NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday that she will not remove Mayor Eric Adams from office but instead proposed state and city legislation to increase ethical guardrails on City Hall.
“After careful consideration, I have determined that I will not commence removal proceedings at this time,” Hochul said during the press conference. She dismissed suggestions that outside pressure influenced her decision. “Constant pressure is what I deal with all day long, and it’s absolutely no bearing on any decisions I make,” she stated.
"Voters determine who they want or who they do not want to represent them in elective office," Hochul said.
Hochul spoke about concerns about the potential “disruption and chaos” that a removal proceeding could bring to the city, warning that such a process could lead to a situation where “there’s multiple mayors of this city in the course of one year.”
When asked whether Adams should resign, Hochul reiterated that the decision rests with him, saying, “It is up to an individual if they want to resign the office to which they’ve been elected.” She avoided directly answering whether Adams had lost the ability to govern. Pressed on her decision not to remove Adams, she clarified that she was not surrendering any power but believed this was not the right time to take such action.
Hochul outlined the legislative framework following a series of meetings this week with elected officials and community leaders.
She proposed appointing a special inspector general within the state inspector general’s office to oversee city investigations and prevent interference. She also called for granting independent litigation authority to the city comptroller, public advocate, and City Council speaker, allowing them to challenge federal actions without relying on City Hall’s law department.
Additionally, she proposed expanded funding for city oversight under the deputy state comptroller to monitor city decisions related to federal matters.
“These measures will be effective immediately and expire at the end of 2025, subject to renewal,” Hochul said. She also urged the mayor to fill key deputy mayor positions before vacancies arise and assured that her administration would help retain essential commissioners.
The reforms will be introduced through both state and local legislation, which would aim to strengthen accountability mechanisms within city government.
Meanwhile, Adams appeared in federal court Wednesday, where a judge reviewed the Department of Justice’s decision to dismiss charges against him. The judge examined concerns that the dismissal might limit the mayor’s cooperation with the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement policies.