On Wednesday, January 4th, New York City’s Mayor Eric Adams blasted former Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Administration, who constantly criticize him in the media, at an event announcing the city’s purchase of new electric vehicles.
“They had eight years to do their job. Eight years to fix Rikers. Eight years to deal with crime. Eight years to deal with education. Eight years to do early childhood education for children with disabilities. Eight years to fix NYCHA,” Adams fumed. “They had all the time to do their job. No! No! But they are now — once they’re gone — they’re experts on everything. And when you look through the last 12 months and you see how many times they have interfered, that’s not acceptable.”
“But we have the previous administration that just left the house! They just left! They left the house in total disarray!” he said. “And then they come and say, ‘Look at the mess…that you created, Eric.’ No! It’s the mess we inherited.
“So, all I’m saying: Let us do our job, the way you had an eight-year opportunity to do your job. And that’s all of them,” he added.
While Mayor Adams did not mention him by his name, his comments insinuated that he was referring to de Blasio’s former press secretary Bill Neidhardt. Adams mentioned a Politico article written by Neidhart that criticized his politics. Neidhardt was labeled as “probably the worst comms guy in the history of communications” with Adams criticizing the media for giving him a platform by acting as if Neidhardt “is credible.” Adams laughed while he questioned, “Who cares what he thinks?”
As a sign that he had heard about Adams’ criticism, Neidhardt changed his Twitter handle to “Bill ‘the worst communications guy’ Neidhardt.” He has constantly criticized Adams but was reportedly surprised by the mayor’s comments. He accused the mayor of using his office to complain “about people who have policy differences.”
“I don’t know if he has a fundamental misunderstanding of the job he signed up for if he thinks New Yorkers are going to be quiet as he slashes school budgets,” Neidhardt said, subsequently saying he would not keep quiet.
Mayor Adams said he felt as though he was facing a “full-frontal assault” from de Blasio’s former aides. While he claimed to receive support from other past administrations, he said that was not as forthcoming from de Blasio’s. He did, however, make sure he pointed out that he had no problems with de Blasio citing that the two men had spoken over the phone. He said, “I called Bill the other day. I said, ‘Bill, what’s going on? What’s going on?’”
De Blasio wrote and published a statement on Twitter on Wednesday, January 4th. The former mayor made it clear that no one could speak for him but himself. He referred to past efforts to offer a helping hand to Adams’ Administration. He also commended members of his former team.
