He was a man whose broad smile and optimistic outlook won a lot of New Yorkers over. Adams called himself the new face of the Democratic Party, and he was, until he wasn't.
He has a strong resume, but during his term, he also had a some downsides.
In his first TV interview about his soon-to-be former job of mayor, Eric Adams looked back, and talked about the future with Bill Ritter for Up Close.
Bill's first question to him: what grade would he give his tenure?
"We brought down crime, we saved lives. The numbers are clear. Lowest numbers of shootings and shooting victims in the history of this city. Our economy is the best it has ever been," Adams said. "Then if you look at the record -- get away from how you feel about the mayor, but say 'lets just judge this mayor based on what he and his administration has done, and what the people of New York has done,' this has been a win. This has been an A administration."
Something many New Yorkers may have forgotten about, Adams' mother died while he was running for mayor, but before he was mayor, she was a hugely powerful force in his life, pumping him at every turn. The outgoing mayor also talked about that during his interview.
She motivated her son before his term as mayor began, and left a ginormous hole after she died.
"Everything I did, I said to myself, 'how would this impact her and her name?" So, that's why it hurt a lot when I was indicted, because it was so in contrast to what I lived my life as," Adams said. "I did nothing wrong, I believe I was targeted because I stood and fought for New Yorkers, and people who didn't read the headlines and read the indictment, said this should not have ever happened."
Adams also spoke about President Donald Trump, Israel, his future and more.
You can watch the full interview in the media player above, and on Up Close this Sunday at 11 a.m.
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