Several loyal aides to former New York City Mayor Eric Adams were quietly moved into high-paying positions across the city's government in the final days of his administration, an apparent effort to shield them from the incoming mayor's staff shake-up, according to a review of personnel records conducted by Politico.
The late-term transfers, described by critics as an attempt to "stow away" allies, came just before Mayor Zohran Mamdani took office on Jan. 1 and began a sweeping purge of city employees tied to Adams.
Mamdani's transition team had already signaled its intent to overhaul City Hall, requesting the resignations of roughly 179 staff members connected to Adams shortly after the election last year and dismissing many political appointees as part of a broader restructuring effort.
The attempt by Adams' team to reposition aides had mixed results, with some employees dismissed and others remaining in government roles after the transition.
In January, Mamdani's administration fired Denise Felipe-Adams from a Department of Transportation job she had been moved into weeks earlier.
In March, Lisa Lashley, a former appointments director under Adams, was also terminated from a probation department role she assumed in December.
Still, several former Adams staffers retained positions after the transition, underscoring the limits of the incoming administration's purge.
Among them is David Johnson, a former special assistant now working in a criminal justice unit, and Howard Singer, who remains in an administrative services post.
Liz Glazer, a former City Hall official, said she found the strategy ineffective.
"If a new administration wants to clean house, as is their right, putting cronies in different agencies doesn't prevent that," she said.
Mamdani's office declined to discuss specific personnel decisions, but spokesperson Joe Calvello said it is "common during transitions between mayoral administrations for employees to move into different roles across agencies."
"Each commissioner and their team evaluates staff and makes individual personnel decisions based on agency needs, ensuring they are best positioned to deliver for New Yorkers," Calvello said. "The mayor is committed to delivering excellence in public service, and that will continue to guide staffing decisions across the administration."
The staffing maneuvering underscores ongoing tensions between Adams and Mamdani, whose administration has sought to distance itself from its predecessor amid controversy and a push to reshape city government.
Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist and former state lawmaker, took office pledging sweeping changes to city policy and leadership after defeating establishment-backed rivals in the 2025 election.
On his first day in office, he moved quickly to reverse key initiatives tied to Adams and install his own leadership team, signaling a sharp break from the prior administration.
Adams, who withdrew from the 2025 mayoral race after declining support, had led the city through a turbulent period that included legal and political challenges before leaving office at the end of his term.
The reshuffling of personnel in the waning days of his administration highlights the extent to which both camps sought to shape the city workforce during a contentious transition, with lingering effects still playing out months into Mamdani's tenure.
Theodore Bunker ✉
Theodore Bunker, a Newsmax writer, has more than a decade covering news, media, and politics.
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.