In his inaugural address Saturday, New York City’s new mayor Eric Adams promised to avoid the reactionary bumbling responses to the COVID-19 pandemic that were characteristic of his predecessor, failed Democratic presidential candidate Bill de Blasio.

Without naming de Blasio, Adams nonetheless acknowledged the frustration felt by many New Yorkers regarding de Blasio’s tenure, lamenting that New York City had endured “continual crises” during the last two years. Adams, who has repeatedly stated his insistence on keeping New York City’s businesses and schools open during the Omicron wave, promised that “this will be our New Year’s resolution: We will not be controlled by crises.”

Adams — a former police officer who won nomination for the post among a crowded field of Democratic candidates — faces daunting challenges as mayor. One of the main issues that is believed to have carried Adams to victory is his belief that he would be able to solve the city’s crime problem. Violent crime has skyrocketed in the last two years, with shootings in 2021 occurring at more than double the rate they did in 2019, and murders up 50% over the same time period. Other violent crimes, including felony assaults and robberies, have likewise been on the rise.