Adams Emerges Vowing Not to Step Down
Defiant Mayor Returns to Public Eye
A defiant Mayor Eric Adams returned to the public eye on Thursday after an unknown illness sidelined him, shooting down rumors of his resignation in front of a fairly friendly crowd of religious leaders.
“Who started the stupid rumor that I was stepping down on Friday? Are you out of your mind?” he said, to cheers at the annual Interfaith Breakfast, held at the New York Public Library’s main branch.
The rumor hit a fever pitch when the former City Councilmember Sal Albanese posted about it on social media Tuesday.
The mayor then targeted the media, saying journalists printed the rumor but didn’t “print the facts that we had more jobs in the city’s history on that same day.”
“Not one tabloid covered it,” he added.
Signs of the Times
Adams has repeatedly said God told him he would become mayor and that he leans on religious leaders and his own faith during troubling times. His speech was met with multiple standing ovations and supporters encouraging him as he declared, “How many times do I have to say, ‘When people say step down, I step up?’”
Some clergy, though, have been critical of his approach to the city’s asylum seekers and fear he won’t support undocumented New Yorkers during the Trump administration.
Challenging the Rumors
Adams only briefly addressed his health, saying the last week “was a scary week for me. It was hard.”
He did not directly discuss his upcoming federal trial during his fiery speech, and avoided reporters after the event.
He hasn’t held a public briefing since last Tuesday, Jan. 21.
Interfaith Breakfast
At Thursday’s event, priest Sara Dōjin Emerson from the Brooklyn Zen Center noted the “people in this beautiful city who are most vulnerable, who are right now being made to feel unwelcome and unsafe and unwanted, on purpose — and may they feel benefit of our solidarity in interfaith community.” She urged attendees to act to make those people feel safe.
Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum stood up at the start of Adams’s speech holding a hand-written sign asking “Mr. Mayor, please show mercy to our immigrant friends.”
Adams encouraged her to hold the sign but then later referenced it repeatedly throughout his roughly 30-minute stump-like speech.
“Walking around with your silly signs,” he said. “Stop doing the signs and give the sign that you believe in God and go join the work that these people have done in this city. That’s the sign we need to see.”
Kleinbaum later told THE CITY she has attended the Interfaith breakfast for years but has been “disturbed” by the mayor’s “capitulation” to the president’s plan to deport millions of people.
“I had hoped that our Democratic mayor would stand up to that a bit and I’ve been disappointed that he hasn’t,” she said.
She didn’t want to sit silently and decided on the sign to help inspire a conversation, writing it respectfully and using religious language, she said.
As she stood up, some people at her table told her to sit down but others came up after to tell her what she did was important. She briefly held the sign with two other faith leaders, Rev. Jacqui Lewis of Middle Church in the East Village and Rabbi Jill Jacobs.
Adams’s continued mention of the sign — including suggesting Kleinbaum hasn’t done more than hold a sign when in fact she has worked with immigrants for decades — “intrigued” her instead of upset her, she said.
“I guess he was paying attention, which I’m grateful for,” she said.
“He is absolutely wrong in his attacks on immigrants and he’s absolutely wrong on who New York City is.”
Conclusion
Mayor Adams has emerged from his brief illness, vowing not to step down and reaffirming his commitment to the city. Despite rumors and criticism, he remains defiant and focused on his duties as mayor.
FAQs
Q: Why did Mayor Adams take a break from public appearances?
A: Mayor Adams took a break from public appearances due to an unknown illness.
Q: Did Mayor Adams resign?
A: No, Mayor Adams did not resign. He has vowed not to step down and will continue to serve as mayor.
Q: What did Mayor Adams say about the rumors of his resignation?
A: Mayor Adams called the rumors “stupid” and said he will not step down.
Q: What did Mayor Adams say about the sign held by Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum?
A: Mayor Adams referenced the sign repeatedly during his speech, saying that instead of holding signs, people should take action to support immigrants.
