Mayor Eric Adams and other senior officials in the New York City leadership team held a press briefing.
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NewsTranscript
00:00:00 >> Good morning, everybody.
00:00:02 Thank you for joining us today.
00:00:03 My name is Fabian Levy and I serve as Deputy Mayor for Communications for the City of New York.
00:00:08 Before we begin today, I want to acknowledge the extraordinary bravery of our NYPD officers who work every day to keep our city safe.
00:00:15 As many of you know, two officers were shot yesterday morning while serving in the 115th precinct.
00:00:21 While so many of us were safely at home with our families and loved ones,
00:00:25 these two officers were patrolling our streets and protecting their fellow New Yorkers.
00:00:28 They were not afraid to risk their lives and run towards danger.
00:00:31 And so we are incredibly fortunate that both officers are expected to make a full recovery and I know our city stands with them.
00:00:39 So we owe our law enforcement officers a tremendous thank you for their work keeping us safe around the clock.
00:00:43 And today we owe them an extra thank you to these two officers specifically who put their lives on the line to protect the city that they love.
00:00:50 Protecting public safety, rebuilding our economy, and creating a more livable city are at the core of our work every day as an administration.
00:00:58 To update New Yorkers on those efforts, the mayor has once again convened senior leadership here at City Hall to answer your questions.
00:01:03 So joining us today, we have Mayor Eric Adams, First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, Chief Advisors to the Mayor, Amy Lewis Martin,
00:01:10 Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, Anne Williams Isom, Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce, Maria Torres Springer.
00:01:17 Deputy Mayor for Operations, Mayor Joshi, Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives, Ana Almanzar,
00:01:22 Chief Counsel, Lisa Zornberg, and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, Tiffany Raspberry.
00:01:26 So without further delay, I'll turn it over to Mayor Adams.
00:01:29 >> Thanks so much, Fabian, and also thank you for
00:01:33 highlighting the roles of the officers who responded
00:01:39 to an individual who was riding an illegal moped and
00:01:46 was carrying an automatic weapon.
00:01:49 And there's a segment of the city that just never
00:01:55 have anything good to say about our law enforcement community.
00:02:00 Thank God, they are a few.
00:02:02 They have nothing pleasant to say.
00:02:05 They don't make any good comments, although those officers are patrolling their streets.
00:02:10 And if you were to move through this city and ask everyone,
00:02:16 what numbers do you know about government to call?
00:02:20 They can't tell you Department of Sanitation.
00:02:23 They can't tell you Department of Correction.
00:02:26 They can't tell you DOE.
00:02:28 But they darn sure could tell you 911.
00:02:32 Even the most ardent critics that never,
00:02:36 never say anything polite about police officers.
00:02:42 Let something happen, someone is in their backyard, they have 911 on speed dial.
00:02:48 And so when I responded to the hospital and saw those parents standing over
00:02:54 their sons that took the oath to become a member of the police department.
00:02:59 When I saw that bullet imprint from the vest
00:03:04 that the officer took in his abdomen area.
00:03:11 When I saw an officer sitting there with a bullet through his leg of a person
00:03:16 who illegally came into our country, can't work,
00:03:23 cannot receive any of stipend from the Department of Education.
00:03:30 We're paying his food, his housing,
00:03:36 was caught up in a domestic incident, maybe part of a pattern robbery.
00:03:42 We're still trying to examine that, but maybe here for less than a year.
00:03:47 The post was right.
00:03:48 [LAUGH]
00:03:49 The post was right.
00:03:51 So now what happens once he gets out?
00:03:54 Can't work, can't go to school.
00:03:59 So like what happens?
00:04:02 We have to really think about what I've been saying,
00:04:06 of what's being created in this amazing city.
00:04:10 Last night I was up in Harlem around about 1.30 in the morning walking down
00:04:15 116th Street, talking, speaking with young people who can't work,
00:04:21 can't go to school, what is going to happen?
00:04:25 You just gotta be honest about this.
00:04:31 And everyone want to romanticize this issue and just act like, it's no big thing.
00:04:38 No, no, this is a serious issue that this administration is attempting to resolve.
00:04:43 And we have to fix this issue, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, and
00:04:48 all of these other cities that are being impacted.
00:04:50 And so I thank those officers for responding in the manner which they did.
00:04:56 And so before we go into answering any questions,
00:05:03 we want to flag that right now the air quality health advisory has been issued for
00:05:08 New York City.
00:05:09 The advisory is for ozone, which is invisible and not like the wildfire smoke.
00:05:15 We were able to see that, but this is a real issue.
00:05:19 We want to tell people that are dealing with health issues to take necessary actions.
00:05:24 If they need a face mask, you can stop at your local precinct to receive one.
00:05:30 For more information, they can go to unnecessary websites that are here.
00:05:38 To get more information on this issue.
00:05:44 Last, like we say every week, our core mission, protect public safety,
00:05:48 rebuild our economy, and make the city more livable for hardworking New Yorkers.
00:05:53 Public safety, Friday we celebrated the team of courageous and
00:05:58 dedicated New Yorkers, hats off to DM Banks.
00:06:02 This was a vision he shared with me, the unification of our training
00:06:07 at our new public safety academy.
00:06:10 And I didn't even realize how much this meant so much to those men and women who serve.
00:06:14 We often treat them as though they are second class law enforcement agency.
00:06:20 The event we had, and I want to thank the deputy mayors that attended,
00:06:24 it sent the right message that we see one law enforcement community in this city.
00:06:29 And we had a joint ceremony that promoted for the first time 70 heroes from over
00:06:34 a dozen different agencies that all have a hand in our public safety apparatus.
00:06:39 We also announced our plan to support those who work on our city's public safety efforts
00:06:44 at 16 different agencies by building the city first ever public safety academy.
00:06:51 That is going to encourage the cross collaboration that we're seeing over and
00:06:55 over again.
00:06:56 And a perfect example of that was on Friday, we had emergency management,
00:07:00 the Department of the Agent and Department of Parks.
00:07:04 The Department of Environment Protection and Office of Animal Welfare,
00:07:09 and all working together to deal with the extreme weather over the summer.
00:07:15 And Zach Isco and the entire team is talking about how we're gonna collaborate
00:07:20 to address that.
00:07:21 And public safety is a team effort, we say it over and over again.
00:07:25 With our economy, Small Business Expo, 10,000 people signed up for it.
00:07:31 Commissioner Kevin Kim has just been a real hero over there.
00:07:35 We have a record of 183,000 small business that employ nearly a million
00:07:41 working class people, the largest number of small businesses in our history.
00:07:45 Third of them were open during this administration.
00:07:50 And last week, we wrapped up the Small Business Expo.
00:07:54 Small Business Month with the Expo 40 city, state, and
00:07:58 federal agencies providing services.
00:08:01 And we also pledged a $10 million fund to support early stage businesses with
00:08:07 the focus on women and black, indigenous, and people of color entrepreneurs.
