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Mayor Eric Adams again bashed New York City media Wednesday — blaming the press for overshadowing his administration’s success and creating the appearance of a Big Apple in “disorder.”
“Our media has displayed its level of disdain and dislike for our city, and they want to give the image that this is a city out of control and nothing is further from that,” Adams told a packed Midtown ballroom at the Police Athletic League luncheon.
In a fiery, campaign-like speech, Hizzoner rattled off his administration’s achievements — decreases in crime, increases in jobs and progress on street homelessness — which he claimed local outlets weren’t covering adequately.
“They write the worst thing that happened,” he said, claiming reporters in other media markets treat their cities much nicer.
“Listen, stop beating our city up,” he railed. “Because when I go to other cities to bring in businesses, they are reading what we are writing.”
The mayor took a shot at The New York Times, specifically, rehashing his dig from the annual Inner Circle show earlier this month.
“There are two types of Americans, those who love our city and those who work at the New York Times,” he quipped.
He urged the influential New Yorkers in the room to flex their muscles with the media.
“Folks, those of you who are part of the industries in the city, you need to be writing these newspapers,” Adams said.
The media critique has been a common refrain out of City Hall officials, who haven’t been shy about their displeasure with the unending daily coverage from the largest media market in the country.
The speech comes just weeks after Adams pulled out of his bid for the Democratic nomination for mayor, instead choosing to run as an independent in the November general election.
“For more than 170 years, New Yorkers have turned to The Times to learn about their city and the actions of those that govern it, including our unflinching reporting on Mayor Adams, members of his administration and the legal troubles they faced,” spokesman Charlie Stadtlander said in a statement Wednesday night.
“New York is our home, Times Square bears our name, and we’re proud to be part of the rich tradition of independent journalism in this city.”
