Transcript: Mayor Adams Holds In-Person Media Availability

December 3, 2024

Watch the video here at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkuJBa0m3cc&t=1s

Mayor Eric Adams: Good morning, or good afternoon. You know, [inaudible]. It's great to be over at the museum. It's the new museum dedicated to the LGBTQ+ community. That's why we had to change the time to later. They had a ceremony to the new wing. We allocated $10 million to that new wing. And hats off to the former mayor, Bill de Blasio, the continuation of his vision. And we wanted to make sure that vision was actualized. 

As always, we like to start off our off topics talking about public safety, the prerequisite to our prosperity. And we were happy to have a safe Thanksgiving Day weekend. As I stated to the grinches that attempted to stop the parade, we will immediately move them off of the parade route and the parade was allowed to continue. Even with the inclement weather, people lined the roadways to see and celebrate Thanksgiving. 

To kick off our Christmas shopping season, Black Friday on Friday was extremely successful. And the amount of revenue that is generated from the parade and people stay around the shop, it really helps our city as we continue to move in a correct area for financial stability. 

And you hear me say over and over again that New York must be safe and feel safe. And that is why it's imperative as we continue to keep crime down. Crime is down this year as we move into the final month of the year. I was on the phone today with the team finding out how we're looking and we continue to move in the right direction. 

Crime was down in November citywide by over five percent. And last month specifically, we saw reductions in homicides, robberies, burglaries, grand larceny, stolen vehicles and shootings down year to date as well. And transit crime continues to move in the same direction, 15.8 percent in November decrease. And we have the safest subways and 14 years. 

These latest achievements build on our committed commitment to success and really hats off to NYPD, FDNY, emergency management, sanitation, the Department of Transportation, citywide events and more for the outstanding work for ensuring that another major event in the city went off without any major incidents. 

And New Yorkers can rest assured that we're going into the holiday season. Be careful of those who like to pickpocket, particularly in our subway system and those who are in crowded areas, be conscious of where your items are at all times. And if you see something, say something. And of course, do something. Notify the Police Department. 

Lastly, affordability. We're excited about this week. Thursday, the City Council will be voting on our City of Yes. And we look forward to the initiative passing the council and their full frontal approach to dealing with housing. I know that today the speaker did something around housing as well. Just really want to thank her and her team because this was a real significant passage of legislation. And we could get it out. We got it out of the committees. Now we need to get it out of the full council. And we're looking for their help to do so. 

But we also announced yesterday the Future Ready New York City. I'm excited about that. These this program is now available in 135 schools. This is given 15,000 high school students the training they need for real life experience. We're expanding this life experience in HVAC, which is air conditioning, decarbonization and human and social services. This is giving them training while they're in school, getting the certifications that they need, giving them real internship, paid internship possibilities. And I'm excited about the program and what it’s going to accomplish. And we look forward to making it happen as we move forward. So why don't we open up to answer some of your questions?

Question: I have two questions that have to do with immigrants and the possibility that they could be deported under the new administration. Number one, there were a number of people in the city government and the immigration community at a press conference today calling on the state to spend 165 million dollars to upgrade legal services to protect people who might face deportation. Not only new immigrants, but other people who are here that haven't gotten their green cards yet. So, number one, I'm asking your reaction to that. And that's something— I'm wondering what you will be doing in terms of trying to protect immigrants in the city. 

And secondly, do you plan to meet with the president-elect’s new homeland and border securities czar. And what will you be telling him? And what do you hope to come from the exchange?

Mayor Adams: Well, as you know, we have a nation leading asylum application help center. National leaders in this space, they visited the city. They looked at what we were doing and they stated no one is doing what you're doing in the country. And so those national advocates that don't try to play the politics of it locally, they came in and did a walkthrough. And we're going to continue to do the good work we're doing. And this include the TPS, temporary protective status. This include work authorization. All the things I've been advocating for. 

