4 Key Challenges Mayor Adams Faces Immediately

Omicron means there's no honeymoon period for the mayor [FORWARD TO A FRIEND]( [VIEW IN BROWSER]( [DONATE]( [WNYC Politics Brief] Here Are 4 Key Challenges Mayor Adams Faces As He Takes Office [By Elizabeth Kim]( [City Councilmember Adrienne Adams pictured in 2018] Office of the Mayor of New York City When Eric Adams decided last month to postpone his inauguration, it pointed to a harsh political reality: COVID-19 has shortened the honeymoon for the new mayor. With New York City once again in the grips of surging cases and debates over school closures, Adams is facing a public that's exhausted by the pandemic and craving what feels like an overdue return to normalcy. At the same time, Adams now has to contend with a slate of new progressive elected officials, some of whom may be eager to test the new mayor. "Most of the city government is new," said Jumaane Williams, the city’s public advocate who is running for governor. "I think folks are going to be settling in and feeling each other out. Everybody has different job functions to play." Here are four pressing issues that Adams will face as he steps into City Hall: Managing The Omicron Wave Days before being sworn in, Adams said he plans to keep former Mayor Bill de Blasio's vaccine mandate for private sector employers in place, even though the policy is expected to be challenged in court. Like his predecessor, Adams said he'll focus on testing and vaccinations, while making a concerted effort to avoid shutdowns. "It's going to take a lot for me to close down the city," he has repeatedly told reporters. Critics, however, have argued the city should be taking bolder action against the latest surge. Dr. Denis Nash, an epidemiology professor at CUNY, said that vaccination "is not the only strategy that we should be using, especially because we now have a variant that spreads by evading vaccination and past immunity." Nash argued that the city should consider more strategic testing for people engaging in essential activities like health care, schools, and transportation. Resuming Schools Right as Adams took office, a spike in COVID-19 cases resulted in widespread classroom closures, low attendance, and [demands by teachers and parents]( for the city to change its testing strategy and response to outbreaks. Under a [plan]( unveiled last week by de Blasio, New York City will double the amount of testing at public schools and distribute at-home test kits, which will allow students who were potentially exposed to the virus to remain in class as long as they test negative and are asymptomatic. Additionally, Adams said he plans to distribute higher-quality masks and improve ventilation in schools. Another looming question is whether New York City will impose a vaccine mandate for students, something Adams has said he's willing to consider in the spring should the vaccine for younger children receive full federal authorization. Under de Blasio, the city has elected not to offer a remote-learning option, but Adams has said he would bring it back in the face of a vaccine mandate for school children. "We shouldn't use it too quickly, but we do know it’s a possibility that we'll need it based on the past two years," said Jumaane Williams. Reducing Crime Like other major cities, New York City has seen violent crime spike during the pandemic — as of the third week of December, the city’s police department had recorded 464 murders, nearly 50% more than in 2019. Adams has said he intends to increase the number of police in subways and bring back a plainclothes unit focused on gangs and gun violence that was disbanded last year for being counterproductive. He has also promised to bolster morale within the NYPD, beginning by visiting all 77 police precincts in the city. In what was perhaps his most anticipated appointment, Adams named Keechant Sewell, the former Nassau County chief of detectives, as the city’s first woman police commissioner. While her selection drew praise for its historic nature, skeptics have wondered whether Sewell, who have never worked for the NYPD, has the experience to run a department of 35,000 uniformed officers. Confronting A Left-Leaning City Council Adams, a centrist Democrat, faces the political challenge of working with a newly elected City Council that's the most diverse in the city’s history and also leans further left than the prior class of members. The first battle between the two broke out last month after Adams suggested that he wants to bring back punitive segregation, also known as solitary confinement, in the city's jails. (There was disagreement over the meaning of the two terms.) A majority of the City Council, consisting of 29 members, responded by writing an [open letter]( demanding that Adams reverse his position. Adams lashed out at the council members, admonishing them for using an open letter rather than reaching out to him directly. "They have no desire in moving our city forward. Their desire is to be disruptive," he said. "From his point of view, New Yorkers wanted a tough mayor for a tough time," said Hunter College professor Basil Smikle. "And that manifests in a number of different ways, including how he will respond to his detractors." --------------------------------------------------------------- 🗳️ --------------------------------------------------------------- For Further Reading [a map of New York with new congressional districts outlined]( GERRYMANDERING AFTER ALL? [Independent Redistricting Panel Failed To Unite Around One Map]( A bipartisan panel ended up drawing two different maps of congressional and state-level districts, leaving it up to the Democrat-controlled Legislature to decide on new lines. [Gov. Hochul and Mayor Adams celebrate in November]( FRIENDS FOR NOW [Eric Adams And Kathy Hochul Have Reasons To Get Along]( She wants an electoral boost. He wants help from the state budget. The New York Times explains this moment of peace between city and state leaders. [A close-up of Gov. Hochul at a press conference]( LIMITS ON POWER [Gov. Hochul Proposing Term Limits, Outside Income Ban For Statewide Eelected Officials]( New rules would set two-year consecutive term limits and a ban on outside income, inspired by Gov. Cuomo's memoir scandal. [former Gov. Andrew Cuomo]( COMPLAINT DROPPED [Albany DA Won't Pursue Misdemeanor Groping Complaint Against Andrew Cuomo]( "After review of all the available evidence, we have concluded that we cannot meet our burden [of proof] at trial," the DA said. --------------------------------------------------------------- 🗳️ --------------------------------------------------------------- [the logo for the Brian Lehrer Show politics podcast] [New Year, New Mayor]( Mayor Eric Adams kicked off the year by riding the subway without his security detail ... and then called the cops to break up a fight. What should New Yorkers make of the new mayor's style? [LISTEN FOR FREE]( Support WNYC + Gothamist Make a donation to support local, independent journalism. Your contributions are our largest source of funding and pays for essential election coverage and more. 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