New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday celebrated the upcoming swath of arts and cultural events planned for the city's 400th anniversary, and said he does not foresee needing the military to control protests against immigration raids.
Adams announced a list of events happening across the city, including several in Brooklyn that includes a Downtown Brooklyn block party, movie nights and more. He also said the city is investing another $45 million in the Department of Cultural Affairs, adding to the existing $215 million budget.
“These historic investments would be good for our families and good for our cultural organization, good jobs, and good for the entire city,” said Adams during is regular weekly press conference.
As weekend protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in Los Angeles continues, Adams stated that public safety is at the forefront of his plan to usher a more peaceful protest process in the city.
“We have Police Commissioner Tisch. We communicated this morning. We know what we have to do to keep the city safe. And if there's ever a need to go beyond the manpower that we have, there's other ways you do it before you have to come with the look of a military operation,” said Adams.
When asked to comment on Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass' public disagreement with the Trump Administration’s decision to deploy 700 Marines and more than 2,000 National Guard soldiers, Adams stated the mayor's decision doesn't affect his own actions in New York.
“Mayor Bass doesn't go into what happens in my city and I'm not going to go into what happens in her city. She's the mayor of that city and she'll make the determination [on] how to manage what she's dealing with in LA,” said Adams.
The mayor stated that he does not "foresee" military grade forces being needed in New York. “If there's ever an opportunity or need because for some reason that we cannot manage and handle for whatever reason, we're going to utilize whatever resources we have to protect New Yorkers,” said Adams.
Meanwhile, as the June 24 Democratic primary election nears, Adams did not mince words when criticizing his opponent Andrew Cuomo and his slew of endorsements from various Jewish communities.
“He'll take two or three people from a community and he'll give the impression that he has the entire community. That's just not the reality,” said Adams. “I have a Master's in public administration, but I have a PhD in Andrew."
Adams noted that last week's televised mayor debate had one true contender. “I don't agree with [Zohran] Mamdani's policies. We're diametrically opposed to each other. I don't agree with his stance on many things. But I respect the fact he's true to who he is,” said Adams.
Cuomo currently leads the polls in the democratic primary for New York, with Mamdani close behind.
Adams also dismissed candidates Jessica Ramos and Michael Blake, stating that they wouldn’t be able to run the city due to a lack of experience. “Day one when I got in, this is a lot. And if you don't have real knowledge, not only knowledge of government, but life experience, being mayor is an adult job,” he said.
The mayor and his staff also discussed the expansion of Manhattan's Hudson Yards, which would add new housing, open space and offices.
“First working with the City Council, but now working with this administration. It is now committed to create at least 625 affordable housing units as part of this development,” said First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro. “We are going to see a transformative event in our city's history."
