Ingrid Lewis-Martin – chief advisor to Mayor Eric Adams – resigned on Sunday, the latest in a swath of departures from his administration as multiple federal investigations tightened around him and members of his inner circle.
“I thank God, first and foremost, for allowing me to serve the city that I love for close to 35 years through volunteerism and employment,” she said in part in a prepared statement. “While I previously announced my retirement, this is still a bittersweet moment for me as government has been my life’s work.”
“Ingrid has not been just a friend, a confidant, and trusted advisor, but also a sister,” Adams said in a statement. We’ve always talked about when this day would come, and while we’ve long planned for it, it is still hard to know that Ingrid won’t be right next door every day. I, and every New Yorker, owe her a debt of gratitude for her decades of service to our city.”
The New York Times reported that Lewis-Martin was “once viewed as the second most powerful person at City Hall” and a part of Adams’ inner circle for nearly two decades.
The deputy mayor for communications sent News 12 a long list of projects she had a hand in – including outdoor city dining, City of Yes zoning reforms, Brownsville Arts Center Housing and Bronx Metro-North rezoning.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams pleaded not guilty in September to federal bribery charges, firmly rejecting allegations that he accepted overseas travel, campaign cash and other perks from foreign interests seeking to harness his influence.
AP Wire Services contributed to this report.