Will Gov. Kathy Hochul remove NYC Mayor Eric Adams from office?
NEW YORK (PIX11) – In its 237-year history, no New York governor has ever had to utilize an obscure power to remove a highly elected official from office. That is what Governor Kathy Hocul is confronted with now.
Whether to use Article 13, section five of the state constitution to remove New York City Mayor Eric Adams from office.
Calls for Adams to resign mount after deputy mayors resign
As Governor Hochul weighed her options in meetings with key government leaders, we spoke with former New York Governor David Paterson, who understands the power she holds in her hands.
He told PIX11 News, 'I'm not saying she should not remove him, but I'm saying that if she does, she has to accumulate the kind of evidence that would demonstrate that he was not following the oath of office and not going with the people rather than himself.' Adams has remained steadfast in his refusal to resign.
'If she doesn't choose to remove him, life just goes on as if it never happened in the first place,' Paterson asserted.
Should the governor decide to remove the mayor, she must provide him with a formal document outlining the reasons and allow him 30 days to respond. The timeline includes a deadline of March 26th for the governor to decide whether to call a special election.
A longtime supporter of Mayor Adams, Paterson said he would initiate his investigation if he were in office.
'I would probably hold a hearing to make sure the mayor did not violate the law or put pressure on deputies to do things not in the public interest, but beyond that, I want to see a smoking gun,' he said, adding, 'I want to see a direct connection between the mayor and corruption.'
Given all the factors, Governor Hochul has her political future to consider in her decision.
Political analyst J.C. Polanco weighed in on the questions she should be considering on the PIX morning show. He asked, 'Is there political will for her? Will this impact her next year in a democratic primary removing a duly elected mayor?'
It's interesting to note that this current political episode played out in 1932 when then-Governor Franklin Roosevelt came close to using his power to oust Mayor Jimmy Walker, who was part of the corrupt Tammany Hall administration. But Walker didn't give him the chance. He resigned and fled to Europe.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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