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Politics Published June 30, 2023 3:40pm EDT

Elderly woman NYC Mayor Adams

compared to plantation owner
escaped Nazi regime with family:
report
'I didn’t have a microphone,' she said. 'I had to speak loudly so that everyone could hear what I was saying'

By Houston Keene | Fox News

NYC Mayor Eric Adams berates resident in response to question about rent prices
New York Mayor Eric Adams engaged in a tense back-and-forth with a woman who he accused of treating him like he was "on a plantation" during a
community town hall Wednesday.

The elderly woman whom New York City Mayor Eric Adams compared to a plantation
owner was born as her family fled the Holocaust.

A Thursday New York Times report revealed that housing activist Jeanie Dubnau, who was
berated by Adams in a racial attack for questioning him about the Big Apple’s back-to-back
rent increases, fled during the Holocaust to New York City with her family.

Dubnau, a molecular biologist, told reporters of her family’s journey fleeing Nazi Germany
just before she was born and accused Adams of deflecting from her question because he
did not have an answer.

NYC MAYOR ERIC ADAMS BERATES WOMAN AFTER QUESTION ABOUT HIGH RENT: ‘I’M
A GROWN MAN’

The elderly woman whom New York City Mayor Eric Adams compared to a plantation owner fled the Nazi regime in
Germany with her family. (AP Photo/Hans Pennink, File)

"Itwas a complete deflection from what I was saying, because he has no answer," she told
the Times .

Dubnau said she was not trying to be disrespectful to Adams and that she had to shout
her question because there was no microphone at the event.

"Ididn’t have a microphone," she said. "I had to speak loudly so that everyone could hear
what I was saying."

Fox News Digital asked Adams’ office for comment on the Times’ report and whether the
mayor believed it was appropriate to make racial attacks on people asking questions
about his policies.

Adams' spokesperson Fabian Levy told Fox News Digital that the "community
conversations were created as a space where we could discuss different issues."

"That’s why the mayor asked this individual to stand up, so she could speak her mind,"
Levy said. "To be clear, anyone who believes this mayor isn’t fighting for tenants hasn’t
been paying attention."

Jeanie Dubnau, a molecular biologist, revealed to reporters her family’s journey fleeing the Nazis and blasted Adams as
deflecting from her question because he did not have an answer. (Daniel William McKnight)

"This administration has invested more money for housing than any in New York City
history. We’re advancing comprehensive plans to build more homes, faster, and across the
city, which is the only way to truly solve the affordability crisis," he continued. "And we’ve
invested in efforts to protect tenants from eviction and expanded rental assistance."

"The Rent Guidelines Board is tasked with making difficult decisions based on hard data,
and balancing the need to protect tenants with the need to provide small property owners
— who have seen expenses go up by the most in two decades — with the revenue they
need to make repairs and protect our housing stock," Levy added.

Adams’ attack on Dubnau came after the housing activist interjected during his comments
at a community conversation town hall in Manhattan. Dubnau had interrupted his remarks
and accused the mayor of raising New York City rent and supporting increases.

"Ifyou are going to ask a question, don't point at me and don't be disrespectful to me,"
Adams told the woman. "I'm the mayor of the city. Treat me with the respect I deserve to
be treated. I'm speaking to you as an adult. Don't stand in front like you treating someone
that's on the plantation that you own. Give me the respect I deserve and engage in the
conversation up here in Washington Heights."

"Treat me with the same level of respect I treat you," Adams continued. "So, don't be
pointing at me, don't be disrespectful to me. Speak with me as an adult because I'm a
grown man. I walked into this room as a grown man, and I'll walk out of this room as a
grown man. I answered your question."

Following his response to the woman, audience members and city officials briefly
applauded Adams.

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Adams’ attack on Dubnau came after the housing activist interjected during his comments at a community conversation 1 hour ago
town hall in Manhattan. Dubnau had interrupted his remarks and accused the mayor of raising New York City rent and Texas Rep Wesley
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The mayor's fierce comments came moments after his initial response to the woman. He
noted that he owns a three-family home in Brooklyn but has never increased the rent on 1 hour ago
his tenants. Adams also sidestepped blame for rent increases, saying the New York City Footnote in Supreme
Court’s affirmative
Rent Guidelines Board makes those decisions. action ruling
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"Ithink it was a three percent recommendation," he said. "I don't control the board. I make
appointments. They made the decision." 2 hours ago
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liberal justices for
On June 21, the Rent Guidelines Board announced recommendations paving the way for demonizing rulings
they don't like:
landlords to increase rents by 3% this year. The move impacts more than a million rent- 'Disturbing feature'
apartments in the city. of dissents

Following the announcement, Adams commended the board's decision.

"Finding the right balance is never easy, but I believe the board has done so this year — as
evidenced by affirmative votes from both tenant and public representatives," he said in a
statement.

Fox News Digital’s Thomas Catenacci contributed reporting.

Houston Keene is a politics writer for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to
Houston.Keene@Fox.com and on Twitter: @HoustonKeene

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