Transcript: Mayor Adams Appears Live on PIX11's "PIX11 Morning News"

December 6, 2024

Hazel Sanchez: As we've been telling you, the city council passing the mayor's city of yes plan. And if you are just tuning in, we just heard from Councilmember Lincoln Ressler on the measure as well.  

Dan Mannarino: So let's talk about this further with New York City Mayor Eric Adams. We're also joined by First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres Springer. So good morning to both of you. And let us begin with a big congratulations on this historic moment.  

So 80,000 new units coming, right? So to many, the bill looks great, so it's time to put it to work. So, Mr Mayor, let me begin with you and actually breaking ground getting this done and what a timeline looks like. 

Mayor Eric Adams: Thank you. Thank you so much. And no one could do that better than Deputy Mayor Maria Torres Springer. You know, the complete timeline was the next steps on how to move forward. She has lived and breathed this bill for quite some time. So, DM, won't you tell us the timeline?  

First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer: Of course. Well, we're so happy that we pass this historic set of reforms yesterday. 80,000 units over the course of the next 15 years, and we're not going to waste any time. Let me tell you that the mayor was serious when he charged us with not just thinking big, but acting boldly.  

And so whether it's the office conversions or accessory dwelling units or the types of small apartment buildings along commercial corridors and near transit, those are the types of homes that New Yorkers will now see emerging across the five boroughs.  

And it really could not come soon enough because, as we know, we have a 1.4 percent vacancy rate. And when 80 percent of New Yorkers told us that they supported the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, we knew that we wanted to make sure to act quickly and to bring relief to New Yorkers as soon as possible.  

Sanchez: Yeah, I mean, this was really a fight to the finish, right, to get this approved. And a lot of councilmembers said no, because it really would change the landscape of their communities amongst other concerns, environmental concerns, etc. So how are you going to address their concerns moving forward? 

Mayor Adams: And that's democracy in action. You know, 31 out of the 51 voted with us, and the mere fact that we engaged everyone from developers to communities in following our conversation. This is New York. I cannot say it enough. 8.3 million people 35 million opinions. But we knew we had one goal, and that was to get housing for New Yorkers who are really hurting. The city has not been affordable, and we have moved on that North Star.  

First Deputy Mayor Torres-Springer: And I also want to be clear that we designed this proposal so that you wouldn't see dramatic change in any particular neighborhood. But the aggregate impact of the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity of 80,000 new homes is really dramatic and historic. And we also have $5 billion worth of investments in infrastructure and housing as part of this package.  

Mannarino: Thank you. And there were some negotiations, right? Obviously it went from $109,000 to $80,000. The council and speaker alluding to those negotiations. Some even say, Mr. Mayor, that you were absent from the negotiations the whole time. So how involved were you in the process to actually go ahead and get this done and get it across the finish line? 

Mayor Adams: Dan, even with the negotiations, and that's what you're supposed to do in politics, this is the largest reform to housing in over 40 years, if not the history of the city. More housing under the Bloomberg administration of 12 years and the de Blasio administration of under eight years. So that's what you're supposed to do.  

But let's be clear. I met with the speaker earlier this year, if not sometime last year, and I asked, what must I do to get this over the top? She says, Eric, let me negotiate with my members. I need for you to go in the community and sell this. And we did that town hall community meetings, stopping at bus stops and train stations, bringing everyone together. Because of that, over 80 percent of New Yorkers embrace this concept. I did my job. She did her job. We land[ed] the plane because of that.  

Sanchez: Can I just ask you real quick, though, as you move this plan forward, are there some areas that will get prioritized will be first on the list for these housing units?  

Mayor Adams: I'm sorry repeat that? 

Sanchez: No, I was just asking if there are some areas that will get prioritized, like which areas will you start when you start building these units? Can they hear? 

Mayor Adams: I believe you said some areas… cut out a little bit [inaudible]. 

First Deputy Mayor Torres-Springer: So what is really historic about this proposal? There's two things. One is that while there were negotiations, which is typical, every major component of City of Yes for housing opportunity was preserved through the negotiations.  

But second, and specifically to your question, it's still at its core. Every neighborhood will partake in building new homes. And so no one area is prioritized because every neighborhood in the city has to contribute to addressing our housing crisis.  

