Watch out if youre a white woman at a public New York event complaining about a rent increase.
Mayor Eric Adams lost it during a community conversation event on Wednesday.
According to the New York Post, after a woman accused the mayor of raising the rent, he asked her to stand up, saying, Im the mayor of this city, and treat me with the respect that would deserve to [be] treated.
He then added what could be construed as a racist remark, Dont stand in front like you treated someone thats on the plantation that you own.
The woman who had addressed him was a long-time resident of the Big Apple and an assistant professor of biology at Rutgers University.
Jeanie Dubnau has lived in New York for more than 50 years. Last week the Rent Guidelines Board voted to hike rent up to 6% on one million rent-stabilized apartments.
The Post reported Dubnau said, I understand you want to do the best thing. You want to build affordable housing, but a lot of us are very worried about your plans.
Dubnau has a passion for calling out mayors concerning increased rents. In 2015 she addressed Bill de Blasio about affordable housing initiatives. She shared that market rates were closing down neighborhood stores and gentrifying the neighborhood.
The professor remained nonplussed and did not back down despite Adams pointed comments. When he insiste5d he did not have control over the Rent Guidelines Board, Dubnau persisted, jabbing her finger toward the mayor and speaking into a microphone, You said before and after that, you supported those rent increases!
Her tirade prompted Adams to address her attitude, First, if youre going to ask a question, dont point at me, and dont be disrespectful to me. Im a grown man. I walked into the room as a grown man, and Ill walk out of this room as a grown man. He then said, I answered your question go to the next table. Adams hosted the event at Gregorio Luperton High School for Science and Mathematics in Washington Heights.
Some took to social media to address the mayors exchange with Dubnau. A supporter of Adams wrote, He was defensive and arrogant. He made it all about himself instead of responding to her as a citizen of NYC.
Another responded, Adams is the public servant who works for her and other New Yorkers at least hes supposed to.
When asked about his comments to Dubnau, the mayors press secretary, Fabien Levy, responded, The mayors comments are the mayors comments. We stand by the mayors comments.
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