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NYC’s ‘City of Yes’ Zoning Overhaul Drives Jump in Housing Permits, Adams Says
New York City Mayor Eric Adams is marking the first anniversary of his “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity” zoning overhaul by touting a 22.8% rise in permitted housing units in 2025 compared with the year before the policy was approved, as well as a growing pipeline of affordable units and office-to-residential conversions. The package, billed as the most pro-housing legislation in city history, relaxes parking mandates, legalizes accessory dwelling units, creates new high-density districts and offers an affordability bonus that has attracted more than 100 projects expected to yield some 5,400 homes, including roughly 900 income-restricted units. New R11 and R12 zones in Midtown South and other locations could add nearly 11,000 homes, while conversions of underused office buildings are projected to produce more than 12,000 apartments, 3,000 of them permanently affordable. Combined with five neighborhood rezonings slated to deliver about 50,000 homes and what City Hall describes as record production of nearly 86,000 affordable units since Adams took office, the administration is seeking to cement its legacy as aggressively pro-development amid a long-running housing shortage.

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of City Planning (DCP) Director Dan Garodnick today celebrated one year since the passage of “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity,” the most pro-housing legislation in the city’s history. In the first year since its passage, tools from City of Yes are already creating new housing across the five boroughs while housing permits have seen a significant year-to-year increase. In addition to proposing and passing City of Yes, the Adams administration has also passed five ambitious neighborhood plans; produced historic amounts of affordable housing; secured a landmark deal in Albany to give the city new tools to build housing; convened a historic Charter Revision Commission focused on land-use and housing; and much more to build more affordable housing across the five boroughs.

“One year ago today, our city said ‘yes’ to more housing and a more affordable future for working-class New Yorkers. We turned the page on decades of half-measures and proved that government can still meet the challenges of our time with energy, ambition, and resolve,” said Mayor Adams. “One year later, we are already seeing the results, with thousands of new affordable homes in the pipeline across our city. Whether it’s passing the first citywide rezoning in six decades, investing historic amounts of money into new homes, or creating record amounts of affordable housing, we are proud to be the most pro-housing administration in city history.

“With the adoption of City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, we have begun to turn the tide on the housing crisis in New York City. The full impact of these changes will take time to be felt, but twelve months in, we’re already seeing success delivering a little more housing in every neighborhood,” said DCP Director Garodnick. “New York City’s housing crisis has been growing for so long that it is easy to take it for granted. But with City of Yes and other policy changes, we are changing course and creating a more affordable city for generations to come.”

The initiative — which was approved by the New York City Council on December 5, 2024 — aims to deliver “a little more housing in every neighborhood” through carefully-crafted zoning changes, including creating a new affordable housing bonus; legalizing accessory dwelling units (ADU) for homeowners; re-legalizing three-, four-, or five-story apartment buildings near transit and along commercial corridors; reducing costly parking mandates for new construction; and allowing underused office buildings to become housing; among other reforms.

Already, many of these new tools are being used to create new housing across the city:

Universal Affordability Preference: Over 100 housing developments across the five boroughs have already applied to use the Universal Affordability Preference, which allows buildings in medium- and high-density parts of the city to add at least 20 percent more housing if the additional homes are permanently affordable. These projects are expected to deliver 5,400 new homes, of which approximately 900 would be affordable to households at an average 60 percent Area Median Income.

High-density zoning districts: New, higher-density R11 and R12 zoning districts created through City of Yes have been mapped in Mayor Adams’ Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan that the City Council approved in August, where they will deliver 9,500 new homes, including 2,800 permanently income-restricted affordable homes. These new zoning districts are also being proposed at the site of the future 125th Street Second Avenue Subway station and at 395 Flatbush Avenue Extension in Downtown Brooklyn, which are currently in public review, where they could deliver another 1,800 new homes.

Reduced parking mandates: Rolled-back requirements for off-street parking are also helping to deliver more housing near transit. For example:
- At 2060 Walton Avenue in the Bronx, an underused lot close to the 4, B, and D trains is being transformed into 94 new homes — without the 25 parking spots that had previously been required, a change that meaningfully lowers building costs.
- At 21 Freeman Street in Brooklyn, a vacant lot close to the G train is set to become over 500 new homes without the 140 parking spaces that would have been required prior to City of Yes.
Meanwhile, as envisioned, new housing in less transit-accessible areas continues to include parking.

Office-to-residential conversions: Together with the 467-M tax incentive — which the Adams administration successfully advocated for in Albany — City of Yes has supported a boom of office-to-residential conversion projects. There are more than 12,000 homes in the pipeline from office conversions, including more than 3,000 permanently affordable units.

Landmark Transferable Development Rights: In the last year, five landmarked buildings have begun seeking approval to transfer their development rights to nearby housing projects through a process that was streamlined and expanded by City of Yes. These transfers will enable over 400,000 square feet of new development, while bringing in additional revenue to support maintenance of landmarked buildings. Those five applications in less than one year compare to a total of 15 applications over more than 50 years before City of Yes.

Accessory Dwelling Units: So far this year, the New York City Department of Buildings has received 98 filings from homeowners in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island, seeking to construct ADUs on their properties. Half of these filings have come in just the past two months, since the city finalized rules for safe, code-compliant ADUs and launched the “ADU for You” homeowner assistance program. ADUs like backyard cottages, garage conversions, and basement apartments are a proven tool to support homeowners and expand housing choice in lower-density areas without a changing neighborhood’s look-and-feel.

As these City of Yes tools are deployed, new data shows that New York City permitted 22.8 percent more new homes in 2025 than the same time period in 2024 (through October 23), when the Adams administration was already shattering several housing records for the second year in a row. This permitting increase includes a boom in homes from alterations — more than double the number of permitted units from 2024, many of which are from office conversions — and an increase in units from new construction over the previous year.

The Adams administration has continued working to deliver the full benefits of City of Yes, including successfully defending the policy in court, where a judge recently dismissed a challenge. HPD also recently released the Shared Housing Roadmap, which — building on the City of Yes zoning reforms and in concert with new legislation — clears the way for reintroducing shared homes as a safe, affordable housing option for single New Yorkers.

The success of City of Yes for Housing Opportunity is a part of the Adams administration’s work as the most pro-housing administration in city history. In addition to City of Yes, the administration also put forward five neighborhood plans — all of which have been approved by the City Council — that will deliver nearly 50,000 new homes to New Yorkers: the Bronx-Metro North Station Area Plan, the Atlantic Avenue Mixed-Use Plan in Brooklyn, the Midtown South Mixed-Use Plan in Manhattan, and the Jamaica Neighborhood Plan and the OneLIC Neighborhood Plan in Queens.

Since entering office, Mayor Adams has made historic investments to create more affordable housing and ensure more New Yorkers have a place to call home. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, the Adams administration created the most affordable rental units in city history and celebrated back-to-back-to-back record-breaking years for producing permanently-affordable homes for formerly-homeless New Yorkers, placing homeless New Yorkers into housing, and connecting New Yorkers to housing through the city’s housing lottery. HPD has now produced nearly 86,000 affordable homes since the start of the Adams administration, with the last three fiscal years representing the most new affordable homes ever created in a three fiscal-year stretch (FY 2023 to FY 2025).

Building on the success of City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, Mayor Adams unveiled his “City of Yes for Families” strategy in his State of the City address earlier this year to build more homes and create more family-friendly neighborhoods across New York City. Under City of Yes for Families, the Adams administration is advancing more housing on city-owned sites, creating new tools to support homeownership, and building more housing alongside schools, playgrounds, grocery stores, accessible transit stations, and libraries.

Further, the Adams administration is actively working to strengthen tenant protections and support homeowners. The “Partners in Preservation” program was expanded citywide in 2024 through a $24-million investment in local organizations to support tenant organizing and combat harassment in rent-regulated housing. The Homeowner Help Desk, a trusted one-stop shop for low-income homeowners to receive financial and legal counseling from local organizations, was also expanded citywide in 2024 with a $13 million funding commitment.

“A mayoral administration rarely advances a policy that can fundamentally change the future health of a city for generations to come. The City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, coupled with the City Council led “City For All” initiative, is such a policy,” said Marc Greenberg, executive director, Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness and Housing. “With City of Yes, the Adams administration has changed the momentum of a city that has been losing ground on affordable housing for decades and has begun again to lift Lady Liberty’s Lamp beside New York City’s golden door.”

“One year after the passage of City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, the results speak for themselves. Across all five boroughs, thousands of new homes are being constructed thanks to modernized zoning that promotes transit-oriented development, the elimination of outdated parking mandates, new tools like the Universal Affordability Preference, expanded opportunities for office-to-residential conversions, and more,” said Carlo A. Scissura, Esq., president and CEO, New York Building Congress. “Among the most significant wins are more than 12,000 homes, including 3,000 permanently affordable units, already in the pipeline from office-to-residential conversions, breathing new life into underused buildings and neighborhoods. This is the smart, forward-thinking development New York has needed for decades, and it’s exactly why the Building Congress worked so closely with the Adams administration to get it across the finish line.”

“City of Yes is already proving to be a major step toward achievement of our housing goals,” said Kathryn Wylde, president and CEO, Partnership for New York City. “This carefully crafted initiative is encouraging development that is consistent with neighborhood standards by lowering costs and accelerating or eliminating the need for multiple public approvals.”

“As we mark one year since the launch of the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, we’re already seeing real progress on housing growth in New York City,” said Rachel Fee, executive director, New York Housing Conference. “Housing continues to be one of New Yorkers’ most urgent needs, and City of Yes shows what a common-sense approach can deliver. By modernizing outdated rules and unlocking new housing in every community, City of Yes is giving New Yorkers the tools to spur affordable housing production. This initiative is clearing the path for meaningful housing victories, including the passage of ballot Proposals 2 – 5, and laying the groundwork for even more progress in the year ahead. We commend the administration for advancing these critical reforms to reduce delays and promote a fairer, more equitable distribution of housing across the city.”

“One year after the passage of City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, we’re seeing what happens when New York City chooses vision over fear,” said Emma Pfohman, CEO, Association for a Better New York (ABNY). “ABNY applauds the herculean work of the Adams administration, in partnership with Governor Hochul and the City Council, to pass the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity and approve the creation of thousands of units through the successful rezonings championed by the Department of City Planning over the last year. Together, these efforts ensure New York remains a city where every resident has the chance to live, thrive, and build their future.”

“In just its first year, City of Yes has opened the door to more homes in every borough,” said Andrew Fine, chief of staff and policy director, Open New York. “In the Bronx, longtime proposals are finally moving forward with deeper levels of affordability. Homeowners from Staten Island to Queens are excited to add ADUs, and in Brooklyn, new apartment buildings near the subway are being built without costly parking requirements. In Manhattan, the Midtown South rezoning was the first to use new higher-density districts, creating room for more homes through office conversions and new construction. All of this shows what is possible when City leaders work together to break down barriers to housing. And since then, the need for homes and the public’s support for building them have only grown. With November’s historic pro-housing ballot proposals behind us, we are ready to keep working toward a more affordable future for New York.”