Migrants, asylum seekers and others. They want to work. They want to participate in the American dream. And we need to find a way for them to do that. But we cannot ignore ignore the fact that the American people have communicated to us loudly and clearly. We have a broken system they want to fix and we need to fix our immigration system. We need to secure our border and we need to make sure that whomever we parole into this country is going to have an opportunity to work in this country. 

Particularly the irony of this all Marcia is that we have municipalities that are looking for workers, including New York, and that have a population crisis. This is not making any sense to me at all. When I speak to my electors across the country, they're saying, Eric, we need workers. We're willing to take migrants and asylum seekers that are not criminals and committing crimes. We're willing to take them, but they have to be able to work. So I don't understand why this wasn't clear to the previous administration. 

And so your question about meeting with the new border czar. Yes, I reached out to him and shared that would like to sit down and speak with them to hear what are his ideas. You know, because I don't want people talking at each other. I want people to talk to each other. And I made it clear that I'm not going to be warring with this administration. I'm going to be working with this administration. President Trump is the president elect and whomever he chooses to run his agencies, I'm looking forward to sit down and see how we better New York.

Question: The question is, what level of cooperation will you be giving them if they send ICE agents and other people here to try to deport people who are in New York City? And then what will you do to protect the people who are already here?

Mayor Adams: Well, listen, I'm not going to speculate on what the plans are. We just scenario communications with the team. I would like to speak with our border czar and find out what his plans are, where our common grounds are. We can work together. And I strongly believe, I've always– my history is sitting down with those across the aisle with different ways of thinking and sit down and share my ideas. 

I believe I have some ideas that could deal with this issue and we can reach what the American people have been saying to us. Secure our borders, address the people who are committing violent acts in our country and make sure that we have our citizens— are going to be safe. That's where I am. 

[Crosstalk.]

Why don't I get on your show this week and sit down and do it. So can we set that up? Let me go on. This way you and I could have a nice conversation. Well, I'm going to do it as soon as I meet with the border czar so I could talk with you about it. Yes. If I meet with him this this week. 

[Crosstalk.]

Mayor Adams: Okay, I'm going to come on your show so we can have a good conversation on it.

Question: I wanted to stay on the topic of immigration. This week you closed— you're up to now almost closing a dozen migrant shelters. I wanted to know, in your opinion, how much of that do you think is actually the work of the city on case management versus immigrants who are coming, are fearful of a Trump administration and might want to go into the shadows or might not want to be on a list? 

And then separately, you mentioned the City of Yes, that's passing this Thursday. Do you feel any disappointment that the number of potential housing units decreased so much from 108, which wasn't that many to begin with, to 80,000 units after you made some concessions?

Mayor Adams: Okay, so first, the decrease in migrants and asylum seekers in our care dropped before the election. Okay, so I want history be accurate. Prior to the election, prior to people knowing who was going to be the president, you saw our case management go from 220,000 and dropped substantially. I think we were around, prior to the election, we were around 60 something thousand. 

So to state that the drop happened after the election is just factually incorrect. It was happening because of our case management, the 30 to 60 day program, which many people who yelled the loudest were criticizing. But we were able to get a substantial number of people to take the next step in their journey. That's what you call case management. We were able to get thousands to go through TPS. We were able to get a substantial number of people to get their work authorization. We advocated for smart policies. We stated that we were going to do a peg in the migrants and asylum seekers. We brought down the cost. You saw a successful management of a crisis that the federal government left us alone to handle. And we were able to accomplish that. 

So we're now at 21 weeks in a row where we have had decreased in the population. 21 weeks. When was the election? How many weeks? Four weeks, election. Twenty one weeks. We witnessed a decrease. Okay, so we should be factually accurate with that. 

There is no housing program or no housing initiative that any mayor, as long as I can remember, that didn't sit down with the city council and whomever else in Albany and had to compromise in some way. To compromise is not to lose. We are talking of 80,000 units is successful. Now, add that on to the fact year one, year two, we have record numbers of housing and what we've done. Added on to including NYCHA in our housing plan, added on to the five billion dollars we put into housing. 

