Politics & Government
Brooklyn BP Likens Twitter Critic To KKK Member
"Your hidden face is in the tradition of others who hid themselves with white hoods," Eric Adams told a Twitter user Tuesday night.
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK — A Twitter debate over Brooklyn parking became heated Tuesday night when an anonymous user accused the Borough President of cowardice and the Borough President likened him to a member of the Ku Klux Klan.
"It's a sad day in Brooklyn when our own borough president @BPEricAdams is too scared to say that it's wrong for the police to park in a TURNING LANE," tweeted @CorruptBrooklyn.
"My life work speaks of my courage," replied Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. "Your hidden face is in the tradition of others who hid themselves with white hoods."
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The Twitter user — whose bio Wednesday read, "a member of the KKK according to Eric Adams" — hoped to raise awareness about placard misuse on Jay and Tillary streets, claiming city officials commonly throw MTA vests, police identifications and other city gear on their dashboards to avoid be ticketed while parking in the dangerous downtown Brooklyn intersection.
He or she was stunned by the Brooklyn Borough President's response.
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"I wanted to you click on a tweet," wrote @CorruptBrooklyn. "Not compare me to the KKK."
"Accusing someone you've never met of fear is no way to begin a conversation," retorted Adams. "Brooklyn Borough Hall is open for anyone to meet with me, face to face, and have a real conversation."
Placard abuse has long infuriated New Yorkers to the point where Mayor Bill de Blasio promised in February he'd get rid of parking passes for city officials and replace them with a digital system. And NYC Transit chief Andy Byford warned in June his office would crack down on employees abusing their placards to park where they please.
Adams faced backlash from Twitter followers who felt the comparison did not apply and said they too were troubled by placard misuse in the borough.
I am a Brooklynite who grew up in Brighton Beach and now I live in Bay Ridge. Please do something about the dangerous car drivers that threaten our lives every day, including corrupt city officials using @placardabuse and committing other crimes instead of fighting it.
— Scott Schubert (@BuySomethin) August 28, 2019
2021. This tweet from @BPEricAdams is completely inappropriate. I will not be voting for him again. It would be really nice if our politicians would care when constituents are getting killed by cars and drivers are getting away with it, but that's too much to ask I guess.
— nicole (@nicoledandrea) August 28, 2019
That’s an utterly bizarre and incendiary response to a legitimate concern by a constituent. Cops who park illegally are a threat to public safety — calling it out should not be controversial. Do better.
— Ryan Frank (@ryanmfrank) August 28, 2019
Adam's spokesperson Jonah Allon responded to the Twitter debate via email.
"Too many people use social media to hide their faces and make ad-hominem attacks," he told Patch.
“The BP believes in the value of civil conversations and face-to-face interaction when it comes to addressing the issues in our borough and city."
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