Transcript: Mayor Adams Appears Live On PIX 11’s “PIX 11 News At 6”

December 27, 2023

John Muller: All right. It's been an eventful second year for Mayor Eric Adams, much of it dominated by the ongoing migrant crisis which has certainly put a big strain on the city's finances.

Shirley Chan: Yes. Just today we've been now seeing more buses arriving in the city from the southern border likely to make matters worse. Joining us now is Mayor Adams. Mayor, thank you so much for being here.

Mayor Eric Adams: Thank you. Thank you.

Chan: Happy Holidays to you.

Mayor Adams: No, same to you.

Muller: Happy Holiday.

Mayor Adams: You know, good year, new start.

Chan: So, hopefully, let's hope so. I mean, this migrant crisis, we were at a critical juncture before, where are we now with this influx of the most recent migrants?

Mayor Adams: Really escalated. And whenever we engage in this conversation, we like to be clear. Listen, this is a city of immigrant. The coordination, employment, the right to work is so important. Last week we got 14 buses on one day. And when you look at anywhere from almost 4,000 that we're getting a week, it is just playing a strain on not only the migrant and asylum seekers but everyday New Yorkers.

Muller: The numbers are really mind boggling. Now, I know you've been very critical of the feds in this. Have you talked to them recently? Have they had any kind of new something to say about how we're going to handle this?

Mayor Adams: No. It's really amazing when you think about it. We were joined by Denver mayor and Chicago mayor — Mayor Johnson and Mayor Johnston — as we talked about the impact to their cities. And we're watching our cities buckle under the numbers: 161,000. We were able to cycle over 50 percent of them out of the system, but far too many are just coming in as fast as we can get people out of the system.

Chan: When was the last time you spoke with the feds, and what has their response been?

Mayor Adams: My last trip, you know, 10 trips to Washington, D.C. and it's as though there's no real plan that's coming out. Both Senator Schumer and Congressman Jeffries are fighting to get the plan through Congress that's going to allocate funds to the Ukrainian war and what's happening in the Middle East. But we need a real package for the southern border and those cities that are being impacted currently.

Muller: All right. Let's talk a little bit and shift gears. New Year's Eve, right on our doorstep. Let's talk about Times Square, preps and security preps. How does it feel right now? Are there any things that New Yorkers should be aware of? Anything you want to share in terms of security and preparations like that?

Mayor Adams: Well, no credible threat, and the Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence, Counterintelligence, she's on top of this, Commissioner Weiner. And as you saw last year, we had that serious assault on two officers. This person appeared to have been a lone wolf, but the officers responded accordingly, appropriately.

And so we're going to be on top of it. You know, it's going to be heightened concern because of some of the demonstrations that you have been witnessing in the city. But the overwhelming number have been peaceful, but those who are violent, show any level of aggression, we're going to make sure we're on top of them.

Chan: I've covered Times Square many, many years before, nobody does it better than the NYPD.

Mayor Adams: Well said.

Muller: That's true. That's true.

Mayor Adams: Well said.

Chan: Let's go back a bit to the budget crisis. We are looking at budget cuts to the NYPD, to the graduating class. How can we reconcile that in terms of keeping the city safe?

Mayor Adams: And it's so important. You know, I say over and over again the prerequisite to prosperity is public safety. And we're focused on making sure we get it right. But it just goes to show you the byproduct of what this migrant and asylum seekers crisis is doing. We had to hold up a class. We're looking to put a class in this year in January.

But this has impacted us in a real way. And that is why I want to communicate to New Yorkers, we were successful in not seeing the visualization of this crisis, but the dam has burst and we're going to see the impact. Every agency in this city is going to be impacted by this.

Muller: And do we expect to get some federal help at some point? Are you optimistic? Are you almost at this point not even expecting it?

Mayor Adams: I am not as optimistic as I was back in April of last year. I would not have thought we would still be here talking about the support that we need. We should not be doing the federal government's job. We should not be finding locations.

And when you think about it, one report stated over 99 percent percent of people who have come through the system we've been able to take care of. But that is not our job. This is not the job of local municipalities: El Paso, New York City, Denver, Chicago. This is the job of the federal government.

Chan: And mayor, before we let you go, we have more pressing news of the day, the steam pipe leak you just came from. Can you provide an update?  It's just up the street here from our studios.

Mayor Adams: Well, it just goes to show you, this city, you know, anything can happen at any given time. That's what all the former mayors shared with me when I spoke with them. You start your day, six a.m., you have a steam leak. And you know, we were concerned about asbestos being released into the atmosphere.

Con Edison, New York City Police Department, Commissioner Iscol — who is our team leader — they responded accordingly and we were able to get it under control. Now we're at the clean up phase. And really hats off to the first responders. This city just operates and you just get it done.

Muller: And the air quality, the tests, everything were in order?

Mayor Adams: Yes. They did several preliminary tests and the level is not at a dangerous level. And now we're doing the process of cleaning up and cleaning the streets as well.

Chan: Folks should stay indoors if they can… 

Mayor Adams: Yes.

Chan: ...at least for now.

Mayor Adams: Wear N95 masks, stay indoors. Let them clean up the area as much as possible.

Muller: And this is on Second Avenue, by the way, and 52nd or 54th, I can't remember… 

Mayor Adams: It's 52nd… 

Muller: Otherwise you don't have to wear N95 mask on the street.

Mayor Adams: Right.

Muller: Mayor Eric Adams, thank you so much...

Mayor Adams: Thank you. Happy New Year's to you both.

Muller: ...for coming in, we sure appreciate it. Have a great and Happy New Year.

Mayor Adams: Thank you.

Muller: Thank you again.