We have led the way on affordability, led the way on building and retaining housing. The records don't lie. These numbers don't lie. So I don't understand. When you look at it, we will be– we will have more new homes zoned than any administration in the last half century, 2.5 times more than all of the rezone is under the previous administration combined. How is that a loss? 

I mean, there's so much you can hit me on. Give me my wins. 

[Crosstalk.]

No, no, I'm not disappointed when I'm going to build 80,000 new homes. And many of us sat in this room and you said I wasn't going to get City of Yes done. All said— oh, no, no, no. Don't take this away from me. Let me have some opportunities. 

You said I would not win in Albany. I won every time I went up. You said I would not get City of Yes done. I was able to get City of Yes done. We wouldn't bring down crime in the subway system. We brought down crime in the subway system. You keep saying what I can't do and I keep doing it. Come on. Oh, now we don't remember those conversations. The City Council don't like you. So you never get it over the finish line. Oh, you didn't do it. Your team did. Your staff did it. I picked the staff. 

No, before we move on, I'm going to go into the migrants for a moment. Bring that screen up. Because I really need people– people stop me on the street, Marcia– no go to the migrant. When people talk to me about the migrant, I say 6.4 billion dollars. It's not really resonating. And a lot of people said that, it happened, it’s over. We lost the money. And you said it’s going to have a devastating impact on our city. 

We have not seen the full cost of what this did to us. I came into politics because of the 11 year old boy that was arrested. He was absent from school a substantial number of time. The DOE never saw him. He was arrested for robbery two times. The long term impact of that 6.4 billion dollars has not materialized yet. 

We could have spent 400 million on community schools to handle chronic absentees. We could have spent 600 million on 2000 guiding counselors and social workers in schools. 39 million on summer rise and extended hours for 30,000 children. 22 million on MetroCard for 70,000, 75,000 summer youth employment participants. 200 million could have gone to a thousand more police officers. 84 million could have gone to 730 park staff. You see some of the other numbers, go to our agencies. Public schools, 33 billion, 50 percent of what it costs to run HRA went to this crisis. 50 percent. The police budget is less than what we spent. The entire NYPD is only 6.2 billion, Fire Department only 2.6 billion. 

The impact of those programs that didn't materialize is we created more of those 11 year old boys that I saw in our precinct in the 88th precinct. The long term impact of what we did to this city is going to– you're going to see it materialize in administrations in the future. They hurt the future of New York City. And and when people hear me say 6.4 billion dollars, they may say, okay, just a billion here, billion there. No. 

We didn't invest in seniors the way we should have and young people the way we should have. We're not going out to get these chronic absentee students the way we should have, the crimes that we've witnessed. This impacted our city and people don't seem to understand why were you fighting so hard for this? Because I reflected on that 11 year old boy that was denied and I went into government to stop these 11 year old boys. And I came up with a plan to do so. And the federal government made me take six point four billion dollars out of providing these services that we should– We all should be angry at what happened to our city under this administration.

Question: Yes. Good afternoon. With respect, I think you should clarify your position, if you would, because a week ago, maybe two weeks ago, I asked you specifically about mass deportations. And you told this group that you oppose mass deportation. You were on Channel 41 last night and they quoted you as saying that you think the city should cooperate with ICE under certain circumstances. Yes. So can you explain to us what your point is on this and what your position is?

Mayor Adams: You have Miss Jones from some country, has been here for 10 years, undocumented, working hard, trying to provide a way, not committing a crime. Or you have a commissioner of my Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs. A dreamer came here, crossed the river with his mother to participate in American dream. And he now is a commissioner that is in charge of other dreamers. Those people should not be rounded up in the middle of the night. You know, these are people who love our country and they're participating in our country. 

