Transcript: Mayor Adams Calls In for Live Interview on WBLS 107.5 FM’s “Caribbean Fever”

March 30, 2025

Dahved Levy: Welcome to WBLS Dahved Levy rocking you, do we have our special guest on the line this evening?

Mayor Eric Adams: My brother, nothing special. I'm just an ordinary person from the community.

Levy: No sir, you are special. You are our mayor, sir. You are special.

Mayor Adams: Good to see you. Last night, I was up celebrating with my brothers and sisters from the Virgin Islands. They had a celebration up in the Bronx and it was really amazing being with them.

Levy: Okay. Sir, I want to start off this way. I want to read something to you. The 2025 New York City mayoral election will be held on November 4th, 2025 to elect the mayor of New York City. Incumbent Democratic Mayor Eric Adams is running for re-election to a second term in office. He has been indicted on federal corruption charges in September 2024 and has faced calls to resign from office. What do you say to New Yorkers who, for whatever reason, are not supporting you?

Mayor Adams: Well, first of all, our entire success in the city has been overshadowed by not only having over 230,000 migrants and asylum seekers that were sent to our city, but also those bogus charges that my attorney has fought and even the current Department of Justice has pointed out how problematic they are. I ask people don't look at the last 15 months. 

Look at the last 40 plus years. People know me from the city, from the reforms I fought for in the Police Department, to what I did as a senator, as borough president, the first person of color to hold that position, and the second person of color to be mayor. Look at my legacy. My legacy is clear, and the success, how we turned around the city from more jobs in the city history, decreasing unemployment in the black and brown community by 20 percent, investing in foster care children, making sure we decreased the cost of child care from $55 a week to less than $5 a week. 

I could go on and on of what we've done in the city to show that we managed the city through all of the crises, and one cannot be judged by not only what they've done, but what you've overcome to accomplish that. And every one of your listeners know that we all have to overcome something in order to get the success we want.

Levy: Sir, a lot of people are talking about this. Why do you think Andrew Cuomo decided to run for mayor of New York City? New Yorkers say that you are your weakest, and this is the best time for Andrew Cuomo to run. What do you say to the naysayers?

Mayor Adams: Well, think about this for a moment. You know, Governor Cuomo went through a tough time when he was governor, and he decided to step down. I went through a tough time as the mayor, and I decided to step up. My north star was the people of this city. I made an obligation when I was elected that I was going to fight for everyday working-class people, and no matter how challenging things were for me personally, I did not stop fighting for New Yorkers. 

I never walked away from my obligation and my responsibilities. And some people saw the charges that were unfairly brought on me. They saw that, okay, here's an opportunity to exploit them and go after this hidden mayor. But I didn't stop, and I'm not going to stop. I'm never going to stop working for working-class people of this city, and the results are showing that. 

Everything from more housing built in individual years ever in the history of the city, more people using the [inaudible] voucher programs for housing support in the history of the city, moving more people out of homeless shelters into permanent housing in the history of the city in individual years. And so I'm just going to continue to fight for working-class people and have an opportunity to campaign and show people the success that this city has experienced under this leadership.

Levy: Some people are saying that the powers that be do not have your best interests at heart. They're saying that when they get, they're going to use you and kick you to the curb. How do you respond to something like that?

Mayor Adams: Well, think about this for a moment, Dahved. When Reverend Herbert Daughtry told me to go into the Police Department, I did not want to. But after what we saw, what happened to Arthur Miller, he died from a chokehold from the police. We saw what happened with Randolph Evans and others. They told me, leaders told me to go into the Police Department to fight from within. People called me an Uncle Tom for becoming a cop. They told me I was a sellout for becoming a cop. You would never stand tall in the Police Department because now they control you. You remain silent. But what happened? 

I started 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care. We became one of the top [advocates] for police reform while I wore the police uniform. We need to be clear on that. Many people argue about reform while they're on the outside, but I was inside. If I did not fall victim to being intimidated by people that carry guns, why would people think I'm going to change who I am as a grown man? 

The same things I have been saying pre-election of the current president is what I'm saying now. Those who commit violent acts in our city, documented or undocumented, must be held accountable. So I'm the same Eric that I was from the day I became a police officer, state senator, borough president, and now I'm the mayor. And whoever thinks differently is because they are judging how they will respond, not how I will respond.

Levy: Mayor, New York is becoming more diverse, more diverse by the day. What message are you going to send to impact such a wide array of voters?

Mayor Adams: Working class people. No matter how diverse you are, working class people matter. I don't care if you are the nurse that you're doing long hours inside a hospital, or if you are the person that's a dishwasher in a restaurant, or if you're a carpenter, a day laborer, or if you're a teacher, a firefighter, a police officer, an accountant. Working class people matter. I'm one of the first working class blue-collar mayors, a union member in the history of this city. That's why 98 percent of our union contracts were settled. We gave good wages and good pay and good benefits to the working class people of this city. And that's who I have to speak with. 

I was not elected by the elite. I was elected by people who are on the street every day fighting hard for their families. I came from a working class background. I'm looking forward to reminding people why they elected me in the first place. I'm a working class mayor. There's nothing perfect about me. In fact, I'm perfectly imperfect, but I'm dedicated to the people of this city. 

Levy: Sir, you've got the last word. 

Mayor Adams: Listen, we're all going through something, Dahved. I say it over and over again, and the question becomes how strong is your faith in God. Prayer works. The power of prayer I believe in. And you cannot talk to one New Yorker on the subway, on the streets, in the supermarket, that they would not be able to tell you what they're going through. Everyone has. We all have had difficult days because of our family members, our loved ones, our children, our jobs. 

But the goal is to believe in yourself and stay true to your God. I'm a man of God and a man of faith, and that is what has taken me through this. And my north star has been always fighting for the people of this city. And I'm never going to stop, no matter what capacity that I am in. And all I know is rocking you, brother. Rocking you. 

Levy: Sir, thank you very much. Okay? Thank you very much, and keep good. Keep good. Take care. Take care.