A group of New York City business and civic leaders on Monday expressed full support to Mayor Eric Adams’ recently released anti-gun violence plan— declaring the blueprint “courageous” and vowing to rally behind his strategies.
The manifestation of support was expressed in an open letter, signed by a who’s who of the Big Apple real estate, finance, labor, medical, philanthropic, and academic sectors.
“The mayor has taken a courageous position and we all share responsibility to help him carry out his agenda,” the letter which was signed by top business leaders that include JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, Knicks owner James Dolan, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, and Durst Organization chairman Douglas Durst.
“We need to do everything in our power to make New York safe again,” the letter added.
In their letter, the group cited two recent disturbing deadly incidents — the ambush shooting of NYPD officers Jason Rivera and Wilbert Mora while responding to a domestic disturbance as well as the random subway shove of Deloitte executive Michelle Go — and laments that both public safety and “quality-of-life conditions” have gone downhill across the five boroughs.
“New York cannot recover from the devastating impacts of the pandemic without first restoring the sense of personal security that every resident, worker, visitor, and community in our city has the right to expect,” the letter said.
Among the 200 signatories of the letter are Jeff Blau, CEO of real estate firm The Related companies; Steven Roth, chairman of Vornado Realty Trust; and Macy’s CEO Jeff Gennette.
The letter was also signed by Columbia University President Lee Bollinger; Transport Workers Union head Tony Utano; Gary LaBarbera, President, of Building and Construction Trades Council; Eric Goldstein, CEO of the UJA Federation of New York; Stuart Appelbaum, president of, the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, Con Edison CEO Timothy Cawley; Met Council CEO and ex-Councilman David Greenfield; Brad Karp, the chair of white-shoe law firm Paul, Weiss; and Mitchell Katz, head of the city’s public hospital system.
Adams for his part welcomed the letter of support.
“Making New York a safer city is a prerequisite for prosperity and social justice — and will move us past the multiple crises we’re facing,” Adams said in a prepared statement.
“It will take all New Yorkers to help move us forward, and the support from this extraordinary coalition is an indication that we are on the right track,” Adams added.
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