Tuesday,
February 18, 2025
Year : 2, Issue: 25
Gothamist: Gov. Kathy Hochul said she would meet with key leaders Tuesday about Mayor Eric Adams’ future after four top New York City officials announced they will resign.
Hochul has the legal authority to remove Adams from office for malfeasance – a move she has been reluctant to make since Adams was indicted on corruption charges.
No New York governor has ever removed a duly-elected mayor from office. But in a statement late Monday, Hochul, a Democrat who had been an ally of Adams, said the resignation of four deputy mayors raises “serious questions about the long-term future of this mayoral administration” if the officials “feel unable to serve in City Hall at this time.”
Hochul is expected to meet one-on-one with various New York City leaders on Tuesday, with some in person at her Manhattan office and others by video call, according to a source familiar with the meetings.
Among those expected to speak with the governor are House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Rev. Al Sharpton, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, Queens Rep. Gregory Meeks and City Comptroller Brad Lander, according to the source.
In her statement, Hochul said she spoke to Torres-Springer and offered praise for all four of the officials who resigned, calling them “strong partners with my administration across dozens of key issues.”
The governor said she does not take the power of removing an elected official from office lightly, noting that no governor has ever successfully removed a duly-elected mayor in the state’s 235-year history.
“That said, the alleged conduct at City Hall that has been reported over the past two weeks is troubling and cannot be ignored,” Hochul said.
