History of Eric Adams in Timeline
Eric Leroy Adams is the current mayor of New York City, assuming office in 2022. Prior to his political career, Adams served over 20 years in the New York City Police Department, retiring as a captain. He transitioned to politics, serving in the New York State Senate from 2006 to 2013, representing Brooklyn's 20th district. Subsequently, he was elected Brooklyn Borough President in 2013, making history as the first Black American to hold the role, and was re-elected in 2017. His career spans law enforcement and public service in New York City.
1938: Birth of Dorothy Mae Adams-Streeter
In 1938, Eric Adams' mother, Dorothy Mae Adams-Streeter, was born. She worked as a housecleaner and had a third-grade education.
September 1, 1960: Eric Adams Born
On September 1, 1960, Eric Leroy Adams was born. He would later become a police officer, New York State Senator, Brooklyn Borough President, and the 110th Mayor of New York City.
1962: Supreme Court Decision
In 1962, the Supreme Court decision in Engel v. Vitale, which Adams disagreed with in 2023, held school prayer to be unconstitutional.
1968: Family Moved to South Jamaica, Queens
In 1968, Eric Adams' family moved to South Jamaica, Queens, after his mother saved enough money to buy a house.
January 1979: Graduated High School
In January 1979, Eric Adams graduated from Bayside High School in Queens.
1984: Graduated Police Academy
In 1984, Eric Adams graduated second in his class from the New York City Police Academy.
1986: Incident with fellow police officers
In 1986, while working as a plainclothes officer, white police officers raised their guns at Eric Adams, mistaking him for a suspect.
1993: Controversial comments in mayoral election
During the 1993 mayoral election, Eric Adams made a controversial comment about Herman Badillo's marriage, causing turmoil for David Dinkins, who ultimately lost the election.
1993: Second African American Mayor
In 1993, Eric Adams became New York City's second African American mayor since David Dinkins left office.
1993: Sexual assault accusation
In 1993, Eric Adams was accused in a lawsuit of sexual assault by a former coworker while they were both city employees. The lawsuit also included accusations of battery, employment discrimination, retaliation, a hostile work environment, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
1993: Alleged Sexual Assault in Legal Complaint
In 1993, as detailed in a legal complaint, Adams allegedly drove a woman to a vacant lot and sexually assaulted her by soliciting oral sex in exchange for career advancement.
1994: Failed Congressional Run
In 1994, Eric Adams ran for Congress against Major Owens but failed to get enough signatures to make the ballot. He alleged theft of his petition signatures, but police found no evidence.
1995: Founded 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care
In 1995, Eric Adams co-founded 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care, an advocacy group for black police officers focused on criminal justice reform and addressing police brutality, following Rudy Giuliani's election as Mayor.
1997: Registered as Republican
In 1997, Eric Adams registered as a Republican, a move he later described as a protest against Democratic leadership.
1999: NY Lawmakers last pay raise
Eric Adams argued that lawmakers hadn't received a raise since 1999.
2000: Racial Profiling Concerns
In 2000, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights said stop and frisk constituted racial profiling.
2001: Switched back to Democratic Party
In 2001, Eric Adams switched back to the Democratic Party after previously registering as a Republican in 1997.
2006: Received MPA from Marist College
In 2006, Eric Adams received a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from Marist College.
2006: Elected to New York State Senate
In 2006, Eric Adams was elected to the New York State Senate, representing the 20th district in Brooklyn.
2006: NYPD Investigation
In 2006, Eric Adams was investigated by the NYPD for criticizing Mayor Michael Bloomberg in his capacity as a police officer, leading to charges of disseminating misinformation and speaking without permission. He retired from the police force shortly after.
2007: Supported Pay Raise for NY Lawmakers
In 2007, as a freshman state senator, Eric Adams supported a pay raise for New York lawmakers, saying "show me the money" during his speech.
2009: Marriage Equality Vote
In 2009, Eric Adams voted in favor of marriage equality in New York State and supported the freedom to marry during the debate.
February 2010: Voted Against Expelling Senator Hiram Monserrate
In February 2010, Eric Adams was one of eight New York Senators who voted against expelling Senator Hiram Monserrate after he was convicted of assault.
July 24, 2011: Marriage Equality Act in effect
On July 24, 2011, New York's Marriage Equality Act came into effect.
2011: Supported Federal Investigation into Stop-and-Frisk
In 2011, Eric Adams supported calling for a federal investigation into the NYPD's stop-and-frisk practices.
