Transcript: Mayor Adams Hold In Person Media Availability

June 17, 2024

Deputy Mayor Fabien Levy, Communications: Good afternoon, everybody. My name is Fabien Levy and I serve as deputy mayor for Communications for the City of New York. Thank you for joining us for our weekly in-person media availability. We hope everyone is staying safe and healthy as temperatures continue to rise this week. To update New Yorkers on the work we are doing every day to protect public safety, rebuild our economy, and make our city more livable, the mayor has once again convened senior leadership here from across our administration to take your questions.  

Joining us today we have Mayor Eric Adams, Chief of Staff Camille Joseph Varlack, Chief Advisor to the Mayor Ingrid Lewis-Martin, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom, Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer, Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi, Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Ana Almanzar, Chief Counsel Lisa Zornberg, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Tiffany Raspberry, and New York City Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol. Without further delay I'll turn it over to Mayor Adams. 

Mayor Eric Adams: Thanks so much DM Levy. Good morning to everyone, or good afternoon actually. Started a little late today. We just want to quickly, I want to thank Commissioner Iscol who's joining us today. He was with us earlier today, the chief of staff and I and other team members to talk about the heat index and we gave a list of recommendations. We want people to really be conscious. We expanded and we'll continue to open up our cooling centers tomorrow through Thursday and New Yorkers can find additional ways to stay cool by calling 311.  

I thought Dr. Vasan did an excellent presentation explaining how this can impact those with pre-existing conditions and even those without. We're really encouraging people to sign up for Notify NYC, the city's free emergency notification system which will help you get updated and stay updated. Switching to our economy for a moment, last week we announced we're on track to deliver over 14,000 apprenticeship opportunities by the end of the year. This is way ahead of our schedule, nearly halfway towards the 30,000 apprenticeships by 2030, something that DM Maria Torres-Springer talks about often, great job with her team.  

These apprenticeships really place our young people in a pathway to learning the type of employment and profession they would like to go into. Lastly, livability, the public realm report. Last week our team released the realm of possibilities, the report highlighted 15 ways our administration is improving public space for New Yorkers, from eliminating those darn sheds that we are taking down, to the country's largest outdoor dining program, to planting thousands of trees and ensuring schoolyards are open. Really excited about that, it falls in line with our charter revision commission, a great deal of hearings, the entire team, we've got two coming up in the Bronx and in Brooklyn. I want to really thank Diane Savino, normally we see her around, but she has really taken the hearings and allowed New Yorkers to come, 8.3 million New Yorkers. As 35 million opinions, and trust me, we're hearing a lot of them inside the hearings and outside of the hearing. Those who are interested, it's on the screen, New York City, NYC.gov/charter. The meetings will continue throughout June and July, and for more information, the website is on the screen, as I just mentioned. I'll turn it over to you, DM Levy. 

Question: Mr. Mayor, how are you? 

Mayor Adams: Quite well, good to see you.  

Question: I have two questions. The first one has to do with 250 individual suits that were filed against the city by people who said they were sexually abused at the juvenile detention centers. I'm wondering your reaction to it, but also as somebody who was in one of those juvenile detention centers, did it? Did you think it was horrible? Do these suits mean more to you because you experienced it? The second question has to do with violence in Brownsville. Apparently there were two seniors who were shot over the weekend, three kids before that, and we're wondering if you need to change the strategy for dealing with gun violence in that neighborhood. 

Mayor Adams: What I found very interesting, first, let me deal with the Spofford. As you indicated, I spent the night in Spofford. It was a different setting, of my understanding, where the individual locked in cells from when I was there. Any time you hear of any abuse of a young person, particularly when they're in care, is concerning, and it's going to go to process. An investigation and a suit is underway, and we're going to allow the system to take the necessary process and look at the evidence and make a determination of what happened there. I did not view, I did not see, and I was not aware of that in the overnight stay that I had there. 

Question: Does that make you more sympathetic to what they're saying? 

Mayor Adams: I don't want to go into being sympathetic or not. Any time a young person is abused it’s troublesome, it’s problematic, but this is a court case, and I think we should allow it to go as proper procedure. I don't want anything I say to interfere with the case at all. 

Deputy Mayor Anne Williams-Isom, Health and Human Services: Mayor, can I just add, and ACS is already working on updating many policies. We've learned so much over these years. Many of these cases are from the 70s. Just to make sure that we're doing everything that we need to do with training and with oversight, and so we will continue to look at the investigation. Even while that's going on, we've updated many policies. 

