The rumor from City Hall is the reporters have a pool on the day Adams resigns or is indicted?
When the FBI knocks on your door at 5 am it’s probably not to bring a bagel and lox breakfast. From Adams on down, including the Banks brothers, high level cops, and a host of high rank officials the 5 am knock on the door must be frightening.
Adams has maintained over and over again, “I’ve been told I’m not the target of any investigation,”
The Mayor worked his way through the NYPD to the rank of captain, elected to the NYS Senate and survived the Rank Choice Voting 2021 Democratic primary, eking out a narrow victory over Sanitation Commissioner Katherine Garcia and New School professor Maya Wiley. Garcia is Governor Hochul’s Chief of Staff and Wiley leads the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, a coalition of 240 Human and Civil Rights organizations.
As the aroma of scandal swirls around Adams everything is speculation The 340 page City Charter grants mayors widespread authority to run the city, he appoints, without “advise and consent” from anyone over 300 positions, from commissioners, deputy commissioners and a wide range of titles you probably never heard of. The City Council, on the other hand has limited authority. Attending a Standing Meeting most Thursdays, chair a committee and hold oversight hearings. The Speaker of the City Council controls the flow of business. The current Council far to the left and frequently fences with the middle of the road mayor; however, aside from approving the budget in June, the Mayor runs the city.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the mayor shall have the powers of a finance board under the local finance law and may exercise such powers without regard to any provision of law prescribing the voting strength required for a resolution or action of such finance board, provided, however, that whenever the mayor determines that obligations should be issued and the amount thereof, he shall certify such determination to the comptroller who shall thereupon determine the nature and term of such obligations and shall arrange for the issuance thereof.
Mayor de Blasio and Council Speaker Johnson generally had a positive working relationship, Adams and Adrienne Adams, the current Speaker have dueled over a range of issues, encouraged by her pretty far to the left membership; however, the Council has limited authority.
FLASH: Politico reports Chancellor Banks is stepping down, his letter addressed to Mayor Adams begins, “During our meeting earlier this year I advised you I intend to retire at the end of this calendar year after ensuring the school year got off to a good start, I have decided to retire effective December 31, 2024, after dedicating nearly forty years of service to New York Public Schools.”
FLASH Sources say Melissa Aviles-Ramos, a current Deputy Chancellor will be announced tomorrow as acting Chancellor.
Does Banks “retirement” presage the exit of the Mayor?
Probably, although until he is indicted he can remain in his position; however, the Governor can remove him.
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.
What happens after the mayor resigns or is removed gets complicated. The Public Advocate, currently Jumaane Williams would assume the position, and he must set a date, within 80 days, for an election, no primary, using the Ranked Choice Voting (each voter can “rank” votes from 1 to 5, the lowest vote getters votes transfer until a winner is determined).
With only 80 days to set up an election, including raising funds, get out of the way while the dozen or so candidates scramble. New York City has a public financing system, 8 to 1 matching for each donation of $250 or less, you do not have to participate, you can fund the race yourself and due to Citizens United, the Supreme Court decision, unlimited funding as long as the funding is not coordinated with the candidate.
Who are the candidates, or maybe who isn’t running, with matching funding and an 80 day campaign period I expect a long list, the frontrunners: Brad Lander, the Comptroller and Scott Stringer, a lead candidate in 2021 until his #metoo catastrophe. Cuomo? I don’t think so ….he has nothing to lose except his ego, and he has a large ego.
In the shadows is Mike Bloomberg, who could run or fund a business personage with no political alignments. Although it sounds nuts, maybe Donald Trump.
Yes, there is that November 5th election, don’t forget about it. Watch the Walz/Vance debate on October 1
Ed in the Apple: Blogging on the Intersection of Education and Politics Title 