NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Four New York City deputy mayors resigned from their positions on Monday after the Department of Justice moved to dismiss corruption charges against Mayor Eric Adams last week and concern over his relationship with President Donald Trump led to increased calls for his removal.
Resignations were tendered by First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer, Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom and Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Chauncey Parker on Monday, according to City Hall.
In a statement regarding the resignations, Adams referred to the four aides as “extraordinary public servants” and lauded their combined work on housing, the economy, public spaces and safety.
“I am disappointed to see them go, but given the current challenges, I understand their decision and wish them nothing but success in the future. But let me be crystal clear: New York City will keep moving forward, just as it does every day,” Adams said. “The people of New York City remain, without question, our top priority.”
The mayor said that the deputy mayors will remain in their roles for an undisclosed amount of time to ensure a “seamless transition.”
In a joint statement, Torres-Springer, Joshi and Williams-Isom said that serving as deputy mayors has been “the greatest honor and privilege of [their] lives,” but that continuing was not possible.
“Due to the extraordinary events of the last few weeks and to stay faithful to the oaths we swore to New Yorkers and our families, we have come to the difficult decision to step down from our roles,” the statement read. “We sincerely thank the mayor for giving us the opportunity to serve New Yorkers in these roles, stand ready to ensure a smooth transition of our duties, and wish Mayor Adams and all of our colleagues much strength and courage in the work ahead.”
Torres-Springer, Joshi and Williams-Isom expressed their intention to resign during an in-person meeting with Adams at Gracie Mansion on Friday, following an appearance by the mayor on Fox News with Trump’s border czar Tom Homan, according to NBC4.
Adams reportedly held a Zoom meeting on Sunday for those aides and Parker, who had also indicated his desire to resign, in an attempt to either dissuade them from leaving or convince them to delay their decision.
In a separate statement on his resignation, Parker thanked Adams and provided no official indication as to why he was leaving his role.
“Serving as deputy mayor for public safety under Mayor Adams has been an honor of a lifetime. Together, we have made our streets safer, more just, and have improved quality of life for all New Yorkers,” Parker said. “I am confident that the administration will continue on our mission to deliver for the people of this city.”
Following the announcement of resignations, NYC Comptroller Brad Lander sent a letter to Adams demanding he provide a city contingency plan to address the “unprecedented leadership vacuum.” Lander requested that the mayor outline his immediate plan for appointing interim deputy mayors, appointing key managerial staff and provide an anticipated timeline no later than Friday.
“In the absence of a contingency plan, the resignation of four or more deputy mayors, and the chaos created by the Justice Department’s actions regarding indictments against you, may well constitute inability to govern,” Lander wrote. “Should your office be unable or unwilling to formulate such a plan promptly, I will seek to convene a meeting of the Inability Committee.”
New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams outright called on the mayor to resign in a statement issued after news of the deputy mayors leaving was announced.
“It has become clear that Mayor Adams has now lost the confidence and trust of his own staff, his colleagues in government, and New Yorkers,” the speaker said. “He now must prioritize New York City and New Yorkers, step aside and resign. This administration no longer has the ability to effectively govern with Eric Adams as mayor.”
Adrienne Adams said that the resignations are the culmination of Adams’ actions and decisions which have “led to months of instability and now compromise the City’s sovereignty, threaten chaos, and risk harm to our families.”
During an address at a Queens church on Sunday, Adams stated that despite recent events, he is “going nowhere,” and will remain in his position to serve as an advocate for NYC as his own man. This was reiterated in his statement Monday.
“I am solely beholden to the 8.3 million New Yorkers I represent, and I will always put this city first—as I always have,” Adams said.
The DOJ filed a formal request to dismiss Adams’ criminal case on Friday night, and Judge Dale Ho will decide whether to accept the submission or schedule a hearing requiring federal prosecutors to explain their reasoning for dismissal.
The mayor is charged on a five-count indictment with wire fraud, bribery and conspiracy for allegedly accepting illegal campaign donations and luxury travel benefits from foreign nationals in exchange for political influence and favors.
Adams pleaded not guilty to all charges in September and has maintained his innocence, alleging that he was unduly targeted due to his vocal criticism of the Biden administration’s handling of immigration.
In a letter to former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Danielle Sassoon—who resigned over the order to dismiss charges against the mayor—the DOJ reasoned that the charges need to be dropped as the ongoing prosecution has restricted Adams’ ability to devote his full attention and resources to addressing illegal immigration and violent crime in NYC, while also noting that it has interfered with his reelection campaign.
Trump indicated last year that he would possibly grant Adams a pardon, and stated that he knew what it was like to be indicted over political stances.
“I know what it’s like to be persecuted by the DOJ, for speaking out against open borders,” Trump said in October at a Manhattan event attended by Adams. “We were persecuted, Eric. I was persecuted, and so are you, Eric.”