Mayor Eric Adams Addresses Crime Concerns in Staten Island

STATEN ISLAND, NY — Following another tragic shooting in New York City, Mayor Eric Adams expressed to Fox News Digital that he isn’t concerned about potential federal intervention in the New York City Police Department (NYPD).

On Monday morning, Adams announced the NYPD would be expanding its lifestyle division in Staten Island. This initiative aims to tackle issues like cleaning up homeless encampments, addressing outdoor drug use, and responding to noise complaints.

This announcement came just a day after a fatal shooting in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, where 14 victims have been identified, including three fatalities.

In his comments, Adams clarified that his announcement was not related to President Donald Trump’s recent push for a federal crackdown on crime in Washington, D.C.

Last week, Trump had moved to federalize the Metropolitan Police Department, which included deploying hundreds of National Guard and federal agents to combat crime and improve the city’s reputation.

Adams stated, “As we’ve shown over and over again, we got this,” reinforcing New York City’s capability to manage crime independently. “Our numbers speak for themselves.”

Despite record low shootings and murders this year—being dubbed “the safest in history recorded for shootings and murders”—the city experienced a disturbing shooting in midtown Manhattan last month that resulted in four deaths.

During his announcement, Adams also expressed the need for “federal level support to deal with the illegal gun flow on our streets,” particularly highlighting the impact of those traveling across the country with illegal firearms.

Confident in New York City’s efforts, he remarked, “Our numbers are clear. We are happy to share that we are doing well with other cities here.”

Running for reelection as an independent, Adams pointed out that New Yorkers are grappling with the crime crisis yet emphasized the city’s capabilities in collaboration with federal authorities. “We’re an example of what all cities can do, but we don’t react to some of the things we’re reading about this,” he said.

The NYPD has introduced the Quality of Life (Q Team) initiative, which Adams and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tish said has significantly improved the general living conditions for New Yorkers.

During the announcement, several Staten Islanders voiced their concerns about local living conditions. One resident complained about the lack of cleanliness in her building, mentioning issues like unclean floors and non-functional elevators.

In response, Adams encouraged residents to form a tenant association and promised to arrange a meeting to address community concerns.