New York City Mayor Eric Adams found himself at the center of controversy once again after a heated exchange with a protester during a press conference on Monday.
The incident occurred as Adams was unveiling plans to remove scaffolding from city streets and revive the struggling business district.
A woman, seemingly protesting his treatment of homeless people, shouted ”fk you ahole’ at the mayor, to which he responded with a weird comment.
Adams, seemingly unfazed by the confrontation, chuckled in response to the woman’s profanity and stated, “One should be happy if someone wants to make love to them. You know?”
The mayor’s remarks left many perplexed, as he failed to provide further explanation before shifting the focus to a reporter’s question on an unrelated topic.
Adams’ office did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the incident.
This incident comes as New York City continues to grapple with a significant homelessness crisis, reaching levels not seen since the Great Depression.
According to the Coalition for the Homeless, as of December 2022, there were 68,884 homeless individuals, including 21,805 children, in the city’s main shelter system.
The issue of homelessness remains a pressing concern for the mayor and the city as a whole.
This is not the first time Mayor Adams has faced criticism for his responses to concerned citizens.
Just last month, he was scrutinized for his reaction to a woman expressing concerns about high rent prices during a town hall event.
Adams urged the woman to treat him with respect and accused her of being disrespectful.
The incident occurred shortly after the New York City Rent Guidelines Board recommended a 3% rent increase, a decision that Adams endorsed, stating it struck the “right balance.”
It later emerged that the woman Adams compared to a plantation owner was housing activist Jeanie Dubnau, whose family fled Nazi Germany in the mid-1900s.
The incident sparked further debate and criticism surrounding the mayor’s handling of public interactions.
