A hopeful Adrian Adams of the council speaker and the potential Gracie Mansion, called out City Hall in her annual speech on Tuesday, but her unrelated rival, Eric Adams, wasn't even there to hear it.
The “City Condition” speech probably served as a soft launch for the mayoral campaign. Adrian Adams said last week that he is considering it amid countless issues with the mayor and the prospect of Andrew Cuomo's revival.
“New York City is bigger than one person and our city deserves leadership that prioritizes people over individual glory and interests,” Adrienne Adams said from Jazz at Lincoln Center Stage, and she was introduced by Wire.”
The mayor notablely put the speech on a no-show, giving him an excuse that he needed to travel to Washington, D.C., preparing for his testimony before Wednesday's Congress.
What Eric Adams missed was using his speech to push the Congressional wish list to retreat mayor, Cuomo and President Trump, from closing Rikers Island to housing.
But she would probably be disappointed if the speaker wanted her speech to give momentum to the run of her potential mayor.
The statement recalls little standing ovations from the crowd, including city director Brad Lander running in the Democratic mayoral primary, and public advocate Jumane Williams.
“The mayor demanded fisticuffs and she showed none of them,” pointed to the speech when asked how it was squared as the opening player of a potential campaign.
“No one wins the mayoral campaign because you're good. The campaign isn't good. No one plays with the rules here, and if she's serious, she has to wear boxing gloves.”
But former speaker Melissa Mark Viverito said she felt the speech was lively and fit the “dark times” of the city.
“(Adrienne Adams) gave a strength and rallying speech in light of these dark times,” she said. “She leaned against the power of collective action and the dangers she faced from those who were aiming to destroy our democracy.”
Adams pressed the city to track its commitment to shut down Riker, outlined plans to restore seven days of service to 10 libraries across the city, and blew up Trump's “cruel crusades” to immigrant families.
She also seemed to have made fun of the incumbent mayor, self-style urban savior Cuomo and Trump trio jogging for New York City's power.
“We need more partnerships with solutions, services rather than slogans, patriarchy,” she said.
The mayor remained silent about his speech while in the country's capital, but his press conference sent two news releases as the speaker ribled on the loss of trust in the city government.
“It's a punk move,” a council source said scardifully.
The last time Big Ringo mayor skipped the speech of a city council speaker was in 2016 when Bill de Blasio missed the address of Mark Viverito that year.
City Hall officials argued that Adams was unable to stick to his speech and was preparing to testify along with other sanctuary mayors who are scheduled to appear before the council.
“He's ready and he's here for ongoing preparation,” Mayor Press Secretary Kayla Mamelak Altas said. “Like every other mayor.”
She added: “Mayor Adams is in Washington, D.C., and will be with other major U.S. city leaders to prepare testimony before the House Oversight Committee tomorrow morning. The mayor cannot be two places at a time, and as he always does, he must prioritize what is most important to the city.”
But his absence has caught the skepticism and sidelines from many councils and Democrat insiders.
“No one believes he needs to be in DC today,” a council source joked, “He must have confused the jazz at the Lincoln Center for the Lincoln Memorial.”
Another council source did not accuse Eric Adams of skipping.
“There is no doubt that the mayor intentionally snabbed the speaker. Honestly, who would give him crap about her city's address?” the source said.
Democrat strategist John Rinesh said it was noteworthy that Eric Adams blew two major events last week, the speaker's annual address and the mayor's forum, the city's DC 37 mayoral forum.
“It's an inconspicuous absence,” he said the mayor blew the speaker's event away.
“That will lead to another week of tongue shaking about his political future.”
Political commentator Ken Fridman said Adrian Adams is asking Adams to step down.
“Instead of attending a city speech, I can't blame him for being in DC today,” he said.
– Additional reports by Carl Campanile
