On Wednesday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams participated in a βTalk with Ericβ discussion at Gregorio Luperon High School for Science and Mathematics in Washington Heights. One person in the audienceβan older white womanβtook hold of the microphone that was being passed around and gave Adams a piece of her mind about rent prices.
Last week, Adamsβ administration faced intense scrutiny when the Rent Guidelines Board voted to allow rent increases of up to 6 percent on the New Yorkβs one million rent-stabilized apartments. During the town hall, the angry and elderly participant asked Adams why New Yorkers had experienced βhorrible rent increases last year and this year.β
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βYou said before and after that you supported those rent increases!β the woman commented while constantly and aggressively pointing at him. Adams reaction to her behavior was swift and direct. βFirst if youβre going to ask a question donβt point at me and donβt be disrespectful to me. Iβm the mayor of this city and treat me with the respect [which] I deserve to be treated. Iβm speaking to you as an adult,β he stated.
Adams didnβt stop there. βDonβt stand in front like you treated someone thatβs on the plantation that you own. Give me the respect I deserve and engage in a conversationβ¦treat me with the same level of respect I treat you. So donβt be pointing at me, donβt be disrespectful to me, speak to me as an adult because Iβm a grown man. I walked into this room as a grown man and Iβm going to walk out of this room as a grown man.β
Some believed that Adams deflected and attempted to avoid accountability with his response while others thought he handled the womanβs conduct appropriately. One thing remains certain, though: New York City rent prices are out of control.
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