Council Speaker and potential Gracie Mansion hopeful Adrienne Adams referred to as out Metropolis Corridor in her annual tackle Tuesday — however her no-relation rival Mayor Eric Adams wasn’t even there to listen to it.
The “State of the City” speech arguably served as a smooth launch for a mayoral marketing campaign, which Adrienne Adams mentioned final week she was contemplating amid the mayor’s myriad troubles and the prospect of an Andrew Cuomo comeback.
“New York City is bigger than one person, and our city deserves leadership that prioritizes its people over individual glory or interests,” Adrienne Adams mentioned from the Jazz at Lincoln Heart stage, the place she was launched by The Wire” actor Wendell Pierce.
The mayor conspicuously no-showed the tackle, giving the excuse that he have to journey to Washington, DC, and put together for his testimony earlier than Congress on Wednesday.
What Eric Adams missed was the speaker utilizing her speech to push for the Council’s wishlist — from closing Rikers Island to housing — whereas backhandedly needling the mayor, Cuomo and President Trump.
But when the speaker hoped her speech would give momentum to her potential mayoral run, she doubtless would have been disillusioned.
The remarks acquired largely muted applause, with few rousing standing ovations from the group that included metropolis Comptroller Brad Lander, who’s working within the Democratic mayoral main, and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams.
“Mayor requires fisticuffs and she didn’t show any of it,” political operative Hank Sheinkopf famous in regards to the speech when requested the way it squared as a possible marketing campaign opener.
“No one wins a mayoral campaign because you are nice. Campaigns aren’t nice. Nobody plays by rules here and if she’s serious she’s going to have to put on boxing gloves.”
Former Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, nonetheless, mentioned she thought the speech was rousing and apt for the town’s “dark times.”
“(Adrienne Adams) gave a strength and rallying speech in light of these dark times,” she mentioned. “She leaned on the power of collective action and on the perils we face from those who aim to destroy our democracy.”
Adams pressed for the town to observe by means of on its dedication to shut Rikers, outlined a plan to revive seven-day service to 10 libraries throughout the town and blasted Trump’s “cruel crusade” towards immigrant households.
She additionally appeared to lambast the trio of egos — the incumbent mayor, self-styled metropolis savior Cuomo and Trump — jockeying for energy over New York Metropolis.
“We need solutions more than slogans, service rather than saviors, and partnership over patriarchy,” she mentioned.
The mayor stayed silent on the speech whereas in nation’s capital, whereas his press workforce despatched out two information releases because the speaker ribbed the lack of belief in metropolis authorities.
“It’s a punk-ass move,” one Council supply saltily mentioned.
The final time a Huge Apple mayor skipped a Metropolis Council speaker’s tackle was in 2016, when Invoice de Blasio missed Mark-Viverito’s tackle that yr.
Metropolis Corridor officers insisted Adams couldn’t stick round for the speech and nonetheless put together for testifying alongside different sanctuary metropolis mayors slated to look earlier than Congress.
“He’s been prepping and he is here for continued prep,” mentioned the mayor’s press secretary Kayla Mamelak Altus. “Just like all the other mayors.”
She added: “Mayor Adams is in Washington D.C. with other major U.S. city leaders to prepare for their testimony in front of the House Oversight Committee tomorrow morning. The mayor cannot be two places at once and, like he always does, has to prioritize what’s most important to the city.”
However his absence drew skepticism and side-eye from many Council and Democratic insiders.
“No one believes that he needs to be in DC today,” one Council supply mentioned, whereas joking that “He must have confused Jazz at Lincoln Center for the Lincoln Memorial.”
One other Council supply didn’t blame Eric Adams for skipping it.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that the mayor deliberately snubbed the Speaker — and honestly, who gives a crap about her State of the City address?” the supply mentioned.
Democratic strategist Jon Reinish mentioned it’s notable that Eric Adams has now blown two main occasions previously week — the speaker’s annual tackle and the municipal union DC 37’s mayoral discussion board.
“It’s a glaring absence,” he mentioned of the mayor blowing off the speaker’s occasion.
“It’s going to lead to another week of tongue wagging about his political future.”
Political pundit Ken Frydman famous Adrienne Adams has referred to as for Adams to resign, along with eyeing a mayoral run of her personal.
“Can’t say I blame him for being in DC today instead of attending her State of the City address,” he mentioned.
— Further reporting by Carl Campanile
