Hassan Naveed Rejoins NYC Government Amid Lawsuit Against Former Mayor Adams

NEW YORK, NY – Hassan Naveed, formerly New York City's hate crimes prevention chief, has returned to municipal government as the new chief of staff to Deputy Mayor for Community Safety Renita Francois. This appointment, effective as of this morning, marks the first high-profile addition to Francois' team since Mayor Zohran Mamdani tapped her in March for the newly-created post overseeing the Office of Community Safety.

Naveed's return, however, is set against the backdrop of an ongoing lawsuit he has filed against former Mayor Eric Adams, the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, and two employees within that unit. The lawsuit, filed in October 2025, alleges Naveed's termination in April 2024 stemmed from religious-based discrimination related to his Muslim faith. This creates a complex and potentially "messy dynamic" within City Hall, as Naveed is now employed by the same government he is actively suing, and potentially working alongside at least one official named as a defendant.

The Mamdani administration has acknowledged the situation. A spokesperson for Mayor Mamdani confirmed Naveed's appointment and stated that he will be required to recuse himself from any matters related to the issues raised in his lawsuit. Furthermore, the city’s Law Department is currently reviewing whether Naveed's case can be resolved and if former Mayor Adams and the other defendants are entitled to continued taxpayer-funded legal representation. This review follows a precedent set by the Mamdani administration, which previously moved to strip Adams of taxpayer-funded legal support in a civil lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault.

Allegations and City Responses

Naveed's lawsuit seeks monetary damages and alleges he was "singled out" for discrimination by Adams and his staff following the October 7, 2023, terror attack in Israel. The suit claims Naveed confronted Adams in mid-October 2023 regarding social media posts by mayoral staffers that he deemed "anti-Muslim, anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian." According to the filing, Adams allegedly dismissed Naveed's concerns, telling him that Muslims in New York City were experiencing hate because they had failed to adequately condemn Hamas after the attacks. The suit further alleges Adams compared pro-Palestinian demonstrations in the city to "Klu Klux Klan protests."

Naveed's lawyer, Luna Droubi, confirmed her client's intent to continue pursuing the lawsuit despite his new role. The city's Conflicts of Interest Board executive director, Carolyn Miller, noted that public servants are generally not prohibited from seeking redress against the city for alleged wrongs against themselves, but are barred from acting as "an attorney or counsel against the interests of the city in any litigation to which the city is a party."

Representatives for former Mayor Adams have largely declined to comment on pending litigation. Todd Shapiro, a spokesperson for Adams, emphasized the former mayor's "strong and consistent record of standing up for religious freedom and protecting all communities from hate and discrimination." Last year, Adams’ spokesperson Kayla Mamelak denied Naveed's termination was discriminatory, citing "poor job performance." An anonymous former Adams administration official echoed this sentiment, calling Naveed a "poor hire" due to alleged performance issues in his previous role.

Naveed, who also served on Mamdani's transition team, declined to comment on his new position.