Mayor Adams: A large number of these cases predate this administration. We want to be clear on that. This is something that people are raising from years ago. Brownsville is concerning. We did such an amazing job in Brownsville of decreasing crime, increasing unemployment. We really focused, and I always felt Brownsville was the bellwether on how well we're doing as a city. When I spoke with the team over the weekend, it was really alarming that the number of young people under the age of 21 that are in possession of guns and are using the guns. Listen, we're clear. We still are moving in the right direction. Crime is decreasing, particularly in shootings and homicides. That's not a consolation when your loved one is a victim of a shooting, and we're clear on that.  

Our focus is to continue to look at what's happening there. Is this gang-driven? That's what we believe it is, and to really respond to it accordingly like we've done throughout the city. It just reinforces what we've been saying for the longest. Too many guns on our streets, too many repeated offenders are armed with these weapons, and some of the targets were innocent people. That is why we have to take a real close look at what are we doing with recidivism and repeated offenders that are carrying guns. I'm asking for our partners in government to really understand we have to go after them. DA Gonzalez took down a dangerous gang, I think, about two weeks ago, but that is the focus. 

Question: Good day to you Mayor Adams.  

Mayor Adams: Good morning.  

Question: A belated Happy Father's Day to you.  

Mayor Adams: Thank you.  

Question: A couple questions for you. My first question to you is the Post and NY1 has reported that Assemblymember Rajkumar is potentially looking to run for comptroller in 2025. I wanted to know if she would have your support. We know that you two have been allies when it comes to politics. I also wanted to ask you about Bishop Lamor Whitehead. Today he was sentenced to nine years in prison. He previously claimed he was a mentee of yours. Can you give a reaction to that?  

Then, final question on the budget. It's two more weeks until the budget is due. The Citizens' Budget Commission has sent a letter to you and Speaker Adams talking about starting with a budget that's accurate and transparent. I wanted to get a comment from you. Do you feel like it's unfair that they're saying that the budget that you're starting with is not accurate, that you're not starting with the appropriate numbers? 

Mayor Adams: First, Bishop Whitehead is in my prayers, and I wish the best for him. I know there was a story in the Daily News about he and I exchanging texts and comments that I made. Listen, first I want to deal specifically with that. Ingrid and I have been together for over 30 years. We're siblings, and no article is going to rip us apart. People have tried that for years. We stood side by side throughout this entire journey, and we're going to continue to do so. And when I voice my private anger to someone or something that happens, I think nothing is more harmful when you debate with your siblings or your spouses, all of a sudden for it to be broadcasted in public.  

It's not something you want to see, and I'm pretty sure all of us have made comments they would like to take back, and they feel harmful. I just don't understand why people get a great level of joy of, taking private moments and exploiting them. That's the role of being the mayor of the City of New York, and it goes with it. But I love my sister. My sister loved me, and we've shown that love throughout the years. I pray for… Bishop Whitehead is in my prayers. 

Question: Then a question on the Assemblywoman potentially running for comptroller to share her support. 

Mayor Adams: Right now it's 2024. I'm focused on making the city more affordable, livable, and safe. The candidates that [are] going to run in 2025, they're going to make that announcement. I think she's a great assemblyperson. She's one of the hardest-working assemblywomen, what she has done around cannabis issues, what she has done around bringing issues that's important to not only her constituency but the entire state. I am, pleased with her no matter what office she decides to be in. She has been a real ally for the people of the city. 

Question: Then the last question is on the budget. The Citizens' Budget Commission sent you that letter and the speaker about starting with an accurate and fair budget. Did you have a comment on that? Do you feel like you and the council are still far apart when it comes to the pot of money that you're starting with? 

Mayor Adams: We're going to be all right. I joke and say AA Airlines land a plane. We had these conversations before. I think we should just hold on to old reels of these same conversations we hear when we go up to Albany. that we're not going to get anything done. We do it. We hear when it's coming down to budgetary season. We do it. We're going to land the plane, and we're going to make sure that we deal with the real affordability crisis that's facing the city. This city and this country, people are really concerned about their ability to put food on the table and to provide for their families. I have a lot of confidence in the speaker coming from working class communities. We realize how important it is for us to get it right, and we're going to get it right. We got it right two times before. There's no reason we can't get it right again. 

Question: I got two questions. The first has to do with a story we did this week on Millicent Redick.  

Mayor Adams: Who?  

Question: Millicent Redick. She was one of the people charged on the straw donor [inaudible] thing. In May 21, you met with her and six of her friends in her apartment in Harlem. In July 23, around the time she was indicted, the Press Office, your Press Office, said you didn't know her. That the only person charged in that you did know is Dwayne Montgomery. Based on that meeting in 2021, we know that wasn't fully accurate. Can you explain why your press office said you didn't know her at the time when you had that meeting in 2023? 

