Transcript: Mayor Adams Hosts "Hear From the Mayor" Radio Show

September 10, 2023

Gary Byrd: Hear From the Mayor with our Mayor Eric Adams this morning from 107.5 WBLS. We'll be taking your telephone calls and giving you a chance to do something the mayor wants to do, and that's to hear from you. It's a pleasure to welcome our brother to our microphone this morning, the 110th mayor of New York City, Brother Eric Adams. His Honor, good morning and welcome.

Mayor Eric Adams: Hey, Brother Gary. Good to hear from you again. Another Hear From the Mayor, and you know, I'm your mayor, Eric Adams. If this is your first time tuning in, the purpose of this show is to hear directly from everyday New Yorkers.

This is, you know, it's always a great tradition of having New Yorkers being able to hear from their mayor on the radio, and I can't wait to hear from you today. Listeners should tune in or give me a call and hear directly from me. There are several ways we like to communicate with New Yorkers; one is listening to the Get Stuff Done 'cast that we have some great guests that we communicate with.

Also, we have the newly launched Text With Eric, where you can text with me on how the city's doing. You can text us at (917) 909-2288, (917) 909-2288. And you can also sign up to hear from me by visiting nyc.gov/hearfromeric.

We want to keep you in tune with what's happening in the city, and so much is going on at one time. So, those who are listening this morning, feel free to call in at (212) 545-1075, (212) 545-1075.

Byrd: Again, (212) 545-1075 is the number that gives you the chance to talk to the mayor. He wants to hear from you. Again, (212) 545-1075, Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, Long Island, Staten Island, wherever you are, we’d love to hear from you this morning.

Brother Eric, before we get started, I know you have a special guest this morning on the theme of education, but I certainly wanted to give you the chance to comment about the safety success that took place in relationship to Caribbean Carnival 2023, especially on the J'ouvert side.

Mayor Adams: Yes. No, amazing when you think about it. J'ouvert is often a celebration that takes place once a year. It's almost the conclusion of summer, but it's the revitalization of the excitement of the great city that we're in. This is probably one of the safest J'ouverts we've had in the history of this celebration, a real combination of community residents, of local crisis management teams and the New York City Police Department using all of our agencies: Department of Buildings, Department of Sanitation, Department of Traffic, NYPD— everyone coming together.

And we saw the results coming off of last year we had a safe J'ouvert and now repeated it this year. And even the parade itself    outside of one or two incidents, this was an extremely safe Labor Day weekend. And I want to...my hat's off to the community and the men and women of the New York City Police Department for keeping us safe.

Byrd: I want to give you just a quick moment to comment on the advent of technology that you brought into the process with the drone technology you introduced.

Mayor Adams: You know, when you think about it, Gary, I talk about it all the time, how we must use technology to continue to make our city the safest big city in America. We have been really doing this job just on the ground level, and by using drones it gives you an overall visual from up top. I was able to look at one of the incidents that took place, and the entire team was able to assist in a deployment and movement of personnel.

And so this introduction of drones and how we're using it to safely monitor a situation is just a real added plus to our city. And we're going to continue to embrace technology. We want to use this technology to be safe, and we're seeing some great success with it.

Byrd: Well, our children are going back to school. I understand that's part of your theme this morning; and certainly, congratulations on what looks like the aversion of what could have been a very damaging bus strike.

Mayor Adams: Yes. No, so true. And we're still...we're not out of the woods yet, we're still in negotiations    or, I should say, the bus companies are in negotiation with the drivers that are represented by the ATU union. We were have level heads prevail in the first week. We are still asking them to stay at the table, let's come up with a contract so we won't impact probably up to 80,000 children. Many of them are children with special needs.

Not every child is utilizing school buses to get to school, but if you've got about 80,000 that do, and since there are children with special needs, we're extremely sensitive about that. So, we're still in the negotiation...they are still in the negotiation process, and let's hope they can land the plan, or, I should say, they can park the bus.

Byrd: I understand you have a special young guest you'll introduce us to this morning.

Mayor Adams: Yes, I do, but also, you know, something that's on the mind of all New Yorkers, I just want to give a brief update on the humanitarian crisis that we're facing as a city with our asylum seekers and migrants. This is really going to impact this city greatly on all levels. We've absorbed close to 20,000 children who are in temporary housing, many of them are asylum and migrants...asylum seekers and migrants.

And we just announced today that we're going to look for five percent efficiencies, a total of 15 percent efficiencies in three different phases of our budgetary process. This is a major impact. We're looking at a $12 billion price tag, and we need help from the state and federal government. It is wrong for migrants to be living in this condition, and it's wrong for longstanding New Yorkers to have to burden this course on their own.