March 12, 2012: Protested Trayvon Martin Shooting
On March 12, 2012, Eric Adams and other state lawmakers wore hooded sweatshirts in the legislative chamber to protest the shooting of Trayvon Martin.
November 5, 2013: Elected Brooklyn Borough President
On November 5, 2013, Eric Adams was elected Brooklyn Borough President with 90.8 percent of the vote.
2013: Elected Brooklyn Borough President
In 2013, Eric Adams was elected as Brooklyn Borough President.
2014: Wrote Editorial on Police-Community Relations
Following the 2014 killings of NYPD officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos, Eric Adams wrote an editorial for the New York Daily News calling for police officers and the community to work together.
2014: One Brooklyn Fund Established
In 2014, Eric Adams established the One Brooklyn Fund, a nonprofit for community programs, which was later criticized for potentially serving Adams's public profile and allowing "pay to play" contributions. The Department of Investigation (DOI) investigated the fund in 2014.
2014: FBI Investigation of Philip Banks III
In 2014, Philip Banks III, who was later hired by Adams as deputy mayor for public safety, was subject to a federal investigation by the FBI.
2014: Alleged Misconduct as Brooklyn Borough President
In 2014, during his tenure as Brooklyn Borough President, Eric Adams allegedly received luxury travel and benefits from Turkish individuals, leading to a series of investigations in September 2024.
July 14, 2016: Lactation Room Bill Passed
On July 14, 2016, a bill introduced by Eric Adams requiring lactation rooms in municipal buildings providing services to the public was passed by the New York City Council.
2016: Switched to Plant-Based Diet
In 2016, Eric Adams switched to a plant-based diet after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, leading to significant improvements in his health.
2016: Diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes
In 2016, after receiving a diagnosis of type two diabetes, Eric Adams adopted a plant-based diet and began advocating for healthier lifestyles.
2016: DOI Investigation of Adams's Office
In 2016, the Department of Investigation (DOI) found that Eric Adams' office mistakenly licensed Brooklyn Borough Hall for a Mayor's Office event.
2017: Re-elected Brooklyn Borough President
In 2017, Eric Adams was re-elected as Brooklyn Borough President with 83.0 percent of the vote.
February 14, 2018: Response to Parkland Shooting
Following the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14, 2018, Eric Adams joined efforts to demand stricter gun laws and supported reinstating solitary confinement after an officer was beaten at Rikers Island.
2019: Adams Makes Controversial Comments
In 2019, Eric Adams made comments that led to a public apology in 2022.
February 2020: Adams on Stop and Question
In February 2020, Eric Adams stated that stopping and questioning was a responsible form of policing.
October 2020: Published Cookbook
In October 2020, Adams published the plant-based advocacy cookbook, Healthy at Last: A Plant-Based Approach to Preventing and Reversing Diabetes and Other Chronic Illnesses, which also chronicles his health journey.
November 17, 2020: Adams Announces Mayoral Candidacy
On November 17, 2020, Eric Adams announced his candidacy for Mayor of New York City in the 2021 election, becoming a top fundraiser among Democrats.
November 20, 2020: Indoor Fundraiser Criticism
On November 20, 2020, Eric Adams attended an indoor fundraiser shortly after announcing his mayoral run, drawing criticism due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
2020: De Blasio Disbands Police Unit
In 2020, de Blasio disbanded the plainclothes police unit that was revived by Adams in 2022.
August 2021: Transition Team Chair Named
In August 2021, Eric Adams named Sheena Wright as chair of his transition team.
October 2021: Vaccine Mandate Introduced
In October 2021, the vaccine mandate was introduced by Adams's predecessor but kept in place by Adams.
November 2, 2021: Adams Elected Mayor of New York City
On November 2, 2021, Eric Adams was elected Mayor of New York City, winning 67.4% of the vote.
November 4, 2021: Adams Announces Bitcoin Paychecks
On November 4, 2021, Eric Adams announced that he would take his first three paychecks as Mayor in Bitcoin and promote New York City as a cryptocurrency hub.
December 2, 2021: Adams Visits Ghana
On December 2, 2021, Eric Adams visited Ghana, including a visit to the Elmina Castle.
December 30, 2021: Brother Hired for Security Detail
On December 30, 2021, Bernard Adams began working as the head of Eric Adams's security detail in the NYPD, leading to accusations of nepotism.
