Transcript: Mayor Eric Adams Calls in Live To Wabc’s “Bernie & Sid In The Morning” Radio Show

November 18, 2022

(Audio plays.)

Mayor Eric Adams: You know, I could just think of all those tunes that while I was studying my exams, before I studied my exam for sergeant, lieutenant, or captain, I would listen to the hip hop sounds and that gave me the energy that I have. Let's be clear, my story is your story. My story is your story. Dyslexic, arrested, rejected. Now, I'm elected.

(Audio ends.)

Sid Rosenberg: All right. That was Eric Adams, the mayor a couple of days ago at City Hall, celebrating 50 years of hip hop. Next year I think is the 50th anniversary, and maybe they're building a museum, I don't even know. But this is Grandmaster Flash’s White Lines. I used to like this song. We are waiting on the mayor. He hasn't called in yet, he's late, but... Well, he's running a big city, dammit, calm down. Geez. Is he calling us or are we calling him, Felix?

Felix: He's supposed to call us.

Rosenberg: Yeah. I know he is because… I did. I texted him, we spoke. We speak a lot lately actually. Don't worry about it.

Felix: I'm not saying a thing.

Rosenberg: People forget that years ago when he was Brooklyn borough president, you know who his favorite show was? And he would call in sometimes without even being booked, it was me and Bernie. And Bernie and Sid had Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams on all the time, especially during COVID. He was on with me and Bernie a lot. And then of course he was elected mayor and we've had some differences in opinion — less than you think. Last week, my beautiful wife Danielle and I had the fortunate opportunity to have dinner with the mayor and it was great. We talked about personal stuff, we had some laughs, and he brought up some serious topics as well, and the mayor was all too enthusiastic about answering all of it. So with that said, here he is on this Friday morning, Mayor Eric Adams. Mr. Adams, how are you, pal?

Mayor Adams: Hey, how's it going, Sid? And your wife is a gem.

Rosenberg: Oh, thank you.

Mayor Adams: And it wasn't a few laughs. It was a whole lot of laughs.

Rosenberg: It's true. No, we did. We had a lot of laughs. We did. It was a fun evening, it really was, Mr. Mayor. But again, as I said, we discussed some serious topics. I'll tell you this, I promote you coming on. My phone blows up. "You tell the mayor. You ask the mayor. Vaccine mandates. Crime." But you said something a couple of days ago which I thought was pretty bipartisan, which was you called out your own party. You called out the Democrats on how they're handling the crime issue. And now, have you gotten any response from any of your colleagues and are you sticking to what you said, Mayor Adams, a couple of days ago which is, “My party needs to do a better job”?

Mayor Adams: And let's be clear on this, this is not a Democrat, a Republican — this is an American problem. So when children are shot, when our streets are filled with guns… and it was about stating that we are doing a good job and we're not informing the public about what we're doing. Look at the legislation that we passed, sensible gun laws. Look how we put money back into public safety. And so what I said to the party in a clear way, we need to tell our story and not allow the fringe ends of the party to dictate what we believe everyday working class New Yorkers want and need. And I'm a working-class New Yorker, always have been and will continue to be.

Rosenberg: Mr. Mayor, we discussed during dinner that night your trip to Albany, and I said to you, listen — I was honest with you, right? Was I not, Eric? I said, look, when you came back and you weren't yelling and screaming about Stewart-Cousins and Heastie and all these people, me and Bernie were like, “Come on man, come on Mayor Adams, get pissed.” (Laughter.) You're laughing because I said it to you at dinner, and you said, "Sid, I get it but it's not that easy because I've got other things I need to deal with. Not that crime isn't the most important but it's not the only issue, so it's not that easy." So explain to the listening audience what you told me and Danielle that night because it did make sense.

Mayor Adams: Well, cause here's the goal. There are many things we must get through Albany. We're a creature of the state and it's about whatever disagreements you have, you voice them and you sit down, but then you have to solve real issues. Like I needed Albany and I was successful with Carl and Andrea to get earned income tax credits increased. That put money back into the pockets of low-income New Yorkers. Childcare, billions of dollars we were able to give back. NYCHA land trust, we were able to give back. Hotel conversions. And so when you go in and you live and die on one issue and not the multitude of issues that this city needs, you are shooting yourself in the foot. And so I must be able to sit down and say, here's what we disagree, here's what we agree. Let's move through those issues that we agree on. That's important.

And what people didn't realize, when we went to Albany, we did come back with some reforms around criminal justice. The DAs told us that the collection of evidence — it was called discovery — was crucial for us to win and we were able to make those modifications. But I'm going to continue to pursue what I believe is right, they're going to pursue what they believe is right, and we're going to find ways to run this city correctly.

