Sheena Wright has resigned as New York City’s first deputy mayor, becoming the seventh senior leader to leave City Hall amid the growing federal investigation into Mayor Eric Adams.
Maria Torres-Springer, formerly deputy mayor for housing, economic development and workforce in New York will replace her effective immediately.
Mayor Adams announced Torres-Springer’s promotion during his weekly conference on Oct. 8, asserting that recent resignations are not directly tied to the investigation, although all those who left have been affected by it.
Wright’s husband David Banks, the NYC schools chancellor, who originally planned to resign from office by the end of the year has decided to step down sooner. Banks’ last day was Oct. 16, and he has since been replaced by Melissa Aviles-Ramos effective since this date.
Additionally, Wright’s brother-in-law, Phillip Banks III, who served as deputy mayor for public safety has also resigned.
Federal investigators have seized phones belonging to Wright and other senior administrators; all of those people have stepped down or announced plans to do so.
Among those who left is Winnie Greco, who was considered a longtime confidante to Adams, and who resigned amid concerns she may face indictment. Another staffer, Rana Abbasova, a key figure in the criminal case against Adams, was fired.
Mohammad Bahi who was the mayor’s liaison to the Muslim community was arrested and charged with witness tampering and destruction of evidence in connection to Adam’s indictment. The news of Bahi’s arrest was released at the same time as news of Wright’s resignation.
Ahsan Chutgai, a senior Muslim advisor to Bahi, has also been fired recently.
Wright oversaw the city’s budget and finance office, recruitment, the Office of Policy and Planning as well as the Department of Citywide Administrative Services.
Her departure comes as Gov. Kathy Hochul urged Adams to do some house cleaning amid four ongoing federal investigations surrounding City Hall.
Gov. Hochul has the power to remove Adams from his post, but it is unclear if she will do so. If Hochul removes Adams, it will be the first time occurrence of a governor removing a NYC mayor from office.
The five-count indictment against Adams alleges that he took bribes from foreign officials in the form of trips, hotel upgrades and expensive dinners, and used straw donations to fraudulently obtain over $10 million in public campaign funds.
Adams has pleaded not guilty to charges.
