NEW YORK — Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, the front-runner in the Democratic primary for mayor, is once again on the attack.
What You Need To Know
- Eric Adams criticized Maya Wiley for her family’s decision to pay for a private community watch service following the violent mugging of her partner shortly after 9/11
- Wiley’s policing plan says she would freeze the incoming NYPD and Department of Correction cadet classes for two years, resulting in a reduction of headcount by 2,500 officers
- Wiley also announced a new health insurance proposal to create universal coverage of all New Yorkers regardless of their immigration status or income level
- If approved, the plan which hinges on federal and state funding, would cost $1 billion and cover up to 350,000 uninsured New Yorkers
Speaking at an endorsement rally in Queens on Tuesday, Adams criticized Maya Wiley for her family’s decision to pay for a private community watch service following the violent mugging of her partner shortly after 9/11.
"A candidate in the race has private security while they’re saying to other families, that are frightened over gun violence, that you don’t need more security?" Adams said at a campaign event. “That’s just not fair.”
Wiley contends her partner's decision was a way to cope with a traumatic event.
“I don’t believe in private security, and I didn't know we were paying for it, but in his trauma he decided to pay for the neighborhood security," Wiley said.
For those who want more officers on city streets, she says she’s not trying to take them away.
"We have 36,000 armed uniformed police officers in the city," Wiley said. "It's about how we use the resources we have."
Wiley’s policing plan, however, does call for reducing the NYPD headcount. Her policing plan says she would freeze the incoming NYPD and Department of Correction cadet classes for two years, resulting in a reduction of headcount by 2,500 officers.
Later in the day, Wiley announced a new health insurance proposal to create universal coverage of all New Yorkers regardless of their immigration status or income level.
"We are going to invest in a health insurance program for the folks who don't qualify for Medicaid, for the folks who don't get health insurance on the job or for whom Obamacare isn't a solution," Wiley said.
If approved, the plan, which hinges on federal and state funding, would cost $1 billion and cover up to 350,000 uninsured New Yorkers.
------
Did you know you can now watch, read and stay informed with NY1 wherever and whenever you want? Get the new Spectrum News app here.
------
Looking for an easy way to learn about the issues affecting New York City?
Listen to our "Off Topic/On Politics" podcast: Apple Podcasts | Google Play | Spotify | iHeartRadio | Stitcher | RSS