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Dear New Yorkers,

On Monday, Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove moved to drop the criminal charges against Mayor Eric Adams, saying that his April trial was too close to the city’s June primary and that the case impeded Adams’ ability to work with President Trump on his immigration crackdown, according to a memo viewed by THE CITY.

This highly unusual step, first reported by The New York Times, is a huge gift to Adams — he can now claim in his reelection campaign that he was unjustly charged with corruption, and could also be in a better position to receive matching public funds.

The memo from Bove specifically states that the dismissal of Adams’ charges is to be done “without prejudice,” meaning that the office is not barred from reopening the case. Adams must agree in writing to that condition in order for the charges to be dropped.

Adams was indicted in September and charged with five counts of wire fraud, bribery and receiving contributions from Turkish nationals that he knew to be illegal, according to prosecutors. Adams claims the charges were retribution from the Biden Justice Department for his criticism of that White House’s policies as more than 200,000 asylum seekers arrived to New York City beginning in the spring of 2022.

Trump’s DOJ seemed to agree, with Bove writing that it “cannot be ignored that Mayor Adams criticized the prior Administration’s immigration policies before the charges were filed.”

After he was elected, Trump made a point of claiming federal prosecutors had treated Adams “very unfairly,” and said he would consider pardoning him.

Adams, for his part, met with Trump twice since the election. The mayor has repeatedly declined to say anything critical about the president and even ordered his top aides during a closed-to-the-press meeting Monday not to do so, a development first reported by THE CITY.

Read more about the dropped corruption charges against Adams that came to light hours after he ordered his top staff to keep quiet about Trump and make way for federal immigration authorities, and what happens now.

Weather ☁️

A chance of snow tomorrow evening, otherwise cloudy with highs in the mid-30’s.

MTA 🚇

The Woodlawn-bound 4 train runs express from 167 Street to Mosholu Parkway in The Bronx from 9:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Friday. Find all the MTA’s planned changes and the latest delays here.

Alternate side parking 🚙

It’s suspended today, Feb. 11, due to snow.

By the way…

Attention parents: the deadline to apply to serve on your local school council is this Sunday, Feb. 16.

Our Other Top Stories

It’s congestion pricing all over again: Delays in moving forward with the state’s sweeping climate action law have its supporters worried that Gov. Kathy Hochul doesn’t want to pay the perceived political price for seeing it through. Six years after climate deadlines were set, the goals of the law remain aligned with what scientists agree is necessary to mitigate the impacts of a warming globe — but Hochul has expressed a willingness to “rethink” where climate fits into her agenda. When Katie Honan called in to FAQ NYC yesterday morning, she did so from outside of the building where Mayor Eric Adams had convened his top staff. She had to hop off the call, and the episode, mid-way through to report and then break the news about that meeting. Listen here for an instant-vintage glimpse back at what the state of the city seemed like on Monday morning.

Reporter’s Notebook

Subway Signage

The MTA is expanding the reach of a tech tool that connects commuters who are deaf or hard of hearing with American Sign Language interpreters in real time.

More than 200,000 hearing-impaired riders can now scan a QR code at customer service centers within select subway and commuter railway stations to communicate with sign-language specialists via Convo Access, officials announced Monday.

A product of the Transit Tech Lab, an MTA initiative with the Partnership for New York City, the free app was initially initially deployed at Penn Station, Times Square-42nd Street and 42nd Street-Port Authority Bus Terminal. MTA officials said that users reported enhanced personal connections with transit staff by being able to access sign language interpreters.

“Access to transportation starts with access to information, from getting information on service changes to reduced-fare OMNY,” said Quemuel Arroyo, the MTA’s chief accessibility officer, at the Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center train station.

The Convo Access pilot program will run through at least November of this year. For a list of stations and locations where it is available, click here.

— Jose Martinez

Housing Group Urges Council Constraints

With the city charter revision commission convened by Mayor Eric Adams beginning hearings today, the pro-housing group Open New York has unveiled recommendations designed to spur construction, including by paring back the City Council’s role in the land-use process.

One would allow the City Planning Commission to approve rezonings in designated neighborhoods with good transit but little construction without further action by the Council. Another would overhaul the current review process so that the borough presidents designate entities in addition to community boards to participate in advisory reviews. Projects on city-owned land would go directly to the Council for approval and decisions on new landmarks proposals would have to assess the impact on housing construction.

The Adams charter commission, filled with policy and political heavyweights, is expected to concentrate on land-use reform, which insiders say builds on work that has been developed under First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer.

— Greg David

Things To Do

Here’s what’s going on around the city this week.

Tuesday, Feb. 11: Learn more about the Democratic candidates running for mayor at a mayoral forum hosted by the Downtown Independent Democrats. Attendance is virtual, unless you’re a member of one of the hosting clubs. 6:30 p.m.  Wednesday, Feb. 12: Watch 42, a film about how Jackie Robinson becomes the first African American to play in Major League Baseball. Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library, 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12: It’s Wetland Wednesday! Join the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance for an opportunity to participate in hands-on wetland conservation efforts. Van Cortlandt Park in The Bronx, 10 a.m.

THE KICKER: A $1,250 2-bedroom apartment has been sitting empty for almost a year and a half — one of hundreds of affordable units left vacant due to bureaucratic red tape.

Thanks, as always, for reading. Make it a great Tuesday.

Love,

THE CITY

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