“A year on from the most expansive citywide zoning changes for housing that New York City has seen, it’s a great moment to reflect on this achievement, and redouble our commitment to its implementation,” said Howard Slatkin, executive director, Citizens Housing and Planning Council. “City of Yes has opened the door for a generation of new housing achievements, which with sustained effort can stand as a legacy to what we can do when we agree that no challenge is too large for New Yorkers to tackle.”

“One year ago marked a turning point in the fight against New York City’s housing crisis with the enactment of the City of Yes zoning text amendments,” said Baaba Halm, senior vice president for programs, Enterprise Community Partners. “By allowing more housing types, increased density, and more flexible zoning options in a wider swath of New York, we collectively took a major step toward significantly increasing needed housing supply and reducing development barriers which add costs. Importantly, the amendments also specifically increased affordable housing, and came alongside robust new capital and programmatic resources. The results are already evident through more projects in the pipeline, and we look forward to seeing them come to fruition.”

“Habitat for Humanity NYC and Westchester is driven by a simple goal, to create permanent, affordable homeownership opportunities for New Yorkers who need them most,” said Sabrina Lippman, CEO, Habitat for Humanity NYC and Westchester. “One year after the approval of City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, we’re already expanding our pipeline by nearly 50 percent as a direct result of zoning reforms that remove barriers and make it easier to build. City of Yes is perfectly aligned with Habitat’s work to build stable, inclusive communities and ensure more families can call New York City home.”

“One year in and we are already seeing the tremendous impact of City of Yes for Housing Opportunity. This landmark rezoning has already begun to unlock meaningful opportunities to deliver high quality, affordable homes in neighborhoods across the city. By removing outdated barriers and enabling smarter, more flexible design, we are creating the conditions for a more equitable and resilient city,” said Jesse Lazar, executive director, American Institute of Architects New York Chapter. “Building on the momentum generated by City of Yes, we must continue to explore how we capture the future value of our city today, creating thriving communities and building housing that serves all New Yorkers.”

“The rising cost of housing is chipping away at hard-earned wages and pushing too many New Yorkers out of the city. Last year’s passage of the landmark City of Yes legislation represented a monumental step forward toward addressing the urgent housing affordability crisis,” said Manny Pastreich, President of 32BJ SEIU. “We’re seeing progress and look forward to continuing this momentum alongside stakeholders, to deliver the housing essential workers and their communities need, while creating thousands of good jobs.”

“City of Yes is a landmark achievement and a testament to the hard work of everyone who helped make these vital zoning reforms a reality,” said Basha Gerhards, executive vice president of public policy, Real Estate Board of New York. “With growing momentum behind adaptive reuse, New York City has the best conversion rules in the country, positioning us to unlock much needed homes across all five boroughs.”

“After one year, City of Yes is delivering on the promise of more affordable housing and giving hope to the over 2 million New Yorkers struggling to keep a roof over their head,” said Rich Buery, CEO, Robin Hood. “By taking an all-of-the-above approach, the city is unleashing the pent-up potential we knew existed. When paired with the recent pro-housing City Charter amendments, overwhelmingly approved by voters, our city is making progress toward being a place where people of all incomes can live, raise children, and flourish.”

“City of Yes set a new bar for what pro-housing policy can look like in New York, and the first year has already shown that the old excuses for doing nothing don’t hold up,” said Aaron Carr, founder and executive director, Housing Rights Initiative. “It’s given us a real foundation to build upon and proven that smarter zoning and bolder reforms can actually make a dent in our housing crisis. This is just the beginning.”

December 5, 2025 New York City Hall

Sources: NYC.gov, Big New York news BigNY.com
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December 6, 2025
New York. 30 Million Boost to Staten Island’s Parks, Culture, and Zoo

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella are teaming up to deliver nearly $30 million in upgrades to some of Staten Island’s favorite places to play and explore. The funding will revamp Bloomingdale Park’s playground with new equipment, water features, lighting, and landscaping; modernize Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden, along with key improvements for the Staten Island Museum and Noble Maritime Collection; and create a new interactive, sensory-friendly education center at the Staten Island Zoo. Together, these projects aim to make Staten Island’s parks, cultural hubs, and zoo more fun, accessible, and welcoming for families and visitors of all ages.

Mayor Adams, Staten Island Borough President Fossella Celebrate $30 Million in Funding for Parks, Open Space on Staten Island

– New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella today announced that they have partnered to invest nearly $30 million of capital funding in three parks and public recreation projects on Staten Island. Investments will improve quality-of-life for Staten Islanders by making upgrades at Bloomingdale Park playground, Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden, and the Staten Island Zoo. The investments were made in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Adopted Budget, which builds on Mayor Adams’ FY 2026 Executive Budget, often called the “Best Budget Ever.”

“Public space in our city is precious, and we cherish every inch of it — no matter where it is, no matter what borough it is in,” said Mayor Adams. “Under our administration, we have always made it a priority to take care of Staten Island and today’s announcement is just the latest example of how we are living up to that promise. In partnership with Staten Island Borough President Fossella, we are proud to celebrate nearly $30 million in investments in several parks and recreation projects throughout the borough invested through our ‘Best Budget Ever.’ This funding will upgrade Bloomingdale Park playground, the Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanic Garden, and the Staten Island Zoo — expanding access to these public spaces and improving quality of life for all Staten Islanders. We thank Borough President Fossella for his partnership and helping bring us closer to becoming a city that is the best place to raise a family.”

“We have some of the most scenic spaces and vibrant cultural institutions right here in Staten Island,” said Borough President Fossella. “We will continue to improve our parks and open spaces, and to support cultural institutions so they can continue to flourish and provide the best for our residents. We appreciate that we have a partner in Mayor Adams, who is committed to helping us to achieve our goals. We thank Mayor Adams for being a strong partner to make our parks and public spaces even better.”

“Bloomingdale Park is a thriving oasis of greenspace and recreation on Staten Island,” said New York City Department of Parks & Recreation Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa. “These new capital investments in Bloomingdale Playground will offer the community a revitalized place to gather and play, with all-new play equipment, an enhanced spray shower, improved lighting, and more plantings. We’re excited to watch this project come to fruition and are grateful to Mayor Adams and Borough President Fossella for funding improvements that will benefit Staten Islanders for years to come.”

“As my fellow Staten Islanders and I know, our cultural institutions contribute so much to making this borough an extraordinary place to visit, live, and raise a family,” said New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo. “We’re proud of the city’s investments in the borough’s cultural infrastructure, which will enhance the incredible museums, cultural centers, and zoos that serve residents and attract visitors for years to come.”

As a result of a $5.6 million investment made by Mayor Adams and Borough President Fossella, Bloomingdale Park playground will see significant improvements resulting in a vibrant reconstructed play space for the community. The reconstruction project — led by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation — will include new play equipment, a spray play area, fencing, security lights, and an upgrade of electrical and water utilities. This project will also be supplemented with new landscape improvements. The renovations are the next major investment in this heavily utilized park, building on recent improvements, including installation of adult fitness equipment, as well as a shade structure at the bocce court. In 2021, the Bloomingdale Park athletic field project was completed, resulting in new multi-use and soccer synthetic turf fields to accommodate activities, including toss sports, free play, picnics, and more. The project is expected to begin design in the spring of 2026 following a community input meeting where members of the public will have the opportunity to share their vision for this space. 

The Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden received $6.5 million in funding from the Adams administration and Borough President Fossella to advance key infrastructure projects for the 83-acre campus and its cultural tenants. The site-wide improvements will upgrade the building management system and other infrastructure to improve the security, energy efficiency, and visitor experience across the campus. The project will modernize one of Snug Harbor’s key facilities, which provides the cultural center with programming space and revenue-generating rentals.

Several organizations located on the Snug Harbor campus also received new funding from Mayor Adams and Borough President Fossella in the FY 2026 Adopted Budget. The Staten Island Museum received $6 million for the next phase of the museum’s expansion project, which will transform the currently vacant Building B into a state-of-the-art STEAM education center, with additional public space for natural history collections and exhibitions, a lab classroom for hands-on STEAM learning, and a café. The project will also include exterior restoration of the historic, Greek revival building. The Noble Maritime Collection, located in Building D on the Snug Harbor campus received $3.8 million to replace the museum’s existing chiller and air conditioning system. The group has struggled to maintain its existing aging system to ensure the comfort for guests in hotter weather and to maintain the protection of their extensive collections of maritime history from Staten Island and beyond. The Noble Maritime Collection’s 20,600 square foot space is one of the anchor institutions for the Snug Harbor Cultural Center and contains the entirety of the museum’s administrative and programmatic space.

At the Staten Island Zoo, a combined $8 million in funding from Mayor Adams and Borough President Fossella will support the creation of a new interactive education center, which will provide a fun and enriching experience for children and visitors themed around sensory abilities in people and animals. The project will create a public purpose for special opportunities to have guests with sensory or developmental disabilities enjoy defined experiences for them, as well as a 1960’s-era children’s center with a modern, diverse and inclusive “Learn & Play Zone.”

“At the Noble Maritime Collection, our staff and Board of Trustees are deeply committed to ensuring that our landmarked building remains a welcoming, inclusive, and accessible space for all,” said Megan Beck, executive director, Noble Maritime Collection. “We are grateful to Mayor Adams, Commissioner Cumbo, and the Department of Cultural Affairs for their generous capital investment in a new chiller and air conditioning system — an essential upgrade that will help preserve our collections and historic building. We also appreciate their continued support for major capital improvements at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center and at the Botanical Garden, the beautiful and storied campus we are proud to call home.”

“The Staten Island Zoo staff and visitors are excited to launch our vision for an entirely new re-imagined experience in our popular Children’s Center at the Zoo,” said Ken Mitchell, executive director, Staten Island Zoo. “Thanks to the generosity and support of Mayor Adams and Borough President Fossella, as well as our Staten Island City Council delegation, the zoo can start to bring this vision into the planning stage and ultimately reality. With our expertise in animal care, education, and exhibit design, the zoo can provide a unique experience and special place for children of all backgrounds to connect with nature and animals.” 

“The Staten Island Museum’s board and staff are grateful to Mayor Adams, Cultural Affairs Commissioner Cumbo, and Borough President Fossella for their deep support of and investment in the STEAM Education Center expansion that will activate the adjoining historic building at Snug Harbor into a distinctive environment for exploring natural history while meeting professional standards for collections preservation,” said Janice Monger, president and CEO, Staten Island Museum.

“Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden is profoundly grateful to Mayor Adams, Commissioner Cumbo, our New York City councilmembers, and Borough President Fossella for their visionary investment in Staten Island culture,” said Jessica Vodoor, president and CEO, Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden. “This funding will support critical ongoing HVAC infrastructure projects in buildings that support a myriad of public activities at Snug Harbor.”

December 4, 2025 New York

Sources: NYC.gov , Big New York News BigNY.com
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December 4, 2025
Mayor Eric Adams Urges Americans to Stand Together Against Antisemitism at 2025 Mayors Summit

At CAM’s 2025 North American Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism, Mayor Eric Adams gave a powerful speech asking people to stop “outrunning the lion” of hate and instead work together to remove it from our communities. He said that while many groups face hate and injustice, this moment is focused on fighting antisemitism, especially in New York City where Jews are a small part of the population but suffer more than half of all hate crimes. Adams urged everyone—teachers, faith leaders, and community organizations—to “play their position” by pushing back against antisemitism, misinformation, and the radicalization of young people. He announced an executive order against BDS and confirmed that New York City will keep investing pension funds in Israeli companies. Adams also reminded people of the long history of Jewish support for Black civil rights and called on Jewish communities to stand proudly and openly as Jews. He ended by saying he is willing to “leave everything on the ice” in the fight against hate and asked everyone to “lace up their skates” and join him.

Transcript: Mayor Adams Delivers Remarks at CAM’s 2025 North American Mayors Summit Against Antisemitism Closing Gala Dinner

Mayor Eric Adams: Thank you so much, mayor. Throughout this afternoon, you shared something that resonated with me, and I’m hoping people didn’t miss it. A good friend of mine, Rabbi Potasnik, told me a joke about two lions. Two hunters in a jungle, hunting for big game, they came up against a lion. One hunter looked at the other and said, “Let’s run, let’s get out of here.” The other hunter replied, “What’s wrong with you, we can’t outrun a lion.” The hunter replied, “I don’t have to outrun the lion, I have to outrun you.”

And when Rabbi Potasnik told me the story, I laughed, and he had this look on his face. He said, “That’s the problem. We’re trying to outrun each other.” Yes, the lion of foreclosure took your home, but I have my home, I outran that lion. The lion of crime may have taken your child, but I outran that lion. The lion of poverty, the lion of domestic violence, the lion of hatred. As long as I outrun that lion, I’m alright.

But what the hunter did not understand is, that if you don’t take the lion out of the jungle after he devours one hunter, he’s going to devour you. You were so right. The goal is not to outrun each other. The goal is to remove the lion of hatred from our community. That’s the goal.

If you go back to what Lyndon B. Johnson did in 1964 when he signed the Civil Rights Act, there were Jewish brothers and sisters that didn’t say, “Well, that had nothing to do with me.” When you look in 2013 and the Black Lives Matter movement took place after we saw the devastation, murder of a young man in Florida, and people used to say to Black folks who said Black lives matter, they said, well, all lives matter. Well, right now we’re not talking about all lives, we’re talking about Black lives.

And so, when we come to a conference and talk about combating antisemitism, don’t start telling me about other issues. Right now, we’re talking about antisemitism. And talking about a specific incident during a time does not dismiss the other incidents. Yes, we know we have other issues, but right now the focus is on antisemitism. That’s what it’s on.

And we can engage in other conversations. I’m going to continue to lift up my Asian brothers and sisters that are dealing with Asian violence. I’m going to continue to lift up the overproliferation of abuse in young African American males and the incarceration of them. I’m going to continue to lift up what’s happening with men and women of the LGBTQ+ community. We’re going to continue to do that.

But right now we’re in this stadium talking about antisemitism. And we need to be focused on what is happening, particularly in New York City, where you have a numerical minority of the community from the Jewish community and over 50 percent of the victims are Jewish people of hate crimes. That’s a real issue. And what we must focus on is to be laser focused on that. Because when we marry talking about this issue and bridging it with the other issues that we’re facing, we will raise the standard of who we are as human beings.

But how do we do it? That’s why I grabbed the football. This is a team sport, folks. If I’m the quarterback, you should not be the running back standing behind the center. Get your ass out of the way. Each player, play your position. We all got to play our positions.

If you are a teacher, you need to be in our public school system pushing back on the radicalization of our young people who not only hate Israel, they hate America because they were taught to hate America. That’s what we saw on the Columbia campus when the protests took place. We saw flyers that said hatred for Israel and hatred for America. Now, I don’t know who’s in this room, but I think you are Americans, right?

So, my educators must play their role. My faith-based leaders, play your position. You’re not the mayor. Be the rabbi, be the preacher, be the monk, be a Sikh leader. Play your position. And to my organizations, play your positions. Play your roles. And stand outside your comfort zones. Because if all we do all the time is speak to the same people, the choir heard the song, folks. It’s time to sing to those who are singing off-key so they can learn the lyrics and chorus of ending hate in our city and in our country.

And then let’s be honest with ourselves. Folks have been hating Jews for a long time. Our Jewish brothers and sisters have been fleeing and running from the days of Moses to when Columbus left Spain and Jews had to get out because of the edict, to being in Rome and watching the Jewish quarter. You can go over and over and over again to see how Jewish people have fled and ran from particular places.

And I’m saying to my Jewish brothers and sisters, your legacy in this generation is to say we run no more. We stand and fight. We don’t live in fear hoping that it goes away. We don’t allow certain groups to take to the streets and determine that you should be eradicated. And you’re sitting back contemplating what block you take off your yarmulke or what morning you remove your star of David. If you want to win this fight, then you need to stand up, stand firm, and say, “I am Jewish and there’s not a darn thing you can do about it.”

And you need to be strong in your faith and your belief. And people should see it in your presence and in your posture and in your stance. And that’s what we must do as a team. And then you need to lift up those who stand with you and let them know you support them. Because many of these mayors in this room will lose their races because they’re standing tall with you and not with the numerical loud minority that have hijacked the narrative.

They will be targeted, they will be focused, and they will go after them one at a time. That’s the hate that has swept our entire country and globe. You are being targeted. And we have to be as intelligent and as focused, as strategic as possible. That’s why we put the IHRA definition in place in New York City.

That’s why I am signing an executive order today to deal with BDS so we can stop the madness that we should not invest in Israel. That is why we’re going to sign an executive order stating that our pension funds will invest in Israeli companies because we’re getting a high return on our investment because they’re doing the right thing.

But Israel and Jews must tell their story. When I talk about ending antisemitism, you know what I talk about to that young African American man that’s in Brownsville? I tell him about the device that was discovered in Israel that helped his mother deal with a medical condition that she’s facing.

When I talk about ending hatred, you go look at who has the highest number of Nobel Peace Prize winners. Go look at the technology that’s coming out of Israel today because of the partnership that we have with New York City and Israel that is saving the lives of people from communities across the globe.

So, when you eradicate Israel and when you put them on an island and don’t allow their companies to go to trade shows and don’t allow their companies to participate in innovation, it is impacting us directly because it impacts us every day and the health and welfare of our communities. That’s what we have to do today. Don’t just talk about stopping antisemitism because it stops attacks on Jewish people. Stop antisemitism because we are all connected together and we’re all involved in this together.

I was sitting in a restaurant, as I conclude. It must have been October 10th. I’m sitting down at the table having a meal and a young African American woman walked in with a Howard University shirt on. She looked at me and said, “You’re one of those Zionist lovers. We know what you’re about. I just came from the march. We know what you are about.”

And while she’s saying that, I’m on my phone. I’m Googling Howard University. And I handed her my phone. And she looked at the founder of Howard University, Julius Rosenwald. And I told her, “Read on.” And she read on and she looked at the fact that almost 40 percent of the children in the Deep South were educated in schools that he opened, a Jewish philanthropist.

When segregation was the norm in the Deep South, he was opening schools so Black and Brown children could go to school and become teachers and educators to go into the Black and Brown communities and deal with segregation. And I said, “Read on.” And she saw how he was one of the original co-founders of the NAACP.

And I said, let’s go talk about the two Jewish young men who were down in Mississippi and lost their lives. But let’s not stop there. Let’s talk about when young white students went to the Deep South, 51 percent of them were Jewish, putting their lives on the line. And so yes, call me a Zionist. But what you can’t call me is mis-educated. And if you are going to denounce what gave birth to the college that you’re in right now, then they’re not educating you.

So, the next time you go in the street to celebrate October 7th, buy a plane ticket and go see what happened there. The next time you believe that you should eradicate from the river to the sea, first know where on the map you’re talking about. The next time you want to align yourself with groups who are proliferating hatred and talking about genocide, go look at what’s happening in Sudan and the thousands of lives that are being lost.

Lift up your educational understanding so you can properly fight a fight on the right side of the issue. That’s where we are missing this. They have indoctrinated and radicalized our children in the social media generation that is taking them down the road of devastation, of not knowing who their allies and brothers and sisters have historically been.

And you’re right, mayor. You are our cousins. You marched with us for Dr. King. You committed and volunteered your lives throughout the generations to stand side by side. But now your story can no longer be a tree that falls in a forest where no one hears a sound. It’s time for you to tell your story. Because if you don’t tell your story, people will distort your story.

So, I’m going to play my position. I may not be the best at it, but I’m going to do everything possible. We had a hockey player called Wayne Gretzky. They called him the ‘Great One.’ I loved his story. Wayne lost his first Stanley Cup. That’s a championship for hockey players. And he went into his locker room and all his teammates were pointing the finger at each other. “Who missed the puck? Who didn’t do their job?”

And then Wayne, being the gentleman that he is, walked down the hall to the opposing team’s locker room. It was quiet. He thought they went home. He peeked his head inside. They were laid out on the benches, bloody and bruised. They left everything they had on the ice. He knew then, that’s how you win.

And I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future. But I’m going to fight hate. And I’m going to be battered, I’m going to be bruised. I’m going to leave everything I have on the ice. And all I’m asking all of you, lace up your skates and get on this ice with me. And let’s win.

December 3, 2025 Manhattan, New York

Sources: NYC.gov , Big New York news BigNY.com
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December 4, 2025
New York City Reaches $38.9 Million Fair Workweek Settlement With Starbucks
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) announced a $38.9 million settlement with Starbucks resolving more than 500,000 alleged violations of the city’s Fair Workweek Law at over 300 locations between 2021 and 2024. Under the agreement, Starbucks will provide more than $35.5 million in restitution to over 15,000 current and former hourly employees in New York City—generally $50 for each week worked from July 4, 2021 through July 7, 2024—and pay $3.4 million in civil penalties and costs. DCWP’s investigation found that the company failed to provide consistent and predictable schedules, reduced hours by more than 15 percent in many cases, and did not adequately offer additional shifts to existing staff, resulting in involuntary part-time work. The settlement requires Starbucks to comply with Fair Workweek requirements going forward and allows workers who experienced violations after July 7, 2024, or who were affected by recent store closures, to seek additional relief through DCWP’s complaint process.

