It's the Brian Laira show on WNYC. Good Monday morning, everyone. We have a special edition for most of the show today. It's closing arguments in the Democratic primary for mayor. We've invited

all nine candidates who qualified for one of the televised debates to come on for about five

minutes each and make a final pitch to you and take a follow-up question or two from me. All nine

have accepted. We will go in alphabetical order. And up first, the city council

speaker, Adrian Adams. Ms. Adams, thanks for coming on again. Welcome back to WNYC.

Great to be back with you. Everyone will get the same first question. Other candidates,

if you're listening in, take note. Take about a minute to 90 seconds

to make your closing argument for why voters should rank you first, and also, if you're willing,

tell us who you'll be ranking second. Thank you. Well, I'm running for mayor because I'm an

everyday New Yorkerer and I know that

life in the city feels real hard right now we definitely need leadership that's

focused on us leadership that's not distracted by scandal leading through

experience and with proven solutions and not learning on the job I bring

this to this campaign I come from working people I'm

raised by union workers in Southeast Queens and after more than 20 years in the

private sector I stepped up to serve my community on the City Council I've been a

city council member for almost 10 years and right now in this race for hard-working

New York families like mine, there is no

room for error. We need someone who's ready to do the job on day one because New Yorkers can't

afford to wait for relief from the economic pressures they're facing right now. Under my leadership

as City Council Speaker, we have approved building new homes to bring down

the cost of living for New Yorkers. We've also saved child care and libraries from

...