Transcript: Mayor Eric Adams Appears on PIX11's "PIX on Politics"

April 10, 2022

Dan Mannarino: And welcome back to PIX on Politics, everybody. I'm continuing my conversation right now with New York City Mayor Eric Adams. So, Mayor, good to have you back. And I want to pave right now to a big topic, which is our COVID cases. Once again now rising and there's been a lot of conversation around masking in schools, especially for those under the age of five, right? Especially since kids in older grades do not have to wear masks. So, what is the logic around still having masks for those under the age of five?

Mayor Eric Adams: Well first of all, no one is a bigger advocate. I want these masks off children, let's be clear of that. It's not connected to waiting until a vaccine, that is not what we're doing. We laid out a plan a couple of months ago when numbers hit a certain level, we're going to start rolling back. We roll back the mandate in restaurants, we roll back K through 12, we're rolling back slowly. We were planning on rolling back on Monday less than five, but then the doctors, the medical team said, Eric, listen, this new variant is ticking up. Let's first analyze before we roll back this next version. We want to roll this back, but we have to do it right. And listen, it's a tough decision. I'm taking the heat for it, but I'd rather take heat for this than take the heat that our children are dealing with these unforeseen COVID issues.

Mannarino: So, what is the timeline then right? We are seeing the cases tick back up. Are you anticipating those under the age of five without masks in a week, in a month before the school year ends?

Mayor Adams: I'm at the mercy of my medical team. The worst thing I can do is make a decision that is in total opposition of our medical team. And then we find out medically all of the hidden issues of COVID because there's something called long term COVID. There's some things that specifically impact children that causes hospitalization, inflammatory issues. I got to really balance this out. I don't want to look in my rear view mirror later in life and say, I made the wrong decision with our babies. We have to have a zero tolerance when it comes down to hospitalization for children.

Mannarino: So, wait and see approach here on that front. But doctors are talking about another potential wave right now. We're also hearing about the federal funding running out for things like tests and for things like booster shots. So, what can the city do? What can you do to keep funding going for those to go get tested and to keep people getting vaccinated?

Mayor Adams: Real issue, Dan, what is happening in DC we were hoping we would get $15 billion to continue what we are doing. We're going to continue to make tests available for New York for free for New Yorkers. But it's a challenge, and President Biden, we met with his Chief of Staff last week and they talked about fighting to get this money. I spoke with our congressional delegation, Congressman Nadler. I thanked him for doing that. But we need the funding to continue to keep things going. Now the best defense, vaccine. You take your vaccine, your booster shots, this is how we got here because New Yorkers did what was right.

Mannarino: And those will remain free.

Mayor Adams: Yes. Yes, that's the goal. The goal is to keep them free, so that we can continue to vaccinate, so that we can have a safe city.

Mannarino: Mr. Mayor, you've said you don't envision lockdowns. No measures like we've seen in the past, but is there a scenario and I know this is crystal ball time, but we're going into a yellow zone, maybe a red zone. Do you roll back some of the things and do you anticipate maybe masks indoors again?

Mayor Adams: We don't foresee that, but I'm going to pivot a shift because COVID is a formidable opponent and if you become stringent and locked in, we can put ourselves in a place by if our failure make basic changes is going to put us in that place where you and I know was extremely frightening having our city locked down we are doing the right things. New Yorkers should be commended, over 70 percent of the people have been vaccinated. People are doing their booster shots. We're doing the right things. I'm just really proud of New Yorkers and civil servants that we beat back a formidable opponent. Let's continue to do so.

Mannarino: Mr. Mayor, what is next for you? You had a busy first hundred days. What is on the line for the next a hundred days?

Mayor Adams: We're going to roll out a speech of our one hundred days and we're going to show, be honest with New Yorkers. This is an FDR moment. We have some troubling indicators, unemployment, foreclosures, people who are on an eviction list, crime. I'm going to lay out to New Yorkers this is what we are facing, but I'm going to show them what we have done to build the foundation for the future. And then we're going to talk about what we're going to do. We're going to face this head on together. This is a resilient city and let me tell you something, there's only two types of Americans, those who live in New York and those who wish they could.

Mannarino: Right. And then there's only two teams in New York, the Mets and the Yankees. It's baseball season. I mean you held a press conference in Citi Field. So, I know where the answer's going here, but I'm going to put it on the record.

Mayor Adams: I've been living in purgatory for a long time, not getting a World Series win from the Mets. But I remember those days of 1969 with my family and dad watching the team. So, I'm a Mets guy.

Mannarino: There you go. And lastly, Mr. Mayor, inner circle, it is coming up. I've seen you there in the audience before. This time you will have to have a rebuttal for those in the political world. For those who pay attention, it's a satire show. Will you be taking the stage? Will you be singing?

Mayor Adams: According to my team, I will be taking the stage. We want people to sit there and watch the show. If I sing, they're going to run out.

Mannarino: There you go. That's how I feel when I hit the stage and I sing. Mr. Mayor, appreciate your time. Appreciate you being here in person.

Mayor Adams: Thank you. Thank you.

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