Those who are here committing crimes, robberies, shooting at police officers, raping innocent people have been a harm to our country. I want to sit down and hear the plan on how we're going to address them. Those are the people I am talking about. And I would love to sit down with the border czar and hear his thoughts on how we're going to address those who are harming our citizens.

Question: Open to hearing what their plan is to deport some of these folks. And you think the city in some circumstances should cooperate with ICE?

Mayor Adams: Let me– know what's interesting? And I was talking to the team the other day. I want you to all go back and Google Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Google what they said about those who commit crimes in our city and what they said in our country. 

They said those who commit crimes need to get out right away. That was their position. So this is not a new position. You know, because in this state of– in the era of cancel culture, no one's afraid to be honest about the truth. 

Well, cancel me because I'm going to protect the people of the city. And if you come into this country in this city and think you're going to harm innocent New Yorkers and innocent migrants and asylum seekers, this is not the mayor you want to be in the city under.  

[Crosstalk.]

How are you?

Question: Good. Great. Thanks. During the pandemic, undocumented workers were essential workers, a step up in a major way. There's precedent. I think even my paternal grandmother was a nurse during the Great Influenza, came from Canada. She was granted citizenship and recognition for her service during that time, putting her life at risk. Is that something you would be willing to work with [inaudible] unions to say, people that stepped up like that in a major way to help us keep on, they should get some kind of consideration?

Mayor Adams: Look, the reason I know undocumented and other workers were doing what you said is because I was out there. I wasn’t at home social distancing. I was not sheltering in place. I was on the streets with people who were willing to help those who were social distancing and who were able to shelter in place. When you were as food service workers responding to your Uber Eats, you could not do it remotely. You had to go out and expose yourself. So I am with you on that. 

People who are giving back to this city should have an opportunity to participate in the American dream. And I said we should send people to certain cities, I can't say this over and over again, certain cities that are dealing with population problems and need workers. I need food service workers. Kentucky needs backstretch workers. You go all over this country and there are many cities and municipalities that are saying we need more people. 

Questions: We, my colleagues at WorkBytes have a piece speaking with the doctor's council. Still don't have a contract. There's a lot of people leaving the profession or leaving New York City in health and hospitals to go to more wealthier suburban districts. They say that right now an emergency room wait can be eight hours. Are you concerned about this? And when's the last time you visited an ER? We might know that you get around the city a lot. Have you thought about popping in and seeing what an ER is happening in Elmhurst Hospital?

Mayor Adams: I'm in hospitals a lot, thanking our doctors, thanking our workers, because I know how challenging it is. We are in the midst of these contract negotiations, as well as EMS and EMTs, making sure they get a fair contract.

And also to manage the taxpayers dollars, because that's my responsibility. My responsibility is to do what we've done for 97 percent of our union employees, give them a fair contract. But I have to protect taxpayers dollars in the process of doing so. If not, that would not be responsible. 

And we're going to do that. We're going to land the plane with our doctors. We're going to land the plane with our favorite topic of EMS. But we have an obligation of making sure we give fairness to the workers, but protect New York taxpayers dollars.

Question: Hi, Mr. Mayor. How are you?

Mayor Adams: Good. How are you doing?

Question: Vivek Ramaswamy tweeted the other day about how the Pakistan International Airlines are leasing the Roosevelt Hotel. The city is in a contract with them to house migrants there. So just wondering if you guys have an update there. Is the city under contract with the Pakistan government or any other Pakistan entities when it comes to housing migrants? 

And then second question for you, just looking for your reaction on the Hunter Biden pardon by President Joe Biden.

Mayor Adams: First, I think he was right in his his tweet. It breaks my heart that we're spending this much money following the law. We're New York City requires us to do. And many people don't remember those first few months we had. We were getting those buses in the middle of the night of Zach Iscol from OEM Deputy Mayor Williams-Isom. I assume my chief of staff will respond in the middle of the night. 

