4 deputy mayors to resign over Trump call for dismissal of Adams case

Half of New York City’s deputy mayors abruptly announced their resignations Monday — including the one who oversees day-to-day running of municipal government and another in charge of handling the migrant crisis — as President Donald Trump’s Justice Department pursues dismissal of the corruption case against Mayor Eric Adams.

Losing the four "raises serious questions about the long-term future of this Mayoral administration," said a statement late Monday evening from Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has the power to remove Adams.

Hochul also said: "The alleged conduct at City Hall that has been reported over the past two weeks is troubling and cannot be ignored."

And Tuesday she'll convene "key leaders to meet me at my Manhattan office for a conversation about the path forward."

The resignations come amid questions over whether dismissal of the charges hinges on Adams' cooperation with the White House’s deportation plans — and whether Adams is beholden to Trump — and protests demanding Adams resign.

Those stepping down are first deputy Maria Torres-Springer, who runs the city's day-to-day operations; Anne Williams-Isom, who’s in charge of health and human services and the migrant crisis; operations chief Meera Joshi; and Chauncey Parker, who coordinates public safety. The four have worked in government for decades.

"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," said Torres-Springer, Williams-Isom and Joshi in a joint statement.

The statement from the three deputy mayors added they "stand ready to ensure a smooth transition of our duties."

Parker, who took the job last year to replace an Adams crony, issued his own statement that didn't give a reason for quitting.

In  a statement, Adams said: "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," adding: “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. 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.”

The resignation announcements throw the Adams administration — and New York City’s government — into further chaos, as the deputies are seen as steady, longtime bureaucrats who could keep the city running as the mayor faces criminal prosecution on corruption charges.

Meanwhile, Brad Lander, the city comptroller, threatened Monday to convene a municipal committee empowered to remove a mayor, absent a contingency plan by the mayor to run the government in the deputies’ absence. Separately, the head of the City Council, Speaker Adrienne Adams, called late Monday afternoon on Adams to resign.

"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," according to a statement from the speaker, who isn’t related to the mayor. 

Last Monday, Trump’s Justice Department ordered the case against the mayor be dismissed for explicitly political reasons, including so Adams could assist in Trump’s plans to deport immigrants. The merits of the case weren't a reason. The case is to be dismissed without prejudice — and reconsidered after the November mayoral election — meaning Adams could be re-charged on the Trump administration’s whim.

After a half-dozen Justice Department personnel refused to carry out the orders — and resigned — a department lawyer in Washington, D.C., agreed to do so after the No. 2 in the department threatened mass firings if no one volunteered. The dismissal motion is now with the judge presiding over Adams' criminal case.

In recent days, the Adams deputies reportedly met with Adams to express displeasure over his relationship with the Trump administration. 

What Adams said during the meeting apparently wasn’t enough and the deputies' resignations were tendered Monday.

Meanwhile, for a second day, anti-Adams protests roiled Manhattan.

Monday afternoon, thousands marched in Union Square and Washington Square Park for a Presidents Day demonstration against Trump. Similar anti-Trump protests were held in Washington, D.C., Colorado, Massachusetts, Texas and elsewhere.

In New York City, the protests were flavored with anti-Adams sentiment.

Public school math teacher Yvette Silver, 62, of Manhattan’s Upper West Side, called Trump’s actions in office “dangerous” and “damaging” — and said she’s shocked at what’s become of Adams.

“He was about to face the consequences, but he made his own Art of the Deal,”  Silver said of the mayor, adding: “I think it’s very corrupt and very blatant and it’s just really unacceptable. Someone who was a cop who was supposed to enforce the law, he’s just flagrantly breaking it.”

By Matthew Chayes

matthew.chayes@newsday.comchayesmatthew

Matthew Chayes, a Newsday reporter since 2007, covers New York City.