Former aide suing Eric Adams joins Mamdani administration

DAYS THE BUDGET IS LATE: 20

BACK AT CITY HALL: Hassan Naveed, who was dismissed as New York City’s hate crimes prevention chief in 2024, has rejoined the city’s administration. This comes even as he continues a lawsuit against the city and the former mayor, alleging his firing was due to religious discrimination.

This morning, Naveed assumed the role of chief of staff to Deputy Mayor for Community Safety Renita Francois, marking the first notable hire for Francois since Mayor Zohran Mamdani appointed her in March to lead the newly established Office of Community Safety.

Naveed, who was also part of Mamdani’s transition team, chose not to comment on his new position.

Naveed’s attorney, Luna Droubi, confirmed that her client is still pursuing legal action against former Mayor Eric Adams, the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, and two employees there, claiming his dismissal from his role as executive director of hate crimes prevention in April 2024 was due to his Muslim faith.

The city’s Law Department has been defending Adams, the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, and the two employees named in the suit. Records indicate that at least one of these employees is still with the city government.

Naveed’s return to a city role complicates matters, as he is now part of the government he is litigating against, alongside at least one official he is suing. This situation becomes more complex given that Mamdani’s Law Department continues to offer taxpayer-funded legal support to the defendants contesting Naveed’s claims.

A spokesperson for Mamdani verified Naveed’s return to city service, noting that Naveed must abstain from any involvement in matters connected to his lawsuit. The spokesperson added that the Law Department is reviewing the possibility of resolving Naveed’s case and determining whether Adams and the other defendants should receive taxpayer-funded legal assistance.

“Hassan Naveed brings extensive experience in the critical areas central to the Office of Community Safety’s mission,” said spokesperson Sam Raskin. “His expertise is vital as we work towards a more integrated, government-wide strategy for public safety and mental health that addresses New Yorkers’ needs with urgency and respect.”

Since Mamdani took office, the Law Department has moved to revoke taxpayer-funded legal representation for Adams in a separate civil lawsuit accusing him of a 1993 sexual assault, which Adams denies, as he does the allegations in Naveed’s lawsuit.

There appear to be no city regulations preventing Naveed from continuing his lawsuit against Adams while serving in city government.

Carolyn Miller, executive director of the city Conflicts of Interest Board, stated that public servants are generally only barred from acting as legal counsel against the city’s interests in litigation where the city is a party.

“Generally, public servants are not barred from seeking legal remedies against the city for alleged wrongs,” Miller said. “For instance, if I believe I was wrongfully arrested by an NYPD officer or experienced medical malpractice by a Health + Hospitals physician, the conflicts of interest law doesn’t prevent me from pursuing those claims.”

Todd Shapiro, a spokesperson for Adams, stated that the former mayor refrains from commenting on ongoing litigation.

“Nonetheless, during his time in office, Mayor Adams consistently advocated for religious freedom and defended all communities against hate and discrimination,” Shapiro said. “His administration made significant investments in preventing hate crimes and collaborated closely with diverse faith-based communities throughout New York City to ensure safety and respect for all residents.”

Naveed’s discrimination lawsuit, filed in October 2025, seeks monetary compensation and claims he was targeted for discrimination by Adams and his staff following an Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack in Israel by Hamas militants that resulted in over 1,200 deaths and hundreds more taken hostage.

The suit alleges that Naveed confronted Adams in mid-October 2023 about social media posts from Adams’ staff, which he viewed as “anti-Muslim, anti-Arab, and anti-Palestinian.” According to the suit, Adams dismissed Naveed’s concerns, attributing the hostility towards Muslims in New York City to their inadequate condemnation of Hamas after the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks, which led to a conflict in Gaza resulting in over 70,000 Palestinian deaths.

Adams is also alleged to have equated pro-Palestinian demonstrations in the city to “Klu [sic] Klux Klan protests,” as per the suit.

The lawsuit suggests Naveed was ultimately dismissed due to anti-Muslim sentiment within Adams’ administration. Adams spokesperson Kayla Mamelak previously denied this, citing “poor job performance” as the reason for Naveed’s termination.

An ex-official from Adams’ administration, speaking anonymously due to fear of legal repercussions, criticized the hiring of Naveed, labeling him ineffective at his prior job.

