Six experts weigh in on the mayor's chances of finishing out his term
In the wake of the Trump administration’s Justice Department moving to dismiss the case against Mayor Eric Adams — part of an apparent deal in which the mayor agreed to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement — the pressure is mounting on Adams. Four deputy mayors announced their plans to resign. Gov. Kathy Hochul mulls using her removal powers, the city’s “inability committee” prepares to convene and a growing list of powerful people are calling on the mayor to resign. Vital City asked a collection of former public officials, historians and political analysts to assess the precarious position in which Adams finds himself — and give their best guesses as to whether his administration will stay in power or unravel in the months ahead. We posed the questions: “Can Eric Adams’ Mayoralty Survive? How?” These are their responses.
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The situation would seem to defy rational depiction and prescription at this moment in time. Talking to and challenging his critics won’t help him; only demonstrated governance might — such as a public showing on the City of Yes with concrete next steps. Or an acknowledgment of the renewed stop-and-frisk problem with Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch describing what is being done. Or a blockbuster early childhood announcement or a doubling of police class size. Adams has to show every day the city is functioning and he is in charge; there ought to be a press conference on operations every day. The critics have a burden too: Resignations of key people, however justified by our appalling ethically challenged mayor, necessarily produce more chaos. From the four departing deputy mayors, I would have preferred a strong statement disapproving and distancing themselves — but pledging to commit to doing the job of managing and delivering services to the city and not allowing a sellout.
Stan Brezenoff, former first deputy mayor of New York City
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The question of whether Eric Adams’ mayoralty can survive is not the same question as whether it should survive.
Eric Adams’ mayoralty can most definitely survive. By refusing to step down, by making himself a political victim, by denying the extensive charges originally brought by the U.S. Attorney and the new charges of a quid pro quo with President Trump, Adams is desperately trying to rally his base and play for time. And time is on his side. Existing laws that allow for the removal of a sitting mayor are fraught with political minefields for the one person who has the clear legal authority to remove him from office, Gov. Kathy Hochul. Instead of focusing on the crisis of legitimacy that Adams has created, she seems to be gaming the political impact that her decision will have on her own reelection prospects. Hochul should put aside her personal political calculations and make the decision that is best for the City of New York.
Which gets me to the question of should Adams’ mayoralty survive. It should not. This is not simply about the bribery case that may be dismissed and the corruption that has swirled around him for the past year. This is now about a mayor who has betrayed New Yorkers, tacitly agreeing with the Trump administration to ignore our sanctuary city laws. This is about a mayor who can no longer tell the difference between what is good for the city and what is good for himself. And this is about a mayor who has lost the confidence of his most competent City Hall senior staff. The imperative is clear. Adams should resign and if he does not, the governor should remove him from office.
Ester Fuchs, professor of public affairs and political science at Columbia University
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No one is politically dead in this town until they are six feet under. So, while Gov. Hochul meets with every Black elected in her Rolodex and former governor Andrew Cuomo (who many thought was politically dead just a few years ago) plans his re-entry into political society by calling every Black elected in his father’s Rolodex, Mayor Adams remains defiant. People who go on safari hope to see the big five. Politicians running for New York City mayor hope to have the big four — business, labor, real estate and the Hasidic community. I am sure there are discussions among those four groups as to how they would like to proceed, but thus far none of those groups have been adamant or vocal about abandoning Adams. There has been a lot of time and effort invested in this mayor and many of those groups are waiting for the return on their investment in a time when his challengers, as relatively drama-free as they may be, do not present ideal alternatives. There could be a world where people stick with the horse they know. In a ranked-choice, incredibly low-turnout New York City election, all things are possible.
Christina Greer, associate professor at Fordham University and co-host of FAQ.NYC podcast
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Eric Adams is through as mayor.
The simultaneous resignation of four of his top deputies who collectively governed most of the city day-to-day has made it clear that Adams no longer commands the confidence of the kinds of people needed to run city government.
The reason they resigned is disheartening. Under indictment for a series of federal crimes, New York City’s mayor cut a deal with America’s convicted felon of a president. Adams denies it, but no one who matters believes him.
Instead of making decisions in the interest of the 8 million New Yorkers he has sworn to serve, the mayor of New York City now answers to an audience of one. In return, the president promised the Department of Justice (suddenly an inapt name) would drop charges against him. The president has kept his word, sort of. His MAGA minions have petitioned the court to withdraw the case, but with the option of bringing it back at a later date. Our suddenly swagger-less mayor must do as he’s told, or else. His decision to allow ICE to look for people to deport inside Rikers Island jails is proof.
Gov. Kathy Hochul has the authority to remove the mayor from office. She must act to avoid joining the mayor as a leader who has lost her way. Forcing him from office is swifter and cleaner if she can accomplish it. If not, she must do her duty and ensure the people of New York City have a government that answers to them, and not to a would-be tyrant.
Chris McNickle, author of “To Be Mayor of New York”
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Mayor Adams’ chances of having his mayoralty survive — defined as finishing his first term — are slim but possible. First, he needs to keep Gov. Kathy Hochul from removing him. That’s a tall order given the growing number of elected leaders calling for him to step down. History is on Adams’ side. Though almost occurring twice — in 1932 and 1950 — no governor has removed a sitting mayor. As the first Black mayor in 30 years and only the second in the city’s history, his base may not want their votes undermined either regardless of his actions — a fact the governor is likely considering given the need to win over the same voters in her re-election next year.
Second, Adams needs to expand his support among moderate Democrats (some of whom may have voted for Trump in 2024) to stave off criticism of his relationship with the White House. Talk about a strategic and nuanced approach to managing his DC politics as other Democrats (e.g. Gavin Newsom) are doing. Finally, he needs to govern. Given the many high-level resignations, achieving policy goals could be difficult, but he must keep the wheels of bureaucracy turning.
Basil A. Smikle Jr., director of the Nonprofit Management Program at Columbia University's School of Professional Studies
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It’s become clear over the last few days that Eric Adams’ mayoralty cannot continue to survive in any meaningful, effective way that improves the lives of New Yorkers.
The fact that we’re seeing deputy mayors resign collectively — public servants who have worked alongside him for years — illustrates the sheer scale and magnitude of the problem. This administration no longer has the ability to effectively govern and senior advisors have lost all confidence in Adams as mayor.
The Justice Department’s dismissal of criminal charges against Adams was clearly a quid pro quo. If it wasn't, why did several DOJ lawyers and top prosecutors — including the acting U.S. Attorney, who had been appointed by the Trump administration — resign? This back-door deal was unethical, and unconscionable, and not only put millions of vulnerable New Yorkers at risk, but put our city’s very identity as a tolerant, welcoming sanctuary city under threat. New York City is now governed by a mayor who is not acting in New Yorkers’ best interests — he’s carrying out the Trump administration’s agenda instead.
Eric Adams got New York City into this mess through a series of alleged unlawful decisions and corrupt actions that led to his indictment. If that didn’t make him unfit for mayor then, this recent turn of events certainly makes him unfit for mayor now. If he doesn’t resign, it’s hardworking New York families who will pay the price.
New York City has been plunged into chaos because of Eric Adams. He must now do the right thing, resign, and let someone take over who will actually advocate for and protect New Yorkers’ best interests. It’s become clear that can’t happen under this current administration.
Christine Quinn, former speaker of the New York City Council