We were getting 4000 a week at one time. Eight thousand every two weeks, 16,000 a month. And we were required in the beginning that by a certain time we had to find housing for them. We had to have them. They had to be in a bed by a certain time until we had to go back and forth to court to fight that. But in those first few months, if you came in at one hour, you had to be inside a place by a certain hour. And we had to live up to that. 

And so when you saw we had to find space wherever we could. We were in emergency status. We had to find a law. And so his tweet is the same thing I'm saying that for the most part that we shouldn't have to be paying this. This should not fall on the backs of New York City taxpayers. I've said this over and over again. So we see it as him because he's going into the efficiency of government. This is inefficient. This is inefficient to do. And so I'm hoping he's going to examine all of the inefficiencies that we're seeing in government because I came in with the same energy and spirit. We have been wasting taxpayers money for far too long and we need to stop wasting taxpayers money. So his observation is the observation that I had. But we had no other choice but to do just that. 

Would you talk about the… Yeah. Hunter Biden. Out of all of this, you know, there's there's almost a level of irony to this, to this all. I just want to bring out something. I want to read. I'm going to read the front page of the New York Times. Okay, let me find that sentence. President Biden and President-elect Donald Trump now agree on one thing. The Biden Justice Department has been politicized. Does that sound familiar? Rest my case.

Question: I'd love to expand on that. You know, you said in The Wall Street Journal the other day that you do believe that you were targeted because of your speaking up about migrants. I guess I want to ask, I mean, why do you think you were targeted? I believe that the Southern District has said that this investigation into your campaign began before you were mayor. It began in 2021, I believe they said. So, I mean, what would they be targeting or were they just chasing a lead and found something?

Mayor Adams: Listen, one in all my life, I never had to have a level of discipline that I have right now. Nothing is more harmful and hurtful to have leaks come out. The assault on your character and you have to sit back. You know, there was this photo of Muhammad Ali when he was like had the arrows in him. He was like, do you know how much I want to respond to this stuff? I just want to respond to all of this that has unfolded for the last couple of months. 

And every day before I do off topics, my lawyer said, don't you do it because, you know, I'm just I'm just a fighter. I believe in fighting for my rights. And this is the hardest thing I've ever done in my entire life of the onslaught of this. And I have to remain silent and I can't answer and defend myself. That's the hardest thing. 

But life is kind. There's going to be an opportunity one day to really dig into all that has unfolded. But you cannot ignore the fact because because I know I read a little fast. President Biden and President-elect Donald Trump now agree on one thing. The Biden Justice Department has been politicized. Now, you know, if this is in the New York Times, it has to be true.

Question: First, I have to ask you about your reaction to the first ever Polish-heritage breakfast at Gracie Mansion. But the second question I have is–

Mayor Adams: A beautiful event, by the way. 

Question: Thank you. And thank you for doing it. And the second question. Are you looking forward to working with Elon Musk and the government efficiency department to work on government efficiency?

Mayor Adams: I like that. I like that. And, you know, it's interesting that whenever I agree on what this administration is doing, people say, oh, you know, you're agreeing because you're hoping he looks favorable on you. Look at what they are saying. And then look at what I have been saying for years, for years. 

I came in office talking about government inefficiency. I came in office saying that our city must be safe. I came in office– This is what I've been saying for years. So I'm not agreeing with them because of any other reason than I agree with them. How about that? How about we've had a broken country and city that has betrayed everyday people? Why every year the same communities look the same, but people get rich over and over again. It's time to fix government. And I look forward to Elon Musk, who can take us to Mars. Then he can also finally have an educational system that is not denying poor people in the city and bringing innovation. This is innovation. We should be… We were a country and a city that led the globe in innovation. And look at us now. It's time. It's time for change. And I've said this for years and I'm happy that Elon is going to be part of those who are moving that change forward. 

