Transcript: Mayor Adams Calls in for Interview on 94.7 The Block’s "Jonesy In The Morning"

August 28, 2024

Wayne Mayo: Mr. Mayor? 

Mayor Eric Adams: Yes, sir. How are you? 

Tarsha Jones: Hey, boo. You were waiting to do that. Ladies and gentlemen, the mayor of New York City, honorable Mayor Eric Adams.

Mayor Adams: Hey, it's great to be on with you and it was just really lovely having you up in Gracie Mansion gracing us with your presence. 

Jones: Thank you. That was an outstanding event. It was like the best energy, fellowship, professionalism. I love seeing all that greatness in one space so thank you for that event. 

Mayor Adams: Thank you for being there and you know it just goes to show us the level of energy we have in the city. We always see all the negativity that is around but there are some folks doing some great things in general, but specifically people of color. We just need to get in the same room together and share ideas and see how we could bond to you know really move the needle on some stuff that we want do in this city.

Jones: I saw a lot of power broking power being made that day. People that didn't even know the resources that other people had just in casual conversation, I love that, that really made my night. And the cherry on top was the selfie that you and I took that went viral. They said we make a cute couple. I'm sorry Mrs. Adams. I'm sorry but I'm the first lady on Wednesday mornings.

Mayor Adams: Oh, man. Don't get me started.

Jones: All right, so look. What have you got going on? What are we talking about today, sir?

Mayor Adams: You know, when I came into, actually prior to coming into office throughout the years, when you do an analysis of the billions of dollars we send back to the federal government and state government, that they are benefits that everyday people could have. But government was just too challenging and difficult to allow people to get access to that. 

So we put something in place. When I came into office, we said we are going to identify what benefits are there for people, and we're going to go to them, not wait for them to come to us. And it is money back in your pockets concept. $30 billion, $30 billion we put back in the pockets of everyday New Yorkers. Everything from free high-speed broadband for NYCHA residents to paying off medical debt for low-income New Yorkers, which is the number one cause of bankruptcy. To reduce fare MetroCards, MetroCards for students, increasing the hours and times that they can use them, to bringing down the cost of child care. Child care, when I came into office, was $55 a week for those who make $55,000 less. We cut it down to less than five dollars a week. 

We also went out, we're knocking on doors with our Public Engagement Unit, we're knocking on doors we said Miss Smith, you know, give us your profile, here's what you have available that you can get resources for. We have we have seniors who deal with food insecurity don't know they qualify for SNAP and mothers who have children don't know they qualify for WIC and seniors who can get their rent frozen by what's called SCRIE and people with disabilities they can get their rent frozen by something called DRIE. 

So we're now hitting the streets knocking on doors speaking with people and telling them, don't struggle alone when there are benefits that you have and we're really excited about this because I know what my mom went through. Mommy did not even want to go to a governmental agency by the time she went there she felt more broken than prior to the problem. We just want to change that game and say this is these are your tax dollars, we need to put it back in your pocket.

Jones: I appreciate that. Is there another way for people that don't want to wait for their door to be knocked on, to find out if they qualify or how do they qualify where can they find the information?

Mayor Adams: Great, great question. My website, my City Hall website, it will point you in the direction of how to get your profile, just put in basic information and it will let you know what benefits you are available for and what benefits are available in the city. So it's a perfect way of just going in, putting your basic information, do a query and it'll let you know what benefits you are available for.

Mayo: An official website of the City of New York, Office of the Mayor is nyc.gov Jonesy, nyc.gov.

Jones: Nice. We are talking to Mayor Eric Adams folks, keep it right there we'll be back for more it's 94.7 The Block

[Music break.]

Jones: We're back with Mayor Eric Adams. I know today is the launch of, wait, what was it? Based on all the crime that's been happening on public transportation and people not paying their fares.

Mayo: Yes. I live in the Bronx, mayor, and I say 75 percent of the people that ride the buses don't pay. And I know it was a great idea when we were in COVID to make public transportation free. But I think people just got used to that. I'm not talking about people that can't afford it. I'm talking about people in suits. I'm talking about people that, in construction work, it's people that need to be paying their fare, because they can.

Mayor Adams: You are so right. And I spoke with Commissioner Caban a few weeks ago after speaking with Janno Lieber from the MTA. And what happened, it was sort of a perfect storm of things that came together. First, you had, as you stated, COVID. But then you had a policy in the city for several years, probably about eight, where it was a belief that we would not prosecute or we would not hold people accountable for a fare evasion. 

What folks don't realize is that when you have that large number of people not paying their fare, then it increases the fare of those who are and it's just not right. And one night around about 2 a.m. in the morning, I went with Deputy Commissioner Kaz Daughtry, and we went to 125th street and Lexington Avenue and no one was paying and then when we stopped people and said what are you doing they said well the subways are free we don't have to pay anymore, and that was what people thought. 

You were also correct and you had those who had means you know folks were walking around with wads of cash in their pockets and just decided they're not paying their fare anymore and so we are now putting in place an initiative where we're going to crack down on this and send the right message that if you will pay your fare on the bus you will pay your fares on the subway because it's not fair to those New Yorkers who are doing it that they're going to have to supplement and have an increase in fare because of the inability or unwillingness for others to pay their fare. 

It's a real problem and we have to get it back under control of that you have to pay your right. And you know what, if you can't afford to ride the subway there are methods on how you can get that free ride for the day. And, like I said, we have reduced fare MetroCards for low-income New Yorkers and we increased the number of cards that we've given out. So, others that can pay their fare, they must pay their fare.

Jones: Because today launches Operation Bus Beatdown. Get on this bus and think you're not paying, and it's going to be bus monitors on there to break you all the way up. Broke up. That's where it comes. That's what y'all made it be, y'all made it be this way they were looking the other way letting y'all slide but as typical folk y'all always got to go too far so no more free riding and there will be bus monitors. 

Mayor Adams: Exactly and the goal is not to be you know heavy-handed but the goal is to send a strong message. Everyday new yorkers struggle they find that MetroCard and it's just not right to increase the fares based on those who just don't feel they should have to pay their share of their transportation. 

Jones: Listen boo, now that me and you rocking you ain't gotta explain yourself. You will never have to explain yourself to them. I got you, I got you. Thank you, Mayor Eric Adams. 

Mayor Adams: You know when I come on can you please play my theme song, with Me and Mrs. Jones. 

Jones: Oh yes I will. Yes, I will. I certainly will. As long as you promise me that you will always smell as good as you did two weeks ago.

Mayo: Now, Jonesy, you know there's an official transcript of this conversation. That's a bit much.

Jones: Transcript, man-script.

Mayo: Your kids listen to the radio, too?

Jones: I don't care.

Mayo: Okay, thank you.

Jones: Oh, gosh. Thank you for your time.

Mayor Adams: Well, great speaking to you. And everybody get out to vote. 

Jones: Yes, yes. 

Mayo: Have a great Labor Day weekend, mayor.

Jones: Have a great, safe Labor Day weekend.

Mayor Adams: [Inaudible], but be careful. Take care.

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