Mayor Eric Adams is talking about turning down the heat with the New York City Council — but the legislators are running hot. Today, his Charter Revision Commission will approve ballot questions that would seize power from the council and give more to the Adams administration. Lawmakers are livid, but Adams sounded sanguine. “All we need to do,” he said Tuesday, “is take a deep breath, meditate, drink a green smoothie, and just be fine.” Of course, Adams has the upper hand so it’s easy for him to call for calm. His charter commission automatically usurps the council’s effort to curb his power with a bill that would give lawmakers approval over some of his top appointees. Adams voiced opposition to the measure but declined to veto the bill, knowing lawmakers would override him. Besides, his plan gives him the power to block it without the veto fight. It also gives him the opportunity to claim he’s turning over a new leaf. “I'm just not going to get involved in those fights anymore,” he said. “I'm fighting for New Yorkers.” The mayor has been fawning over Council Speaker Adrienne Adams in spite of tense budget negotiations. And after the budget passed, City Hall started inviting council members to press conferences. “Eric is trying to mend fences,” a person familiar with the strategy told Playbook. “It’s a significant change to the dynamic at City Hall.” Of course, some members aren’t taking the peace offering. Council Member Jen Gutiérrez, who skipped Adams’ presser in her district, explained she was invited late. “He’s not going above and beyond here,” she said. “That’s the minimum.” The mayor has only ramped up his political peace talk after the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump. But Speaker Adams didn’t just fall out of a coconut tree. The mayor’s pivot exists in the context of the speaker’s ongoing policy battles with the mayor. She is:
- Still opposed to mayoral pick Randy Mastro as corporation counsel, whose nomination is due July 31st.
- Maintaining the legal fight against City Hall’s refusal to implement a housing voucher law passed by the council.
- Authorizing a similar lawsuit fighting City Hall’s opposition to a law limiting solitary confinement in city jails.
- Aggressively criticizing the Charter Revision Commission, and threatening to campaign against proposals in November.
“I don’t have too much to say, as far as the mayor coming out now saying, ‘I’m tired of the back and forth,’” the speaker said at a press conference last week. “We’re all tired of the back and forth! Nobody ever wanted a back and forth.” She’s got a good personal relationship with the mayor, on general topics, his fellow Bayside High alum said. “When we speak about individual issues, though,” she added, “they tend to be a little bit different.” — Jeff Coltin HAPPY THURSDAY: Brat summer is dead. Got news? Send it our way: Jeff Coltin, Emily Ngo and Nick Reisman.
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