'I'm Coming Back’: Mayor Eric Adams Snaps Back At Reporter Who Asked About His Lack Of Campaigning

4 days ago

During a press briefing on Monday, NYC Mayor Eric Adams (D-NY) was asked about his efforts on the campaign trail.

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Transcript

00:00Hi Mr. Mayor, how are you?

00:02Quite well, how are you doing?

00:03Good.

00:04Good.

00:05You brought up Randy Mastro's lawyer background.

00:06Yes.

00:07How long he's been.

00:08You gave him his first task as Rikers Island, to close Rikers Island.

00:09You gave him that.

00:10But why not give him something like pushing back against the Trump administration and

00:11their policies to try to get back some federal funds when it comes to the city policies?

00:12He's well versed in that.

00:13Why not task him with that as a major thing, especially because we're going into the budget

00:14season.

00:15you said that one of his first tasks is going to be focusing on Rikers Island and how to

00:41And that's why I asked you, you said one of his tasks, not that's his only task.

00:48He's the first deputy mayor, the entire portfolio from analyzing what is happening on a federal

00:55level to analyzing what we're doing around public space, to analyzing Rikers, that finally

01:01everyone seems to agree with me that 2027 is not a realistic time to close it and that

01:07we need to deal with the mental health crises.

01:10And so that's one, that's the role of a first deputy mayor.

01:13One of his roles would be do that in partnership with my chief of staff and my entire team.

01:18And so we're not going to zero in on just why can't he do this one aspect of it.

01:25This is a city where you better know how to chew gum and walk at the same time.

01:30And I think Randy can do that.

01:32So that's one of his aspects.

01:33Yes.

01:34I have a question about your campaign.

01:35You said you're not worried.

01:36Everybody's catching up to you.

01:37You haven't really been on the campaign trail.

01:38I know you've said you're going to get out soon.

01:39Is there any worry that you're going to get out too late, that there won't be, by the

01:40time you do get out there and officially join the trail, that there won't be anybody left

01:41to endorse you or anybody left to support you?

01:42Tell me, I'm curious about this.

01:43Give me your definition of campaigning.

01:44Going to houses of worship?

01:45I do that.

01:46Going to town hall meetings?

01:47I do that.

01:48Going into the streets to shake hands with people?

01:49I do that.

01:50I'm not worried about that.

01:51I'm not worried about that.

01:52I'm not worried about that.

01:53I'm not worried about that.

01:54I'm not worried about that.

02:05Kiss babies?

02:06I do that.

02:07What is a definition that you think I'm not doing that a candidate would do?

02:08You're not going to the mayoral forums.

02:09You're not speaking out necessarily on all the issues when it comes to what New Yorkers

02:10want, and particularly policies that are coming out of the Trump administration.

02:11You're not in those places.

02:12You said that you have petitions out, but I personally haven't seen anybody.

02:13I've spoken to people.

02:14They said they've seen here and there.

02:15I'm just wondering.

02:16Based on how you campaigned in 2021 and how you're campaigning this time around, it's

02:37not the same.

02:38Okay.

02:39First of all, I disagree, and I can't get into a full analysis of that.

02:46I'm sure you saw the petitions of everyone that's running for office.

02:50I'm sure you saw them.

02:51If you did, you're probably the unique New Yorker, because no one else has done it.

02:57When you petition, you go to voters that you know are registered, and you knock on doors.

03:03Those are quality petitions.

03:04That's when you have a qualitative petition process.

03:07I know what I'm doing.

03:09That's all I can say to you.

03:11Running for office to get a seat is different from being an incumbent.

03:16I know what I'm doing, and I must thank you and everyone else here.

03:22I thank you for being so concerned that I'm reelected.

03:25I thank your concern that Eric is going to be all right.

03:29It really warms my heart that all of you are so concerned.

03:33You know I'm making your city safe.

03:35You know I'm bringing back tourism.

03:37You know I'm educating your children.

03:39You have shown me such a level of warmth that, Eric, we're concerned.

03:44We want you back.

03:46And I know I'm making a lot of your careers.

03:48You're getting a lot of clicks from me.

03:50I know the rest of those guys are so boring that all of a sudden you're going to go into the shadows.

03:55You know, you are doing so well, and I know you want me back.

03:59I know it.

04:00I'll be back.

04:01Don't worry about it.

04:02I'm not going anywhere.

04:03You're going to all write books.

04:04You're going to all do documentaries.

04:06You're going to all continue to get the clicks you want.

04:08Every time you tweet my name, people click right away.

04:11Every time you want to do a 30-page expose with a rat running across my face, people are going to get excited.

04:18So it's okay, folks.

04:19I'm coming back.

'I'm Coming Back’: Mayor Eric Adams Snaps Back At Reporter Who Asked About His Lack Of Campaigning

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