Mayor Eric Adams created friction with his police commissioner on Friday, but it wasn’t because of anything inherently political. Instead, it was because—of all things—Cardi B.
While briefing the press on former NYPD Chief of Training Juanita Holmes’ new job as Department of Probation commissioner, Adams brought up and praised the New York music icon’s February 24th performance at a police academy. The tension was created when it was learned that Holmes had invited Cardi B to perform without running it by Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell, who reportedly was vehemently opposed to the idea.
“There are those who critique: Why would you bring Cardi B because she was arrested?”, Adams said regarding the recital. “The same reason why you brought Cardi B is why people voted for me, because I was arrested. You don’t discard people.”
Adams did not comment on why Sewell didn’t have a say in the decision.
Holmes and Sewell have been at odds before with Adams as a player. The New York Post reported that the two disagreed over ending a timed fitness requirement (completing a 1 1/2 mile run in 14 minutes and 21 seconds) for new recruits. Sewell was opposed, but Holmes got the requirement struck after she appealed directly to the mayor. Apparently, the fitness dispute led to Holmes being reassigned from policing to probations.
“When she was a chief, and now as commissioner, she respects the chain of command,” Adams said of Holmes. “So I don’t have any worries because no one is being rewarded that’s broke the chain of command.”
It looks like the current chain of command starts and ends with the Mayor.
