NYC’s ‘Eric Adams Show’ heads for a final curtain, with echoes of another New Yorker more focused on style than policy

New York City Mayor Eric Adams leaves after appearing at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Court House in New York on Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. AP Photo/Andres Kudacki by Lincoln Mitchell, Columbia University As the Democratic primary for mayor in New York approached in the spring of 2021, most of my friends and colleagues were supporting one of three candidates. My lefty friends were all rallying around progressive standard-bearer Maya Wiley. My more middle-of-the-road friends were supporting Kathryn Garcia, who ran on a platform that promised excellent management while deemphasizing ideology. A fair number of my friends, particularly insiders who regularly did business with the city, were hoping Eric Adams would be the next mayor. When I asked the Adams supporters why he was their choice, almost all of them said a version of “We know we can do business with him.” Well, that is certainly one way to put it. Adams is now facing a five-count indictment that could lead to the end of his political career, or perhaps more dire consequences, in large part because of the people with whom he chose to do business. Mayoral candidate Eric Adams delivers his victory speech in Brooklyn after defeating his Republican...