New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) is receiving backlash for a remark he made about “low-skilled workers.”
During a press conference Tuesday, Adams said, “I don’t know if my businesses are sharing with their employees, ‘You are part of the ecosystem of this city.'”
He added, “My low-skilled workers, my cooks, my dishwashers, my messengers, my shoe shine people, those that work in Dunkin’ Donuts, they don’t have the academic skills to sit in the corner office. They need this. We are in this together.”
NYC MAYOR ERIC ADAMS: "My low-skilled workers: my cooks, my dishwashers, my messengers, my shoeshine people, those who work at Dunkin' Donuts—they don't have the academic skills to sit in the corner office.”
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) January 5, 2022
pic.twitter.com/yi4IhZxJfB
Several took to Twitter to criticize Adams for his remarks, including Rep. Alexandria-Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).
“The suggestion that any job is ‘low skill’ is a myth perpetuated by wealthy interests to justify inhumane working conditions, little/no healthcare, and low wages,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote.
She added, “Plus being a waitress has made me and many others better at our jobs than those who’ve never known that life.”
The suggestion that any job is “low skill” is a myth perpetuated by wealthy interests to justify inhumane working conditions, little/no healthcare, and low wages.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 5, 2022
Plus being a waitress has made me and many others *better* at our jobs than those who’ve never known that life. https://t.co/dhkhBwyNWK
Check out more reactions below:
I worked as a server, stripper, & retail associate. I also published several academic research papers, served as an EMT, & devoted the beginning years of my career to public health. This statement is ignorant & harmful. It’s Eric Adams loss he can’t see the potential in people. https://t.co/NCMXH2GnmC
— Alexandra M. Hunt (@ahunt4congress) January 5, 2022
Eric Adams didn't even have enough skills to convincingly decorate the Brooklyn apt he doesn't live in. But wants to call essential workers in NYC low skilled. I'm so angry.
— Leslie Mac (@LeslieMac) January 5, 2022
i would pay to watch eric adams work a shift at a midtown dunkin donuts
— Alise Morales (@AliseNavidad) January 5, 2022
Eric Adams doesn't have the skills to work at Dunkin' Donuts. https://t.co/QLS8L04x5w
— People for Bernie (@People4Bernie) January 4, 2022
All I’m saying is that Eric Adams would never last a day working at the Staten Island Mall during holiday season
— Nelini Stamp ?? (@NelStamp) January 5, 2022
no such thing as low skill workers, just undervalued ones https://t.co/IPgPHgqXFO
— sara david (@SaraQDavid) January 4, 2022
Adams was asked about the remark during an interview with CBS News.
“I was a cook. I was a dishwasher,” Adams said, explaining the point he was trying to make was that “when you talk about closing down our city, if you are a dishwasher, you can’t remotely do your job.”
He said the goal is to open the city “so low-wage employees are able to survive,” adding, “If no one came into that restaurant when I was paying my way through college, I would not have been able to survive… People are going to try to take everything I say and distort it.”
“I’m focused, I’m disciplined and I’m grinding to bring my city back”: NYC Mayor Eric Adams has been in office for less than a week, and he’s already making headlines.@NYCMayor shares his plans for fighting crime and keeping schools open during the Omicron surge. pic.twitter.com/r5mhdqbqM8
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) January 5, 2022
Concluding his response, Adams told the outlet, “But I’m focused, I’m disciplined, and I’m grinding to bring my city back.”