Mayor Adams: Yes, this may be challenging, really, for people to understand, the thousands of people I meet every day in rooms with. Hundreds of people. When I do my town hall, hundreds of people are in there. When I sit in round tables, gatherings, as I walk the streets, when I'm on the subway.  

Someone one time asked a similar question. I took a picture with someone on the subway and they said you don't know them. You said you didn't know them. Here's a picture of you standing next to them. This is the nature of the beast. I'm the mayor of the City of New York. 8.3 million people, Michael. I don't remember everyone who was in the room. Let's be very clear what the district attorney made clear. We had no involvement in what was wrongdoing. I meet with hundreds of people every single day. 

Question: My second question has to do with more of a broad question. there are all these probes ongoing now. There are these three federal probes we know of. There are two state probes out of the DA's office and I'm not sure how many DOI ones, but there are multiple DOI probes. You said before in this room, you follow the law. Why do you think there are all these… There are so many at once. I can't remember a time when there were so many at once, into campaign, administration, people around administration. Why do you think, like all this is going on, given your background as a cop and what you've told us, which I think at face value, you follow the law? 

Mayor Adams: I'm going to continue to do that. I'm focused on running the city. It's all part of the process. I'm going to focus on making the city affordable and safe for New Yorkers. I don't speculate. Let's follow the process.  

Question: Hi. Good afternoon, Mr. Mayor. I'm well sir. How are you? I have a question regarding the updated numbers for how many students are in Summer Rising, how many young people are in the police academy summer camp, and how many young people are in the Summer Youth Employment Program registered for this summer? With regards to summer rising and the police academy summer camp, are the applications closed? 

Mayor Adams: [Inaudible], you got it? Okay. 

Deputy Mayor Ana Almanzar, Strategic Initiatives: Hi, Mona. It's good to see you. First on Summer Rising, the number of letters that have gone out is over 110, 118 approximately. 108 have been placed for Summer Rising. For the police academy number, I have to get back to you. I'll get those numbers from NYPD and give it to you.  

For the Summer Youth Employment Program, we have about 94,000 that have been placed. 18 percent of those, as I mentioned before in our conversation two weeks ago, are from the sixth precincts. That goes to the earlier question about the rising gun violence in those districts, specifically Brownsville. 18,000 of them come from those six precincts, one of them which is in Brownsville. About 13 percent of them come from NYCHA specifically, and also from the foster care system.  

Before it was sort of a lottery, first come, first served. Now the DYCD has paid close attention to where the students come from, the participants come from, where they live, and not only the placement of the zip code, but also what housing they're coming from, as well as what system are they coming from in terms of being placed. 

Question: How much did you say for summer rising? 

Deputy Mayor Almanzar: For Summer Rising, it had been placed at this moment 94,000. 94,000. Yes, and the goal is the same as last year, 100,000. 

Question: The Post reported over the weekend on this open drug use outside of some places in Midtown, mainly transit hubs and tourist locations. Just wondering what your administration is looking to do to address this. Do you think it's having any effect on tourism specifically in New York City, and any other comment you'd like to make on that?  

Also just, and this might be more for the deputy mayor. The number of asylum seekers has been steady. Are you talking about me? Oh, no. I'm sorry. I was thinking about the question. The asylum seekers over the last, I guess, like five, six months now has been around 1,200 to 1,400 every week coming in. We're still stagnant on this number of around 65,000 that are in the city shelters.  

This is on top of having the 30 and 60 day rule being in effect. Has there been any talks of maybe making a stricter rule for 30 and 60 days? Is there any other policies in the works? Because it just doesn't seem to be really moving the needle at this point. I know it decreased a little bit once it went from 3,000 to 4,000 a week. Since then, since it's been at 1,200 to 1,400, it hasn't gone down. 

Mayor Adams: We've had 200,000 that [have] entered our city. We're still getting, like you stated, those who are coming in. When you look at it, 200,000, as the Daily News editorial page pointed out, how we're handling this. DM Williams-Isom should really be commended on being able to do this.  

When you look at the overall homeless issue, I think that if there's one place that this administration is going to be really acknowledged for successfully handling is this issue right here. The large influx, the continuous influx that's coming in, and it has not stopped. With the combination of the chief of staff and DM Williams-Isom and their team, to not look like other cities and even our homeless population.  

