Adams heads to Latin America after adviser says 'close the borders'

Plus: Mayor's storm response draws criticism (again) [FORWARD TO A FRIEND]( [VIEW IN BROWSER]( [DONATE]( [WNYC Politics Brief] [Mayor Adams heading to Colombian jungle during Latin America tour amid rising tensions over migrants]( [Mayor Eric Adams at a press conference ahead of his trip to Latin America]( Mayor Eric Adams said he plans to leave Wednesday for a four-day trip to Latin America, a journey that comes amid growing tensions between the city and the White House over the ongoing migrant crisis. Adams will visit Mexico, Ecuador and Colombia, according to the travel advisory released by his office. On his final day, he said he plans to visit the dangerous Colombian jungle crossing along the Colombia-Panama border known as the Darién Gap, which connects South and Central America and is known to be a grueling part of the journey many have made to reach the United States. According to the mayor's office, the intention of the trip is to "foster relationships, learn more about the path asylum-seekers take to get to the United States, and meet with local and national leaders about the situations on the ground leading to an influx of asylum-seekers arriving in the U.S." City Hall estimates that more than 61,000 migrants are staying in hotels or emergency shelters, although the Adams administration has imposed new restrictions that are forcing adult migrants to leave after 30 days and reapply for shelter if they have no other options. At the same time, Adams has [weakened the city’s right-to-shelter policies]( and is waging a court challenge to long-standing rules around the homeless. Critics have accused Adams of adopting an increasingly hostile stance towards migrants. Last month, he sparked controversy when he warned that the migrant crisis "will destroy New York City." And last weekend, Ingrid Lewis-Martin, the mayor’s chief advisor, told PIX-11 that that federal officials, including Biden, [needed to "close the borders"]( — a talking point and policy often embraced by hard-right Republicans. [Read more.]( --------------------------------------------------------------- 🗳️ --------------------------------------------------------------- More politics stories to know this week Mayor Adams draws criticism (again) over severe weather response By the time Adams held a midday public briefing last Friday to instruct New Yorkers to stay home or "shelter in place," [heavy rain and flash flooding]( had already forced the closures of major thoroughfares, most of the subway system and a terminal at LaGuardia International Airport. The episode echoed the [air quality crisis]( back in June, when Adams was chastised for a delayed and muted response to the hazardous levels of wildfire smoke enveloping the city. In December 2022, the mayor also faced criticism for [leaving town]( as severe weather flooded the city. [Read more](. US Supreme Court rejects challenge to NY's rent stabilization laws, but two cases linger The Supreme Court on Monday [refused to consider]( a challenge to New York’s rent stabilization laws that could have ended a cap on rent increases for a million apartments citywide. Still, two other sets of landlords — who say rent regulations are stripping them of the income they need to maintain their buildings — are trying to appeal similar cases to the Court, which has not yet weighed in on their applications. [Read more](. City Council bill could mean "times up" for public art, tributes to enslavers Brooklyn Councilmember Sandra Nurse's bill would require the city to identify works of public art "that depict [a person who owned enslaved persons]( or directly benefited economically from slavery," and to subsequently address offensive symbols of racism, taking steps ranging from adding explanatory signage to removal. [Read more.]( A federal judge dismissed state trooper's claims against two top ex-Cuomo aides In her 2021 civil lawsuit accusing former Gov. Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment, an anonymous New York state trooper also named two former aides — Melissa DeRosa and Rich Azzopardi — as co-defendants. A judge last week granted DeRosa and Azzopardi's motion to dismiss the claims against them, though the suit against Cuomo and the New York State Police will continue. [Read more](. --------------------------------------------------------------- 🗳️ --------------------------------------------------------------- [the logo for the Brian Lehrer daily politics podcast]( [Previewing the New Supreme Court Term]( Julia Longoria, the host of WNYC's "More Perfect," and Steven Mazie, the legal advisor for "More Perfect," preview the upcoming U.S. Supreme Court term, with cases on guns, the abortion pill and more on the schedule. [LISTEN]( Support WNYC + Gothamist Make a donation to support local, independent journalism. Your contributions are our largest source of funding and pays for essential political coverage and more. [DONATE]( [Facebook]( [Facebook]( [Twitter]( [Twitter]( [Instagram]( [Instagram]( [WNYC]( [WQXR]( [NJPR]( [GOTHAMIST]( [WNYC STUDIOS]( [THE GREENE SPACE]( Copyright © New York Public Radio. 160 Varick Street, New York, NY 10013 All rights reserved. [Terms of Use.]( Want to change how you receive these emails? 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