We should not be afraid of Bitcoin. Remember y’all laughed at me when I first got my Bitcoin. Who's laughing now? Go look at my Bitcoin now. You all mock me. You're taking your first three paychecks in Bitcoin. What's wrong with you? Now you wish you would have done it. You know. And so I am happy that we're having people who are willing to think outside the box to do the things we need to do. 

Why are we afraid of AI? We shouldn't be afraid of AI. China's not afraid of AI. We have been holding back. This has been a racehorse that wanted to run at its right pace. And we've been holding back that racehorse out of fear of being canceled. And now you have a bunch of people that are not afraid of being canceled. 

Question: Clearly, you do want to talk then, about the investigation. Do you plan on testifying at your trial? My second question is, you said repeatedly you want to roll back certain aspects, at least of the sanctuary city laws. Can you specify where exactly you would like to see more city cooperation with ICE? 

Would you only want to see that cooperation in cases of violent crimes? Or would you want to see a broader standard to cover suspected criminal wrongdoing of any type? And then what's your return on the Bitcoin paycheck?

Mayor Adams: It's always on my COIB. They make me say how much I have in it. My attorneys would decide the strategies of any sort of dealing with our case. I have a lot of confidence in my legal team and they're going to decide our strategies and look forward to whatever strategy they state. I'm going to move towards it. 

Yes, I've made it clear prior to the election. Again, I got to go prior to the election. I never thought I would be quoting Warner Wolf. But let's go back to the videotape. Prior to the election, I stated our current sanctuary city laws went too far. Mayor Koch started it. Bloomberg made a modification. But the previous administration, they went too far. 

We should be able to address and coordinate with any entity when you're dealing with those commit crimes in our city. And I'm looking forward to sit down with the border czar and hear his thoughts on that. 

[Crosstalk.]

Question: Aaron Regan, Voice of America, mayor, Bennett Field migrant shelters located on federal land. Are you concerned about the potential challenges or complications that might arise from the incoming Trump administration there? And what steps are you taking to address these challenges and others may face?

Mayor Adams: We've done several scenario plannings and our goal is to keep decreasing our numbers. And because of what the team has done around the decreasing in the numbers, we're hoping we won't have to use any of these HERRCs. We want these numbers to continue to decrease. We want to take that six point four billion dollars and whatever it is and put it into the services of New Yorkers. So our goal is to see these numbers continue to decrease. That is that is what we what we're looking forward. And the team is looking over, if for whatever reason we have to change where we are, we're going to pivot and shift. 

Question: It’s on federal land. I mean, theoretically, ICE could come in. I mean, I'm wondering if people are talking there right now that they're scared compared to being in another shelter. What are you going to do to protect these people? 

Mayor Adams: We did several scenario plannings. And once I sit down with the border czar to get a full understanding, and I don't want to speculate on what the next steps are. What's happening?

Question: I wanted to follow up on Josie's question about where you stand when it comes to undocumented New Yorkers who are accused of committing crimes. I have heard you say that you thought de Blasio and the former City Council went too far when they came up with that rule that it had to be yet to be convicted of a crime. A certain list, 170 crimes that they laid out. 

I've also heard you recently say that you are in favor of cooperating with ICE after the person serves their time. So does that mean that you would like to see them get due process as opposed to just being charged, which is what it was under Bloomberg?

Mayor Adams: Well, you know, Mike is one of my favorite mayors. You know, I'm my position is people commit crimes in our city, you have abdicated your right to be in our city. And I'm open to figure out the best way to address that. My goal is to always give people due process. But my goal is to sit down and hear what the plans are on the current administration to address this issue. 

You commit crimes in our city, I'm always going to be of the belief in a position that you don't have the right to be in in our city. And if someone committed a crime and they face jail time, I want them deported after they serve. But I'm willing to sit down and hear the plan of the border czar.

[Crosstalk.]

I'm open to anything to get criminals out of our city. I'm open to anything to get criminals who come to our country and attack and abuse innocent. 

Question: [Inaudible.]