00:08:12 And lastly, livability, you're in luck.
00:08:15 We were hanging out with DM Mira Joshi and
00:08:20 Commissioner Sue Donahue as we really leaned into something that we heard a lot
00:08:27 about and it's not on everyone's radar until they have to go, then it's on everyone's radar.
00:08:32 There's 46 new public restrooms renovated, 36 existing restrooms
00:08:37 across the five boroughs to add to our supply of nearly 1,000 restrooms.
00:08:42 We have more restrooms per capita than any other municipality, but
00:08:45 we are increasing on that.
00:08:47 And like I said at the presser, one of the worst kept secrets is how long it takes to
00:08:51 get a bathroom open and activated in the parks and
00:08:56 in, believe it or not, on the street levels.
00:08:59 So we're using innovations, new ways of doing it, prefabs, self-cleaning restrooms.
00:09:06 We're really looking throughout the entire globe of finding how
00:09:11 other municipalities are doing it.
00:09:13 So it's long overdue upgrades and innovative ways of how to get our restrooms up and operating.
00:09:21 It's cleanliness issues, it's a sanitary issue, and it's just really,
00:09:26 it's a real inconvenience when you have to stop your day because you have to use a restroom.
00:09:30 So with that restroom, I will rest and turn it over to DM Levy.
00:09:36 >> Thank you, Mayor.
00:09:37 All right, we'll take some off topic questions.
00:09:39 >> Hi, Mr. Mayor.
00:09:41 >> How are you?
00:09:42 >> Good.
00:09:43 >> I wanted to ask you today, the President is expected to announce an executive order
00:09:48 around asylum seekers, limiting how many can come in once a certain number of them have
00:09:53 crossed over, I wanted to get your thoughts on that in light of the comments you made
00:09:57 about the officers shot in Queens.
00:09:59 I also wanted to know, did you get an invitation to the event?
00:10:02 The Governor is expected to attend that event and I wanted to know if you got an invitation.
00:10:07 And then one final question, hopefully for Deputy Mayor Anne Williams-Isom.
00:10:12 How many asylum seekers have applied for work authorization?
00:10:16 And of those that have applied, how many have actually gotten the authorization?
00:10:21 >> 200,000 people entered our city,
00:10:25 200,000 people larger than other cities, 200,000.
00:10:32 And so whatever could be done to slow the flow,
00:10:36 give us the resources, allow people to work, I'm all for.
00:10:40 And to the invite to the event, people should be asking, did Eric invite you to his events?
00:10:45 I have too much to do to worry about what guest list I'm not on.
00:10:51 My day is nonstop, I enjoy going to the events in New York,
00:10:55 and I do not have to raise my hand and say, please invite me somewhere.
00:10:59 Trust me, I got too much to do on my calendar.
00:11:02 You should be asking why can I come to Eric events.
00:11:05 >> And Mayor, I just want to add the IGA team, myself personally,
00:11:09 remains in constant contact with the White House at a minimum on a weekly basis, sometimes daily.
00:11:15 And we were notified well in advance of this announcement and knew that it was coming.
00:11:19 >> Kelly, I'm sorry, you asked me this last week, so my bad, I didn't get it to you.
00:11:25 Just wanted to also let you know we got 1,200 new asylum seekers this week,
00:11:30 as I know we keep on thinking that we want to limit 30 days, we want to limit 60 days.
00:11:35 But that's one of the tools that we have so that we can make sure that we're making room for the new asylum seekers that are coming.
00:11:41 And I'm really hoping that this executive order will give us some relief in that area.
00:11:45 So we don't actually get that information from the federal government, so it's self-reported.
00:11:50 So we know that if somebody did their application maybe six months ago, people would have their,
00:11:55 may have gotten some of their information, maybe work authorization.
00:11:58 So I'll get you those numbers about what we have that has been self-reported when people call us back or when we call them.
00:12:05 >> And I just want to clarify, when we talk about these numbers, 200,000,
00:12:09 1,200, those are the people that have come into our care.
00:12:14 There are many more people beyond that that are coming into the city of New York every single day that are not necessarily seeking care.
00:12:22 So the number is huge and just continuing to put that in perspective.
00:12:27 >> And while we don't have the number from the federal government, we do have the number of that applied through our services.
00:12:34 It's over 53,000.
00:12:35 >> Over 53,000, and we just actually had our year anniversary of our asylum seeker clinic, I believe.
00:12:42 And again, it's something that everybody in the nation is really looking to us.
00:12:46 I think we have five different sites where we are able to continue to do TPS, work authorization, and asylum applications.
00:12:53 It takes about four hours to do an asylum application, so it takes a lot of woman time and man time in order to get that done.
00:13:00 But we've been, from the feedback that we've gotten, our applications have been very good.
00:13:05 And so we've been pleased that that was one of the things that, and resettlement,
00:13:09 we think are one of the things that are most important as we try to attack this humanitarian crisis.
00:13:14 >> Hi, Mr. Mayor, how are you?
00:13:17 >> What's happening?
00:13:18 >> Just building on the executive order.
00:13:21 So the administration has been in contact with Biden administration about this.
00:13:25 What communications has your administration had about that, input you've given?
00:13:30 What effect do you believe this executive order will have on the flow of migrants here?
00:13:34 It seems like we've been hovering around 1,200 to 1,400 for the last three or four months now, maybe a little bit longer.
00:13:40 So what impact will that have locally?
00:13:43 And then on your opening statements about the Queens to the police shooting,
00:13:49 is there any talks now of any changes to the sanctuary city laws in the wake of this shooting?
00:13:53 >> To 1,200 to 1,300 monthly?
00:13:56 >> Weekly.
00:13:57 >> Okay.
00:13:57 >> Over the last three to four months.
00:14:00 >> No, we've been about 4,000, 4,000 or 5,000 a month.
00:14:04 Again, as I stated, whatever we can do to slow the flow and
00:14:13 finance and allow people to work, I'm all for.
00:14:16 The sanctuary cities,
00:14:24 people should have a right to be here without being fearful of being turned over to immigration.
00:14:32 I've been very clear on that.
00:14:34 I thought Koch had it right many years ago.
00:14:36 I thought the other mayors had it right.
00:14:38 I think the big mistake is that those who commit serious crimes should not be allowed
00:14:44 to stay in our city after they serve their time and they went through the judicial process.
00:14:49 A person like this that shoots at two police officers at point blank range,
00:14:55 that is probably part of a robbery pattern.
00:14:58 And when a robbery pattern, that means that there are several incidents that's attached to it.
00:15:04 A person that is potentially dragged an innocent woman down the street,
00:15:10 a person that is potentially part of a domestic incident,
00:15:14 they should not remain in our city.
00:15:19 Far too many people come here to pursue the American dream.
00:15:22 We should be here to give access to that dream.
00:15:26 They are a deterrent to the dream.
00:15:27 >> Did we turn it, yeah, I'm sorry.
00:15:31 Well, you want to go first?
