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Gov. Kathy Hochul pondered the fate of New York City Mayor Eric Adams Tuesday in a series of meetings with prominent people in politics in her Midtown office as the number of officials calling for the mayor's resignation steadily increased.
The Democratic governor, who has the legal authority to remove Adams from office, set up a series of one-on-one meetings Tuesday with prominent New York City officials and leaders to gauge their thoughts on Adams' future.
The meetings come as the mayor faces a wave of staff departures and continued questions about whether he traded his cooperation with President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown for the pending dismissal of federal corruption charges.
The Rev. Al Sharpton entered Hochul's office on Third Avenue shortly before noon and exited less than an hour later. He told reporters he was "concerned" about the state of the city. Hochul , he said, told him she would wait for U.S. District Judge Dale Ho to rule on the Department of Justice's motion to dismiss Adams' charges. A hearing in the case is set for Wednesday.
"My feeling is that the faith of the city's people have been shaken and there needs to be a resolve," Sharpton said. "But at the same time, we must protect the law and not establish a precedent that could come back to harm us."
Other officials meeting in-person or virtually with the governor included Queens Borough President Donovan Richards and Council Speaker Adrienne Adams.
Andy Eichar, a spokesperson for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a Brooklyn Democrat, said Jeffries plans to speak with Hochul and "other stakeholders in person or over the phone in the next few days about the developing situation at City Hall."
In a statement after his meeting with the governor, Richards said Adams should "give deep, honest thought as to whether his administration is capable of delivering" a government the people can trust.
Elected officials, including members of Congress and the City Council, have recently called on Adams to resign. Speaker Adams and state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins are among them.
The mayor has refused demands for his resignation and has denied any quid pro quo with the Trump administration. On Tuesday, Adams called reporters "liars" as they shouted questions about what he would say to Hochul as she weighs his future.
Jay Walker, a nonprofit executive from Chelsea, chanted "Remove Eric Adams" with about three dozen other demonstrators on the sidewalk outside Hochul's office before Sharpton arrived.
"He's toast," Walker said of the mayor. "She might as well remove him now. He's completely compromised."
State law gives the governor broad authority to remove certain local officials, including mayors and sheriffs. That's mirrored in the city charter, with both requiring the governor to provide the mayor with a copy of the charges he's facing and an opportunity to defend himself.
Hochul can also suspend the mayor for 30 days while removal proceedings are ongoing.
Lupe Todd-Medina, a Democratic consultant who worked on Hochul's 2022 campaign, said the governor is smart to seek the counsel of other leaders, particularly those in the Black community. Adams is New York City's second Black mayor.
But she said removing an elected mayor is a heavy responsibility, and Hochul has to ensure she "really considers her own voice."
"She needs to be true to herself," Todd-Medina said. "You want to be comfortable with your decision, and I think that begins with self-reflection."
Kathryn Wylde, president of the business group Partnership for New York City, said she would speak with the governor later in the day.
"I think we're in good hands with Gov. Hochul," Wylde said. "She has demonstrated that she can manage this situation, and we're counting on her to make sure the city continues to have the professional leadership it requires to keep things running."
Republicans and conservatives began attacking Hochul over Adams' potential removal from office.
"The people should make the decision," said Ruben Diaz Sr., a former city councilmember from the Bronx. "Not Gov. Hochul, not Al Sharpton. Not a clique."
But Hochul isn't the only one who can remove the mayor.
City Comptroller Brad Lander, who is running for mayor himself, has called on Adams to provide a plan to ensure New York City residents are receiving services amid the ongoing mayoral turmoil.
If Adams doesn't provide a plan, Lander said he would reach out to other members of what's known as the "inability committee" to determine if the mayor can discharge his duties.
Under the city charter, the committee would comprise five members, including the city's comptroller, corporation counsel, the Council's speaker, a deputy mayor of the mayor's choosing and the longest serving borough president. The committee can begin a process for removing the mayor, which would ultimately require the City Council's approval.
Lander is set to meet with Hochul on Tuesday afternoon.