NEW YORK (WABC) — NYC mayoral race frontrunner Zohran Mamdani blasted Mayor Eric Adams on Monday in the wake of the latest scandals involving the incumbent’s inner circle.
Mamdani’s comments came the same day that Adams stood alongside small business owners outside City Hall to tout his plans for economic development.
While Adams focused on his campaign pledge to double the number of small businesses in the city, Mamdani was out campaigning to make roadways safer and calling for an administration that is not mired in scandal.
In Greenpoint, Mamdani campaigned for a safer stretch of roadway along McGuinness Boulevard, where plans had been approved to reduce cars and speeds. But the plan was trimmed by Mayor Adams’ administration.
“Instead of protecting families, the mayor protected money and he protected power,” an advocate said.
Last week the former chief advisor to Adams was indicted on new bribery charges for allegedly selling out the city.
According to the district attorney, Ingrid Lewis-Martin conspired to have the Department of Transportation withdraw the street redesign of McGuinness Boulevard in exchange for money, a TV appearance and free food.
“It begs the question of what the safety of New Yorkers is worth, is it not worth more than $12,500 and a cameo in a TV show? Is it not worth more than crabcakes and clams at Gracie Mansion?” Mamdani said.
For his part, Adams, who is running for reelection, refused to answer questions about whether Lewis-Martin was still a part of his campaign.
“I got a campaign to run, speak her attorney, speak to her, that’s a wrap,” Adams said.
Before that, he was endorsed by dozens of small business owners on the steps of City Hall.
“I come from Inwood, from the Heights, and it’s a lot of restaurants… they need help, and this mayor, he’s a humble mayor, he listened to us, he visited all the businesses and because of him, today, I’m still open,” ** said.
Adams says he wants less red tape with permitting to make it easier for more small businesses to open.
“We’re going to take that approximately 200,000 businesses and double it to 400,000 businesses in the next few years to ensure that the city becomes the center of small businesses and the entire country,” Adams said.
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent candidate like Adams, was absent from the campaign trail on Monday. He and Adams have both said they believe Mamdani’s policies would be bad for New York City businesses.
Mamdani says New York City voters want something new and fresh that he can offer.
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