In the event of New York City Mayor Eric Adams stepping down due to federal criminal charges, Jumaane Williams, a left-leaning, anti-police activist, would assume the role of acting mayor.
Williams, a 48-year-old Brooklyn resident, cleared his schedule on Thursday following the indictment against Adams.
Williams, who has been serving as New York City's public advocate since 2019, has championed numerous progressive social justice causes throughout his nearly 15-year public service career, as reported by The Post Millennial. His tenure in city power began in 2010 when he was first elected to the New York City Council. While both Williams and Adams are Democrats, their political stances diverge significantly. Williams' progressive agenda contrasts with Mayor Adams' moderate approach, rooted in his law enforcement background.
Throughout his tenure, Williams has found himself at the center of several controversies. He has supported a number of anti-police bills and has emerged as a vocal critic of law enforcement, often fueling anti-police sentiment. Most recently, Williams backed a City Council measure requiring police officers to fill out comprehensive forms for even the most routine interactions, such as providing directions to tourists.
Williams has also advocated for the abolition of solitary confinement and actively participated in the tumultuous 2020 Black Lives Matter protests in the city, leading to his detention by police on multiple occasions. During this period, he accused former Democrat Mayor Bill de Blasio "of using his biracial family as a shield," as reported by the New York Post. Despite the NYPD's ongoing staffing crisis, Williams has called for cuts to the department's budget.
Identifying himself as an activist politician, Williams has shown support for left-wing political violence and extreme transgender ideology. In 2021, he sparked controversy by allowing his staff to continue working from home even after COVID restrictions were lifted. This led to city council members proposing legislation to abolish the public advocate position, arguing it was a misuse of taxpayer funds. However, the proposal failed to secure sufficient votes.
Williams secured his reelection as public advocate in 2021 with 76 percent of the vote. He also launched an unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign in 2022.
Mayor Adams faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, federal program bribery, receiving campaign contributions from foreign nationals, wire fraud, solicitation of a contribution from a foreign national, and bribery, as per the DOJ indictment unsealed in court on Thursday.
Despite the charges, Mayor Adams maintains his innocence, asserting that he is being unjustly prosecuted by the Biden administration for his outspoken stance on the illegal immigration crisis affecting New York City and the nation. Should Adams resign, Williams would step in as acting mayor until a special election - required to be held within 80 days of the power shift - determines a permanent replacement.
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