New York City Mayor Eric Adams reacts as he and Ecuadorian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility Gustavo Manrique (not pictured) deliver a statement following a meeting in Quito, Ecuador October 6, 2023. REUTERS/Karen Toro
(New York, New York) – Former New York City Mayor Eric Adams is pushing back forcefully against claims that he bears responsibility for the city’s current financial strain, placing the blame squarely on his successor, Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
In a post on X, Adams said Mamdani used a press conference to deflect from his own failures after promising what Adams described as a “laundry list of ‘free’ giveaways” without a clear plan to fund them. Adams said when the numbers stopped adding up, Mamdani chose to blame him instead of taking responsibility.
“Let’s be clear: I left him over $8 billion in reserves,” Adams wrote, arguing those funds exist only because he resisted pressure from Mamdani and other progressives to dramatically increase spending during the migrant crisis.
Adams also accused Mamdani of hypocrisy, noting that the current mayor spent years criticizing him for not spending enough, while now facing budget gaps of his own. “Free isn’t free,” Adams added. “It’s just a bill someone else has to pay.”
The exchange underscores a growing public feud over fiscal responsibility, spending priorities, and accountability at City Hall as New Yorkers face mounting economic pressure.
