Four deputy mayors from the Adams administration have officially resigned.
NBC New York broke the news Sunday that New York City Mayor Eric Adams met Sunday with at least three deputy mayors who have expressed their intention to resign from his administration.
The meeting on Zoom – according to two sources familiar – was aimed at convincing the senior aides to slow down any final decision or public disclosure of a departure plan – which could further destabilize the mayor’s ability to hang on amid increasing calls to step aside.
A spokeswoman for the mayor, Kayla Mamelak, said Sunday that no deputy mayors have submitted resignations. However, on Monday City Hall issued a statement confirming the resignations.
“Maria Torres-Springer, Anne Williams-Isom, Meera Joshi, and Chauncey Parker are extraordinary public servants who have been vital to our work reshaping New York City,” the mayor’s office said in a statement. “Together, we’ve broken housing records, created the most jobs in the city’s history, provided for hundreds of thousands of longtime New Yorkers and migrants, built unprecedented public spaces, and made our city safer at every level. New Yorkers owe them an enormous debt of gratitude for their service to our city.”
The statement goes on to say: “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.
“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.”
Initially, the two sources who attended the Sunday meeting said that it was three deputy mayors — First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres Springer, Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi, and Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams Isom — had already told the mayor of their intention to step down during an in-person meeting at Gracie Mansion on Friday, according to a source with knowledge.
The senior aides expressed concerns about their ability to serve in the mayor’s administration after a controversial move by the Trump Justice Department to temporarily set aside criminal charges against Adams.
A fourth deputy mayor – Chauncey Parker – who oversees public safety has told the mayor’s office of his desire to leave and was also on the call Sunday, according to a source familiar.
One source close to the mayor said the resignations were on hold following a productive Sunday meeting and pending potential court developments this week, the source said mass departures were not imminent.
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.
Maria Torres-Springer, Anne Williams-Isom, Meera Joshi, and Chauncey Parker
Another source familiar with the deputy mayors’ conversations, however, said the three deputy mayors who told Adams Friday of their intention to resign made it clear again on the Sunday call that it was still their intention to depart in late March.
On Monday, Torres-Springer, Williams-Isom and Joshi put out a joint statement in which they described serving as deputy mayors as “the greatest honor and privilege of our lives.”
“We have worked each day with the singular mission of improving the lives of New Yorkers and strengthening the physical foundation of the city we love,” their joint statement reads. “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. While our time in this administration will come to a close, our support for the incredible public servants across the administration with whom we have stood shoulder to shoulder and our championing of this great city and all it stands for will never cease. We sincerely thank the mayor for giving us the opportunity to serve New Yorkers in these roles, stand ready to ensure a smooth transition of our duties, and wish Mayor Adams and all of our colleagues much strength and courage in the work ahead.”
Meanwhile, in a separate statement, Parker said: “Serving as deputy mayor for public safety under Mayor Adams has been an honor of a lifetime. Together, we have made our streets safer, more just, and have improved quality of life for all New Yorkers. I am confident that the administration will continue on our mission to deliver for the people of this city.”
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