‘Pretty nasty bite’: Mayor Adams reacts to councilwoman’s arrest at Brooklyn protest

NEW YORK (PIX11) – Mayor Eric Adams, on th e PIX11 Morning News Thursday, addressed the arrest of Councilwoman Susan Zhuang at a protest in Brooklyn a day earlier over a planned homeless shelter.

At least seven people, including Zhuang, were arrested during the protest, according to the NYPD. Zhuang is accused of biting a police officer .

“It was a pretty nasty bite,” Adams said. “I was a little bit surprised that this happened with the councilwoman. She’s extremely supportive of police… these are emotional issues. No one wants a shelter open in their area.”

Zhuang’s spokesperson told PIX11 News she was trying to protect an 80-year-old woman who was also protesting.

The district the homeless shelter is set to be built in has no other shelters, according to Adams.

“There [are] some communities where they have 10, 12, 13 shelters… every council district must share these crises of migrants and asylum seekers and the homelessness crisis we’re facing,” Adams said. “No one can be exempt. It’s unfair if other areas are exempt, and I cannot allow that to happen.”

Adams is planning on reaching out to Zhuang to come to a resolution, he said.

“I think the charges are appropriate charges,” Adams said about Zhuang being charged with assault on a police officer.

He also discussed Operation Padlock to Protect , the FDNY commissioner stepping down and 3-K placements.

Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018 . She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here .

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