Screen grab from the Colbert Report
Opinion: Eric Adams is right, New York shouldn’t be boring. But maybe its mayors should be
Our commentator writes that the mayor-elect has been on a talk show victory lap that leaves us wistful for the days of forgetful pols
Mayor-elect Eric Adams wants to bring New York back. “It’s boring here now. We used to be the coolest city on Earth,” he told Stephen Colbert on Tuesday night.
I wholeheartedly agree. New York shouldn’t be boring, but perhaps its politicians should be.
Here’s the clip in case you somehow missed it:
After four years of a certain orange president who spent every Adderall fueled minute of the day trying to be famous rather than govern, I’m ready for politicians whose faces I don’t remember from one day to the next. Pro-tip: Be too busy doing the job. Or too boring to be on TV in the first place.
The Brooklyn borough president’s appearance on “The Late Show” actually gave me some hope on that last point: Colbert lobbed softballs and Adams responded with well-rehearsed campaign talking points and nonsensical one-liners. “If you’re going to hang out with the boys at night, you have to get up with the men in the morning,” he assured us. “I’m up at 5 a.m. every morning.”
The interview culminated with Colbert asking if the mayor-elect had a message for the rest of the country from New York. Adams responded in classic New Yorker fashion by not caring what the rest of America thinks about New York. “Yes, I do. Here’s a gift bag for you, Stephen.”
Adams then opens a tote bag and presents Colbert with a blanket, in case “you go to Times Square and want to wrap up with your boo.” Makes sense. When I think about New York the first things that come to mind are pizza, the Empire State Building and blankets.
How would one follow that up you wonder? He presented his host with a “GSD” campaign t-shirt, “get ‘stuff’ done” being a catchphrase. And for the big closer, he presented Colbert with some rolling papers and a fake bag of weed. It was as dignified as a newly-divorced uncle who shows up to the holiday dinner in a crisp leather jacket weighing in on Taylor’s “new drop.”
Adams will be continuing his victory lap on “Real Time with Bill Maher.”
Our politicians are also entertainers. Fine. We are as Neil Postman once said, amusing ourselves to death. So yes, Eric Adams, I too want New York to be a cool and exciting city. I just hope you accomplish it by being a more boring resident. Provided you actually live here.