Mayor Adams, DCWP Announce $38 Million Settlement With Starbucks in Largest Worker Protection Settlement in City History

What you should know
- Historic Settlement Follows Multi-Year Investigation by Adams Administration
- All Hourly Starbucks Workers From July 2021 to July 2024 in New York City to Receive Restitution Payments, Agreement Expected to Benefit Over 15,000 Workers
- Over 300 Starbucks Locations Across City Arbitrarily Cut Workers’ Hours, Involuntarily Kept Them in Part-Time Work, and Failed to Provide Predictable Schedules, Resulting in Over 500,00 Violations of the Fair Workweek Law
– New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga today announced a landmark $38.9 million settlement with Starbucks for widespread violation of the city’s Fair Workweek Law — the largest worker protection settlement in New York City history. A multi-year investigation by DCWP found that Starbucks committed more than half a million violations of the law since 2021, illegally denying thousands of workers across more than 300 locations the right to stable and predictable schedules, as well as the right to pick up additional hours and earn more; instead, Starbucks arbitrarily cut schedules and illegally prioritized their own profits over their workers’ rights.

The settlement announced today requires Starbucks to pay more than $35.5 million in restitution to over 15,000 workers harmed by Starbucks’ unlawful practices, as well as any additional workers who come forward. The settlement also requires Starbucks to pay $3.4 million in civil penalties and costs and requires the company to comply with the law going forward. With today’s settlement, the Adams administration has now secured nearly $90 million in worker relief from different companies as it ensures New York workers get every dollar they have earned.

“It does not matter how big your business is or how much money your company makes, if you violate our workers’ rights, you will pay the price,” said Mayor Adams. “With this landmark settlement, we’ll put tens of millions of dollars back into the pockets of hard-working New Yorkers and reinforce every New Yorker’s right to a reliable schedule, full hours, and basic dignity. We’ll make sure that New York City remains a place where employees are treated fairly and working-class people can still get ahead.”

“The city’s Fair Workweek Law provides workers with vital protections, like the right to a predictable schedule so workers can plan their lives and earn stable incomes, but Starbucks chose to ignore these rights and prioritize their own bottom line,” said DCWP Commissioner Mayuga. “All workers deserve to be treated with dignity, and we are proud to stand up for our neighbors when a multibillion-dollar company like Starbucks chooses to systematically violate their employees’ rights.”

DCWP launched an investigation into Starbucks in 2022 after receiving dozens of worker complaints about several Starbucks locations. Based on the evidence gathered — including reports from hundreds of employees and data from Starbucks — DCWP uncovered a pattern of systemic violations beyond the initial locations. DCWP then expanded the investigation to all Starbucks locations citywide.

DCWP’s investigation found that most Starbucks employees in New York City never received regular schedules, making it difficult for workers to plan other commitments, such as child care, education, or second jobs. Starbucks also routinely and unlawfully reduced employees’ hours by more than 15 percent, making it difficult for employees to know how much money they would make week to week or whether they would earn enough to get by. Further, Starbucks denied workers the opportunity to pick up additional shifts, keeping them involuntarily in part-time work while continuing to hire new workers.

Under today’s agreement, most employees who worked for Starbucks in an hourly position in New York City will receive $50 for each week worked from July 4, 2021 through July 7, 2024. For example, an employee who worked for Starbucks continuously for a year and a half (78 weeks) will receive $3,900. Employees will receive a check in the mail this winter. Any employee who experienced a violation after July 7, 2024 may be eligible for compensation under the settlement by filing a complaint with DCWP.

The settlement also carves out claims related to layoffs following Starbucks’ recent closures of New York City stores. Under the law, laid-off employees have a right to reinstatement at other open locations. DCWP is monitoring Starbucks’ compliance with this obligation and assisting workers who want reinstatement. Workers who want to file a complaint to claim restitution or experience violations of their right to reinstatement should contact DCWP online or call 311.

Under the Fair Workweek Law, fast food employers in New York City must give workers regular schedules, work schedules 14 days in advance that are consistent with the regular schedule, premium pay for schedule changes, the opportunity to decline to work additional time, and the opportunity to work newly available shifts before hiring new workers. Fast food employers also cannot schedule a “clopening” shift (a closing shift one night, followed by an opening shift the very next morning) unless the worker consents in writing and receives a $100 premium to work the shift. Additionally, these fast food employers cannot fire or reduce the hours of a worker by more than 15 percent without just cause and must reinstate laid-off workers at their other locations.

The Workers’ Bill of Rights — a multilingual and comprehensive guide to rights in the workplace in New York City — summarizes the laws that protect workers, including employees, freelancers, workers classified as independent contractors, and job applicants in New York City, regardless of immigration status. The Workers’ Bill of Rights includes information on rights enforced by DCWP, like Paid Safe and Sick Leave, the Fair Workweek Law, the Temporary Schedule Change Law, and the city’s Delivery Worker Laws, as well as rights enforced by other state and federal agencies, like minimum wage and the right to organize. It also includes information about who to contact for more information or with questions, as well as how to file a complaint. Workers and employers can visit DCWP’s workers’ rights site or call 311 (212-NEW-YORK outside New York City) for more information about the laws that DCWP enforces or to file a complaint. Complaints can be filed anonymously. It is illegal to retaliate against workers for filing complaints. 

“This historic settlement marks a major victory for thousands of Starbucks baristas across New York City. For too long, Starbucks has acted with impunity: manipulating schedules, disrespecting workers, and ignoring legal protections put into place by New Yorkers to protect working people from unfair business practices,” said Lynne Fox, international president, Workers United. “The settlement money awarded to Starbucks baristas will help them make ends meet this winter. Thousands of Starbucks baristas in New York City and across the country remain on an Unfair Labor Practices strike and are demanding a fair union contract that memorializes job protections, better staffing, and higher pay. We are grateful to DCWP for holding Starbucks accountable for the baristas who keep their stores running.”

“Starbucks workers deserved predictable hours and a fair shot at full-time work, and this settlement delivers real accountability,” said Brendan Griffith, president, New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO. “We applaud DCWP for enforcing the Fair Workweek Law and making sure thousands of working people get money they were denied. At a moment when Starbucks workers across the country, including here in New York City, are on a unfair labor practice strike for living wages, fair schedules, and respect on the job, this action sends a clear signal that workers’ rights matter and must be upheld.”

“Far too often companies that abuse their workers, for reasons of pure corporate greed, do so without any repercussions,” said Theodore A. Moore, executive director, The Alliance for a Greater New York. “Thankfully, this is not one of those occasions. We applaud the work of Commissioner Mayuga and the amazing team at DCWP for their extraordinary enforcement of our city’s Fair Workweek Law. We hope this settlement will embolden workers to speak up and fight, while letting corporations know that their evil deeds will not go unpunished!”

“Baristas are what keep Starbucks running. From Astoria to South Slope, we are the ones who create the warm, welcoming environment Starbucks advertises. When this company cuts our hours, understaffs our stores, and busts our union, it makes it harder for us to do our job and create that great experience for customers,” said Kai Fritz, barista, Starbucks. “This settlement is a step in the right direction. It shows the power baristas have when we stand together and demand change. We are continuing to fight back against Starbucks’ greed and will not stop until we have a fair contract that ensures the support and protections we need to thrive.”

December 1, 2025 New York

Sources: NYC.gov , Big New York news BigNY.com
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December 1, 2025
Mayor Adams, Borough President Richards Announce “Queens Holocaust Memorial”

– New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards today announced the “Queens Holocaust Memorial,” a new public site to honor the memory of the six million Jewish people murdered in the Holocaust as well as the survivors who rebuilt their lives in New York City. The memorial will be located on the grounds of Queens Borough Hall and serve as a permanent site of remembrance, education, and unity. The city and the Office of the Queens Borough President have allocated a total of $3 million to support the project’s development; the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) will oversee the site designation and coordination with community stakeholders and civic leaders. The City will advance a formal design process to build a commemorative garden and public artwork. The artist selection process will be led by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs’ “Percent for Art” program in consultation with artists, historians, and Holocaust survivors.

“It is not enough to say ‘never again’ — we have to live it with our actions too. By preserving the stories of both victims and survivors, by creating a permanent space for remembrance and reflection, by promoting understanding and solidarity across generations, this memorial will live out the meaning of ‘never again,’” said Mayor Adams. “As our city and our country confront the rising tide of antisemitism, our administration will not remain silent. We will use our office to call out hate wherever we find it, encourage compassion wherever we need it, and create a city where everyone can live side by side in harmony.”

“No matter how much time passes since the evils of the Holocaust, New York City’s commitment to the pledge of ‘Never Again’ must never waver. That is why, in the face of rising tides of heinous anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial across our society, I could not be prouder to lead this effort alongside the administration and the Queens’ Jewish community in creating this critically important memorial here at Queens Borough Hall,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “The Queens Holocaust Memorial will not only pay a touching tribute to the six million innocent Jews murdered by the Nazis and the survivors who settled in our borough afterward, but it will also serve as daily inspiration for our fight to forge a future free of anti-Semitism. I thank all our city and community partners for their commitment to see this memorial through.”

“When hate crimes, vandalism, and extremist rhetoric targeting Jewish communities are happening both nationally and globally, this memorial will stand not only as a powerful testament to those lost and to those who rebuilt, but also as a rebuke to intolerance and a reminder of our imperative to confront hatred with moral clarity,” said Moshe Davis, executive director, Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism.

“This Holocaust Memorial Garden we begin to build today, is a reminder of what can happen if we forget the past. It will also serve to keep our focus on the present, while we hope for our future,” said Michael Nussbaum, chairman, Holocaust Memorial Garden. “The Memorial Garden will be a place where anyone can come to reflect and seek peace.”

New York City is home to more Holocaust survivors than any other city in the world. Following the liberation of the concentration camps, thousands of survivors came to New York, many settling in Queens, where they rebuilt their lives, raised families, established businesses, enriched the city’s cultural institutions, and helped make New York a global center of Jewish life.

The memorial was originally proposed by the Queens Jewish Community Council in partnership with local civic and faith leaders. The City of New York will formally designate and dedicate the site for the purpose of a Holocaust Memorial through a DCAS assignment letter. The Queens Jewish Community Council will lead additional fundraising efforts to support the design and construction of the commemorative artwork. When complete, the Queens Holocaust Memorial will be the first major Holocaust memorial in Queens, joining other sites of remembrance throughout New York City. The memorial site will host Holocaust remembrance ceremonies, educational programs for students, and community gatherings that promote understanding and solidarity across generations and communities.

“I have seen how education helps young people understand the world around them and recognize the dangers of prejudice and intolerance. This memorial garden will give students and families a place to learn, reflect, and confront the realities of antisemitism and other forms of hate crimes,” said Toby Stavisky, New York State senator. “Michael Nussbaum and I both began our careers as social studies teachers, and we know how important it is to reach children early. That’s why I committed $1 million in capital funding to help bring this project to life. This garden will serve as a living classroom and a reminder that understanding our history is essential to ensuring that ‘never again’ is not forgotten.”

