Ingrid Lewis-Martin, a top ally and senior advisor, has been sent by Mayor Eric Adams to arrange “peace meetings” with the NYC Council in response to a housing veto override that embarrassed City Hall.
According to sources, Lewis-Martin has booked several in-person “relationship repair” meetings with politicians over the next few weeks.
The city council’s resounding vote to override Speaker Adrienne Adams’ veto earlier this month was embarrassing for the Adams administration because it was the first override since the Bloomberg era.
The person quoted Lewis-Martin as saying, “We need you to be more on our side about this,” adding that she was eager to receive an “assessment of what went wrong.
The pitch from the top aide can be summarized as “We want to know next time you’ll help us avoid this,” according to a source who asked to remain anonymous.
Even though Adams’ aides personally called lawmakers in the days before the measures were first passed to urge a “no” vote, NYC politicians said the effort came too late. After the veto was overridden, City Hall threatened legal action over the measures, claiming that the city may lose up to $17 billion if the housing law was put into effect.
Perhaps they ought to talk to the leadership. According to Deputy Council Speaker Diana Ayala (D-Manhattan/The Bronx), “I haven’t spoken to the mayor in God knows how long. Working with people who are allies is simple.
The actual work is cooperating with people you don’t agree with.
Adams and Lewis-Martin have not yet invited Ayala to a meeting; she chairs the Committee on General Welfare, which is in charge of the Department of Social Services and the Department of Homeless Services.
We don’t discuss private talks, as you are aware. According to Fabien Levy, a spokesman for Adams, “The mayor and members of this administration meet with and are in constant communication with elected leaders from across the city, state, and federal government about a variety of issues.”it
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