Is it interesting that the mayor has lost his prestige and still won’t leave-

Two weeks ago, our “New Yorker Talks” column boldly predicted that beleaguered Mayor Adams might be entering the “garbage time” of his term, where simply making it to the finish line would be a blessing. At the time, this forecast seemed rather audacious, but now, it appears chillingly prescient.

As Adams himself faces charges, the situation has only just reached its first peak. Prosecutors have already hinted that this is far from over, stating that it’s “very likely” additional charges or defendants may soon arise. Even if no new evidence is uncovered, Adams’ deliberate actions—such as changing his phone password to evade investigation—could easily lead to charges of obstructing justice and lying to investigators. On the governance front, his core team is rapidly disbanding, reflecting a chaotic and disorganized environment. The City Council, long engaged in power struggles with Adams, is certainly not inclined to show him any sympathy or support in these trying times.

Looking ahead, with a mayor embroiled in scandal, making global headlines for all the wrong reasons, how many of the business elites and political players would still dare to collaborate with him? When a leader loses both authority and credibility, who among the technocrats—those who have succeeded on merit rather than connections—will be willing to take orders from him?

The term “garbage time” originally comes from sports, referring to a game where one side is so far behind it can no longer change its fate, merely going through the motions until time runs out. Now, with Adams refusing to step down, isn’t his remaining term a similar scenario on the political field? Regardless of how grand his visions might be, he seems destined to fall short.

Emerging from a working-class background, Adams climbed to the heights of his career through hard work and confidence, but that same confidence now appears to be his undoing. What once seemed like self-assurance increasingly resembles farce. He has referred to himself as “Brooklyn’s Biden,” yet the almost pathological arrogance and narcissism he displays paint a picture much closer to a “mini Trump.”