'He could have made me the mayor of Topeka, Kansas.' Who hurt New York Mayor Eric Adams?

Who in Topeka hurt New York City Mayor Eric Adams?

The leader of the Big Apple took a verbal swing at the capital city of Kansas when he spoke Tuesday an interfaith prayer breakfast. Adams said he strongly believed God decided to take "the most broken person" and elevate him to a place as the mayor of the "most powerful city on the globe."

"He could have made me the mayor of Topeka, Kansas," Adams said.

Topeka Mayor Mike Padilla said Wednesday that one of the best lessons he's learned as mayor here is the value of humility.

"I’ve personally visited New York City on numerous occasions, and have always spoken highly of New Yorkers — never stooping to assumptions or stereotypes," Padilla said. "I’d invite the mayor of New York to get to know our beautiful city and its people before casting judgment on a community he seems to know little about.”

The New York Times quoted a spokesman for Adams, Fabien Levy, as saying on Wednesday night that Adams had not intended to insult Topeka and had not done so.

“All he stated was that he was mayor of the greatest city in the world,” Levy said. “That remains true, but Topeka is a great place that the mayor hopes to visit one day.”

More:New York City's mayor said Kansas 'doesn't have a brand.' Twitter pulled out the receipts.

'Kansas doesn't have a brand'

This wasn't the first time Adams used Kansas as a punchline.

On Sept. 27, he insulted Kansas by saying that New York City has a brand that's recognizable around the world, unlike Kansas.

"Kansas doesn't have a brand," Adams said.

"This is the second time the mayor of New York City has minimized the people of Kansas in public remarks, this time with a direct mention of Topeka," Padilla said Wednesday. "The comments made by the mayor at a prayer breakfast are concerning and unprofessional and there is no need to repeat what was said. He could make his points without trying to diminish our great city, and I wish he would."

Kansans responded quickly to Adams' Sept. 27 comments on Twitter, pointing out that Kansas has brand recognition in terms of being the "Sunflower State," the boyhood home of fictional superhero Superman and the site of the conflict known as "Bleeding Kansas," which helped end slavery in the U.S.

Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark in October visited New York's City Hall and surprised Adams with a custom-made Kansas Jayhawks football jersey, the New York Post reported.

The Big 12 tweeted a picture of Adams holding that item above the caption “New York City Mayor Eric Adams now knows Kansas is a brand.”

Mayor Mike Padilla is a proud, lifelong Topekan

Padilla — a lifelong member of the Topeka community — said Wednesday, "I am so proud of who we are, and what we stand for."

Topeka is a vibrant, diverse community "known for being the crossroads to civil rights," he said. "We pride ourselves on being home to the Equality House and birthplace of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case that outlawed segregation in America’s public schools."

He noted that the city formerly was home to the world-famous Menninger Clinic, which revolutionized mental health care and services.

"These are just a few examples of our city’s many historic achievements," Padilla said.

'The megaphone of a mayor'

Joan Wagnon, Topeka's mayor from 1997 to 2001, was asked what she thought about what Adams said.

"Soon after I was elected mayor I made an offhand remark that was widely quoted, and I learned just how big the megaphone of a mayor is if you don’t choose your words carefully," Wagnon said.

"So I think I’ll pass on commenting and instead amplify Mayor Padilla’s comments to “invite the mayor of New York to get to know our beautiful city and its people before casting judgment,” she said.

Michelle De La Isla thanks God she was mayor of Topeka

Michelle De La Isla, who was Topeka's mayor from 2017 to 2021, was asked what she thought about Adams' comments about Topeka.

"I am sure Mayor Adams had no ill intent in his remark and was probably thinking of somewhere in Middle America that was not as big a community as New York," De La Isla said. "That being said, I am grateful to God to have had the privilege to be the mayor of Topeka."

De La Isla pointed out that Topeka is the home of the Brown v. Board decision, the Equality House and the Historic Ritchie House, which served as a stop on the Underground Railroad. She noted that Kansas' first Free State Constitution was signed here.

"More importantly, my heart fills with pride when I think of all the national attention Topeka has been getting because of how Topeka/Shawnee County managed COVID, how we are growing our economy in ways that compel others to learn from us," she said. "How Topekans exemplify how all sectors (private/public/nonprofit) can collaborate for the success of the whole community.

"Finally, I celebrate how Topekans have overcome many challenging situations bigger cities have struggled with. I wish Mayor Adams much success."

Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Position of Topeka mayor disparaged by New York City Mayor Eric Adams