Speech Outlines Ambitious Plans to Establish Department of Sustainable Delivery, Support 400,000 Green Economy Jobs, Build New Housing on Public Land, Expand New York City Reads, Invest in Clean, Dynamic Public Spaces, and Protect New York City From Climate Change
Our Bureau
New York, NY
New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday outlined a future-focused vision for working-class New Yorkers in his third State of the City address, delivered at Hostos Community College’s Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture in the Bronx. After driving crime down and pushing job growth to historic highs — all while managing a once-in-a-generation asylum seeker humanitarian crisis — Mayor Adams outlined ambitious plans to continue to deliver for New York City across his priority areas that have been a part of his vision for New York City since day one: making the country’s safest big city even safer, building a forward-looking economy that works for working-class New Yorkers, and making the city more livable for all New Yorkers.
“When we came into office two years ago, we had a clear vision: protect public safety, rebuild our economy, and make this city more livable,” said Mayor Adams. “Two years later, thanks to the hard work of this administration and millions of dedicated New Yorkers, the state of our city is strong — far stronger than it was when we came into office. New York City is becoming a place where everyone has the opportunity to make it, and the future-focused vision we laid out today will build on all that we have delivered for New Yorkers by investing in public safety, public spaces, and the working people who make New York City the greatest city in the world. While our city is still full of questions, history shows we can answer them and progress together when we work as one. The last two years have been a time of renewal and resetting — now, let’s make the future together.”
New York City is the safest big city in the country. Mayor Adams entered City Hall with a mission to reduce crime and keep New Yorkers safe, and he has delivered on that commitment. Under Mayor Adams and New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Edward A. Caban’s leadership, overall crime is down in New York City. In 2023, the city saw a drop in five of the seven major crime categories, including a 12% decline in homicides and a 25% decrease in shooting incidents compared to the year prior. Additionally, the NYPD has taken more than 14,000 illegal guns off New York City streets since the start of the Adams administration. Crime has fallen as a result of strong support for law enforcement as well as proactive strategies deployed by the administration, including plans to crack down on auto thefts, combat retail thefts, and launch a $500 million blueprint to keep communities safe from gun violence.
In 2024, the Adams administration will continue to build on those wins and address public safety challenges that are top of mind for everyday New Yorkers, including traffic safety. In response to the rise of e-bikes, mopeds, cargo bikes, and other nontraditional transportation modes on New York City streets and sidewalks, the administration is in discussions with the New York City Council to create the “New York City Department of Sustainable Delivery.” The department will prioritize safety while harnessing the potential of these new forms of transportation. This first-in-the-nation regulatory entity will establish clear goals and guidelines for the future of delivery in New York City and consolidate work that is now spread out over multiple agencies. While 2023 was the second-safest year for pedestrians on record, New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and the city’s Vision Zero Task Force will continue to recognize that traffic safety is public safety and keep New York City’s streets and sidewalks safe.
Mayor Adams has steered New York City through a new chapter of its economic recovery, officially regaining all of the private-sector jobs the city lost during the COVID-19 pandemic more than a year ahead of schedule. More than 270,000 private sector jobs and 44,000 businesses — the majority of which are small businesses — have been created since Mayor Adams took office.
Further, Mayor Adams committed to accelerating the city’s job growth to reach 5 million total jobs by 2025 — more than a year ahead of projections. The administration will accomplish this goal by building future-focused industries, such as those in the green economy, from the ground up to create accessible career pathways.
Finally, Mayor Adams will continue to advocate for four years of mayoral accountability over New York City public schools, which Governor Hochul announced her support for in both her State of the State and Executive Budget addresses.
