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0820askthemayorbblock_2024-08-20-19-22-25

Welcome back to ask the mayor here on News 12 with New York City Mayor, Eric Adams. The phones have been ringing off the hook. So it's time to get to some of those callers tonight. And I believe we have Caesar from the Bronx on the line. Caesar, thanks so much for tuning in and calling in. What's your question for the mayor? Yes, thank you. So, thank you, Mayor Adam for taking this call. May Adams, I got issues with the section eight. I apply it and I apply it, apply and I keep getting shot down and I, I feel bad because I'm born and raised here. I work here all my life. It's like people, I don't know where they jump the line. Everybody you know, is going through something. I get it. But what about those who were here first? You know, but about the veterans, you know what I'm saying? It's very hard, like section they tell you, they're gonna call you at five, they call you at 459. That's it. If you don't answer it, then those two phone rings, you're shot down. Yeah. The one thing is important to point out because I hear this often. Uh people say, hey, the new arrivals, particularly the migrants and asylum seekers are taking the housing that many of, you know, long time New Yorkers have been waiting for. That's not true. Uh They're not eligible for this housing. Uh The section eight uh housing our voucher programs, our thefts vouchers is for New Yorkers. It's for long term New Yorkers. And so I wanna be clear on that a second. Uh The section eight just announced 200,000 households were randomly selected. It's not about jumping the line. This is a random process because we wanna make sure the integrity of it. But 200,000 households were randomly selected and niche is now notifying these families uh as well. So maybe possible that you one of those 200,000 that's being notified, but don't give up, you know, I often hear people they try to call one time or they, they tried to go after one of the Housing Connect program one time and they get frustrated. But as we had AAA woman was with us, as we announced some of the initiatives we're doing with some of the new housing. She talked about how she stayed on top of it and she was able to get a great, a great home to live in. But uh brother, let me tell you this. We have a housing shortage 1.4% vacancy rate and we need to encourage all of our electors to welcome new housing throughout this entire city. And that's what the city of Yes is about, uh you know, is doing a little bit more housing in every community. And I made a commitment at the state of the city to reopen the wait list. After 15 years that it was closed, we reopened, it promise made, promise kept and I look forward to you finding that home that you're looking for. Absolutely. I believe we also have Dennis on the line joining us this evening from Morris, Sania. Dennis. Thanks so much for calling in. Go ahead and ask your question when you're ready. Hello, how you doing, man, Adam, how are you, Dennis? I'm ok. I'm all right. I wanted to ask you about the um the exploding E bike. Um I have a couple of solutions to fix that problem. Do, is there any way that um somebody can contact me to figure out how we can talk about it? Oh, I love calls like this Dennis, you know, solution driven. Yes. Uh leave your number. We get, we get you a message. If you, the team, the operator would take your number. And in fact, I'll call you when I get in the car. When I get, when I drive out to um the, the beach uh for this uh concert, I'll give you a call to get an understanding of your idea and then I'll put you in contact uh with our emerging markets. You know, because you may be on to something and we wanna hear it, Mr Mayor, I'll ask though, what are some of the initiatives that your administration is spearheading right now? I know just last month you had a big announcement with variety of points to tackle this problem. Those darn uh bogus batteries out there, you know, they're coming from different places, you know, like China and others and uh they are just uh not being used correctly. Uh So we're doing everything from a battery swap program to education. Like many people need to be educated on where uh they should be storing their E bikes. We found a lot of fires where people were storing their E bikes by their doors or in their bedrooms. And when you look at the video, I encourage everyone to go online, look at the video on how fast these fires slash explosions uh take place. So we, we've launched the first in this nation, uh uh municipal trading program, the first time in this nation in a new campaign to let New York New Yorkers know. And uh it is in these batteries should be swapped out. Don't short change. They think you're getting a discount, it could harm your family. And as we see that's taking lives and hats off to former fire commissioner Laura K Kavanaugh. She really took this issue on front and center. Uh and it was so important this fire here up in the Bronx. I remember responding to that fire. Uh Thank God uh knowing we didn't lose any lives, I believe in that fire, but that is how dangerous these E bikes are. I think the battery swap program is gonna be really key and something that we're definitely going to keep a close eye on as it continues to develop and a lot of people will be doing the same. We were talking briefly during the commercial break that we're in back to school season. It is in full swing. The kids are gonna be back to school before we know it. One thing that was being talked about at the end of last school year was a potential cell phone ban in schools. I know the governor had a listening tour this summer to get feedback from families. I believe at the end of the last school year, the school's chancellor even said I'm leaning towards that any update on whether or not that's something that families need to be prepared for come September and we've had a number of conversations and it's interesting, this is one of those issues where uh on both sides of the issue. There, there are those who are strongly uh uh proponents of it and those who are saying, wait a minute, hold on for a moment because there's a real safety issue. 911 has changed the game where parents want to get in contact with their loved ones. Right away. But here are the facts. We know it is a real interference. It's a distraction, it hurts our Children. It promotes violence in school. A lot of bullying takes place. Uh It is just something that has impacted our young people a lot. So we're now looking at uh a strongly encouraged to a full ban. Some schools already are voluntarily doing bans and they said it has worked out. So we want all stake holders is involved and we'll be ready to make a formal announcement. And you think that's going to come before the start of this school year too? Ok. All right. We will be definitely keeping tabs on that and paying close attention. The conversation continues here on ask the mayor right after this. 7188616800 is the number to dial. If you have a question for Mayor Adam, stay with us here on news 12. We'll be right back after this.