00:15:32 >> Yes, thank you so much.
00:15:34 I just want to add that Mayor Adams has led the charge nationally to
00:15:39 ask the Biden administration, excuse me, to deliver more resources and
00:15:44 help to New York City and other cities struggling with this crisis.
00:15:48 And we believe that today's announcement is a direct result of his efforts.
00:15:52 >> And we knew that the White House could do executive action and
00:15:57 we see that Republicans don't want to do anything in Congress.
00:16:00 And we, the cities, need relief.
00:16:02 So I'm hopeful that what this will look like will go back to the good old days when we
00:16:07 just had a couple of people who were coming into the DHS system.
00:16:12 We now have more asylum seekers, over 65,000,
00:16:16 than we do traditional New Yorkers in our DHS system.
00:16:21 That's bananas.
00:16:22 We've been saying it for so long that we are used to it now, but there's no getting over
00:16:26 that we're caring for 120,000 people in a system that was already overburdened.
00:16:31 So I'm hopeful in this moment that we will see some real relief in terms of the amount of people
00:16:36 that we are getting in through the front door and that we're going to be continuing to work with the state to do resettlement of people.
00:16:42 Again, we could be doing a national resettlement strategy.
00:16:45 There's no magic about what we're doing, but that would be really great.
00:16:48 And if we are able to give TPS to other populations besides Venezuela, that would really help a lot too.
00:16:55 >> In addition, it would be great if he would give us some financial resources.
00:17:00 We still need the money.
00:17:01 We still have to appeal to the federal government to give us the money because this is still on our dime.
00:17:06 And we cannot sustain, so we still need the money from the federal government.
00:17:09 >> I would just add, DMN, you said something, now we have.
00:17:13 That now has been a long time.
00:17:15 We've had more asylum seekers in our care for well over a year at this point than long time on house New Yorkers.
00:17:22 >> Over, yeah, I think it's been 2400 months that we've been going through this.
00:17:25 It's just, I know it feels like it's just normal, but it's not.
00:17:29 And we're really looking forward to getting back to resettling people and having people come and get what they want.
00:17:34 Which was the American dream, and we think the federal government is the people who can help the most in that.
00:17:39 >> [INAUDIBLE]
00:17:41 >> What role the administration has played in getting this executive order?
00:17:44 >> I think Tiffany said the role is that we've been calling for it from day one.
00:17:48 >> We've been leading the conversation in the country with Mayor Adams has been doing that with his other colleagues in other cities.
00:17:54 And with legislative leaders nationally.
00:17:57 And so that's the role that we played.
00:17:58 >> And I would also point out, Craig, just look at the transcripts from these off topics or from any of the press conferences we had before.
00:18:04 We've been calling for executive action for well over a year now.
00:18:07 Because we knew that Congress, they have not been doing so, taking any action in over 40 plus years.
00:18:13 Especially since Donald Trump told Republicans in Congress not to do anything in an election year.
00:18:17 >> JR?
00:18:19 >> And I think just one final thing, I just want to underscore what DM Williams-Isom said.
00:18:25 When we came into this administration, there were 45,000 people in shelter.
00:18:31 There are now 120,000 people in shelter.
00:18:34 That is tripling our homeless shelter system in two years.
00:18:40 That is remarkable.
00:18:42 When people talk about what's a big thing, that's a pretty big thing.
00:18:45 It's a pretty significant real accomplishment to have been able to do that work.
00:18:51 And all of the tools that have been used, one of the things that the mayor was also kind of remarking, the 30-60 day.
00:18:59 That is a tool that's really important to help manage this crisis as well.
00:19:03 >> JR.
00:19:05 >> Yeah, good day, Mr. Mayor.
00:19:07 >> Good to have you.
00:19:08 >> How are you? >> Looking all summery.
00:19:09 >> Make sure you're paying the camera over to the front.
00:19:12 >> I got the hat going on, the jacket.
00:19:15 Stand up.
00:19:15 >> I'm going to stand up.
00:19:17 >> Look at that.
00:19:18 >> So, Mr. Mayor.
00:19:19 >> I'm going to rock my beige suit.
00:19:20 >> Good morning to the team.
00:19:23 >> Good to see you.
00:19:24 >> Good to see you as well.
00:19:26 >> Mike has reopened section 8 housing for 200,000 families in need of rental assistance.
00:19:36 What are the parameters around that as far as being a US citizen, being a resident?
00:19:44 How much you can get for each voucher?
00:19:46 What's the maximum or the minimum?
00:19:48 Last but not least, as we talk about the outfit, what are the credentials for the cricket matches?
00:19:54 So, we could cover those events, I think it's very important.
00:19:58 >> Maria Torres-Springer, you want to --
00:20:00 >> Sure, of course.
00:20:01 >> Not the tickets to the matches.
00:20:03 >> No, no, I will.
00:20:05 No comment on that, although I do like your hat, JR.
00:20:08 I agree with that.
00:20:10 So, yes, the section 8 wait list for NYCHA has reopened for the first time in 15 years.
00:20:18 That portal is live, and in fact, in the first 40 hours that it's been open,
00:20:24 there have been close to 316,000 applications.
00:20:29 That's a staggering number, and I think is also a real testament to the need
00:20:37 in the city to build more housing.
00:20:39 So, I will start there.
00:20:41 This is truly an opportunity for the 200,000 households that will be on a wait list,
00:20:48 and NYCHA over the course of several years will be able to open up the section 8 vouchers
00:20:54 for apartments in the private market to those families.
00:20:59 In terms of eligibility, there are income bands that are on the website,
00:21:05 but just to give folks a sense of what they look like.
00:21:08 For a one-person household, it's 54,000.
00:21:12 For a three-person household, it's about 70,000.
00:21:15 For a five-person household, it's about 83,000.
00:21:19 And so, there is no residency requirement.
00:21:22 The form doesn't take too long.
00:21:25 It is -- it'll only take 10 to 15 minutes in order to complete, and so we encourage New Yorkers
00:21:33 to go to the website, on the NYCHA website, to apply so that they can take advantage
00:21:39 of this particular subsidy, and it's important because what it means is that you pay 30%
00:21:47 of your income towards rent, and the rest is covered by this federal subsidy, and NYCHA,
00:21:54 of course, is the largest administrator of this subsidy.
00:21:58 The last thing that I'll say is we know that this is a lifeline.
00:22:02 I grew up on a Section 8 voucher.
00:22:04 I know firsthand what it means to rely on that type of voucher for your family to survive,
00:22:11 and so we want to make sure that New Yorkers understand this opportunity, and it can't
00:22:16 stop there.
00:22:17 Our work at NYCHA has been really soup to nuts, a full transformation of all the tools,
00:22:24 let alone all of the different ways we need to make sure that we're building housing and
00:22:29 building affordable housing because we're going to help 200,000 households through this
00:22:35 wait list, but there's so much more work to be done so that families can stay in New York
00:22:40 and thrive here.
