Mayor-elect Adams Cancels Inauguration: Ready to Hit the Ground the Running Jan. 1

By Yehudit Garmaise

Mayor-elect Eric Adams cancelled his Jan. 1 inauguration, which planned to be held at the Kings Theater in Flatbush, after sundown, to accommodate his Orthodox Jewish supporters and friends.

Adams had chosen the Brooklyn location to honor the two other citywide elected leaders, besides himself, who are from Brooklyn: incoming comptroller Brad Lander and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams.

“I don’t need an inauguration,” said Mayor-elect Eric Adams. “All I need is a mattress and a floor to execute being the mayor of the city of New York. It is best for us to forego an inauguration because we don’t want to put people in a dangerous environment.

“I am going to lead the city because I am capable of leading the city, and the people of this city chose me to be the mayor, and they made a smart decision because I can do it.”

When asked whether Adams agrees or disagrees with policies of Mayor Bill de Blasio, Adams was firm in saying again that New York City has only one mayor at a time.

“On Jan. 1, I am going to swear in, and we are going to execute our plan, which is a combination of technology, law enforcement, and our agencies,” said Adams. “On Jan. 1, there is going to be a new mayor, and that mayor is going to be disciplined, is going to execute a plan, and he is going to know how to keep the city safe.”

After introducing NYC Councilmember Ydanis Rodriguez (D) as his new commissioner of the city’s Department of Transportation and five female deputy mayors yesterday, Adams said, “If you look at my appointments, they are a combination of skill, [previously-serving] government officials, and new people,” said Mayor-elect Adams. “When you look at my new appointments for NYPD Commissioner, Commissioner of the Department of Corrections, Educational Chancellor and my First Deputy Mayor Lorraine Grillo, who understands government and knows how to navigate government, you are seeing a brilliant mayor who knows how to bring the best of both parties together to create a brilliant city.

“I sat down, I interviewed, I vetted, I heard those ideas, and I know I have the right team members.”

Ydanis [Roderiguez], for instance, Adams said “understands what is going on in our central business districts is not happening in other neighborhoods.

“We are going to create safe ways to move in this city. Locally and citywide: We are going to expand pedestrian plazas.” 

In terms of how Adams will run the city: he was talking tough.

“Let me tell you what we are not going to see,” Adams said. “We are not going to see illegal ATVs driving on our sidewalks, driving up and down our streets: making our streets dangerous.

"I am not going to be in a city where dangerous people assault innocent people, go to jail, and assault more people.

“This city is going to be in great hands with Eric Adams. I am going to get us through COVID, through the economic crisis, and make sure the city recovers.”