OpEd Originally published by BrooklynBuzz.com
By Samantha from Bed Stuy born and raised
Let me start by saying I wasn’t a supporter of Eric Adams. But watching how these other politicians are acting and what they’re saying has changed my perspective. I heard Brad Lander suggested that Adams should publicly say he wouldn’t accept a pardon. Honestly, who would even say something as stupid as that? It’s one of the most ridiculous things I’ve ever heard. At that moment, it was clear to me that Lander is pushing his personal agenda to try to become mayor, and he’s being disingenuous. Joe Biden allowed the media to pressure him into saying he wouldn’t pardon his son but then he went and pardoned him. Biden should have said damn right I’m gonna pardon my son because he should have, The media and traditional politicians are evil people. Meanwhile, I respect that Adams is staying focused and continuing to do his job through all of the media and politicians trying to hang him. They’re only making people like me now wanting to see him win.
New York City is staring down serious challenges—from a lack of affordable housing to public safety concerns and aging infrastructure. In times like these, bringing in federal resources shouldn’t be a political debate; it’s a necessity. Mayor Eric Adams’ decision to meet with President Donald Trump is a practical move to secure support for the city, yet some critics are quick to twist it into a political issue. That criticism isn’t just unfair—it’s harmful to New York’s future.
Let’s be honest: like it or not, Donald Trump is the President of the United States for the next four years. That role holds the power to direct federal funding and resources—things this city badly needs. Mayor Adams understands that. His meeting wasn’t about political alliances or making headlines. It was about doing his job: fighting for New York. Anyone framing it differently is exposing their own political agenda, not the mayor’s.
Take City Comptroller Brad Lander, for example. He’s been loud in his disapproval, but his criticism raises a real concern: if he were mayor, would his personal dislike for Trump stop him from advocating for New York at the federal level? His comments suggest it might. And that should worry every New Yorker. Being mayor isn’t about personal feelings—it’s about getting results.
By attacking Adams for engaging with the federal government, Lander shows he’s willing to let political grudges get in the way of serving 8.5 million people. Refusing to work with Washington doesn’t hurt Trump—it hurts New Yorkers. It stalls affordable housing, slows transit improvements, blocks emergency aid, and delays infrastructure upgrades. That’s not leadership—that’s failure.
Mayor Adams handled the meeting the right way. No media circus, no grandstanding—just a focused conversation on what this city needs. Lander’s criticism, on the other hand, signals a different kind of leadership: one that prioritizes politics over solutions. That should concern anyone who wants to see New York move forward.
You don’t have to support President Trump to understand that working with the federal government is critical for this city. Mayors before Adams knew that, and it’s a principle that’s bigger than party politics. This isn’t about endorsing a president—it’s about standing up for New Yorkers.
What this city needs are leaders who can put politics aside and fight for the resources we need. Mayor Adams is doing that. His critics? They’re showing us they might not.
New Yorkers should be questioning the critics not the mayor.
Here’s Mayor Adams’ official statement about his meeting with Trump.
“President Trump and I had a productive conversation about New York’s needs and what’s best for our city, and how the federal government can play a more helpful role in improving the lives of New Yorkers. While we briefly touched on a number of issues, we specifically focused on the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas and how it will have a positive impact on public safety in our country; how we can bring manufacturing jobs back to New York, particularly in the Bronx; and how we can continue to make federal investments in New York City, especially when it comes to infrastructure.
“To be clear, we did not discuss my legal case, and those who suggest the mayor of the largest city in the nation shouldn’t meet with the incoming president to discuss our city’s priorities because of inaccurate speculation or because we’re from different parties clearly care more about politics than people. Like I’ve always done, I will take every opportunity possible to advocate for New Yorkers and our city, and after our discussion, I strongly believe there is much our city and the federal government can partner on to make New York City safer, stronger, and more affordable. I thank President Trump for his time and attention and look forward to working with him to benefit all New Yorkers.”
