Mayor-elect Eric Adams Raises Around $1.2M For Transition, Inauguration

 As of Nov. 30, according to a disclosure statement produced by the transition team, Adams had raised $993,478 from around 530 donors, including nearly 150 from outside New York City.

Mayor-elect Eric Adams’ transition committee has drawn in more than $1 million to fund his ongoing transition and inauguration, his campaign announced Wednesday.

As of Nov. 30, according to a disclosure statement produced by the transition team, Adams had raised $993,478 from around 530 donors, including nearly 150 from outside New York City.

Donors include outgoing Disney executive Alan Horn, who lives in Los Angeles, and contributed $5,100, as did his wife, Cindy Horn. Wyoming-based investment banker Herbert Allen also gave $5,100, along with Timothy Armstrong, chief executive of Flowcode, a company that makes QR codes. Ford Foundation executive Darren Walker also contributed the top amount, $5,100, as did Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, both of Winklevoss Capital Management—the twins perhaps best known for their claims to the idea behind Facebook. Entrepreneur and attorney Norm Brodsky gave $5,000, and Susan and David Rockefeller gave $3,100 each.

Since the end of last month, Adams’ transition and inauguration entity has brought in additional funds “at a rapid pace,” a spokesperson said, totalling about $1.2 million.

Public funds can not be used for a mayoral inauguration or transition, meaning candidates must raise money to cover these expenses. In a statement, Adams said the money will “allow us to help coordinate the work of hundreds of transition team members from diverse backgrounds and experiences to prepare us to hit the ground running on January 1.”

The incoming mayor last week announced a lengthy list of New Yorkers appointed to that transition team, focused on specific areas such as economic and workforce development, infrastructure, education, immigration and infrastructure, among others. 

At a press conference Thursday morning, Adams named David Banks—head of Eagle Academy, a network of all-boys public schools—as his incoming Department of Education chancellor. The city’s current chancellor, Meisha Porter, is departing at the end of the year to lead a nonprofit in The Bronx.

In Wednesday’s statement, the Adams transition team did not announce where Adams’ inauguration would take place, or what was on the program for the event.