Empower NYC, a super PAC supporting incumbent Mayor Eric Adams’ bid for re-election, is launching new digital advertisements that critique Zohran Mamdani and Andrew Cuomo. The two contenders for City Hall have been criticized for their alleged leniency in handling crime. Using a 15-second ad space, Empower NYC aims to cast doubt on Mamdani, the nominee from the Democratic Party, and Cuomo, an independent candidate, portraying them as aligned on public safety issues.
The ads present a question to the viewers: ‘Who is helping criminals the most?’ One ad alleges that Cuomo has paroled 24 criminals who murdered police officers. In comparison, it draws attention to Mamdani’s reported statement calling to ‘shut down the jails’. The ad emphasizes that the two candidates seemingly hold the same stance when it comes to public safety, maintaining that their values are distanced from those of their potential constituents.
A second promotional content piece frames Mamdani and Cuomo as two parts of the same whole. Cuomo bears the brunt of this criticism in the advertisement, with Empower NYC claiming that he eased sentencing for repeat offenders and cut funding for law enforcement in New York as a part of controversial 2019 bail reforms. The general message is that both Cuomo and Mamdani are not tough on crime.
Mamdani, in particular, also finds himself targeted in the ad campaign for his past advocacy in reducing police funding. The ad alleges that ‘Mamdani wants to fire police officers’. It’s clear that Empower NYC’s strategy heavily relies on emphasizing perceived contrasts in approach to public safety.
These advertisements are rolling out shortly after President Trump enacted an executive order. This order threatens to cut funding to states and cities that adopt cashless bail laws, particularly for ‘non-violent’ crimes. New York, presently under fire, falls into this category.
Cuomo’s initial approval of the bail reform law has prompted widespread criticism. His successor, Governor Kathy Hochul, has rolled back these reforms in response. Additionally, police unions have loudly criticized the state Parole Board, whose members were appointed by Cuomo, for releasing imprisoned individuals who had previously murdered policemen.
Mamdani has previously faced backlash over stances perceived as against law enforcement. He has since busied himself with backpedaling from earlier remarks urging for police defunding. While Mamdani is weathering storms of criticism, another pro-Adams group called Protect the Protectors has been signaling Adams as their preferred choice to voters while disparaging Cuomo.
Cuomo, who is currently running as an independent contestant after losing the Democratic primary to Mamdani, claims to have a plan to increase the size of the NYPD by 5,000 officers, if elected as mayor. It appears that his strategy is to draw a distinctive line between his law enforcement policies and those of his competitors.
Abe George, the founder and CEO of Empower NYC, expressed that the super PAC plans to spend a significant six-figure sum on its social media advertising campaign. George stated that the aim of the campaign is to juxtapose the public safety records of Adams against the actions of Mamdani and Cuomo’s tenure as governor. He confirmed that they have raised over $1 million, with contributions from prominent donors in the world of cryptocurrency.
George, notable in the field of law, shared Empower NYC’s intent to make voters aware that Eric Adams is their best choice when it comes to handling crime. He expressed that Cuomo’s efforts to recast his legacy are flawed. He believes the bail reform approved by Cuomo is a ‘dangerous’ legislative piece concerning public safety.
Richard Azzopardi, spokesperson for the Cuomo campaign, issued a response countering these claims. He highlighted that Mamdani had built his campaign around defunding the police and sponsoring legislation to decriminalize prostitution. He also drew attention to a pending federal indictment case against Adams for bribery as well as a lawsuit initiated by his former police commissioner.
Adams, meanwhile, is also facing criticism for alleged mismanagement of the NYPD. Azzopardi emphasized that this is demoralizing the NYPD and leading to an exodus at the expense of public safety. He concluded, proclaiming neither Cuomo nor Adams is ideal when it comes to maintaining law order due to their ‘failed, corrupt records’.
Dora Pekec, spokesperson for Mamdani, denounced the ‘humiliation rituals’ of Cuomo and Adams, suggesting they are resorting to outdated politics and failed past records. Instead, she claimed Mamdani is committed to delivering a more affordable New York City and ensuring broad natural public safety.
In yet another development, a pro-Andrew Cuomo Super PAC called Fix The City amassed $1.26 million in a week— the group’s largest influx since the Democratic primary in June. Despite this support for Cuomo, recent polls portray Mamdani as having a notable lead over Cuomo as well as the Republican nominee, Curtis Sliwa, and Adams. After notably defeating Cuomo in the primary, Mamdani maintains a significant advantage in the mayoral race, with Adams trailing in fourth place.
The post Empower NYC Blasts Cuomo and Mamdani in New Ad Campaign appeared first on Real News Now.
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