NYC Mayor Eric Adams defends sister-in-law following major promotion to $150K job at DOE
Mayor Eric Adams is facing criticism over the hiring of yet another family member into a top position within city government. Sharon Adams, the mayor’s sister-in-law, was recently promoted to become a “strategic initiative specialist” at the Department of Education, with an annual salary of $150,000. This follows the hiring of the mayor’s longtime partner, Tracy Collins, to a $222,000-a-year senior advisor position at the DOE last year. Critics have accused the administration of giving high-paying gigs to family members and close associates, leading to widespread controversy.
At a press conference following an unrelated event at City Hall, Mayor Adams defended the hiring of his sister-in-law, stating that “there are some very clear rules that the city has in place on if someone is going to be employed if the mayor of the City of New York is related to that person. We comply with those rules.” Adams went on to say that his sister-in-law is “an educator, well qualified” for the position.
However, The City, an investigative news non-profit, was the first to report on Sharon Adams’ new job, and criticism of the mayor’s hiring practices has only intensified since then. Critics point to the fact that Adams’ attempted to hire his brother to a high-ranking position at the NYPD and later as the chief of his security detail, which was ultimately deemed a conflict of interest by the city’s Conflict of Interest Board and resulted in limiting Bernard Adams’ role to providing security advice for a salary of just $1 per year.
FAQs:
Who is Sharon Adams?
Sharon Adams is the sister-in-law of Mayor Eric Adams. She was recently promoted to a top advisor position at the Department of Education, with an annual salary of $150,000.
What is the controversy surrounding her hiring?
Critics have accused the Adams administration of giving high-paying gigs to family members and close associates, leading to widespread controversy. This is not the first time that the mayor has faced criticism over his hiring practices, as he attempted to hire his brother for a high-ranking position at the NYPD and later as the chief of his security detail, which was ultimately deemed a conflict of interest by the city’s Conflict of Interest Board.
What is the mayor’s response to the controversy?
Mayor Adams has defended his hiring practices, stating that the city has “very clear rules” in place regarding the employment of family members of the mayor. He also stated that his sister-in-law is “an educator, well qualified” for the position she was hired for. However, critics remain unconvinced and the controversy continues.
Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams, stands by his sister-in-law after her significant promotion to a $150K position at DOE.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams found himself on the defensive Thursday after it was revealed that his sister-in-law, Sharon Adams, had been promoted to the top role of ‘strategic initiative specialist’ at the Department of Education, with a salary of $150,000 per year. City records show the promotion came just after her husband, Bernard, stepped down from his controversial post as the head of the mayor’s security detail. Sharon Adams is one of several family members and associates of the mayor who have landed high-paying government positions since the 2021 election, leading to ongoing criticism and controversy. Tracy Collins, the mayor’s partner of many years, is another, having secured a promotion to senior advisor to Deputy Chancellor Desmond Blackburn with a salary of $222,000 a year. Adams faced questions from reporters at City Hall, where he was attending an unrelated event, and he insisted he had a firewall between what happens at the DOE and what he does at City Hall. He also emphasized that Sharon Adams is a well-qualified educator and that rules around the employment of city staff do not permit conflicts of interest.