Do we have the chart of the homeless population? See that little small, little blue all the way to the far left? That's New York. Percentage of population experiencing homelessness living unsheltered. New York is the smallest number. That's that little small bar. I was never good at reading these bars in school. Now I realize the importance of that class. We are doing a good job. I walked down 34th and 8th Avenue. I was on the street walking down, talking to those who were living in those conditions.  

Michael, I don't remember the faces of all of them. I met a lot of people when I was walking that day on 8th Avenue, 34th Street at 10 a.m., 10 p.m. And there are limitations on what we could do. If someone is just sitting there and they are under the influence of drugs, we can't lock them up. There are real rules on what we can do. We have to abide by those rules. That's what we're doing. We're constantly monitoring the situation. DM Williams-Isom’s team, Molly Park and others, we're sending teams out there to give them the care. Some people don't want that care. Some people, it just takes a long time to build up.  

Even Norman Siegel, who has really helped by getting a group of volunteers, he has been extremely helpful around this. It is a challenge. Because of how our laws are written in this city, you cannot walk up to someone that appears to be under the influence of some substance and state that you're going to remove them from where they are. We're using every tool possible. That's an important piece of real estate. We want to continue to attract tourism, which we are doing. We have to do it within the law. 

Deputy Mayor Williams-Isom: I just want to add, when you were talking about the census, three thoughts I had. One is that when you look at it is going down. It's going down slowly. When I think about the fact that we're just really starting extenuating circumstances, and so people have 30 days, and unless there's an extraordinary circumstance that we're going to be asking them to leave the system, I think we're seeing some of that happen right now.  

The third thing, Craig, is that the summertime is a great time to resettle children and families. We're going to be working really closely with the state in order to do that. I'm very excited about this opportunity now that kids will be getting out of school soon to really see where are the places that other people want to resettle.  

Right now there's no plans to increase another policy. Again, we'll look at the numbers really closely. The only other thing I wanted to add to what the mayor said is that one of the things I like most about working here for the city is the way that all different agencies have been working together for these complicated issues. Whether it's the Department of Health, along with Homeless Services, along with the Police Department, along with Sanitation, along with our nonprofits, places like at Central Park or on 125th Street or places where there's really intense issues, we're working together to figure out what is it that we can be doing better to really get people connected to treatment. 

Mayor Adams: And when you look at that precinct, crime is down. We have a 14 percent decrease in crime up to June. So the precinct commanders are doing the right thing. They're on the street. I cannot overemphasize this chart. look at this chart. None of them have 200,000 migrants and asylum seekers that we have to care for, feed, house, educate. Look at L.A. Look at Portland. Look at Vegas. Look at Phoenix. Look at San Diego.  

We're a victim of our success because no one is no one is seeing the tent, the tents that are out there. No one is seeing the encampments. We're a victim of our success. I really hope that all you guys and ladies go on the road [trip] this year and go look at these cities. Go visit these cities and then come back here and say Deputy Mayor Williams-Isom, job well done. How are you? 

Question: I'm doing Okay. I want to ask about this heat wave. You mentioned cooling centers at the top. You mentioned cooling centers, the importance of cooling centers. My understanding is that some of these are located in public libraries, which are closed on Sundays. Will the city's libraries be open on Sunday, including those that are serving as cooling centers? Also, have you given any thought to opening the city's public pools, which are also going to be closed during the heat wave? 

Mayor Adams: Yes, the budget. First of all, we didn't call for libraries to be closed on Sunday. We need to be clear. That's the soundbite that people have embraced. That was not our decision to close libraries on Sundays. The libraries made the decision on how they were going to find savings. That was one of the decisions that they made. The budget process is still going on. We're looking forward to settling the budget and whatever way we can keep people cool. We want to do so. The pool's been open, Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi, you want to talk about that? Sure. 

Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi, Operations: Our pools are scheduled to be open on June 27th. There's a lot that goes into filling the pools, making sure the filtration systems work and making sure they're adequately staffed. We have to stick to that schedule to make sure that everything is in order when they are open.  

In the meantime, though, our beaches are open and our sprinklers are open in the playgrounds. We encourage people to take the advice about how to stay cool. Make sure you're hydrating. Do anything strenuous early in the morning. Seek out air conditioning and also ensure that people apply for HEAP benefits, which was the way to get free air indoor air conditioning. Just Google HEAP. That's actually the easiest way for me to tell the public about how to connect with those. Do it right away because there is not enough funding in that program to cover cooling assistance. It was originally designed for winter heat assistance. Now as climate change progresses, cooling is becoming just as much of a real life-changing event or, sorry, life-defeating event for many people. 

