New York Mayor Eric Adams pledged to be “radically practical” in his inaugural mayoral remarks, rejecting the “ideological wars of our recent political past” that divided New Yorkers.
Adams, who campaigned as a centrist in one of the most left-leaning cities in the United States, took veiled swipes at his predecessor, progressive former Mayor Bill de Blasio, saying the city’s “dysfunctional” government “created its own crisis long before COVID” and pledging to reject “false choices” proposed by ideologues.
“Now is the time to be radically practical because a better city is not just about doing something new; it’s about doing something right. It’s not about showmanship; it is about showing up. That is why the theme of my first 100 days is GSD: Get stuff done,” he said from City Hall’s Blue Room on Saturday, urging New Yorkers to “put down the weapons of rhetoric” and “reach for results” to achieve “practical solutions.”
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The mayor took particular aim at crises he inherited regarding the city’s rising crime rate, increasing COVID-19 cases, and financial downturn as nationwide lockdowns restricted commerce.
“Some will continue to say that we must choose between public safety and human rights, but we can have both. That is why I am going to put more resources into stopping violent crime while I work with Commissioner Sewell to bring reform to our police department. Some will say that there cannot be losers in our economic turnaround without being losers in the same time. I say ‘no’ to that,” he said, vowing to “work with big employers, small businesses, unions, [and] everyday workers to remove whatever barriers lay in front of them so they can thrive.”
Adams slammed those calling to shut down the city amid the spread of the omicron variant, saying officials can ensure public safety while protecting small businesses.
“Some will say that we must choose between shutting down our city and endangering New Yorkers with COVID. I say ‘no’ to that as well,” he continued. “This is 2022, not 2020. With vaccines, testing, and treatments, we have the tools now to live with this virus and stay healthy if we all do our part to keep each other safe.”
Asserting “New York is not closed,” the new mayor urged New Yorkers to exhibit “declarations of confidence,” such as getting vaccinated, enjoying Broadway shows, sending children to school, and returning to in-person work.
“We have lived through two years of continuous crisis, and that insults our very nature as New Yorkers. The crisis tells us that it is in charge, that it is in control. The crisis wants to tell us when we can be happy, when we can be sad, when we can work, and how we can enjoy our city. The crisis wants to tell us how to live. But there’s one thing everyone knows about New Yorkers: We don’t like anyone telling us what to do. … We will not be controlled by crisis,” he said.
The centrist also reiterated promises to reduce government spending, saying the government will run smoother by “weeding out the waste and eliminating the inefficiencies.”
“It’s about accountability,” he said.
On Wednesday, the mayor-elect announced the creation of an office tackling waste, fraud, and abuse in the city’s budget, saying, “Inefficiency leads to inequality, and when government is spending irresponsibly and agencies are working in conflict with each other, everyday New Yorkers suffer.”
The administration of the 110th mayor will also be better in that it “looks like the city it represents,” Adams said Saturday. The mayor has appointed a Cabinet made up of diverse officials, including the city’s first female police commissioner.
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Adams was sworn into office shortly after the ball drop at midnight on New Year’s Day. The new mayor, who held his first Cabinet meeting with administration officials at 9 a.m., previously served as a police captain in the New York Police Department, as well as Brooklyn’s borough president.
