Transcript: Mayor Eric Adams Appears Live on the YES Network

May 10, 2022

Michael Kay: First pitch was thrown by the mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, and you know what? He threw a strike and he threw it from the rubber. And the Mayor is nice enough to take some time out and join us in the booth. Were you nervous at all?

Mayor Eric Adams: Well, that was my off speed pitch. I'm going to ice down my shoulder a little later today. I'm going to ice it down, but I felt good. It's just great to be back in the park and just enjoy the game.

Kay: Now, I was thinking about this, you have one of the coolest jobs in the world. I mean, it's a hard job, but to be the mayor of New York City, what's that mean to you?

Mayor Adams: It means a lot, and it's just so important for young people, particularly that hit bends in the road. Growing up dyslexic, not realizing that I could comprehend things, I had some difficult childhoods, becoming a police officer, watching the city decline, and then return. And so this is a great opportunity for people to realize the resiliency of this city and I'm excited about it.

Kay: One-one to Kirk. That one is lined to right field and out of play. Now, I've got to be honest, the mayor sits down and automatically he notices the Louis Vuitton that Cameron Maybin is wearing. I mean, you have an eye for fashion. I mean, those red bottoms tell it all.

Cameron Maybin: I wanted to ask him about that.

Mayor Adams: I'm just loving them.

Maybin: I appreciate it. I'm going to pull them back so the fans can see them. Check them.

Kay: Those are mine on the right.

Maybin: And I wanted to ask him about that. He's a man who has an energy about passion and about leading, but you also have a passion about your wardrobe. You're a little bit subdued today, which I'm not disappointed, but I wanted to hear about, where do you get your fashion style from? Always sporting a big smile, but I also got some clean stuff on to go along with it. What inspired you to have that type of fashion?

Mayor Adams: Well, you know it, just by moving around, when you dress right, you feel tight and you feel like you're going to present and it's just a level of confidence. When you took time to look right, people are going to listen to you. Before you eat a meal, you look at a meal, and before people hear what you have to say, they want to know. Ah man, how'd he miss that? Let me get on shortstop or second.

[Laughter]

Kay: You want Gleyber Torres' job too.

[Laughter]

Mayor Adams: No, but it's all about the confidence. And that's what we want to inspire in young people. Before you leave the house, how do you look? Because people are going to judge you rightfully or wrongly.

Maybin: First impression goes a long way.

Mayor Adams: It does.

Maybin: Absolutely.

Kay: Now what was it like at the Met Gala? We just showed a picture of what you wore there. That's pretty heavy duty style.

Mayor Adams: Yeah. And it was fashion but a statement. I wanted to show my just honor to those New Yorkers who was shot on the subway system. That's how we had the N and R Train, "End Gun Violence" on the back. You want to use the platform to say something, not only to go out and just dress, but to say our clothing should be a statement. And that's what that was all about. We're losing far too many people, over proliferation of guns in our country, and here in the Bronx, where this beautiful stadium is located, we want this to be a safe place where families can come out.

Kay: That's some heavy lifting. How do you accomplish this, Mr. Mayor?

Mayor Adams: Well, it's a couple of things. Number one, we have to stop the flow of guns in the big cities across America, particularly New York. And then support our law enforcement officers. We took 2,500 guns off the street in this city since I've been mayor. That's unbelievable when you think about it, and it's a small number of people who believe they're going to carry out violence in our city. We need to zero in on them, make sure that they are not allowed to stay on our streets, and that's what the police department is doing. We're going to need help from the federal government. We're going to need help from others, but we're not going to surrender our city to violence.

Kay: Do you feel confident?

Mayor Adams: Yes, we do. 30,000 plus men and women who wear that blue uniform that I wore, but also the crisis management teams. And then we are going to put in place what I like to say is prevention. Do you know that almost 30% to 40% of our children in prison are dyslexic. So why wait until they're dyslexic? We're going to screen all of our children for dyslexia so that we can give them the services they need so we don't wait until they are incarcerated. And then helping foster care children. Have a workforce development plan. We're going to have 100,000 jobs for summer youth employment this year. It never has been done before in history. So we want to prevent crime and then deal with those who are carrying out crime. I'm really confident that we're going to turn around the violence that we're seeing in our city and hopefully across this entire country.

