José A. Alvarado Jr.

Photographer
 
Location: New York City, New York
Nationality: Puerto Rican American
Biography: José A. Alvarado Jr. is a Puerto Rican photographer dedicated to documenting class inequality, civic engagement, and contemporary issues in Puerto Rico and New York City. He works primarily in long-form storytelling, using visual imagery... MORE
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for The Wall Street Journal: New York City Mayoral Candidate Eric Adams Pins Campaign to Public Safety
josé a. alvarado jr.
Jun 3, 2021
Location: Brooklyn
A leading Democratic candidate to become New York City’s next mayor says his path to a career in law enforcement and then public office began 45 years ago in a basement of a Queens police precinct.

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams, a retired Black New York Police Department captain, said he was 15 years old at the time and his brother, Conrad, 16. The siblings—two of six growing up in a working-class household in South Jamaica, Queens—had been arrested after entering the home of a neighborhood go-go dancer to demand money she owed them for running errands, Mr. Adams said.
     
In the basement of the 103rd precinct, the brothers were beaten by two white officers, then forced to spend the night in a juvenile detention center, according to Mr. Adams. The NYPD declined to comment.
     
Mr. Adams, now 60, has spoken publicly in the past about the experience and said that the criminal case was sealed. He said he “turned his pain into purpose” by becoming a cop.
     
     
Today, he is among the top candidates in a 12-person field competing in the June 22 Democratic primary to replace term-limited Democrat Bill de Blasio. The winner likely will prevail in November’s general election because registered Democrats outnumber Republicans citywide by more than 6 to 1.

Photographed for The Wall Street Journal with words by Rich Calder
New York City Mayoral Candidate Eric Adams Pins Campaign to Public Safety 
The Democratic Brooklyn borough president and former cop describes himself as a ‘blue-collar’ crossover candidate who can pick up support from both moderate and progressive Democrats. 
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for The Wall Street Journal: New York City Mayoral Candidate Eric Adams Pins Campaign to Public Safety  by José A. Alvarado Jr.
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