Newsman: The influential Democrat Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has called on Mayor Eric Adams to resign amid a flurry of federal investigations and resignations that have
The announcement makes Ocasio-Cortez is the first member of congress to call for the mayor’s resignation. Seven other city and state lawmakers from New York have called for Adams to step down.
“The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening government function,” Ocasio-Cortez said in a statement on X. “Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration.”
Though they’re both Democrats, Ocasio-Cortez and Adams represent opposing wings of the party and have been at odds during their simultaneous tenures. She is a leading progressive and he is a centrist who is more at ease with New York Republicans than the left flank of his own party.
House Minority Hakeem Jeffries, who represents Brooklyn, has continued to publicly project confidence in Adams.
“As far as I can tell, Mayor Adams is trying to do the best that he can in one of the toughest jobs in the world,” he told reporters Wednesday.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has also strayed from criticizing him.
“I’m elected Governor of the state of New York, which includes representing 8.3 million New York City residents; Mayor Eric Adams was elected to represent the same 8.3 million New Yorkers,” Hochul told POLITICO Wednesday. “We have to work together. People need us to pull together at this time and show that government is functioning.”
Eric Adams has maintained his innocence and said he repeatedly reminds his team to always follow the law. In the meantime, he has stressed that he will stick to his oft-repeated mantra: “Stay focused, no distractions and grind,” a phrase he repeated yesterday when faced with reporters’ questions.
