Metropolis Council Speaker Adrienne Adams.
Photograph by Emil Cohen/NYC Council Media Unit
Metropolis Council Speaker Adrienne Adams referred to as for Mayor Eric Adams to step down from workplace Monday, hours after 4 high aides resigned from his mayoral administration over his cooperation with President Donald Trump and the fallout of his felony case being dismissed.
Speaker Adams mentioned the mass resignations at Metropolis Corridor Monday had been a positive signal that Mayor Adams had misplaced the “confidence and trust” of his personal workers, his authorities colleagues, and New Yorkers all through the town.
“He now must prioritize NYC and New Yorkers, step aside and resign,” Speaker Adams mentioned. “This administration no longer has the ability to effectively govern with Eric Adams as mayor. These resignations are the culmination of the mayor’s actions and decisions that have led to months of instability and now compromise the city’s sovereignty, threaten chaos, and risk harm to our families.”
In the meantime, Metropolis Comptroller Brad Lander, a key contender within the mayoral race, demanded Monday that Mayor Adams draft and current by this Friday a contingency plan to keep away from an enormous management vacuum in metropolis authorities.
Metropolis Comptroller and candidate for New York Metropolis Mayor Brad Lander speaks at a mayoral candidates discussion board for local weather justice.Photograph by Gabriele Holtermann
He despatched a letter to the mayor stating, amongst different issues, that his compliance with the federal authorities on “matters of immigration and criminal justice” calls into query his potential to meet his obligation to NYC.
“Given the gravity of this situation and the chaos it has unleashed among New Yorkers, I formally request that your office promptly develop and present a detailed contingency plan outlining how you intend to manage the City of New York during this period of leadership transition,” the letter said.
Furthermore, Lander mentioned if Adams doesn’t current a contingency plan, he would name for a gathering of what’s often called the “Inability Committee” — a provision within the Metropolis Constitution that enables for a gaggle of individuals to look at whether or not a sitting mayor can proceed their calls of obligation to the town.
Each Lander and Speaker Adams could be one a part of the committee, per the constitution. Others embrace the company counsel, a deputy mayor chosen by the sitting mayor, and the borough president who has been in workplace the longest (on this case, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards).
In the meantime, Adams has continued to keep up that he’s harmless of all corruption costs and has repeatedly mentioned because the DOJ’s transfer to dismiss his felony costs on Feb. 10 that the town is his high precedence.
“I want to be crystal clear with New Yorkers: I never offered — nor did anyone offer on my behalf — any trade of my authority as your mayor for an end to my case. Never,” Adams mentioned in a Feb. 14 assertion launched from Metropolis Corridor. “I am solely beholden to the 8.3 million New Yorkers that I represent, and I will always put this city first.”
Filling the void
In the meantime, every departing deputy mayor mentioned it was an “honor” to serve the town beneath the embattled mayor’s management.
Deputy Mayors Maria Torres-Springer, Anne Williams-Isom, Meera Joshi and Chauncey Parker will stay of their positions for now, and the resignations will not be efficient instantly, a Metropolis Corridor spokesperson mentioned.
“They’re going to stay on for the next few weeks to make sure the transition is smooth, and there are already talks about who will replace them,” the spokesperson mentioned.
From l. to r.: Deputy Mayors Maria Torres-Springer, Meera Joshi, Anne Williams-Isom and Chauncey Parker.Photographs by Lloyd Mitchell, Ethan Stark-Miller and NYC Mayoral Images Unit
It’s unclear proper now who their replacements shall be or how the mass exodus will impression the scandal-ladden administration.
Three of the deputy mayors—Torres-Springer, Williams-Isom and Joshi—despatched a joint assertion to the press about their departures, which not directly factors to the federal Justice Division’s transfer to dismiss Adams’ felony costs.
“Due to the extraordinary events of the last few weeks and to stay faithful to the oaths we swore to New Yorkers and our families, we have come to the difficult decision to step down from our roles,” the assertion mentioned. “While our time in this administration will come to a close, our support for the incredible public servants across the administration with whom we have stood shoulder to shoulder and our championing of this great city and all it stands for will never cease.”
The deputy mayors went on to say it has been the “greatest honor and privilege” to serve of their posts.
“We sincerely thank the mayor for giving us the opportunity to serve New Yorkers in these roles, stand ready to ensure a smooth transition of our duties, and wish Mayor Adams and all of our colleagues much strength and courage in the work ahead,” the assertion continued.
Opponents of Mayor Eric Adams picketed outdoors Rehoboth Cathedral in Brooklyn on Feb. 17, 2025 calling for his resignation or elimination from workplace by Gov. Kathy Hochul.Photograph by Lloyd Mitchell
Parker, too, launched an announcement about his resignation.
“Serving as deputy mayor for public safety under Mayor Adams has been an honor of a lifetime,” he mentioned. “Together, we have made our streets safer, more just, and have improved quality of life for all New Yorkers. I am confident that the administration will continue on our mission to deliver for the people of this city.”
The 4 resigning deputy mayors deal with operations, housing, financial improvement, labor well being and human providers, infrastructure, and public security, all of that are a few of metropolis authorities’s most important tasks.
Torres-Springer has her personal newer declare to fame. She took over as first deputy mayor following Sheena Wright’s departure in September. Wright was a part of the large wave of Adams administration officers who left their positions amid ongoing federal probes that began final 12 months.
She additionally labored with Adams on the controversial Metropolis of Sure housing plan, which resulted in zoning modifications that some politicians described as “pro-housing,” whereas others had been involved about displacement and improvement.
