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Morning Spew

At Least One of Eric Adams’s Long Legal Battles Is Over

And some more links for your Friday.

8:44 AM EST on November 10, 2023

(Hell Gate)

There's finally some good news for Eric Adams—on Thursday, the New York Post reported that the mayor has successfully fought the latest Health Department citation taking him to task over his allegedly rat-infested Bed-Stuy townhome

In September, Adams was again fined $300 by the DOH after an inspector reportedly found "fresh rat droppings" by the "garbage storage area and near the property line," as well as "active" rat burrows. As the Daily News noted at the time, that citation was "the fourth rat-related summons the rodent-despising mayor has been hit with since May 2022."

During a hearing at the end of October, Adams fought the citation, and won, thanks to some video evidence. Via the Post (emphasis my own): 

In testimony delivered over the phone, the mayor said his property was rat-free, but that the critters were present in his neighbor’s yard—which may have accounted for the infestation inspectors reported, documents show.

He also submitted security footage from Sept. 15 that was time-stamped to the inspector’s reported visit, which he said showed no sign of rat nests—let alone an inspector.

"Respondent pointed out that no one appears to be depicted inspecting or stopping at the place of offense," the decision read, before conceding Adams had proved himself innocent and declaring the summons dismissed.

To summarize: Our busy mayor, who has quite a lot on his plate, went to the trouble of compiling video evidence in his defense rather than pay a $300 fine. Glad to know his priorities are in the right place! (This also raises an intriguing question—what explains the citation? Is there a rogue inspector at the DOH who has it out for the mayor? Is it merely a case of the wrong time being written on the citation? I smell a rat…)

"The mayor prides himself on keeping his property clean," a City Hall spokesperson told the Post. 

As clean as his election campaigns, maybe!

And some links that are NOT infested with rats (or maybe they are…): 

  • Mayor Adams did not go to SOMOS, the annual gathering of New York's politicos, despite being slated to receive an award. (He has a lot to do, OK?) Despite his absence, everyone is apparently gossipping about him, and speculating on who might challenge him in 2025.
  • If the mayor is a little lonely in NYC while all of his buds are in San Juan this week, don't worry, Dr. Ruth is here to help! The noted sexologist has been appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul as the state's first "Ambassador to Loneliness." I think I know what her advice might be…
  • But what would she tell Flaco?
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