NEW YORK — Late Monday afternoon, four more of Mayor Eric Adams’ aides left in scandal, and the first deputy mayor — who holds one of the most powerful positions in government — is expected to follow them out the door.
Amid the wave of firings that followed a federal corruption investigation and indictment of the Democratic mayor, Adams is trying to elevate a trusted insider. Maria Torres-Springer, deputy mayor for housing, economic development and employment, is now the top contender for the first deputy mayor.
Five people familiar with the nomination process said the embattled mayor was close to naming her as the successor to Sheena Wright, his outgoing first deputy mayor.
Gov. Kathy Hochul — who has the power to oust Adams — is pressuring her fellow Democrat to let go of controversial aides. Adams’ team, in turn, is pressuring Wright to resign, weeks after federal agents raided her Harlem home and seized her phone.
Her husband, David Banks, whose phone was also seized in that raid, recently resigned from his post as school chancellor. Phil Banks, David’s brother, announced his resignation on Monday. Four other top officials have been forced to resign or resign since the raids in early September and the indictment of Adams on September 26.
In Torres-Springer, Adams gets a longtime administration official who worked for former mayors Bill de Blasio and Mike Bloomberg.
“She is a professional and will continue to ride through this year and be able to say that I helped keep the city moving during a time of unrest,” one of the people said.
Torres-Springer, who NBC New York reported was being considered for the job, declined to comment and referred POLITICO to City Hall’s press office.
Adams spokesperson Fabien Levy said “no announcement is final until it is made.”
Torres-Springer has worked for Adams since the start of his administration and is considered professional and competent in a sea of disorder.
She helped spearhead the deal to build housing and a soccer stadium in Willets Point, Queens — which Adams considers one of his top accomplishments of his administration — and is leading City of Yes’ multifaceted plan to transform the city’s zoning district. city to change.
Under de Blasio, she served as the city’s housing commissioner and CEO of the city’s Economic Development Corporation.
The selection of Torres-Springer may be driven in part by Hochul, who has offered to help Adams connect with applicants for these high-level positions, a person familiar with the discussions said.
“They want high-ranking people with government experience around the mayor or in the mayor’s office to help steady the ship, regardless of who the mayor is,” said another person familiar with Hochul’s thinking.
Torres-Springer has been untouched by the numerous investigations and scandals that have created a cloud of distrust around the Adams administration.
‘You don’t want to have to explain that when you introduce someone. So in many ways it would be cleaner to pick someone from the outside,” a person familiar with Adams’ thinking told POLITICO. “However, she is highly qualified due to her years of government experience, plus the fact that she knows all the players in the administration and does not have to learn as she goes.”
Hours after news of Phil Banks’ departure Monday morning, POLITICO reported that Adams’ Asian liaison Winnie Greco and Muslim liaison Mohammed Bahi had resigned, and that City Hall had fired International Affairs staffer Rana Abbasova.
All are embroiled in controversy, including Abbasova, who appears to be the assistant prosecutors alleging that the Turkish government provided facilitated bribes to Adams. Bahi was criticized last year by the New York Post editorial board for his role in founding an alleged radical Muslim organization.
Meanwhile, chief adviser Ingrid Lewis-Martin recently said on a radio program that she planned to retire at the start of the new year.
Amid the turmoil, Adams is leaning on internal hiring.
Last week, Adams named Lisa Zornberg’s former chief of staff, Allison Stoddart, as her replacement and appointed Acting Corporation Counsel Muriel Goode-Trufant to fill that role permanently.
Adams made one high-profile appointment from outside government, appointing Tom Donlon as interim police commissioner. Days later, his home was visited by federal investigators.
“He brought Donlon in from outside the NYPD, but look how that turned out,” said a person familiar with Adams’ thinking. “Any personnel changes that will occur will all be internal employees.”
Jason Beeferman contributed to this report.
