NYC Mayor Eric Adams and AOC spar online over Adams’ ‘low-skill worker’ comments

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has responded to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, calling her “the word police” after she criticized his recent comments about “low-skill workers.”

Adams, in a press conference last week imploring white-collar employers to open back up for in-person work amid the omicron surge, said, “My low-skill workers, my cooks, my dishwashers, my messengers, my shoe-shine people, those that work in Dunkin’ Donuts, they don’t have the academic skills to sit in the corner office,” Adams said. “They need this.”

Adams’ comments were met with some backlash, including from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-NY), who Tweeted in response, “The suggestion that any job is “low skill” is a myth perpetuated by wealthy interests to justify inhumane working conditions, little/no healthcare, and low wages. Plus being a waitress has made me and many others *better* at our jobs than those who’ve never known that life.”

Adams replied by calling Ocasio-Cortez the “word police” during a CNBC interview last week. He also expanded on his response in an interview with the New York Times, saying, “I would rather be authentic and make errors than be robotic and not be sincere in what they’re doing,” he said.

“I know they’re perfect, and there’s not much I can do about that,” he continued, sarcastically referring to Ocasio-Cortez. “I can only aspire one day to be as perfect as they are.”