“This Holocaust Memorial in Queens honors the profound anguish and undeniable truth of actual genocide that tore families and communities apart. But it also reflects the extraordinary resilience of those who survived. Of people who carried unimaginable pain yet still chose hope, rebuilding, and the promise of a new future,” said Sam Berger, New York State assemblymember. “Many Holocaust survivors, my grandparents among them, came to Forest Hills seeking safety, dignity, and a chance to start again. They didn’t just rebuild their own lives. They helped build Queens. Their strength, their values, and their determination are woven into the rich and diverse history of this borough. They opened businesses, raised families, contributed to our civic life, and helped create the vibrant community we are proud to call home.

“Trauma leaves its mark, but it does not have to define us,” continued Berger. “This memorial stands as a reminder of the past we must never forget, and as a testament to the enduring spirit of those who transformed their suffering into a legacy of resilience, community, and hope.”

“The Queens Holocaust Memorial Garden will create a lasting place of reflection and remembrance for the Jewish community in Queens. This garden will stand in honor of the six million Jews who were systematically persecuted and murdered, as well as the millions of non-Jewish civilians, soldiers, and prisoners of war who also perished across Europe,” said Melinda Katz, district attorney of Queens. As time passes and we lose more Holocaust survivors—those who witnessed these atrocities firsthand—it becomes our collective responsibility to preserve their stories and protect the truth. I thank Mayor Eric Adams, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and Memorial Garden Chairman Michael Nussbaum for their commitment in bringing this meaningful project to life. This memorial will serve as a powerful reminder of the consequences of unchecked hatred to ensure that history never repeats itself.”

“This Holocaust Memorial Garden is symbolic of the times we live in. A garden shows the beauty that surrounds us, while the memorial honors the memories of those who were brutally murdered during the Holocaust. It is vital to continue to honor the memory of the Holocaust, while also providing support to the remaining 14,700 survivors who live in New York City,” said Masha Pearl, executive director of The Blue Card. “This is a beautiful creation, and we are honored to take part in this memorial. Thank you to Mayor Eric Adams and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards for making this vision a reality.”

November 24, 2025 New York City Hall

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November 26, 2025
City of New York Urges Court to Free Student Detained After Immigration Check-In

The City of New York on Tuesday filed an amicus brief in federal court backing the immediate release of E.J.C.C., a 16-year-old Bronx public school student detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement after a routine Oct. 23 check-in, arguing that detention should be a last resort for children who pose no flight or safety risk. The brief, submitted in the Southern District of New York, says the student—who lives with a family member, attends Gotham Collaborative High School with perfect attendance, and is described by teachers as responsible and engaged—has already missed three weeks of classes and faces irreparable educational harm. Mayor Eric Adams called public schools “safe, nurturing places” and said the city is “proud to support his petition for justice,” while Corporation Counsel Muriel Goode-Trufant contended that the Trump administration had not met the “very high bar” for detaining the minor. The filing asserts that if the government intended to deport the teen despite his Special Immigrant Juvenile status and deferred application, it could have allowed legal challenges while leaving him in family care; instead, it detained him without warning at an appointment he “faithfully attended.” City officials said they have taken similar legal steps for other detained students in recent years.

– The City of New York today took action in support of E.J.C.C., a New York City Public Schools student who was detained on October 23, 2025, after attending a mandatory, routine immigration check-in with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, by filing an amicus brief in support of E.J.C.C.’s petition for immediate release from custody.

E.J.C.C., a 16-year-old who lives with a relative chosen by his mother, is a student at Gotham Collaborative High School in the Bronx. An average of 93 percent of students graduate from Gotham Collaborative High, and E.J.C.C., who has a 100 percent attendance record, is described by his teachers as a committed and responsible student. He is a leader in his college and career readiness class, showing his dedication to building a successful future.

“Our public schools should be safe, nurturing places where any child can get the best education and the tools they need to succeed,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “E.J.C.C. is a hard-working student, dedicated to his school work and future, who followed the proper immigration process. We are proud to support his petition for justice, just like we have done with the many other New York City Public School students who have been detained during routine immigration proceedings.”

“As detailed in this brief, the unnecessary detainment of children who pose no flight or safety risk causes irreparable harm to their schooling and to the educational system as a whole,” said New York City Corporation Counsel Muriel Goode-Trufant. “The Trump administration has not met the very high bar for detaining this minor student who is better served remaining in the community with his family.”

The brief — filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York — argues that “detention should always be a last resort. In cases like this, where the child has been living with a family member and undisputedly poses no flight or safety risk, children should remain in their communities, allowing them to access city schools and services while their immigration issues are being resolved.” E.J.C.C. has already missed three weeks of class as a result of his detention.

The detainment will only further derail his education, and “given the passage of so much time, E.J.C.C.’s release will not be ‘prompt,’ as the law requires. Only his immediate release can prevent further harm.”

The brief further argues that “if the federal government wished to deport [E.J.C.C.] and believed his Special Immigrant Juvenile status and deferred application were no obstacle, it could have informed him that it planned to do so, allowed his lawyer to make any relevant legal challenges, and left him in the care of his family and school in the meantime. Instead, it chose to detain him without warning at the appointment he faithfully attended. The City of New York has a strong interest in ensuring that immigrant minors are not unnecessarily detained, and the city prides itself on offering a free and robust education to all children regardless of immigration status, ensuring that the city’s schoolchildren grow up prepared for civic life.”

The City of New York has taken similar legal action in support of other New York City Public School students, including Dylan Lopez Contreras, Jose Luis, and Derlis Snaider, who were all arrested in Manhattan courthouses after attending mandatory, routine immigration hearings.

November 11, 2025 NEW YORK CITY HALL

SOURCES: NYC.gov , Big New York news BigNY.com

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November 11, 2025
New York. Mayor Adams Hosts “Hear From the Mayor” Radio Show on WBLS 107.5 FM

On his monthly Hear From the Mayor segment on WBLS 107.5 FM, New York City Mayor Eric Adams honored fallen firefighter Patrick Brady before discussing major technology and affordability initiatives with Chief Technology Officer Matthew Fraser. They highlighted the new Emergency Alert System connecting schools directly to 911, efforts to expand broadband and provide hundreds of thousands of Chromebooks to students, digital literacy programs for seniors, and strengthened citywide cybersecurity through the Joint Security Operations Center. They also detailed cost-saving measures like discounted cell phone plans for city employees. Callers phoned in to thank Adams for his service as he reflected on his administration’s achievements—from expanding housing, internships, and financial literacy to improving public safety and digital access—while expressing gratitude and optimism as he nears the end of his term.

Gary Byrd: Well, as you know, each and every [second] Sunday of the month, WBLS has been proud to welcome the 110th mayor of New York City, second mayor of color, and the first hip-hop mayor in the city’s history, we [were] talking about him just a few minutes ago. Well it’s time to Hear from the Mayor, Mayor Eric Adams joins us this morning from 107.5 WBLS. Mr. Mayor, good morning.

Mayor Eric Adams: Hey Gary, how are you to all of the listeners? It’s great to be on this Sunday and I want to welcome you back to another episode of Hear from the Mayor. I’m your Mayor Eric Adams and really before we get started, I just want to take a moment to honor Firefighter Patrick Brady. He was responding to the scene of a fire on Kings Highway in Brooklyn last night and tragically passed away in the line of duty. Hearts go out to Patrick’s family, his wife, his brothers and uncles who are also firefighters. 

The Brady family is a well-known firefighter community, and so we want to give them our deep condolences. He’s [given] his life to protect this city that we all love. And so today, we want to talk about things that I love around technology. And if this is your first time tuning in, really the show is just to hear from me and to interact in a dialogue. Listeners should give me a call and hear directly from me at (212) 545-1075. 

You can also sign up to hear more from me by visiting nyc.gov/HearFromEric. Today’s guest is really, you know, one of my favorite commissioners. My brother, Matt Fraser is over at the Office of Technology. He’s the youngest and I believe the first person of color to hold that position. and what you have done has brought a level of innovation that’s unbelievable. You know, he’s my chief technology officer and we’re gonna talk about something that he introduced that really marriages public safety. 

But I want to, before we get off the air, to talk about some of the other initiatives that you have brought as well, you know, as you’re rocking your God Speed hat. So, Matt, EAS, the acronym for Emergency Alert System, directly integrates New York City Public Schools with New York City 911 services and is capable of initiating 911 response in under 10 seconds. Give me the whole concept behind EAS.

Matthew Fraser, Chief Technology Officer, New York City Office of Technology and Innovation: Yeah, so when we look at what happened, not just in New York City, what we saw on Park Avenue, what we saw across the global landscape, and what we see in terms of active shooter situations. Parents that have kids that are in school, they want to know that their students, their kids’ safety is paramount. They want to make sure that we provide the fastest support possible. 

And the emergency alert system gives us the capability of doing that. Now, with the system, it’s more than just being able to put in a call into 911. It’s giving those that respond the contacts necessary to know where to respond to. So imagine being a student in a school and the school has you know a couple dozen classrooms, someone comes in, and then something occurs, when a teacher hits a button it gives the capability for 911 to know that there’s an incident happening in the school. 

At the same time it gives school safety– which is located in the school the ability to know that something is occurring in a specific classroom and it also gives the school administration the capability of knowing where something is happening so it gives them a better capability of who to move kids how to lock down classrooms to minimize any impact that it could have.

Mayor Adams: You know it’s unfortunate we even have to have this conversation about how to respond to active shooters but they’re real. We saw what happened at 345 Park Avenue. We see what’s playing out in schools across the country. Knock on wood we have not had a mass shooting inside our schools but it’s better to be proactive than just reactive and so if I understand you correctly when the button is hit it would identify and assist responding personnel and school personnel to move children to an area of safety.

Fraser: Exactly, exactly. So when someone approaches the school and being able to have the school safety agent or someone that’s in the school administration know where in the school the incident is occurring, not just that something’s happening but the where is very important. And minimize times to respond to things that are actually happening, and if something is moving through the school, having the capability of tracking where it’s moving to. 

So I think it’s one of those things that it’s an unfortunate circumstance that it’s something that we have to look at, but it’s a reality. And it’s one of those things that we’re the first school system in the nation, the first city in the nation to adapt this type of technology, and it will blaze the trail for many others to do the same. 

Mayor Adams: How many schools are we starting out with? 

Fraser: So we’re getting out into eight schools at this moment, and then we’re gonna expand much further beyond that. But right now, it’s to make sure that the first phase of the rollout was to prove the concept works out, and we’re at that phase, and the next look is expanding beyond that. 

