Perspectives: New NYC Mayor Eric Adams's Comments on 'Low-Skilled Workers'
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Recently-sworn in New York City Mayor Eric Adams's comments about service industry workers and COVID-19 restrictions sparked debate across the spectrum.
In a Monday press conference, Adams argued that a return to normalcy and in-person work would benefit the service industry because most service workers lack the option to work from home amid COVID-19 and the skills to work office jobs. "My low-skilled workers, my cooks, my dishwashers, my messengers, my shoeshine people, those who work at Dunkin' Donuts—they don't have the academic skills to sit in the corner office. They need this." Adams added to the remarks Wednesday, recalling his previous work in the service industry and saying "we need to open the city so low-wage employees are able to survive.” The comments were met with criticism from progressive Democrats such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).
Coverage from all sides, especially left- and center-rated sources, focused on backlash to Adams's remarks. Some left-rated voices said the remarks were a bad choice of words; a writer for The Root questioned why people would return to work "when most people can’t go to work because they get infected?" One writer for libertarian Reason Magazine supported Adams's comments and criticized opposition to them, saying he's "absolutely correct that shutdowns hurt low-wage workers."
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Center
‘All work produces value’: What experts say Eric Adams gets wrong about ‘low skill’ workersOn Tuesday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams signed an executive order to reduce fines and penalties for small businesses from a wide range of government agencies. After signing the order, Adams took questions from journalists and spoke about his hope for corporate workers to return to their Manhattan offices in order to stimulate local businesses.
“Many employees are saying, ’We don’t want to come back into the office… Now, that’s fine, if we weren’t connected,” said Adams. “My low skill workers — my cooks, my dishwashers, my messengers, my...
From the Left
No He Didn't! NYC Mayor Eric Adams Is Calling People, "Low Skilled Workers."It hasn’t been a whole week into his tenure, but New York City Mayor Eric Adams loves himself a soundbite. Whether it be declaring that swagger is back in the city and fights over solitary confinement, four days may feel like a lifetime. Right now, he has directed his focus on remote working and “my low-skilled workers.”
Because of the Omicron surge, many larger businesses have pushed back their in-office plans due to increased cases and hospitalizations. Adams says to keep the “ecosystem of the city going,” larger companies should return to in-person work...
From the Right
New York's Mayor Warned That COVID Shutdowns Hurt Low-Skill Workers. He's Absolutely Right. Twitter Got Mad Anyway.At a press conference Tuesday, New York City's new mayor, Eric Adams, urged local white-collar workers to start returning to the office a few days a week. Remote work and COVID shutdowns, he explained, had seriously hurt businesses that rely on commuter customers to survive.
This observation is obviously true, and plenty of data backs it up. But Adams angered people when he noted that many service workers don't have the option to work from home and don't have the skills for many office jobs: "My low-skilled workers, my cooks, my dishwashers,...
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