New York City Mayor Eric Adams pledged to stand firmly with the Jewish community as he seeks another term in office, facing off against Zohran Mamdani, a mayoral contender known for his staunch anti-Israel positions.
During a Jewish heritage celebration at Gracie Mansion on the Upper East Side, Adams likened the rising tide of antisemitism to the familiar allegory of a frog in slowly heating water.
“That is what I feel has happened over the last few years. We have turned the antisemitism up one degree at a time and many of us have stood there and watched the hatred boil,” he told the predominantly Jewish audience gathered for the event.
“The heat of antisemitism has gotten too hot in our country and it cannot continue to rise,” he said. “I’m here to turn off the flame, to get the frog out of the pot and make sure that we don’t allow hate in our city.”
Adams has longstanding relationships with Jewish communities throughout the five boroughs and has consistently voiced his strong support for Israel, earning him broad approval from mainstream Jewish voters.
The crowd erupted into cheers and chants of “Four more years,” voicing strong support for his reelection. Though Adams is a Democrat, he will appear on the ballot as an independent in November. Mamdani, who secured the Democratic nomination, enters the race as the frontrunner due to the city’s Democratic leanings.
Though Adams avoided naming Mamdani directly, he seemed to allude to the controversial candidate’s recent proposals. “You don’t tax communities based on ethnicity,” he said, likely referencing Mamdani’s recent comment about imposing higher taxes on “whiter neighborhoods.”
“You have the right to be in this city and anywhere in this country,” Adams reassured his audience. “This city belongs to you as with all groups in this city. Don’t live in fear, don’t live in anxiety. This city belongs to you as it belongs to every group that lives in this city.”
{Matzav.com}