Transcript: Mayor Adams Calls in For Live Interview With 1010 WINS

February 12, 2024

Lori Madden: Joining us live now on 1010 WINS 92.3 FM is Mayor Eric Adams. Mayor, thank you for joining us tonight. Before we get to the snow, we want to bring everybody up to date on this shooting in the Mount Eden section of the Bronx at the subway station. What can you tell us about it? We know that one person is dead.

Mayor Eric Adams: So, it's still under investigation. Our preliminary review indicates that this was not a random act. It appears to have been a dispute that took place on the subway train and spilled out into the platform.

We believe anywhere from six to seven people were shot, one lost their life. And we're still investigating at this time. It just took place. It just reinforces how important it is that we continue to remove illegal guns off our streets. And our hearts go out to those who were victims. But as we get more information, we will update the public.

Madden: Do we know if any arrests have been made?

Mayor Adams: Not at this time. The suspect appears to still be at large, but we will bring them to justice.

Madden: Okay, and we know five other people have been wounded, but you said they're not sure of the exact number of people. So, are they still, are people coming into hospitals?

Mayor Adams: Yes.

Madden: Okay.

Mayor Adams: And that's what normally happens at this time. After a shooting like this, people may walk into the hospital. Once we get a complete count, we are going to update the public.

Madden: The person who was killed, we're being told it was a man in his 30s. Was he targeted that you know of so far?

Mayor Adams: It's unclear at this time, but we will abreast the public as soon as we get more information.

Madden: Okay, and just one more on this topic. This happened during afternoon rush hour. People are going home from work. What's your message to people who take the subway? This happened… I'm sorry, go ahead.

Mayor Adams: Yes. Removing illegal guns and dangerous people off the streets is also included in our subway system. And you know, I've stated this over and over again, it's not the... Not only people must be actually safe by what we have done in lowering crime, they must feel safe.

And something like this can send shockwaves throughout our entire system. We have an excellent Transit Police Department, but we will continue to be focusing on apprehending those who commit crimes and removing illegal guns off our streets.

Madden: Okay. A little bit of a tough pivot here. We're going to go to tomorrow's storm. And we know there's going to be no snow day for kids tomorrow. You made the announcement about remote learning for New York City public school students. A little bit of pushback today, we've talked to some parents, some were okay with it, some not so okay with it. What do you have to say to them?

Mayor Adams: New York, 8.3 million people, 35 million beliefs and opinions. That is just this great city we're in. And we know that we're making the right call based on the analysis, the visibility issues, the heavy snowfall, really understanding that out of Covid we learned the technologies of remote learning so we don't have to close our schools like we did when I was a child.

We're using technology to ensure our children continue to catch up. There were some great losses during Covid — learning losses — and we want to make sure we keep giving our children the instructions they need.

Madden: But that technology is key. Not everybody may have those devices or the Internet service.

Mayor Adams: That is so true, and that is why we continue to make sure that we do high‑speed broadband throughout this entire city and why we did broadband connect, Big Apple Connect to give free high‑speed broadband in every NYCHA housing residence. And that's some of the towers you see throughout the city.

That reinforces why we have to continue to make sure every neighborhood, every block and every community have access to high‑speed broadband, and that is what we are accomplishing.

Madden: Yes, but for those parents or for those kids who might not have it tomorrow, what can they do?

Mayor Adams: Combination of everything from our libraries to coordination with our principals in our schools to find out where accessibility is located. The chancellor has been on top of this. They worked out a real plan to make sure every one of our children will have some form of access.

Madden: You know, when I was a kid, I couldn't wait to have a snow day. Will kids in New York City ever get a snow day again? That was better than Christmas. No more snow days for New York City kids?

Mayor Adams: They call me the Scrooge, you know, but as my mother used to say when she told me to eat my broccoli, it was a retrospective appreciation. And I'm sure they'll look back and see we closed the gap in learning loss.

Our city is outpacing the state in reading and math because during Covid we did not close our schools, and we continued to ensure our children got the instruction they need.

Madden: All right, we'll tell them that it's kind of like broccoli. We'll see how that flies. All right, thank you. Joining us tonight, Mayor Eric Adams with an update on a very busy night in New York City.

###