Mayor Adams kicked off his new live radio show Sunday, saying on air that he wanted to use the call-in program to talk directly to residents as just “an ordinary cat” who runs the city.
During the 30-minute morning show on WBLS, Adams chatted about issues like public safety and diversity, noting his recent appointment of the city’s first Hispanic police commissioner.
Edward Caban was sworn in last week as the city’s top cop, succeeding Keechant Sewell, who was the first woman to run the NYPD and who resigned in June.
“I needed to continue that legacy,” Adams said on the radio program. “We are just really proud of what we’re doing and how we are really diversifying government.
“Over and over again ... you hear me say ‘first time ever done, record levels.’ That’s what this administration is about,” Adams said.
In office for 19 months, Adams joins his predecessors in engaging live radio callers. Former Mayor Bill de Blasio took questions live on weekly radio shows as did former mayors Mike Bloomberg and Rudy Giuliani.
“I want people to hear directly from me,” Adams said.
“You just got an ordinary cat as the mayor. I’m one of you. I am part of the community I came up in,” he said.
Inside NYC Politics
While previous mayors often faced challenging radio callers, the small handful who phoned in to Adams’ first show lobbed softball questions about issues like the city budget.
Adams responded by touting his administration’s efforts from trimming city spending to screening for dyslexia in public schools.
“When you dig into the crevices of this administration, you see that you have a mayor that has gone through a lot. Now he’s helping people that are going through a lot,” Adams said.
A caller from Queens said he was confused by the MTA’s newly announced proposed base fare hike to $2.90, saying he didn’t understand why it didn’t just jump to $3 and asking why the transit system needed more money if it’s offering free bus rides.
Gov. Kathy Hochul last week announced a pilot program of fare free bus routes, one in each borough, by late September. Her office said the routes were chosen based on such factors as ridership, fare evasion, service and equity for low-income communities.
Saying he rides the subways “all the time,” Adams said his administration has added police officers and mental health professionals to help make the subway system safer.
The live show on WBLS is set to air “semi-regularly” and include guests as well, according to City Hall.