4 NYC deputy mayors announce resignations after DOJ moves to drop Adams charges
Four New York City deputy mayors announced their resignations Monday as the controversy continues to grow over the allegation that Mayor Eric Adams agreed to a quid pro quo to get his criminal case dropped.
Maria Torres-Springer, the city's First Deputy Mayor, Anne Williams-Isom, deputy mayor for Health and Human Services, Meera Joshi, the deputy mayor for Operations, and Chauncey Parker, deputy mayor for Public Safety, announced they were resigning.
They cited recent "extraordinary events" in the Adams administration and the need "to stay faithful to the oaths we swore to New Yorkers and our families."
A mayoral spokesperson said all of the deputy mayors "will remain in their roles for the time being to ensure a seamless transition," adding the city is actively working to find their replacements.
Statement of resigning deputy mayors
"Serving as deputy mayors has been the greatest honor and privilege of our lives. We have worked each day with the singular mission of improving the lives of New Yorkers and strengthening the physical foundation of the city we love. 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. While our time in this administration will come to a close, our support for the incredible public servants across the administration with whom we have stood shoulder to shoulder and our championing of this great city and all it stands for will never cease. 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, Williams-Isom and Joshi said in a joint statement.
"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. I am confident that the administration will continue on our mission to deliver for the people of this city," Parker said in a statement.
There are eight deputy mayor positions. They include:
- First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer (resigned)
- Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi (resigned)
- Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom (resigned)
- Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Chauncey Parker (resigned)
- Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Ana Almanzar
- Deputy Mayor for Communications Fabien Levy
- Deputy Mayor for Administration Camille Joseph Varlack
- Deputy Mayor Intergovernmental Affairs Tiffany Raspberry
Adams thanks the 4 who resigned for their service
Adams has remained defiant in the face of calls for him to step down, and held a campaign rally in Brooklyn Monday. He called the four "extraordinary public servants who have been vital to our work reshaping New York City."
"New Yorkers owe them an enormous debt of gratitude for their service to our city," Adams said in a statement. "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."
Adams then took aim at questions over whether he can run the city independently. Several prosecutors with the DOJ resigned in protest after the order came down to drop the charges against him, claiming this was a political deal between the mayor and the White House in exchange for cooperation of immigration enforcement.
Adams seemed to address that in his statement.
"But let me be crystal clear: New York City will keep moving forward, just as it does every day. All deputy mayors will remain in their roles for the time being to ensure a seamless transition. The people of New York City remain, without question, our top priority," Adams said. "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."
Gov. Hochul to hold series of meetings on Adams' future
On Monday, advocates gathered at City Hall for the second day in a row to call on Gov. Kathy Hochul to remove Adams from office. On Sunday, immigrant rights groups held a rally in Foley Square demanding the same.
"We're calling it an emergency march because the mayor of the most important city in the world is being held hostage by Donald Trump," said Alicé Nascimento of New York Communities for Change.
Hochul said last week she was consulting with officials about the mayor's future. On Monday, the governor spoke about the resignations, issuing the following lengthy statement:
"Since taking office in 2021, I've done everything possible to partner with the City of New York under the leadership of two different mayors. We've worked together to fight crime on the streets and subways, close illegal cannabis shops and build more housing through 'City of Yes.' Bickering between State and City officials is a waste of time and I refuse to go back to the days where our constituents are caught in the crossfire of political turf wars.
"Earlier today I spoke with First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer to express my gratitude for her years of service to New York City. She, along with Deputy Mayors Anne Williams-Isom, Meera Joshi and Chauncey Parker, have been strong partners with my Administration across dozens of key issues. If they feel unable to serve in City Hall at this time, that raises serious questions about the long-term future of this Mayoral administration.
"I recognize the immense responsibility I hold as governor and the constitutional powers granted to this office. In the 235 years of New York State history, these powers have never been utilized to remove a duly-elected mayor; overturning the will of the voters is a serious step that should not be taken lightly. That said, the alleged conduct at City Hall that has been reported over the past two weeks is troubling and cannot be ignored. Tomorrow, I have asked key leaders to meet me at my Manhattan office for a conversation about the path forward, with the goal of ensuring stability for the City of New York.