Kay: Three-two count on Matt Chapman, runner on first base, nobody out. And that one's fouled back. Now, has your agenda changed from when you were running for mayor? And then now once you got in office said, "Well, these are more things I have to deal with," or is it still the same?

Mayor Adams: That's a great question. Well, first, when you get to the job, you have a full view of the field. And I was always saying that public safety is the prerequisite to prosperity. We have to be safe in our city, on our subway system. That's crucial. So that was my number one focus, to get the city safe. Then when you get here and you realize that you need to put a lot of energy in our agencies to make sure that they are functioning to deliver the services that New Yorkers deserve. So you have to pick a team. I have to pick my first basement, my second base, my third basement. If you don't have the right team, I don't care what your vision is, you need the team and I did that. I put together a solid team and now we're going in and dealing with some of those historical inequalities that, really, the inequalities are leading to the inefficiencies and leading to the dysfunctionality that our city has experienced.

Kay: Now, how far has our city come from the COVID shutdown? Do you think we're on the rebound?

Mayor Adams: Real issues, these variants, they come in like the Blue Jays, man, they just don't stop. You know what I'm saying? Some real issues when you think about the next variant that is popping its head up. But, look, we have to learn to live with COVID. COVID is going to be here a while. We are not closing down our city again. We have the right tools now. We have a vaccine. We have the antivirals. We have those things that could help us. And then we want to encourage people to take the vaccine and take the booster shots. When I got COVID, I just had a tickle in my throat. I was still able to exercise. I was still able to go out. And so we're really hoping that we continue to do the smart things so we could continue to enjoy our lives in this great city.

Kay: First and second, nobody out here in the second inning. A 2-0 count on Espinal as Higashioka went out to talk with Severino. It seemed like he had a problem with the device in the hat, in the pitch com. So Santiago has a 2-0 count and here's a pitch. There's a strike. Now, when you were a police officer-

Mayor Adams: I think that was my pitch. I'm sure I got up to about 96, 97.

Kay: You had better velocity.

Mayor Adams: Okay.

Maybin: The key is throwing strikes though. Throwing strikes, that's it. If you throw strikes, you give yourself a chance.

Mayor Adams: It was a different time when we were a police officer during the '80s, mid-80s. Crack was everywhere.

Kay: Fly ball, deep left field. Going back, Hicks, he's on the track, he's at the wall, and it's off the top of the wall and into the field of play. One run scores. Here comes Chapman, he'll score. And now they say it's a home run as Espinal will cruise around the bases with a three run shot and Toronto leads 4-0.

Mayor Adams: Did it hit the top of the wall? I thought it hit the top.

Kay: I thought so too, and then it came back.

Maybin: A good try by Aaron Hicks, trying to time that ball. He got back there, timed it well, but just a little bit too high for him to reach up. Actually, off his glove. And I don't think it was a homer.

Kay: That's not a home run. They have to challenge that. That went off the top of the wall.

Maybin: That's a good effort.

Mayor Adams: He almost had it.

Maybin: Yeah, that was a good effort by Aaron Hicks, finding the wall, getting back there.

[Crosstalk]

Kay: That is definitely not a home run. They will overturn that. So the play is under review. You can see it hits the side of the glove and then the top of the wall and bounce back onto the field of play.

Mayor Adams: He did an amazing job. He was close to picking it off.

Maybin: And, again, that's Aaron Hicks in left field playing somewhat out of position, a new position for him this year that he's learning. But, again, as an outfielder, doing a good job of finding the wall, getting to the spot, just not able to make the catch, but a valiant effort by Aaron Hicks.

Kay: Well, he is going to have to take that jacket off because that's not going to be a home run.

Maybin: That's a great job by the camera guys catching that.

Mayor Adams: And the timing is everything. His timing was really close to making it happen.

Kay: The team is looking at the big scoreboard in center field and you could clearly see it was off the top of the wall.

Maybin: Great visual of Matt and Keith, our camera guys zoom in on that, picking that up. Aaron Hicks not able to make that catch.

Kay: Give credit to the fans. They gave way. They didn't reach over and touch the ball.

