Former NYC Hate Crimes Official Sues Mayor Adams While Returning to City Hall

Hassan Naveed, who was ousted as New York City’s hate crimes prevention chief in 2024, has reappeared in city government as the new chief of staff to Deputy Mayor for Community Safety Renita Francois. This move comes despite his ongoing lawsuit against former Mayor Eric Adams and other city officials, accusing them of religious-based discrimination tied to his termination.

Naveed’s return marks a significant development in the Mamdani administration, as he joins Francois’ team, which oversees the newly created Office of Community Safety. His lawyer, Luna Droubi, confirmed that Naveed continues to pursue his lawsuit against Adams and others, alleging he was fired due to his Muslim faith. The city’s Law Department is defending Adams and the implicated officials, with at least one defendant still holding a city position.

The situation raises questions about potential conflicts of interest, as Naveed now works under Mamdani while suing Adams’ administration. A spokesperson for Mamdani stated that Naveed must recuse himself from any matters related to his lawsuit and that the Law Department is reviewing whether taxpayer funds should continue to support the defense in this case. Carolyn Miller of the Conflicts of Interest Board noted that public servants are generally allowed to pursue personal legal claims against the city, though they cannot act as counsel against city interests.

Naveed’s lawsuit, filed in October 2025, accused Adams and his staff with discrimination following Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel. The suit alleges that Naveed was targeted after speaking out about anti-Muslim social media posts from Adams’ staffers. While Adams has denied wrongdoing, the legal battle continues to unfold, casting a spotlight on issues of religious bias and public accountability in city government.