According to a recent study by WalletHub, New York City is already rated as the number-one city for vegans in the United States. By 2021, however, NYC might also have its first vegan mayor.
The vegan Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams recently announced that he is running for mayor of New York City during the 2021 elections. So far, odds are in his favor.
Currently, Adams has managed to raise $1.68 million in funding for his campaign. His contenders Scott Stringer and Ruben Diaz Jr. have only raised $1.073 million and $738,797, respectively.
Following a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes in 2016, Eric L. Adams converted to a completely plant-based diet with hopes of no longer having to rely on medication. Today, he still enjoys a vegan diet, doesn’t rely on medication, and has drastically reduced symptoms of the disease. In fact, he reduced his A1c blood sugar levels from 17 % to 5.7 %. Adams is now considered diabetes-free.
Since adopting a vegan diet, Adams is passionately involved in the plant-based movement. He has successfully launched a number of plant-based initiatives, including working with local school districts to eliminate processed meat from school menus, to be replaced by vegan lunch options. Moreover, he has convinced fellow constituents to adopt a vegan diet to improve their health, and he’s even led a plant-based medicine program with NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, the city’s largest medical system.
Adams is a strong advocate for veganism and believes in the importance of spreading awareness about the impact our diets have on our health. Should Adams be elected into office as NYC mayor, he plans to implement even more plant-based initiatives. In an email communication with LIVEKINDLY, he wrote, “Whether we can inspire someone to leave animal products off their plates for reasons stemming from health, the environment, or animal welfare, the education needs to start now, and New York City is going to lead the way.” Adams will be running in the elections alongside fellow vegan politician Helen Rosenthal, who will be running for NYC Comptroller.
