Mayor Adams taps City Hall veteran to take over as first deputy amid exodus of his inner circle

Mayor Eric Adams has named Maria Torres-Springer as New York City's first deputy mayor — perhaps the most powerful position in City Hall after the mayor's — following Sheena Wright’s departure amid a cloud of federal investigations into the administration.

Wright’s resignation was widely anticipated after the FBI seized phones from her and her now-husband — also-resigning Schools Commissioner David Banks — but was officially announced Tuesday. She’s the latest high-profile departure from the Adams administration as a series of federal investigations encircle the mayor’s office. The U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan charged Adams himself with multiple counts of bribery and fraud.

“We are thrilled to elevate Deputy Mayor Torres-Springer, whose more than two decades of experience leading multiple city agencies … will serve as a solid foundation for our administration,” the mayor said in a statement. “First Deputy Mayor Wright has served New Yorkers well over the course of our administration.”

Torres-Springer also served in the administrations of previous Mayors Mike Bloomberg and Bill de Blasio. As Adams looks to project stability in an administration buffeted by criminal inquiries, the city's business community praised his decision to put her in charge of City Hall operations.

“The mayor has made a wise choice in appointing a seasoned professional and skilled manager as first deputy mayor,” said Kathryn Wylde, head of the Partnership for New York City, which represents some of the city’s business interests. “We have worked closely with Maria during three mayoral administrations and know she has the capabilities and character required to lead during a time of crisis.”

Torres-Springer has been serving as Adams’ deputy mayor for housing, economic development and workforce. She also served as de Blasio’s housing commissioner and as the head of the city’s economic development corporation.

Gov. Kathy Hochul, who has the power to remove the mayor from office, has encouraged Adams to weed out the officials involved in any criminal inquiry and install more government veterans in their places. Officials who have recently resigned from his administration include Wright, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks, Schools Commissioner David Banks (who is Phil Banks' brother) and senior adviser Timothy Pearson.

The first deputy mayor answers directly to the mayor and oversees commissioners and other deputy mayors in charge of most of the city’s operations, including housing, parks, sanitation, and environmental protection, among others.

Torres-Springer, in a statement, said she’s looking forward to the role.

“Serving this city has been my life’s work,” she said. “I am deeply grateful to Mayor Eric Adams for entrusting me with this role, and I am humbled to continue working shoulder-to-shoulder with the 300,000 public servants who work tirelessly to move our great city forward.”