Gov. Kathy Hochul mentioned on Monday night time she would meet with “key leaders” of town Tuesday to debate a “path forward” that will result in the ouster of embattled Mayor Eric Adams.
Darren McGee/ Workplace of Governor Kathy Hochul
Gov. Kathy Hochul mentioned on Monday night time she would meet with “key leaders” of town Tuesday to debate a “path forward” that will result in the ouster of embattled Mayor Eric Adams.
In a press release Monday night, Hochul mentioned that she spoke with one of many outgoing deputy mayors, Maria Torres-Springer, but in addition famous that if she and the opposite deputy mayors “feel unable to serve in City Hall at this time, that raises serious questions about the long-term future of this mayoral administration.”
Which will spell the start of the tip of Mayor Adams’ tenure at Metropolis Corridor. The Metropolis Constitution grants the governor the facility to take away a sitting mayor. Since Adams was indicted final September, opponents of the mayor have referred to as upon Hochul to take such a rare step — an unprecedented transfer in New York Metropolis historical past.
Members of Rehoboth Church who help Mayor Eric Adams lay their arms on him and supply prayers on Feb. 17, 2025.Photograph by Lloyd Mitchell
However whereas Hochul refused to take motion then, issues modified critically within the final week when the Trump Justice Division moved to dismiss the case towards Adams — and U.S. Lawyer for the Southern District of New York Danielle Sassoon revealed that Adams’ attorneys supplied a “quid pro quo” of cooperation with Trump on immigration in alternate for having the case scrapped. The mayor has denied that such a quid professional quo exists.
The Justice Division now seeks to have the case dismissed “without prejudice,” that means that it may resurrect it at any time—a scenario that many elected officers worry would coerce Adams into cooperating with Trump.
After Sassoon and several other different federal prosecutors resigned in protest final Thursday, Hochul mentioned throughout an MSNBC interview that she was analyzing her choices on Adams’ future however didn’t need to rush to a “knee-jerk decision.” In the meantime, the scenario led extra elected officers and political activists in New York Metropolis to name for Adams’ resignation or removing from workplace.
The governor acknowledged the gravity of the scenario in her assertion Monday night — and gave a robust trace on how she could also be leaning.
“I recognize the immense responsibility I hold as governor and the constitutional powers granted to this office,” Hochul mentioned on Feb. 17. “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.”
Gov. Kathy Hochul (left) and Mayor Eric Adams (proper) at a January 2024 occasion.Credit score: Ed Reed/Mayoral Pictures Workplace.
Hochul mentioned she has been a loyal companion to town since taking workplace in August 2021 following then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s resignation, noting that she labored with two completely different mayors (Invoice de Blasio and Adams) “to fight crime on the streets and subways, close illegal cannabis shops, and build more housing through ‘City of Yes.’” She added that she refuses “to go back to the days where our constituents are caught in the crossfire of political turf wars.”
“My most urgent concern is the well-being of my 8.3 million constituents who live in New York City,” the governor mentioned.
Hochul and town’s “key leaders” will meet at her workplace in Midtown Manhattan on Tuesday. The governor’s workplace has not mentioned who will attend the assembly.
Monday’s mass resignation of the 4 deputy mayors led Metropolis Council Speaker Adrienne Adams to name for Mayor Adams’ resignation. Metropolis Comptroller Brad Lander additionally issued an ultimatum to Adams in search of a “contingency plan” by Friday to make sure easy transitions and operation of presidency, or he’ll transfer to type an “Inability Committee” amongst metropolis officers to contemplate Adams’ removing from workplace.
Even with the partitions seemingly closing in, Mayor Adams has insisted he’s “going nowhere,” telling congregants at church buildings in Queens and Brooklyn on Sunday and Monday that he is not going to resign.
