Kurt Semder: Our guest tonight has been the subject of one headline after another, and here with us now live from City Hall is Mayor Eric Adams. Mr. Mayor, thank you so much for being here with us tonight on News 12.
Mayor Eric Adams: Thank you. I feel like Kotter, Welcome Back, Welcome Back. You know, I miss News 12. You know, we have to get together again over and over again.
Semder: Absolutely, we miss you, too. Nice to have you back here with us again, going back to the old ‘Ask The Borough President’ days, and now we're here with you from City Hall.
So, I want to talk with you tonight about everything that's going on, and I want to start with those major budget cuts that you announced across the board earlier this month; just last week, further cuts to expenses for asylum seekers. You know, our viewers, they've been voicing their concerns about it. Are you concerned that these cuts are going to impact public safety and people's quality of life, especially in the Bronx and in Brooklyn?
Mayor Adams: Well, listen, New Yorkers are angry about this, and I join their anger. It feels as though the federal government has defunded New York. When you think about $5 billion during our November plan and then $7 billion we need to cut in January for our next fiscal year, two years out.
By law we have to make sure we have a balanced budget, and the cost is just not sustainable. And I don't believe any city, any municipality in general but specifically New York City should be carrying the cost of a national crisis. My budget that I want to pass is investing in children, families, keep our streets safe and clean and continue the success we have been experiencing.
Semder: So, how do we get back to that budget? I mean, you mentioned, you know, 2,000 to 3,000 migrants arriving here in the city every week, you said that just this week, and that we need to move faster to get those work permits set up. But that being said, is that enough? What else can we do to ease the stress on the city financially?
Mayor Adams: Well, I think it's several layers. Layer number one, we need to really call on our state and federal partners to say that New York City is the economic engine of not only this state but this entire country, and we deserve to have the support we need with a decompression strategy, the financial responsibility from the federal government.
And allow people to work, that's the number one thing the asylum seekers are saying over and over again. We have thousands of available jobs. If they're working, they are paying into our society. This is what they're asking for, and right now we're not getting the help we should be receiving from our federal partners.
Semder: Mayor Eric Adams joining us here tonight on News 12. And Mr. Mayor, congestion pricing, we got an update today as the Traffic Mobility Review Board announced a recommendation: $15 max for private cars entering Manhattan's Central Business District during peak hours. Now, you've said in the past that you're in favor of congestion pricing. Do you support this recommendation today?
Mayor Adams: Well, I have been very clear over and over again: we have to get it right, because there's several layers we can't do. Number one, we can't displace the traffic into the Bronx and other areas that have dealt with real environmental issues. Number two, we need to look after individuals like our yellow taxis and others who make a living, our city employees that go in and out of the city. And so all of this is part of the conversation right now.
My greatest disappointment is that these are New York City cars and drivers, we should have a greater input into this, because these are dollars and I believe New York City should really have a greater input in what happens. I have one appointment on the board, I think New York City should have more. But we've got to get it right.
Semder: That would definitely increase, as you said, the input in what gets done as we wait for that final congestion pricing plan.
Mayor Adams, here in the Bronx we've really seen an alarming amount of fentanyl that has been seized over the last few months dating all the way back to the discovery of the fentanyl at that daycare center that cost one-year-old Nicholas Dominici his life. What is your office doing to keep New Yorkers safe from this threat?
Mayor Adams: And the numbers are extremely alarming. Not only have we issued over 200,000 Narcan, we have also in our overdose prevention center, we have prevented and potentially resulted in saving over 1,000 people from potential overdose. We have given out thousands of fentanyl test kits. This is one of the most important healthcare issues that's facing our city. Over 80 percent of the overdoses you see, fentanyl is present in those overdoses.
It's crucial that we do a number of things. Number one, enforcement, number two, education. See something, say something, do something is not only a bumper sticker but it's a reality. If you believe this powdery substance is a presence in your home or a presence anywhere, then we need to make sure that it's reported to the police.
And I think it's crucial that we have to do everything possible. And unfortunately, this is a normal piece of equipment that we need to carry with us, Narcan. It saved the lives of two babies in the Bronx. And I think every parent should be familiar with it, should know what it is and know how to use it because you could save your loved one.
But we need to stop the flow from where we believe is China and from parts of South America from coming to our city. We've got to stop it at the source and we have to do the job here.
Semder: Narcan has proven to be a game changer definitely here in the city.
Mr. Mayor, regarding the ongoing FBI investigation going on right now, are you at all concerned by any of the reports that your former campaign fundraiser Brianna Suggs has hired her own attorney rather than continuing with the same attorney that represents you?
Mayor Adams: No. And in fact, she's still part of the campaign. She is not doing fundraising but she's still part of the campaign. And I think it's important that one has the legal representation that they deserve, and that should not be an indicator that she doesn't believe the current attorney was doing a good job. It's just, it's the right decision that she wanted to make, and we're going to move forward.
I have made it clear over and over again. We're going to comply with the investigation. We want the same thing that the SDNY wants, and that is to get to the bottom of any allegation. And we're going to comply and make sure we can get there. I need to stay focused on running the city and navigating us through this crisis, and that is what I'm going to do.
Semder: One more thing on this, Mr. Mayor. What can you say about the multiple trips to Turkey over the years, which you have confirmed? What's your response to the allegations they're connected to campaign donations?
Mayor Adams: No, not at all. And I haven't heard those allegations that they're connected to campaign donations. And again, we're going to comply. And everyone that knows me, if you would go to the United Nations, all of the consul generals will state that this man as a borough president and as the mayor has created more symbiotic relationships with the international community.
I've been to Africa seven times. I've been back and forth to South and Central America, to Mexico. I have traveled from Saudi Arabia to India to China. It is my responsibility to be an international city and have an international flavor to it.
The UN sits in our harbor. It doesn't sit in another harbor. This is the city of various cultures and ethnic groups, and nothing excites people more than when I talk about I visit their country. So, I am an international mayor in an international city, and I'm going to continue to do that.
Semder: Absolutely. Mr. Mayor, very quickly, we have one viewer question tonight I wanted to ask very quickly. Homelessness here in the Bronx, something that's a major issue. What are you guys doing to address it right now?
Mayor Adams: Well, we just announced a few days ago, actually it was yesterday, the success that we're doing with our homeless outreach plan particularly dealing with those who have serious mental health issues and they can't take care of themselves as well. We've partnered with organizations like BronxWorks and others to really zero in on this.
People said it was not possible. We looked at 100 of our chronic men and women who were homeless with serious mental health issues. We have over 50 percent of them, we stabilized their lives. And we're going to continue to expand this program.
We know it's an issue in our city, and we're not going to ignore it or kick the can down the road. We're going to make sure that everyone can have an opportunity to get care, to get community and get the services they deserve.
Semder: Well, Mayor Eric Adams, thank you so much for your time tonight. We appreciate it, and I look forward to speaking with you again soon here on News 12.
Mayor Adams: Yes, thank you very much.