Borough President Adams has been in office for nearly three months and we checked in to see how he is holding up. He was more than happy to give his take on the city’s so-called “Slow Zones,” which reduce neighborhood speed limits to 20, and the Thunderbolt, Coney Island’s first new roller coaster since 1927 — no way is he getting on that thing. But when the conversation turned to recent reports by the New York Post stating the city is investigating him after an aide allegedly solicited funds at Borough Hall for a group called One Brooklyn, which does not officially exist, Adams clammed up and directed us to talk it over with his attorney.
Here is the full discussion.
Bill Egbert: What do you think of the push for slow zones in neighborhoods like Park Slope, Fort Greene, and Greenpoint?
Eric Adams: If you were to go back a few years, I pushed the 20-miles-per-hour idea for places like that. I’m glad to see that people now see that’s possible. Our streets have changed. The ways we use them has changed.
BE: There was some confusion earlier this month at a Borough Hall about your One Brooklyn charity because it hadn’t been registered yet. Have you finally gotten that paperwork in the mail?
EA: There was no confusion at that meeting. We had 100 business leaders there who responded to our call to form partnerships with existing organizations to create financial literacy programs throughout the borough. And we are moving straight ahead with that initiative.
BE: But about the One Brooklyn charity you’re organizing, is the paperwork for that moving forward now?
EA: My counsel handles all that, so you’ll need to ask him.
BE: You’ve had a lot events at Borough Hall since you took office. What kind of events are coming up?
EA: We have an event coming up at Borough Hall with Police Commissioner Bratton, but the point of these events isn’t just to have events, but to bring people into Borough Hall so they can find out what sorts of services we can offer. We could be celebrating our heritage or honoring women for their contributions to their communities, but the point is to bring people in and then engage them.
I’m a firm believer in the “wax on, wax off” idea from the “Karate Kid” movie. You get people doing one thing, and it can lead to another, and you have people learning different skills.
BE: With the new Thunderbolt going up, Coney Island will have two roller coasters on your first opening day as Borough President. Are you going to ride the Cyclone or the Thunderbolt first?
EA: I look forward to being a cheerleader for all those who are riding both of those roller coasters, but I’ll be doing it from the ground. I’m not a roller coaster person. I’m not a thrill-seeker. My job is exciting enough.
