NYC Mayoral Debate: Here’s What You Missed

NEW YORK CITY — An up-for-grabs race to become New York City’s next mayor entered its final stretch candidates sparred in their first official debate.

Eight Democratic candidates — Eric Adams, Shaun Donovan, Kathryn Garcia, Ray McGuire, Dianne Morales, Scott Stringer, Maya Wiley and Andrew Yang — pressed their case Thursday night to city dwellers largely undecided on who should replace Mayor Bill de Blasio.

For many New Yorkers watching on NY1, listening to WNYC or viewing online at Gothamist or THE CITY, it likely was the first time they put a face to a name in the crowded field.

Here’s some, but by no means all, of the highlights:

Public safety

A spate of recent violent incidents on the subway and a persistent spate of shootings loomed large early in the debate.

Andrew Yang, who polls as a frontrunner, firmly rejected calls to “defund the police” that arose amid protests over the killing of George Floyd.

“Let me be clear: defund the police is the wrong approach for New York City,” he said.

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, who also polls as a frontrunner, touted his own experience as an NYPD captain and critiqued many police reforms as unpractical. But he also backed shifting many responsibilities from the police.

“We must fight violence with prevention and intervention,” he said.

Other candidates, such as Dianne Morales and Maya Wiley, stressed that mental health approaches need to be embraced over police interventions.

Candidates spar over experience

Kathryn Garcia, the city’s former sanitation commissioner and recent recipient of the New York Times’ endorsement, repeatedly went back to her experience as public servant. She stressed measures to help small businesses and the need for expanded child care.

“I have been boots on the ground, whether prior to this or during COVID, making sure that I was delivering for New York City residents each and every day,” she said.

Garcia’s experience in government — as well that of Comptroller Scott Stringer, former U.S. secretary of housing and urban development Shaun Donovan, Adams and Wiley — stood in contrast to candidates like Yang and Ray McGuire who cut their teeth in the private sector.

Indeed, Yang faced tough questions about his previous lack of engagement in city politics — he didn’t vote in several mayoral elections.

Morales, a nonprofit leader and former public school teacher, repeatedly pressed her progressive bonafides. She said de Blasio “fell short” on his progressive promise.

Wiley, likewise, hit Adams on his past as a Republican.

Stringer’s campaign has outlined numerous plans but faltered after a sexual harassment accusation. He denied the accusation and said he hoped voters will listen to him.

“This is an allegation that’s not true,” he said.