The Brian Lehrer Show City Politics: Adams Outgoing; Mamdani Incoming
Dec 17, 2025
Elizabeth Kim, a political reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, dives into the transition from Mayor Adams to Mayor-elect Mamdani. She describes Adams’ farewell media event and his bitter defense of his record. The discussion reveals Adams' apparent attempts to undermine his successor while tackling tough topics like police units and the controversy surrounding Vicki Palladino's comments. As Mamdani prepares for his term, his grassroots listening sessions and media strategies are leaned on to contrast with Adams’ more closed approach.
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Farewell Staging Masked Frustration
- Elizabeth Kim says Eric Adams' final City Hall event mixed theatrical stagecraft with a bitter, resentful tone about his legacy.
- She interprets the time capsule as an attempt to counterbalance the corruption indictment shaping public memory.
SRG Dispute Is Policy, Not Panic
- Adams defended the NYPD Strategic Response Group and framed Mamdani's critique as risky for public safety.
- Kim notes Mamdani wants to stop SRG policing of protests while retaining a unit for mass-shooter responses, but details remain unclear.
Use Ethics Process For Council Discipline
- Follow council rules when responding to offensive councilmember speech and route complaints to the ethics committee.
- Officials should publicly denounce hate while allowing the formal ethics process to determine discipline.