By Michael V. Cusenza
Governor Kathy Hochul on Thursday answered the demands from both sides of the aisle to force embattled Mayor Eric Adams to resign by proposing new actions to restore public trust in New York City government with an expansion of State oversight and new guardrails to ensure accountability.
These actions will require legislative action and would take effect immediately upon passage.
Hochul announced the following actions:
A new Special Inspector General for New York City Affairs will be established within the Office of the State Inspector General. The Special Inspector General for New York City Affairs will receive updates and information directly from the City Department of Investigations about corruption investigations, and also be able to direct NYCDOI to commence investigations across city government.
To ensure her continued independence, the New York City Charter will be revised to provide that the Mayor of New York City will not be able to terminate the New York City Commissioner of Investigation without approval by the State Inspector General.
This new structure will ensure that state officials have access to information about any current or future investigations. It will also allow the State to closely monitor or advance any such investigations into potential corruption within city government.
Under the governor’s plan, the City Comptroller, Council and Public Advocate will be given explicit authority to bring litigation against the federal government using outside counsel if the City’s Law Department declines to do so promptly after a request. Such litigation could be filed against any federal government agency or entity.
This action will ensure that New Yorkers have multiple avenues to initiate legal action in cases where the rights or freedoms of New York City residents are under attack by the federal government.
Given the unprecedented breadth and number of executive orders and other policy documents and notices issued by the Trump Administration, the Governor is proposing additional funds for the Office of the State Comptroller of the City to support the State’s existing ability to continue to monitor the City and its finances in this complex environment.
The State will expand the Office of the Deputy State Comptroller for City Oversight. The new funding will be paid for using New York City tax receipts.
These new resources will enable state officials to more closely monitor New York City’s fiscal operations, and to take any actions needed based on such review.
Adams was not happy. However, his statement on the proposal took on a diplomatic tone.
“I was elected by the people of New York City and its working-class communities to uphold their values — and that is what our administration has done. While there is no legal basis for limiting New Yorkers’ power by limiting the authority of my office, I have told the governor, as we have done in the past, that I am willing to work with her to ensure faith in our government is strong. I look forward to continuing those conversations.”
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. said he “strongly” supported Hochul’s actions “to provide additional State oversight of the current mayoral administration — actions that I believe represent critical steps toward rebuilding New Yorkers’ shaken confidence in our government and placing our city on more stable footing.”
