Transcript: Mayor Adams Appears on Telemundo 47

November 2, 2023

Alejandro Mendoza: En medio de la crisis migratoria en la ciudad de Nueva York, el alcalde Eric Adams sigue tocando puertas en el gobierno federal. Y aunque, como les decíamos, pospuso un encuentro con funcionarios del gobierno y el Congreso, prometió retomar las reuniones programadas para el día de hoy.

Translation: In the midst of the immigration crisis in New York City, Mayor Eric Adams continues knocking on doors of the federal government. And although, as we told you, he postponed a meeting with government and congress officials, he promised to resume the meetings scheduled for today.

Darling Burdiez: Y justo en esta semana, el alcalde se ha sentado con Telemundo 47, y nos dio una panorama de lo que espera, lo que quiere y de lo que tiene en el tema de la crisis migratoria. Pero además nos compartió un poco de su vida personal, y nuestra Yolanda Vásquez tuvo la oportunidad de hablar con él.

Translation: And just this week, the mayor sat down with Telemundo 47, and gave us an overview of what he hopes, what he wants and what he already has on the issue of the immigration crisis. But he also shared a little about his personal life with us, and Yolanda Vásquez had the opportunity to talk with him.

Yolanda Vásquez: Así es, Darling, Alejandro, el alcalde Adams no se da por vencido. Y, en esta oportunidad que tuvimos de conversar con él, nos deja ver que su intención en superar esta crisis, y seguir luchando para que todas sus metas de sacar adelante la ciudad sean una realidad, siempre, de la mano de su comunidad.

Translation: That's right, Darling, Alejandro. Mayor Adams is not giving up. And, in this opportunity we had to speak with him, he let us see that his intention is to overcome this crisis, and continue fighting so that all his goals to move the city forward are a reality— always together with his community.

Vásquez: Alcalde, ¡muy buenas tardes! Gracias por atender a Telemundo 47. Recientemente usted ha dicho que, si la situación con los inmigrantes continúa, de la manera en la que se está presentado en este momento, a lo mejor, van a terminar migrantes durmiendo en las calles. ¿Qué tan pronto podría ocurrir y qué hacer para evitarlo?

Translation: Mayor, good afternoon! Thank you for your time with Telemundo 47. Recently, you said that, if the situation with immigrants continues, as it currently is, immigrants will end up sleeping on the streets. How soon could that happen and what can be done to prevent it?

Mayor Eric Adams: We know... It's not the question of if, but when. If this keeps up, a population of people — preferably single, adult males — are going to be probably sleeping on our streets. We're not saying no more...

Vásquez: ¿Qué específicamente espera usted del gobierno federal para sentir que hay un alivio y que le están ayudando?

Translation: What do you expect specifically from the federal government in terms of relief and help?

Mayor Adams: So, what we're asking from the federal government is, one, a decompression strategy at the border. We have 108,000 different cities, states, villages, let's spread this out throughout the entire country, not just New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Houston and Massachusetts.

Second, they should fund this. I mean, this is a federal crisis. You can't tell the people...

Vásquez: Cuando le preguntamos sobre la intención de muchos migrantes de mudarse a otro estado, pero que no tienen dinero para el viaje, la receptividad del alcalde fue inmediata para ayudarlos en este proceso.

Translation: When we asked him about the intention of many migrants to move to another state, but who do not have money for the trip, the mayor's receptiveness was immediate to help them in this process.

Mayor Adams: Yes, yes, and yes. It is probably one of the smartest things we can do. Deputy Mayor Williams‑Isom and her team put that together. We call it reticketing.

Vásquez: Yo sé que usted es un hombre de aspiraciones. ¿Cómo se ve usted en diez años?

Translation: I know that you are a man of aspirations. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Mayor Adams: I see myself in 10 years that a young migrant asylum seeker or a green card holder or someone that's undocumented, they're going to come up to me and say that because of what you've done, I am now this. I'm now in law school. I'm now a doctor. I'm now opening my own business. They're going to realize because of the compassion that I have shown and giving people the dignity and telling them the honesty that we're going to go through this together.

Vásquez: Y si se preguntan si sus aspiraciones tienen alguna conexión con la Casa Blanca, a esa idea parece que no le es indiferente.

Translation: And if you're wondering if his aspirations have any connection to the White House, he doesn't seem to be indifferent to that idea.

Mayor Adams: You can run the country from New York City...

Vásquez: ¿Por qué agradece usted hoy en día? ¿Por qué agradece este mes?

Translation: What are you grateful for today? What are you grateful for this month?

Mayor Adams: I'm thankful for my mom. You know, mommy was an amazing woman.

Vásquez: Y aunque su mamá murió meses antes de posicionarse como alcalde, dice que no hubiese sido posible sin su continuo apoyo a lo largo de la vida. ¿Qué le gustaría que le regalaran en Navidad? ¿Cuál es el regalo que espera? Que no sea físico, que sea algo que lo hace feliz.

Translation: And although his mother died months before he became mayor, he says it wouldn't have been possible without her continued support throughout his life. What would you like someone to give you for Christmas? What is the gift you are waiting for? It doesn't have to be physical; it can be something that makes you happy.

Mayor Adams: I want a smile from someone that I gave them a gift that they needed for the moment. To me, if you deposit into the social bank of life you can draw on equity when you need it. And I want to deposit something into the life of someone who believed they were forgotten, and they can just give me that authentic smile.

Vásquez: Y en esa búsqueda constante de opciones para solucionar la crisis de migrantes, el acalde dice que sigue esperando por claridad de la Corte en el tema de right to shelter. Y así determinar si esta norma aplica o no para los migrantes recién llegados. Darling, Alejandro...

Translation: And in this constant search for ways to solve the immigration crisis, the mayor says that he continues to wait for clarity from the Court on the issue of right to shelter. And thus, determine, whether or not, this rule applies to recently arrived immigrants. Darling, Alejandro...

Mendoza: Siempre es fascinante saber cómo piensa el hombre que dirige la ciudad más poblada de esta nación, con todos los retos que eso sígnifica. Gracias, Yolanda.

Translation: It's always fascinating to know how the man who runs the most populous city in this nation thinks, with all the challenges that that entails. Thank you, Yolanda.