A bold guerrilla ad campaign is making waves in Brooklyn, targeting former New York governor Andrew Cuomo and current New York City Mayor Eric Adams. The campaign, spearheaded by the activist collective Artists Rapid Response Team (ARRT), is taking over bus stop ad spaces with messages urging voters to steer clear of Cuomo and Adams in the upcoming elections.
The posters, created in collaboration with local artist Jordan Seiler of PublicAdCampaign, range from humorous alterations of existing advertisements to complete replacements of commercial posters. The central message is clear: voters should not support Cuomo in the Democratic mayoral primary or Adams in the upcoming general election as an independent candidate.
The ads, which started appearing at bus stops last month, primarily focus on Cuomo’s history of sexual harassment and retaliation allegations that led to his resignation in 2021. These allegations, confirmed by New York’s attorney general, are depicted in signage featuring the New Yorker’s iconic aristocratic character, Eustace Tilley. One particularly striking poster shows Tilley reclining on a chaise lounge in a therapy session, expressing a recurring nightmare of electing sex offenders to higher office.
In addition to targeting Cuomo, the campaign also takes aim at Adams with revised versions of marketing materials for the New Yorker, local injury law firms, and city agencies. One altered ad at a downtown Brooklyn bus stop features a couple with a newborn baby, with a speech bubble urging them not to vote for Eric or Andrew for Mayor.
According to Jordan Seiler, such politically charged messaging would never be allowed in traditional advertising spaces due to strict policies. The guerrilla campaign aims to disrupt the status quo and spark conversations about the candidates running for office.
This campaign is not the only recent public intervention with political messaging. Street artist Winston Tseng recently shared a photo of an ad mocking the Trump administration’s actions against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives at colleges and universities.
While ARRT does not formally endorse a mayoral candidate, members of the collective express a desire for a Democratic Socialist candidate in office. They believe that New Yorkers have the power to elect a better mayor instead of a sex offender, and they are committed to fighting for a positive change in leadership.
The guerrilla ad campaign continues to make a statement in Brooklyn, urging voters to consider their choices carefully and advocating for a more ethical and responsible leadership in the city.
