The talk is of surprising consequence with such a big subject of candidates all attempting to make the most of a brand new ranked-choice voting sy
The talk is of surprising consequence with such a big subject of candidates all attempting to make the most of a brand new ranked-choice voting system, which has left no clear frontrunner with simply days earlier than polls shut. The candidates on Wednesday night piled on, attempting to get in each attainable assault line. Only one breakout second or flub may scramble the sector.
The primary spirited trade of the night time got here from Andrew Yang and Eric Adams — two frontrunners whose path to victory closely overlaps — as they argued over the Captains Endowment Affiliation’s latest endorsement of Yang.
The 2 argued about whether or not Adams, a former New York Police Division officer, solicited the police captains group’s endorsement. Adams says he didn’t, and he mentioned the group was against him as a result of his reform activism whereas in uniform.
The back-and-forth was momentarily interrupted by Shaun Donovan, who tried to alter tenor of the talk.
“New Yorkers did not tune in tonight to listen to us struggle with one another,” Donovan, a former Obama administration cupboard secretary, mentioned, utilizing a well-worn tactic of underdogs attempting to get a phrase in.
Yang confronted an assault himself when requested how he would sort out the rising variety of folks experiencing homelessness, exacerbated by psychological well being points. Yang mentioned that, amongst different issues, he would bolster the variety of beds devoted to psychological well being in-patients, insisting, “I can repair this!”
Scott Stringer blasted Yang’s response as “the best non-answer of any debate” he’d heard and pressed Yang for an estimate of how a lot his proposal would value.
“I can’t imagine you’re combating me on this,” an exasperated Yang shot again.
“This can be a educating second” Stringer, the two-term metropolis comptroller, mentioned as he continued to question Yang. “We’d like specifics.”
One other spirited second got here when candidates have been requested what they contemplate to be the worst concept proposed by their opponents. A number of hammered Yang, whereas Wiley knocked Adams’ policing technique and Garcia lamented the Defund the Police motion.
However essentially the most shocking second concerned Dianne Morales and Ray McGuire — who sparred over McGuire’s characterizations about Black and brown communities’ views on policing.
Morales, the extra left-leaning of the 2, mentioned McGuire’s characterizations have been overly simplistic and never consultant of the varied views inside these teams.
“How dare you presume to talk for Black and brown communities,” the Afro-Latina Morales mentioned.
“I simply did,” mentioned the previous Citigroup govt, who’s Black.
“I’m a member of that group and you’re definitely not talking for me,” she mentioned.