NEW YORK (WABC) — The race for New York City mayor is heading into the last week of August with more endorsements, more accusations and more campaign events.
There was a huge turnout on Sunday as Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani hosted a scavenger hunt that attracted hundreds of supporters for the independent candidates.
Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams and former Governor Andrew Cuomo sharpened their attacks on the front-runner.
“Why not four more years? We don’t need an experiment. We need experience,” said Mayor Adams.
With an endorsement for the New York City African Council, Adams looked to drum up support in Harlem. He did not specifically address the gun violence in the city this weekend, but he mentioned his police experience patrolling the streets and subways.
“Something needs to be said about life experience and being mature enough that right now you should not be doing scavenger hunts. You should be going through the city helping people deal with the issues that they face. We don’t have time for games,” Adams said.
It was a swipe at Zohran Mamdani’s wildly popular scavenger hunt today, that brought supporters to Union Square where they would be given clues to places relevant to city transit and political history.
“Right away it felt like, okay, there’s a point to this. It’s not just like a charade, and it got us all to see it firsthand,” said Sam Vawter.
The last stop of the scavenger hunt was in Astoria, where a coffee shop provided refreshments. Mamdani did not take questions, but said he was glad to see New Yorkers together in person, maybe learning a thing or two.
“They got to see what has been evident to so many of us for so long, which is that politics is not something that you have. It is something that you do. It can take you from a screen to a sidewalk,” said Mamdani.
The campaign printed 500 clue cards and made the announcement at 7 p.m. Saturday. About three thousand people showed up, many of them lining up in Astoria to meet the candidate.
In fact, the guy who arrived first, got a gift from Mamdani, that doubled as a dig at mayor Adams. It was similar to the infamous cash filled chips bag a former Adams adviser gifted a reporter — but bigger.
“I haven’t to checked for any red envelopes yet, but it is sealed, so I think that’s a good sign. I think it’s above board,” said Dove Williams.
“He is dangerous, frankly, for New York City,” said Cuomo.
Cuomo meanwhile on Fox News Sunday blasted Mandani, who he says may have beaten him in the Democratic primary, but the general election is different.
“It’s more Democrats, more moderate Democrats, more of what’s called outer borough Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, Democrats, independents, Republicans. So it’s a much, much different electorate. And New York City people are not socialists. They’re not anti-business people. They’re not anti-corporate people. They want jobs. They want growth,” Cuomo said.
At Saturday night’s deadly shooting scene in the Bronx, Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa told Eyewitness News that New Yorkers more than anything want safety.
“Violent crime is out of control in the city so I don’t know what the mayor and police commissioner are talking about because you can get a sense from the people, they’re scared,” said Sliwa.
Mamdani supporters meanwhile say they like that he talks about root causes of violent crime, like poverty and mental health.
“Crime is deeply important, but how can we be more person-centered and community-centered in our responses?” said Tanner Williams.
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