A duo of left-leaning lawmakers in New York is advocating for new legislation that would empower city councils to remove current mayors from office more easily.
The bill, introduced on Thursday by State Senator Jabari Blisport (D-Brooklyn) and Councilman Harvey Epstein (D-Manhattan), aims to alter the power structure of New York City’s “strong mayor” system, giving councils greater authority to oust sitting mayors.
The push for this bill comes after earlier pressures from left-wing Democrats, particularly following the withdrawal of a corruption case against Mayor Adams by the Justice Department under President Donald Trump.
Blisport and Epstein argue that Adams should have taken stronger action against this situation, a claim that the mayor has denied.
“It just doesn’t seem right that the governor had to think about it from Buffalo instead of making quick decisions for our city,” Blisport stated.
In response, Adams’ spokeswoman, Kayla Mamelak, criticized the bill, suggesting that Blisport and Epstein “spit in the face of democracy and show they disregard the will of voters.”
“The nearly 8.5 million New Yorkers deserve to decide who their mayor is, and Jabari and Harvey should reconsider their approach to the people’s will,” she remarked.
Interestingly, Epstein has another motive for the bill’s passage—he’s campaigning for the city council seat representing the Lower East Side.
Adams, though a registered Democrat, is vying for a second four-year term as an independent this November.
Former Governor Andrew Cuomo is reportedly favored to win the Democratic primary on June 24th.
Officials connected to Cuomo have declined to comment, as have others not associated with the mayor.
