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And a pleasure to welcome Bloomberg's global TV and radio audiences here to Chicago, Illinois, indeed the site of the Democratic National Convention. Now in day three, I'm Joe Matthew alongside Kaylee Lines and a special guest. As Democrats are still trickling into Chicago. One of them is the Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, joining us here at the table on our set in Chicago. Mister Mayor, welcome, It's good to see you.
Thank you very much. Great to be here.
Well, you're joining the party here as something that's been a pretty energetic rally so far in Chicago, and we've heard from New York's governor, we heard from Congresswoman Alexandria Casio Cortez. How come the mayor of the world's biggest city isn't speaking tonight.
Well, you know, you have a real focus, and I think this campaign is there something that's extremely smart. We feel strong in New York. We have very few other areas that we need to focus on. And the goal is not to get Eric Adams on the stage. The goal is to get VP Harris and the team elected and they're putting together the right speakers, and we're just going to find out what is our role and we're going to carry the ball based on that.
So you may not be a messenger on the stage at this convention, but that doesn't mean necessarily that there might not be a message you would advocate for. Not just giving your role as mayor of New York City at a time when Republicans are criticism criticizing cities including where we are now Chicago on issues like crime. But you're a mayor and a former cop. What is the winning message on crime for a former prosecutor if she campaigns for president of the United States?
And I think that's an amazing question because this is what I've been talking about for so long. We have a great product in a Democratic party. We're leading the voice around getting rid of assault rifles, about being proactive and not placing people on pathway of criminality, and we need to sell that, and unfortunately we've allowed the belief that Democrats are soft on crime and we're not. Crime is dropping to New York City and many of the
cities where our mayors are located. I was speaking with the Atlantic Mayor a few days ago. We're seeing a real focus on public safety. I say it all the time is to prerequisite to prosperity, and that's the leading message coming out. Affordability. Public safety is crucial to this election.
We spoke earlier with the mayor of San Francisco, which has been held up as the poster child for crime in this country by Republicans criticizing progressive policies when it comes to crime and safety Chicago, where we are now, he compares to Afghanistan. Donald Trump refers to New York City as a war zone. You're talking about crime statistics. Do you start putting up billboards? How do you get the facts delivered?
Oh? It's so important. And you know, one thing is when someone used in analogy of saying things out of control. In New York City, our subway system, with four point one million riders, we have an average of five feloniece a day. We want to get rid of them. But let's put it in perspective. Our robberies are at the lowest record in recorded history. And when you look at all the major crime categories are decrease in. Our economy
has come back. New York City is a real model of how a Democrat can turn around the city and moving in the right direction.
Well, of course, we don't just pay attention for New York City and the way in which crime is being handled, but migration also, considering you have had an influx of migrants that the city have had to deal with, you've actually been somewhat critical of this administration in that regard. Kamala Harris is part of this administration. She was charged in the early days with taking care of the issue of the border. This is something Republicans are placing a
lot of blames specifically on her for. Does she deserve some of that blame? Has she not played a role in what has happened in New York City?
Well, first of all, we received that with two hundred and twelve thousand microcin asydeum seeker say, and I'm proud that that one child of family sleeping on the streets of the city of New York as we manage that. And I've been extremely clear about securing our borders. And I think that when we look at blame to be
placed is the lack of real true immigration reform. This is a country of where immigrants have always participated in American dream and we need to ensure that we have a pathway in doing so, and I am looking forward to sharing my ideas with the administration on some of the things we witness in New York and as national immigrant leaders have looked at what we have done in a level of humanity that we've shown. The key here is employment. You put people to work, they could pursue
the American dream. If you don't, we take away that dignity.
Mister Mayor, Federal prosecutors in New York served another round of grand jury subpoenas, this time directly to you, in a corruption investigation that's been going on for the better part of a year. Now, you've made it clear that you're done talking about this, that you want the process to play out. Don't the people of New York deserve a little bit more of an explanation than that.
What the people of New York deserve is a very thorough review. And I feel confident whenever you view is done, they're going to see that I did nothing wrong. Former law enforcement officer, I know what it is to ensure that laws are enforced, you don't break them. And then it's important that the people in New York have been made as discipline and focus. My job is to fight on behalf of New York is bringing back the economy like we have, making sure our streets are safe like
we have, build affordable housing like we are doing. That is my focus and not to be distracted. Let the reviewers do their job. I'm going to do the job that the people elected me for, and that's to recover our city.
Well, mister Mayor, when Donald Trump was getting hit with all of these different indictments, some of the way in which Democrats were prosecuting the campaign against him was that he's too mired down in legal battles and he is distracted. And that's a lot to deal with even personally, let alone trying to be a leader. How are you navigating that personally? Why should New Yorkers not have doubt about your ability to do all these things that want Well?
I think that, as you indicated, this was going on for several months, and look who our city is of. You haven't mad that manage two hundred twelve thousand marcus in asylum seekers. The economy has been revitalized, more jobs
in the city history. Our subway system is a safe, seventeen thousand illegal guns remove up our streets, our children are outpacing the state and reading and math of When you're do an analysis of what I've done, from tourism to safety, to project productivity to housing, you have to say to yourself, darn that guy. Don't get distracted. He knows how to run a city, just as I was a person that knew how to keep the city safe as a police officer.
All right, mister mayor, thank you so much for making time to us in the city of Chicago, not in your hometown today here on Bloomberg TV and radio. We appreciate it. That is the New York Mayor Eric Adams,