Deputy Mayor Levy: Jake, I would also point out that, if you listened to the press conference earlier today, that they made very clear that the heat wave is supposed to go through Friday so your question about Sunday doesn't really make sense. Commissioner Iscol is here and can talk to if there is a heat wave on Sunday, where else is it available to… 

Commissioner Zach Iscol, New York City Emergency Management: Yes, so the forecast is still developing for the weekend and into next week. It does look like the worst of it is going to be Thursday and Friday, especially when you look at the heat index, which is the thing that you really have to pay attention to because that's how it feels and that's where the real danger is.  

In terms of the cooling centers, we now have over 500 cooling centers across the city. We've also done a lot of work this year to change our messaging. In the past, we really talked just about directing people to cooling centers. This year, we're really encouraging people to think about cool spaces, right? That could be everything from going to certain parks with different types of facilities, going to coffee shops, restaurants, the movie theater, a museum. It could be the library. We've also invited every elected in the city to participate in our cooling center program this year so that they can open up their offices as cooling centers and be listed on the map, businesses, other organizations.  

We're really trying to get New Yorkers to think about what are cool options, cool spaces, a friend's house, some place with air conditioning they go to. That's not just a cooling center. That's one option. We have more cooling centers in the city than any other city in the country. There's a lot of places people can go and think about to get cool during periods of high heat. 

Question: I know that the governor last week spoke about possibly implementing a mask ban. I was hoping you could explain just a little bit of what you were thinking about this. Would it be just on public transit? Would it be everywhere in public spaces? How would you ensure that people who need a mask could actually wear one? Then for you, deputy mayor, I was just hoping you could also just give a migrant update just on numbers and how many people have moved upstate and just what are some of the roadblocks there? 

Mayor Adams: The mask, had several conversations with the governor. I talked about the mask issue for some time now. I asked storekeepers to have people pull down their mask before entering even temporarily. It's all about a question. If someone has a mask and they ask if you're wearing a mask for health reasons, people could respond. It's all about the proper implementation.  

The law was in place. It was in place. It was removed after COVID. I'm a strong supporter of the decision of stopping masks on our subway system, masks in protests, masks in other areas where it's not health related. I think that you're going to see a great deal of very violent protests and some of this despicable behavior we're seeing. I think you're going to see it dissipate, because masks are not new. Covering your face while you do terrible things is not new. There were these guys that used to ride around with hoods in the deep south. Cowards cover their faces. If you believe in something, then stand up and show your face and believe it and talk about it.  

Standing on our trains, telling people if you're Zionist, raise your hand and get off, show your face and say that. I believe the governor is in the right place and I strongly support it and I hope we get it done. I'm happy to hear from what I read that even AG is looking in this direction. The quicker we do it, I think it's going to stop a lot of these crimes we're seeing. People are using masks to commit crimes, to commit assaults. The difficult thing for the Police Department is finding suspects because of their full covering. This is going to help us greatly. Oh, yes. 

Deputy Mayor Williams-Isom: Sorry. Very quickly. These numbers just are unbelievable. Since spring of 2022, over 200,600 migrants have come through our intake center. Currently, there's 65,600 migrants in our care. Again, if you combine that with our traditional homeless services, we're caring for over 120,000 people in the city right now. Last week, from 6-3 to 6-9, more than 1,200 new migrants have come into our shelter.  

You also remember that about 60 percent of those 200,000 have already made their way to other jurisdictions. We are not studying where people are going next. People are going to, now communities are forming. People are going to other families and friends. They're going to places where they are able to settle, to be in different schools. I don't have that. I think right now, and Camille, tell me if I'm wrong, I think there's about 1,200 people that are still upstate. That's the amount. We have 500 that are in the JFS program in Buffalo. 

Camille Joseph Varlack, Chief of Staff to the Mayor: We have about 1,200 to 1,500 additional individuals. We are working very closely with the state on resettling them now. 

Deputy Mayor Levy: Let me just point out, I think the numbers are from the week prior, actually. We're going to get new numbers because since we moved this to Monday, we get the new numbers today. We'll get the new numbers. Just, and I think you just got one number off. It's 202,600 as of last week. 202,600 as of last week. We'll get you an updated number today.  

Question: Hi, Mr. Mayor.  

Mayor Adams: How are you?  

Question: Good. I wanted to ask you to respond to a statement that the public advocate, Jumaane Williams, made recently on social media. He said, I hope that New York City Mayor at some point lifts up the pain that Palestinian and Muslim New Yorkers are in and have yet to hear one word from him about. I also wanted to point out today is Eid al-Adha. It's a very important festival. As last year we were the first mayor to have a celebration for Muslims in Gracie Mansion for Eid. I think that was for the end of Ramadan. I was wondering if there will be one again this year. If not, why not? 