Mayor Adams: And our students must not only be safe, but they have to feel safe, and this technology is a way to do it. Is it a possibility that the next administration could expand this out to city buildings because we have many cases of shootings in city buildings, post offices. I mean, there’s a whole terminology of going postal because of that. What are your thoughts on that?

Fraser: So I think that this sets the foundation at which point that the city could expand and take it further. Again, safety is the most important thing, making sure that people that enter buildings leave those buildings safely. And in the event that something happens, giving responders the capability in real time to get to the areas where it’s happening to minimize impact to human life. And I can’t stress that enough.

Mayor Adams: I want to roll, I want to go into some of the other stuff you’ve done. You know, you’re sort of behind the scenes, but people don’t realize how you changed the game [by]  using technology in this city. Let’s talk about number one, the Chromebooks.

Fraser: Yeah. 

Mayor Adams: Give me an overview of that. 

Fraser: Yeah, so when we stepped into office in 2022 and we came in, one of the first things that we tackled in terms of challenges was cybersecurity. Beyond cybersecurity, we looked at equity and access. And I was alarmed to see that we had a significant portion of those that lived in public housing that didn’t have access to basic things like broadband. 

And then what frightened me a little bit more was looking at the fact that there are many students that participate in the school system that don’t have access to devices. So in this digital age where artificial intelligence is getting wings and moving at the speed of light, having those that participate in our school system have access to the basics, connectivity and devices, is one of those things that it shouldn’t be an option, it’s a necessity and we should treat it as such. 

That’s why when we launched a program to deploy Chromebooks, we got about 350,000 Chromebooks. We gave it to New York City Public Schools to distribute, but in addition to that they already had about 400,000 devices in hand. So if you look at the numbers what we’re basically doing is we’re creating the foundation so that we can have anyone that participates in the public school system have a device with a connection so that schooling of the education experience can extend beyond the classroom and they can take it home.

Mayor Adams: Excellent, and you know you touched on NYCHA. You did something else that was really innovative with high-speed broadband. Can you elaborate on that as well?

Fraser: Yeah, so when we came in in ‘22, one of the things that we saw was that over 50 percent of the people that lived in public housing didn’t have access to broadband, which was, you know, a travesty, especially considering that we came in this administration off the heels of COVID. So what I like to tell people is imagine being a kid that got sent home to a unit in public housing, you got given a device, but you had no way to use that. 

Now you have a significant amount of over a two-year span, there’s learning loss, there’s social dejection, because now you don’t have a way to maintain peership with your friends, because most of the folks that went home at that time, they had Chromebooks, iPads, they were playing Roblox, and like that, that was more than just an education tool with social peership. So when we saw that, there was a program when we came in called the Internet Master Plan. It was funded for $157 million, with a total projected cost of about $2 billion. 

And across a multi-year span, they were going to provide broadband to public housing. But when we came in, out of that $157 million, not a single dollar had been spent and not a single connection had been issued. So from within one year of being in office, we brought all the cable providers together, Verizon, Altice, Charter Communications. We said, you guys have access to infrastructure. We have people that need it, and they need it now. 

And within one year of being in office, We launched a program, Big Apple Connect, under your leadership, and we were able to give every unit in public housing free access to broadband and basic TV. So the cool thing about that is now when someone enters public housing, they get access to those resources like they get access to running water, heat and hot water.

Mayor Adams: Yeah, because access to the internet is a service that is just as important as heat and hot water and electricity. And you know, what’s interesting is that this free access allows children to go online when you’re doing remote learning, parents doing telemedicine. I saw that too when I was borough president that far too many NYCHA residents did not have access to this. And it fit into our overall plan. Many people talk about affordability, but these are ways that are within the power of the mayor to make life more affordable. 

If you’re a NYCHA resident, now we’re going to expand into Section 8 housing. That’s $159, $160 a month you are no longer paying out of your pocket. That is part of the $30 billion we put back in the pocket of working class people, such as no income tax for low-income New Yorkers, paying off college tuition for our foster care children, dropping the cost of childcare. 

When you start adding up how much money we put in the pockets of people, It’s not just talking about affordability, it’s making them affordable. But you also expanded a whole program around digital literacy training for our seniors. Can you talk about that a bit?

Fraser: Yeah, so one of the things that we want to ensure is that as we continue to connect New Yorkers [that] no one got left behind. So building a set of programs so that those that were interested in increasing their skill sets using technology, could do that from the comfort of their home. So we have both programs that are available online where someone can take it at their own pace or they can go to one of our digital centers and they can pick up those programs and get skills. 

And what that really does is it gives people the capability to see what’s beyond what they’re used to. When you look at today’s market space and you look at the job and employment space, technology is an underpinning or a significant part of how those sectors are underpinned. And being able to teach people how to leverage these things that they’re now being connected to is super important. 

The way I like to think about it is if you look at broadband and you look at technology, you know the old proverb, you give a person a fish, they’ll eat for a day, you teach them how to fish, they’ll eat for a lifetime. Broadband is like access to water. A device is like access to a fishing pole. And skills training is like teaching them how to use that fishing pole to feed themselves. So the more that we can invest in that, not just into our seniors, but everywhere along the journey, the better that we will be as New Yorkers.

Mayor Adams: Well said and as we look towards the future on using technology to allow people to access the goods and services of the government is so important when we think about that and you know you have really just changed the game. When I came into office one of the things that Mayor de Blasio shared with me was [that] the biggest threat was cyber security. It was a real concern. When people hear about cyber security, they think it’s esoteric, “Okay, that’s nothing to do with me,” but it does. And, you know, you have really heartened many of our soft locations. Tell us what you have done around cybersecurity.

Fraser: Yeah, so for the first time in February ‘22, this is like one month since we’ve been in office, talk about moving at lightning pace. We created the Joint Security Operations Center. So for those of you that don’t know, in New York City, when we look at what we look like from a cybersecurity perspective, we see, on average, about 100 billion cyber security threats per week. And that number is 100 billion. And in order to combat that, we have a security operations center in New York City Cyber Command that runs 24/7 to monitor those types of threats to see how we respond to it. 

In February of ‘22, one of the things that we did that took that to the next level is we created a partnership between [the] New York State [and] federal government in the private sector so that we could start to combat cyber security incidents as a collective versus doing it individually. So now the Joint Security Operations Center in real time has resources that are working 24/7 from the state, the federal government, and the city all working towards the same mission of keeping us safe.

Mayor Adams: And the goal is to do what? What is our end result? What would we like to accomplish?

Fraser: So our goal across the board is to minimize as many cybersecurity incidents as we can and also use the skills and the capabilities that we’ve built to reduce the amount of impacts that it has to the critical infrastructure sectors or our critical partners. If you think about what most people consider to be critical, 90 percent of it lives outside of what the government controls. 

So by creating this cooperation that brings all levels of government together and brings the private sector and it makes our hospitals safer, our financial institutions better, more safe, and the things that people depend on like their grocery stores and things along that lines, it gives them the capability to partner with someone that has the resources that can help them.

Mayor Adams: You know, you don’t appreciate things until they actually break and you’re preventing that breaking from happening. Speaking of break, we got to go on a break, you know, so we’ll talk with Brother Matt Fraser, chief technology officer on the other side of the break and we look forward to continuing this conversation and again you can reach me (212) 545-1075.

Byrd: It’s Hear from the Mayor and of course more importantly, the mayor wants to hear from you,  (212) 545-1075, is the number to call. Stand by, we’ll come back right after these messages from 107.5 WBLS. 

[Commercial Break.] 

Byrd: (212) 545-1075 is the number to call. Let’s go back to our mayor and his special guest. 

Mayor Adams: Thank you, thanks so much Gary and again I’m here with our Chief Technology Officer Matt Fraser going into many of the things that we’re doing and also when we look at affordability Matt, we also did a change in cell phone payment. What was that deal that we put together? Can you go into it?

Fraser: Yeah sure, so one of the things that we could do better as a government is start using the power of government to work for the people. And one of the things that we did was we took a look at our cell phone services. Imagine if you work for a company, a private company like Pepsi, UPS, when you go in, and if they give you a corporate device, you don’t get to choose what the carrier is. You might be able to choose a device, but not the carrier. 

So by consolidating all of the city’s buying power and by negotiating our telecom or mobile phone plans, we were able to get, not just save money as a government, but we were able to get an employee saver program. So now if you work for the city, do you have a program where you can get cell phone service for $10 a month, not just for you, but for you and up to four members of your household? 

So imagine being a family that’s right above the poverty line or at the line, or a family that’s doing moderately better, and you’re paying $200 bucks a month for a phone, for four phones in a household, and all of a sudden that goes down to $40. Significant savings that impacts people in a real way.

Mayor Adams: Excellent, excellent. So why don’t we go to the phones. Caller, you’re on the air.

Question: Yes, good morning, Mayor Adams. I just wanna call you and thank you for all the great work that you did in providing us with jobs and opportunity to have a better life. Thank you very much.

Mayor Adams: Thank you. Thank you. It was a great pleasure being the mayor of the City of New York as we finish up this last month and 20 days. I look forward to moving the board forward. We have more work to do. We’re not done yet. And we’re going to continue to move forward. And I thank you for being a constant caller and a real vision over the city. Thank you. Caller, you’re on the air.

Question: My name is [Karen Brooke]. Mayor, as far as I’m concerned, I even voted for you this last time, but you didn’t make it. I mean, I know everybody got their thoughts, but you did a good job in a lot of things also. But sometimes we have to move on. But God’s gonna have over you like he’s gonna have all the rest of us. Everybody’s going through something, especially me for the past year. 

But listen, my blessings finally came and I’m getting ready to go to church. Now I’m going to two churches. My main church is the Bronx, Catholic, but I’m going to first a [inaudible] church. I love the pastor, Black pastor that finally got her own church, because she was [inaudible]. So thank you Eric Adams, you helped out a lot. God bless you, have a beautiful day.

Mayor Adams: Thank you, God has blessed me so much. I mean, when you go from a kid from South Jamaica, Queens, struggling with a learning disability, watching mommy struggle with those three jobs, raising six children, and she raised a mayor. And you know, I am blessed every day, and there’s only been 110 of us, and I’m 110, so my picture would be up in City Hall. 

So I thank you, that’s a blessing, and hope all the young people out there that feel they hit a bend in the road, it’s not the end of the road, just make a turn and keep moving and reach your destiny.

Caller, you’re on the air. 

Question: Yes, I was hoping to speak to the mayor. 

Mayor Adams: Yes, you are, you’re speaking to the mayor.

Question: Yes, mayor, you know, it hurt my heart that you didn’t stay in the race. Because, you know, I believe you’re one of the most prolific. And you did a real great job for the people and the City of New York. And even the last initiative that you had where you wanted to open up the job roles to those who got terminated in the COVID was such a great initiative. 