“He neglected portions of the city and never engaged with anyone,” the former official stated. — Chris Sommerfeldt

From the Capitol

GOP BACKS BLAKEMAN BUCKS: Republicans in the state Legislature have put forward a bill to allow GOP gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman access to $3.5 million in public campaign matching funds.

Blakeman was removed from the program following a partisan decision by the Public Campaign Finance Board last month for not completing a nonexistent form to identify his running mate. The new proposal from Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt and Assembly Minority Leader Ed Ra, announced Monday, seeks to provide Blakeman additional time to address any paperwork issues.

“My Democratic colleagues claim to support free and fair elections. They can take this bill and make it their own. I’d gladly vote for it,” Ortt declared. “If they don’t, their talk of free and fair elections is empty.”

Read more from Bill Mahoney in POLITICO Pro.

BUDGET CRAWL: The state’s financial plan remains unresolved as New York lawmakers approved their fifth interim measure since the budget deadline passed almost three weeks ago.

Governor Kathy Hochul, speaking in Buffalo earlier in the day, reiterated her call for changes to car insurance laws, a major point of contention in negotiations. She also restated her commitment to finding an agreement on protections for undocumented immigrants, which could be part of a final budget deal.

Read more from POLITICO Pro’s Nick Reisman.

FROM CITY HALL

BAILOUT FROM ALBANY?: Mamdani’s tenant protection czar, Cea Weaver, urged attendees at a housing panel today to focus on the overdue state budget.

“I encourage everyone – if you have Kathy Hochul’s phone number – feel free to call and ask for more funding. That would be wonderful,” Weaver said, prompting some laughter. “Or even the president, for that matter.”

Weaver, who leads the mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants, joined housing commissioner Dina Levy and the Urban Homesteading Assistance Board for a conference on “social housing,” a concept aimed at shielding housing from private market forces by maintaining affordability and community control. The event was organized with the Parsons School of Design.

Weaver candidly detailed the city’s fiscal challenges, echoing Mamdani’s recent efforts to do so.

“When we say there’s no money for certain things, we’re not exaggerating,” Weaver said. “The city’s budget issues are very real … This is concerning, and it means less flexibility in achieving our goals. But the state budget process is ongoing.”

She continued, “Joining forces to advocate for more resources from Albany is crucial for achieving our objectives.” — Janaki Chadha

FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL

AND THEN THERE WAS ONE: The Democratic field to challenge Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis has narrowed to one candidate after union electrician Allison Ziogas filed a certificate of declination with the city Board of Elections on Monday morning.

Ziogas’ decision to withdraw leaves Mike DeCillis, a former NYPD officer, as the sole Democratic contender in a challenging district that President Donald Trump won by 24 points in 2024.

The New York Times reported that Ziogas, who had been a leading candidate in the primary, ended her campaign due to unspecified health issues. DeCillis expressed on social media his regret over her health issues, wishing her well.

Despite Democratic efforts to redraw the district, which covers Staten Island and part of Brooklyn, to make it more competitive, the Supreme Court blocked those attempts. Nonetheless, some saw potential due to recent Democratic successes nationally and Trump’s unpopular policies. Republicans remain confident the seat is secure, and Ziogas’ withdrawal dampens Democratic hopes.

Ziogas, who entered the race in March with support from Morris Katz, a key Mamdani adviser, quickly garnered support from the Staten Island Democratic Party. After she announced her candidacy, the first Democrat in the race, educator Troy McGhie, withdrew and endorsed her. Ziogas raised $85,000 compared to DeCillis’ $32,000 in the first quarter, both overshadowed by Malliotakis’ $580,000.

Ziogas’ campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Read more from Madison Fernandez and Chris Sommerfeldt in POLITICO Pro.

IN OTHER NEWS

— SUDDENLY SOCIALIST: An ex-police officer running for the Assembly, who previously criticized socialists and supported the GOP, now praises Mamdani and the DSA. (New York Post)

— UNDER DOG?: Internal polling from Democratic primary candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier shows incumbent Democrat Rep. Adriano Espaillat leading by 42% in New York’s 13th congressional district, with the DSA challenger trailing at 28%. (THE CITY)

— RETURN POLICY: Governor Hochul seeks a refund of about $13.5 billion in tariff payments for New Yorkers from the Trump administration, as importers can begin claiming refunds following a Supreme Court decision that invalidated the import tax. (NY 1)

— CUOMO CLEARED: The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a lawsuit from relatives of nursing home patients who died from Covid-19. (Times Union)

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