Mayor Eric Adams’ chief of staff and longtime advisor is departing his administration at the end of the year, the mayor’s office confirmed Monday.
Frank Carone was a power broker in Brooklyn politics for years, helping guide Adams from borough hall to Gracie Mansion. He served as chief counsel to the Kings County Democratic Committee and as Adams’ personal lawyer.
“For the last 18 months, Frank has been my first and last call, and there is no one more responsible for getting stuff done in our administration,” Adams said in a statement. “I’m grateful he agreed to join us for the first year and am looking forward to him being a close partner, advisor, and friend for as long as I’m mayor and beyond.”
Sources told NY1 Carone always planned to stay on the mayor’s staff for just a year and the departure is mutual.
“I’ve been a marine, started businesses, led campaigns, and, generally, have been so blessed throughout my entire life, but I will never be prouder of anything than what we’ve accomplished in the last 18 months,” Carone said in a statement. “I am deeply grateful to Mayor Adams for asking me to stay on for his first year and look forwarding to continuing to get stuff done in the months ahead.”
The New York Times first reported the planned departure Monday.
Carone’s business interests prior to joining the administration have occasionally drawn scrutiny, including his investment in a police tool promoted by Adams when he was borough president. In an interview with “Mornings on 1” in May, the mayor denied knowing his advisor had a financial stake in the company behind the tool at the time.
On Monday, a recent cruise to France taken by Carone drew press attention, leading the mayor’s communications director, Maxwell Young, to deny the trip was funded by taxpayers.
Young confirmed reports that Carone took a meeting with Norwegian Cruise Line to talk through a proposal that would house asylum seekers on cruise ships as the city struggles to shelter them.