00:22:41 >> And it's just -- and what DM Maria Torres has done from the beginning is to really formalize
00:22:47 our NYCHA plan, high-speed broadband for NYCHA, the land trust for NYCHA, what we're doing
00:22:55 in some of the projects that we are putting in place.
00:22:59 What I found in this city, JR, that there are people who only complain about an issue,
00:23:06 and no matter what solution you bring, they complain about it, and we have to move from
00:23:11 that.
00:23:12 You know, the bugles you hear is not the cavalry coming for NYCHA.
00:23:15 It's TAPs.
00:23:16 NYCHA is dying, and we knew we had to come in and not listen to all that noise of every
00:23:22 plan you put in place.
00:23:24 There were folks who didn't live in NYCHA that were complaining about it, and we just
00:23:28 were steadfast, and DM Torres Springer was very clear.
00:23:33 We're going to put NYCHA at the top of our list, and we're going to do everything possible
00:23:38 to finally turn the corner.
00:23:40 What is it, $80 billion in capital?
00:23:42 >> That's right.
00:23:43 >> $80 billion in capital problems.
00:23:46 I mean, are we kidding ourselves?
00:23:51 We are just -- this administration is that we don't try to make believe that everything
00:23:56 is fine.
00:23:57 We got to reach these things head on, and it's easy to be outside and just talk about
00:24:03 this idealism.
00:24:04 No, government, governing is realism.
00:24:07 Realism.
00:24:08 We're a realistic administration that has a history of our life experiences that are
00:24:13 solving these tough problems that we are facing, and when it comes down to cricket, we know
00:24:19 you want to go and cover -- you got your whole little cricket outfit going on right now.
00:24:26 We could have had it in New York.
00:24:28 They wanted to be here, but a few folks who said, no, we don't want the excitement of
00:24:35 cricket here.
00:24:36 The population has grown.
00:24:37 It's unfortunate that we don't have it here like we did with the World Cup finals coming
00:24:41 to this region, but there's not much we can do to get you tickets.
00:24:46 >> Credentials.
00:24:49 >> Let's see about the credentials.
00:24:52 >> Good afternoon, Mayor.
00:24:54 >> How are you?
00:24:56 >> Good, thank God.
00:24:57 >> Good.
00:24:58 >> My guys are being caught with guns multiple times in New York City.
00:24:59 Where do you think these guns are coming from?
00:25:00 >> Great question.
00:25:01 >> Do you think these gangs are well organized?
00:25:07 >> The guns -- an illegal gun dealer does not say, let me see your immigration status.
00:25:17 They want to peddle their hate.
00:25:21 When you look at -- do we have that picture of the gun?
00:25:26 Look at this.
00:25:28 This is the same gun that you see here is the same gun that you see in other places
00:25:33 being used.
00:25:34 I cannot overemphasize that arrow is pointed to where the bullet hit the officer.
00:25:44 The hole that hit the vest.
00:25:47 A few inches lower, we have the same incident we have with Jonathan.
00:25:58 A few inches lower, and this officer was struck, and the officer then went -- continued to
00:26:07 fight and told his partners, don't worry about me.
00:26:10 He put the tourniquet on the officer who was shot in the leg.
00:26:16 These are the men and women who are patrolling our streets.
00:26:20 And when you see that video of the person who shot them, a total disregard.
00:26:28 He didn't care where those bullets were going.
00:26:31 And these are the guns.
00:26:33 We've removed over 15,000 of them off our streets.
00:26:38 And these are the guns that we are going after.
00:26:40 These are the guns.
00:26:41 Yesterday, we had a shooting in Brooklyn where two young children were shot.
00:26:47 Today we buried Jonathan Dillard.
00:26:48 I had to go up to the Bronx where a two-year-old was shot.
00:26:51 These are the guns we're talking about.
00:26:53 And this is what all of us should be rallying around, because public safety is the pathway
00:26:57 to prosperity.
00:26:59 And far too many people are not saying -- I don't see how many tweets that you see on
00:27:04 social media of saying thanks to these officers.
00:27:07 How many tweets?
00:27:08 Right.
00:27:09 Right.
00:27:10 That's the irony of it.
00:27:11 >> These gangs are organized?
00:27:17 These migrant gangs?
00:27:20 >> Our intelligence is looking into it to see the small number of those who are committing
00:27:27 these crimes.
00:27:28 The overwhelming number of migrants and asylum seekers are just trying to take their next
00:27:31 step on the American journey.
00:27:33 But there's a small number that are violent, and we are really leaning into them.
00:27:37 Do we have those robbery patterns?
00:27:38 Do we have those robbery --
00:27:40 Look at this for a moment.
00:27:43 Pattern street robberies and grand larceny, moped crime, okay?
00:27:48 And it's not -- we're not saying it's all migrants.
00:27:49 I'm not going to write this story that all they're saying is the migrants.
00:27:52 No, no.
00:27:53 What we want to show you, 2022 -- now, a pattern crime is not one crime.
00:28:00 It's a bunch of crimes that are looped together that creates a pattern.
00:28:04 In 2022, we had 44 total complaints.
00:28:11 We had 10 patterns with 44 incidents.
00:28:16 In 2023, we had 22 patterns with 104 complaints.
00:28:24 Now, look at 2024.
00:28:27 79 patterns.
00:28:30 416 actual complaints.
00:28:34 This is what we're up against.
00:28:35 Well, hit me around.
00:28:36 I have two questions for you.
00:28:37 Yes, Katie.
00:28:38 The first is -- sorry.
00:28:39 So we published a video of a cannabis raid on Staten Island.
00:28:40 Yes.
00:28:41 Police escalated and arrested the shop owner and ultimately found less than a pound of
00:28:42 weed.
00:28:43 They arrested him before they found anything.
00:28:44 So are the NYPD and the sheriff's offices directed to arrest people immediately during
00:28:45 these raids under obstruction of government administration during cannabis raids?
00:28:46 What is the strategy?
00:28:47 My second question is, what is the strategy?
00:28:48 My second question is, we wrote about a hotel owned by Wei Hung who we've asked about her
00:29:07 before.
00:29:08 She was ordered during the de Blasio administration to preserve up to 24 affordable apartments
00:29:12 on a space in Midtown.
00:29:14 But six months into your administration, she was allowed to build a fully commercial hotel
00:29:17 without any affordable units.
00:29:18 What do you know about what happened?
00:29:19 Why would your administration forego much in affordable units?
00:29:20 I'm sure the deputy mayor would want to talk about that.
00:29:21 And then are you looking into what happened there and why that happened?
00:29:22 Yeah, I'm not familiar with the incident on the building of the hotel, so I'm not familiar
00:29:23 with it.
00:29:24 She's a big donor to your campaign.
00:29:25 I don't know if there was any conversation.
00:29:26 Why would your administration allow 24 units of affordable housing not get --
00:29:27 Let's be clear.
