Mayor Eric Adams
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According to city officials, a controversial voucher program for migrants in New York City to get food using debit cards is ending.
New York City announced that it will discontinue a program that gave vouchers to migrants to pay for food, putting an end to an initiative that had been long assailed by conservatives and associated pundits. The vouchers came in the form of prepaid debit cards. “As we move towards more competitive contracting for asylum seeker programs, we have chosen not to renew the emergency contract for this pilot program once the one-year term concludes,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement.
The program, which began in late March, provided debit cards for food and baby supplies to 2,600 migrants who arrived in the city and were staying in hotels funded by the city. The debit cards could only be used at convenience stores, bodegas, and supermarkets. They would be unusable at other businesses. Mobility Capital Finance, or MoCaFi, was the private company that won a no-bid, emergency contract for $400,000 to run the program for one year.
The program distributed the cards at the Roosevelt Hotel in midtown Manhattan to participants, totaling $3.2 million. It was a sea change from a previous food distribution system managed by another private medical company, DocGo, which obtained a $432 million contract from the city before troubling allegations forced the city to phase the contract out.
Conservatives have attacked the program since its creation, claiming it was ripe for fraud, but no instances of bad behavior with the debit cards have occurred. City Comptroller Brad Lander also previously revoked the city’s ability to enter into emergency deals for migrant services. While an estimated 700 migrants are entering New York City each week seeking asylum, 1,000 are making their way out. Mayor Adams William Fowler, a spokesperson at City Hall, said that Mayor Adams is open to potentially pursuing the installment of a similar program in the future. “We will continue to implement and learn from innovative pilot programs like the immediate response cards program as we care for hundreds of new arrivals every week,” he said in an interview.
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New York City Mayor Eric Adams may be looking for a pardon from Donald Trump, but there are considerable political risks for him.
The return of Donald Trump to the White House has created a conundrum for New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Adams could find himself as the beneficiary of sympathy from the president-elect as he faces federal corruption charges, but actively courting favor from Trump would put him squarely against his own political party.
The tension surrounding that situation was evident to all during a press conference held on Wednesday by Adams and his staff after the election results were released. The mayor stressed that they would work with the incoming federal administration. “We will work with the new administration and Congress to develop a realistic and compassionate national strategy for our immigration system,” he said. When asked about Trump’s victory and the effect it could have on his court case, Adams simply smirked and refused to answer as he left the podium.
https://x.com/katie_honan/status/1854211493845221628?s=46
Trump mentioned Adams’ case at the Alfred E. Smith dinner in the city last month. “I just want to be nice because I know what it’s like to be persecuted by the DOJ for speaking out against open borders,” Trump said then. “We were persecuted, Eric. I was persecuted, and so were you.” He has previously pardoned high-level Democratic politicians who’ve run afoul of the law – former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick.
Adding to the pressure-filled situation is the fact that Trump and Adams both enjoy friendships with noted Republican backers including former mayoral candidate and billionaire John Catsimatidis and radio host Sid Rosenberg (who offered to be a go-between the two). “Do you protect New York as a sanctuary city, or do you consider your own liberty in that equation?” said Basil Smikle, a former Democratic strategist and current Columbia University professor. “What’s going to win out?”
With an estimated half-million undocumented immigrants living in New York City and over 210,000 migrants who’ve arrived since 2022, Trump’s vow of mass deportation looms larger. Adams has clashed with the Biden administration and members of his own city council and the Democrats over their handling of migrants. Observers have noted that the situation could reflect on his upcoming primary. “There may be an interest in having more progressive leadership or at least a leadership that isn’t bogged down by these investigations,” Smilke stated.
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The criminal trial for New York City Mayor Eric Adams has officially been set to begin next April, with the judge reviewing other charges against him.
Last Friday (Nov. 1), New York City Mayor Eric Adams was informed by Federal District Court Judge Dale E. Ho that he would stand trial on corruption charges on April 21, 2025, during a hearing. Judge Ho is also reviewing whether or not Mayor Adams would be tried on a bribery charge or throw it out. He stated that he would rule on that at a later date.
Adams’ lawyers had been arguing for the trial to be held later, noting the upcoming mayoral elections next year. “In this city, with an election happening, the court should take into account that he is not just sitting here presumed innocent anymore,” attorney Alex Spiro said. “It doesn’t give him a realistic chance. If he still has this hanging over his head, that impacts the election, period.”
