This column, from the weekly opinion piece MATTER OF FACT, first appeared on BrooklynReporter.com, the Home Reporter and Spectator dated October 4, 2024
The office of Mayor of New York City is nicknamed the “second toughest job in America” for a reason. Running the nation’s largest city – covering a population more than twice that of the next largest American city, with the largest police and fire departments in the world, the largest public school system in the country, the most visitors via tourism, and the epicenter of American finance – requires a capable executive who is able to be singularly focused on the administration of our city government.
When Mayor Adams was indicted on September 26, it became clear that he must step down. Besides the alleged crimes outlined in the Justice Department’s 57-page indictment, which are shocking and supposedly backed up by a great deal of evidence from communications between Adams and others, it is apparent that he can no longer effectively function in the role that ensures that our city government effectively functions for us.
At the time this column was witten, the indictment had been unsealed and the mayor had refused to step down. I hope that by the time this goes to print he is no longer in office, but I have no confidence that he will have done the right thing for the city, but this entire situation has been changing quickly.
The prior few weeks saw a slew of top administration officials resign after they were either caught up in various federal criminal investigations or because they seemingly could no longer continue in an administration that they have determined is acting unethically or even criminally.
The police commissioner resigned after his home was raided by the FBI over allegations he was running the department like a mafia protection racket. The NYPD now has a temporary commissioner whose home was raided two days into his tenure as part of a totally separate investigation.
In addition, the Schools Chancellor announced his retirement, the Health Commissioner is leaving, the corporation counsel is out, the chief counsel to the mayor resigned, the First Deputy Mayor is missing in action after having her home raided, as well as the Deputy Mayor of Public Safety, and there is no press secretary.
This is no coincidence. From the outside looking in, the average New Yorker would view this as Adams’ top people exiting because they have either been actively involved in a culture of the absolute worst in politics or because they refuse to be part of that culture. And what person in their right mind would want to take on one of these important roles that need to be filled? What sort of candidates, and of what character, would this administration attract who would be willing to get mixed up in this?
The details in the charging document are mind boggling. Prosecutors allege that Adams illegally took over $100K in travel-related bribes from Turkey. Then, it alleges that after being instructed by a Turkish official to resolve the problem with their new building not passing fire code, Adams threatened the job of the FDNY official responsible for that inspection until he certified it ready to open.
U.S. Attorneys further allege that Adams, in taking straw donations that emanated illegally from foreign entities, falsely classified them as eligible for matching funds. Under the city’s eight-to-one match, they claim he defrauded the city out of $10M in public funds. It is hard to reconcile the fact that the mayor who was depriving libraries funding so that they can serve kids on weekends may have also stolen millions in taxpayer money for his own benefit.
Prosecutors also allege that Adams was bribed by the Turkish government to not release a statement on Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day. If true, the corruption, in terms of selling the office of the mayor for travel perks and to push through inspections is terrible, but being bought off to ignore a genocide that likely slaughtered over a million people is truly abhorrent and a slap in the face to the tens of thousands of New Yorkers of Armenian ancestry.
When you read the indictment, and see the incriminating text messages in black and white, it is startling, yet Adams has said it is “based on lies” and reportedly told someone close to him it is “part of a “political vendetta,” insinuating the federal government is out to get him for political reasons.
“I’m being charged with Federal crimes because I’m fighting for you.”
Mayor Eric Adams, September, 26, 2024
When you add in his statement that “I’m being charged with Federal crimes because I’m fighting for you,” it sounds extremely Trump-like. Focusing on himself at the expense of the people he is supposed to serve is also very Trump-like.
Unlike Trump, however, Adams cannot claim that the office he holds is immune from criminal liability. And there are viable provisions that can remove him if he does not do what is best for his constituency and leave of his own accord.
