Mayor Eric Adams denied a rumor that he’ll quickly resign as he railed towards his critics at an interfaith breakfast within the New York Public Library’s most important department. Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025.
Ed Reed/Mayoral Images Workplace.
Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday re-emerged after spending three days out of the general public eye as a result of an unspecified sickness with a defiant speech wherein he shot down a rumor that he would quickly resign and railed towards his perceived critics.
In remarks delivered at an annual interfaith breakfast in Midtown, Hizzoner went on a multi-minute screed aimed toward dispelling a rumor circulated by a former metropolis lawmaker that he’ll resign from workplace on Friday as a part of a take care of federal prosecutors in his corruption case.
“Who started the stupid rumor that I was stepping down on Friday?” Adams informed the gang of religion leaders throughout his speech on the New York Public Library’s Central Department. “Are you out of your mind?”
Adams’ legal professional, Alex Spiro, additionally vehemently denied the rumor — unfold on X by former Metropolis Council Member Sal Albanese — on Wednesday. On the identical day, the New York Instances and a number of other different retailers reported that President Donald Trump’s Justice Division is in talks with Manhattan federal prosecutors about dropping Adams’ five-count indictment, presumably in change for Adams going together with Trump’s mass deportation agenda.
Thursday’s deal with marked Adams’ first public look since Sunday. Over the previous three days, he has been holed up in Gracie Mansion as he battled an sickness that his workforce has declined to disclose any details about, citing his proper to privateness.
Whereas Adams stated he has gone by a “scary week,” he didn’t present any additional particulars on his sickness.
‘Rumors have prevailed over facts’
Mayor Eric Adams meets with spiritual leaders at an interfaith breakfast in Midtown on Jan. 30, 2025.Ed Reed/Mayoral Images Workplace
The mayor contended, with out proof, that the media doesn’t need to report on his administration as a result of it’s led by “ordinary working-class people.” Although NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch comes from an ultra-wealthy household whose identify is plastered on buildings throughout town and lots of of his high deputies have levels from Ivy League faculties.
“Rumors have prevailed over the facts of what this administration did,” he stated. “No one wants to cover what we have done because it’s you. That is why they [don’t] want to cover [it]; they want to keep the symbol that we ordinary working-class people can’t run a city of this level of complexity.”
Adams additionally pushed again on criticism that he’s capitulating to Trump’s immigration crackdown.
The mayor has repeatedly stated that whereas he needs to expel immigrants who “commit” violent offenses, he’ll uphold town’s sanctuary legal guidelines, designed to guard those that should not convicted of a criminal offense. Earlier this week, Adams directed the NYPD to work with US Immigration and Prospects Enforcement to conduct raids within the Bronx that resulted within the arrest of a number of migrants, one in every of whom regulation enforcement stated is related to a Venezuelan gang.
On Thursday, Adams bristled at the concept he’s anti-immigrant, as some critics have charged, pointing to his administration’s efforts to shelter a big portion of the over 200,000 migrants who’ve arrived within the metropolis since 2022.
Addressing Deputy Mayor Anne Williams-Isom, who has led town’s migrant disaster response, Adams stated, “What you did for nearly 220,000 migrants and asylum seekers in this city, to hear people say we are anti-immigrant, are you out of your mind?”
“While those who were criticizing us were at home in their pajamas, we were out in the streets doing the work for the people of this city,” he added.
Adams blasted a protester within the room holding an indication studying: “Mr. Mayor, show mercy to our immigrant friends.”
“Walking around with your silly signs,” he stated. “Stop doing the signs and give the sign that you believe in God and join the work that people are doing in this city.”
Nonetheless, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, one of many mayor’s most ardent critics, charged that Adams is extra targeted on securing authorized assist from Trump than defending town’s immigrant inhabitants.
“There are a lot of awesome people who work for the city who are doing the best they can to protect New Yorkers; the mayor isn’t one of them,” he informed reporters at Metropolis Corridor on Thursday afternoon. “His rhetoric and his refusal to speak out is very concerning, and he seems to be more interested in what can benefit him as opposed to what can benefit the people of the city.”
