Former New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer took shots at Eric Adams, the Big Apple’s mayor, with a newly released ethics plan.
Stringer, who is one of Adams’s leading challengers in the mayoral race this year, unveiled the proposal on Thursday. The five-page ethics plan jabbed Adams about the political scandals that have besieged the mayor’s office since late 2023, which culminated in an indictment against him on five federal criminal charges in September.
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“Unlike the current administration, which operates behind closed doors and without any regard to norms or ethics, Scott has built his career on transparency. While City Hall has become a revolving door for lobbyists and scandals, Scott offers something rare: accountability that’s proven, not promised. He’s ready to clean up the mess and put New Yorkers back at the center of city government,” the plan reads.
After sitting in the New York State Assembly for more than a decade, Stringer served as the Big Apple’s comptroller from 2014 to 2021. He ran against Adams once before as an unsuccessful candidate in New York City’s 2021 Democratic mayoral primary. At the time, Stringer’s mayoral hopes were crushed after he was accused of sexually harassing a campaign volunteer 20 years earlier, an accusation he has denied.
As he mounts another bid for the office, Stringer’s latest ethics proposals include a ban on campaign donations from those doing business with New York City and a one-year waiting period for lobbyists before they can be hired by the city.
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His plan is a clear play to voters who are tired of the allegations of corruption against the Adams administration.
Before his indictment last year, the incumbent mayor was beset by allegations he raised $10 million for his 2021 election campaign by dubious means, including through alleged Turkish business connections. Adams has also had many allies in City Hall who were either investigated by the FBI or resigned from their positions in recent months after accusations of wrongdoing.
Adams has defended himself against the charges, suggesting that he has been targeted by political opponents angry over his break with the Biden administration on illegal immigration.
Several challengers and contenders have subsequently emerged as threats to Adams’s hopes of winning reelection this November.
Recent polls have shown Stringer is one of the leading contenders in the race, coming in a distant second after former Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-NY). Although beleaguered by sexual harassment accusations while in office that ultimately led to his resignation, Cuomo has emerged as the top menace to Adams before even entering the race.
Adams has maintained an optimistic tone, shrugging off surveys showing Cuomo and Stringer outperforming him during a press conference Monday.
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“Polls don’t make mayors. People do,” the mayor said as he displayed a Feb. 10, 2021, story titled “Andrew Yang opens up huge lead in race to be next New York City mayor.”
“Another Andrew,” Adams said. “In February, Andrew was kicking my rear. And you know what? We don’t say Mayor Yang. We say Mayor Adams.”