During a heated exchange at a Manhattan town hall meeting, New York City Mayor Eric Adams rebuked a woman who questioned him about rising rents, accusing her of treating him disrespectfully. The woman interrupted Adams' remarks, asserting that he had contributed to rent increases in the city.

Adams responded sharply, telling the woman, "If you are going to ask a question, don't point at me and don't be disrespectful to me. I'm the mayor of this city. Engage with me respectfully. I'm addressing you as an adult. Don't stand there and act like you're talking to someone on a plantation that you own. Show me the respect I deserve as we have this conversation here in Washington Heights." He added, "Treat me with the same level of respect I treat you. Don't point at me, don't be disrespectful. Speak to me as an adult because I am one. I came into this room as a grown man, and I'll leave as one. I've answered your question."

Following the Mayor's response, he received brief applause from some attendees and city officials present. In his initial response, Adams had mentioned owning a three-family home in Brooklyn and stated he'd never raised his tenants' rent. He also deflected responsibility for rent increases, explaining that the New York City Rent Guidelines Board, not the mayor's office, determines those changes.

He remarked, "I believe their recommendation was around three percent. I don't control the board; I make appointments to it. They made the decision." Earlier that month, Adams had praised the Rent Guidelines Board's decision to recommend higher rent prices, a move impacting over a million rent-stabilized apartments across the city. In a statement released on June 21st, following the Board's announcement paving the way for landlords to raise rents by 3%, Adams said, "Finding the right balance is never easy, but I believe the board has achieved that this year, as demonstrated by the affirmative votes from both tenant and public representatives."