Eric Adams, the next mayor of New York, is turning his attention to the state’s coronavirus vaccine mandate.
Adams says he plans to review the requirements in place for municipal workers.
“We need to revisit how we are going to address the vaccine mandates. Now, I stated I did not want to Monday-morning-quarterback the mayor. This is his time to be the man, he has to make the decisions,” Adams said on MSNBC‘s “Morning Joe.”
At least 92% of city government employees have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. City workers were given until Friday to show proof they’ve gotten at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Following the deadline, unvaccinated workers were placed on unpaid administrative leave. Previously, city workers were able to show proof of a negative test to stay on the job.
Adams believes there may be room for compromise.
“I hope the mayor — and I am encouraging him to do that — to sit down with unions and come to a resolution,” Adams on CNN‘s “New Day.” “And if he doesn’t, if this is still going to January, I’m going to sit down with them and we’re going to get this resolved.”
“If you know when you sit down at the table that no matter what happens, you’re going to not have to deal with what the current mayor stated, that is unfair,” he said of Mayor Bill de Blasio. “I would not want someone to do that to me as a man, and I’m not going to do it to this man. Here’s an opportunity for him to bring about a resolution and when I inherit this situation, I’m going to bring about a resolution.”