So, we need help, and we're going to ask for all New Yorkers to remain vigilant and have our national government deal with this crisis so it's not impacting our city solely on our city, and as cities across America are facing this.

But we're excited as we talk about school. I've got young Chloe President here with me. It feels so good to say "Madam President."

I was at her school and she was doing an opening, and it is just amazing her energy, her leadership. And we're just excited to have her join us as we kick off this first few days of school. Chloe, say hello to the listeners out there.

Chloe President: Hi.

Byrd: Wow. Chloe, how old are you?

President: I'm 10 years old.

Byrd: All right. And what grade are you in?

President: Fifth grade.

Byrd: Fifth grade, wow. Amazing. Eric, you mentioned an opening. What sort of a presentation was Chloe involved in?

Mayor Adams: The kick off of the first day of school, you know, we like to see the excitement and rejuvenation of how children come back. You know, there's some crying eyes, there's some, you know, wet eyes, you know, because I remember crying as a little boy when I was leaving Mommy for the first day. But you know, Chloe was there to like just really help everyone through the process.

And [you'll remember] something else I did on that day, Gary. I went up to Rikers Island, because just as our New York City Public Schools are open, our students on Rikers Island are going back also for the first day. And I was able to visit some of the students there and just let them know that as the mayor I see you, and we're going to make sure that you have a smooth transition back into society.

You know, but it was good hearing from Chloe as she was telling about her excitement. You know, so tell us, what are you looking forward to, you're most looking forward to this school year, Chloe?

President: Having fun with my friends, and learning new math equations. But the thing is, math isn't something that I enjoy, but I work really hard at mastering it.

Mayor Adams: And what's your favorite class?

President: My favorite class is ELA writing.

Mayor Adams: Do you want to be a writer one day?

President: Yes.

Mayor Adams: And we're doing something really new this year, listeners, and we are really refocusing our attention on reading. When you look at the numbers of how many Black and brown children particularly are falling back in reading, unable to read. The chancellor made it clear, he wants young people to know how to be clear and proficient, proficient in reading by the third grade. And this is a real focus on, you have a student like Chloe who likes writing, good writers can produce material but you need to know how to read in the process.

Share with us, Chloe, what would you like to do when you grow up?

President: I want to become a doctor who, is the one to save lives.

Mayor Adams: Wow. Tell me more about that. What excited you to want to go into that career?

President: Because Kamala Harris, she...

Mayor Adams: Take your time.

Byrd: Um hmm. Yep.

Mayor Adams: Is that a field because you saw someone in that profession?

President: Yes, my mom.

Mayor Adams: Your mom?

President: Yeah.

Mayor Adams: [Inaudible] mom is the sole inspiration. My mom, you know, I was dyslexic when I was in school and didn't know it. But...

Byrd: Mayor Adams, I heard you say that you were dyslexic.

Mayor Adams: Yes. Yes, I was saying that you know, growing up I was dyslexic and you know, mom played such an important role of giving me confidence of saying, you know, baby, you can do this, you know, hug me, kiss me, send me out the door to try to learn the best I can. And so if you're looking at a field that your mom did, then your mom was extremely inspirational for you.

Byrd: Eric, believe it or not, I was watching a film last night and actually they were mentioning to a young student who was, you know, meeting the same challenge, that Muhammad Ali was dyslexic; and certainly, most people would have no idea of that.

Mayor Adams: No, so true. So true.

Chloe, tell me about Summer Rising last summer. Did you participate in the Summer Rising program?

President: Yes.

Mayor Adams: What did you enjoy about it?

President: Summer Rising was a lot of fun, and I really enjoyed having fun with the people I go to school with.

Mayor Adams: And Gary and listeners, this was an amazing program we put in place, 110,000 children went through the Summer Rising program. It built on the concept of school all year round for our young people. It was a full day of not only physical activity but learning instructions.

And parents have stability. We believe it contributes to the very successful summer safety plan, because we wanted to be proactive. We wanted to put our children in good places where they can get the safety they need, the instructions that they need. And Chloe was one of those students; and you know, full summer our parents were able to do what they do without having to worry about what their baby was actually doing and continue to learn as we decrease the learning gap that we have.

Now, everyone, Chloe, has a best friend at school. Tell me your best friend.

President: My best friend is [Kemaya].

Mayor Adams: Tell me about [Kemaya]. She's listening right now and she's saying, yeah, Chloe! [Laughter.] 

President: She is a caring and nice person, and she likes to help people.

