Public Advocate Jumaane Williams.
Photograph by Dean Moses
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Public Advocate Jumaane Williams ramped up his criticism of Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday, suggesting Hizzoner is sort of equal to President-elect Donald Trump.
Williams branded Adams, a Democrat, because the “Trump of Brooklyn” in a Nov. 14 social media put up that got here amid the mayor going comfortable on the Republican firebrand in latest months.
The put up included a report about Adams on Wednesday praising Trump’s appointment of controversial tech mogul Elon Musk as head of his newly fashioned Division of Authorities Effectivity. Adams, in a Pix11 interview on Nov. 13, stated Musk was “important to bring on board” as a consequence of his acknowledged intention to chop by way of authorities forms.
The general public advocate made the remark as a play on Adams describing himself because the “Biden of Brooklyn” after he was elected in 2021 — referring to President Biden.
Mayor Eric Adams wouldn’t say whether or not his administration plans to cooperate with President-Elect Donald Trump’s mass deportation efforts. Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024.Photograph by Lloyd Mitchell
“It appears Eric Adams’ transformation from ‘The Biden of Brooklyn” to ‘The Trump of Brooklyn’ nears completion,” Williams stated in a put up on X, the platform previously referred to as Twitter, which Musk owns.
amNewYork Metro reached out to the Mayor’s workplace for remark, and is awaiting a response.
The progressive public advocate has usually been at odds with the centrist mayor — who was as soon as a registered Republican — over the course his tenure in Metropolis Corridor. The pair usually butt heads on points similar to policing and the right way to method town’s homelessness disaster.
Since Trump’s election, nonetheless, progressives like Williams and Metropolis Comptroller Brad Lander have been much more open about drawing direct comparisons between Adams and Trump.
They’ve zeroed in on Adams’ obvious reluctance to criticize Trump in most cases and his lack of vocal help for Democrat Vice President Kamala Harris’ failed White Home bid because the Nov. 5 election neared.
The mayor has additionally appeared to align with Trump on sure points, similar to immigration, within the wake of properly over 200,000 migrants coming to town since 2022 with out a lot monetary help from the Biden administration.
Adams’ tiptoeing round Trump has fueled hypothesis that he’s making an attempt to curry favor with the president-elect within the hopes of getting assist along with his federal authorized troubles. The mayor was indicted by Manhattan federal prosecutors in late September on prices of bribery, soliciting overseas marketing campaign donations and wire fraud. He has pleaded not responsible to the costs and has a trial date set for April 21 of subsequent yr.
Trump has overtly expressed sympathy for Adams, suggesting — with out proof — that the federal case towards him is baseless and is political retribution for the mayor’s outspokenness on the migrant disaster.
The New York Publish additionally reported that Adams’ authorized group hoped for a Trump win due to the previous president’s historical past of bailing his political allies out of authorized bother throughout his first time period. Trump may appoint a brand new Manhattan US Legal professional, to switch Damian Williams, who may toss the costs towards Adams, or pardon the mayor if and when he’s convicted.
Adams stated he spoke with Trump final week, however claimed that they didn’t focus on the mayor’s authorized troubles.
