Transcript: Mayor Adams Appears on 1660 AM's "K-Radio Morning News"

March 31, 2025

Haye Lee: So first, during your tenure, you have many significant accomplishments, like, as you said, jobs up, crimes down, and many mental support. And every year I attended the [State of the City]. So I know you're all the policy, and you put so much effort to reducing illegal guns off the street. And also you changed the New York City, the garbage disposal, the method, so people cannot throw away the [inaudible], right? So you did so many things. And what is most rewarding among your accomplishments?

Mayor Eric Adams: Oh yes, without a doubt, public safety. I say over and over again, public safety is a prerequisite to our prosperity. And it doesn't matter what community I'm in, or what is one's background. That's the number one thing that all New Yorkers desire, they desire to be safe. And we are really, really happy to see how well we have dealt with the public safety aspect. 

We have more to do. Because one crime is one crime too many. But clearly, when you look at almost 20,800 guns off our street, 80,000 illegal bikes and vehicles off our streets, and subways, crime has decreased substantially dealing with those who are dealing with severe mental health illness that cause violence from time to time. There's just a combination because we become so safe, that everyone is coming back to the city from more jobs in the city’s history. So you can't it's difficult to get a restaurant reservation sometimes, because people are back out enjoying the nightlife. So it is definitely public safety.

Lee: Yeah, it became more safer than before. I can feel during the COVID that was miserable. People were pushing people at the subway, and so many people died from the incident. So yes, public safety is most important. 

And under the strict immigration policy, the Trump administration, they are arresting undocumented immigrants, especially the [inaudible]. Who did the crime? So criminal activities, right? But this day, the story [is] going some different ways. 
So in Columbia University, as you know, Mahmoud Khalil, he [was] arrested and now he's in Louisiana. And this week, also at Somerville, a woman who [is] attending the graduate school, she [was] also arrested. So what do you think about this? Because people worry about the First Amendment, free speech, free protest and free assembly. But what is your sense about this enforcement?

Mayor Adams: Well, no one knows and [carries] out free speech better than here in the city. We've had over 3,000 protests in this city since October 7 of last year. And we have shown the entire country how you have the right to protest the right. 

What one does not have a right to do is create violence, to harm innocent people, or destroy property in any way. And we saw some of that at Columbia University, when the heads of the school called us in because some protesters took over the dorm room and destroyed property. And so we don't know the full extent of why these individuals were removed, or were apprehended. 

And the federal government, being a former police officer, I know that investigators don't turn over all the information that they know. The Constitution is clear on free speech, but it is not stating that free speech should come with violence, inciting violence, or any way collaborating with terrorists, Hamas is a terrorist organization. 

And we saw some of the material on Columbia University last year, that was being handed out. And some of it was inappropriate calling for the destruction of America, and praising Hamas, a terrorist group. And so some of those things are just not acceptable. And I've spoke out against it back then. And I don't believe we should be radicalizing our children and our young people on college campuses, particularly at taxpayers' expense, to stop any form of hate. 

We marched together to end Asian hate and violence. I've been marching with thousands of people. We did it again for antisemitism and other groups who were targeted. And so whoever's here, they do have the right to speak, but that speak cannot turn into promoting terrorism and promoting violence to our country.

Lee: The tension is rising between New York states and federal government over a Manhattan congestion pricing plan. So while New York State and MTA, they want more funding, and also they are empathizing the effectiveness about this policy. 

But President Trump criticized, because it is too much financial burden to drivers, because there is no option to use free road. So the administration has extended original deadline that was March 21. But they extended 30 days. And what is your stance on the implementation in New York City?

Mayor Adams: Many people don't know, but this is a state and MTA issue. They are responsible for the implementation, and how to use the dollars, I would have hoped that it would have been placed in the hands of the mayor and the City Council, because these are New York City streets, but it was not. And so I don't want to aggravate. I support the governor's action. But the federal government has a strong input based on the financing of this, and it's up to them to work it out. I like to say I have enough problems running the city to invite myself into new problems.

Lee: And you have been serving as mayor for about three years and three months. So you are running for re-election in upcoming June, mayoral [primary] election. So if you secure the second term, which area would you prioritize to push forward even further? And what do you want to do more?

Mayor Adams: Definitely safety. I want to work with the federal government as we stop the flow of Fentanyl and stop the flow of dangerous guns. The city, the Supreme Court, had a major ruling talking about guns, ghost guns, and that was very important to us. But I would definitely want to continue to move the city in a safe way. And then we want to deal with some very important issues that deal that address our quality of life. 

Those with severe mental health illness to get them into the care that they need to deal with the affordability around housing. That's something that I often hear, you know, the need for more housing. We broke records in housing in the first two years of the administration. We may even do it in the third year. So I would like to focus on more housing and more affordability. But it's about safety, affordability, and increasing our success around jobs, you know, attracting businesses here in the city.

Lee: So personally, when I see you, you have faced many challenges. However, each time you seem so composed, confident, unwavering. So I just want to ask you personally, because I want to learn from you. But what has been the most difficult moment in your life? And how did you deal with [it]? How did you overcome? And I want to know your mentality, because you look always unwavering.

Mayor Adams: Clearly, the last 15 months of these wrongful charges that were placed on me, it was wrong. It tarnished my good name, my commitment to the city. It was very hurtful and very painful to go through, not only for me individually, but my family and the city. 

I'm really disappointed that the city had to go through this. And I wanted to show them that in spite of what I was going through, I was never going to stop fighting for everyday New Yorkers. And that is why every day you saw me with this level of calmness and a level of really understanding that difficult times come in your life, but just stay true to who you are. 

And New Yorkers have been my north star. Every day that I got up, I was able to have more housing built. I was able to make our streets safer, our subways safer. I was able to see people who were getting jobs and employed, dropping unemployment throughout the city, foster care children getting their college tuition paid for, parents seeing a decrease in child care. 

Every day that I was seeing the success, it became my north star and it helped me cancel out the unfairness of the charges that were against me. And I wanted to be judged by not only what I have done, but what I have overcome, because we all have to overcome something. All of us are dealing with a family emergency, maybe a healthcare issue, maybe employment issue, housing issue. We're all going through something. And I wanted New Yorkers to see in spite of what the mayor is going through, he's still maintaining a level of enthusiasm and optimism to navigate us throughout the hard times we were facing.

Lee: And last, do you have any last message and comment for the Korean community and K radio listeners?

Mayor Adams: I want the community to know that their contributions really make this city what it is. The Korean-American community, their ability to really help in the finance industry. Some of the top financial leaders of major corporations are from the Korean-American community. Their belief in education. Many of the young people from the community are some of our best scholars in the city. And their contribution to business. 

Many of the small businesses from Koreatown in Manhattan to Korean Village out in Queens. There's a real contribution and presence of all many of the good things that happen in the city. The Korean community is so much a part of that. And I think all New Yorkers owe the Korean-American community a debt of gratitude. And let's continue to make this a great city where we can raise healthy children and families. Thank you. 

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