NYC Comptroller and Mayoral candidate Brad Lander held a press convention on the sudden resignations of 4 deputy mayors from NYC Mayor Eric Adams’s administration.
Picture by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Photos
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Council Member Robert Holden is looking for Comptroller Brad Lander to recuse himself from any discussions surrounding the standing of Mayor Eric Adams.
The demand follows Lander’s current actions, which Holden has described as politically motivated and a misuse of metropolis assets.
Holden’s assertion was launched in response to Lander’s letter to Mayor Adams on Feb. 17, which Holden alleges was politically charged and meant to additional Lander’s personal mayoral ambitions.
“The calls for Mayor Adams’ removal now reek of political maneuvering. What has changed since September until now? Comptroller Brad Lander must recuse himself from any discussions on the mayor’s status, including any role in the Inability Committee if it convenes,” Holden acknowledged.
“These decisions must be free from political bias. I also urge the Department of Investigation and the Conflicts of Interest Board to examine Lander’s apparent misuse of city resources.”
Holden, who represents the District 30 neighborhoods of Ridgewood, Maspeth, Center Village, Glendale, Elmhurst, and Rego Park, additionally identified what he referred to as Lander’s obvious misuse of metropolis assets.
In his letter to the New York Metropolis Division of Investigation (DOI) and the Conflicts of Curiosity Board (COIB), Holden particularly took challenge with the truth that Lander’s letter was written on official metropolis letterhead and used public assets to additional what he deemed a campaign-related effort.
“Using official letterhead and staff to draft a politically charged letter that benefits his own mayoral ambitions is a clear abuse of public trust. New Yorkers deserve better,” he added.
In his formal request to the DOI and COIB, Holden urged each companies to analyze Lander’s use of metropolis time and assets for what he described as electioneering.
File from the workplace of CM Holden and Ed Reed/Mayoral Images Workplace
Holden emphasised that the timing of Lander’s letter and its content material seemed to be motivated by political issues somewhat than the governance of New York Metropolis. He identified that, as Lander is a declared candidate within the upcoming mayoral race, his use of metropolis assets to distribute a communication with political implications was each inappropriate and probably unlawful.
“This blatant misuse of public resources for political gain must not be ignored,” Holden wrote.
“Public officials are bound by strict ethical guidelines to separate campaign activities from official government business. Comptroller Lander’s actions not only compromise the integrity of his office but also undermine public trust in the fair and impartial administration of government.”
He referred to as into query the Mayor’s capability to guide the Metropolis after the U.S. Justice Division requested the U.S. District Court docket to drop the indictments towards him so long as he complies with the White Home “on matters of immigration and criminal justice policy.”
Lander demanded that Mayor Adams’ workplace develop and current an in depth contingency plan outlining how he would information the Metropolis by way of this era of management transition, particularly surrounding the appointments of interim Deputy Mayors.
He calls for this be finished by Friday, Feb. 21. If not, Lander will search to convene a gathering with the Incapability Committee.
For now, Holden stays agency in his stance that Lander’s involvement in any discussions about Mayor Adams’ standing could be a battle of curiosity, urging the Comptroller to step apart for the sake of transparency and public belief.
