While the top-level resignations from the Adams administration have come amid scandal and allegations of corruption, the beneficial outcome for Adams and the city has been the elevation of several outstanding aides as replacements. The house cleaning that Gov. Hochul demanded when Adams himself was charged last fall has proven effective, as the mayor has installed some superb public officials in City Hall and at the NYPD.
After he was elected in 2021, Adams should have expanded his inner circle beyond the group of close associates that he picked up in his long career as a cop, a state senator and Brooklyn borough president. He seemed to value these old loyal allies more as friends and associates than as expert managers, a reliance for which he’s now paying the price.
The latest to go is Jeff Maddrey, an old cop buddy of Adams, who in the mayor’s first year in office was made NYPD chief of department, the highest ranked uniformed officer. Maddrey was ousted two weeks ago in an overtime pay scandal exposed by the Daily News that also has charges of sex with a subordinate, which Maddrey does not deny. Maddrey’s home was then raided this week by the FBI in concert with the NYPD, indicating a possible crime.
The mayor himself is charged by Manhattan federal prosecutors with bending the normal workings of government in exchange for improper campaign contributions and flight upgrades. His former chief advisor is accused by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and city Department of Investigation Commissioner Jocelyn Strauber of engaging in a pay-to-play scheme to enrich herself and her son. Still, don’t forget that the presumption of innocence applies to everyone.
There have also been rumblings of a protection racket involving the brother of the ex-police commissioner, who had his home raided. The previous deputy mayor for public safety and his brother, the schools chancellor, resigned as did the latter’s wife, who was the first deputy mayor, amid investigations into contracts given and improper influence and all three of them had their smartphones seized by the FBI.
There’s more, but you get the idea. This cannot be waved away by the spurious notion that Joe Biden and the U.S. Justice Department is retaliating against Adams’ legitimate criticism of Biden’s poor management of the migrant crisis.
In the wake of the resignations and in the last few months, Adams has made some very fine appointments: the universally respected Maria Torres-Springer as first deputy mayor; no-nonsense Jessie Tisch as police commissioner; Chauncey Parker as deputy mayor for public safety, and more. That helps fill out a team that already had its share of talented and ethical people, including Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi, City Planning Chair Dan Garodnick and Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue. That’s not meant to be a complete list of the good eggs; there are plenty more in the carton.
We’re glad Adams seems to have learned his lesson, even if belatedly, and hope that he now consistently puts high-quality governance well above personal loyalty. It’s the only way to run a city well.