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Edited by: TJVNews.com
New York City’s Mayor Eric Adams has come under scrutiny after the city purchased five luxurious, gas-guzzling SUVs for official use, raising eyebrows and criticism as it contradicts Adams’ campaign promise to promote sustainable transportation and ride his bike to work frequently, as was reported by the New York Post.
The city’s acquisition includes a gleaming black Lincoln Navigator with upgraded rims, two Chevrolet Suburban High Country with 420 horsepower, and two luxury Ford Expeditions, amounting to a hefty price tag of approximately $386,000, the Post reported. These high-powered vehicles, known for their low fuel efficiency, have fuel consumption ranging from 14 to 17 miles per gallon in the city.
The timing of the purchase has raised eyebrows, given the city’s previous financial struggles. The Post report indicated that city council members have expressed surprise and concern about the expenditure, especially in light of a proposed $12 million cut to the New York City Department for the Aging, which supports meal deliveries to the elderly. Critics argue that a mayor advocating budget cuts in essential services should demonstrate greater frugality in his own fleet, the report said.
“I thought we were in a fiscal crisis, or at least we were when we were having to negotiate the budget,” one city councilman said, as was reported by the Post.
“You’d think a mayor trying to cut senior meals would be more frugal with his own fleet,” another blasted, according to the Post, referencing the proposed $12 million cut to the New York City Department for the Aging..
Moreover, retired city employees are livid with Adams over his plan to change their health care insurance in order to save the city money. This means the city would eliminate traditional Medicare completely, making the privatized Medicare Advantage plan the only option available.
The city is now facing a lawsuit from retirees who say the Medicare Advantage plan won’t allow them to see doctors not included in its narrower scope.
Adams’ choice of gas-guzzling SUVs has also sparked controversy because it directly contradicts his campaign promise to prioritize bike commuting to work to promote street safety, the Post report said. He had promised reporters that if elected, they would frequently see him riding his bike to and from City Hall as a real commitment to safer streets. However, reporters have not witnessed Adams on a bicycle near City Hall in recent months.
“If elected, you’re going to see me on my bike all the time riding to and from City Hall in a real way,” Adams told reporters in October 2021 — after earning an endorsement from the safe streets group StreetsPAC, the Post report stated.
“I think if people start seeing their mayor on a bike, they’d be more encouraged to know that the streets are safe to ride their bikes,” he added.
The price tags for the vehicles are considerable, with the Lincoln Navigator alone starting at $79,725 before taxes and fees, and the Chevrolet Suburban High Country costing at least $77,400, according to the Post report. The Ford Expeditions come with a price tag of $75,700 each. Additionally, the Lincoln Navigator’s customized rims indicate the possibility of an optional upscale package, potentially increasing the suggested manufacturer’s price to nearly $95,325 before taxes and dealer fees.
Critics compare this decision to the previous administration under Mayor Bill de Blasio, who faced backlash for using gas-guzzling SUVs for transportation, especially for his trips to the gym in Park Slope, which required a motorcade of vehicles shuttling him between boroughs, the Post report noted.
However, the Post reported that in the last two years of his term, de Blasio opted for a more fuel-efficient Chrysler Pacifica hybrid van, which gets 30 miles per gallon.
The mayor’s office and the Department of Citywide Administrative Services have yet to comment on the matter, according to the Post report. The NYPD, which uses the vehicles, clarified that the Lincoln Navigator was purchased by another agency last year and is used when the mayor’s primary car is undergoing maintenance.
The controversy surrounding the mayor’s choice of fleet vehicles underscores the importance of holding public officials accountable for their promises and decisions. As the city faces pressing environmental and financial challenges, it remains to be seen how this situation will impact the public’s perception of the mayor and his commitment to sustainable transportation solutions.
