It was a busy day for Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday as celebrated what he considers the wins of his administration.
“A cultural institution is more than an organization that is planned out on the landscape of our city," he said.
What You Need To Know
- The mayor on Wednesday started his victory lap following passage of the city's $116 billion budget for fiscal year 2026
- The first stop was funding secured for the city's cultural institutions and libraries
- Mayor Eric Adams used the day to also highlight his administration's response to the migrant crisis amid the closure of the Asylum Seeker Arrival Center at the Roosevelt Hotel in Midtown
Starting with the nearly $300 million the city funded toward cultural institutions in this fiscal year’s adopted budget.
“It's about more than just dollars, it's about these small dance organizations, these small groups. Science exhibits that inspire a third grader to study rocket science and learn AI and other forms of science," he said.
Adams also noted the $523 million funding toward the city’s libraries.
The event came just days after the mayor and council speaker shook on the $116 billion budget for 2026. And two days after the City Council unanimously approved it.
“To get 51 council members to vote on a budget, all of them voted on the budget. You know, it had to be the best budget ever," Adams said.
The mayor followed up with an event marking the closure of the Asylum Seeker Arrival Center in Midtown.
The Roosevelt Hotel served as the welcoming point to over 150,000 asylum seekers starting in May 2023.
“This was a difficult, difficult task, and this is forever going to be a symbol of the resiliency of the city," he said.
Overall, more than 237,000 migrants passed through the city’s care, according to officials. Adams has repeatedly said that the city's response to the crisis was a history-making one.
At the closing, there was a familiar face.
“I wasn’t supposed to speak…” Anne Williams-Isom said.
Williams-Isom was the former Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services and at the center of the city’s response. She left the mayor’s side along with three other top officials in February when the Justice Department moved to dismiss the mayor’s federal corruption case.
Williams-Isom said the closing of the center is surreal.
“There was so much hustle and bustle here. People getting vaccinated. They said today 1000 babies were born here. I'm so proud," she said.
At the same time the mayor is celebrating his successes, he’s facing a competitive reelection campaign.
Adams officially launched his campaign last week and is hoping his supposed wins will be enough to get him a second term in office.
“This is what I do best. Communicate with voters. I wouldn’t even have to run if you guys covered what we’ve really done in this city, but you didn’t," he said.
There are still more than 36,000 migrants still in the city’s care.