7 Questions With Mayoral Candidate Adrienne Adams

NEW YORK CITY — New York City's Speaker for the City Council Adrienne Adams, a 64-year-old Democratic candidate, is running for mayor in New York City's primary election on Tuesday, June 24.

Adams, who lives in Jamaica, Queens, was first elected to represent District 28 in 2017, after a three-term stint as the chairperson of Community Board 12 in Queens. She was elected to be the speaker of the City Council in 2022.

Before entering politics, she was an executive coach for Fortune 500 executives, and one of her very first jobs was as a flight attendant.

Patch recently asked Adams seven questions about her campaign. See her replies below.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The following article contains information about one of several candidates who have announced their campaigns in the 2025 primary election. Patch has contacted the other candidates with the same questions and will post replies as they are received.

PATCH: Why are you running for Mayor?

ADAMS: I'm running for mayor because I am an everyday New Yorker and I know life in the city has never felt harder. We need leadership focused on us, not distracted by scandal. Leading with solutions, not learning on the job.

I come from working people – raised by union workers in Southeast Queens, not political royalty. I began my career as a flight attendant and later, a leadership coach for Fortune 500 executives. After more than 20 years in the private sector, I stepped up to serve my community on the local community board, then the City Council.

I’m not running for me. I’m in it for all of us. To make New York City safer and more affordable. For the families, like mine, struggling to stay. For the seniors trying to retire in peace. For the young people inspired by the possibilities but wondering if this city still has space for them. For every New Yorker who’s felt neglected—but never gave up on this city.

Because we still believe New York can work—but only if it works for all of us.

PATCH: What sets you apart from the other candidates?

ADAMS: Anyone can make a plan—but working New Yorkers like me need a Mayor who knows how to deliver. I’ve done that. As Council Speaker, I passed the broadest housing plan in a generation, protected Pre-K, 3-K, and libraries from being shut down, and unlocked over 120,000 new homes. I’m not guessing at how to fix this city—I’m just getting started.

PATCH: List two ways you plan to make New York more affordable.

ADAMS:

1. Accelerate housing construction by cutting red tape, streamlining environmental reviews, and fully staffing housing agencies to move projects forward—so working families can afford to stay in the city they love.
2. Launch guaranteed income for the Next Generation—the nation’s largest guaranteed basic income program—to provide direct, unconditional cash support to over 21,000 homeless children, youth, and families, helping them move into stable housing and break the cycle of poverty.
3. Significantly expand access to affordable childcare for more working- and middle-class families with young children. The cost of childcare is an immense strain on working families that is pushing them to leave our city, which undermines economic diversity and harms enrollment in our public schools and the health of our education system.

PATCH: List two ways you plan to make New York safer.

ADAMS:

1. Fully staff the NYPD while making sure it’s accountable and focused on public safety—not just making arrests.
2. Expand mental health crisis teams and invest in community-based violence prevention to stop harm before it happens.

PATCH: What’s your plan to improve the subway system?

ADAMS: I’ll make the subway safer by restoring the Transit Bureau to full staffing—above 2,700 officers—so we stop relying on costly overtime as a band-aid. Police will focus on crime, especially the rise in felony assaults, while trained social workers handle mental health and homelessness. I’ll also launch a pilot program to place violence interrupters in the subway system to de-escalate conflicts and reduce random attacks.

PATCH: ICE is cracking down on college campuses and immigrants in NYC. How will your administration respond?

ADAMS: I’m already taking action—I’m suing Mayor Eric Adams to stop ICE from accessing people held on Rikers. I’ll block any unlawful city collaboration with ICE, protect access to services regardless of immigration status, and expand immigration legal services to protect our families.

PATCH: What’s one place in the city you frequent the most?

ADAMS: My church in Southeast Queens. It’s where I reflect, recharge, and stay grounded in the values that guide my public service.

Early voting started on June 14 and will continue until June 22. For questions and tips, email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.