New York City Mayor Eric Adams stated that helping New Yorkers has been his ‘therapy,’ and is the reason why he is running to be the city's mayor again.
“I'm the same person I was 40 years ago on fighting for working class people, and I'm going to continue to do that,” said Adams at his weekly press conference on Monday. He reiterated that he is running as a Democrat.
When asked why he wasn't on the campaign trail ahead of the June Democratic primary election, the mayor said as an incumbent, he was already out in public every day.
“Give me the definition of campaign, going to houses of worship. I do that, going to town hall meetings. I do that, going into the streets and shake hands with people. I do that, kiss babies. I do that,” said Adams. “I know how to campaign, and I know how to also run the city."
He said he does not have to make campaign videos and attend debate forums as other candidates have.
“I have a record to run under. Those other guys don't have a record to run. I have a solid record of housing, public safety, affordability, and so we're going to, you know, stay focused on that,” said Adams. "I know what I am doing."
The mayor also said his federal corruption charges were "bogus."
“I just really, really want to apologize to New Yorkers for this whole bogus investigation that went on. And I think time is going to be kind to me,” he said.
The mayor said he isn't tired or frustrated, and enjoys working for the people of the city. “I got a whole lot of gas still in the tank and I'm looking forward to New Yorkers to get past the noise and say, let's look at the numbers,” said Adams.
When asked whether he thought former Governor Andrew Cuomo properly handled pandemic-related decisions with regards to nursing homes, Adams said Cuomo mismanaged the situation.
"Someone said, well, he's a great manager. Well, he darn sure didn’t manage that crisis well, like I managed COVID," the mayor noted.
He said many of the mayoral candidates that are focusing on Cuomo's mismanagement were also at home, sheltering in place.
"I was in the streets. I was in the streets dealing with COVID with real people, nurses and doctors. I was giving out masks at NYCHA," he said.
The mayor also defended his pick of Randy Mastro as First Deputy Mayor. “We're fortunate to have a lawyer of this caliber,” said Adams, dismissing critics who have spoken out about Mastro, an attorney who previously was a deputy mayor under Rudy Giuliani and is known to have conservative leanings.
The mayor also discussed a City Council review of the administration's mental health initiative for homeless individuals. The review was critical of the involuntary removal policy that takes citizens to treatment without their consent. The review critiqued the disproportionate ethnic makeup of those subjected to involuntary removal, as well as its lack of long-term care for patients.
However, the mayor said he disagreed with such analysis.
“You ride your subway system, look and see who's homeless. Look at the ethnic demographics of who's homeless. Look at the ethnic demographics of those who are charged with some of these crimes of pushing people on the subway system, slashing, et cetera,” said Adams.
