It’s kind of wild to look back at where things were just two years ago versus where they are now in January 2026. If you’ve been following the chaos of New York City politics, you know that the era of New York City Mayor Adams didn’t exactly end with a victory lap. Honestly, it was more of a slow-motion crash followed by a very quiet exit.
Eric Adams, the man who promised to be the "blue-collar" savior of the city, is officially a former mayor. He’s no longer the guy at City Hall. That title now belongs to Zohran Mamdani, who took the oath of office on January 1st. It’s a massive shift. We went from a swagger-heavy ex-cop to a 34-year-old democratic socialist in a single election cycle. But to understand why Adams is currently making headlines for launching a "failed" cryptocurrency token instead of running the five boroughs, you have to look at the spectacular collapse of his 2025 campaign.
What Really Happened with New York City Mayor Adams?
People always ask: was it the indictment that did him in? Or was it just the vibes?
The truth is, it was basically both. The federal indictment in late 2024—the one involving bribery, wire fraud, and foreign campaign contributions—was the beginning of the end. Even though the Department of Justice under the second Trump administration eventually dropped those charges in February 2025, the political damage was already permanent. You can’t really recover from being the first sitting NYC mayor to get hit with federal crimes.
By the time the June 2025 Democratic primary rolled around, Adams was a ghost. He didn’t even run in the primary. He tried to pivot, launching a bid as an independent for the general election, but even that fell apart. He "withdrew" in September 2025, though his name stayed on the ballot because it was too late to scrub it. He ended up being a footnote in an election where over two million people turned out to vote for someone—anyone—else.
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The Budget That Was Supposed to Save Him
Right before the wheels totally came off, Adams released what he called the "Best Budget Ever" for Fiscal Year 2026. It was a $115 billion plan. He wanted to surge 5,000 more cops onto the streets. He talked about "Axe the Tax" for the working class.
But honestly, New Yorkers weren't buying it. While he was announcing billion-dollar surpluses and "record" job growth, his inner circle was fleeing. Ingrid Lewis-Martin, his closest advisor, resigned in late 2024 amid her own legal inquiries. It's tough to sell a "safer, more affordable city" when your top staff are getting their phones seized at the airport.
The 2025 Election: A Total Reset
The general election on November 4, 2025, was a bloodbath for the old guard. New York City Mayor Adams (well, the former mayor by that point in spirit) watched from the sidelines as Andrew Cuomo tried to make a comeback as an independent.
- Zohran Mamdani (Democrat) pulled in over 1.1 million votes.
- Andrew Cuomo (Independent) trailed behind with about 906,000.
- Curtis Sliwa (Republican) was barely in the conversation with 7%.
The moment Mamdani won, the Adams era was effectively buried. On his first day in office, the new mayor signed executive orders specifically to revoke almost everything Adams had done since his 2024 indictment. It was a total wipeout of the previous administration's policy legacy.
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The Post-City Hall Hustle: Crypto and Controversy
If you thought Eric Adams would retire quietly to a house in Brooklyn (or New Jersey, depending on who you ask), you haven't been paying attention. This week, he’s been back in the news for something called "NYC Token."
Basically, he went to Times Square on Monday to announce a new cryptocurrency. He claimed it would fight antisemitism and "anti-Americanism." It sounds like a parody, but it's real. The coin’s valuation shot up to $600 million in minutes and then plummeted by 75% the same day. Experts are calling it a "rug pull," though Adams says it’s just "market adjustments."
It’s a bizarre coda to a political career. He went from commanding the largest police force in the country to pitching digital coins with Brock Pierce, the former child actor from The Mighty Ducks.
Why It Matters for You Right Now
If you're still living in NYC, the "Adams impact" is mostly found in what the new administration is trying to fix. The current Mayor, Mamdani, is currently busy undoing the "City of Yes" housing plans and trying to implement universal after-school programs that Adams had stuck in "needs assessment" limbo.
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The legal cloud hasn't fully cleared either. Just a few days ago, on January 13, 2026, a former Adams official named Anthony Herbert pleaded not guilty to federal bribery charges. The investigations into the "pay-to-play" culture of the 2022-2025 years are still moving through the courts.
Practical Next Steps for New Yorkers
- Audit Your Small Business Fees: The new administration just signed Executive Order 11 to cut down on the 6,000+ regulations and fines that were a hallmark of the previous few years. If you own a shop, check the updated NYC.gov portal for fee waivers.
- Ignore the "NYC Token" Hype: Seriously. The data from analytics firms like Bubblemaps shows that 80% of the accounts that made money on the Adams coin bought in before it was even announced. Don't put your rent money into meme coins backed by former politicians.
- Watch the Housing Court: With the revocation of Adams’ late-term executive orders, many tenant protections are being re-evaluated. If you're in a dispute, get a consultation with the newly expanded Right to Counsel services.
The era of New York City Mayor Adams is over, but the cleanup is just starting. Whether it’s in the courtrooms or the crypto markets, the fallout from his three years in power is going to be the main story in this city for a long time.