Mayor Adams: First of all, to the public advocate, 8.3 million people, 35 million opinions. He shared one of his opinions. I think that those who followed me for years know my consistency around the Muslim community. It didn't start here. I'm sure Ingrid can go back to on the Senate floor debating with a Islamophobic Greg Ball, what I've done when women was attacked for wearing a hijab, how I visited mosques when others weren't, how I called for peace in Yemen, how I called for what is happening in West Africa, what's happening in Sudan where you have a large, significant Muslim population.  

I'm consistent. I talk about the awful, barbaric action of Hezbollah and Hamas. Throughout the years, I didn't start doing this, did not. The Muslim Officers Society was started with my attorney after their wives were being attacked after 9/11. They came to me and asked me to assist them during those times. I have a long record of not just talking about what is wrong, what's happening. I've talked about what's happening in Gaza and what's happening across our entire globe. No innocent person should die. I just find it challenging that people don't realize how despicable it is to go to a place like the Nova exhibit and wave flags of Hamas, calling themselves Hamas, and make a mockery and desecrate the pain that people are experiencing, even while hostages were not turned around. I'm consistent, and I've always been consistent, and I'm going to continue to be consistent. The public advocate has an opinion. He has a right to his opinion. I know the facts, and the facts is that I'm consistent about standing up on behalf of people. 

Deputy Mayor Levy: I would also just point out, since you asked specifically, we did have a Ramadan event at the Surrogate's Courthouse. It was covered by a number of people. We also have an Eid event coming up.  

Question: [Inaudible.] 

Deputy Mayor Levy: Yes. I would also point out the mayor, since October 7th, has spoken out dozens of times about the loss of life on both sides, the innocent loss of life, including on—I can give you the whole list, starting on October 7th. It's been—since the very beginning, he's been very consistent, as you just said. 

Mayor Adams: Right. I think there's one— 

Question: The public advocate is saying that the mayor has not mentioned the words Palestine-Gaza. 

Deputy Mayor Levy: I could show you the transcripts. I could show you the transcripts that say it's different. Or you can go on our website and look at the transcripts. 

Mayor Adams: We're not saying it's coming from you. We got that. People want to define for you and use the words they want you to use as you express yourself. I don't do that to him, and I don't do it to anyone else.  

Let's be clear. You said something that's very important. We had 109 mayors. I was the first to have an Eid celebration. We had 109 mayors, I was the first to raise flags of countries down at Bowling Green. I was the first to hold celebrations for various groups at Gracie Mansion. 109 mayors. The 110th opened the city up to everybody. 

Question: Hey, mayor. A couple of quick questions about the Rent Guidelines Board vote tonight. At this point, the tenants are facing up to a 6.5 percent increase for a two-year lease. I'm wondering how you feel about that. There's been a lot of concern from advocates, tenants, that is just too much money at this point and that they can't afford it. It's going to be difficult for a lot of people to pay those increases.  

Then my second question was asking about the budget, following up on the budget. I've heard from some people on the City Council side that they don't feel negotiations are proceeding well. They're concerned. Is there something in particular you're looking for? Their concern is about some of the cuts to pre-K, cultural institutions, libraries, and whether you will restore those cuts. How do you feel negotiations are going? Do any hopes for any of those cuts being restored fully? 

Mayor Adams: The RGB is always concerning, quoting a great philosopher, the rent is too damn high. People are hurting. Affordability is crucial in the city. We are really hoping that there's a low end to, if any, increase at all. I share the concerns of advocates and others. We need to make sure we keep the city affordable. We're going to continue to fight for affordability in this city. I know what it is to struggle. I know what it is to worry about your food and your rent, all of those things. We're going to continue to advocate based on the concerns of New Yorkers.  

Who's taking the next question? The budget? I can't say this clear enough. I said it over and over again. I can sit in a room every year and play the recordings of you asking these same questions. We're going to land the plane, folks. We've done it twice. Adrienne and I are very confident. We know how to get in a room and land the plane. We didn't go to any specialized, private schools. We went to Bayside. Bayside is we know how to figure things out when you don't have enough to figure them out. Her mom was a correction officer. My mother was a cook in a daycare center. We used to eat the leftovers from the Tupperware and the recycled aluminum foil.  

