Mayor Adams admits to fare evasion in youth

Mayor Eric Adams shared a personal story at a recent town hall meeting in Rockaway, Queens. He recalled how, as a young man, he sometimes “jumped the turnstile” on the subway when he did not have enough money for a fare. He mentioned he did this while visiting a girlfriend during long and cold train rides. Adams, who is campaigning for re-election, made the comments light-heartedly, bringing humor to the event. He noted that he used to take the A train to see someone he cared about, and he joked about the statute of limitations being over for his past actions. This admission is notable given his current stance as a former police officer who has enforced strict measures against subway fare evasion. Despite his charm at the town hall, Adams is facing challenges in his re-election campaign. Reports indicate he has raised only $36,000 from a small number of donors in the past two months. He has not yet held any official campaign events, instead using town halls to connect with voters. Earlier in his term, Adams expressed strong views against fare evasion, calling it a crime. He emphasized the importance of addressing this issue to prevent a sense of lawlessness in the city. His administration has sought to increase penalties for those who evade fare payment, especially after reports highlighted significant financial losses linked to this problem. Although Adams shares stories about his past, he has generally kept his personal life private, including his relationship with longtime girlfriend Tracey Collins. Recently, there were rumors about him dating reality star Eleonora Srugo, but those have been denied.