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In the event that Mayor Eric Adams decides to step down from his position before the end of his term, the city’s public advocate, Jumaane Williams, would step in as acting mayor, and a special election would be organized to select a new mayor. However, if Mayor Adams chooses to remain in office despite calls for his resignation, there are two potential avenues through which he could be removed involuntarily.
The first option involves a complex procedure outlined in the New York City Charter, which grants Governor Kathy Hochul the authority to compel Mayor Adams to vacate his position. The second option is based on a provision in the charter that allows for the formation of a “committee on mayoral inability” to remove the mayor. This committee would consist of five members, including the city’s corporation counsel, comptroller, City Council speaker, a deputy mayor appointed by the mayor, and the borough president with the longest consecutive service.
Although the provision for the committee on mayoral inability has never been utilized before, Mayor Adams’ criminal indictment marks a unique situation in the city’s history. Professor Richard Briffault from Columbia Law School emphasized that despite the indictment, Mayor Adams retains his position as mayor until a trial determines the outcome. For Mayor Adams to be removed, at least four out of the five committee members would need to vote in favor of his removal. However, the vacancy in the corporation counsel position poses an initial challenge, as the role is currently being filled by Muriel Goode-Trufant in an acting capacity.
Brad Lander, who serves as the comptroller and would be part of the removal committee, is a potential candidate in next year’s primary election against Mayor Adams and has already urged the mayor to resign. The identity of the deputy mayor who would serve on the committee remains uncertain, while the longest-serving borough president, Donovan Richards of Queens, would also be part of the decision-making process.
Despite the ambiguity surrounding the removal process, some City Council members have voiced their support for considering Mayor Adams’ forced removal. Council member Lincoln Restler of Brooklyn expressed concerns that the indictment could distract Mayor Adams from his duties and called on Governor Hochul to explore all available options in the City Charter, including her authority to remove a mayor facing charges and convening the committee on inability.
In conclusion, the potential scenarios for Mayor Adams’ removal from office highlight the unprecedented nature of the situation and the legal mechanisms in place to address such circumstances. The focus remains on upholding the best interests of New Yorkers and ensuring effective governance in the city.
Source: The NY Times
