Despite a federal indictment and many staffers resigning from their posts at City Hall, New York City Mayor Eric Adams remained steadfast on being fully present in his role, emphasizing the concerns of city residents being the forefront of his job.
“This is a complicated city, 8.3 million people, 38 million opinions,” said Adams at his regular Tuesday press conference. “My focus is delivering for New Yorkers right now. I'm the mayor right now, and I've got to deliver for everyday New Yorkers, and that's what I'm doing with this team.”
There were many questions asked about Ingrid Lewis-Martin, Adams’ chief advisor, and her trip to Japan with former state Senator Jesse Hamilton, lobbyist Adam Clayton Powell IV, Lisa Lashley, the director of the Mayor’s Office of Appointments, and Diana Boutross, an executive from the real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield.
When one reporter asked the mayor whether he had confidence in City Hall officials who have had their phones confiscated by federal authorities, which includes Lewis-Martin, he said anyone who is an employee of the city is expected to do their job.
“When I no longer have confidence in people, I'm going to ask them to leave,” said Adams.
The mayor remained tight-lipped on any questions related to his previous and current mayoral campaign, referring reporters to his campaign attorney Vito Pitta, a co-managing partner at Pitta LLP. He did not answer questions on whether Brianna Suggs, whose home was the first to be raided by federal agents in November 2023, was still on his campaign payroll.
Adams also addressed the level of Governor Kathy Hochul’s support for him amidst shake ups in City Hall positions.
“First, the governor has always been a partner. She says find the talent. And allow that talent to come in and serve the people of the city,” said Adams.
City Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan will be the latest Adams’ staffer to depart City Hall, effective Oct. 18. Vasan cited family concerns as his reason for stepping down, while Adams attested to previous issues regarding harassment of Vasan’s family during the pandemic over the city’s vaccine mandate.
“You know, Dr. Vasan went through a lot. And our families sacrifice when you're going through this,” said Adams.
Adams said it didn’t phase him to read reports of New York State Attorney General Letitia James and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo possibly running in the June 2025 Democratic primary for mayor.
“Well, first of all, in 2026, there's only going to be one mayor,” said Adams. “If no one else wanted to be it but me, that's scary.”
The mayor did however, cautioned for anyone wanting to take the job, saying it takes a “special breed” to deal with the constant scrutiny from the New York press corp.
“There are professional players that won't play sports in New York City because of the scrutiny that comes from the media,” he said.
“I caught one of you reporters the other day looking through the garbage over at Lafayette Avenue, you know, trying to see what you got in there. You are [under] scrutiny all the time,” the mayor said, referring to his home in Bedford Stuyvesant.
Meanwhile, Adams also introduced Chauncey Parker as the new Deputy Mayor of Public Safety, and Mona Suazo as Assistant Deputy. Parker takes over the role from Phillip Banks III, who stepped down last week. Parker was previously Banks’ second in command.
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