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COURIER LIFE, DECEMBER 24-30, 2021 15
Adams, Lander,
Williams call
off indoor
inauguration
BY STEPHEN WITT
They’re still taking
offi ce on Jan. 1, but
the grand inauguration
ceremony that Mayorelect
Eric Adams, City
Comptroller-elect Brad
Lander and Public Advocate
Jumaane Williams
planned in their home
borough of Brooklyn on
New Year’s Day is off.
The ceremony scheduled
for the Kings Theatre
in Flatbush became
a casualty of the
recent Omicron-fueled
COVID-19 outbreak
in New York City. The
event was postponed until
a later date.
In a joint statement
released Dec. 21, Adams,
Lander and Williams expressed
intent to prioritize
the health of others.
“Dear fellow New
Yorkers, it is clear that
our city is facing a formidable
opponent in
the Omicron variant of
COVID-19, and that the
spike in cases presents
a serious risk to public
health. After consulting
with public health
experts, we have decided
that our joint inauguration
ceremony
will be postponed to a
later date in order to prioritize
the health of all
who were planning to attend,
cover, and work on
this major event,” they
wrote.
The ceremony was
meant to be a symbolic
change from the usual
inauguration held at City
Hall, held in a historic
theatre in the borough all
three men have served —
especially Adams who
is leaving his post as
Brooklyn borough president.
Williams is from
Flatbush and Lander resides
in Park Slope.
“We thank the Kings
Theatre for their interest
in hosting this exciting
moment in our city’s
history, and everyone
“Health and
safety must
come first.
who has been working
hard to plan this celebration.
We look forward to
getting together in person
with our loved ones,
colleagues, and wellwishing
New Yorkers to
honor this great democratic
tradition, and to
thank all those who have
made it possible, at a
safer time in the weeks
ahead,” they said.
The fast-acting but
currently mild variant
of COVID-19, Omicron,
caused a severe uptick in
cases across the city. As
of Dec. 20, the 7-day average
of cases has gone up
to 8,025. Though Mayor
Bill de Blasio expects this
surge to be short-lived,
scientists at the CDC are
still gathering information
on how the omicron
variant spreads and what
the level of risk is.
Adams has said that,
as mayor, he will shy
away from shutting
down the city again. His
plans to address COVID
include instituting vaccine
and mask mandates
as the doctors on his
health team see fi t.
Lander is also encouraging
the city to mandate
testing for the virus before
students and teachers
return from winter
break, so as not to exacerbate
the surge.
Williams recently
tested positive for the
virus though he is
fully vaccinated with a
booster shot.
The politicians did
not announce a rescheduled
date, but encouraged
New Yorkers to protect
themselves. “Health
and safety must come
fi rst,” they said.
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