Mayor Eric Adams discusses impending lawsuit, public housing and more on News 12's 'Ask The Mayor'
Mayor Eric Adams faced a myriad of questions and hot-button items from callers across the city on News 12's "Ask The Mayor."
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Here's what he discussed:
Tom Donlon files lawsuit against Mayor Eric Adams, NYPD and top officials
Mayor Eric Adams first addressed the recent lawsuit filed by former interim commissioner of the NYPD Tom Donlon regarding an alleged criminal enterprise benefitting top officials.
"200-something pages, typos, grammatically incorrect... it is baseless," said Adams.
He added that Donlon "did not live up to the job, and we have one of the best police commissioners we could ever have in Commissioner Tisch." He cited that the attorney on the case should be "ashamed of themselves" for producing "a product like that in front of the court."
The Hub recently shut down due to complaints of open drug use and crime
The mayor spoke on the ongoing efforts from the city to fix up The Hub, an area where residents are concerned with open drug use and crime.
MORE: Mobile Command deployed to the Hub; Roberto Clemente Plaza closed off
"We went in a few months ago... and we wanted to come back to say we're not walking away from this," said Adams. "Drug use is a real problem, particularly when it comes to fentanyl... but we have to give people care, community, and allow them to get the services they deserve." Adams added that there will be consistent cleanup efforts in the area for the sake of those in the area.
Traffic safety across the five boroughs
Mayor Adams responded to Westchester Square resident Anthony Saglimbeni's question regarding congestion pricing and ticketing in the city, stating that congestion pricing is primarily controlled by Albany and that the city would have done things differently from what the MTA has done.
Regarding speeding, Mayor Adams emphasized that it continues to be an issue and that despite a decrease in fatalities, more needs to be done regarding fast and reckless driving in the five boroughs.
The mayor also touched on a specific intersection in Brooklyn where a 10-year-old child was struck and critically injured, emphasizing that the speeding issue is putting many lives at danger.
News 12's coverage of that story: Sources: 10-year-old boy in critical condition after being hit by a van on Eastern Parkway
Ongoing issues with residents in NYCHA housing
Carl, from Brownsville, called into the show to ask Mayor Adams about his own experience and others regarding a lack of stoves and hot water for some NYCHA residents:
"NYCHA has a hotline deal with problems like this... [they] are under a special monitor," said Adams. He expressed additional frustration with the inability to make changes within the NYCHA organization.
"We saw what happened in Riis Houses... I couldn't fire the people responsible," said Adams. "We need to give the authority directly back to the mayor so that he can be held responsible and that the people that are there are doing the job they're supposed to do."
Crime across the boroughs is down, but the Bronx is seeing a rise
Tony, from Morrisania, dialed in to ask a question about why crime has gone down in every borough except The Bronx and what's going to be done.
Mayor Adams said that the problem comes from a small number of people who are repeat offenders, particularly in The Bronx. He cited an ongoing snatch-and-grab crime investigation happening in the borough, stating that the focus does come to cracking down on repeat offenders.
See News 12's coverage on the ongoing crackdowns in gang behavior and chain-snatching incidents:
Morris Park residents on edge after video shows chain snatching in broad daylight
Officials: 2 rival street gangs dismantled in Belmont and Claremont
The recent City Council vote against Bally's casino proposal
Joanne, from Throgs Neck, asked Mayor Eric Adams if he is in favor of the City Council's decision to "knock down the Bally's project."
"... let's put it in front of the committee so that everyone has a fair shot. I don't think it should have been prematurely removed by the City Council. I think it was the wrong thing to do."
MORE: City Council votes down Bally's casino proposal
Stay tuned with News 12 to find out when New York City's mayor will be joining us for Ask The Mayor next.
