NEW YORK — New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams is showing public support for state Sen. Zellnor Myrie’s action on gun violence as Myrie campaigns to replace Mayor Eric Adams.
The far-left Democrat joined Myrie in the senator’s Brooklyn district Wednesday morning to promote two gun-safety bills. At the same time, Williams blasted Adams as FBI probes engulfed his administration.
“The way he’s handling it is making everything much, much worse,” Williams said of the mayor.
While Williams has not endorsed anyone in the mayor’s race, his presence at Myrie’s Brooklyn announcement marked a powerful showing of support from one of the city’s top elected officials.
The public advocate spoke positively of Myrie’s work to curb gun violence by pushing for state and local legislation on the issue.
He also told POLITICO he is focused on winning his own primary before endorsing anyone in the race for mayor.
“I haven’t really delved into the 2025 election,” he said. “I’ve been trying to make sure my joint is alright. But I am very concerned about this city right now.”
Williams’ support is often coveted: He is a relatively popular citywide official with ties to vote-rich sections of Brooklyn and the progressive political movement.
Though he and the centrist Adams often disagree on substance, Williams at times showed an affinity for the mayor.
Wednesday’s press conference with Myrie comes as Adams confronts a sprawling crisis.
In the past two weeks, federal agents have raided the homes or taken the phones of at least five top City Hall officials. Two FDNY fire chiefs have been arrested, and two top administration officials — the police commissioner and lead attorney — have resigned.
Since then, at least two City Council members and three state legislators have called on the mayor to resign, though the quintet had already been fiercely critical of Adams since he took office.
As public advocate, Williams would be first in line to take over as mayor if Adams left his post.
Both Williams and Myrie did not call for Adams to step down. Williams said he wants to see Adams place his top officials on leave until the facts of the investigation are known.
“I think that’s a decision for the mayor to make,” Myrie said when asked if the mayor should resign.
As Myrie charts his run for mayor, he will have to contend with limited name recognition and a crowded primary field.
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander and his predecessor, Scott Stringer, and Queens state Sen. Jessica Ramos have jumped into the race. Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo is also eyeing a run.
Myrie’s press conference took place steps from where five people were shot during a West Indian Day parade both Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul had marched in just hours earlier. One of those people died.
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, State Sen. Andrew Gounardes, City Council member Crystal Hudson and other state lawmakers also joined Myrie on Wednesday.
The Albany lawmaker, who made a thinly veiled critique of Adams during a church visit Sunday, is hoping the state Legislature can pass a measure that aims to expand the definition of a mass shooting to allow for greater emergency funding after gun violence incidents. A second gun violence bill he is sponsoring would establish an office of gun violence in the state.
“We need an all-hands-on-deck solution to this problem that we are suffering from,” Myrie said.
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