New York Mayor Eric Adams wore a $35 Amazon wristwatch to fly to DC to ask for more money to address the migrant crisis after an FBI raid cut short his latest trip.
Adams filmed himself flying to the capital on a coach to meet with members of the Biden administration and discuss New York City's migrant housing crisis.
He was supposed to go to DC in November but had to rush back after federal agents raided the Brooklyn home of his top fundraiser Brianna Suggs as part of an investigation into an alleged kickback scheme.
Now the mayor is sending out the “we need help” message as he tries to secure more funding for his city after 3,600 migrants arrived last week and housing is running out.
Known for his statement accessories, the mayor wore a collar pin, a monogrammed shirt with his initials EAL, 'E' engraved cufflinks and a $35 Amazon wristwatch in the clip.
The mayor of New York flew to DC on a bus to meet with the Biden administration
The mayor is believed to be wearing the Benyar By-5114m
His watch attracted particular attention, with one person commenting on X: 'That's a nice watch, what model and brand is it? Good luck with the WH.'
In fact, it's thought to be the Benyar By-5114m, which retails on Amazon for $35 or Ali Express for $25.
The affordable watch is a contrast for a mayor known for his lavish lifestyle – he often visits luxury restaurants and bars – and his outfits: crisp shirts, suits and his signature pilot clothes.
He once told students at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, “People look at your presentation before they take you seriously. Everything about you should radiate strength.'
Last year, the New York Times reported that Adams went to an upscale restaurant, Osteria La Baia, 22 times in one month. The Times reporters claimed they never saw him pay the bill once.
His latest journey takes place while the city is in the grip of a housing and migrant crisis.
As of early December, more than 150,100 migrants had arrived in New York City since the spring of 2022.
Adams has called it a humanitarian crisis and declared a state of emergency, warning it will cost the city about $12 billion over three years.
Asylum seekers line up outside the East Village center for newly arrived migrants
They were forced to wait in the cold as they waited to apply for shelter in New York City
In his latest video, he said, “This is my tenth trip to meet with government officials and congressional leaders and really send a strong message: 'we need help.'
“To be clear, New Yorkers are angry. I am angry. I know we shouldn't use our tax dollars for a national problem.”
The mayor has repeatedly asked the federal government for more money for migrants and accused President Biden of “letting the city down” by not doing more.
The city has been forced to convert hotels, gyms and office buildings into emergency housing — and some have even been placed in tent cities on Randall's Island.
Texas has spent a whopping $86.1 million transporting migrants from its state to self-declared sanctuary cities, including New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Washington DC and Denver – at a cost of $1,650 per migrant.
When Texas Governor Greg Abbott first sent buses to New York in August 2022, Adams' spokesperson told the media, “New York will continue to welcome asylum seekers with open arms.”
But a year later, Adams had completely changed his tune. 'I don't see an end to this. This issue will destroy New York City,” he declared in September.
The Brooklyn home of Adam's top fundraiser and longtime confidante Brianna Suggs, 25, was raided by the FBI as part of an investigation into an alleged kickback scheme
He is now expected to meet with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. He is also expected to meet with FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell.
Adams' latest trip to DC was called off at the last minute as the mayor rushed back to New York when the home of his top fundraising adviser was raided by the FBI.
The planned meeting with senior White House aides — including the mayors of Denver and Chicago — took place without Adams present.
The FBI investigation into his campaign finances is still ongoing. Neither Adams nor anyone in his campaign has been charged with any crimes.
But the mayor did have his electronic devices confiscated last month.
Federal prosecutors in Manhattan have declined to say what the investigation is about, but the order indicates that investigators are looking into whether the Adams campaign conspired with the Turkish government to receive donations from foreign sources, which were funneled through straw donors.