[Audio plays]

Mayor Adams: You called it.

Kay: Well, he takes that jacket off now.

Mayor Adams: Premature celebration.

Kay: Yeah.

Mayor Adams: That's what my opponents did when they were running against me.

Maybin: It happens, right? Counted all those eggs a little too quick in that basket.

Kay: Now, when you were on the force...

Mayor Adams: Yes.

Kay: Did you think this big? Did you say, "One day I want to run this city?" Or did it just happen organically?

Mayor Adams: It was probably in the early '90s when we turned around crime. I was a computer programmer and a police officer, and we were part of the first version of using technology. And I realized that we could do this with every city. So I started a journal and every night before going to bed I made an entry in the journal of my observations and I stated I wanted to be mayor one day, and now I'm sitting here.

Kay: And a first pitch strike too, don't forget that.

Mayor Adams: That's right.

Maybin: And that's not easy to do. I mean, we've seen some good athletes, some non-athletes make that look very difficult, and you were able to throw a strike so that's good stuff.

Mayor Adams: I'll be ready in three days. I'm going to ice up my arm and I'm just going to get back out there.

Maybin: Hey, well, this is a good bullpen. We might have to stick you in.

Kay: Push bunt, fielded there by LeMahieu, fires to first. One away, and moving to third is Espinal. So they'll score that a sack bunt for Heineman.

Mayor Adams: Man, these guys, they have put together a good team this year.

Maybin: They really have.

Mayor Adams: We won the Subway Series.

Maybin: I call them the Baby Jays. But, I mean, the Yankees have put together a really good team. A lot of things that they don't have, there's no stat for character. And one thing, speaking to the guys today in the locker room, they talk about the character that's in the clubhouse, that guys enjoy showing up every day and playing with each other, but it's good you see that as well.

Mayor Adams: Yeah. It's all about team energy. People don't realize how much the energy and the chemistry matters. And when we built our team at City Hall, I said, "Listen, I don't want you to be academically smart. You need to be emotionally intelligent. How do you identify your emotions and the emotions of others?" And we do everything from breathing exercises to meditation, because this is a stressful a job as playing this game.

Maybin: Absolutely. Mental health is very important.

Mayor Adams: It's the challenge we have right now across the country. The number of young people who are attempting suicide, people are just really in a state of despair after COVID, and so it is about mental health and being aware of those who are going through some form of mental health illness to give them the support they deserve.

Kay: Yankees have the infield in. 0-2 count on George Springer. He hit a home run leading off the game. Runner at third base. 3-0 Blue Jays and the Yankee bullpen is already busy, Ron Marinaccio, as Springer goes down on strikes for the second out.

Mayor Adams: And the fans are coming back. It's great to see the fans coming back in the park and enjoying the game. It is more than just a game on the field. When you sit here with your friends, your family, it develops long term relationships right in these seats. Some great instructions and support is shown from here in the stadium. That's why this is an institution. Look at that picture there.

Maybin: That's a beautiful sight.

Mayor Adams: It really is. Look, that goes a long way. You know how long that young man will remember being here?

Maybin: Absolutely. Interactions with the fans, these players.

Mayor Adams: Yes.

Maybin: I mean, that's what family building is about.

Mayor Adams: Yes, so true. And baseball plays a major role throughout the generations of building those relationships between fans, the players and families. We used to sit here with my brothers and sisters. We were up in the cheap seats, now. We used to bring this greasy bag with all the chicken we'd have to sneak in. But it was a great experience of just, bonding as a family. See, we were up there.

Kay: Those were your seats, right?

Mayor Adams: That's my seat.

Maybin: That's where you can bring the hot dogs with the foil in grandma's purse. I remember those days.

Kay: So there could be a future mentor there. You could dream big.

Mayor Adams: That's right. But just think about it, from sitting in those seats to sitting in the broadcast booth. Only in America.

Kay: Pretty cool.

Maybin: Absolutely.

Kay: Only in America.

Maybin: And who knows what seed that planted for you?

Mayor Adams: Without a doubt. Only in America. Listen, this is the only country where dream is attached to our name. There's not a German dream. There's not a French dream. There's not a Polish dream. It's just an American dream and that dream came to reality just by sitting in those seats.

