As his final hours in office ticked away, outgoing New York City Mayor Eric Adams offered a surprisingly candid farewell. Instead of a formal address, he turned to social media, brandishing a gift from his staff – a coffee mug emblazoned with a collection of his most memorable pronouncements.
Holding the mug aloft, Adams playfully dubbed it his “greatest hits,” then launched into a reading, punctuated by bursts of laughter. The quotes themselves were a revealing mix of self-deprecating humor and unwavering determination.
“‘I wake up in the morning sometimes and look at myself and give myself the finger,’” he confessed, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. He continued, reciting phrases like “‘Stay focused, no distractions, and grind,’” and “‘It's not what's in the tweet, it's what's in the streets.’”
The mug’s collection didn’t shy away from bold statements. Adams shared quotes like “‘There are two types of Americans, those who live in New York and those who wish they could,’” and the strikingly personal “‘Arrested, rejected, and now I'm elected.’”
He even included more unconventional musings: “‘I am Gandhi-like,’” he read, followed by “‘I had a shorty that lived out there,’” and “‘Every morning I wake up and turn on my GPS, my God positioning satellite.’” He concluded with a hearty, “Get your mug, man!”
Adams expressed gratitude to his City Hall team for the unique parting gift, acknowledging that serving as mayor had been “an honor.” He officially began his term on January 1, 2022, following a career as Brooklyn borough president and a New York state senator.
As midnight approached, the city prepared for a historic transition. Zohran Mamdani, the incoming mayor, was set to be sworn in during a private ceremony within a decommissioned subway station.
Mamdani, a 34-year-old Ugandan-born socialist, will break barriers as the first Muslim mayor of New York City. His inauguration will also be the first to utilize the Quran, the central religious text of Islam, during the swearing-in ceremony.
The fate of Adams’ inscribed coffee mugs remains unknown, leaving many to wonder if these quirky mementos of his time in office will become available to the public.
