How does one do that?
The Adams Administration seems to be swirling the toilet at this point. Multiple people at the highest levels and people closest to him are under investigation for serious acts of corruption. Others have already been arrested by the Department of Justice including members of the FDNY and Department of Buildings.
The news will most likely not get any better for Adams as this appears only to be the beginning of the public servants in his administration being issued FBI#s. (that is the federal fingerprint slang). If the investigations go as anticipated, we may be faced with the removal of the mayor.
The removal of the Mayor of the City of New York is not a particularly difficult or democratic process. The Governor of New York State can give him the boot. It is in NYS Law and the City Charter
§ 9. Removal of mayor. The mayor may be removed from office by the governor upon charges and after service upon him of a copy of the charges and an opportunity to be heard in his defense. Pending the preparation and disposition of charges, the governor may suspend the mayor for a period not exceeding thirty days.
The process is pretty vague, but the power clearly lies with Kathy Hochul. What type of charges is not clear, but it seems like Hochul can bring them and give Mayor Adams a chance to respond, probably publicly. It doesn’t state that criminal charges are necessary.
The Mayor in happier days
It has almost happened before. In 1932, the wildly corrupt Mayor Jimmy Walker (not Jimmie Walker, who is dyn-o-mite!), was running New York City. Walker wasn’t even trying to hide his corruption, motoring around the city in an open cab Duesenberg that was a “gift from an admirer” and valued at around $320,000 in today’s dollars. His corruption was pervasive. As his Tammany Hall compatriots were outed and arrested, there was increasing pressure for Walker to go. The Governor at the time was Franklin Delano Roosevelt. If you recall, 1932 was his first successful presidential campaign.
Jimmy Walker’s free Ride
Roosevelt didn’t need a scandal under his watch and probably wished Jimmy Walker was a little less flamboyant. He also needed the support of Tammany Hall in his primary against NYC native Al Smith. But the time came where the obvious corruption could no longer be swept under the rug. Not wanting to appear weak in facing off against Herbert Hoover, Roosevelt scheduled a hearing with Walker.
Jimmy Walker – who wouldn’t trust a guy like that?
The hearing was a public one. It was in the Executive Chamber of the State Capitol Building. Walker was there with his aides. Corruption fighter Judge Samuel Seabury (a criminal investigative innovator) was there to detail the misdeeds of Jimmy Walker. Governor Roosevelt was there to serve as judge and jury. About 120 members of the media and spectators were allowed to listen in.
Governor FDR and Al Smith
The hearings went on for about two weeks until a recess was called. Jimmy Walker left Albany in tatters. It was clear that there was enough evidence for Roosevelt to remove him.
Shortly thereafter, Jimmy Walker packed his bags, vacated Gracie Mansion, resigned his office in a phone call to the City Clerk, and sailed off to Europe with his showgirl consort Betty Compton. He announced that he was done with seeking or holding public office on the cruise over to the Old World. He stayed in Europe until Roosevelt was installed as President and the chances of his indictment magically evaporated.
It does not appear that the case against Eric Adams is anywhere close to what Roosevelt had to confront Jimmy Walker. Roosevelt’s case came after the Seabury Commission had investigated corruption for years. Hochul does not have access to the DOJ case(s) surrounding Adams. We really do not have any smoking gun at this time. It could possibly be that he surrounded himself with people of ill-repute, while keeping clean himself.
It could even be that the Fed’s case is weak. We don’t have much information. What we do know is that there is a lot of smoke. Where there is smoke, there is usually fire. If the DOJ has a strong case or cases, they should move quickly. They have put Eric Adams on the hot seat with public enforcement actions, leaks, and media attention. If there is enough for indictments, get them filed. If not, clear his name.
It is possible, likely even, that the allegations against people in the Adams Administration are endangering the citizens of NYC. Some of the claims include violations of fire codes, building codes, and licensed premise laws. These violations can be dangerous or even deadly. New York City learned that lesson many times, most famously in the Happy Land Social Club in fire 1990 where 87 people were killed.
The Happy Land fire
If the Adams Administration, and possibly the Mayor himself, are endangering the lives of New Yorkers it is time for us to know. The Department of Justice needs to either bring their case or give Hochul the information necessary to initiate a removal. Let the DOJ decide who gets prosecuted, let the Governor decide what is best and safest for the citizens of her state.
If Eric Adams is removed or resigns, what comes next is Mayor Jumaane Williams. May God have mercy on our souls.
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