Staff Reports
Danielle Sassoon, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, made a dramatic exit last week amidst a swirling storm of controversy surrounding New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Following the Department of Justice’s puzzling decision to drop corruption charges against Adams, Sassoon decided it was time to call it quits. One can only imagine what she must have been thinking as she packed her office—“I can’t believe I just graduated from the DOJ to being a participant in circus acrobatics.”
As if the plot twist weren’t juicy enough, the City Council speaker, Adrienne Adams, stepped into the fray, claiming that it’s time for the mayor to take a long, hard look in the mirror and consider resigning. She stated that the mayor’s administration “no longer has the ability to effectively govern.” What a shocker! It’s not like New Yorkers have seen this play before. With scandals piling up like dirty laundry and a leadership style more suited for a “How Not To Govern” seminar, it seems the mayor’s preferred method of leadership is to bumble his way through every crisis.
🚨 BREAKING NEWS: Four deputy mayors to NYC Mayor Eric Adams are resigning due to his trading cooperation with ICE and Trump’s mass deportation agenda for a dismissal of his criminal indictment.
The quid pro quo was first exposed in the resignation letter of U.S. attorney… pic.twitter.com/EiPzmEggnk
— CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) February 17, 2025
In a theatrical declaration, Adrienne Adams went on to lament the current “scandal, selfishness, and embarrassment” permeating the city. A leader who prioritizes anything other than their constituents is clearly not fulfilling their duty, and it seems like the council speaker had just about reached her breaking point. By advocating for a new leader who’s committed to the good folks of New York, she’s essentially calling for a makeover on a government that’s already lost all sense of style.
The trouble began last year when Mayor Adams found himself under the watchful eye of federal authorities, facing allegations of peddling favors to the Turkish government in exchange for campaign cash and extravagant trips. It’s as if Adams was running a side gig as a Turkish travel agent rather than focusing on the mayoral duties to fix the city’s rampant issues. The charges had the air of political theatrics, but Trump confidently proclaimed it was simply a case of politically motivated bullying from a vengeful administration. If only we could get a little favoritism in exchange for effective governance, the city’s myriad problems might not seem so daunting.
Just as Adams clings to his position, his administration is shedding high-ranking officials faster than a poorly made sweater. Four of his deputies resigned, claiming they could no longer operate under such extraordinary circumstances. While Adams expressed disappointment over their exit, it’s likely his heart rate rose just a notch knowing that fewer people were around to challenge him. Meanwhile, the New Yorkers are left wondering if the mayor will ever be as committed to his job as he is to courting controversy. At this rate, a talent show of city leaders might bring more cohesion to City Hall than the current team dynamic.
