I will be the mayor of New York. And I don't wish to take this journey without you.
Eric Adams, 65, the current mayor of New York City who triumphed in the Democratic primary for the 2021 mayoral race, sent a message to Jasmine Ray, 42, his ex-partner, urgently requesting a meeting. In Staten Island, New York, Adams shared with Ray his vision for leading the city. Adams won the general election later that November, and the following year, he appointed Ray to a newly established director-level role in New York City. Ray served as a senior official in the city for about three years, while their relationship remained private. On the 2nd, The New York Times (NYT) and other outlets reported that Ray is set to release a memoir detailing these events on the 5th. This marks the first time the secret relationship between Mayor Adams and Ray, which lasted roughly a decade, has come to light.
Mayor Adams, who was once seen as a key figure in the Democratic Party, ended his campaign on the 28th of last month while running for a second term in the November New York City mayoral election. Despite having the benefit of being an incumbent, a new candidate named Zohran Mamdani, a member of the New York State Assembly, rose quickly and took control of the race. Ray had tried to release a book several times previously, but Adams prevented her from doing so. Now that he has completely stepped down from his re-election effort, she is reportedly sharing the story she had kept confidential.
Copies of the book, which Ray distributed to various local media outlets such as The New York Times before its release, outline the connection between the two individuals. According to accounts, Ray first encountered Adams in 2014 at a Brooklyn Nets game taking place at the Barclays Center in New York. The subsequent year saw them start private meetings, and their relationship persisted until Adams informed her about the separation in 2016. Ray shared with NBC, “At times, Adams said, ‘Yes, you will be my wife,’” and further mentioned, “The physical relationship lasted roughly six months and concluded in early 2016.” Adams remains unmarried, while Ray's marital status has not been definitively verified.
The two, who had previously gone their separate ways, reunited when Adams became mayor. In November 2022, Adams named Ray as the head of the newly created 'Office of the Mayor for Sports, Wellness, and Recreation.' A City Hall representative, Keila Mamelak, mentioned, "It is true that they had a personal relationship around 10 years ago." Nevertheless, both individuals clarified that there was no romantic involvement during their time working together at City Hall. Ray served as a New York City director for more than two years until the 3rd, two days before Adams announced he would not seek re-election, receiving an annual salary of $161,400 (about 227 million South Korean won).
Even though the connection between the two individuals has not been made public until now, it is believed that some people were aware. Adams was charged with five offenses, including bribery, without being held in custody in September of last year under the Biden administration. However, in October of the previous year, there were situations that indicated Adams had privately called Ray and warned her, "Federal agents might be watching," suggesting she was being investigated. Ray told NBC, "Adams said to me, 'You are among the top people who regularly contact me. Just be careful.'" As Ray revealed the hidden relationship between them, some residents of New York City have criticized her hiring as improper. An activist from a government oversight organization told the New York Daily News, "The mayor should have at least sought advice from the city's conflict of interest committee."
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