Mayor Eric Adams vows to fight for rights of New Yorkers after 2024 presidential election results

Updated 10 minutes ago
NEW YORK (WABC) -- Mayor Eric Adams delivered remarks on Wednesday and vowed that New York City will continue to protect women's rights and those of immigrants who want to work.

Alongside senior administration officials, Adams held a City Hall briefing to discuss the impact of the election on the city.

The mayor's briefing comes after ABC News projected former President Donald Trump will win the presidential race, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in a frenzied contest to stage an improbable historic comeback. As of early Wednesday morning, Trump secured enough Electoral College votes to set himself up for a second presidency, including by flipping the key swing states of Georgia, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.

"I want to congratulate President Elect Trump and Vice President Elect JD Vance, and wish them all the best as they work to promote the interests of the American people," Adams said.

The mayor added that although people have the right to peacefully protest, the city will not tolerate any demonstrations that crosses the line into violence and vandalism.



During the press conference, the mayor vowed to fight for the rights of New Yorkers, including the reproductive freedom of women.

"No matter what happens around the country, abortion care will always be available in NYC for anyone who needs it, including women from outside the city seeking care they were denied in other cities," he said.

Adams also took time to address the city's immigrant community. The mayor called upon the new presidential administration to develop a "realistic, compassionate national strategy" for the country's immigration system.

Adams urged that for the new Congress to provide expedited authorization for asylum seekers who desire to work. He said that the city would continue to offer care, resources and legal help to those who need it, regardless of their immigration status.

First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer spoke about protecting the city's budget, saying that NYC had analyzed the 2016 election to identify possible federal funding shortfalls. She said the city received $8 billion in federal grant funding in their FY25 budget, which makes up about 7% of the city's overall budget.



"We understand that the success of our city is deeply intertwined with the support of the federal government, and that's why we have proactively anticipated the needs of our city, and are prepared as always to advocate fiercely for our interests," Torres-Springer said.

Other issues addressed at the press conference included strengthening the city's infrastructure, housing, education and health care systems.

Beyond the presidential race, voters hit the polls across the country on Tuesday casting ballots to decide who controls Congress, state and local governments.

Several elections have already been called in New York, including those on Long Island.

In New York City, the Equal Rights Amendment, also known as Proposition 1, is projected to pass, according to ABC News.



The amendment adds language to the state constitution saying someone cannot be denied civil rights because of their national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes or "reproductive healthcare and autonomy." Previously, the constitution forbid discrimination based on race, creed or religion.

Check for the latest election updates across the Tri-State area.





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