Transcript: Mayor Adams Calls in for Live Interview on GMGT Live's "The Reset Talk Show"

October 13, 2023

JR Giddings: The mayor is on, and you know, we always have to defer to the mayor. Everything that you're saying is important. It's such an important topic this morning. Mr. Mayor, are you there? 
  
Mayor Eric Adams: Yes. Hey, how are you, brother? Good to see you. 
  
Giddings: Good to see you, Mr. Mayor. How are you doing? 
  
Mayor Adams: Good, good, good. A busy week, full week and you know, a big city like New York, something is always happening. 
  
Giddings: Well, Mr. Mayor, we're on the topic of the war in the Middle East right now, and I would just like to get your thoughts and your reaction to the Hamas attack on Israel. Of course, you know the death toll has surpassed 3,000 and there are injuries on both sides. What is your reaction? 
  
Mayor Adams: War is cruel, particularly to innocent people, and we should always be in a constant mode to end wars; and even prior to the current war, there were attacks on soldiers and fighters on both sides. This was going on. We all know the history of the conflict in the Middle East goes back so many years, and hopefully, one day in our lifetime we can see the peace that we deserve. 
  
But I think we need to differentiate between wars and the casualties of wars and terrorism. Number one, I was sharing with people the other day when I was in Gorée Island and went to see the slaves' dungeons in Africa off the coast Senegal where Africans were held in dungeons for months, living in their own waste, being raped and brutalized by slavemasters. On top of the dungeon was a Christian church, and they would sing [in] praise and justify the behavior of the captures. 
  
And you know, one would say that, hey, Christianity condoned it; Christianity did not. People exploited Christianity for slavery. The Ku Klux Klan would burn crosses on the yards of Black folks in the south and some northern cities. That wasn't Christianity. And that's how I feel about Hamas. Hamas' actions were terrorism. It was not Islam, and I think it's wrong if we demonize Islam and Muslims based on the action of terrorists. 
  
There's nothing Islamic about dragging children out of their homes, raping young girls, beheading people, shooting people in front of their loved ones, kidnapping grandmothers. That's not Islam, and many of my Muslim brothers and sisters are just as outraged. 
  
And so I think as we engage in this conversation, there's two parts of it: there's the history of the conflict that we need to come to resolution, the UN should get involved and world leaders should get involved; and then, there's what happened a few days ago. And to state that what happened a few days ago is because of the historic crisis that we've been facing in the Middle East, I just don't...I don't accept that. There's is no reason to treat innocent civilians in that manner on one of the holiest days of the year for the Jewish people and to specifically target innocent civilians. 
  
That was just unacceptable, and I believe it was unacceptable for the GSA to hold a rally while people were traumatized, mourning and New Yorkers. There are New Yorkers that are caught up in this that were in Israel acknowledging the holiest day of the year. And so yes, we must bring peace in the Middle East, but you know, as Nelson Mandela taught me and Dr. King taught me and Gandhi taught me and so many others that I've studied throughout the years, you don't bring peace with violence on innocent civilians. 
  
Civilians that are innocent should not be swept up into the wars of government. It's the same thing that's playing out right now in Ukraine, those horrific pictures that are coming from Ukraine of showing innocence of buildings that their lives are being traumatized. 
  
And so my relationship with the Muslim community is a rich one. It goes back to 2001. I stood in front of the federal courthouse on Third Avenue and 30th Street when we decimated Coney Island Avenue by...after the 9/11 attacks, we pulled Muslim young men from their homes, to great peril. I was a cop at the time, and I sat in front of that building saying, these men should be released. They haven't done anything wrong. 
  
You know, the organizations I started with Muslims fighting on their behalf, there was a flyer of...and when I was borough president, that said Kill a Muslim Day. I went and marched with my Muslim brothers and sisters in Bay Ridge. I have not been silent on these issues. 
  
