Joseph Hof
Feb 20, 2025
A case study from Missouri, the State of the firm's domicile, serves as a compelling warning against the potential pitfalls that could arise here in New York
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 20, 2025
In light of ongoing current events, Hof is more convinced than ever that we must seize the opportunity to come together as stakeholders and establish a uniformly accepted and formally adopted process for the removal of a Mayor of the City of New York. This process, agreed upon by both the Chamber and the City Council, should result in a clear, written framework that eliminates ambiguity and provides guidance for the future.
Our firm’s casual familiarity with a case study from Missouri, the State of the firm's domicile, serves as a compelling warning against the potential pitfalls that could arise here in New York. That is, last year, a wholly avoidable legal and political dispute erupted between the Saint Louis County Executive, the Saint Louis County Council, and the former Governor of Missouri, over the appointment procedures for a Saint Louis County Prosecutor. The Governor argued that the State Constitution took precedence over the more specific county provisions. This resulted in both officials appointing different individuals to the same position, sparking a divisive legal and political battle. Ultimately, the Governor prevailed, but the dispute caused unnecessary turmoil and political fallout. If a similar scenario were to unfold in New York—an outcome that national-level political figures may be anticipating—it could lead to lasting and damaging divisions.
Now is the time to seize the opportunity, and come together, not argue, to draft and implement a clear guidance document that is both legally defensible and procedurally meaningful to the individual whose removal is proposed. To be clear, nobody affilaited with the firm is advocating for or against initiating such a process in any specific case; rather, Hof is simply emphasizing that the potential for such a process to be invoked at any moment underscores the urgent need to resolve ambiguities now—before they become crises in the future. The paramount importance is to try to agree to a process that is procedurally meaningful to the individual whose removal is proposed.
By addressing this issue proactively, we can prevent unnecessary disputes, ensure good governance, and provide stability for the City and State of New York, now, and in to the future. We are far more powerful when we act together. Hof is prepared to assist in the effort if called upon to help out.
Joe Hof