Governor Kathy Hochul said she will be meeting with key leaders on Tuesday to talk about a path forward for embattled New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who saw more turmoil in his administration when four top deputies resigned.
“I recognize the immense responsibility I hold as governor and the constitutional powers granted to this office," Hochul said. "In the 235 years of New York State history, these powers have never been utilized to remove a duly-elected mayor; overturning the will of the voters is a serious step that should not be taken lightly. That said, the alleged conduct at City Hall that has been reported over the past two weeks is troubling and cannot be ignored."
Calls for the mayor to resign or be removed have intensified since the U.S. Justice Department on Feb. 10 ordered federal prosecutors at the Southern District of New York to drop the corruption case against Adams until after the November election. Following this directive, former interim U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon, and others, resigned on Thursday. In addition, Adams has been working with 'border czar' Tom Homan to allow federal authorities to work with the New York City Police Department to deport criminal migrants and also instructing City Hall officials to not criticize President Donald Trump.
City Hall on Monday confirmed the resignations of four deputy mayors: Maria Torres-Springer, first deputy mayor; Anne Williams-Isom, deputy mayor for health and human services; Meera Joshi, deputy mayor for operations; and Chauncey Parker, deputy mayor for public safety.
“Maria Torres-Springer, Anne Williams-Isom, Meera Joshi, and Chauncey Parker are extraordinary public servants who have been vital to our work reshaping New York City," the mayor's office said in a statement Monday. “I am disappointed to see them go, but given the current challenges, I understand their decision and wish them nothing but success in the future.
The "extraordinary events of the last few weeks," made it hard to stay faithful to the oaths we swore to New Yorkers and our families, Torres-Springer, Williams-Isom and Josi said in a joint statement.
"Serving as deputy mayor for public safety under Mayor Adams has been an honor of a lifetime. … I am confident that the administration will continue on our mission to deliver for the people of this city," Parker said in a statement.
City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams said the resignations demonstrate a lack of trust at City Hall.
“With the resignation of deputy mayors, it has become clear that Mayor Adams has now lost the confidence and trust of his own staff, his colleagues in government, and New Yorkers," she said. "He now must prioritize New York City and New Yorkers, step aside and resign. This administration no longer has the ability to effectively govern with Eric Adams as mayor."
State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins told the New York Post on Friday that it is time that Adams moves aside.
The mayor, who said he has recently turned to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s teachings, addressed the controversies in a Monday meeting with supportive clergy members.
“I was listening to some of Dr. King’s teachings, and he talked about the book ‘Mein Kampf.’ He said if you repeat a lie long enough, loud enough people will believe it is true, and that’s what you’re seeing right now. This is a modern day ‘Mein Kampf,'” Adams told a group of about 30 supporters, referring to Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler’s genocidal manifesto, according to the New York Daily News.
Meanwhile, city Comptroller Brad Landers said he will seek to convene a meeting of the Inability Committee should the mayor not present a detailed contingency plan on the replacements of this top officials and how he will continue to govern the city by Friday.
The committee would be comprised of the city’s corporation counsel, the comptroller, the City Council speaker, a deputy mayor selected by the mayor and the borough president who’s served for the longest consecutive period. Four of the committee’s five members would need to vote to form a panel of inability, which would be the entire 51-member City Council. Should the committee decide that Adams be removed, a two-thirds majority vote by the City Council would be required.
In addition, city leaders will have to come up with a timeline with regards to upcoming elections. Should the mayor resign, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams will be acting mayor. He must call a special election within 90 days of taking office, which is very close to the June 24 Democratic primary election.
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso said city leaders will likely find a way to figure out a less chaotic mayoral selection process should the mayor resign.
"We don't want to vote for a special election and then have a mayor for three weeks and then have a primary," Reynoso said on Spectrum News New York 1 on Tuesday.
Without providing further detail, Reynoso said there is a way for Williams to be the acting mayor and then have the primary.
He also doesn't think Adams will survive the political turmoil in order to have a second term: "I just don't see it," he said.