Mayor Adams: Love it. Love it. And your favorite teacher? We all had a favorite teacher. My favorite teacher was [Ms. Pasternak]. I still communicate with her now. She was my third grade teacher. You know, who's your favorite teacher? Don't get in trouble, because they're going to all say, wait a minute, I thought I was your favorite [laughter]. Do you have one?

President: I have two.

Mayor Adams: Two. Okay, what are the two?

President: Ms. Blake and [Ms. Garen]. 

Mayor Adams: Tell me about them. Tell me about Ms. Blake and Ms. Garen.

President: Ms. Blake, she like at the...at the first like couple of months, like she'll let you do what you want to do, but if you get out of hand she will tell you, but she will tell you in a nice way.

Mayor Adams: Love that. Love that. It's all about the communications, right. You know, and I think that parents, asking your children how was school, who is your favorite teacher, what teacher do you feel uncomfortable about, so you could really know.

I'll never forget my brother's third grade teacher, [Ms. Gomorgi], when he did something wrong she told me he would never be anything. And my brother, when he went to college and he failed out, he said, when I went to pick him up, he said [Ms. Gomorgi] told me I would never be anything. He remembered that from third grade.

Byrd: Mmm. Wow.

Mayor Adams: So, if a teacher plants something in a child that you will always be successful, you're smart, you're brilliant, they will bring that with them. And I don't think people realize that what we plant in our children would have a long term impact.

Here's a young man that was in college reflecting on what his third grade teacher told him. And so we should be careful as parents to always ask our children about their teachers, what do they feel, how are they feeling, and those teachers who are supportive, we need to show support for those teachers as well as we do so. And that's why Chloe raised two teachers that she feels are supportive of her, and those teachers, we need to lift them up as much as possible.

Byrd: Chloe President, our special guest this morning on Hear From the Mayor. We're going to do this. We're going to take a couple of minutes and get ready for your telephone calls at (212) 545-0175.  (212) 545-0175.

Give us your calls. It's not just hear from the mayor, the mayor wants to hear from you. Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, Long Island, Staten Island, Westchester, wherever you are. (212) 545-0175, Mayor Eric Adams on your radio. We're live at WBLS. We'll come back with your calls after this.

[Commercial break.]

Byrd: (212) 545-0175. The mayor is standing by, and Allison is with us this morning from Queens. Allison, good morning, and welcome to Hear From the Mayor. Allison, go right ahead.

Question: Yes, good morning, Mr. Mayor.

Mayor Adams: Good morning, Allison.

Question: Yes, good morning. I'm calling from Queens, it's not really much time to address this issue. But basically what I was calling about was I live at 27th Avenue in Astoria. And they decided to use the church as a refugee center or a crisis center, and a lot of people, migrants, trespass in our apartment, the grounds of our apartment and we have to constantly ask them to move, and they curse [inaudible].

I'm retired. I'm an elderly woman. I'm in my sixties. They curse you up, they call people the B word. The guard has to be constantly going out there. They literally litter the street. And I saw one of them taking a sharp object and damaging the glass of the church, you know, where they have these windows. And I remember [inaudible] used to go to that church and worship.

Now there is this judge called [inaudible], and he is one of the judges in New York that hears these cases. He says 83.5 percent of the cases are denied and 16.5 percent other forms of relief are given. So, not all of them will get asylum. They don't meet the criteria.

Byrd: Sister. Sister. Sister, excuse me. I'm going to step...

Question: And what...

Byrd: Sister, hold on. I'm stepping in. We want to hear the rest of this, but give the mayor a question that he can respond to in the interest of the other callers as well. Go right ahead.

Question: All right. So, then, what happens now to the asylum seekers who are denied, because according to the statistics here, most of them who don't have representation are denied, and it says most of them are going to be denied because...not because they come to the border and claim asylum; they're entitled to it. So then what does happen to those who are denied?

Mayor Adams: Those who are denied, and I'm not an immigration attorney, but those who are denied are not allowed to remain. And this, you know, you just highlighted what I am stating, that this is a federal issue and it should be handled by the federal government.

People need to know, one, the city does not have the authority to deport anyone; two, the city cannot deny anyone entrance into the city, although they're coming from other parts of the bordering state; and three, we are currently required by law to do certain provisions.

So, this is beyond the scope of New York City. This is wrong for migrants to go through this and it's wrong for New York City's residents to go through this. And I need you to add your voice to the federal and state to give us the relief that we deserve.

I think the next caller we have on Line 3, Andrea, calling from Brooklyn, BK.

Byrd: That's right. Great.

Question: Hi. Hi, everyone. Good morning, Mr. Mayor and Gary and Chloe.

Mayor Adams: Good morning.

Byrd: Good morning. Thank you.