Spiro and other defense lawyers also argued that the prosecution didn’t meet the bar needed for the bribery charge, which stems from Adams’ involvement with the Turkish government as he ran for office in 2021. Lead prosecutor Hagan Cordell Scotten dismissed that request in court, pointing to Adams pressuring the Fire Department to sign off on Turkey’s consulate building despite safety concerns in exchange for luxury travel on their national airline. “Pressure,” Scotten said, “is one of the many ways to satisfy an official act.”
The scheduled trial date bumps up against the beginning of the primary season in New York City’s mayoral elections, and Adams is already facing a packed field of challengers. The embattled politician is also dealing with the fact that his $1.8 million fund for legal defense has been depleted. Mayor Adams has fended off calls for his resignation when queried by the press, and Judge Ho issued a warning to his legal team and the prosecution. “The parties are cautioned that this case is to be tried in the courtroom and not in the press,” he wrote.
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Source: Noam Galai / Getty / Eric Adams / Sheena Wright
Embattled NYC Mayor Eric Adams remains defiant as the walls continue to close in around him, the corruption probe into him intensifies, and shakeups in his administration keep happening.
Spotted on The Daily News, First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright is the latest high-ranking official in Eric Adam’s administration to say, I’m good, and resign.
According to the newspaper, one of her top aides, Maria Torres-Springer, the current deputy mayor for housing and economic development, is expected to replace Wright. She was supposed to make the move last week but initially refused before deciding to step down.
Per The Daily News:
Wright, one of five senior Adams administration officials whose homes were raided by federal authorities on Sept. 4, was initially expected to step down this past Friday as part of an effort by the mayor to push out advisers ensnared in the corruption investigations.
But sources familiar with the situation told the Daily News that Wright refused, even as the other four top staffers raided on Sept. 4 — including her husband, outgoing Schools Chancellor David Banks — announced their resignations.
Finally, as of Tuesday, Wright had submitted her own resignation to the mayor, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.
At the time of reporting, Fabien Levy, a spokesman for Adams, said that “no announcement is final until and if it is made,” but in a statement shared by The New York Times, Adams said Wright is an “exceptional leader who assembled a strong team and constantly demonstrated a bold vision for this city.”
It Gets Worse For Eric Adams
To make matters worse for Mayor Mixxy, an adviser to Adams, was charged with witness tampering and destroying evidence.
The indicted politician is in big trouble as the dominoes around him continue to fall. It’s only a matter of time before Adams announces that he will be stepping down as mayor of NYC.
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Source: Alex Kent / Getty / Eric Adams
They say birds of a feather flock together. Mayor Mixxy, aka Eric Adams, needs all the allies he can get as the walls continue to close in on him, so it shouldn’t be shocking that he is now accepting support from Donald Trump.
Spotted on Raw Story, the embattled indicted Mayor, Eric Adams, welcomed the support from the disgraced orange menace, Donald Trump, after becoming the first NYC Mayor to be indicted while in office for allegedly taking bribes from foreign governments.
Speaking out of the side of his racist mouth, Trump, for whatever reason, blamed Adams’ charges on his critical comments Mayor Mixxy said about undocumented immigrants coming to the city.
“We have people that use the Justice Department and the FBI at levels that have never been seen before,” Trump said last week. “I wish him luck.”
On Tuesday, October 1, reporters asked Adams if he had embraced Trump’s support.
“Listen, I welcome support from every American, no matter where they are and who they are,” Adams told reporters. “I welcome support from every American, those who know me and know how I am, and those who are just reading up on this.”
“So, every American in this great country, I welcome support from.”
Critics Are Calling Eric Adams’ Rhetoric Very Trump-Like
It’s no surprise that Adams is being dragged for appreciating the support for the twice-impeached former president, with many pointing out how Trumpish he sounded.
“Several of Adams’ fellow Democrats compared the mayor’s rhetoric to that of former President Donald Trump, a Republican who was also indicted — and ultimately convicted — in New York,” Gothamist writer Brigid Bergin said.
Bergin continued, “Several of Adams’ fellow Democrats compared the mayor’s rhetoric to that of former President Donald Trump, a Republican who was also indicted — and ultimately convicted — in New York.”
Welp.
The news isn’t getting any better for Adams. Federal prosecutors are considering bringing more charges against the defiant NYC Mayor.
You can see more reactions to Eric Adams’ downfall, which is currently in progress.
