New York City Mayor Eric Adams is being harshly criticized for his slow response to a storm system that brought historic flooding to the Big Apple, the latest problem for the Democrat leader.
Adams is being accused of dragging his feet as the remnants of Tropical Storm Ophelia brought a deluge to Gotham on Friday, flooding the city’s roads and subways with his office not issuing a state of emergency on the day before the bad weather hit to allow time for New Yorkers to adequately prepare.
Hizzoner was slammed over his lethargic response with his administration only tweeting out a smattering of weather announcements on Thursday while he attended a fundraiser where “suggested donations” were $2,100 and not issuing school closures that could have kept kids at home and their parents and buses off the flooded roads.
Mayor Eric Adams has a birthday fundraiser tonight in Inwood, a tipster shares. No hosts named, but the only suggested donation is a max-out $2,100. Also – his actual bday was Sept. 1. pic.twitter.com/j9pAAxTt6o
— Jeff Coltin (@JCColtin) September 28, 2023
“I am dumbfounded by the lack of communication from City Hall to prepare people for this extreme weather event,” Councilman Lincoln Restler, a Brooklyn Democrat told the New York Post. “Aggressive, early communication and to plan for the worst-case scenario … Neither happened here.”
“Hosting an emergency press conference about a storm after the storm had passed was not the best strategy,” said another city lawmaker, the outlet reported.
Where is Eric Adams? pic.twitter.com/C3C4TjVyEe
— Ian MacAllen (@IanMacAllen) September 29, 2023
Emergency alerts were finally sent to residents’ phones on Friday morning when Mayor Adams showed up for a press conference where he was grilled by the press over his absence in the early hours of the crisis, telling reporters that he had delegated authority and that “leadership is not only the mayor.”
“If you are home, stay home, if you are at work, shelter in place for now,” said Adams who was late to the presser with New York Governor Kathy Hochul and heads of state and city agencies.
Scenes from the storm, which brought 8 inches of rain to NYC, were posted to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
WATCH: Massive flooding in New York City
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) September 29, 2023
WATCH: Footage of flash flood from Grand Army Plaza subway station in Brooklyn, New York City#brooklyn #NYC #NewYorkCity #flooding pic.twitter.com/jafSANuun2
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) September 29, 2023
WATCH: Incredible flooding video captured from inside an MTA bus in Brooklyn, NYC pic.twitter.com/AMUR5YjWMz
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) September 29, 2023
#BREAKING: State of Emergency has been declared for New York City along with a Shelter-in-Place due from Widespread Flooding
New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams have declared a state of emergency for New York City, Long Island, and the… pic.twitter.com/JyQX98NVP6
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) September 29, 2023
Like many New Yorkers, our member’s homes are flooding RIGHT NOW. This is Linda Bowman’s on the Rockaways.
Where is Eric Adams??? And why is he attacking the city’s climate law??? Why does he oppose taxing the rich so we can fix infrastructure??? pic.twitter.com/HGxbHU2k7M
— New York Communities for Change (@nychange) September 29, 2023
The rising waters allowed a sea lion named Sally to briefly escape from a Central Park Zoo enclosure.
Sea lions have escaped Central Park zoo
— Clown World ™ (@ClownWorld_) September 29, 2023
“Zoo staff monitored the sea lion as she explored the area before returning to the familiar surroundings of the pool and the company of the other two sea lions,” said Jim Breheny, director of the Bronx Zoo and executive vice president of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Zoos and Aquarium.
“A State of Emergency should have happened at 5 a.m.” Shatasia Frazier, a city teacher told the New York Post. “Nothing was handled. He should have shut everything down. Did you see the videos? It’s disgusting.”
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