Kay: Three and two. Now, I've got to ask you this, on a lighter note.

Mayor Adams: Yes.

Kay: Being mayor...

Mayor Adams: Yes.

Kay: You can go anywhere you want. I mean, I could go to some restaurants and they turn me away. "Michael, no." You never get turned away now. I mean, you get the best seats in a restaurant. That must be cool.

Mayor Adams: Well, it depends on what mayor you're talking about [laughter]. I enjoy the evening of this city. We got to hang out one day, but you got to dress down, man.

Maybin: No, no, no.

Mayor Adams: [Crosstalk] you can't be showing me up, man.

Maybin: First off, I need your number and you're going to send me your tailor's info, because I need a new tailor now. If we go out anywhere, I'm going to have to be ready.

Mayor Adams: You can't be showing me up.

Maybin: In fact, send me a picture before we leave like the ladies do. "What are you wearing tonight?" So I'm ready and prepared.

[Laughter]

Mayor Adams: But we have an amazing nightlife in this city. And I like to say, I'm a nightlife mayor, so I have to test the product.

Maybin: Hey, man. Well then, count me in, all right. Next trip, me and Michael will be able to get in if we go too. We're good.

Mayor Adams: Mike, you've got to wear this. You've got to give him a pair of these.

Maybin: I told you, I'm going to hook him up before the year's out.

Kay: The next time you come up here, I promise I'll be much tighter. I really am, I'm embarrassed now I just wore a sport coat. I'm going to be much tighter, I promise. You can take me along. I won't embarrass you.

Maybin: "Dress right, you feel tight" is what the man said, and I love it. I love it.

Mayor Adams: Oh man. The coach, his energy is just amazing. He brings that chemistry in the dugout and in the locker room. Great pick.

Maybin: Yeah, he's definitely a man that players enjoy playing for because they know every day they show up he's definitely got their back.

Mayor Adams: Right.

Maybin: He's that guy. He's a players' manager, for sure.

Kay: So Matt Blake, the pitching coach, comes out and you also saw a shot there, Cam, he waved Aaron Boone back. He said, "No, no, no, don't come out. I want to stay in the game."

Maybin: And I like that. This guy's finally healthy. A couple of rough outings last year, starts, but he's coming off eight days of rest so I know physically he feels good and he wants to give his team some length in this short series that they have against the Blue Jays. You love seeing that from your competitors, but you still have to do what's best for the team in these situations. I love that competing.

Mayor Adams: You're right.

Kay: 61 pitches in the second inning, that's a little bit of a concern. That's why they have Marinaccio warming up. Now, I know the mayor of New York lives in Gracie Mansion. That doesn't seem cool enough for you.

Mayor Adams: No, it's not. Trust me. Trust me. And I don't care what anyone says, there are ghosts in there, man.

Maybin: We just had a conversation about ghosts yesterday. I've been in some haunted buildings in my life. I'm not interested in revisiting those.

Mayor Adams: Yeah.

Kay: Now, you see stuff moving there [crosstalk].

Mayor Adams: All the time, man. All the time.

Maybin: You hear footsteps and all types of stuff?

Mayor Adams: Listen, they're creeping around.

Kay: 2-0 on Guerrero. First and third, two men out, two runs in. It's 3-0 Toronto. Top of the second inning. First game of a two game set between the Yankees and the Blue Jays. We're talking with the Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, who threw a strike for the first pitch of this game.

Mayor Adams: 61 pitches, that's a high number?

Kay: That's a lot for two innings, yeah. They want it probably for the game keep him around 100.

Mayor Adams: Okay [inaudible].

Kay: So there's a strike. He threw a change up there. Two and one. 37 strikes, 27 balls to add up to the 64 he's thrown. Guerrero struck out in the first inning. Tapper to second base and that will do it. Mayor Adams, what a pleasure talking with you.

Mayor Adams: I really enjoyed it.

Kay: Thank you so much.

Maybin: Likewise. Bless. Appreciate you. Can't wait to go out and hit the town.

Kay: I'm going to have a much better suit next time. I'm going too. Don't leave me out. Mayor Adams, we'll be back. Bottom of the second coming up.

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