New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he has no intention of resigning after he was slapped with a five-count federal indictment, but he could still be suspended from the governor’s office. If Adams did depart his post, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams would take control of the city.
Williams, 48, was elected as the city’s public advocate in 2019 during a special election after previously having served as a city councilman. He’s supported progressive movements and policies, such as Black Lives Matter and police reform.
He began his career as a community organizer at the Greater Flatbush Beacon School before focusing on fighting for affordable housing efforts across the state as executive director of NYS Tenants & Neighbors.
As the city’s public advocate, Williams oversees city agencies, introduces and co-sponsors legislation, and appoints members to various boards.
While serving on the New York City Council, Williams focused on initiatives geared toward police reform and combating gun violence. He created a fund to help the Cure Violence program seeking to reduce shootings, and he helped create the New York Police Department’s Office of Inspector General in 2013 to investigate instances of police misconduct.
The NYPD’s Office of Inspector General makes the findings of its investigations public, but it doesn’t have the authority to mandate the NYPD follow its recommendations.
Williams’s association with the BLM movement has caused some citizens to be concerned about his stance on the NYPD. In 2020, Williams participated in BLM protests, and he has advocated cutting much of the NYPD budget.
Curtis Sliwa, former mayoral candidate and founder of the Guardian Angels, an organization focused on keeping peace through unarmed civilians, told the Daily Mail that Williams would be trouble for the city if he were made acting mayor.
“This guy hates the cops, hates America,” Sliwa told the outlet. “The police will no longer be able to function … ”
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If Williams were made acting city mayor, his term would only last 80 days at most until a special election was called. As acting mayor, he would not have the authority to appoint or remove other mayoral appointees from office, nor could he make any decisions on a local law for nine days.
The interim mayor would have to decide a date for the special election within three days, and all candidates would have to submit their petitions to the New York City Board of Elections within 12 days of the proclamation.
