December 30, 2025 In a high-stakes farewell performance that only a career lawman could deliver, outgoing Mayor Eric Adams stood amidst a grim steel forest of confiscated handguns and shotguns at City Hall this Monday. With the clock ticking down on his administration, Adams fired one final, metaphorical shot: the announcement that his team has scrubbed 25,000 illegal firearms from New York City streets since 2022.

A "River of Violence" Dammed

Flanked by Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, Adams didn’t just report numbers; he staked his entire legacy on them. The haul is staggering—including 1,600 "ghost guns"—untraceable weapons that have haunted the five boroughs for years.

“We were able to dam that river,” Adams declared, leaning into the bravado that defined his term. “25,000 illegal guns not able to feed the river of violence... we prevented 25,000 actions, keeping families whole.”

By the Numbers: Is NYC Safer Than Ever?

While critics and supporters often clash over the "feel" of the city, Tisch and Adams arrived armed with data to silence the skeptics. The administration claims these seizures have triggered a domino effect on violent crime:

• Shootings: Down a massive 55% over four years.

• Homicides: Plummeted by 35.5%.

• 2025 Milestone: The first 11 months of this year have seen the lowest number of shooting incidents ever recorded in New York City history, shattering the previous record set in 2018.

Commissioner Tisch credited a "relentless" data-driven strategy, noting that NYPD officers averaged roughly 17 gun seizures every single day for the duration of the Adams mayoralty.

The Parting Shot for Zohran Mamdani

The atmosphere at City Hall wasn't just celebratory; it was a challenge. As incoming Mayor Zohran Mamdani prepares to take the reins, Adams offered a piece of advice that was as much a boast as it was a warning.

“I’m the only mayor that understood law enforcement, I’m the only one,” Adams said, undiluted. “There was never a man in history who knew what needed to be done.”

His parting words for Mamdani? “Listen to Commissioner Tisch.”

Keys to the City

In a final nod to the "boots on the ground," Adams also awarded Keys to the City to various violence interrupter groups. He credited these community-led organizations as the "secret weapon" in stopping retaliatory cycles of violence before they could start.

As the Adams era draws to a close, the city is left with two things: a record-breaking drop in violence and a massive question mark over whether the new administration can keep the momentum—or if the "river" will begin to rise once more.

What do you think of the Mayor’s legacy? Is NYC truly safer today than it was four years ago? Let us know in the comments below!