"Let me be clear: my most urgent concern is the well-being of my 8.3 million constituents who live in New York City. I will be monitoring this situation extraordinarily closely to ensure that New Yorkers are not being shortchanged by the current crisis in City government."
CBS News New York's Marcia Kramer has learned the meetings Hochul will have will be one on one with New York political leaders, including City Comptroller Brad Lander, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Queens Congressman Gregory Meeks.
Kramer has also learned everything is on the table, including the mayor deciding to resign or deciding not to run for reelection, and even the governor using her powers to remove the mayor from the power, something that has never happened in New York state history.
DOJ calls for charges against Adams to be dropped
The wave of resignations comes after the Justice Department directed that the Southern District of New York drop the corruption case against Adams. That prompted the resignations within the U.S. Attorney's Office.
While SDNY did indeed ask for the case to be dropped, Judge Dale Ho has yet to formally agree to do so. His decision is expected to come as soon as this week.
Former U.S. Attorney Nathaniel Akerman, who served in the 1980s, has filed a motion in federal court urging Ho to reject the request for dismissal, and instead seek a special counsel.
"With the Government agreeing with Mr. Adams to dismiss the indictment, no party before the Court is representing the public interest. We respectfully ask the Court to appoint a special counsel to advise the Court in resolving this unfortunate matter," Akerman wrote.
Adams cites his ability to "lead through turmoil"
Adams surrounded himself with an interfaith group of clergy in Brooklyn while four of his top deputy mayors were handing him their walking papers. He seemed undeterred by the development. Adams held a campaign rally Monday at the Rehoboth Cathedral. It's the latest sign he intends to fight to keep his job.
Adams pointed to the fact that he's weathered other departures, including former First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, Deputy Mayor Phil Banks, Police Commissioner Edward Caban and Schools Chancellor David Banks.
"Come on, you know. Let's go back to when I was indicted. Y'all remember what happened? People departed. When I was indicted, people said that's the end of my administration. People said that, you know, people have lost confidence. And go back and do an analysis from the day that I was indicted, to what we have accomplished. That is my ability to lead through turmoil, and I'm going to continue to do that," Adams said.
During the campaign rally, Adams described himself as a man who didn't break despite his many travails.
"He didn't break when he was a young boy in the police department being beat. He didn't break when someone shot out his car windows. He didn't break when he wanted to fire him after 22 years for standing up and fighting for you. He didn't break when they indicted him," Adams said. "The reason I'm not going to break because I need to fight for you."
Several top Democrats are putting pressure on Adams, including Senate majority leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins who stood next to Hochul at the 2025 Caucus reception Sunday, just one day after publicly saying she supports the governor "looking at her options."
Lander, who is running in the Democratic party to replace Adams, wrote a letter to the mayor demanding he come up with a contingency plan for managing the city because the departures of the deputy mayors would create "an unprecedented leadership vacuum."
"If he cannot explain how he's going to fill these vacant seats and run city government, then I will seek to convene a meeting of the Committee on Mayoral Inability. That's essentially like an impeachment committee," Lander said.
Adrienne Adams called on the mayor to resign, saying his decision to stay in office is "the opposite of public service."
"With the resignation of deputy mayors, 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. 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. These resignations are the culmination of the mayor's actions and decisions that have led to months of instability and now compromise the City's sovereignty, threaten chaos, and risk harm to our families. There is too much at stake for our city and New Yorkers to allow this to continue. We have endured enough scandal, selfishness and embarrassment, all of which distract from the leadership that New Yorkers deserve. This is the opposite of public service. Our city needs a leader totally committed to protecting New Yorkers and improving their lives."
"Everything comes down to this week"
Meanwhile, former Mayor Bill de Blasio, said Adams has to set the record straight that there was no quid pro quo with the Trump administration. He made his remarks before word came of the four deputy mayors resigning.
"He has basically, in my view, he has this week to do it. His entire political career, his time as mayor, everything comes down to this week. He has to convince the people of New York City right now that he will take on Donald Trump," de Blasio said.
A federal judge may decide this week whether or not to grant the government's motion to dismiss the charges. De Blasio said Adams has to move quickly, even though he personally thinks the case against Adams is weak.
"People have to see resolve from him, and if he doesn't do it really quickly, events are going to overtake him," de Blasio said.