Mayor Adams: No, no. I think that's what… you are either or. That's not that's not [who] I am. I'm willing to sit down with the border czar and find out what his plans are.

Question: Two questions. First, the broker fee bill that council passed in almost a month. Do you have any any position yet on whether you're going to veto it or not? 

And second question on the Rikers possible receivership. Like, you know, if the average person looks at this, this ruling and this potential likelihood of a receiver taking over, would it be reasonable for people to see this as sort of a black mark or a sign that your administration hadn't handled records?

Mayor Adams: That's a great question. The broker bill, I'm not going to veto the bill. The question is, if I'm going to sign it or not. So the broker bill is going to be law because they have a veto proof majority. And so I'm not vetoing the bill. I don't want to put New Yorkers through distress and strife. Stories about, oh, you know, we are, you know, a bill just for it to be voted into law. That's just, you know, I'm just not in that space of just just these headlines of dispute. We need to we need to be in a better, calm place. And so I won't veto the bill. 

The question is, if I'm going to sign it into law, I shared what my concerns are. And life will determine if I was accurate in my concerns. If this go[es] into the of the rent of New Yorkers as they pay their rent. And many people who make these decisions, you know, I have a lot of life experiences. Somebody was laughing the other day when they learned that I was a mechanic. You know, there's a lot of life experiences, not only [was I] a small property owner, but I was a real estate agent. 

So I know what it is to pass off course into the owners of buildings. And so people who are dismissive of that is because the real life experience of having to live through that. I come from a different approach. You know, a lot of people are, you know, they're so young. They have not had all these full experiences. And so I'm not going to veto the bill. The question is going to be, you know, if I'm going to sign, or if it's going to just lapse into law. Your second question was… 

Question: [Inaudible.]

Mayor Adams: That's a good question. If the judge would have stated that, Eric, in your three years, you have failed. If she would have made this this administration's issue, then it is a black mark against me. But she was clear for nine years they have been talking about this. And I know it seems like I've been here for nine years, but I haven't. I’ve been here for two years and 11 months. And in two years and 11 months, the monitor has talked about how good it has become under the commissioner. We are starting to turn the corner of six years prior to my arrival. They have been in discussions about this. 

And prior to the nine years, Rikers has been a mess. Rikers has always been a mess as long as I can remember. So this is not an Eric Adams issue. It is the history of Rikers Island. Now, I've been on Rikers Island more than any mayor in the history of the city visiting inmates, visiting correction officers, finding out what needs to be done on the front line. Seeing I was there on Thanksgiving Day, speaking with young men who the commissioner has now sitting around to bring down youth violence on Rikers Island. 

And so we know we're moving in the right direction. If the judge made the decision that, you know what, those other six years, they didn't do what they were supposed to do. You did not get to where I believe you need to be fast enough. She has to make the decision. But I would say over and over again, it is not like federal prisons are pictures of what's great about the institution. Just go right down on Third Avenue and 30 something street and see what's happening at the federal prison that's there. But the judge, she has the power to make the decision. And we're going to follow whatever decision she makes.

Question: Yeah, we have two questions. So the first one is [Governor] Hochul is expected to announce a cell phone ban in schools. Your admin has flip flopped on it. Do you support the governor's cell phone ban?

Mayor Adams: I’m sorry say that one more time? I know she said the part about my admin, did you say… what?

Question: Hochul is expected to announce a cell phone ban in schools. Your administration has gone back and forth on whether or not you support that. Do you support the governor's ban on cell phones in schools?

Mayor Adams: Okay, okay. The governor is the chief executive of the State of New York. And if she puts in place a ban that we are required to follow, we're going to do that. If she leaves it up to like we've done in Albany before, a city of X number of people, they can make their determination. Then we are not ready to make that decision yet because we need to get it right. And others tried and others failed. 

