NYC Mayor Eric Adams Faces Mounting Pressure

New York City Mayor Eric Adams is facing intense pressure to resign following a wave of resignations from his top deputies. Four deputy mayors—First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom, Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi, and Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Chauncey Parker—announced their departures, citing "extraordinary events of the last few weeks".

<img src="https://assets2.cbsnewsstatic.com/hub/i/r/2025/02/17/d220fb95-74cc-428c-8461-4b9208054104/thumbnail/620x349/84ab7db279624ba89a99a3d622e241e7/fs-4-deputy-mayors-resign-springer-isom-joshi-parker.png" alt="Four Deputy Mayors Resignations">

Governor Hochul Steps In

Governor Kathy Hochul has convened a meeting with key leaders, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, NYC Comptroller Brad Lander, and NYC Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, to discuss the mayor's future. Hochul is considering asking for Adams' resignation or, unprecedentedly, invoking her power to remove him from office. This decision is complicated by Hochul's own upcoming reelection and the fact that Adams is the second Black mayor of New York City.

DOJ Intervention and Court Hearing

A Department of Justice memo ordered federal prosecutors to drop corruption charges against Adams, raising concerns about a potential quid pro quo. Mayor Adams denies these allegations. A court hearing is scheduled where Judge Dale Ho will consider the DOJ's motion to dismiss the case, potentially appointing a special counsel.

Key Leaders React

Reactions from key figures have been mixed. While some call for Adams to demonstrate his capacity to govern, others, like Rev. Al Sharpton, emphasize the need for decisive action to restore public trust. Comptroller Lander has demanded a contingency plan from Adams by Friday.

Will Adams Resign?

Political experts predict a low probability of Adams resigning, suggesting that Governor Hochul's potential removal of the mayor is more likely, though it would require significant support from minority voters and community leaders. The potential cost of a special election also influences Hochul's strategy.

Public Pressure Mounts

Protests and public demonstrations have increased pressure on both Adams and Hochul to take action. Mayor Adams maintains his ability to lead through turmoil.