Transcript: Mayor Adams Appears Live on CBS News 24/7's Streaming Network

April 22, 2024

Lilia Luciano: Classes were held virtually today at Columbia University because of the safety concerns over the protests against the Israeli war in Gaza.

Ben Tracy: Students and demonstrators have flooded areas on and around campus for a sixth straight day in protest of Israel's operations in Gaza. 

Now, the rise in antisemitic rhetoric is causing safety concerns on campus and across the city. One of the university's prominent rabbis urged students to go home as a precautionary measure. And with Passover set to begin at sundown, the NYPD is ramping up its presence near campus and around the city. 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is with us for more on the city's response to the rise in antisemitism and these ongoing protests. Mr. Mayor, I'd like to get your thoughts on what's unfolding up at Columbia. I think you have posted that you're disgusted by it. I'm also curious as to your take on the school's response to these protests over the last six days.

Mayor Eric Adams: And I want to be clear. The right to protest is a part of the American way of life. I protested as a young man during the South Africa calling for the dismantle of apartheid. So I know what it is to protest. 

But if you look at those protests, you will see that there was no call spewing out the destruction of any particular group. There was no calls for violence. There was no celebrating terrorist organizations like Hamas. That is what is bringing about a level of concern that you are witnessing. And we're hoping that not only Columbia University, but we will be holding a meeting with all of our colleges to really explain how to engage the New York City Police Department to ensure that there's no violation of laws or no violation on private property.

Luciano: Mayor, I was there covering the protests on the second day when they began. I noticed at first that there was an overwhelming presence of NYPD. That made sense because immediately the crowd got larger and larger. 

However, and sure, at some points things felt like they escalated. But it was always safe when I was there. I'm curious, Columbia University is a private institution, it's private property. I understand that the city can only be there given some certain circumstances. A, is there a credible threat at this point at the campus? And B, how does the city manage?

Mayor Adams: Right, and I think that's an excellent question. That's an excellent point because New Yorkers in their frustration, they will call for the Police Department to do more, but we cannot enforce the law by breaking the law. 

We all know how this country holds dear the right to voice one's opinion. That voicing of opinion, I don't believe personally, should call out the level of hate that we're seeing and the level of threats that we're seeing. 

But at the same time, if there's imminent threat on any college campus, private or not, we're going to respond. But other than that, a private college campus, we must be invited in by the authorities of that campus, or their school to come inside, like we were of what we saw last week when the Police Department went in to dismantle the encampment because they were asked and permitted to come on the grounds.

Luciano: But to be clear, there is no credible threat at this point?

Mayor Adams: Not at this time. We monitor all of the social media and all of the normal methodologies that we use to determine if there's a credible threat. At this time, there is no credible threat.

Tracy: This rise in antisemitism is not taking place just on the campus of Columbia. What sort of steps is New York taking to protect Jewish residents across the city, especially now during Passover?

Mayor Adams: Whenever you see an increase like we witnessed post-October 7th, we're on high alert. We look at some of the soft targets, some of the synagogues, some of the large populations where we have Jewish residents. 

We make sure that we put in place our procedures during Passover that we do traditionally during these high holy days. We do the same around Easter for Christian institutions. We do the same around Ramadan for Muslim institutions. There's no place for hate in the city. We have a Police Department that managed over 500 protests dealing with the conflict in the Middle East. You're seeing that you don't see a large destruction of property. You don't see a large number of people being assaulted because the NYPD is the best at doing this job.

Luciano: Mayor, I want to shift gears a little bit because there is a big issue that the city has been dealing with for a long time. You have been very critical of the Biden administration's immigration policies. I'd like to ask you, I've been covering immigration in the city and across and beyond the border. 

One thing that I've noticed while living here in New York is that once temporary protected status was passed for Venezuelan migrants, I've noticed that the shelters and the people the places where people gather, there's fewer Venezuelans. 

You've always talked about the federal government and what the Biden administration can do to help. I'm curious, A, is there a policy that needs to be implemented right away from the federal government that can support your efforts here in the city? B, is the city helping people get jobs?

Mayor Adams: There's something we could do. There are long-term, short-term, and mid-term, I like to say. There has really been an abandonment, particularly by the Republican Party, of implementing real immigration reform. 

We should be extending temporary protective status, TPS, and allowing work authorization for everyone we parole into the country that's a migrant or asylum seeker. Many people think they're here illegally. No, they're not. They were paroled in legally by the national government. This is a national problem. It should not fall on the backs of Chicago, New York, or Denver, Los Angeles. Cities should not have to address national problems. That is what we could do. Then we need a real decompression strategy at the border. That's important.

Luciano: Does the city have a program that helps people connect with the jobs that are in high demand?

Mayor Adams: Yes, we do. I really have to take my hat off to our private industry. They have stepped up. They are calling for work authorizations. We are doing a series of things with private, non-profits, and others to train individuals on different levels with the construction industry booming. 

There's some real opportunities here. That's the real irony of it, is that we need workers in all areas. I need everything from lifeguards, to food service workers, to backstretch workers, to the farm industry. Yet we have able men and women that are sitting around all day doing nothing when they could be filling the responsibilities we have for employees.

Luciano: To be clear, why are they sitting around? What are they waiting for?

Mayor Adams: Believe it or not, I can't even allow migrants and asylum seekers to volunteer and give them a stipend for doing some of the basic services we need in the city. The national government does not allow me to give them work in the city without having work authorization. We were able to get TPS status for Venezuelans, it was extended. But we need it for all the migrants and asylum seekers that we're seeing coming to New York.

Luciano: Thank you so much for your time. I wanted to ask you a couple more questions if we had time, but I wanted to get that clear, because I think it's such an urgent thing here and in other cities.

Tracy: Yes, we appreciate your time. 

Mayor Adams: Thank you.