Why Is Eric Adams So Weird?

A continuing series.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams presumably has advisers, trained professionals who understand his strengths and weaknesses, but somehow they let him speak in public again. That’s never good.

This all began with Adams’ laughable inability to answer a remedial Miss Teen USA beauty pageant question. PIX11 Morning News anchor Dan Mannarino asked the mayor, “We’ve come to the end of a very eventual 2023. So when you look at the totality of the year, if you had to describe it, and it’s tough to do, in one word …”

It’s actually not that hard to describe 2023 in one word. Mannarino just did it — “eventful.” He never said Adams couldn’t use his answer. If this were me, I would’ve forced a judge’s ruling, but anyway, Mannarino continued, “What would that word be and tell me why.”

“New York,” Adams responded. The Guardian said he gave two words not one, but “New York” is a proper noun, so I’ll allow it.

Then he kept talking. See, that’s when his advisers should’ve stepped in.

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“This is a place where every day you wake up you could experience everything from a plane crashing into our Trade Center to a person who’s celebrating a new business that’s about to open,” Adams said, using what seems like words. “This is a very, very complicated city, and that’s why it’s the greatest city on the globe.”

Yes, you read correctly: New York’s mayor held up 9/11 as an example of what makes New York the greatest city in the world — not the response to the terrorist attack, which I believe demonstrated New Yorkers’ resilience in the face of unspeakable horror. There were the brave first responders and the residents who volunteered to feed the workers who spent their days digging for bodies in the rubble of the Twin Towers.

No, Adams is seemingly putting 9/11 — when almost 3,000 people died — in the Fodor’s Guide as a must-see attraction: “Come to New York! See our great theatre and art! Enjoy our eclectic cuisine! Maybe survive a deadly terrorist attack … or maybe not. It’s an adventure.” Adams has lived in New York for a while. He’s at least heard the “Friends” theme song, which at not point mentions terrorists attacks.

Oh, right, you still don’t believe Adams said something this inane. You are a generous soul who can only be convinced with devastating video evidence.

I’m sorry. I didn’t want to do this, but you demanded it. You should’ve trusted me! I endured the horror firsthand to spare you.

Adams, once the great white centrists’ hope for a moderate, pro-police mayor who puts progressives in their place, currently enjoys a 28 percent approval rating. Manhattan clam chowder has a higher approval rating in New England. He needs to make some changes quick. When later asked what he needed to improve upon in 2024, Adams said, “Probably communications.” Forget the “probably.” That’s a “definitely.” I’m usually skeptical when a struggling politician says they need to work on their communications strategy. It suggests that they think their performance is otherwise fine, and they just need to do a better job explaining to us how awesome they are. However, this interview has convinced me that Adams needs serious communication help — more like a team of people working around the clock and observing him. Because right now, he makes Miss Teen South Carolina 2007 from the viral clip seem coherent.

(The Guardian)

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