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Shkruar nga Pamfleti
The Albanian government is paying for his accommodation and ground transportation at a rate of about $290 per day, but that has raised some suspicions, given that Adams' federal corruption indictment, which has now been dismissed, alleged that he had taken bribes from Turkish government operatives...
The acting mayor of New York, Eric Adams, continues to be the center of attention in the American media, regarding the several-day visit that he has begun in Albania since Monday.
Adams was invited by Prime Minister Edi Rama, who has also undertaken to pay part of his expenses, to visit Albania. Officially, the New York Mayor's staff said that the visit is related to tourism and business issues, i.e. an increase in business exchanges between Albania and New York.
But the Daily News reports that in the midst of an overseas trip to Albania, Mayor Adams will not attend this year's FDNY memorial service, which will honor fallen members of the department, marking the first time he has missed the solemn event since taking the reins at City Hall in 2022.
The president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York, Andrew Ansbro, whose union represents about 9,000 active FDNY members, told the Daily News that Adams' decision not to attend Wednesday's ceremony is "extremely disappointing" and "the first time in living memory that a sitting mayor has missed this solemn event."
"Our members risk their lives every day to protect this city. Seeing the mayor out of state as the FDNY gathers to remember our fallen is deeply painful," Ansbro said.
"We expect our city's leadership to stand by us, not just when it's convenient, but when it really matters," he added.
Wednesday morning's ceremony at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Morningside Heights will honor eight firefighters and EMS workers who died last year, including FDNY Captain Thomas LaBarbiera, who passed away at age 51 from cancer.
Adams, who dropped his bid for re-election last week, was expected to attend. The FDNY last Thursday distributed a newsletter to employees, a copy of which was obtained by The News, saying Adams was scheduled to lay a wreath at Wednesday's event and deliver the keynote address.
But Adams' spokesman, Zachary Nosanchuk, confirmed Tuesday that the mayor will not attend, as he is in Albania until Thursday, where he will meet with the country's prime minister and other local leaders.
Nosanchuk said Kaz Daughtry, the city's deputy mayor for public safety, will attend Wednesday's ceremony in his place.
“With a career spanning more than two decades in law enforcement, Mayor Adams deeply appreciates the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to keep New York safe,” Nosanchuk said, noting that the Adams administration recently spent $91 million replacing FDNY ambulances.
Kayla Mamelak, Adams' press secretary, disputed the idea that it's unusual for New York City mayors to miss the annual FDNY ceremony. She did not specify which mayor had missed the event.
Adams attended and spoke at FDNY memorial ceremonies in 2022, 2023, and 2024. At the FDNY memorial service in October 2023, Adams, a retired NYPD captain, spoke about how this annual event is especially meaningful to him.
"When a thanksgiving meeting comes to reflect on the year, to be here with the men and women who are your colleagues and to say 'never forget' is more than a bumper sticker or a slogan, it's a real presentation as you honor those we've lost," he said at that year's ceremony.
For the mayor’s trip to Albania, the city is covering the cost of his flights and some related expenses, while the Albanian government is paying for his accommodations and ground transportation at a rate of about $290 per day, Mamelak said. That payment structure has raised some suspicion, given that Adams’ federal corruption indictment, which has now been dismissed, alleged that he took bribes from Turkish government operatives.
Adams left for Albania on Monday, a week after dropping his bid for re-election amid low poll numbers following the controversial dismissal of his lawsuit by the Trump administration. /Adapted from Pamphlet/
Adams e NY ka qytetare te ndegjegjesuar qe e goxhdojne ne rast se ben dicka, por delet shqiptare qe dhunohen 24 ne 24 cfare presin!!!!!