We know how to make this happen. I don't think we're getting full credit of the success that Adrienne and I have done over and over again with 200,000 migrants, cycling out of COVID, dealing with overproliferation of guns that we had to handle on the street, reducing the cost of child care. We've done a great job. Why do y'all feel we're not going to do it again? It's going to be alright. All we have to do is do what I do in the morning. Just do your breathing exercises and meditate and eat a green smoothie. We'll be alright.  

Question: [Inaudible.] 

Mayor Adams: It's going to be alright. It's going to be alright. Trust me, Jeff. It's going to be alright. 

Question: Thank you. There's a big Congressional primary happening between Jamaal Bowman and George Latimer. Just last week, Jamaal Bowman was asked to grade you, gave you a 2 out of 10. I'm wondering if you've been paying attention to that race, if you're planning on getting involved at all in that, and also in other primaries. It's a week from tomorrow. Are you going to get involved with other legislative primaries, endorse, rally folks, that thing? 

Mayor Adams: There's a 2 out of 10 chance I'll get involved in his race. Wherever I'm needed and I do an analysis that the persons or the individuals are going to be helpful to the people of this city to help us deal with this affordability issue and public safety issue we have, we'll make that consideration. I normally don't deal with the politics. Ingrid normally handles that. I'm going to make sure that the people are going to fight for New Yorkers. I think some don't fight hard enough for New Yorkers. 

Question: I have two questions. One on, June 30th, there was a Polish festival on Staten Island, and I know you received an invitation. I'm emcee for that festival. I wanted to ask if you plan on attending. The second question is about migrants, and I want to ask if the city is looking into placing migrants in private housing and covering the costs of that. I'm also asking about city-funded rental assistance vouchers, if that's something. I don't know. It cannot be used for undocumented migrants. If there is any progress on that, I received information that brokers are getting a lot of calls from the city to make their people who are listing apartments for rent to really consider taking the offer from the city to use the program. I'm just asking for comment on that. 

Mayor Adams: As you may be aware, I'm the first mayor, I believe, to march in a Polish Day Parade. I think I was the first mayor to march in many of our parades. It took 110 mayors before we understand that the city is made up of different ethnic groups. Not only do I march in the large ones, but I go to those parades that people often ignore. I'm looking forward to seeing if I can get out to the event on Staten Island. When I was a lieutenant in the 94 precinct, I saw the beauty of the Polish community and their contribution to our city. Long before Greenpoint was this cool place, the Polish community, they were there long before Starbucks discovered the place. I am hopeful that I can make it to the festival. Even if I can't, I trust you, just as I've done before, I will be supporting the Polish community and what they stand for. 

[Crosstalk.] 

Question: Can we start looking into that? Because there is lack of housing, so to offer people money so they can house migrants. I'm wondering if that's... 

Deputy Mayor Williams-Isom: Oh, you mean like if a private citizen wants to have a...  

Question: Yes.  

Deputy Mayor Williams-Isom: I know other jurisdictions are doing that. We don't have a... We do not have a program for that and we're not looking into that. 

Joseph Varlack: Right, we have no plan to do that. No.  

Mayor Adams: Katie, go ahead.  

Question: Thank you, mayor. I want to ask, you made public the Conflict of Interest Board documents. I know back in October when you... Whenever you went to South America, now I'm getting my trips confused. You said, October, you said, I pay my own way. I think the quote was, my dime, my time, don't whine or something like that. In your filing, you said actually...  

Deputy Mayor Levy: That was for Qatar he said that. 

Question: Okay, sorry. For this, I don't know if you had disclosed how much the trip was paying, especially taxpayers, but it was paid for by the North Capital Forum for your trip to Mexico and then the government of Colombia paid for the trip when you went to Colombia. I don't know if that was disclosed earlier and if not, why? Then secondly, I know you also know that you went to the U.S. Open. That was in this year’s, it wasn't on last year's when you attended. Were your 2022 U.S. Open tickets also... Why were they not included on the initial form? 

Mayor Adams: Let's go back. I was in Puerto Rico, that I flew to Puerto Rico on my time, my dime. Puerto Rico. I'm sorry?  

Question: [Inaudible.]  

Mayor Adams: Is it what?  

Question: [Inaudible.] 

Mayor Adams: But it was my time and my dime. That billionaire... That billionaire did not pick up the cost. It was my time and my dime. That was what that quote was from. I think you were there and you cornered me as soon as I came when I was trying to enjoy the beach on my time and my dime. I don't believe I went to the U.S. Open last year. Did I?  

Deputy Mayor Levy: You went for a minute. 

Mayor Adams: What did I do?  

Deputy Mayor Levy: You gave remarks for the opening and then left.  

Mayor Adams: This was 22?  

