As the future of Mayor Eric Adams and his administration remains unclear following his indictment and ongoing probes, a new city poll shows that a majority of the public believe he should resign.
A Marist poll distributed to a little more than 1,000 New Yorkers, which is the first issued since his indictment, found 69% of residents believe the mayor should step down, including 71% of the Democrats. It also determined that 80% think he shouldn’t run again for office, and only 30% say he should serve out the rest of his term.
“Not only do New York City residents think he has done something illegal, but they think he should resign or have Governor Hochul start the process of removing him from office,” the poll concludes.
The survey’s release comes as Adams addressed New Yorkers Friday in efforts to convince people that fulfilling his role is in the best interest of the city, yet the ongoing criminal probes and the multiple resignations among his administration and inner ranks as a result of the investigations into corruption and bribery, seem to be undermining his credibility in the eyes of many officials and residents.
New York City School Chancellor David Banks announced he is stepping down earlier than initially announced this week following probes into his alleged bribery, along with his brothers Phil and Terence Banks. In a statement, Banks said he was willing and able to stay on until December, but that Adams made the decision.
Adams said he asked Banks to leave months earlier than expected after “listening to the educators, they wanted consistency.”
“This is part of the conversation I had with the governor, we want clarity and consistency at this time, that clarity was making sure we identified Melissa, who is now the incoming chancellor, to let her be at the helm,” he said. “This was his hand-picked successor, it is better for her to start now at the beginning of the school year instead of in the middle of the school year.”
Adams’ Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, who is also newly married to Chancellor Banks, was also expected to resign from her position on Friday, a month after federal authorities searched her home as part of a larger investigation into the mayor’s administration.
Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has the power to oust Adams, has reportedly put pressure on the mayor to “clean house,” but has not officially called for him to resign.
Meanwhile, Adams says the poll numbers are a reflection of people only hearing “one side of the story and now it is going to be an opportunity to see both sides of the story.”
“Listen, we have not fully be able to tell our side of the conversation,” the mayor said before entering a Brooklyn church on Friday morning. “Once they see both sides of the issue, you are going to hear what I’ve stated over and over again, that I did nothing wrong.”
On the other hand, when House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), was asked point-blank during an interview with NBC News whether Adams should step aside he firmly and unequivocally replied, “No!”
“My view is that Mayor Adams, like every other New Yorker and every other American, is entitled to the presumption of innocence and entitled to a trial by a jury of his peers who will ultimately determine his fate within the legal system,” he continued.
Jeffries added, “At the same time, it’s important for Mayor Adams to articulate to New Yorkers in a compelling way a plan and a path forward to ensure that the city is continuing to function and run in a manner that meets the needs of everyday New Yorkers and in a manner that New York City, which we believe is the greatest city in the world, deserves.”
Jeffries is not the only one to clearly support Adams, the Reverend Al Sharpton has echoed these words and reiterated that the accused are entitled to due process.
Adams is next scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 1, yet it’s still unclear whether or not a trial will scheduled in advance of June’s mayoral primary.