Question: I have a question. I live on by [Eagan] Street. So, the street is [inaudible] between [Eagan] and [inaudible]. We have a problem with trailers, haulers, trailers' attachments, box trucks. It's like a dumping ground over there.

And people use it as a storage, also, for their business to just store their vehicles, you know, those type of vehicles there. I've been doing this for four years, I go to your office one time, the Department of Transportation got back to me. Then they said, go to the precinct, because there's no signage on the block. That's a problem.

There's no signage on that street, because development is like 13 years new...13 years old, so nothing was there for a long time. And they keep dumping, dumping, dumping. It's out of state plates, Connecticut, Pennsylvania. Some of them don't have no plates.

And it also, sanitation can't...it's a dumping ground for furniture, everything. Sanitation can't even clean the sidewalk.

Byrd: My sister, give...my sister, give the mayor a question he can respond to.

Mayor Adams: No, I got it. I got it. I got it. I got you. I got you.

Question: [Inaudible.].

Mayor Adams: I got you, sister. What's that street again, and let me get someone on that today. What's the street again?

Question: It's on [inaudible] between [Flatland] and [Eagan]. I reached out to the precinct but they need more help.

Mayor Adams: I got you. Okay, sister, I'm on it. I'm on it. Trust me.

Question: Thank you.

Mayor Adams: We get stuff done. We get stuff done, and we're going to have a combination of Department of Sanitation, NYPD and I'm going to get a team over there and look at the illegal dumping. I hear you. If you leave your number with the station, I'll give you a call later today and we can drill down on it more. Okay?

Question: I appreciate that. Thank you so much. I appreciate...

Mayor Adams: Okay, all right.

We're going to go to Line 7, Carmen, calling from Manhattan.

Question: Good morning, Mayor Adams. This is Lieutenant Detective [inaudible] sister who worked with you at 90th precinct.

Mayor Adams: Yes, um hmm.

Question: My question is, I want to say to you, I commend you. You're doing a great job. I'm so tired of hearing people downgrade you. You [did] inherit this mess that is going on. And people need to flood Washington D.C. with letters to the President and whoever's in charge, because he put these people in office to work for us and they are not doing their job. And it's a shame that people have to live and want to come to work in New York and other states and are being treated inhumane. It's terrible.

The second thing I want to say. I'm from Queens, went to Woodrow Wilson High School, from your borough. And I would like to come to 90th precinct and get those memo books showing that my brother passed 9/11 from picking up dead body parts down there on his way home.

Mayor Adams: Why don't we do this, sister. If you will leave your number with the station, I'll call you and we'll coordinate to make sure you get whatever you need to assist with, you know, with your brother in processing the paperwork. So, again, thanks for calling.

And listen, we know what everyday New Yorkers believe. You know, I walk the streets. I don't listen to people who tweet and say their comments online and social media. And so everyday New Yorkers I'm in tune with, I know their desires, I know their concerns, and I'm going to continue to respond to those who know we've got to move this city correctly.

And Gary, as we depart, you know, we're on to September 10th, tomorrow we'll be acknowledging September 11th. We saw our center of trade attacked. We lost loved ones, family members, friends, all people lost so many different people during that tragedy.

But I want to also remember, although we will acknowledge the loss of people on September 11th, let's not forget September 12th: we got up. The city responded, teachers taught, builders built. We showed terrorists that we were not going to flee in terror, we will continue to stand strong.

And as a lieutenant during that time— my kid brother was a sergeant— we remembered those that we lost. But this is New York City. We're resilient, we're fighters, and we will continue to move forward, and America is what it is because of this great city we call NYC.

Chloe, thank you. Good to see you. Enjoy this good year in school [laughter].

President: Thank you.

Byrd: Mr. Mayor, thank you so much. Obviously, and for those of you who are listening, each and every month the second week, the second Sunday, you can join us right here at 107.5 WBLS and Hear From the Mayor. Brother Eric, real quick if you can just throw some of those platforms out for people to contact you directly as well.

Mayor Adams: Yes. We have a number of different platforms that we are looking at. One is my Hear From Eric site where people can hear directly from me. And we also have our great podcast that we really allow to hear from great New Yorkers in the process. And we want folks to text us also, Text With Eric where you can text me at (917) 909-2288.

And don't forget, September 17th, African American Day Parade, I'm looking forward to seeing folks line the streets of Harlem as we continue to celebrate the African American rich ancestries in the city and in this country.

Byrd: Brother, we give thanks. Keep doing what you're doing. We appreciate you and love you much.

Mayor Adams: Thank you.

Byrd: Mayor Eric Adams, the 110th mayor of New York City. He appears right here on 107.5 WBLS every second Sunday of the month.

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