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0820askthemayorcblock_2024-08-20-19-27-56

Welcome back to ask the mayor with New York City mayor Eric Adams. Earlier in the program, we were talking about one of your favorite topics to talk about that being rats and getting rid of them. I believe we have a caller on the line. He said, joining us with a question about just that. Hey, thanks so much. What's your question? Oh, we're struggling to hear. Hea, is she there? Hello? Oh, yeah, we got you. What's your question? Hea Yeah. Ok. I have over 20 plus rats in my backyard due to the building next door. Garbage. The build is not placed in garbage is small bins with lead. How can I resolve this issue? Yy, you know, Asia and I had a problem with my neighbor next door. The same droppings everywhere the rats are running. You know, it's really unfortunate. So leave your uh, information with the operator here and what I'm going to do, I'm going to get uh our rat Czar uh Ratz uh karate to come up there doing a look around your place and see. Exactly and give you some really good tips on what you can do. And also we're going to, uh, look at, uh, what your neighbor is doing, uh, next door. So let us get on top of that for you, for you. No one wants, uh, to deal with this. Listen, I, I hate rats. You know, I say it over and over again, you know, nothing could disrupt your day more than a rodent running out of your, uh, cupboard or across your, your foot. And so we're gonna get up there and give you the help that you need and do an assessment. But I do wanna invite you. Uh we're gonna have a rat summit. We got a, some amazing rodent, uh rodent, I religious and yes, there, there are people like that, the scientists because when you, when you have an enemy, you need to know your enemy and rats out my enemy and like other New Yorkers as we look at what's coming across the, the screen now and I'm just like, oh, just watch them, right. You know. So, uh we, we, we leave your information and let us have our, our team go there and do an analysis. If your neighbor is doing something wrong, you may have some boroughs there that you need to close. Uh There are things you could do around the house. Uh uh Catherine is, is amazing in dealing with this issue. Yeah, looking forward to the tips she can provide hea there and all that is to be learned out of this national rat summit that we're looking forward to in September. I know news 12 will be covering it diligently. Mr Mayor. Thanks so much for being back with us here for ask the mayor. We appreciate your time and your answers to all the questions. We appreciate all of you for tuning in and calling in. Thanks so much for being with us.

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News 12's Amanda Bossard was joined by Mayor Eric Adams to answer YOUR questions pertaining to the Bronx and Brooklyn - only on News 12.

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