00:29:28 Thousands of people donate to my campaign.
00:29:29 I'm not familiar with the incident.
00:29:30 I'm not familiar with the building of the hotel.
00:29:31 I'm not familiar with the incident.
00:29:32 I'm not familiar with the incident.
00:29:33 I'm not familiar with the incident.
00:29:34 I'm not familiar with the incident.
00:29:35 I'm not familiar with the incident.
00:29:36 I'm not familiar with the incident.
00:30:01 So we've never mixed politics with how we govern.
00:30:07 That has always been my rule.
00:30:08 I'm very clear on that.
00:30:09 Maria, if you know about it, if not, you can get back to Katie on it.
00:30:14 So there's been a long history with these properties.
00:30:17 As you know, Katie and both DOB and HPD have been involved over the course of the last
00:30:22 several years and so followed all of the appropriate measures.
00:30:27 We are going to take another look at this property to the extent that there was any
00:30:31 miscommunication.
00:30:32 Then that will be fixed.
00:30:34 But we take the work of preserving any building seriously and want to honor any commitments
00:30:40 that are required to the extent that any building owner made such a commitment either to the
00:30:46 council or to the administration.
00:30:48 And with the cannabis, I have to look at that.
00:30:52 Obstruction of government to administration does not stop.
00:30:56 The goal is not to go into arrest people.
00:30:58 The goal is to close down cannabis shops.
00:31:00 But you cannot get in the way of the action that is obstruction of government to administration.
00:31:06 But we will look at exactly what happened out there in Staten Island.
00:31:09 What I do know, we inspected over 500 shops, sealed 300.
00:31:14 And I've said this before, I think there's a professional operation behind this that
00:31:19 is supplying the same products, the same gummy bears, the same packaging.
00:31:26 The Brooklyn Navy Yard showed us how there's a supplier.
00:31:30 We're going to try to get to the source of this problem.
00:31:32 If we can get to the source of this problem, I think that we can really expedite to close
00:31:38 it.
00:31:39 No one thought we were going to have this level of attention, you know, but I believe
00:31:43 there's a professional operation behind this.
00:31:45 If I may.
00:31:47 If I could just jump in.
00:31:48 Yeah.
00:31:49 I'm just, I just want to be clear as well that the sheriff's office is carrying out
00:31:55 regulatory inspections with authority that the law gives specifically to the sheriff's
00:32:01 office.
00:32:02 No judicial warrant is required for that.
00:32:04 Right.
00:32:05 These are civil inspections with the goal of doing exactly what the mayor said, which
00:32:09 is closing down illegal smoke shops, many of which are marketing and selling product
00:32:18 unauthorized to young people and to kids and near schools and near churches and synagogues
00:32:26 and mosques.
00:32:28 And so the law is very clear that the sheriff has the ability to do those administrative
00:32:33 inspections lawfully and without a warrant.
00:32:37 Now, if someone is trying to obstruct lawful activity, that that may lead to criminal consequences.
00:32:48 There have also been cases where criminal arrests result because things are discovered
00:32:54 that that go beyond the civil regulatory system.
00:32:58 So and that's permissible to on a case by case basis.
00:33:03 People look at any particular case, but the main point I want to, I want to argue, not
00:33:08 argue, but just make clear is that the sheriff's office is doing exactly what the law permits
00:33:14 the sheriff's office to do.
00:33:16 And that is really something that broadly everybody wants.
00:33:22 And that is shut down the illegal smoke shops.
00:33:25 I know the gentleman, I just want to make sure.
00:33:29 Hi, Mr. Mayor.
00:33:31 How are you?
00:33:33 I'm good.
00:33:34 How are you?
00:33:35 Good.
00:33:36 So just on the president's announcement later today, some of the specifics I know we don't
00:33:42 know, but some of them have leaked out like the New York Times and CNN.
00:33:45 And they're saying the president plans to close the border after 2,500 migrants have
00:33:51 crossed.
00:33:52 Just kind of getting your impression on is this the right amount?
00:33:56 Should there be less?
00:33:57 Should there be more?
00:33:58 And then also, do you know if there's any resources, visual resources?
00:33:59 I know that's something you guys have been pleading for getting allocated to New York
00:34:07 City.
00:34:08 The proper balance is I think with DM Williams-Issa, who has been on the front line of this, the
00:34:16 proper balance determined on the proper decompression strategy and plan.
00:34:25 We should not bring in more than we can make sure that they're scattered throughout the
00:34:31 entire country.
00:34:32 And if they have stated that this is the right number, then we're all for it.
00:34:36 We just, we can't continue to manage 5,000 a month.
00:34:41 Hey, Mayor.
00:34:42 How you doing?
00:34:43 Hey, what's going on, Michael?
00:34:44 Oh, good.
00:34:45 So a couple of things.
00:34:46 The first is on the statement you guys put out about the Trump verdict last week.
00:34:57 You know, a lot of people I talked to kind of felt like it was muted relative to what
00:35:04 some other Democrats put out, right?
00:35:05 It was a pretty straightforward statement.
00:35:09 And I'm wondering if, did that have anything to do with the fact that you're regarded as
00:35:15 more of a moderate Democrat and some of your voters might overlap with some people that
00:35:21 would support Trump?
00:35:24 And by extension on that thing, as far as Biden's announcement today is concerned, I
00:35:32 know on the migrant thing, you guys have had, it's kind of been a mixed bag in terms of
00:35:36 what Biden's done.
00:35:39 Do you have plans, like what are kind of the concrete plans in terms of supporting him?
00:35:45 Like on one hand, it's a mixed bag in terms of the migrant situation in the city.
00:35:49 On the other hand, you've got Trump, right?
00:35:52 So like how do you balance that in terms of like what you want to do in campaigning, helping
00:35:58 the campaign?
00:35:59 So that was one.
00:36:00 The second one, I'm sure you saw.
00:36:01 You guys caught on me because of my long questions.
00:36:02 I'm getting nervous in front of us, Michael.
00:36:09 So the second one was, you know, Kayla would like to have a baby.
00:36:17 The second one was on Breonna Suggs.
00:36:25 She got a new lawyer.
00:36:26 And I guess this is for Lisa to some degree too.
00:36:31 Is she, to your knowledge, is she cooperating with the federal authorities?
00:36:35 And do you guys have like, what is it?
00:36:38 What's the term?
00:36:39 Like a joint defense agreement with like, do the legal teams have a joint defense agreement?
00:36:45 You should speak to the attorneys on both and they will give you the answer to those
00:36:50 questions.
00:36:51 I've made it clear.
00:36:52 We're going to cooperate with the process, the review.
00:36:55 We're going to continue to do that.
00:36:57 I could not have been clearer.
00:36:59 And I always find it amazing that my level of clarity.
00:37:03 I support the president.
00:37:04 I nicknamed myself the Biden of Brooklyn.
00:37:08 You know, I'm not a one issue person.
00:37:11 I disagree with you on something.