2021: Mayoral Campaign and Crime
During his 2021 mayoral campaign, Eric Adams's stance on crime and policing gained traction as crime rates rose in New York City.
2021: Resettling Migrants
During the years of 2021 to 2022, the Adams administration resettled 114 migrant households, who entered New York City from the Mexico-United States southern border, to countries like China and other states within the United States. The migrants were seeking political asylum.
2021: Contributor to Brotha Vegan Anthology
In 2021, Adams was a contributor to the anthology Brotha Vegan: Black Men Speak on Food, Identity, Health, and Society.
2021: Authorized Grant for Plant-Based Curriculum
In 2021, Eric Adams authorized a grant from the borough to SUNY Downstate College of Medicine to establish a plant-based supplemental curriculum.
2021: Won NYC Mayoral Election
In 2021, Eric Adams secured the Democratic nomination for mayor of New York City and subsequently won the general election against Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa.
2021: Death of Dorothy Mae Adams-Streeter
In 2021, Eric Adams' mother, Dorothy Mae Adams-Streeter, passed away.
February 14, 2022: City Workers Fired Over Vaccine Refusal
On February 14, 2022, 1,430 New York City municipal workers were fired for refusing COVID-19 vaccination.
February 2022: Questions About Veganism
In February 2022, questions arose about Adams's veganism after reports of him eating fish, to which he responded that he is "perfectly imperfect" and occasionally eats fish while generally following a plant-based diet.
February 2022: Video Leaks, Adams Apologizes
In early February 2022, a video from 2019 surfaced in which Eric Adams made controversial comments about his "cracker" colleagues, leading to an apology.
February 23, 2022: Call for Return to Office
On February 23, 2022, Eric Adams urged New York City companies to rescind remote work policies, emphasizing the need for in-person workers to support local businesses.
March 2022: Vaccine and Mask Mandates Ended/Modified
In March 2022, Eric Adams ended the city's vaccine mandate for indoor settings and mask mandate in public schools, while creating an exemption for athletes and performers.
March 16, 2022: Plainclothes Police Unit Revived
On March 16, 2022, Eric Adams officially revived a police unit made up of plainclothes officers, which had been disbanded by de Blasio in 2020.
April 11, 2022: COVID-19 Diagnosis and Subway Shooting Response
On April 11, 2022, Eric Adams was diagnosed with COVID-19 and, while in quarantine, responded to a mass shooting on a New York City Subway train, calling for measures to address gun violence.
June 7, 2022: Approval Rating Drops
On June 7, 2022, a poll found that Eric Adams's approval rating had dropped to 29%, with 76% of New Yorkers worried about violent crime.
June 2022: Affordable Housing Blueprint Unveiled
In June 2022, Eric Adams unveiled his administration's "comprehensive blueprint" for affordable housing, which was critiqued for lacking specific plans for rezoning or estimating new housing units.
2022: Resettling Migrants
During the years of 2021 to 2022, the Adams administration resettled 114 migrant households, who entered New York City from the Mexico-United States southern border, to countries like China and other states within the United States. The migrants were seeking political asylum.
2022: Medicare Advantage Plan Deal
In 2022, Adams and the Municipal Labor Committee (MLC) agreed on a deal that would move City retirees from traditional Medicare to a new, privately run Medicare Advantage plan.
2022: Became Mayor of New York City
In 2022, Eric Adams became the 110th mayor of New York City.
February 2023: Remarks on Separation of Church and State
In February 2023, Eric Adams stated his disagreement with the notion of separation of church and state and criticized the Supreme Court's 1962 decision regarding school prayer.
March 2023: Plans for Office Building Conversion
In March 2023, the New York City Department of City Planning advanced plans to convert vacant office buildings into affordable housing, with Eric Adams proposing controversial "dormitory style accommodations".
June 23, 2023: Veto of Housing Voucher Legislation
On June 23, 2023, Eric Adams vetoed legislation to increase eligibility for housing vouchers, implementing part of the legislation via executive order.
June 28, 2023: Confrontation at Housing Town Hall
During a housing town hall on June 28, 2023, Eric Adams was confronted by a tenant advocate and responded with controversial remarks, refusing to apologize later.
July 13, 2023: Veto Overridden by City Council
On July 13, 2023, the City Council overrode Eric Adams's veto of the housing voucher legislation, marking the first veto override since the Bloomberg administration.