And even when I was in Israel the first time, I went to the Gaza Strip and spoke with Palestinian leaders. I know this is a painful moment, but our pain cannot turn into inflicting pain, it must turn into purpose. We have to bring peace not only to the Middle East but across our globe. 
  
Giddings: Well, thank you for that, Mr. Mayor. I know that you're heading to Israel on Monday, and your views, is I think your views will go over very well. And that's what we're doing here with the Reset Talk Show this morning. Mr. Mayor, we've got to pivot this morning, because you know, time is short. This is the fastest two hours in Internet radio. Could we talk about here your visit to Latin America? 
  
Mayor Adams: Yes. And just, and I'm not traveling outside the city. You know, some people thought we were going to be leaving [us] at the city. I'm not. I just want to clear that up. But Latin America was important. You know, we're dealing with a humanitarian crisis, probably the largest crisis we've witnessed in this hemisphere. There's a mobile movement of human beings across the globe, and it was really regulated to Europe: Paris, Belgium, France. 
  
Now, they have been really dealing with this shift, and we have been really just not dealing with the full impact until the destabilization of Venezuela where over seven million — seven million Venezuelans — have left their country. And if you could only imagine, it has shifted the entire conversation in this hemisphere. And the bulk of these Venezuelans have found their way to Ecuador, Mexico and Colombia and New York City or United States, but a large number here in New York City. 
  
And it is has reached a crisis proportion, and it was my job to do three things: number one, I went to go on a fact finding mission, I wanted to go to all these countries and find out exactly what was happening in a significant place — and I will ask everyone to look at it, it's called the Darién Gap. This is a jungle that many people are walking through to make their way to America. 
  
And it's a very dangerous environment. Many women are raped, children don't make it through. 20 percent of those who go through our children. Many people don't make it to the other side of this Gap, they're exploited by drug traffickers, smugglers. It's just a terrible environment. And I wanted to see exactly what was taking place there and to really see on the ground, because you can't make good policies if you're just inside your office space someplace. 
  
The second thing we wanted to do is establish relationships with those governments, because cities have to solve national problems. Everyone knows that cities from the C40, the cities that come together from climate change to others, we have to start building these relationships on cities, and we made some great contacts there that we're going to build on. 
  
And the third was to speak to the local media to send a message out to those who are in these countries that the propaganda that is encouraging people to come to New York City, they're selling, if you come to New York City, you're going to stay in a 5‑star hotel, you'll automatically be able to work, you'll get three meals a day. We wanted to push back on that narrative by speaking directly to the media there. 
  
Now, is it going to stop everyone from coming? No. But we want to have people think differently about the realities of being in New York City, and in each one of those areas, we believe we were successful and accomplishing, and now we have to build on this trip to try to deal with the crisis that we're facing here in our city. 
  
We're getting, JR, we're getting...we were getting 10,000 migrants a month; now it appears as though we're going to get anywhere from 15,000 a month if these numbers keep trending in the directions that they're going in. And it's just not sustainable. And I've been saying this over and over again. It's not right for the migrants and asylum seekers and it's not right for taxpayers to have to see $5 billion this year come out of their budget, $12 billion in three years coming out of the budget. It's not sustainable, and it's not fair to everyday taxpayers and migrants and asylum seekers. 
  
Giddings: Thank you for that, Mr. Mayor. Now, what is your reaction to the Biden Administration providing work authorization for 500,000 Venezuelans seeking asylum in New York City? 
  
Mayor Adams: Well, and we need to really break that down, because you know, many people thought that, hey, Hey we can spike the ball, and we're far from spiking the ball. We don't even have the ball in our hand. We believe the announcement that was made will impact roughly, when you dig down into the numbers, approximately around about 9,000, 10,000 actual people are going to benefit from that, because we have many migrants that are under 18 years old that can't work. 
  
So, this was one of the pieces. I like to use the analogy that there are many rivers that feed the sea of a crisis, this is one of the rivers that we had to dam. But there are more rivers that we have to dam, because the flow is still there. And so when we do the real inspection of what was put in place, it's a step, but it's not "the" step, because all migrants from Venezuela that came before July 31st are able to benefit from that. We had a lot they came after July 31st and a lot that did not come through the process at all, they came through illegal means to come into the country. 
  