Rosenberg: Mayor Adams, despite the back and forth between you and Rudy Giuliani — I'm close with Andrew, you know that, and so I was talking to him yesterday and he said, "When my father was mayor, when he first won, for example, his relationship with the Governor Pataki was tenuous at best. But then we had 9/11, and usually when there's a big crisis in New York, even people with huge differences find a way to come together. Really, by the second term, my father and Pataki got along well." So that does pose the question, what is your real relationship, mayor? Don't give me the press conference nonsense, all right? Because I know you and I know you really do care down deep. What is your real relationship with Governor Hochul?

Mayor Adams: And I would kid you not, and you know me. Throughout the years when Bernie was here and you, we have real candid conversations on this show.

Rosenberg: Yes.

Mayor Adams: Governor Hochul has been an unbelievable ally and friend, a real ally and friend. Governor Hochul, when I told her how important it was for us to look at recidivism and to look at discovery laws, she dug in deep and she didn't have to. And then she sat down in the room — with me during the asylum and migrants issue — with the president and she was stern as hell. When I saw her in the room, I realized, we have a real leader here. She was clear — New York cannot carry this burden. And each time I called the governor, she was there, and I believe we're going to have a great run as mayor and governor and I'm really excited about it. I spoke with her at SOMOS. I saw her the other day at the Urban League. She reaches out to me; we communicate well. I think New York is in a great place with a governor and mayor that are on the same side together.

Rosenberg: All right. I'm not sure all of my listeners agree but that's okay. That's the beauty of this conversation, because I will tell you, mayor, that there are more people willing to give you the benefit of the doubt because you did do a good job as Brooklyn borough president and you do seem to have some bipartisan opinions. That's not the case with her. You do realize that during the debate with Lee Zeldin, she actually said, and I quote Mayor Adams, quote, "Why do you care about that so much?" And she was talking about the crime issue here in New York. So she may have those conversations with you but the average New Yorker has seen somebody that doesn't seem to care all that much. More concerned about the Buffalo Bills playing a football game in Detroit this weekend than people getting shoved on the subway.

Mayor Adams: No, and I am saying to you, if I felt that this was a governor that was not concerned with public safety and we are not aligned, I would clearly state that. This is a governor that is aligned on crime. She was with me January 6th. That January 6th, she was in the subway station with me. But we put in our first phase of the subway safety plan, we came back to do the second phase — opened up mental health beds. She is just clearly focused on how we make sure that this city — from Buffalo to Buffalo Avenue in Brooklyn — is a safe place, and we are going to focus on that.

Rosenberg: I know that avenue. You mentioned January 6th… And you... talked much about this yet, Mayor Adams. But talking about January 6th, two nights ago President Trump announced he's going to run again for president his third time coming up next year. I don't know if you saw the whole hour-long speech that he made. But you have any opinions on President Trump running again?

Mayor Adams: I don't think he should. I believe that for whatever reason, rightfully or wrongfully, it really divided the country during his run as president. And I believe that we should move forward, not go backwards. I don't believe he should run.

Rosenberg: All right. Fair enough. Is there any personal relationship between you two or anything in the past, or that's just your political feeling?

Mayor Adams: Just a political feeling. I have had no interactions with the former president at all.

Rosenberg: Okay. Tell me about Rikers Island. And I agree with you on this one wholeheartedly, that the city should overlook Rikers Island, not the federal government. I know a judge yesterday kept that going, but seems to be an ongoing argument. Why is that the case, and do you think that eventually you guys may lose control of Rikers?

Mayor Adams: No, I don't. I believe that the outside monitor as well as the judge is really seeing that we are making real progress. This has been decades in the making. This didn't start in January 2022. And when you look at what was happening on Rikers Island, we have Commissioner Molina there who is extremely impressive and understands the issues. And the judge made the right call. He looked at the facts, he looked at the movements we are making and he understands... The judge understood that this was a long time in the making of neglect.

And those who don't understand that is trying to turn over this problem to the federal government. And I don't see the federal prisons being run as well as people are saying. But think about this for a moment also, Sid. The same people who are saying we should give it to an outside federal oversight, they were running it.

Rosenberg: Right. It's true.

Mayor Adams:  I mean, some of the loudest voices. What the hell were they doing while they were there?

Rosenberg: Yep. A good question.

Mayor Adams: Maybe the reason they don't want us to continue to do what we are doing is because they're going to be ashamed to find out that they fail. We are not going to fail.

Rosenberg: Two or three more, let you run. Mayor Eric Adams here. Kind enough to join me on this Friday morning. I live in a nice area in Queens. You're a Brooklyn boy and I know your whole history with your mom and all that stuff, and you're actually a pretty good story. But I got to tell you the last thing I want to see in my neighborhood, Eric, is a jail or even a shelter for that matter. And a lot of folks in these boroughs are very nervous that's going to be the case. Are you going to quell their concerns right now or tell them get ready for it?