00:37:13 I disagree and I move on.
00:37:15 He has been very helpful around public safety.
00:37:18 He came to the city and talked about the whole initiatives around guns.
00:37:22 We needed an ATF head.
00:37:24 He was there to push that through.
00:37:27 And as I stated, he revitalized our economy.
00:37:31 Everybody thought our economy was going to be in a tank.
00:37:34 And what he did was amazing.
00:37:36 And so there are many aspects of being the president of the United States.
00:37:41 And that is what I believe is important.
00:37:44 And I made it clear.
00:37:46 With whom?
00:37:47 Right, right.
00:37:48 And thank you for reminding me.
00:37:51 Am I a super delegate?
00:37:53 I'm super like I'm like a superman.
00:37:56 I'm a super delegate.
00:37:57 You know, so I'm sorry.
00:37:58 You're going to the DNC like you're officially a super delegate?
00:38:03 Yeah, I'm deciding, you know, because I would love to go to Chicago DNC.
00:38:08 But whenever I leave, Katie writes stories about me.
00:38:10 You know, I can't.
00:38:11 I can't.
00:38:12 But I will be going.
00:38:13 Right, right.
00:38:14 What do you think is the best way for his campaign to deploy you in terms of like.
00:38:18 It's up to them.
00:38:19 You know, campaigns.
00:38:20 People who are good supporters don't try to dictate what they're going to do with your
00:38:26 campaign.
00:38:27 It's up to them to say, Eric, here's what we believe we can use you.
00:38:33 Here's this is the largest city in the country.
00:38:37 And whenever Tiffany is in constant contact with the White House, she she does the communications
00:38:45 around, you know, the what the president needs and Ingrid is on the ground with what you
00:38:53 know, what they need of me.
00:38:55 You know, so whatever they need, we have they put it this way.
00:38:58 They reached out to us.
00:38:59 We have not told them no.
00:39:00 What's happening?
00:39:01 I haven't seen you in a while, man.
00:39:02 Good to see you.
00:39:03 You an OG.
00:39:04 Anyways, yes.
00:39:05 The question is, the state legislature is considering a bill that would compel the NYPD
00:39:21 to open up encrypted radio to members of the accredited members of the media.
00:39:29 What is your position?
00:39:30 Right.
00:39:31 I always I always find it interesting when people say accredited members of the media.
00:39:36 That's a that is to me that's coded language because far too long, the small minority ethnic
00:39:42 medias have not really been allowed in.
00:39:46 And even when I read their stories, often their stories are really different from some
00:39:50 of the mainstream media.
00:39:51 They seem to stick to the topics.
00:39:54 And so I want to make sure that everybody could have access to speak to their constituency.
00:39:59 And my biggest concern, I said this over and over again, bad guys get access to this information.
00:40:07 No bad guys that commit crimes.
00:40:11 This technology, if not used properly, it could be harmful.
00:40:14 If you know if a police officer is responding, how they respond in, how they communicated,
00:40:21 we need to get it right.
00:40:22 And I think we can find the right balance.
00:40:24 And the New York City Police Department is going to do that.
00:40:26 How are you?
00:40:27 I want to ask you about the violence among youth.
00:40:32 And is there any plan for city to do any campaign targeted towards youth about consequences?
00:40:40 And if there really are any, I covered stories personally, and I know that it's very difficult
00:40:45 to have any real consequences for young people who are committing like harassment or, you
00:40:52 know, beating someone on the street.
00:40:54 We had a story in our community about that.
00:40:56 And I know that the person who did it was never really, you know, nothing really happened
00:41:01 to that person enough, big enough for him to consider not doing it again.
00:41:05 So I'm wondering if there's anything that you're thinking about doing in terms of that.
00:41:10 Yeah, well, you know, I don't know.
00:41:11 One of the team members texted me this morning, because we're all concerned about, you know,
00:41:17 who's it was you?
00:41:18 Yeah, yeah.
00:41:19 Fabian, you know, who, you know, it's time for you to get married, have a baby also.
00:41:25 You know, but he loves children.
00:41:47 You know, but, but seriously, we, you know, we're concerned about some of these recent
00:41:55 violence.
00:41:56 As I said, two young people were shot yesterday.
00:42:00 And it just really tore me up when I spoke to the dad, who lost his son to the shotgun
00:42:06 shooting.
00:42:07 You know, young people are, you know, are mischievous in nature.
00:42:14 And you know, we didn't have all these guns when I was growing up, you know.
00:42:17 And you know, as a young person, you do, you know, you do dumb things.
00:42:20 That's what being young means, as you experiment.
00:42:25 And so we have been very clear on our investment in foster care, our summer youth jobs, 110,000,
00:42:31 our summer rising program we announced today with the speaker.
00:42:35 These were all programs that the money was not there.
00:42:39 But between Jock and the advocacy of our team here, DM Amazon, we all knew that we have
00:42:48 to, if we could bring back some of this stuff, we're going to do so.
00:42:53 But we're really concerned about the, as someone asked earlier, the overproliferation of guns.
00:42:59 These children are just able to get these guns so easily.
00:43:04 And you know, as we continue to push back on it, and you have to find the right balance.
00:43:08 We don't want to be overly punitive, but we have to give these young people the care.
00:43:14 We have been invested in those young people who have interaction with law enforcement.
00:43:20 We need to, we want to continue to do that.
00:43:22 We want partnership.
00:43:23 That's what some of the stuff Sheena and her team and Amazon is doing around internship.
00:43:28 The more alternatives we do, we believe that we can sort of get these young people out
00:43:34 of harm's way.
00:43:35 But trust me, it's concerning us as well.
00:43:37 And one of the things that we're doing, Mayor, is actually focusing on those residents who
00:43:42 live in the six prisons with the highest incidences of law and violence for the summer youth employment
00:43:48 program.
00:43:49 Actually, 18,000 of them have been recruited to participate in those programs.
00:43:52 But besides summer youth employment program, we have Saturday Night Lights, the out of
00:43:57 work, out of school opportunities for our youth, as well as what the Mayor just mentioned
00:44:02 regarding the announcement that was made earlier, restoring some of the investment for our summer
00:44:07 rising in our effort to keep our young people busy and occupied.
00:44:12 And as the Mayor mentioned, a cross-agency collaboration, New York City Public Schools,
00:44:19 we, our workforce and talent team, in making sure that we access all the resources the
00:44:24 city has to offer to our youth.
00:44:26 >> Mr. Mayor.
00:44:27 >> How are you?
00:44:28 >> Good, how are you?
00:44:29 >> Good.
00:44:30 >> So tensions with the City Council appeared to boil over in the public view last week
00:44:31 when Ms. Raspberry left during the hearing about the advice and consent bill.
00:44:32 And the speaker, I believe at the moment, said that it was showing contempt for the
00:44:33 council.
00:44:34 And I'm wondering if you could comment on that.
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00:47:12 I think it's a good point.
00:47:13 I think it's a good point.
