State of the Union: Interview With New York City Mayor Eric Adams

Interview

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Yes, good morning. Good to see you.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Well, they are now.

When you saw the first phase of our subway safety plan and our indicative to get those with serious mental health issues to the point that they were in danger to themselves and others, couldn't take care of their basic needs, people pushed back.

But I was clear and I was focused. We started to see the removement of encampments on our subway system, 4,000 people we brought inside for care. Over 1,000 remain. Some went to stay with families. Now we're moving to the next level.

Young people with mental health issues, substance abuse issues, and those with serious mental health issues, partnered with the governor, we're going to see over 8,000 units of permanent housing with wraparound services. So you're starting to see the results now.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Twenty million dollars is a new introduction that we put in place with a unprecedented new way of using telemedicine with mental health.

This is something brand-new, has not been used before, of giving out fentanyl strips for those with substance abuse, so they can test some of the drugs that they're taking, treatment centers. Our new infusion of money is $20 million to go with what we had already.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Yes.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Yes.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

And it was so important. The way it was reported really was distorted.

We stated that the new methods we were using was clarity. We were going after those with serious mental health illnesses that couldn't take care of their basic needs and were in danger to themselves. That is not the entire population. That's a small, targeted group. And it was inhumane to allow them to stay on the streets without proper care.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

No. That's about a conversation. That's about building up trust. We see it every day in the subway system, on our streets. It's about building up trust. You may have to visit them more than once, giving them socks, clothing, food.

But if that same person has a stick in their hand, a knife in their hand, they're yelling, they're screaming, they're unkempt, their clothing are soiled, there's something wrong. Now, you don't wait until that person pushes someone on the subway system and then respond. No, we must be proactive to deal with this issue.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mm-hmm.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Well, I think all of our big cities -- I like to say we have three parties, Democrat, Republicans, and mayors.

Mayors, we are closer -- we're the closest to the problem. And I stated on a campaign trail and in the city public safety is a prerequisite to prosperity, same in Chicago, like New York and many of our big cities across America.

That is why we're zero-focused, double-digit decrease in shooters, double-digit decrease in homicides. We have witnessed this year, particularly in the month of February, all of our indexed crimes is low for the entire year. We are focused on public safety, because people want to be safe. They don't feel safe, and they're actually safe, then you're going to lose control of your city.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

To the contrary, I think it's a warning sign for the country.

Eric Adams has been talking about public safety, not only on the campaign trail, but for the first year. I showed up at crime scenes. I knew what New Yorkers were saying. And I saw it all over the country. I think, if anything, it is really stating that this is what I have

been talking about. America, we have to be safe.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

You know the difference between a comment like that and what I say? I listen to Americans and New Yorkers.

The polls were clear. New Yorkers felt unsafe,and the numbers showed that they were unsafe. Now, if we want to ignore what the everyday public is stating, then that's up to them. I'm on the subways. I walk the streets. I speak to everyday working-class people. And they were concerned about safety.

We zeroed in on that, unprecedented, historic numbers of felony arrests, removal of guns on our streets, closing homicide cases. We have a recidivism problem in New York. And far too many people -- there's about 2,000 people were repeatedly catch, release, repeating crimes.

If we don't take them off our streets, they are going to continue to prey on innocent people.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

The mayors have a unique job. People bump into the mayor, particularly a mayor like me on the streets, yes, and I choose...

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Well, that's the way our country operates. And dealing with that is not up to me.

I have to focus on, how do I partner with my state lawmakers and my City Council here to show them how imperative it is that we are safe?

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Well, listen, let's be clear on something.

The last words I said after I was sworn in is "so help me God." On Our dollar bill, we have "In God we trust." Every president touched a religious book when they were sworn in, except for three.

Faith is who I am. And anyone who takes those words as stated that I'm going to try to compel people to follow my religion, no. I'm a child of God. I believe that wholly. I'm going to follow the law. I'm not going to compel people who believe in whatever faith it could be. If you're in a synagogue, a Baptist church, a Buddhist temple, I'm in all of them. And that's what was in my service.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

No, what I believe is that you cannot separate your faith.

Government should not interfere with religion and religion should not interfere with government. But I believe my faith...

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

... pushes me forward on how I govern and the things that I do.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mm-hmm.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

No. But this is what I'm saying. I want to be very clear on this, so it won't be distorted.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Government should not interfere with religion. Religion should not interfere with government. That can't happen. And it should never happen.

But my faith is how I carry out the practices that I do and the policies, such as helping people who are homeless, such as making sure that we show compassion in what we do in our city. Government should never be in religion. Religion should never be in government. And I hope I'm very clear on that.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Thank you. Thank you.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source