And so we need policies that's going to really, number one, stop the destabilization of Venezuela. We have Trump supported sanctions, that we should lift them so we can stabilize Venezuela. And then we need to give help to those other countries like Colombia who's willing to absorb some of this for us, and because they have already, but they don't have the infrastructure to continue to do this on their own. So, there needs to be a regional approach to this so we can resolve this crisis because it's not sustainable now. 
  
Giddings: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. As always, you're shedding light, you're being very transparent about where we are and the way you're leading, at least a lot of us are happy because if we don't get the information direct the way you bring it, we just wouldn't know what's happening. 
  
Nicole Jordan‑Martin, are you there? 
  
Pastor Straker could you go ahead and pose your question to the mayor this morning? You're muted. 
  
Pastor Louis Straker, Jr.: Thank you. Thank you. The host had me muted. Good morning, Mr. Mayor. Thank you so much for joining us once again, and thank you for having that multifaith reception on Wednesday evening where our faith leaders could come together in a time like this and to pray for one another and pray for our cities and pray for our countries abroad. I really appreciate that. 
  
I do have a couple of questions. The first one is, how concerned are you with attacks here in New York? You know we have one of the largest populations if not the largest population of Jewish community outside of Israel. How concerned are you with attacks that may happen here in our city? 
  
Mayor Adams: That's a great question. You know, many people know there was an announcement by a former head of Hamas who called for a Day of Action today, on the 13th, Friday the 13th. His call does not, you know, alarm me as much as my concern for a lone wolf. You know, there are people who have been radicalized for whatever reason for many years they have been listening to different communications. And that is my concern. 
  
Lone wolves, they have always been a problem. You know, we foiled a lot of cases, a lot of incidents throughout the years, but they are extremely challenging because it could be just anyone, like a lone wolf that was radicalized up in Buffalo who shot the people in the supermarket. His family, that was not the position or the thoughts of his mom and dad and his relatives. Everybody was surprised. When our young people are sitting in front of social media and they are being radicalized every day, and that is my concern. 
  
So, what we're doing, we're taking the necessary steps. We've had several meetings with faith leaders. We met with our Jewish, our Muslim, our Christian community and other faith communities to just really be vigilant of, if you see something, say something but also do something. Notify the police and just really telling people that you know, let's be vigilant. 
  
And we have the real omnipresence of law enforcement in our subway system. We have several known high‑profile mosques and synagogues and churches that we're having police go to as well and just do what we call special assignment to be very conscious of what's happening. So, we are...we're cautious. You know, I have a lot of faith in the New York City Police Department, our intel division and everyday patrol force. But we are cautious during this time. 
  
Pastor Straker: And then my second question, it's a larger question but I'll lump it in one, concerning the migrant crisis. When you look at what's been happening in New York City, the flood of people coming into New York City, the whole argument around Right to Shelter, there's been a lot of debate as to whether this is a Right to Shelter only for New York City or New York State. 
  
When you look at the case of Callahan vs. Carey, the class action suit brought in 1979 and then the settlement that are took place in 1981, a lot of it was based upon the argument of the Article 17, I believe, in the state constitution which many believe it makes the right to shelter not just the city but the entire state. 
  
With that being so, what is the status of that? Are we pushing back to move more people into the state as a right to shelter? And then on top of it, if this doesn't happen, I believe that there's some legalities here that I'm not sure if your team has looked at, but are you prepared to form a lawsuit against maybe the state, maybe Texas, for sending these migrants here? Maybe the federal government for inaction? Are there some legalities there? Are you prepared to sue? Can you just answer those questions for me, please. 
  