00:47:14 I think it's a good point.
00:47:15 I think it's a good point.
00:47:16 I think it's a good point.
00:47:17 I think it's a good point.
00:47:18 I think it's a good point.
00:47:19 I think it's a good point.
00:47:20 I think it's a good point.
00:47:21 I think it's a good point.
00:47:22 I think it's a good point.
00:47:23 I think it's a good point.
00:47:24 I think it's a good point.
00:47:25 I think it's a good point.
00:47:26 I think it's a good point.
00:47:27 I think it's a good point.
00:47:28 I think it's a good point.
00:47:29 I think it's a good point.
00:47:30 I think it's a good point.
00:47:31 I think it's a good point.
00:47:32 I think it's a good point.
00:47:33 I think it's a good point.
00:47:34 I think it's a good point.
00:47:35 I think it's a good point.
00:47:36 I think it's a good point.
00:47:37 I think it's a good point.
00:47:38 I think it's a good point.
00:47:40 Tiffany?
00:47:41 Yes, thank you, Mayor.
00:47:42 And I just want to add that just as the Mayor started out, I, like my colleagues here on
00:47:48 this dais, are focused on public safety, rebuilding our economy, and making the city more livable.
00:47:53 And so we really can't waste time talking about one event that occurred several days
00:47:58 ago at the City Council.
00:48:00 I think it's really important to note that the Mayor and the Speaker stood together just
00:48:05 an hour or two ago celebrating a win for the city and for both the City Council and for
00:48:12 this administration.
00:48:13 And that's what we're focused on.
00:48:15 I was very clear when I started my testimony that I would not be taking questions.
00:48:20 And I would say I did not leave abruptly.
00:48:22 I left as I said I would after I read the statement from the Mayor.
00:48:27 And I think it's also important to just remember there's a lot of dysfunction in government
00:48:31 throughout this country.
00:48:32 We see it every day on TV in D.C.
00:48:35 And we're trying to make our city function and our government function in a way that
00:48:39 works for New Yorkers.
00:48:41 We lead, I think the Mayor says all the time, the way goes New York is the way goes the
00:48:45 country.
00:48:46 And so we're trying to set an example of how government should function.
00:48:50 And that's what we're primarily focused on.
00:48:52 I'd like to jump in here and just also ask you to focus on the substance of the bill
00:49:00 that the City Council proposed, which is highly problematic and runs against the grain of
00:49:07 what has been systematic in New York City for 140 years.
00:49:12 So, the City Council has proposed a bill to take away power from every future Mayor of
00:49:21 New York City to appoint, to have sole discretion to appoint the men and women who are going
00:49:27 to lead mayoral agencies.
00:49:30 They instead, the bill proposes that the City Council should have the final word, that they
00:49:35 should have the power to confirm candidates for the executive administration.
00:49:42 So, the legislature is trying to take power from the executive.
00:49:46 That was tried in New York City in the 1800s.
00:49:49 You know who loved it?
00:49:51 Tammany Hall loved it.
00:49:54 And that's reality.
00:49:57 And in 1884, since 1884, the law was changed to give the Mayor of New York City sole discretion
00:50:07 to appoint and to be held responsible for the performance, good or bad, of the heads
00:50:13 of agencies.
00:50:14 And there are incredibly -- the same issues that motivated that change in 1884 are ever
00:50:20 present now.
00:50:22 Then-Governor Grover Cleveland said, "Never should it be heard in New York City that a
00:50:28 bad nomination was made to lead a city agency because it was the only one that could secure
00:50:34 confirmation."
00:50:36 And since then, since -- this is like -- this history is rich and important in New York
00:50:42 City, and the City Council should study it.
00:50:44 Because, since that change was made in 1884, multiple city charter revision commissions
00:50:52 have examined the same issue and how power is accorded to a mayor to appoint the people
00:51:00 who will be in charge of his or her agencies.
00:51:03 And every single one of those charter revision commissions, starting in the 1800s, in the
00:51:10 1930s, in the 1960s, in the 1970s, have continually repeated this power of the mayor is necessary
00:51:20 for the proper governance of New York City.
00:51:23 It is essential.
00:51:25 1975, the Charter Revision Commission said the mayor, as the city's chief executive officer,
00:51:32 should have sole discretion in selecting top officials in the executive branch.
00:51:37 They should serve at his or her pleasure.
00:51:39 That includes the heads of all agencies, because it's the mayor that's broadly elected by the
00:51:46 people of New York City, and with that responsibility must come accountability for who is appointed
00:51:53 and what their performance is.
00:51:55 So I'm just speaking to New Yorkers now.
00:51:58 What is happening in the City Council in this proposed bill is deeply misguided.
00:52:03 It will -- it would upend 140 years of New York City fundamental principles of governance.
00:52:12 It will lead to gaps in service.
00:52:14 It will discourage good people from serving if they have to go through the political charades
00:52:21 of hearings.
00:52:22 And the last point I'll make is that the City Council has many priorities.
00:52:28 We work with them collaboratively.
00:52:30 It has not been a priority for them to promptly confirm individuals, even for the few numbers
00:52:37 of commissions and boards where they do have advice and consent already.
00:52:41 It has been very difficult.
00:52:43 Why?
00:52:44 Because they have a different schedule.
00:52:46 They don't want to hold hearings in May or June when they're focusing on the budget.
00:52:50 They've communicated they don't want to hold any hearings in July or August because they're
00:52:55 in a summer recess.
00:52:56 They don't want to hold hearings on Fridays.
00:52:59 They don't want to hold hearings in December because of the Christmas holiday.
00:53:02 They don't want to hold hearings in September because that's when they're all coming back
00:53:06 from summer recess.
00:53:08 And so to say that it has been difficult, even for those special commissions and boards,
00:53:14 is an understatement.
00:53:16 The City Council itself has at least 15 pending vacancies of their own that they haven't filled,
00:53:22 let alone the process of us trying to get mayoral nominations confirmed.
00:53:27 So I think history matters here, and I think New Yorkers care about accountability.
00:53:33 Well said.
00:53:35 And what was so profound about what Lisa laid out is that that's the level of conversation
00:53:43 we should be having on the substance of something, not this how many clicks could I get by saying
00:53:51 Eric and Adrian don't like each other.
00:53:55 This city, we have too many issues we are facing right now that this administration,
00:54:02 as Tiffany has stated, we are not going to engage in this.
00:54:07 Because hidden in this also is that there's a whole lot of folks that want to hijack the
00:54:14 narrative that the first black speaker, second black mayor, navigated the city during the
00:54:20 most difficult times.
00:54:22 And we've been trying to play this song for a long time.
00:54:25 Look, they hate each other, they hate each other, they hate each other.
00:54:28 No, we disagree on issues.
00:54:30 I have a great relationship with Adrian, my former classmate, grew up in the same community.
00:54:36 Ruth and Dorothy are proud of their two children.
00:54:40 That is what I know.