Mayor Adams: Well, right now, I am bounded by the law that was put in place under the previous administrations around the borough based jails. And if anything changes on that, that is going to have to go through the City Council. We have to really be aware that the price tag of these jails have gone up astronomically, and we have to sit down together and determine the future of how we're going to incarcerate individuals in the city who are dangerous offenders. We're not talking about those who commit small crimes. We're talking about serious dangerous offenders. We have to do it the right way.

Rosenberg: Oh, tell me about vaccine mandates for city workers. Lot of people still very upset. I did get on a text from an anonymous person, I'm not going to say who it is, who does serve this city that is still very upset about city workers falling under that category vaccine mandates and still not getting paid and still not working. Where are we with that, Mayor Adams?

Mayor Adams: Well, I think in every story, there are both sides. I look at the side of the hundreds of thousands of city workers and city residents who understood that we were dealing with a crisis that could have crippled our city. They stepped up. They were true New Yorkers. They knew they could protect their families and other New Yorkers and they responded.

Rosenberg: But you would agree, Eric, that it looked bad when for example, Aaron Judge is playing white field for the Yankees or loud mouth Kyrie Irving is playing basketball in Brooklyn, and everyday folks, they were putting their lives on the line, weren't able to work. I'm sorry, on this one I have to disagree. That's not a good look, Mr. Mayor. Not a good look.

Mayor Adams: And that's the beauty of when you know and I get on that healthy disagreement, I enjoy. You're like Ali and Frazier, you bring out the best in me.

Rosenberg: Thank you.

Mayor Adams: I think that what we did with the sports and entertainers was to equalize the playing field. We were telling other entertainers and those who come on the stage that they can come here when our athletes could not play here. That was just wrong to do. And we equalized the playing field. But again, those who were not working, they made the decision. And I respect the decisions that people make, of that it was fought in court, the court's rule in our favor that we can put in place a mandate for those who were city workers and that's what we live by. I inherited that, and I followed through on it.

Rosenberg: Mr. Mayor, would you endorse Hakeem Jeffries right now to replace Nancy Pelosi?

Mayor Adams: Hakeem is a real friend. I believe that no matter what position he holds in Congress, we are really blessed to have him there in Congress. Look, we have… the Senate majority leader is from New York City and Brooklyn. If we were to get Hakeem Jeffries as a leader in Brooklyn, I mean, this does so much for our city.

And again, he's a real leader. He's been a friend for many years. I endorsed him when he ran for Assembly. I knew he was going to be a star of the party and I'm happy whatever future that's in front of him.

Rosenberg: Last question, you sat there at dinner with me and Danielle, you looked straight in the face when I said to you, Eric, Mr. Mayor, there's all kinds of rumors you've been telling people you want to run for president. And you said, "Sid, my job is to clean up this city. That's what I want to do. Those rumors are just that, rumors." But I'm going to ask it again right now just for listening audience pleasure, do you have any intention anytime soon of running for president?

Mayor Adams: Not at all. You could run the country from New York City. This is the greatest place on the globe. And the beauty of this, we don't have to agree on everything. We have to agree that we must be safe and raise healthy children and families. And I think that what you and I did with your wife, and Tracy and I are looking forward to having dinner with you guys again…

Rosenberg: Us too.

Mayor Adams: It just goes to show us that all we have to do is sit down and talk to each other. And so what if we disagree? I don't agree with myself all the time, but you want your family protected, your beautiful daughter and what she's doing, your children. That's the same I want for Jordan. And we may have different opinions on two added the 10 things, but those eight things, those are the foundational things that make us great as a country. And I'm just going to continue to believe that.

Rosenberg: Hey, listen, you are great at dinner. You are great this morning, and I'm rooting for you. New York is rooting for you because we need to get back where we were and listen, the two times I've just spoken to you, I really have confidence that you can do that. So, thank you for coming on this morning.

Mayor Adams: Let me share this for you before I go. Someone came up to me one day and said, "Listen, I hoped you fail, I hope you fail," because they heard some other people say, "Listen, good luck to you Eric. Eric, we wish you well." And they came, " I hope you fail." And I shared with them, "Hey, listen guy, don't you know I'm the pilot of this plane and you a passenger on it. If I go down, you go down."

Rosenberg: That's right. And we all die.

Mayor Adams: You should be praying that I land this plane. You get it?

Rosenberg: It's true. You're right. No, listen, if you crash a plane, we all die. That's true.

Mayor Adams: Right.

Rosenberg: That is well said.

Mayor Adams: I got to fly this thing, man. I got to fly the economy. I got to fly public safety. I got to fly housing. If I crash, then our families crash. We in this plane together, buckle up, we going to go through some turbulence, but I'm going to put this plane down on the ground and we all going to get their safety.

Rosenberg: That is a perfect way to end this conversation. Hey you, happy Thanksgiving. I look forward to meeting Tracy and the whole thing. You were great today, mayor. Thank you so much.

Mayor Adams: Thank you. Take care.