Now, we have a history of trying to succeed like Willets Point, like Brooklyn Army Terminal. You know, we've been able to land all these planes. I will ask the governor. Let me do it, so it’s right. And then the other state could follow me because we're going to get it right. We're not going to do it and then have to go backwards. So I will in my conversation with the governor, she hasn't mentioned that to me. I will share with the governor. Give me an opportunity to get it right. And then the rest of the state can follow what I'm doing, because trust me, we won't go backwards when we get it right.

Question: Our second question. I know Liz's question. You seem to say that you are going to be open to deporting asylum seekers who have been charged with a crime. But you want to talk with the border czar. I just want to make sure that we got that right. And then in regards to meeting with the border czar has Homan responded to your request for a meeting, and is there one on the books?

Mayor Adams: This wasn’t new, I've always stated I wanted to address those who commit crimes. 

Question: [Inaudible.]

Mayor Adams: I'm open to having a conversation on how he will implement that. You got a guy, he's on camera shooting at shooting a police officer. I don't want that guy in my city. You know, plain and simple. You got a guy that rapes one young lady, gets out, and go rape another person. I don't want them in the city. 

Question: Did Homan respond to your request for [inaudible]?

Mayor Adams: Yes. Yes, he did. And actually, I think he was on one of my favorite stations, Fox, you know, talking about… talking about that he's looking forward to something about that, that I reached out and that he's looking forward to meet this week or next week. So we communicated this morning and he stated that, you know, once he settles, we’ll reach out and we’ll coordinate, our teams will coordinate for the most part.

Question: Two questions on the immigration deportation front. First, so in your view, someone is a criminal if they have been charged with a crime, because you yourself have been charged with crime. 

But, you know, so that's one question. The other is if you were a law abiding asylum seeker in New York City, you know, someone who's doing the best they can to get ahead. All of that, sending their kids to school. Would you be scared about the prospect of the incoming administration?

Mayor Adams: Okay, two things. First part, I'm an American. Americans have certain rights. You know, the Constitution is for Americans. And I'm not a person that snuck into this country. My ancestors have been here for a long time, for a long time. And I don't know if your blouse is made of cotton, but they used to pick some of that. 

So what rights I have, the person that decides to shoot a police officer, they should not have those same rights. Okay, that's my position. And I look forward to hearing what is the idea of the border czar. I'm looking forward to that. I've said it over and over again. We need to fix the immigration problem in this city. The American people said that. I don't know if you really watch the election results. The president-elect hit the popular vote, hit the electoral vote. He was not undecisive, indecisive on what his positions were. He was clear we need to secure our border deal with the immigration issue. The American people heard it. They voted for it. 

I've said it before, over and over and over again. It didn't matter who was the president for me. I said the same thing. New York City should not be going through this. Chicago should not be going through this. Denver should not be going through this. The American people should not be going through this. And the migrants and asylum seekers should not be going through this. We're placing them in a position that is unfair and is inhumane. I cannot make it any clearer.

Question: The second question, if you are a law-abiding migrant in New York City who is sending her kids to school and doing what they can to create a better future for themselves, would you be scared right now about the incoming administration?

Mayor Adams: I think they should do what we told them to do over and over again. If you need police services because you're a victim of a crime, call the police. If you need healthcare here in the city, go to the hospital and get the medical attention you need. If you have a child, place that child in school so that child can be educated. 

Our city services are open to all people who are in this city. That is what we do. That is what the law requires us to do under the current law. And I believe we need to modify our existing law as I stated. But they should not be afraid in this city. That's the purpose of sitting down and I want to share my ideas with the incoming border czar so I can hear his ideas. We don't know. All of us are speculating right now. 

This city is a city and nation of immigrants, as was pointed out earlier during COVID. They were in our streets. They were doing our job. They built our bridges. They've done all the things we needed in this city. And this is a sanctuary city. There's no getting away from that. And there are laws that are in place and we're telling those law-abiding individuals that you just mentioned to use the city services that the law allows you to do. Thank you.