Mayoral candidate Adrienne Adams emotionally critiqued how the Covid-19 crisis was managed, especially recalling the death of her father, a veteran, during the hospital closures. She expressed her sorrow over his passing, which occurred while he awaited a vaccine.
On Thursday, Adams took aim at leading Democratic contender Andrew Cuomo, highlighting his campaign to return to office after resigning amid scandal. “Last Easter, he was campaigning at a church,” Adams remarked, now serving as city council chair.
She referred to a painful chapter in New York’s history, saying, “Cuomo hit us with Covid—life and death. They said it was impossible, but we saved lives.” Adams shared that she had pleaded with the governor’s office for vaccines for her community, but these requests were repeatedly dismissed.
“For weeks and months, despite our pleas, we were ignored,” she told reporters at Elmhurst Hospital. This was, of course, because the vaccination site was controlled by then-Mayor de Blasio, who was at odds with Cuomo.
Adams’ reflections turned personal as she recounted her father’s battle with the virus. Irvin Eddie lost his life to Covid-19 at Long Island Jewish Hospital on May 22, 2020, before the vaccine was available. Despite Elmhurst being the nearest hospital, she chose not to take her father there, acknowledging the overwhelming situation there.
“I heard people say, ‘They just go to Elmhurst to die,'” she recounted, recalling her father’s own fears during his treatment. Due to pandemic restrictions, she was unable to visit him in the hospital or attend his funeral, which added even more weight to her grief.
Adams also criticized how the conflict between Cuomo and de Blasio adversely affected vaccine distribution, saying it “punished New Yorkers.” Reflecting on her father’s death at the event marking the anniversary of his passing, she expressed, “My father served this country, but when he needed help, the government failed him. It wasn’t just accidental; it was a failure by design.”
Her daughter, Aliya, who was present in the audience, has worked on the frontlines during the pandemic, and Adams highlighted that hospital staff suffered from a lack of protective equipment, with nurses resorting to makeshift solutions just to stay safe.
This criticism comes as the Trump Justice Department investigates Cuomo for allegedly misleading Congress about nursing home deaths during the pandemic. A report from Mayor Eric Adams earlier declared that Cuomo’s management style hindered effective pandemic response efforts between city and state.
Cuomo has denied any wrongdoing and claimed that he was unfairly targeted politically. Meanwhile, Adrienne Adams, while not aligned with the current mayor, argued that the pandemic has revealed Cuomo’s vindictiveness, suggesting he is unfit to lead.
“We need leaders focused on solving problems rather than punishing their enemies,” she said, noting her historic position as the first Black City Council Chair.
In response, the Cuomo campaign released a statement from three Black pastors, asserting that he had done a lot to support the Black community during the pandemic. Bishop Orlando Findwriter called out Adrienne Adams for her remarks, emphasizing Cuomo’s contributions during difficult times.
“It’s troubling when leaders mislead our community for political gain,” he remarked, urging Adams to reflect on the importance of integrity in leadership as the community seeks a brighter future.