July 2023: Migrant Housing Crisis
In July 2023, during the New York City migrant housing crisis, Eric Adams stated that the city was running out of room and resources for the influx of migrants.
August 2023: Accusations of Slow Action on Migrant Crisis
In August 2023, Governor Kathy Hochul's lawyer accused Eric Adams of slow action and failure to accept aid offers regarding the migrant crisis.
September 2023: Warning on Migrant Crisis Impact
In September 2023, Eric Adams warned that the migrant crisis could "destroy" New York City.
September 2023: Became a Prince Hall Freemason
In September 2023, Eric Adams, along with New York City Police Commissioner Edward Caban, became a Prince Hall Freemason and a 32nd Degree Member of the Scottish Rite.
November 12, 2023: FBI Investigation Report
On November 12, 2023, The New York Times reported that the FBI's investigation of Adams was partly related to alleged influence by the Turkish government regarding its consulate in Manhattan.
November 2023: Lawsuit Accusation
In November 2023, Eric Adams faced a lawsuit alleging sexual assault from an anonymous former coworker from 1993, including additional claims of battery, employment discrimination, and creating a hostile work environment. Adams denied the accusations.
November 22, 2023: Sexual Assault Lawsuit Filed
On November 22, 2023, a Florida woman filed a sexual assault lawsuit against Adams under the New York Adult Survivors Act.
December 6, 2023: City of Yes Zoning Changes Approved
On December 6, 2023, the City Council approved the first proposal of Adams' "City of Yes" zoning changes, aimed at facilitating environmentally-friendly building renovations and rooftop solar installations.
December 2023: United Federation of Teachers Lawsuit
In December 2023, the United Federation of Teachers filed a lawsuit against Eric Adams to prevent a $550 million cut to education funding.
2023: Medicare Deal Continued Controversy
In 2023, the deal from 2022 remained in place, the agreement between the Mayor and the MLC remained controversial, with many City retirees protesting.
2023: Netflix Documentary Appearance
In the 2023 Netflix documentary You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment, Adams claimed never to have used medication for his diabetes, contradicting his earlier writings.
January 30, 2024: City Council Overrides Veto
On January 30, 2024, the New York City Council overrode Mayor Adams' veto of the How Many Stops Act, which limits solitary confinement in city jails and requires detailed police documentation of public encounters.
March 18, 2024: Legal Complaint Filed
On March 18, 2024, a legal complaint was filed detailing alleged events in 1993, accusing Adams of sexual assault and other misconduct.
May 21, 2024: Charter Revision Commission Created
On May 21, 2024, Adams established a Charter Revision Commission to suggest amendments to the New York City Charter, leading to five proposals that will be voted on November 5.
June 6, 2024: Second "City of Yes" Proposal Approved
On June 6, 2024, the second proposal of Adams' "City of Yes" zoning changes was approved, designed to allow businesses more operational flexibility.
September 2024: Investigations and Indictment
In September 2024, Eric Adams faced federal charges of bribery, fraud, and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations, marking him as the first NYC mayor charged with federal crimes while in office. He pleaded not guilty.
September 25, 2024: Adams Indicted in Sealed Case
On September 25, 2024, Eric Adams was indicted in a sealed case, prompting calls for his resignation from multiple politicians.
October 15, 2024: Chauncey Parker Appointed Deputy Mayor
On October 15, 2024, Eric Adams appointed Chauncey Parker as the new Deputy Mayor for Public Safety.
October 26, 2024: Defense of Donald Trump
On October 26, 2024, Eric Adams defended Donald Trump and criticized Vice President Harris, stating he did not believe Trump was a fascist.
December 2024: "City of Yes" Housing Proposal Vote
In December 2024, the City Council is scheduled to vote on the third "City of Yes" proposal, intended to allow "a little more housing in every neighborhood" to address New York City's housing shortage.
February 10, 2025: DOJ Instructed to Drop Charges
On February 10, 2025, the Department of Justice under President Trump instructed federal prosecutors to drop charges against Adams due to concerns about publicity and interference with his ability to govern, prompting resignations and accusations of an illicit deal.
February 2025: Charges Dropped
In February 2025, under the Donald Trump administration, the Department of Justice instructed federal prosecutors to drop charges against Eric Adams without prejudice.
November 2025: Further Review of Adams Case
In November 2025, a further review of Adams’ case was to occur following the general election.
