On Sept. 25, 2024, the mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, became the first sitting mayor of New York to be indicted on federal corruption charges. With allegations of conspiring and accepting bribes from the Turkish government, the case sends America’s political landscape into even more turmoil, inciting inquiries into the corruption that plagues not only New York, but the federal government as a whole.
The indictment focuses on accusations that Adams and his associates were accepting foreign donations from Turkish nationals. According to the investigation, these donations offered direct support for Adams’ mayoral campaign, disregarding laws designed to prevent foreign interference in American elections.
Prosecutors allege that the Turkish government sought to exert influence over city policies, particularly those affecting its current diaspora there. The implications of such actions are significant for multiple reasons. His indictment not only sparks uncertainty regarding his legitimacy and transparency, but also his competency as a politician.
One side argues that this case questions the legitimacy of Adams as mayor, stating that his acceptance of foreign bribes is corrupt and immoral. A mayor should not be accepting illegal donations, especially foreign gifts. With legitimate concerns, pressure mounts on Adams to resign.
The other side questions the legitimacy of the allegations, including Mayor Adams himself. They claim that he is a political prisoner of the Biden-Harris Administration because he is extremely critical of their handling of the border crisis. While these accusations have resonated with some supporters, they are likely based in sentiment and emotion. The handling of the border by the current administration may be horrendous, but they should not be blamed for the problems of the city. Whether he accepts it or not, Adams is responsible for New York City. If he wants to prevent the city from being influenced by migrants, he can do it himself. He is, after all, the mayor.
Anyways, the specific issue with Mayor Adams, and the reason why he should resign, is not because of his corruption with donations. It is because he is—to put it blatantly—incompetent. When he took over for former Mayor Bill Deblasio, Adams gained support on the platform of being tough on crime, due to the then-high crime rate sweeping the city. According to an article written by the New York Post in the spring of 2024, crime has “hit levels unseen in two decades.” Mayor Adams should not resign because he is corrupt, or because every other politician is frankly just as bad, but because he is incompetent and has failed to do the thing he set out to do. He is a failure, and New York, as well as the entire country, deserves better.