1. Hate to see it
3. Howling
9.
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Cam’ron revealed that he was approached by Mayor Eric Adams to receive the keys, to New York City—after rescinding Diddy’s—but he declined.
As embattled New York City Mayor Eric Adams is dealing with the fallout from his federal indictment, Cam’ron shared that his administration offered him the key to the city recently. “You know what’s crazy? This is word to everything I love,” he said to his friend and It Is What It Is co-host Ma$e while discussing the fraud and bribery charges Adams was hit with last week. “Last month, they called me to see if I wanted the key to the city. I said, ‘I don’t want to be involved with nothing. They offered me that shit. They said, ‘Cam, you want the key to the city?’ I was like, ‘That ain’t really up my alley right now. I’m cool with the key to New York City, man.’”
He went on to talk further about how that kind of offer doesn’t have a positive value now: “Where does that get you? I don’t want nothing to do with the keys to the city and the n—-s giving ’em out, the n—-s who previously had ’em. I don’t got nothing to do with the key to the city.” The “I Really Mean It” rapper was undoubtedly referring to Diddy, who received the keys to the city from Mayor Adams in a highly publicized ceremony in Times Square last September. The city rescinded the honor after video of the controversial music mogul assaulting his then-partner Cassie Ventura surfaced in correlation to her lawsuit against Diddy last November. Diddy, aka Sean Combs, returned the key six days after Adams’ office requested them back.
Mayor Adams had also recently given a key to Fat Joe, who received it in the Bronx in August. The “Don Cartagena” artist stated in an Instagram Live video that unnamed people were “upset” over it. “I get the key to the city [on] the 20th and, boy, was that a hard one. Hip Hop got a black eye,” he said at the time. “The mayor and his crew, his right-hand girl, got me the key to the city. Everybody was a little upset. But I don’t know another guy who keeps it realer with the streets of New York than Fat Joe, who feeds more people, opens more businesses. I don’t know what to tell you guys.”
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Source: The Washington Post / Getty
The indictment of Mayor Eric Adams has been unsealed and the Southern District of New York has laid out massive corruption from the ex-cop. The defendant is being charged with bribery, fraud and solicitation, mostly tied to his dealings with Turkish nationals seeking his favor as the leader of the largest city in the United States.
The indictment was unsealed on Thursday (September 26) morning. Adams has been indicted on five federal corruption charges that include bribery, fraud and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations. According to the SDNY, his corruption dates back to 2014, when he was elected Brooklyn Borough President.
Allegedly, the Turkish nationals had their eyes on Adams, and he happily took the bait, accepting campaign funding and luxury trips in exchange for favorable decisions on their behalf. Among the SDNY’s allegations are that Adams accepted illegal campaign contributions, free luxury travel via Turkish nationals and even accepted bribes as part of a quid pro quo with his benefactors.
Some of the ways Adams allegedly tipped the scales was by pressuring New York Fire Department officials to open a new Turkish consulate despite issues with its fire inspection. Adams is also accused of changing his phone’s password, then saying he forgot it—after the Feds seized said phone. Cover up much?
Adams, a retired NYPD captain, became New York City mayor in 2021.
A defiant Adams, surrounded by Black supporters, said “I ask New Yorkers to wait to hear our defense” and that “my day to day will not change” in regards to his job as mayor of New York City during a press conference on the steps of Gracie Mansion shortly after the indictment was unsealed.
As the details of the indictment make their way out into the world, social media continues to pile on. See some of the more boisterous reactions in the gallery.
You knew things weren’t going to go well when Adams’ press conference began with him getting heckled and read the riot act.
This story is developing.
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Source: Andrew Lichtenstein / Getty
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted. The divisive politician is the first mayor of the Big Apple to face criminal charges while on the job.
Collins: The NYT is now reporting that New York City Mayor Eric Adams has just been indicted by federal prosecutors.. We saw Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez calling for him to resign.. He responded he hasn’t faced any charges yet. Of course now.. we see he has been indicted pic.twitter.com/R09rV3RXU4
— Acyn (@Acyn) September 26, 2024
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The indictment is sealed, for now. Adams, a retired NYPD captain, has been under investigation by the Department of Justice for months over the fundraising for his mayoral campaign, which has been allegedly tied to foreign nations including Turkey. Adams’ phones were seized last year, yet, he was still on the job.
