New York City Mayor Indicted on Federal Charges

[SYZ]

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan on Thursday
unveiled a five-count indictment against Mayor
Eric L. Adams of New York, charging him with
bribery conspiracy, fraud and soliciting illegal
foreign campaign donations.



Adams, a Democrat(!), insisted that he was innocent
and that he would not resign, despite numerous calls
from elected officials to do so.

The investigation against him, which started in 2021,
focussed on whether Adams had conspired with the
Turkish government to receive illegal foreign campaign
contributions in exchange for acting on its behalf.  The
US attorney in Manhattan said Adams took more than
$100,000 in graft.

The benefits included luxury travel—free and discounted
Turkish Airlines tickets and free meals and hotel rooms
from wealthy foreigners, and at least one Turkish government
official, prosecutors have said.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Corruption has no party allegiance.

[brewerb]

He asked if Turkish Airline had a flight from NYC to Chile.

[Minimalist]

 The US attorney in Manhattan said Adams took more than $100,000 in graft.

Chump change in comparison to Clarence Thomas.

[mordant]

Best remark I heard about this on social media: "Now New York State faces its greatest challenge: to find a mayor for NYC that's even more corrupt!" In that regard, I heard that Andrew Cuomo is floating trial balloons about running.

There seems to be a general consensus that Adams is finished whether he realizes it or not. He won't be able to govern and defend himself simultaneously, with many of his top lieutenants under investigation as well.

[pattylt]

NYC has a severe problem picking mayors.

[Edible crust]

NYC has a severe problem picking mayors.

Much like London.

[SYZ]

It's probably foolish to think a NYC mayor will successfully
translate into being a national political figure, but I still think
Eric Adams would be in my top 5 for "who will be the next
Democratic presidential nominee after Joe Biden?"

  —Nate Silver, FiveThirtyEight, 4 January 2022.

  Seriously?    

[mordant]

I received a pretty interesting political analysis of who runs to replace Adams. The link below should work without a subscription, if not let me know and I'll post the text.

https://americanprospect.bluelena.io/ind...337e71cedb

TL;DR = Adams will try to drag it out to get a favorable plea bargain. Andrew Cuomo seems the most likely candidate and shares the same base as Adams. Hochul has the right to dismiss Adams outright but is being noncommittal largely because she wants to make it harder for Cuomo to run (the longer this drags on, the harder it is for him to win). Cuomo and Huchul despise each other.

There are other possible candidates, but Letitia James, the AG who pushed Cuomo out of office as governor, COULD put her hat in the ring. If she did, Cuomo vs James would be the grudge match of the century.

[SYZ]

Here in Australia, mayors are voted in by
the people, using postal ballots.  Why does
the US utilise such a fractious system of
electing mayors?  

Is the US process even truly democratic (small l)?

[mordant]

Here in Australia, mayors are voted in by
the people, using postal ballots.  Why does
the US utilise such a fractious system of
electing mayors?  

Is the US process even truly democratic (small l)?

New York City (not the state) uses a ranked-choice voting system. I am not familiar with how well it (isn't) implemented.

Is that what you're referring to?

Most of the "fractiousness" isn't in the electoral system so much as the DNA of the city's governance structure. Adams put his cronies into most of the top positions because the mayor gets to appoint or if they are elected rather than appointed is highly influential in endorsing them. Chicago's aldermanic system is very similar from what I've heard. Full of corruption and mutual back-scratching and cronyism. "Machine" politics.

It's a big reason I wouldn't consider living in either city. They are crowded hellholes anyway.