00:54:41 Maria, you wanted to add something to this?
00:54:43 Sure, Mayor.
00:54:44 I think it's really important to understand the history, and it is on this issue.
00:54:49 It is also really important to truly internalize the practical implications on the effective
00:54:58 delivery of services for New Yorkers.
00:55:01 So I feel strongly about this issue.
00:55:03 As many know, I've had the great honor of serving the last three mayors and running
00:55:09 three different agencies.
00:55:11 And if there's one thing that I learned and saw firsthand, it's the importance of having
00:55:18 the mayor appoint his or her team and having control over that process.
00:55:25 Because there's a reason, right, why in 1884 the mayor got sole authority to do this, why
00:55:31 in subsequent charter revision commissions, including in 1989, there was a careful balance
00:55:37 constructed between the powers of the legislative and executive branch.
00:55:42 And the reason is that we need to ensure in the delivery of services for New Yorkers that
00:55:47 there is clarity, that there is accountability, and that there's the smooth functioning of
00:55:52 government.
00:55:53 Because fundamentally that is what this debate is about.
00:55:56 It's about good government.
00:55:58 And in my opinion, those goals are undermined by intro 908 in a way that does a disservice
00:56:06 to New Yorkers.
00:56:07 Why?
00:56:08 Because it introduces this red tape into a process that has to run with speed and with
00:56:14 efficiency.
00:56:16 At the beginning of an administration, you're making dozens of dozens of appointments to
00:56:21 key cabinet positions.
00:56:23 You are trying to fill more than a thousand boards and commissions.
00:56:27 What you need in that process in the beginning is speed.
00:56:31 What you need if there's a transition in an agency during a time of crisis, and we saw
00:56:37 that, right, during COVID with our health commissioner, you also need speed and efficiency.
00:56:43 And if you don't get that, you have gaps and delays not just in decision making, but in
00:56:49 the delivery of service.
00:56:50 These are the people who provide your drinking water, who maintain your parks, who make sure
00:56:56 that your streets are clean, who protect public health.
00:57:00 The second thing that it does is it introduces confusion into the process.
00:57:07 And confusion for whom?
00:57:09 Confusion for the members of agencies, and when there's a transition, it's a time of
00:57:15 precarity for them.
00:57:17 And so if it's unclear, if someone is going to make it through the process, it further
00:57:22 destabilizes an agency when it needs to be more stable.
00:57:26 It also introduces confusion and uncertainty for the actual candidate.
00:57:31 There are many people who can grow up in government, they get appointed to run agencies, some come
00:57:37 into government anew.
00:57:39 If there is not that certainty or the potential for a political spectacle through a communications
00:57:45 process, you hinder our ability to attract and retain really good people.
00:57:52 It's a process that cannot be subject to people's vacation schedules, which essentially it is
00:57:58 at this point.
00:57:59 And, you know, the last thing that I'll say is, and we've said this before, and a number
00:58:03 of people have commented publicly, we don't have to imagine what this process is going
00:58:08 to look like, right?
00:58:10 It exists in Washington, D.C.
00:58:13 And who in this room would say that the process for advice and consent in D.C. is a smooth
00:58:22 one that is faithful to the goals of our democracy?
00:58:26 I don't see any hands.
00:58:28 And so the seemingly innocuous system of advice and consent turns into a system of gridlock
00:58:36 and stalemate and delay.
00:58:38 And so we can both believe, and I'll end here, that the oversight responsibilities of the
00:58:43 City Council are real, they're crucial, I have respected that, we all have valued that
00:58:49 during our entire time in public service.
00:58:51 You can believe that while at the same time believing that the fundamental duty of both
00:58:57 the executive and the legislative branch is to ensure that we have a system of appointing
00:59:02 leaders who do all the things I mentioned, protect your water, protect your streets,
00:59:07 a system of appointing them that leads to the efficient and effective delivery of services.
00:59:13 That is our duty, and unfortunately intro 908, in our opinion, is a complete and utter
00:59:19 dereliction of that duty.
00:59:21 That's excellent.
00:59:24 John Adams is going to be fired.
00:59:27 What did he say about it?
00:59:30 Go ahead, go ahead, let me get the last question.
00:59:33 Yes, you were waiting patiently.
00:59:35 The City has tried to reform the permitting process.
00:59:38 The Comptroller's Office tells me for street vendors, since 2022, 14 new car permits have
00:59:45 been issued, thousands of people are on the wait list.
00:59:49 So I wanted to ask you, why has the rollout been so slow?
00:59:53 Is there anything more that the City can be doing here?
00:59:56 Mayor, you want to talk about that?
00:59:59 The street vendor issue, first of all, I personally don't believe no matter how many permits we
01:00:07 put out, there's still going to be some illegal activity, and we have to make sure we address
01:00:11 that illegal activity.
01:00:12 But Mayor, you want to talk about those?
01:00:14 Sure.
01:00:15 I want to talk about, so there are two agencies that oversee the street vendor process in
01:00:22 terms of the licenses.
01:00:23 It's DOH, because we want to make sure that they're hygienic, and DCWP.
01:00:29 But there is something that has happened under this administration which is really important,
01:00:34 which addresses some of the problems that you've identified in terms of there being
01:00:38 a wait list and not enough individual permits.
01:00:41 We've stood up a regulated vendor market in Corona Plaza, and that has been in pilot existence
01:00:48 now for a few months, and it's working well.
01:00:51 It's what I call sort of vending light.
01:00:53 And it allows people to enter into the marketplace of vending without going through what can
01:01:00 be an arduous process in getting a specific individual vendor license.
01:01:06 With this model, we can go to other plazas in the city and set up like similar markets,
01:01:12 and really provide opportunities for people to get into vending, allow the public space
01:01:18 to be used in a way that's compliant with allowing people to still have advantage to
01:01:24 use the public space, and part of it is a market, and really to provide an opportunity
01:01:30 for a larger group of people to get into the vending market.
01:01:34 So, I think it's something we're working well with Corona Plaza, and we look to expand it
01:01:39 throughout the city in other areas.
01:01:42 [inaudible]
01:01:45 So, that is a DCWP.
01:01:47 We can check back with you on that number.
01:01:50 Okay.
01:01:51 And we have to find the right balance because it's not fair to a brick and mortar that sell
01:01:56 apples to have someone outside selling apples.
01:01:59 It's not fair to a person who's selling phone devices have someone outside selling phone
01:02:04 devices.
01:02:05 And it's not healthy for someone who's selling food that they made in their kitchen that's
01:02:11 not at the right temperature, but they're selling it in the subway station or on the
01:02:15 street corners.
01:02:16 So, we have to find the right balance, and creating these models that the Deputy Mayor
01:02:23 is talking about is what we're trying to find the right balance.
01:02:26 It has not been fair in the past, but this is a complicated city, and if you just open
01:02:31 the city up to people selling whatever they want, whenever they want, we are creating
01:02:36 a level of disorder that we can't accept.