Deputy Mayor Levy: 2023. You went 22 and 23. 

Question: I'm referring to what was not in the 2023 filing. You had gone in 2022 and I'm just curious why it wasn't on your... 

Mayor Adams: Okay, I have to look at it and see the questions. Give the question to Fabien and let me look at it and I'll be able to determine. Listen, I'm all over the place, man. All this stuff mushed together, man. I don't keep up with all this stuff. You guys cannot imagine what a day in the life of Eric Adams.  

When y'all read my book, you guys are going to say, I cannot believe what a human being went through this for four years. This is an unbelievable story. When I go over my notes for the day, Marcia, I'm like, good God. We'll look over it. If there's an error, we'll correct it. That's what we're doing. 

Question: …What is the conflict? Are you traveling tomorrow or the rest of this week? Is that why… 

Mayor Adams: Where'd you get that from?  

Question: I don't know. It's a scheduling conflict. I don't know… 

Mayor Adams: The conflict could be many things. I may go cigar with Michael Gartland. I may go to Rockaway Beach and say hello to your mom…  

Everybody knows that I’m a momma’s boy. God only knows what we're doing tomorrow. Fabien said, Eric, I want to notify the press ahead of time so they can have an opportunity because I know how much joy you have being with them on Tuesdays so they're going to be with you on Monday. You put out the schedule what time? 

Deputy Mayor Levy: It'll be out this evening, so you'll get it on the evening. 

Mayor Adams: In the evening, he'll let you know. 

Question: We can always do another off-topics. 

Question: I just wanted to circle back on Jeff's question about the RGB vote tonight. Specifically, activists are asking for a rent freeze or a rollback. What do you think of those ideas? I know you've spoken a lot about landlords also needing the money to keep their properties up.  

Then separately, last week, there was quite a long and contentions Council hearing on the bill to end broker's fees for tenants or shift it on to whoever is hiring the broker. I guess just since then, has your thinking on that bill evolved at all even more to share about where you stand on it? 

Mayor Adams: Evolved as in changing my position? Because I never gave my position. 

Question: Evolved from not giving your position to giving it. 

Mayor Adams: Oh, I got it. I got it. No, I think let the process go on. I think if you do an analysis of a lot of folks who are debating this, they were never a real estate agent. I was. I know what it is, as I said last week, of driving people around for the whole day, and they decide they're not going to rent, but you lost the whole day. I think that really this is in aligned with both questions. I don't know when people think of rent, they often think of the folks who own hundreds and thousands of apartments. You look at that landlord that has a 16 unit, and all of their resources are in there, and they're providing a clean, safe place for people.  

We have to find a sweet spot. We have to find a middle ground. I know New Yorkers are hurting. I know that the city and country is becoming, inflation is real. Just the other day, what $100 bought me a little while ago. It's not buying me now, and so we have to find a way that we don't run out, run out those landlords, those particularly those small property owners that they're seeing this increase. They're realizing this is a time when New Yorkers are going to have to come together and say, how do we get through this? Because they're feeling it also. I speak with them. I see them. I know what they're going through. My tenants have not had a rent increase, and when they signed into my building, I said I'm not going to raise your rent as far as long as you're there, and they have not. They have not had that increase, but not everyone is able to do that, so we have to find a sweet spot. We want a low end if there's an increase so that… New Yorkers are hurting, and we have to do the best we can to get people through this period. 

Deputy Mayor Levy: Just so if you want to keep rent down or from rising, build a little more housing in every neighborhood. 

Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer, Housing, Economic Development and Workforce: The Rent Guidelines Board, they have a very challenging task, right, and it's hard every year, but they do the best that they can with the data that is provided. As the mayor has said, the higher end of that preliminary vote is untenable for tenants, and so we've been very clear about that since the preliminary vote came out, and tonight's vote is critical, and that is one piece of this overall puzzle that we have to solve in this city.  

You see it in the very vocal opinions that we hear from tenants every time there's an RGB vote. You see it in the number of applicants to the reopened wait list for NYCHA, right, more than 600,000, and so we can play around the margins, but that is not the long-term solution to this issue. We've been very focused on increasing supply, and that's why we've been really focused working with the City Council at community boards to get City of Yes for Housing Opportunity passed through the City Council by the end of the year. It's why we wasted no time in implementing the new tools we got from Albany this year in the housing package with a set of intake procedures for the extension for 421-a, the new program, and the office conversion program, and it's why every closing season, HPD and our Housing Development Corporation work overtime to finance more and more units of housing. It's going to take all of that to really solve and get to the root of the problem, but we've been laser-focused on it since day one.  

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