Mayor Eric Adams takes stage at Kings Theatre, reflects on his first 100 days in office
NEW YORK -- Safety took center stage Tuesday during an address by Mayor Eric Adams, as he marked his first 100 days in office.
He made a pledge to fight crime and he spoke directly to family members of crime victims, including the family of Michelle Go, who was pushed to her death in front of an oncoming subway train, CBS2's Marcia Kramer reported.
Adams admitted that his first 100 days were not easy for him, or for the city he was elected to run. There was the Bronx apartment building fire, the killing of two police officers, and the senseless violence on the streets and on the subways.
But with with his trademark swagger and bravado, he promised that "ELA," as he referred to himself, Eric LeRoy Adams, was going to fix it.
He entered the historic Kings Theatre to the strains of "New York, New York," the place he would have been inaugurated if a COVID surge hadn't made it impossible. And despite the turmoil of his first 100 days in office, he made it clear there was no place he'd rather be.
"I feel sorry for people who live in a small town and don't live in New York," Adams said.
Yes, crime has proved to be a difficult foe to defeat. The seven major crime categories, including murder, rape, robbery, and assault, are up nearly 43 percent since he took office.
"People are still dying from gun violence. It breaks my heart over and over. It keeps me up at night after night," Adams said.
But being the mayor of swagger, he allowed himself a moment to brag about his new policing policies.
"Listen to this, New Yorkers: People are asking what your police department is doing. We removed 2,300 illegal guns off our streets," Adams said.
But that hasn't stopped the gun violence or people pushed to their deaths on the subway tracks, and so the mayor did something unusual. He brought some of the the families who have lost to his speech and personally vowed to fix things.
"I can only imagine how you feel and the pain you live with, but I will not rest until we have addressed the conditions that led to that loss. We will do what is necessary to make all of our communities safe. You have my word as a former police officer, a fellow New Yorkers, and your mayor," Adams said.
But the mayor didn't focus just on crime. He talked about improving the schools, repairing the pandemic-ravaged economy, helping the homeless, building affordable housing, and developing programs that meet the needs of people in all five boroughs, in community after community.
And he talked about his vision for the city he wants to leave behind at the end of his term.
"A city that empowers people to live their best possible lives, with access to green space, healthy food, and preventive health care. A city that is inclusive, fair, and responsive to those who call it home. A city that inspires and welcomes all the world," he said.
And since it was, after all, Adams the showman, he did say he was interested in possibly getting a tattoo after he spotted someone in the audience with an impressive one.
Mayor Adams proposes new $99.7 billion budget
Mayor Eric Adams has proposed his new budget, a vision for the future that focuses on investing in programs that he says will better the lives New Yorkers.
To read Marcia Kramer's report, please click here.
Adams takes stage
The mayor walked out carrying a portrait of his late mother and placed on the stage beside his podium.
He went on to address Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, who he grew up with and who also lost her mother last year.
"They're looking down on us and they're telling us, 'You got this baby, you got this,'" the mayor said.
CBS2 goes one-on-one
CBS2's Political Reporter Marcia Kramer spoke with the mayor about his first 100 days in office earlier this month.
Watch their extended interview:
What to expect
A day before the mayor's budget address, several City Council members called on him to tackle the city's rising crime rates with more resources -- not law enforcement.
They asked the mayor to prioritize youth, health and opportunity programs, like adding an additional 1,200 summer youth employment slots, improving the 911 mental health response, and establishing 24-hour overdose prevention centers in every borough.
Over the weekend, Adams announced an additional $171 million per year to help those living on the streets and subways.
He also unveiled a nearly $1 billion investment toward his so-called "Streets Master Plan."
Mayor on "60 Minutes"
"I personify the energy of New York," Adams told Anderson Cooper on Sunday's episode. "Our leaders have not always done so."
CLICK HERE for the full interview.