Mayor Eric Adams' staff walks back his comments about metal detectors in the subway, says 'he was talking about using innovative technology' instead

New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D).

AP Photo/Seth Wenig

• NYC Mayor Eric Adams' staff cleaned up remarks he made on metal detectors in the subway system.
• Adams told a local CBS anchor, "You are right," when asked if the city should consider using them.
• A spokesman later clarified Adams meant "using innovative technology to keep the subways safe."

After New York City Mayor Eric Adams entertained the idea of installing metal detectors across the Big Apple's 472 subway stations, his staff went into clean-up mode.

Subway safety was a major campaign issue for Adams in his victorious Democratic primary run, and Tuesday's Sunset Park subway attack brought the issue front and center.

Confined to Gracie Mansion after testing positive for COVID-19, Adams did not dismiss the idea when asked specifically about metal detectors in a local CBS interview.

CBS New York anchor Maurice DuBois asked Adams if metal detectors could work in the subway in a similar way to those used at sporting events or offices, citing Yankee Stadium as an example.

"You are right," Adams replied. "We found a few ways that it could be used. We are going to make sure we do everything within legal means, but we are going to protect New Yorkers."

Less than two hours later, Adams' communications director tweeted a clarification.

—Maxwell Young (@maxwellcyoung) April 12, 2022

Adams "was talking about using innovative technology to keep the subways safe," Maxwell Young, the City Hall communications chief, tweeted on Tuesday night. "He was (of course) not saying we should consider using airport style metal detectors. He's a frequent rider and obviously knows that's not practical."

City Hall Press Secretary Fabien Levy added that the tech Adams was supposedly referring to wouldn't "delay individuals or cause any inconvenience; you just walk by something."

—Fabien Levy (@Fabien_Levy) April 13, 2022

In a statement to Insider, Levy elaborated that any new changes "would be coordinated with the governor's office and the MTA before ever being used and would need to complement existing technology already present in our subways."

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