Mayor Eric Adams‘ staff abruptly ended a Bronx press conference Thursday when reporters refused to stick to the script and tried to ask Hizzoner about his political future and congestion pricing.
The embattled mayor held a press conference inside of the Bronx’s 40th Precinct less than 24 hours after attending a court hearing on the Trump Justice Department’s motion to dismiss the criminal charges against him.
Tensions between the mayor and the “Fourth Estate” have been boiling for weeks now amid the fallout of the DOJ looking to dismiss his criminal case, and Gov. Kathy Hochul and city pols weighing his possible removal from office. Adams has not held his weekly off-topic press conference in two weeks, and on Tuesday, he refused to answer reporters’ questions outside Bellevue Hospital and called them “liars.”
On Thursday, Hizzoner looked to avoid photographers by having his motorcade driven in the rear of the stationhouse and entering through the back door. Later, he strode into the 40th Precinct muster room to unveil a new multi-agency initiative to address quality-of-life issues in “The Hub,” a major commercial center along Melrose Avenue in the South Bronx. The new initiative will deploy more cops and outreach workers in order to help get unhoused individuals off the street and tackle illegal vendors.
However, journalists wanted to discuss more pressing topics Thursday. Mayor Adams’ press secretary Kayla Mamelak asked members of the media to stay on topic, yet questions flooded in rapidly regarding Adams’ relationship with President Donald Trump and congestion pricing.
“Sorry, just to be clear again, we do this one more time. We’re just going to end the press conference,” Mamelak warned.
The next question quizzed him on the power he would have to implement this program and other plans as Hochul is expected to announce sanctions against the mayor in lieu of giving him the boot.
“Ridiculous,” Mamelak scoffed as Adams awkwardly laughed and retreated out of the room. His security detail then held journalists back as his motorcade sped away.