I hope you stay connected to the people because if you stayed in the race, my vote was definitely going for you and I know a lot of people were disappointed that you dropped out. But kudos to the great job that you did and Almighty God continues to bless you and surround you with grace and mercy for the next leg of your journey.

Mayor Adams: So true, thank you brother. You know, it’s been 40 years, 40 committed years of doing this work, you know. And many people look at the glamor of having mayor in front of your name and they don’t realize the awesome responsibilities of taking care of 8.5 million people with 35 million opinions, you know. People will give you a thumbs up and they’ll give you the middle finger all in the same day in the same conversation. And you just have to be able to be committed to the work. And we’ve done that. 

Something as simple as making sure there are benches at every bus stop, making sure that we have 11,000 internship programs for our young people, what we’re doing with financial literacy, teaching our young people how to manage their money by doing [in-school] banking, what we’re doing around universal afterschool program, making sure that we expanded the pre-K to children with special needs, breaking the record 11 times on more jobs in the city’s history, building more housing than the city’s history. 

So we had one heck of a run. And so when I come to the end of the race, I’m looking for the next level of this journey. I am so excited that I can just enjoy life and just sit back and look over the real opportunities that are waiting for me. When you run the city, like New York, you can run anything and I’m ready for it. So thank you so much, great to be on the air with you and WBLS, thank you Gary and your entire crew.

Byrd: Giving thanks my brother and thank you of course for the service that you brought to our city. 

November 9, 2025 New York

Sources: NYC.gov

November 9, 2025
NYC Mobilizes Public-Private Support as SNAP Halt Hits 1.8 Million, Adams Says

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced a business-backed relief plan to cushion SNAP recipients after a prolonged federal shutdown halted benefits for nearly 1.8 million residents. Leveraging partners including the New York Community Trust, United Way of New York City, the Partnership for New York City, City Harvest, Food Bank for NYC, Lemontree, and The Roundtable: Allies for Food Access, the effort builds on a $15 million city allocation and more than $820 million budgeted this fiscal year for food services. While two judges have ordered the federal government to deploy emergency funds for November, City Hall is coordinating stopgap distribution and outreach with nonprofit networks.
The administration underscores the stakes for households and local commerce, citing USDA data that every $1 in SNAP generates $1.54 in economic activity across communities.

Mayor Adams Announces Public-Private Initiatives to Support NYC’s SNAP Recipients as Federal Government Shutdown Threatens to Cut Off Benefits for 1.8 Million New Yorkers

— New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced that a slate of public-private initiatives will help Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients continue receiving a portion of their food benefits as the federal government shutdown enters into its second month and has halts SNAP benefits to some of the city’s most vulnerable New Yorkers. Effective today, nearly 1.8 million New Yorkers who rely on SNAP to put food on the table are no longer receiving the federally funded benefits to which they are entitled, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has not issued any contingency funds to sustain this critical lifeline during the protracted shutdown. These initiatives build on the city’s $15 million additional investment announced last month and the more than $820 million budgeted in this fiscal year for food services programs. Last week, two judges ordered the federal government to use emergency funds to cover food stamp benefits for Americans in November. Until the federal government complies, the Adams administration is working with partners across the city to support New Yorkers and ensure they receive the aid they need.

“When New Yorkers support one another in times of need, we become a better city. That’s why today, along with the New York Community Trust, the United Way, and the Partnership for New York City, we’re launching a slate of public-private initiatives to support SNAP recipients in our city who rely on these much-needed benefits to put food on their tables,” said Mayor Adams. “As a child, members of my church would drop off food for my siblings and me when times were hard; this type of generosity is what makes our city great. While we sadly can never provide as much support as our federal partners, our social services agencies are ready to help New Yorkers in need, and we’re calling on business leaders, philanthropic partners, faith leaders, and community members to join us in this effort.”

“Local government and philanthropy cannot come close to replacing federally funded entitlement programs, but we can certainly help support the organizations that are collecting and distributing food during this emergency,” said Kathryn Wylde, president & CEO, Partnership for New York City. “We will encourage member companies and foundations to support the efforts of the mayor and governor to meet this crisis and to invest in the funds that New York Community Trust has designated.”

“New York Community Trust is proud to stand with our partners and the City to ensure that no New Yorker goes hungry during this crisis,” said Amy Freitag, president and CEO, New York Community Trust. “Local nonprofit organizations on the frontlines of food insecurity are best positioned to swiftly mobilize financial resources to support those in need. This is what community looks like — neighbors helping neighbors.”

In a demonstration of their commitment to helping city government address the challenges of food insecurity during the federal government shutdown, private donors and companies are contributing to the launch of these initiatives under the auspices of the New York Community Trust, including:

The New York Community Trust’s Community Needs Fund

The Community Needs Fund addresses the urgent needs of neighbors throughout New York City, Long Island, and Westchester. When an individual makes a one-time or recurring gift to the fund, every dollar is directed by an expert grantmaking team to trusted nonprofits across the region.

City Harvest

City Harvest rescues food that would otherwise go to waste and delivers it to New Yorkers in need in response to the persistently high need for food assistance in New York City.

Food Bank for NYC

The Food Bank for NYC delivers food and resources across all five boroughs in collaboration with 800 community partners.

Lemontree

For those in need of groceries or meals, Lemontree helps locate food pantries in their neighborhood.

The Roundtable: Allies for Food Access

The Roundtable: Allies for Food Access isa network of nine of the largest food pantries and soup kitchens in New York City. It reduces costs through strategic purchasing, advocates for frontline providers, and provides support to smaller pantry partners.

United Way of New York City’s Emergency Assistance & Community Needs Fund

The United Way of New York City’s Emergency Assistance & Community Needs Fund supports critical services that empower community-based organizations with resources while keeping the city afloat.

Other donors are encouraged to join this effort to support nonprofits on the front lines of this crisis and help New Yorkers affected by the shutdown. A contribution will not affect any business dealings with the city or provide special access to city officials.

The pause in SNAP funding is devastating to the city’s overall safety net and also threatens New York’s local economy. The USDA estimates that every dollar of SNAP spending generates $1.54 back into the community, meaning that $1 billion in SNAP dollars spent increases the gross domestic product of the United States by $1.54 billion.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=f2oDNJDb9Bc%3Ffeature%3Doembed

The city is deploying a comprehensive response to ensure at-risk New Yorkers have access to food through a variety of alternative programs and services, managing a comprehensive resource list for impacted SNAP recipients, and conducting outreach efforts in close collaboration with the city’s robust network of community-based organizations and food providers.

November 1, 2025

NEW YORK

Sources: nyc.gov , Big New York news BigNY.com

Midtown Tribune Independent USA news from New York

November 3, 2025
New York. Mayor Adams Calls In for Live Interview With WBLS 107.5 FM’s “Caribbean Fever”

In a live interview on WBLS 107.5 FM’s “Caribbean Fever”, Mayor Eric Adams reflected on his tenure as New York City’s mayor and addressed recent rumors about leaving for a job in the Middle East, which he denied, calling such reports damaging to his reelection campaign. He expressed pride in his accomplishments, including crime reduction, housing development, pandemic management, and support for low-income residents, while criticizing the media for underreporting his successes. Adams discussed his reasons for endorsing Andrew Cuomo over newcomer Zohran, citing concerns about inexperience, gentrification, and policies he believes would harm communities of color. He emphasized the global relevance of his work, the challenges of public office, and his commitment to serving the city until the end of his term, while signaling a readiness to pursue international opportunities afterward.

Dahved Levy: How are you doing, sir? How are you doing?

Mayor Adams: Well, very well, you know, just out. It’s marathon Sunday and so there are different events happening all over the city.

Levy: I’m very curious, sir. They said that you are going to be accepting a job somewhere in the Middle East. Is that factual?

Mayor Adams: No, it’s not. And, you know, there’s been so many rumors and really, Dahved, that’s what really undermined my ability to run the way the media kept putting out false rumors about me going to HUD, me going to the Middle East, me doing all these things. And it’s just really undermined the campaign. Many of my supporters and donors thought I left the race earlier. And it just made no sense.

And people don’t realize to run for office, you have to raise millions of dollars. I had the Campaign Finance Board take four million dollars from me. I had the media constantly reporting that I was leaving the race. And it was just– I probably am the first mayor that could not run for reelection because there were just so many forces that went after my attempt to show the success that I did in the city.

Levy: Wow. If you had to do it all over again, sir, would you do it? Would you go down the same road that you went down? If you had to do it all over again?

Mayor Adams: Hell yes. You know, 35 years ago, I said I wanted to be the mayor of the City of New York and I became the mayor of the most important city on the globe. And when you look at the sacrifices my mother made, you know, you had a woman with a third-grade education, she raised a son that became the mayor of the most important city on the globe.

And yes, I would have done it all over. Everything that I went through from COVID to the lawfare coming after me by the federal government, all of that. I would still do it all over again, because no matter what happens, I am the mayor. I accomplished what I wanted to do. And now there’s other things to do in life.

Levy: So, what does a mayor do after? What does the mayor do after being— you have until tomorrow to be the mayor, right?

Mayor Adams: No, no, until December 31st. I go until the end of the year.

Levy: December 31st. So, you go to the end of the year. So, what? I mean, you might have to do something different like– okay, so let me ask you this way. What is the best thing that you’ve learned by being the mayor in New York? I was the worst thing that you’ve learned or had to deal with being the mayor of New York.

Mayor Adams: The best thing is dealing with crises. And now I’m getting calls from all over the globe. People saw my success here in the city. And now global, international leaders have reached out to me to do things in their country. People have to deal with issues in their country.

The issue of education is impacting the whole globe. The issue of public safety is a global concern. The issue of cybersecurity is a global concern. The issue of building housing, global concern.

And so, people saw what I did in this city, building more housing than any other mayor, dealing with cybersecurity, dealing with crises. And now people are asking me to come to their countries and look at how to assist them. That’s what I’m taking away.

The worst thing that has happened is how you saw a media in this city that actively refused to report the success that we’ve done in the city. And really, one day I’m going to do a show with you, Dahved, just on the permanent government in the city that they have no desire to see communities that have been left behind moving forward.

Why are Black and brown people weeding at the levels that they’re doing so, year after year with all the money that we’re spending. Why are we seeing crime and guns only in our community? Why are we seeing mental health issues only in our community?

There’s a permanent government that has no desire of turning around the conditions that are impacting communities of color and working-class people throughout the city. And one day we’re just going to sit down and have a long conversation about that.

Levy: Sir, what changed your mind for you to come out and back Mr. Cuomo?

Mayor Adams: Zohran, and it’s not only Zohran, people talk about Zohran’s lack of experience, which is a real issue. I mean, you can’t go from being a rapper to an assemblyman, and now you want to be the mayor of the most complicated city. That’s a real problem of his lack of experience.

