Don’t trust the naysayers — Adams’ NYC crime decline is no mirage

New York Post - May 11th, 2025
Open on New York Post

The New York City mayoral race is intensifying with public safety as the central concern for voters. Mayor Eric Adams, seeking reelection, highlights the significant decrease in serious crimes, including a 34% drop in murders and a 23% drop in shootings in the first quarter of 2025, under Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch. However, critics argue that while major crimes are decreasing, other offenses remain elevated compared to when Adams took office. Despite the criticism, the decline in serious crime has been achieved with a reduced police force, indicating a focus on effective enforcement strategies targeting high-crime areas and offenders.

The broader context reveals a complex interplay of criminal justice policies at the state and local levels, which have historically impacted crime rates in New York City. The story underscores the limitations of mayoral influence over public safety, emphasizing that legislative changes in Albany and City Council policies are crucial for sustained improvements. The debate around crime statistics and policing strategies highlights the ongoing tension between different political ideologies and their narratives about public safety in the city. As the mayoral race continues, the ability to maintain or improve public safety remains a pivotal issue for voters.

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.2
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article provides a detailed and timely examination of crime trends in New York City, focusing on the reported decline in serious crimes under Mayor Eric Adams' administration. It presents a narrative that attributes these successes to effective policing strategies, supported by recent crime statistics. However, the article could benefit from greater balance and transparency, as it predominantly favors the administration's viewpoint and lacks comprehensive exploration of opposing perspectives and the complexities of crime trends.

While the article engages with a topic of significant public interest and has the potential to influence public opinion and policy discussions, its impact may be limited by perceived bias and insufficient depth in exploring alternative viewpoints. The article's readability and clarity are strengths, with a logical flow and accessible language that make it easy for readers to understand the main points.

To enhance its overall quality, the article could incorporate a broader range of authoritative sources, provide more detailed explanations of complex issues, and acknowledge the limitations and uncertainties inherent in crime data. This would provide readers with a more comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing crime trends and the implications of different policy approaches.

RATING DETAILS

7
Accuracy

The story provides a detailed account of crime trends in New York City, particularly focusing on the claims of a significant reduction in serious crimes under Mayor Eric Adams' administration. The reported declines in murders by 34% and shootings by 23% in the first quarter of 2025 align with available data, indicating a factual basis for these claims. However, the story also presents a counter-narrative that critics argue the overall crime rate remains higher than when Adams took office, especially when considering misdemeanors and non-major felonies. This aspect requires further verification through comprehensive crime statistics to ensure the accuracy of the broader crime trends discussed.

The story also mentions an increase in 911 calls over the years, which supports the argument that crime perception is not merely an artifact of police activity but reflects genuine public concern. This claim is supported by historical data showing an increase in emergency calls, adding credibility to the narrative. However, the assertion that the crime increase is primarily due to state and local criminal justice policies needs more substantiation, as it involves complex socio-political factors that are not fully explored in the article.

Overall, while the article presents a well-supported argument regarding the decline in serious crimes, it could benefit from additional context and data to verify claims about the broader crime trends and the impact of criminal justice policies.

6
Balance

The article predominantly presents a perspective that favors Mayor Eric Adams' handling of crime in New York City, highlighting the successes of his administration in reducing serious crimes. It acknowledges the criticisms from progressive leftists but frames them as part of a broader political narrative that has historically downplayed crime issues. This framing could suggest a bias toward the administration's viewpoint.

While the article does mention opposing views, such as the argument that overall crime remains higher than when Adams took office, it tends to dismiss these criticisms as politically motivated. The piece could have achieved better balance by providing more detailed insights from critics and exploring their arguments with equal depth. This would offer readers a more comprehensive understanding of the different perspectives on the issue.

The article's focus on the successes of the NYPD under Adams' administration, without equally exploring the potential shortcomings or alternative explanations for the crime trends, suggests a lack of balance in the presentation of viewpoints.

7
Clarity

The article is generally clear in its presentation of the main claims and arguments, with a logical flow that guides readers through the narrative of crime trends in New York City. The language is accessible, making it easy for a general audience to understand the key points being discussed.

However, the article could improve clarity by providing more detailed explanations of complex issues, such as the role of criminal justice policies and the impact of increased police presence on crime rates. These topics are mentioned but not explored in depth, which may leave readers with questions about the underlying factors and implications.

The tone of the article is somewhat assertive, particularly in its dismissal of criticisms, which may affect the perceived neutrality of the piece. A more balanced tone that acknowledges the complexity of the issues and the validity of different perspectives would enhance the overall clarity and comprehension of the article.

5
Source quality

The article references data and statements from various sources, including crime statistics and comments from individuals like Donna Lieberman of the New York Civil Liberties Union. However, it lacks direct citations or links to primary sources, such as official crime reports or statements from the NYPD, which would enhance the credibility and reliability of the information presented.

The reliance on unnamed critics and general references to political narratives without specific attributions weakens the article's source quality. While the article does mention the Manhattan Institute and its fellow Rafael A. Mangual, it does not provide a comprehensive range of sources or viewpoints, which could lead to questions about the impartiality of the reporting.

To improve source quality, the article could benefit from incorporating a broader array of authoritative sources, such as academic studies, official crime data, and direct quotes from a diverse range of stakeholders involved in the crime policy debate.

6
Transparency

The article provides some context for the claims made, particularly regarding the reported decline in serious crimes and the increase in 911 calls. However, it lacks transparency in terms of the methodology used to interpret these statistics and the potential biases of the sources cited.

The piece could improve transparency by clearly explaining how the crime statistics were obtained and analyzed, as well as acknowledging any potential conflicts of interest or biases of the individuals and organizations cited. For example, the article references the Manhattan Institute, known for its conservative viewpoints, but does not disclose this context, which could influence readers' perceptions of the information presented.

Additionally, the article would benefit from more explicit acknowledgment of the limitations and uncertainties inherent in crime data and the complexity of the factors influencing crime trends. This would provide readers with a clearer understanding of the basis for the claims and the potential impact of various factors on the reported outcomes.

Sources

  1. https://www.nyc.gov/site/nypd/stats/crime-statistics/citywide-crime-stats.page
  2. https://www.axios.com/2025/05/07/homicides-cities-decline-2025
  3. https://manhattan.institute/article/nyc-crime-is-dropping-but-nypds-success-is-alarmingly-fragile
  4. https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/news/2025/04/02/murders-and-shootings-drop-sharply-in-first-three-months-of-2025--data-shows
  5. https://spectrumlocalnews.com/queens/news/news/2025/04/02/murders-and-shootings-drop-sharply-in-first-three-months-of-2025--data-shows