Speaker Adrienne Adams introduced legislation that would dramatically increase the City Council’s power over mayoral appointees. The bill would add 20 commissioner-level positions to be subject to a confirmation process, including heads of various city departments. Certain agencies such as the NYPD, FDNY, and Department of Corrections would not initially be included, but the Council hinted at the possibility of adding them later. This expansion of oversight is seen as a starting point for the Council to have a more significant say in mayoral appointments. Currently, the Council only has the power to vote down a few top mayoral appointees, and this change would require a ballot referendum.
Adams discussed the new legislation during a closed-door meeting with fellow city Democrats and indicated that the Council was taking steps to assert more control over mayoral picks. In a separate development, Mayor Eric Adams has been trying to convince City Council members to approve his choice for corporation counsel, Randy Mastro. Mastro, a veteran litigator, is seen as a divisive pick among Council members, but he has been meeting with them to explain his credentials and approach to the position. Mayor Adams has yet to formally nominate Mastro as the replacement for the outgoing Sylvia O. Hinds-Radix, who has been reportedly pushed out after a series of legal disputes.
In response to the potential expansion of the Council’s powers, Mayor Adams announced his own commission to review and advise on revisions to the city charter. The proposed legislation from the Council would broaden the “advice-and-consent” section of the charter to give Council members a greater role in confirming mayoral appointees. The commission, comprising allies of the mayor, will work to ensure that the city government functions efficiently and meets the needs of its residents. However, concerns have been raised by Council members about the timing of this commission, with some seeing it as a retaliatory move for the proposed increase in Council oversight.
Carlo Scissura, a former charter commissioner and head of the New York Building Congress who was considered for a leadership role in the city’s economic development, backed out amid ethical concerns raised by the media. Some Council members view the formation of the commission as payback for their push to have more control over mayoral appointments. The Council has been critical of the commission, suggesting that its creation was conveniently timed as a response to their desire for more oversight. A member of the commission, anti-violence advocate Jackie Rowe-Adams, has raised concerns about the Council’s current powers and the lack of public input in certain decisions made by elected officials.
The ongoing power struggle between the City Council and the Mayor’s Office highlights tensions within New York City’s government. The expansion of oversight proposed by the Council would significantly change the dynamics of mayoral appointments and increase transparency in the selection process. Mayor Adams is facing resistance from some Council members over his choice for corporation counsel, adding to the overall friction between the two branches of government. The formation of the charter revision commission and the Council’s push for more oversight reflect the desire for checks and balances within the city government. The outcome of these developments will shape the future relationship between the City Council and the Mayor’s Office in New York City.
