New York City Mayor Eric Adams appeared on FOX 5’s Good Day New York to announce a historic decline in crime across the five boroughs, citing a 23% drop in shootings — the lowest quarterly figure on record — and an 11% decrease in major crimes citywide. Joined by NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Adams attributed the improvements to targeted, data-driven policing both above and below ground, including in transit and public housing. The mayor also addressed ongoing infrastructure needs, congestion pricing, and federal support, emphasizing that NYC’s post-pandemic recovery is gaining momentum. With re-election on the horizon, Adams positioned his administration as results-driven and resilient, declaring the city “turned around in three years.”

Mayor Adams Appears Live on FOX 5’s “Good Day New York”

Curt Menefee: Well, there’s some very positive news for New York this morning. Officials say there’s been a historic drop in crime in the city. New data shows the first quarter of the year had the lowest number of shooting incidents in any quarter and recorded history down 23 percent versus last year. Major crime is down 11 percent citywide.

Rosanna Scotto: Joining us right now from Gracie Mansion with more, Mayor Eric Adams and the New York City Police Commissioner, Jessica Tisch. Nice to have you both on Good Day New York.

Mayor Eric Adams: Thank you very much. And she’s a New York City girl, you know.

Scotto: I know she is. Police commissioner, how did you get this historic dip in crime so quickly?

Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch: Well, really, under the mayor’s leadership, we’ve been putting the cops in the right places. We’re looking at exactly where the pockets of crime are, both above ground and below ground. And we’re putting our cops there and it’s delivered unbelievable results for New Yorkers.

Scotto: I was about to say, mayor, she makes it seem so easy. Why wasn’t it done before then? Why wasn’t it done before?

Mayor Adams: When you actually when you look at quarters, it’s a three month period. We have had decreasing crimes for five straight quarters, five straight quarters. And commissioner has just continued that success. And we’re seeing a decrease. And she’ll be the first to tell you just hats off to the men and women who are carrying out this job every day. 

They don’t allow anything to distract them. And really, it’s the spirit of being a police officer, something that I was. You can’t get distracted in politics and change in government. You have to just do your job. And those men and women, they have done that.

Menefee: You know, Commissioner Tisch, I want to ask you, we see these things go in waves. I know you said five consecutive quarters that the numbers have gone down. A lot of that has been because of the push, particularly on the subways or in the MTA with the police officers there. We tend to see these happen and then everybody backs off a little bit. Do we expect things to change as far as police enforcement?

Police Commissioner Tisch: Well, I want to be clear that crime is down below ground, but it’s also down above ground. So it’s not just about the surge of officers into transit. And yes, that’s the plan. The mayor has an amazing track record of driving down crime quarter after quarter after quarter. And that is the job and the assignment he’s given me.

Mayor Adams: And when the commissioner points out, as well as housing, one of the most challenging aspects of policing throughout the years is the public safety in housing. We’re seeing a decrease in housing as well. 

So when you add it up, transit crime is down the lowest since many years ago, when you take out the one pandemic year, historical lows in homicides, second lowest in recorded history, historic lows in shootings, the lowest in recorded history. When you look at then removing over 21,000 illegal guns off our streets, over 80,000 illegal vehicles off our streets, this is proactive, precision policing at its best.

Menefee: Okay, so the numbers are down and congratulations on that. We as New Yorkers definitely love hearing those numbers. Later on today, mayor, you’re going to be with the transportation secretary, Sean Duffy. You’re scheduled to take him into the subway system. 

First of all, which stations are you going to? I want to know that. And what are you going to show him and tell him about the New York subway system? Because he and this administration have really pushed on the fact that it’s not a safe place.

Mayor Adams: Well, I think that when I’m moving across the country, when I speak with people across the country, they think that our city is in disorder. They read those headlines every day. When you have someone shoved to the subway tracks, when you have a terrible shooting, people read that and they believe that that’s the day and order of the city, not the opposite of what it is. 

You know, we have more jobs in the history of this city. You can’t even get a reservation in some of the restaurants anymore. They’re thriving. And so there’s a perception. And that’s our job, is to have the omnipresence of policing to show the perception is not real. 

When the secretary comes, I’m going to take him to the BQE, I’m going to take him to see why we need our federal assistance on infrastructure. And hats off to the governor. She’s doing exactly what I’m doing. She met with the president several times. We’re going to collaborate with this administration to get our tax dollars in the city and we will be in the subway system.

Scotto: You know, Secretary Duffy has said that it’s not that it’s just not safe to go on the subway. He says, you know, mentally ill all over the place. It’s dirty and it’s not a great alternative to taking your car. Now, he’s been very, very outspoken about congestion pricing. He wants to get rid of it. Mayor, how do you feel about congestion pricing? Do you think it works?

Mayor Adams: I’ve stated, I think we’re still looking at the data. We want to be very clear after analyzing the data, the benefits, everything from environment to the traffic flow. But I’ve been very clear. The governor and the MTA, this is something that they must negotiate with and that’s why she went to Washington, D.C. to speak with the president. 

I am going to support the governor on these state issues. I’ve stated it before. We’ve been a great partner with our subway safety plan. We’re pushing through important legislation. I consider her to be a partner. And again, I cannot tell you enough the impact of when people read what is reported in our city, they come with an interpretation of the city. 

