Yang wins NYC mayoral endorsement from police union that reps Adams
Mayoral contender Andrew Yang won the endorsement Monday of the police union that represents current and retired NYPD captains, including rival candidate Eric Adams — an apparent blow to the Brooklyn borough president who’s emphasized public safety and has been leading in most recent polls.
In winning the endorsement of the Captains Endowment Association, Yang burnished his law-and-order bona fides as his primary campaign moves into its final week.
“Andrew and myself have had many conversations, talking about a lot of interests that particularly affect the city. Some of the conversations we agree on totally. Others we do not,” said CEA President Chris Monahan during a press conference at City Hall Park. “However, I do respect Andrew for a person who is willing to have a difficult conversation with, right now, a very unpopular profession.”
The endorsement — and that of the Asian American Police Executives Council — came as public safety continues to be one of the top issues in this year’s race and as Adams and Yang have intensified attacks against one other moving into the contest’s home stretch.
Adams’ campaign spokesman Evan Thies noted not long after the announcement that Adams has already said publicly he would not accept any endorsements from police unions in his run for mayor, despite the fact that he’s taken contributions from law enforcement unions in the past.
“Eric preemptively rejected the endorsement of any police unions,” Thies said. “Eric disagrees with this union because they once referred to George Floyd’s death as a game in which they were ‘political pawns’ — a disturbing and disgusting position that Andrew Yang apparently agrees with.”
Thies, who was apparently referring to Monahan’s recent attacks against elected officials, added that: “the unions know he wouldn’t accept support.”
Monahan declined to detail why the union decided against backing one its own in a race where police endorsements are seen by many as potentially damaging politically.
“I’m not going into our vetting process,” he said. Asked if the union’s decision had anything to do with Adams’ efforts to reform the NYPD from within, he said: “absolutely not.”
When asked if he would accept endorsements from the rank-and-file Police Benevolent Association and the Sergeants Benevolent Association — both of which have a more right-wing reputation than the CEA — Yang dodged the question, saying he was “thrilled” to get nods from the CEA and the Asian-American Police Executives Council.
“I’m standing here with AAPEX and CEA today,” he said.
Monahan acknowledged Monday that he and Yang have their differences. Yang wants a residency requirement for cops. Monahan said it would limit the pool of talent the NYPD can hire from.
When that difference came up at the press conference, Yang appeared eager to find common ground, though.
“We can get people from outside the city and they can live here,” Yang said of requiring cops to live in the five boroughs. Monahan said that their differences on the issue are not a “deal-breaker.”
Over the past several weeks, Yang and Adams’ attacks against each other have grown increasingly sharp. Both have accused the other of being racist, with Yang claiming weeks ago that Adams’ attempts to paint him as an out-of-towner were rooted in anti-Asian sentiment and Adams leveling the charge last week over Yang’s accusations that he doesn’t live in the city and is actually a New Jersey resident.
When asked Monday to respond to Adams’ latest accusation, Yang didn’t directly address the charge of racism.
“Eric Adams was a police captain, and the officers that worked with him for years have chosen to endorse me,” he said. “This, to me, should tell New Yorkers all that they need to know about Eric Adams and his leadership.”
Check out our special section for the latest news on the critical 2021 elections in NYC. And to have the essential news and analysis sent to your inbox, sign up for our Campaign Diaries newsletter.
