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Published 12:12 06 Jan 2022 GMT
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has come under fire in his first week in office for saying "low-skilled workers" lack the academic skills to "sit in a corner office".
During a press conference on Tuesday, January 4, the newly crowned mayor pushed for businesses - including those that can operate remotely - to get employees back into the office for the sake of the city's economy.
Urging larger businesses to return to in-person work for at least a few days a week, Adams spoke to the fact that businesses such as restaurants rely on office workers to support their own staffers with a livable wage.
Adams warned that businesses moving to remote work amid the recent surge of Covid cases in the city could negatively affect these businesses and other small-time workers who rely on foot traffic to make a living - and the city's economy as a whole.
Adams, 61, went on to declare those office workers are part of the 'ecosystem of this city' with their contributions to the economy.
"My low-skilled workers, my cooks, my dishwashers, my messengers, my shoe-shine people, those who work at Dunkin' Donuts - they don't have the academic skills to sit in the corner office," Adams asserted during the conference.
"They need this. We are in this together," he added.
Adam's words quickly sparked mass outrage on Twitter, with many criticizing the mayor for referring to such workers as "low-skilled".
The outrage forced the mayor to clarify his comments the following day on social media, as well as a televised interview.
Adams explained he used to work such jobs and relied on people spending their disposable income to survive.
In his speech, he urged office workers to return to in-person work at least a few days a week to support smaller businesses, such as restaurants, that largely rely on commuters to turn a profit.
"That accountant - I need him to go to the cleaners," Adams said in his speech, speaking on the effects that could have on the city.
He added: "I need him to go down to Dunkin' Donuts. I need him to go to the restaurant. I need him to bring in the business traveling."