So I’m hoping he’ll come here today. We’ll move through our system. I’ll share our results and numbers that the commissioner just stated. I’ll show him why we need support on the federal level for infrastructure projects. But people have a perception outside the city that is just not right on what is happening in this city. This city has turned around in spite of COVID, in spite of migrants and asylum seeker crisis, in spite of the crime we inherited. We’ve turned around the city in three years and three months. It’s time to be like the native New Yorker and celebrate the success that we’ve had.

Scotto: Alright, mayor, you know, you announced that you’re running for mayor again. And I’m just wondering, because of the results with Jessica Tisch, if you are elected again, would you keep her as your police commissioner? And Jessica, would you accept it?

Mayor Adams: Well, I’ve been clear with the entire team. When I picked the team, I picked them based on not only what they’ve done currently, but what they’ve done in life. Jessica has been an important New Yorker. And if she wants to serve in the next administration, she’s more than welcome to do it. And whatever capacity. 

Remember, she was my sanitation commissioner and she just shared with me this morning. Rats complaints are even down, but what, how many percent? Twenty percent. Twenty percent. I mean, I mean, how many points do we have to put on the board before people realize we’re the championship team?

Scotto: Alright, Jessica, Jessica, Jessica, do you want to do something other than be the police commissioner? You’ve held other jobs in the administration.

Police Commissioner Tisch: Rosanna, it has been my honor and pleasure to work under Mayor Adams for the past three and a half years. I’ve worked in city government for 17 years, never gotten stuff done like we have over the past three years. And it is my hope to continue working for him and doing that.

Mayor Adams: Guys, guys, I think that people are really missing something. They told me it was going to take me five years to turn around our economy, to turn around crime, to get rid of rats in our city. Three and a half years. We built more affordable housing in year one and year two in the history of the city. We have brought down crime, brought back our jobs, handled a migrant asylum seeker crisis. One hundred ninety thousand are going on to the next step. 

When you look at what I ran on and look at what we’ve accomplished, you have to say to yourself, you know, this team did it. And you know what? I would be clear on this. We would not even be having these kinds of conversations about running against me if it wasn’t for that bogus case that was placed on me. That overshadowed our success. And now I can get back out there and let New Yorkers know the numbers, not the noise, is what turned around the city.

Menefee: Commissioner Tisch, before we let you go, I want to ask you about the two officers that have been suspended for this car crash in Inwood, in which a man died there. Speculation that it may have been a police chase. The guys went, the officers went back to the precinct, didn’t report it. First of all, can you confirm that it was indeed a chase? And what can you tell us about the two suspended officers and where we go from here?

Police Commissioner Tisch: Those officers were suspended as soon as we became aware of the incident. I believe it was on Wednesday. The matter is under investigation by our force investigation division, and it’s also being reviewed by the attorney general’s office. So I don’t want to comment further at this time. I have to let those reviews continue.

Menefee: Okay, before we let you go, mayor, you’re in campaign mode right now. And I’ve heard you say yesterday, you want to keep moving this thing forward. You want to stop talking about the past. But then you keep bringing up the charges being dropped against you, people that spoke out against you. 

Are you ready to say that these specific people, who some have endorsed Governor Cuomo, that these people have let you down and want to name them by name rather than just saying, generically these people?

Mayor Adams: Well, I think that I’m asked questions about them. You know, it’s not that I’m waking up every day and say, okay, I want to talk about those 15 terrible months of [pain] in my life. That’s not what I’m doing. 

In fact, just the opposite. I get up every day. The people of this city, they will continue to be my north star from the day I wore that bulletproof vest. And so, no, I don’t want to keep talking about it. But we do have to fix a system where something like this can happen to an American. And I think that’s up to the federal lawmakers to examine, to look at, do reviews. I’ve been fighting for reform in criminal justice for my entire life. 

I visited federal and state penitentiaries. I’ve been on Rikers Island probably more than any other mayor and many of you know I cut my teeth in law enforcement of talking about reform. So I’m going to fight for New Yorkers. That has been my north star and that has energized me and I am pleased of what we’ve done since that indictment. We passed City of Yes, decreased crime, improved unemployment. I’m excited about what the future has to offer.

Scotto: Alright. So, mayor, the last time you ran for mayor you called yourself the Biden of Brooklyn, the new face of the Democratic Party. You’re running as an Independent. What the heck happened?

Mayor Adams: I am still a Democrat and that’s the beauty of our system of democracy. You do not have to be monolithic in your thoughts. Even Democrats and Republicans and Independents have, they have different beliefs and thoughts. It is not partisan. Politics cannot be the order of the day. 

We need to look at the best that we have for all of our city residents and that’s what I’m going to do. We have Republicans, Democrats, Independents, right to lifers. That is the greatness of the city and that is why this is a city where you’re a native New Yorker and you can dance through the streets because we have been successful in this administration.

Menefee: Are either of you going over to the Citi Field for the Mets opener today?

Mayor Adams: I wish I could. I’m going to be moving around the city. I wanted to be there but there’s some important initiatives and I want to show the secretary–

Menefee: You can take him on the 7 train! Thank you so much.

Mayor Adams: Thank you.

Scotto: Mayor Adams, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, good news this morning.

April 4, 2025 New York City Hall, Manhattan , NY

Sources: NYC.gov , Midtown Tribune
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