NEW YORK CITY—After having a reduced schedule last week due to health issues, New York City Mayor Eric Adams has given details on what kept him out of the media spotlight during a highly controversial period of time.
The 64-year-old diabetic spent much of last week away from politics as he underwent medical tests. He told the media at a press conference that it was due to pain he felt in his side, and that all his tests had come back negative.
“Thank God, as I said yesterday, to some people’s dismay, I will be around for a long time,” Adams said.
On Jan. 26, the mayor’s office released a statement on Adams’s condition.
“Over the last few days, Mayor Adams hasn’t been feeling his best. As a result, this week, the mayor will have a number of doctors’ appointments and undergo routine medical tests. While Mayor Adams will continue to communicate constantly with staff and ensure city business continues undeterred, during this time, the mayor will have a limited public schedule,” it said.
The office also called upon the public to respect his privacy during this time.
“Like every other New Yorker, Mayor Adams has a right to privacy when it comes to personal matters, but we will continue to communicate in the unlikely event he is unable to fully discharge his duties on any particular day,” it said.
The week-long health retreat did spark some criticisms of the mayor.
Unlike when he came down with COVID-19 in 2022, he cut all communications with the people of New York City. There was no update on his status until his return on that Thursday. He canceled his weekly media availability and appearances at local events. In 2022 he had attended scheduled meetings online.
Adams mentioned that during his health break, he met with two union leaders, while not keeping any of his previous engagements. He said that he liked talking to them and that they had waited a long time to be able to speak with him.
The mayor said that he had gone under anesthesia for a medical check. A reporter asked if it was legal that he did not announce that he had transferred power to his vice-mayor for the duration of the surgery. The mayor responded, “We did everything we were required to do during the period under anesthesia; everything we were required to do, we did.”
Adams was diagnosed with Type-2 diabetes in 2016, from which he suffered temporary blindness. He attributed his diet of mostly plant-based food as what keeps him going.
“Ninety percent of your diet should be plant-based focused. Gonna get those dark leafy greens in my body,” he said.
