Eric Adams’ challengers react to NYPD Commissioner Caban’s resignation

New York City Police Commissioner Edward Caban resigned on Thursday, a week after he and other top members of the administration were raided by federal authorities. Caban himself was visited by federal agents and had his phone seized, as they probe whether his brother profited from trading on influence at the NYPD in his selling consulting services to nightclubs.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams was already facing a potentially competitive Democratic primary before last week’s raids, and challengers were quick to blame Caban’s resignation on the mayor’s mismanagement. No one has been accused of wrongdoing in connection to last week’s raids. 

Comptroller Brad Lander, who announced his bid for mayor in July, said he wishes the interim commissioner Tom Donlon well, but  “unless this is accompanied by a series of real management reforms and public integrity safeguards — at NYPD and at City Hall — one personnel change alone will not solve the ongoing concerns of New Yorkers,” he tweeted from his government account. 

"As a lifelong New Yorker who served for eight years as comptroller and has seen the good and the bad of New York City government, I am very concerned today about the safety of the city’s residents,” former New York City comptroller Scott Stringer, who has also launched a campaign to run against Adams in 2025, said in a statement. “Mayor Adams's rudderless and chaotic City Hall has caused dysfunction and a leadership vacuum at the NYPD. Now, Mayor Adams needs to explain why officials he has chosen to serve in his administration keep attracting the attention of federal prosecutors.”

State Sen. Zellnor Myrie, who has launched an exploratory campaign, called the resignation “troubling” and said public safety is a top concern for New Yorkers. “At a time when strong, consistent leadership is essential, particularly within our police department, this latest departure only adds to the concerning pattern of instability within the Adams administration,” Myrie said in a statement. "As our city's housing shortage worsens and the cost of living rises, New Yorkers deserve steady, focused leadership from City Hall – rather than constant turnover and distractions."

State Sen. Jessica Ramos, who is considering jumping in the increasingly crowded Democratic primary, said that Caban did the “responsible thing” by stepping down. “I am, however, concerned that one of the top ranking Latinos seems to be the only one getting the pressure to remove himself from a seat of power,” she said in a statement. “How many strikes does Mr. Pearson need before he gets pressure to resign,” she added, referring to Adams’ senior adviser Timothy Pearson, who also had cell phones subpoenaed last week. Pearson is facing multiple sexual harassment and retaliation lawsuits in addition to a city Department of Investigation inquiry into an incident when he allegedly assaulted two migrant shelter security guards.

Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, who City & State reported is also considering a run for mayor, focused his comments more on Adams’ management of the NYPD than Caban himself. “As a candidate, Eric Adams promised he would ‘never ask New Yorkers to decide between the safety we need and the justice we deserve.’ Instead, Adams’ NYPD has surged illegal police stops, ballooned the overtime budget, paid out billions in settlements for misconduct and treated the press as an official enemy,” Mamdani said in a statement. “Eric Adams has stacked the leadership of the world’s largest police force with bullies and crooks. Another NYPD commissioner won’t fix this – only a new mayor can.”