Mayor Eric Adams, who “hasn’t been feeling his best” over the past few days, is canceling most public appearances this week and will undergo medical tests, according to a statement from his spokesman.
The statement, issued shortly before 11 p.m. Sunday by Deputy Mayor for Communications Fabien Levy, said the 64-year-old Adams will “have a number of doctors’ appointments and undergo routine medical tests” this week.
“While Mayor Adams will continue to communicate constantly with staff and ensure city business continues undeterred, during this time, the mayor will have a limited public schedule,” the statement reads.
Levy’s statement said City Hall will alert the public “in the unlikely event he is unable to fully discharge his duties on any particular day.” Kayla Mamelak, Adams’ press secretary, said it’s “not serious at this point,” but did not disclose additional details.
“He has a right to privacy, but he’s okay. Just not feeling well,” she added. She said the mayor doesn’t plan to do his weekly “off topic” press conference Tuesday, and his public schedule for Monday was clear.
Alex Spiro, Adams’ criminal defense attorney, filed a letter in Manhattan Federal Court late Sunday in which he wrote the mayor won’t appear for a confidential hearing scheduled for Wednesday in his corruption case.
Spiro’s filing didn’t mention the mayor’s health, but said Adams is “knowingly and voluntarily” waiving his right to appear “given the nature of the hearing,” which is expected to focus on national security issues that have emerged in his federal corruption case. Adams has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and is supposed to stand trial in April.
Mamelak said First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer, the second-in-command at City Hall, would step in as “acting mayor” if Adams needs to undergo a medical procedure.
If a mayor is temporarily unable to “discharge the powers and duties of the office,” the city’s public advocate is in line to take over the mayoral reins with limited authority under local law. The public advocate is Jumaane Williams, a progressive Democrat and frequent Adams critic.
Adams’ public schedules for Friday and Saturday didn’t include any public appearances.
On Sunday evening, he was supposed to deliver remarks at a ribbon-cutting event at the Altneu Synagogue in Manhattan, where Steve Witkoff, President Trump’s Middle East envoy, and Israeli President Isaac Herzog were among those in attendance. The mayor cancelled the appearance with less than two hours’ notice.
While the nature of the mayor’s condition is unclear, he has for years spoken openly about his struggle with Type 2 diabetes. He has said he temporarily lost vision after being diagnosed in 2016 and that he suffered nerve damage to his hands and feet as well. Adams has credited changes in diet and lifestyle with helping him battle the disease.