all,
Eric became a national leader on public health policy after
learning he had developed Type 2 diabetes. Following his
diagnosis, Eric completely changed his diet and his body,
reversing the disease and launching a personal mission to
educate New Yorkers about preventative care and wellness.
His work has already led to successful proactive public
health efforts across the city and increased education in
schools and with high-risk populations in lower-income
areas, partnering with civic organizations and health
experts.
Eric is a lifelong New Yorker. He received
his master’s degree in public administration from Marist
College, and is a graduate of New York City Technical
College and the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He is
also a proud product of New York City public schools,
including Bayside High School in Queens. Today he lives in
Bedford-Stuyvesant, where he has resided for over 20 years.
Eric is the proud father of Jordan, an aspiring filmmaker
and graduate of American University. |