NEW YORK (WCBS 880) -- Eric Adams continued his busy first day as New York City mayor with his first address to New Yorkers, talking about getting the city back from the pandemic and governmental dysfunction.
Adams was sworn in right at the turn of the new year in Times Square, and reported to City Hall after riding on the subway to get there. On his way, he witnessed a fight and ended up calling 911 — not identifying himself as mayor in the process.
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Hours later, Adams spoke as mayor for the first time in an 11-minute address, identifying his plans and motivations as mayor of the city.
“Unemployment remains high, crime is high, COVID cases are high again, so how do we get our city back? The answer is simple … by making a commitment to each other … we will not be controlled by crisis,” said Adams.
Adams said city government must so a better job, saying it has been “dysfunctional for far too long.” He also provided a theme for his first 100 days as New York City’s 110th mayor — “GSD” — meaning “get stuff done.”
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COVID was brought up several times during the course of Adams’ speech, but he assured that “New York is not closed” despite skyrocketing omicron cases breaking records on a daily basis.
“The last two years have trapped our spirit,” said Adams “But we are a city of 9 million dreams, and we are about to wake up.”
Adams referenced his mother, who died in 2021 and who he held a photo of during his swearing in, and his upbringing, not shying away from the “failures” that he said the city cast on his family.
He also referenced former New York City mayors Ed Koch and David Dinkins, and even Snapple.
“If I could borrow from the great owner of Snapple soft drinks, we are going to win because we are made of the ‘best stuff on Earth.’” said Adams.