But it’s more than that, Zohran’s supporters are gentrifiers. That’s the foundation. He’s the king of the gentrifiers. And all of us know what gentrification–

Levy: I never heard it put like that. The king of the gentrifiers.

Mayor Adams: Yes, go look who’s around him. Go look at who’s supporting him. Go look at his election day victory and look who’s in the room. Those are the same folks who have been arrogant, disrespectful to our communities. They gentrified Harlem. They gentrified Bed-Stuy. They gentrified Flatbush. They won’t patronize our restaurants and our other events in our city. They move into the schools and want to be disrespectful in the school system. That is his base.

And when you have Black and brown people that really have not been motivated and they’re staying home, they’re making a big mistake. You can’t allow the people who came into your communities and disrespected you now put up who they want to be the mayor. And we’re staying home. We’ve got to get off our asses and get out and vote. If we don’t, we’re going to be extremely sorry for what happens later.

The DSA, Democratic Socialists of America, is made up of a bunch of gentrifiers that have really went into our communities and have taken over our community. They’re going to go after every person of color that’s in office. We better realize how serious this election is. And that’s why I said, since I didn’t have the resources to run, I’m going to put my name behind Andrew.

We don’t agree on everything. Matter of fact, we disagree on a lot. But I know one thing for sure, we agree that this guy cannot be the mayor of the City of New York. He and his gentrifiers are going to hurt our communities and their policies are harmful to our community.

Levy: Sir, before you go, why is this election the most important election in New York’s history? Why?

Mayor Adams: Look at the policies that people are leaning on. Here you have a person that wants to decriminalize prostitution. I see what it does to little boys and little girls selling their bodies on corners. Releasing 3,000 people from Rikers Island right back into the community that they preyed on.

Lying and saying he’s going to freeze rent. Mayors can’t freeze rent, folks. Let’s be clear on that. Mayors cannot freeze rent. So, for a mayor to say they want to freeze rent, you’re saying anything that people want to hear to get elected. Free buses. Mayors can’t give free buses.

So, the things he’s saying, he knows he can’t do, but he doesn’t care. He’s saying anything to be elected and the policies that he can do, such as defunding our Police Department is going to hurt public safety, which communities talk about all the time. Going after small businesses like free grocery or government grocery stores are going to hurt our small businesses.

So, his policies are harmful to communities of color. Socialism is not some nice, fancy term. It has failed everywhere. And really, Black, brown communities of color, working class [white people], we can’t go backwards. This election is going to have a major impact on our city if Zohran and his DSA gentrifiers take control of our city.

Levy: Last words sir, so what is the final thing you want New Yorkers to know?

Mayor Adams: Hey, it’s been a great run, man. I’ve had so much fun being the mayor of the City of New York. I did what I set out to do. A record decrease in crime, 24,000 guns removed off of our streets. I built more housing than any mayor. And actually, I zoned the city for more housing than 12 years of Bloomberg. Eight years of de Blasio combined. I did it in three and a half years.

I got us through COVID. I got us through migrants and asylum seekers. Our children are outpacing the state in reading and math. We have free broadband for NYCHA. Low-income New Yorkers are no longer paying income tax because of me. Dropped the cost of child care from $220 a month to less than $20 a month. Paying off the college tuition for foster care children, excusing billions of dollars in medical debt for low-income New Yorkers.

I mean, what I set out to do, I did. Working class people have benefited under me. And it’s going to take some time, reflection and review that people are going to realize that we were one of the greatest administrations the city has ever heard.

Now, hey, people are going to say, “Well, you know what, Eric? You’re too pompous. You’re too arrogant. Eric, you’re too this, you’re too that. You go out at night in nightclubs.” Yeah, because I want our nightlife business to stay open.

So, there’s going to be critiques. But at the end of the day, I was a darn good mayor and have no regrets. I’m looking forward for my life after and I could enjoy that life. And I hope the next mayor continues the success that I put in place.

Levy: Thank you very much. I do appreciate it. Thank you.

Mayor Adams: Thank you. Rocking you. Rocking you.

Levy: Rocking you. Rocking you.

November 2, 2025 New York

Sources: NYC.gov

Midtown Tribune Independent USA news from New York

November 2, 2025
Mayor Adams Says NYC Opioid Overdose Deaths Fell 28% in 2024, First Decline in a Decade

New York City recorded 2,192 overdose deaths in 2024, down 28% from 3,056 in 2023—the first substantial drop after nearly 10 years of increases, Mayor Eric Adams and DOHMH Acting Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse said Tuesday. Declines were seen across all five boroughs, with Staten Island down about 49%. Black and Latino New Yorkers saw 29% reductions yet still died at roughly twice the rate of white residents, and the Bronx remains the hardest-hit borough. City, state, and federal investments—backed by nearly $190 million in opioid-settlement funds to date and projected to reach $550 million by 2041—have expanded prevention, treatment, and harm-reduction services, including Overdose Prevention Centers and wider access to methadone and buprenorphine. The city budgeted $41 million in FY2025 for overdose response. New Yorkers can call or text 988 for 24/7 support.

Mayor Adams Announces Opioid Overdose Deaths in City Drop Significantly for First Time in Past Decade

– New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) Acting Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse today announced new data released by DOHMH that shows a significant decrease in overdose deaths in New York City in 2024 — marking the first substantial decrease following a nearly 10-year period of increasing overdose deaths in the five boroughs. There were 2,192 deaths last year, down from 3,056 in 2023, mirroring national trends, and overdose deaths decreased almost universally across demographic groups and neighborhoods in 2024. Additionally, residents of all five boroughs saw decreases in overdose deaths and, for the first time since 2018, overdose deaths decreased among Black and Latino New Yorkers; however, significant racial and geographic inequities persist.

“The data we are releasing today represents a major shift in a decades-long overdose crises that has claimed the lives of so many New Yorkers and Americans across the nation. Progress on reducing opioid overdoses will never make up for the families that have been devastated and the communities torn apart by these drugs, but it gives us hope that brighter days are ahead,” said Mayor Adams. “I am proud of the work our administration has done to stay focused on this issue by pursuing litigation and using funds from opioid settlements proactively, strategically, and forcefully to support those who are struggling. We will continue to make the right investments in programs and treatments that help keep New Yorkers safe and healthy.”

“While we are finally seeing the needle move on fatal overdoses across the city, too many New Yorkers still continue to die from preventable deaths,” said DOHMH Acting Commissioner Dr. Morse. “As city leaders, we must be steadfast in our support of programs that save lives, while we continue to address historic disinvestment and other forms of structural racism. I am grateful for the tireless dedication of advocates, local providers, Health Department staff, and partners inside and outside government as we work to keep our communities and neighbors safe and connected to care.”

Earlier this summer, Mayor Adams announced that New York City saw the lowest quarter in five years for opioid overdose deaths while making further investments to drive down opioid overdoses. In 2023, New York City saw a slight decline for the first time since 2018 in overdose deaths.

Despite seeing promising decreases, inequities in overdose deaths still persist in New York City. Black and Latino New Yorkers each saw a 29 percent reduction in overdose deaths but died at twice the rate of their white counterparts. While the rate of fatal overdose decreased 24 percent among Bronx residents, the borough continues to have the highest rate of overdose deaths — at more than double the rate of Manhattan, the borough with the second-highest rate. The rate of overdose deaths among Staten Island residents decreased by about 49 percent. Residents of Hunts Point-Mott Haven, Highbridge-Morrisania, Crotona-Tremont, East Harlem, and Fordham-Bronx Park continued to bear the greatest burden of overdose deaths in 2024.

Securing Opioid Settlement Funds

Today’s announcement builds on the work the city has done to bring justice to the victims and families of the opioid epidemic, including just last month, when the city announced steps toward recovering approximately $48 million from a new proposed settlement with Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family. In January 2018, the City of New York sued manufacturers and distributors of prescription opioids to remedy the harms caused within the city by the misleading marketing and improper distribution of these drugs. New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a similar lawsuit in March 2019. Settlements reached by both the city and the state, as well as a court victory by Attorney General James, have provided the City of New York alone with nearly $190 million as of the end of Fiscal Year (FY) 2025, which, with the most recent settlement, is expected to grow to a total of more than $550 million by 2041. In April 2022, Mayor Adams and Attorney General James announced allocations for the first of hundreds of millions of dollars coming to New York City to combat the opioid crisis. In September 2024, Mayor Adams announced city funding will ramp up to an annual $50 million for opioid prevention and treatment.

Investing in Treatment and Supports

To address the continued need for comprehensive services, the city continues to invest in evidence-based practices and partner with local providers to reach the communities most in need. In FY 2025 alone, the city allocated $41 million across DOHMH, NYC Health + Hospitals, and the Office of the New York City Chief Medical Examiner to support the expansion of services around the city and enhance the existing network of care.

Ongoing funds from opioid settlements through DOHMH have supported wraparound services for syringe service programs, including on-site medical care, connections to health care and social services, and support for basic needs. In FY 2025, syringe service programs that operate Overdose Prevention Centers provided approximately 39,000 harm reduction services to more than 8,000 participants, reducing the risk of overdose and infectious disease and providing referrals to treatment and other health and social services. In 2023, the Adams administration also allocated $3 million to eight providers on Staten Island through a request for proposal to directly support the expansion of buprenorphine treatment, outreach and engagement, and care navigation services in the borough. This past July, the city announced $4 million in annual funding for nine outpatient and opioid treatment programs citywide to increase access to methadone and buprenorphine. Contracting for the expansion of the number of hospitals participating in DOHMH’s emergency department-based nonfatal opioid overdose response program called Relay remains ongoing.

Since beginning to receive funding through opioid settlements, NYC Health + Hospitals has had over 9,700 patient engagements with expanded substance use services at Street Health Outreach and Wellness vans, nearly 83,000 encounters with patients in emergency departments with addiction services provided by the Emergency Department Leads program, and has successfully launched a cutting-edge addiction simulation training for emergency department prescribers. Additionally, NYC Health + Hospitals has provided comprehensive addiction consultations at over 24,700 inpatient admissions through the Consult for Addiction Treatment and Care in Hospitals program. 

Further, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner’s Drug Intelligence and Intervention Group program has offered support services to more than 4,000 individuals following the death of a loved one from an overdose. 

All actions taken by Mayor Adams and the Adams administration to prevent overdose deaths also underscore the administration’s efforts to improve and extend the average lifespan of all New Yorkers through “HealthyNYC” to 83 years by 2030. HealthyNYC sets ambitious targets to address the greatest drivers of premature death, including chronic and diet-related diseases, screenable cancers, overdose, suicide, maternal mortality, violence, and COVID-19.

New Yorkers looking to access substance use services can call or text 988 for free, confidential support 24/7. Resources can also be found on the “NYC HealthMap” and on DOHMH’s website.

October 28, 2025 NEW YORK

Sources: NYC.gov , Midtown Tribune news

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October 28, 2025

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