Even though the general election for mayor of New York City is still over four months away, the mudslinging has already begun.
When a senior Andrew Cuomo aide criticised Hizzoner’s partying habits, incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, a Democrat running on an independent ticket in the November election, got into a heated argument with her on social media.
“12:01am tweeting – which private club was this sent from? Or were you busy smoking cigars with more antisemites at the time of the tweet?” Melissa DeRosa, a Cuomo lieutenant, zinged at Adams on Thursday.
DeRosa, a strong supporter of Cuomo’s resurgent bid for mayor and his right-hand man in the governor’s office, had emphasised a New York Times article claiming that Kaz Daughtry, Adams’ deputy mayor for public safety, was collaborating with ICE on immigration sweeps.
She wrote, “Thank god this city has Jessica Tisch @NYPDPC at the helm, or one can only imagine what @ericadamsfornyc and his admin would be doing to bend to Trump’s will,” she wrote.”
Shortly after midnight, the mayor responded with his own comments.
“Agreed. Jessica Tisch — second woman NYPD commissioner — is leading the department because I appointed her. And she’s delivering results. Andrew Cuomo? He’s running for office because he got run out of office?” he commented.
Adams’ love of the nightlife was then criticised by DeRosa, who also brought up his recent contentious interview at Gracie Mansion over cigars with antisemitic podcaster Sneako.
Adams retaliated on social media, writing: “I was en route to the Crane Club,” a posh steakhouse in Chelsea that also has a private club for members.
The mayor said from his campaign account, “Crime is down, nightlife is back, and the $30 billion industry is helping to rebuild the economy @andrewcuomo tanked with his failed policies like bail reform.”
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“Eric Adams: Produces.” Never gives up.
Adams retaliated on social media, writing: “I was en route to the Crane Club,” a posh steakhouse in Chelsea that also has a private club for members.
The mayor said from his campaign account, “Crime is down, nightlife is back, and the $30 billion industry is helping to rebuild the economy @andrewcuomo tanked with his failed policies like bail reform.”
“Eric Adams: Delivers. Never quits.”
“But favorably citing the NYPD commissioner to score a point against the mayor who appointed her is head scratcher.”
Former Mayor Bloomberg’s communications director and aide Bill Cunningham concurred that Cuomo’s side appeared worse during the altercation and that the general election “could be very vicious.”
“This episode shows Adams as pretty handy in the clinches. Cuomo people should take heed that when they spot an opening they don’t fall into it,” he stated.
Nobody who is voting today or on Tuesday cared about Adams’ location or timing of his tweets. Cunningham continued, “All Melissa did was give him a free shot,” alluding to the Democratic mayoral primary on June 24 where Cuomo is the front-runner to receive the party’s ticket.
Cuomo representative In response to a question, Rich Azzopardi retaliated even more forcefully.
He is a desperate man who, in order to further his own interests, sold the city to President Trump. Azzopardi made a jab at Adams, saying, “We wish the MAGA mayor well with whatever administration appointment he gets come January.”
Todd Shapiro, a spokesman for the Adams campaign, stated that the mayor was more concerned with providing outcomes for New Yorkers than with “social media theatrics.”
In a statement, he declared, “Mayor Adams is focused on good government, not political mudslinging.”
“We’re not going to be distracted by the noise. This campaign is about leadership, not likes”
“I hang out with the boys at night and I get up with the men in the morning,” the mayor has previously said in defence of his late nights at exclusive clubs like Zero Bond.
