(Reuters) – Eric Adams, the next mayor of New York City, has his work cut out for him.
The largest U.S. city is in the midst of a halting recovery from a coronavirus pandemic that killed more than 34,000 residents and erased half a million jobs, all while grappling with deep-seated issues such as crime, income inequality and a lack of affordable housing.
“We’re having tough times. But winners want the ball when the game is on the line,” Adams told MSNBC yesterday, after cruising past Republican Curtis Sliwa in Tuesday’s election to become New York City’s second Black mayor. “We need to move now to make sure we create a safe environment for our city, and on that foundation we can build upon.”
The scale of his challenge is immense.
The city’s unemployment rate in September was 8.9%, double that of some other U.S. metropolitan areas, according to the state’s labor department. The return-to-office rate in New York – the country’s largest economic centre – is also lower than in most other cities.
The city’s vital tourism industry remains battered, though visitors from abroad, who spend more than domestic tourists, will finally be allowed back into the United States starting next week as COVID-related travel restrictions ease.