Mayor Eric Adams' Misguided Crime Narrative and Policing Policies

As Mayor Eric Adams faces his own legal battles, it's alarming to witness the continued efforts to paint New York City’s urban areas as crime-ridden, while imposing policies that push us toward a police state. This false narrative of rampant crime in communities of color is not only misleading but deeply harmful. While crime is a concern across the city, it is a reality in every neighborhood, including predominantly white areas where aggressive policing tactics, such as stop-and-frisk and the broken windows policy, are conspicuously absent.

Mayor Adams has taken the wrong approach by disproportionately targeting Black and brown communities while ignoring that crime is not bound by race or zip code. The policies he supports reflect a deliberate neglect of fairness and equality, perpetuating the myth that communities of color are the primary source of crime.

We know that safety comes not through aggressive policing, but through investment in the very communities that have been left behind. Where is the funding for better education, mental health services, and economic opportunities? We need to challenge the mayor’s narrative and policies that criminalize our communities while pretending others are untouched by crime. The time has come to stop enforcing a double standard and demand real justice and accountability that applies to all of New York City’s residents.

Project Drive Inc. stands with communities across New York City in calling for an end to these discriminatory practices. We will continue to advocate for reforms that prioritize community-based solutions over over-policing and ensure that all neighborhoods, regardless of racial or economic makeup, are treated with equal dignity and respect.