NYC Mayor Eric Adams flies back to DC sporting a $35 Amazon wristwatch to beg Biden administration for federal funds to help with migrant crisis – after he cut his last trip short when his campaign fundraiser was raided by FBI
New York City Mayor Eric Adams wore a $35 Amazon wristwatch to fly to Washington to ask for more money to address the migrant crisis after an FBI raid interrupted his latest trip.
Adams filmed himself taking a bus to the capital to meet with members of the Biden administration to discuss the migrant housing crisis in New York.
He was supposed to go to Washington in November, but had to rush back. after federal agents raided the Brooklyn home of his top fundraiser, Brianna Suggs, as part of an investigation into an alleged kickback scheme.
Now the mayor says “we need help” as he tries to secure more funding for his city after 3,600 migrants arrived last week alone and housing ran out.
Known for his colorful accessories, the mayor wore a collar pin, a shirt monogrammed with his initials EAL, cufflinks engraved with an “E” and a $35 Amazon wristwatch in a clip.
The mayor of New York flew by bus to D.C. to meet with the Biden administration.
The mayor is supposed to be wearing Benyar By-5114m.
His watch attracted particular attention, with one person commenting to X: “Beautiful watch, what model and brand is it?” Good luck with WH.”
It’s actually supposed to be the Benyar By-5114m, which can be purchased on Amazon for $35 or on Ali Express for $25.
The affordable watch contrasts with the mayor, known for his lavish lifestyle (frequenting high-end restaurants and bars), and his clothing: colorful shirts, suits and signature aviators.
He once told students at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, “People watch your presentation before they take you seriously. Everything about you should speak of strength.
Last year, the New York Times reported that Adams visited the upscale restaurant Osteria La Baia 22 times in one month. Times reporters said they never saw him pay the bill.
His latest trip comes as the city is gripped by a housing and migrant crisis.
As of early December, more than 150,100 migrants had arrived in New York City since the spring of 2022.
Adams called it a humanitarian crisis and declared a state of emergency, warning it would cost the city an estimated $12 billion over three years.
Asylum seekers line up outside the East Village Center for Newly Arrived Migrants
They were forced to wait in the cold while they waited to apply for shelter in New York.
In his latest video, he said, “This is my tenth trip to meet with government officials, congressional leaders and just send a strong message: ‘We need help.’
“To be clear, New Yorkers are not happy. I’m angry. “I know we shouldn’t be spending our tax dollars on national problems.”
The mayor has repeatedly asked the federal government to provide more funding for migrants and accused President Biden of “failing” the city by not doing more.
The city was forced to turn hotels, school gymnasiums and office buildings into emergency housing, with some even being placed in tent cities on Randall’s Island.
Texas has spent a staggering $86.1 million busing migrants from its state to self-proclaimed sanctuary cities including New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Washington (D.C.) and Denver – at a cost of $1,650 per migrant.
When Texas Gov. Greg Abbott first sent buses to New York in August 2022, a spokesman for Adams told the media, “New York will continue to welcome asylum seekers with open arms.”
But a year later, Adams completely changed his mind. “I don’t see an end to this. This issue will destroy New York,” he said in September.
The Brooklyn home of 25-year-old Brianna Suggs, Adam’s top fundraiser and longtime confidante, was raided by the FBI as part of an investigation into an alleged kickback scheme.
He is now expected to meet with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, as well as House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. He is also expected to meet with FEMA Administrator Dina Criswell.
Adams’ final trip to Washington was canceled at the last minute as the mayor rushed back to New York when the FBI raided the home of his top fundraising adviser.
A planned meeting with senior White House staffers, which included the mayors of Denver and Chicago, took place without Adams’ presence.
The FBI’s investigation into his campaign finances continues. Neither Adams nor anyone from his campaign has been charged.
However, last month the mayor had his electronic devices confiscated.
Manhattan federal prosecutors have declined to say what the investigation is about, but the warrant says investigators are looking into whether Adams’ campaign conspired with the Turkish government to receive donations from foreign sources through straw donors.