Mayor Adams: Great question, and whatever you do, can you please join the legal team, because you seem to have a full grasp of this topic. We are looking at every angle. Nothing is off the table. And you are right. Over 40 years ago, the Right to Shelter — which has now been known as Callahan — it was about New Yorkers who the state had an obligation to ensure we take care of the needy in the city of New Yorkers. 
  
We don't believe that this has anything to do with the migrant and asylum seekers crisis that we're facing. It is not realistic that someone can come from anywhere on the globe and come to New York and New York taxpayers are supposed to pay for their food, shelter, clothing, cleaning, medical, everything. That is just not sustainable. We're going to spend $5 billion this fiscal year, $12 billion over three years at this level. 
  
And so those who subscribe to the philosophy believe that no matter where someone comes from it is the obligations of New York City residents to do all those things that I mentioned. I just have a philosophical difference with them. And so we went to court and stated we want the judge to distinguish between the two from a migrant/asylum crisis and what everyday New Yorker we have an obligation to take care of. And that is the conversation and the battle that we are dealing with right now. 
  
7.5 million people left in Venezuela. If we subscribe to the philosophy that New York City is responsible for it, if we get 7.5...but let's say half of it, we get three million people that make their way to New York, New York City taxpayers are supposed to pick up the tab for that? There are those who say yes to that. I do not subscribe to that belief. 
  
Pastor Straker: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. 
  
Giddings: And Mr. Mayor, lastly, before you jump off. Recently I see that you rolled up your sleeves to get the updated Covid‑19 vaccine. And I saw of course the city's doctor, Dr. Vasan, who's going to be here next week, gave you your shot. Could you could you speak to that? 
  
Mayor Adams: I am such a Dr. Vasan fan. This guy has, you know, just changed the game around healthcare. We had a summit on how social media is impacting the brain development and behavior of young people. We've had a summit with Deputy Mayor Williams‑Isom about women's healthcare agenda. It's unbelievable how we have a male dominated healthcare system. 
  
Dr. Vasan smartly navigated us out of Covid‑19 and how it impacted us. I mean, just some of those briefings on how he made the right calls at the right time, like keeping our schools open. He has just been a real leader. I have a chapter just dedicated to him in my book, and he's just really...his story is an impressive story. I hope you get a chance, let him dig into just his story. He's just an impressive guy. 
  
And this is a new vaccine. This is not a booster, as they like to say, but it's a new vaccine to, you know, just to continue with our onslaught to not go [backward] to Covid‑19. Many lives were lost. Our city was shut down. And so I rolled up my sleeve. I hate needles, you know, but you gotta do what you gotta do. He didn't even put the needle in and I was already grimacing, you know? 
  
[Laughter] but you know, we encourage people, take your booster, take your shot, because it does...what it does is it doesn't necessarily stop you from getting Covid, it gives you an early recovery; and for those who have preexisting conditions, it can be a lifesaving difference. 
  
Giddings: Well said, Mr. Mayor. Nicole Jordan‑Martin, are you back with us? Yes, you are. Could you pose one question to the Mayor, because we have the congresswoman here. 
  
Nicole Jordan‑Martin, Executive Director, NYC Health + Hospitals/Community Care: Good morning. Good morning everyone in the panel. Good morning, Mayor Adams, it's great to see you again. 
  
Mayor Adams: How are you? 
  
Jordan‑Martin: I'm doing well, thank you. My question for you is, you know, as we really work to support the individuals who have migrated to New York City, so many of our city agencies are, you know, prepared to support, to provide that support but are struggling with our own staffing shortages in the post Covid era. 
  
And you know, we're all struggling with jobs that, you know, were once very attractive to the average New Yorker and even people outside of New York, and you know, those jobs don't...we seem to have a lot more competition with remote work and people opting, you know, for those kinds of positions and a lot of our city work just can't be done remotely. A lot of it...some of it does require presence on the ground. 
  
I wanted to hear from you your thoughts about how we can attract more New Yorkers and others back to the workforce here in New York City and really sell this experience and even this work that we are doing to support migrants is really important humanitarian work that is really necessary in the world. And so, what are your thoughts on how do we get people to fall back in love, if you will, with these city jobs and want to take up this cause? 
  