Mannarino: Appreciate that. This was on the City of Yes. I want to… while we have you, Mr. Mayor, zeroing on a few other topics that we are following very closely in the news and the headlines right now. And, of course, obviously, that involves the search for the gunman who killed the CEO of the United Healthcare. The question here is, do you believe that he is still, in fact, in New York City? 

Mayor Adams: I don't want to do anything that's going to impact the investigation of our team is looking at all the leads that we see. And I cannot say enough about the New York City Police Department in the surrounding law enforcement entities. This was a fully masked person that we had to unmask and use good old fashioned police work. We are on the right road to apprehend him and bring him to justice.  

Sanchez: Okay, now we're gonna switch gears again and talk to you about the migrant crisis. President-elect Trump's incoming borders are Tom Homan was on News Nation Tuesday talking specifically about New York City. Let's hear what he had to say and then talk to you about that on the other side. 

Tom Homan: I'll meet with Eric Adams. I've yet talked to him. I actually plan to call him tonight, but I'll probably call him right after the show. But he's reached out to me a couple times. I've been on travel, but I plan on calling him either tonight or first thing in the morning. I certainly will meet with him. I'm looking for partnerships. I'm not looking for enemies, and I think we both have the same concern on the rising illegal alien crime rate in New York City. I want to help him address that. 

Sanchez: So have you spoken with Mr. Homan? 

Mayor Adams: Yes, we have communicated. I'm looking forward next week to sit down and hear his plans of something I've been talking about over a year now. This number of– small number of people who are coming in committing crimes in our city, and they need to be held accountable.  

You do not abuse your right to be here in this city in this country with criminal behavior. And I've been clear on that for over a year now, and I'm looking forward to having a partner in Washington, D. C. That understands we have to secure our borders, and we have to make sure that those who are harming not only New Yorkers but migrants and asylum seekers that they are held accountable.  

Mannarino: Yeah, but are you for, you know, two questions here. Are you for mass deportation? I guess, first and foremost, cause that's something that Homan is looking to do. 

Mayor Adams: I must have answered that 1,000 times. You know, I'm not for mass deportation, but I'm not for mass saturation. 220,000 people were placed in our city that cost us $6.4 billion. That is unacceptable to New Yorkers, and we can get this right, and that's why I'm sitting down and meeting with the border czar because I have some great ideas I want to share. 

Mannarino: Got you. And I want to give you a chance to clarify something you said in an earlier interview today. The question was posed to you that if you would rejoin or become a Republican because some were saying that some of the things you say sound like Republican talking points, right?  

You said you wanted to become part of the American Party, so it wasn't a no. But hold on a second. Let me just finish the question. It wasn't a no. So what does that look like to you? I mean, because you know what the headlines are gonna be now that you haven't said no to becoming a Republican. 

Mayor Adams: I think that what people fail to realize is that I'm not motivated by headlines. We need to move away from identifying, classifying ourselves as anything other than Americans. I'm an American, and I'm going to continue to say that. So no matter what party I'm on or vote on, I'm going to push for the American values.  

And I think America has told us, stop the squabbling, leaders, and start leading us out of the crisis that we're facing— 

Mannarino: But you're gonna run–  

Mayor Adams: That’s what I’m looking forward to doing- 

Mannarino: But you're gonna run for mayor of New York– 

Mayor Adams: Headlines could be whatever they want. As I said, yes, that is what I'm proposing to do. I've been a Democrat for many years, and I'm going to run for my reelection as a Democrat. But my focus is the American people and the people of New York City. And those who don't like it, they would cancel me. And I say, cancel me. I'm for America.  

Sanchez: We want to ask you quickly about campaign finance. We talked with Councilman Lincoln Restler just moments ago. He says you should not be given matching public campaign funds due to the investigation you're under for campaign finance violations. What do you say to that? 

Mayor Adams: 8.3 million people, 35 million opinions. He's one of the opinions in the city. No matter what happens, I'm straight ahead, running for re-election, showing the great things we've done with this city and showing the things we're going to continue to do.  

Five more years of being successful and moving our city from the financial crisis to the crime crisis, to the homeless crisis, to the COVID crisis. When you look at what this team has done, it shows that we were able to stay focused, consistent, and we are grit like everyday New Yorkers. 

Mannarino: Mr. Mayor, thank you. Ms. Torres-Springer, I appreciate your time this morning. I know there were some issues hearing us and the delay, but I appreciate you both, and we'll talk more.  

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