Democratic New York City Mayor Eric Adams referred to a white woman as a “plantation owner” during a heated conversation over rent increases at a recent town hall event.
The event, which Adams touted as a “Community Conversation,” was held on Wednesday evening at Gregorio Luperon High School for Science and Mathematics — and Adams was asked several times to clarify his position on housing — both for local homeless families and asylum seekers — and recent rent increases.
WATCH:
.@NYCMayor Adams deflects woman complaining about rising rent costs by telling her she's treating him like he's on a 'plantation'
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— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) June 29, 2023
Manhattan Community Board 12 Chair Katherine Diaz referenced the growing homeless population and asked Adams what the plan was with regard to helping families who were in dire straits to make sure that they had a safe place to live.
“That is probably in the top three issues in in our city right now. Housing. It keeps mixing between public, say, the asylum seekers and housing. What is very important is for all of us to understand how we get housing. We are creatures of the state. The governor and I put in place an aggressive housing plan,” Adams said, but a woman in the audience interrupted several times, apparently waving and pointing at the mayor.
“You raised the rent!” she shouted.
“I think there was a 3% recommendation. I don’t control the board. I make appointments. They made the decision. Everyone knows I don’t control the board,” Adams said, referring to the Rent Guidelines Board.
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“We’re not talking about that. We’re talking about the Rent Guidelines Board. You said before and after that you supported those rent increases,” the woman objected. “In Nassau, they had a 0% rent increase. Why in New York City, where the real estate is controlling you, Mr. Mayor, why are we having these horrible rent increases last year and this year?”
Adams pushed back then, scolding the woman for pointing at him while she talked.
“Okay. First, if you’re going to ask a question, don’t point at me and don’t be disrespectful to me. I’m the mayor of this city and treat me with the respect I deserve to be treated. I’m speaking to you as an adult. Don’t stand in front like you [sic] treating someone that’s on the plantation that you own,” he said. “Give me the respect I deserve and engage in a conversation.”
“Treat me with the same level of respect I treat you. So don’t be pointing at me,” he continued. “Don’t be disrespectful to me. Speak with me as an adult because I’m a grown man. I walked into this room as a grown man, and I will walk out of this room as a grown man. I answered your question.”
He abruptly moved on then, asking to take the next question.