Mayor Adams: You know, Nicole, that is such an important question that you asked. And when I sit down with my mayors across the globe, they are also talking about the workers shortage, even the private industry. And we're talking about all levels of employment, like we have 12,000 jobs available in city government when you look at it. And I hear the shortage of engineers, the shortage of nurses, the shortage of attorneys, the shortage of accountants, of IT professionals, you almost say to yourself, where have all the people gone? You know, it just appears as though there are no more people. 
  
And then when you look at the unemployment numbers and you look at the availability of jobs, something is going on. I think the federal government needs to call for a national blue ribbon panel to examine work in our country to determine what is happening with the shift of what is and how...what is work for the future, what does that look like, because even the national government are telling their employees to go remote on many occasions. 
  
We have a modified work schedule, we're going to be rolling out a new modification of that for senior managers. We made a deal with DC 37 for some modification of a work week. But as you indicated, Nicole, our teachers can't do it remotely, our nurses can't do it remotely, our train operators, police officers, EMTs, EMS — so, there's a portion of our society they can't do remote work. And we need to figure out how to we compensate them if they have to come in five days a week, how do we make this fair? 
  
And to be completely honest, if you do an ethnic demographics, it is predominately Black and brown people who cannot do their tasks remotely. You know, if you're stocking a shelf in Duane Reade or a supermarket, you have to be in a place to do it. So, what I needed to do — and what I did — was, how do I give fair contracts, so as you stated, Nicole, that we remain competitive. 
  
We gave unprecedented fair contracts to our DC 37 workers, to our, firefighters, police ferry boat operators. We settled over 85 percent of our union contracts. And when they voted on the contracts, when the members voted on the contract, they were getting anywhere from 95 to 97 percent ratification. They stated, this blue collar Mayor has really focused on working class people when we put in place a working class agenda, because as you stated, we must be attractive now. This is an employees market. 
  
And if you can't compete, people are walking to where they want to go that can compete. And I have to be competitive to bring in good workers, but also, you know, being a civil servant is a calling, and you really have to have a desire to say, I want to be in that classroom and teach these babies. I want to be on the streets to protect the city. I want to run in those buildings to put out fires. That is part of this. 
  
So, it's not all pay, it is also like, is this your calling, to be a public servant? But we must be competitive in the process, and we are. We are doing everything we can to remain competitive. And it's unfortunate because of the cost of the migrants and asylum seekers we have a hiring freeze, and we're in need of employees, but this $3 billion price tag, $5 billion price tag is really going to hurt us and it's is going to hurt us a lot. 
  
Giddings: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, I know you have to jump off now, but guess what? Your leadership is great, just like the congresswoman, I listen to you guys all the time. And the direction we're going with the Reset, the syndication we have two stations streaming this morning, Majestic Music Radio and Cool Out Radio. And by the end of the month we hope to get maybe 10 or 12 more stations streaming when we are on, because you bring the briefings, the congresswoman brings all the important briefings. We want this message to really get out. 
  
Mayor Adams: Thank you. And I see she's on. She's going to update you on all the madness that's going on in D.C. … You know, she has a lot going on and updating you on [the Speaker], the leadership there, and New Yorkers should pay special attention, because this impacts us. You know, sometimes, Congresswoman, people think it happens in D.C., it doesn't trickle down. But what is playing out in D.C. right now is going to impact us all, and so I'm glad she's on giving everyone an update. 
  
I'm off, I got a meeting with former President Bill Clinton to talk about this migrant and asylum seeker issue; and so again, thank you so much. It's always great being on with you. 
  
Giddings: Mr. Mayor, just one thing. I would love to have Bill Clinton join the platform at some point, see if you could put a plug in there for me. 
  
Mayor Adams: I am going to do that. I am going to do that, brother. [Laughter.] Take care. 
  
Giddings: Have a good afternoon.