NYC Mayor Winner May Be a Message to Providence Mayoral Candidates
GoLocalProv News Team
NYC Mayor Winner May Be a Message to Providence Mayoral Candidates
In the eight-way Democratic primary, Eric Adams, a former police officer and presently Borough President of Brooklyn, is leading with 31.7% of the vote.
New York City and Providence and a number of other cities across the country saw a backlash against the police in 2020, cuts to budgets, and the corresponding increase in violent crime.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe three elements may or may not be directly related, but the increase in crime has made many urban residents concerned about their safety.
Adams in an April interview with New York Magazine said the "defund the police" movement is led not by people of color in the Big Apple, but rather by young white professionals.
"Now, this is really being led by a different demographic," Adams said. "There are a lot of young white affluent people who are coming in and setting the conversation."
The rising crime and his defense of the need for the police are considered two of the critical elements of what is driving his lead in the race.
In Providence, the four leading candidates have been for the most part deafeningly quiet about crime and policing.
From Sunday morning to Monday morning Providence was hit with another deadly violent round of crime.
Early on Sunday morning, GoLocal first reported that two men were shot and killed. Then, two women were stabbed in Providence on Sunday night.
It was another blitz of violence that has hit the city and is putting Providence on pace to have its most violent year in history. Just a few weeks earlier, Providence was hit with a flurry of shootings and murders.
One of the mayoral candidates is Councilwoman Nirva LaFortune (D-Ward 3) has consistently advocated over the past year to defund the police and calls for systemic change in policing.
In an email to GoLocal earlier this month, LaFortune wrote, “I am still and will always be committed to taking proactive approaches to address this systemic issue. That may be reallocating funds to invest in social services to help address harmful conditions faced by marginalized communities. As I stated, I want our approach to be strategic, which is why I am committed to working with our city leaders, the police department, our young people, and the communities most impacted.”
“For almost a year, I've been advocating and working with the administration to design a city-wide crisis response initiative framework. This is not an issue that can be solved overnight; it will take a collective effort and the necessary resources to address the gun violence epidemic in our city,” LaFortune adds.
One of the recent shootings that took place in the city hit LaFortune’s ward on Camp Street, where two men were shot in front of the Billy Taylor Park.
LaFortune recited how gun violence had impacted her personally, “Next month will mark sixteen years since my dear friend, my partner, the person I loved in life was cut short by gun violence as he walked out of a bodega in New York City. He was mistakenly struck by a bullet intended for someone standing outside the store. Our lives were changed forever by a needless act of violence.”
Gonzalo Cuervo, the former top staffer to Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea has posted n his website, “Every family in Providence – regardless of zip codes – should feel safe, live with dignity, and have the freedom and opportunity to pursue their dreams. Every family should have access to an affordable home – whether they rent or own.” But, there are no proposals or other statements about crime or policing.