Embattled Mayor Adams gets show of support from NYC business community, including bodega clerk Jose Alba
A group of Big Apple business community members and public safety advocates rallied Wednesday in support of Mayor Eric Adams — saying he deserves his day in court as he faces historic federal corruption charges.The about two dozen supporters gathered at the Plaza De Las Americas market in Washington Heights included Jose Alba, the former bodega clerk who infamously fatally stabbed a violent ex-con in self-defense two years ago.“I came to support Adams because when I had my problem Adams was there to support,” said Alba, who narrowly dodged murder charges in the 2022 stabbing at a Hamilton Heights grocery store.“I don’t believe he’s guilty,” Alba told reporters.“I want him found innocent.”The rally-goers held signs that read “Eric Adams, the business community support you!!” and broke out into chants of “four more years.”“We have faith mayor Adam is going to come out clean of the charges he is facing,” said Francisco Marte, founder of the Bodega and Small Business Association of New York.
“We have gained a lot of security with Eric Adams,” Marte said.“Any progress that we have gained we don’t want to lose that.
We don’t want to go back.We don’t want to go to extremist left leaders who are against the police and law and order.”Jackie Rowe-Adams, president and co-founder of the group Harlem Mothers Stop Another Violent End, also called for other elected officials to stand by the first-term mayor.“You know what he is guilty of? caring too much about the city,” Rowe-Adams said.
The embattled Adams was hit with a federal indictment last week charging him with defrauding taxpayers out of $10 million to curry favor with Turkish officials.He has pleaded not guilty and vowed to continue in his post, insisting that “my day-to-day will not change.”Alba made headlines when he was initially arrested after fatally stabbing 35-year-old Austin Simon when the brute came behind the bodega counter and started to pummel him.
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