My Struggle with Eric Adams and New York's Promise

-- By FeyiFalana - 20 Feb 2025

Growing up as a first-generation Nigerian American in New York, I’ve always found myself walking a fine line between two worlds. My immigrant parents were always striving to build a better future—balancing a rich cultural heritage with the desire to assimilate into the American dream. But as time has gone on, I've found myself grappling with how my dreams for New York and the country at large have shifted, especially when I look at the current political landscape, particularly the rise of leaders like Eric Adams.

Eric Adams, the current mayor of New York City, presents a complex figure for someone like me—a child of immigrants navigating New York, a beacon of hope for so many. Adams is a product of New York City, born and raised in Brooklyn, and his story is one that mirrors the struggles and aspirations of many families in the city. As a former police officer, Adams rose through the ranks with a reputation for tackling crime and fighting for the safety of communities. On paper, his background should resonate with my own desire for safety, fairness, and equality. However, his policies and the ways he has approached issues such as police reform, housing, and public safety often seem to contradict the vision of New York that I’ve long held.

But my confusion surrounding Adams deepened when corruption charges and scandals began to swirl around him. His administration has been tainted by investigations into campaign finance violations and allegations of improper use of funds. Reports have emerged about donations to his mayoral campaign that appear suspicious. These charges have cast a shadow over his promises of reform and good governance. For someone like me, who grew up with a deep respect for authority and a belief in the integrity of public office, these revelations are deeply disheartening.

I was raised with the understanding that America’s promise of opportunity came with the expectation of fairness and transparency in leadership. I believed that people in positions of power, especially those elected to serve the public, should be held to the highest standards of accountability. In my household, the idea of corruption, something that often plagued the Nigerian political landscape, was something we were taught to fight against, to reject at all costs.

Adams’ corruption charges serve as a reminder that New York City, a place I’ve always viewed as a land of opportunity and hope, is still deeply entangled in the systems of power and influence that often work against the interests of marginalized communities. His leadership calls into question whether New York, and by extension America, can truly be the place where immigrants and their children can thrive, or whether we’re stuck in a cycle of compromises that often leave the most vulnerable behind. If someone like Adams, who has the potential to represent diverse communities, can fall prey to the very forces he once opposed, what hope do we have for true change?

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