Following the shocking indictment of Eric Adams by a federal grand jury, New York City's powerful business community is scrambling to figure out how to deal with the real possibility of a socialist takeover of City Hall. .
If Adams is forced to resign or is removed by Gov. Cathy Hochul amid a corruption scandal engulfing the mayor's office, the city will not be run by left-wing, anti-cop elected official Jumaane Williams. It is said that the giants of the business world are afraid. .
“This is scary,” one top business leader told the Post.
As the outlook grows, the Post has learned that Kathryn Wilde, president of the Partnership for New York, has contacted Williams to set up a meeting to discuss what she would face if she became mayor. .
“We want to support the partnership, and that's the goal,” said a person familiar with the matter.
This person has no idea what's at stake if he blows up city government, not some crazy alternative: roads, bridges, jobs, police demanding that city government function. This is likely to include, this person added. ,
Mr. Wilde declined to comment. Williams did not respond to an email seeking comment.
Adams was elected in 2020 pledging to restore order to a city ravaged by crime and corporations fleeing the Big Apple to lower-tax states like Florida.
He has strong support from the business community, and Partnership officials believe he has largely fulfilled his promises on pro-business and public safety issues despite a rash of corruption scandals. .
The business community's concerns about Williams appear justified given his career, first on the City Council and then as an elected official in 2019.
Williams took to the streets in 2020 during the Black Lives Matter riots that engulfed the city. He is an avowed socialist who has promoted various anti-police measures and is supported by his compatriots in far-left parties, including the Working Families Party and the Democratic Socialists of America.
How long the business community has to deal with Mr. Williams depends largely on the vagaries of Democratic Party politics, whether more people demand Mr. Adams' immediate resignation, and whether Mr. Hochul follows state authority. It all depends on when they decide to remove him from office. Law.
Stay up to date on the New York Post's coverage of the indictment of Mayor Eric Adams
Rumors are swirling that the series of charges against Adams, which center on accepting gifts from foreign nationals, campaign finance violations and favoritism to foreign donors, are just the beginning of his legal woes. Several Democratic officials told the Post that additional charges against Adams and members of his administration are expected in the coming days.
Adams, whose term ends next year, has vowed not to resign and not to contest the accusations, which he says are baseless. However, if the scandal continues to escalate, Hochul may be forced to be fired sooner.
One of the business darlings at City Hall is Andrew Cuomo, who has been courted by top members of New York's business community for much of the past year as Adams' legal troubles deepen.
Mr. Cuomo has made no secret that he wants to return to government as mayor, something his father, the late Gov. Mario Cuomo, wanted but was unable to achieve during his long career in politics.
Andrew Cuomo resigned as governor in 2021 following a sexual harassment investigation by his political rival, New York Attorney General Letitia James. Despite the bombshell statements, which included sordid allegations, Mr. Cuomo was not indicted.
“Andrew is meeting with all of us, putting the band together and talking to the people that will be needed to run the city if elected,” said Andrew, who previously supported Adams but now fully supports Cuomo. said one leading investor.
But progressive state Democratic leaders, like the business community, are not as fond of Mr. Cuomo, given his sharp governing style and more moderate political views. party officials told the Post.
If Mr. Adams is immediately removed from office, Mr. Williams would serve as mayor for at least 90 days before participating in an open primary runoff against Mr. Cuomo and other challengers, including both Republicans and independents. will be able to vote. Such a move would benefit Mr. Cuomo.
As a result, some Democratic Party insiders have told Hochul that by law, Cuomo must face him in a primary open only to Democrats, potentially putting him at a disadvantage, at least until March of next year. It will likely put pressure on Adams to hold off on firing him.
But in either scenario, Mr. Adams is expected to step down before his term ends and Mr. Williams will become mayor at some point, so Mr. Wilde and the partnership are trying to build bridges with him.
“I feel like sooner or later we're going to have to do business with this guy,” said one of the group's executives.
