New York Sen. Eric Adams (D)

Email Address: eadams@senate.state.ny.us

Phone: (518) 455-2431

Fax: (518) 426-6856

Office Address:
188 State Street Legislative Office Building, Room 608
Albany, NY 12247

On November 7, 2006, following a distinguished 22-year career in the New York City Police Department, Eric L. Adams traded his blue uniform for a blue suit when the residents of the 20th Senatorial District elected him to the New York State Senate. He was re-elected in 2008, receiving votes as a Democrat and as a member of the Working Families Party. Senator Adams represents one of the most vibrant and wonderfully diverse districts in all of New York, covering sections of the neighborhoods of Boro Park, Crown Heights, Flatbush, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Sunset Park, and Windsor Terrace.
As a Captain in the NYPD, Eric Adams became well-known to New Yorkers as a tireless and thoughtful advocate for the people and communities he served, and he earned widespread praise for creating innovative programs on issues ranging from conflict resolution to child abuse prevention.
The expertise he developed during his more than two decades of experience with law enforcement and criminal justice issues resulted in his appointment during the 2007 and 2008 legislative sessions as Ranking Minority Member on the Crime Victims, Crime and Correction Committee, as well as Ranking Minority Member on the Veterans, Homeland Security & Military Affairs Committee. He also served on the Aging, Codes, and Civil Service and Pensions Committees in the New York State Senate. During the 2009 and 2010 legislative sessions, Senator Adams served as Chairman of the Veterans, Homeland Security, and Military Affairs Committee and Chairman of the Racing, Gaming, and Wagering Committee and be a member of the Finance, Judiciary, Banks, Consumer Protection, and Energy and Telecommunications committees.
Community-Based Programs that have made a difference
Eric Adams is perhaps best-known for his efforts to create a more symbiotic relationship between law enforcement and the residents of New York's diverse neighborhoods. His highly-regarded instructional workshops, "What To Do When Stopped By The Police," have helped thousands of young people throughout New York learn to interact more appropriately with the police by using established conflict resolution skills. These forums have been duplicated throughout the country and provided a generation of youngsters with a better understanding of reliable methods to resolve difficult conflicts – not only with the police, but also with teachers, peers, and others. Senator Adams also created a series a free public safety seminars for New York City parents to address issues including gang awareness and child abuse prevention and review methods to protect children from abduction as well as an annual "Cradle to College" Parent and Youth Empowerment Seminar to empower families and enable parents to build upon their progeny's strengths to avoid the pitfalls encountered as children mature.
An Advocate and a Partner
Throughout his years in public service, Eric Adams has joined forces with hundreds of community groups and civic organizations to assist them on matters concerning public schools, urban economic development, fair and affordable housing, civil rights, and political accountability. Always an outspoken advocate for justice, he has testified before the U.S. Federal Human Rights Commission, at numerous New York City Council hearings, and in United States Federal Court. He has contributed both his passion and his unique community-based criminal justice perspective to numerous issues. Whether speaking about the Russel Timoshenko or Sean Bell tragedies or fighting for after-school programs for at-risk teens, Eric Adams has spent his career advocating for the rights and progress of hardworking, everyday New Yorkers.
Two Decades of Public Service
During his 20-year career in law enforcement, Eric Adams co-founded 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care, a group comprised of law enforcement personnel and their supporters, to provide assistance and subsidies to community-based organizations that strive to improve their neighborhoods. He also is a former Chairperson of the Grand Council for the Guardians and serves on the board of the Eastern District Counseling Service, an organization that assists former substance abusers to live productive lives without dependency on drugs or alcohol.
Eric Adams received his Masters Degree in Public Administration from Marist College and is a graduate of New York City Technical College and John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He is a proud product of New York City public schools and resides in Prospect Heights.
Standing Committee Assignments 2011
Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee (Ranking Minority Member)
Consumer Protection (Ranking Minority Member)
Energy and Telecommunications
Transportation
Health
Cultural Affairs, Tourism & Recreation
Judiciary