?Generals don?t lead from the back?: New York mayor Eric Adams seeks bold start

Eric Adams's first two days in office would resonate with any weary New York commuter: a subway ride featuring a brawl requiring the attendance of police, then the challenge of negotiating Manhattan traffic on a rented bike.

"This is an amazing city," the new mayor told ABC on Sunday. "You know, riding a city bike in, taking the train in, interacting with New Yorkers: generals don't lead their troops from the back.

"They lead their troops from the front. I'm going to lead my city into this victory from the front. And people tell me this is a difficult job. Darn it, I want it to be a difficult job."

Significant challenges await the newly sworn-in leader of the most populous US city, a Democrat who trounced the Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa in November to become New York's second Black mayor after David Dinkins, who was in office from 1990 to 1993.

"New York can and should be the center of the universe again," said Adams in an inaugural address themed largely around getting to grips with an Omicron-fueled coronavirus surge that has slowed parts of the city to a crawl.

The police and fire departments are reporting sickness rates of around 20% and three subway lines have been suspended because of staff shortages.

Adams succeeds as mayor Bill de Blasio, another Democrat who despite becoming hugely unpopular has signalled a run for governor.