Of course, Adams put out a statement denying everything, claiming he is the actual victim. Reportedly, even after he’s inevitably arrested, he can still return to office until his case is taken to trial. New York State’s governor Kathleen Hochul does have the ability to suspend Adams, if she desires. But at this point that is all conjecture.
Over the last couple of weeks and days alone numerous top officials on his staff and NYC’s City Hall have stepped down.
Earlier in the day (Sept. 25), Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Casio called for Adams to resign, citing all the investigations surrounding his administration and referencing the departures. “I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City,” wrote AOC on X, formerly known as Twitter. “The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening gov function. Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration.”
To say Adams has been a divisive figure since the moment he was elected mayor would be an understatement. Socia media media user, particularly from NYC, are letting everyone know how they really feel—see in the gallery below. More calls for his resignation are coming through, too.
4. Never forget.
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Source: Andrew Lichtenstein / Getty
Federal prosecutors are now researching New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ ties to five other countries concerning an investigation into his campaign.
According to the New York Times, the federal investigation of New York City Mayor Eric Adams and his ties to the Turkish government has now expanded to include five other countries, according to sources. The request for information is linked to the sweeping grand jury subpoenas that were issued to a swath of City Hall back in July. The primary goal of the investigation for prosecutors was to determine whether Adams conspired with the Turkish government to illegally funnel foreign donations into his campaign back in 2021. The five countries prosecutors requested information about are Israel, China, Qatar, South Korea, and Uzbekistan.
The specific information that the federal authorities are looking for in this new batch of subpoenas includes information on records concerning tickets to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which Adams attended, as well as data on New York Police Department booths outside of foreign consulates and Adams’ use of the encrypted Signal app. Prosecutors are also looking into allegations of Adams receiving free flights and upgrades from Turkish Airlines, as well as the allegations that he pressured the New York Fire Department into approving a high-rise consulate building in Midtown
They also sought more information about the former Turkish Consul General Reyhan Özgür and Arda Sayiner, a brand influencer based in Turkey who has ties to Rana Abbasova. Abbasova was a former Adams liaison to Turkey and worked in his international affairs office until her home was raided by federal authorities last November. Ms. Abbasova is now cooperating fully with the government’s investigation. The July subpoenas had been issued after FBI agents had seized Mayor Adams’ phones after stopping him outside of an event he was attending last November.
Fabien Levy, a spokesperson for City Hall said officials weren’t going to comment on the subpoenas “but, as we have repeatedly said, we will continue to fully comply with any law enforcement inquiry.” At his weekly press conference, Adams defended his policies. “We continue to progress…that is what I must do,” he said. “I’ve always done that for New Yorkers, and I will continue to do that.” To date, Adams’ administration has been rocked by resignations after federal seizures of devices including former NYPD commissioner Edward Caban.
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Source: Pacific Press / Getty / Mayor Eric Adams / Lisa Zornberg
It’s not looking good for Mayor Mixxy, aka Eric Adams.
As the walls continue to close in on NYC Mayor Eric Adams as his people in his close inner orbit are getting visits from the feds and arrested in some cases, another sign Eric Adams is in trouble is New York City Hall’s chief counsel suddenly stepping down.
The New York Post reports that Lisa Zornberg, who has been the lead attorney for Mayor Mixxy and City Hall since July 2023, has handed in her resignation papers. Her move comes after NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban also resigned.
According to the Daily News reporting, Zornberg resigned “after the mayor rejected her advice to fire several top administration officials ensnared in federal corruption investigations rocking City Hall, according to two sources familiar with the matter.”
In a statement, Zornberg said, “I am deeply grateful to Mayor Adams for giving me the opportunity to serve the city, and I strongly support the work he has done and continues to do for New Yorkers.”
In response, Adams thanked Zornberg for her service and said he would swiftly find her replacement.
“We appreciate all the work Lisa has done for our administration and, more importantly, the city over the past 13 months. These are hard jobs and we don’t expect anyone to stay in them forever,” Adams said.
It’s Not Looking Good For Eric Adams
Zornberg’s resignation comes on the heels of the homes of Caban and other members of the NYPD’s homes being raided as part of a massive corruption probe alleging influence peddling.
James Caban, Edward Caban’s twin brother, is currently under investigation by the feds for allegedly being a “fixer” for many Manhattan restaurants and clubs as part of his “consulting” work.
The hits keep on coming for Eric Adams.