NYC Mayor Eric Adams blames the media for 87% of residents saying crime is a 'serious problem' just hours before knife-wielding maniac threatens tourists

New York City Mayor Eric Adams reacted to shocking polling numbers that showed residents are very afraid of crime in the city, blaming the media for reporting on the issue and playing with the "psyche" of their viewers/readers.

The New York Post published a series of statistics along with reactions from the mayor, which revealed that a recent Siena College poll showed residents are overwhelmingly concerned with crime in the city.

About 61% of New York state residents are very (21%) or somewhat (40%) concerned that they will be the next victim of a crime. In the city, that number increased to 70% with 30% being very worried and 40% being somewhat worried they will be the victim of a crime.

At the same time, 87% of New Yorkers said crime is a very serious or somewhat serious problem. Just 11% said it's either not very serious or not at all serious.

In response, Mayor Adams said that citizens "start their day picking up the news, the morning papers … and they see some of the most horrific events that may happen throughout the previous day,” he told local outlet WNYW. “Plays on your psyche!” he continued.

“We know it’s going to take time,” Adams said. “But if you lead off every day with some of the horrific incidents that take place in the city with 8.5 million people, there’s a feeling that you have.”

“My mission is to move people from what they felt to what they’re feeling. And no one can take away the fact this city is humming,” the mayor added.

The same day in New York, what was described as an unhinged man was captured on camera approaching a group of Romanian street performers from behind while wielding a large blade.

The man reportedly stood on a granite bench, flashing the weapon at tourists with added inexplicable screaming. After allegedly grabbing one of the performers, 22-year-old Dequon Messiah was arrested and charged with menacing, harassment, and criminal possession of a weapon.

The same polling numbers revealed that nearly one in 10 New Yorkers said they have been assaulted or burgled in the last year, with 40% of citizens having spent at least $100 on personal protection goods in the same time period.

Nearly a quarter (24%) purchased a professionally monitored home security system.

The NYPD remains hopeful however, as the acting commissioner stated the department is seeing progress.

“As we look back on the month of June [2023] and the first half of the year, we can see already progress in the NYPD’s fight against violence and disorder as well heading into the summer months,” Edward Caban said.

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