Conflicts of Interest Board Settles with De Blasio in First Enforcement Action Against an NYC Mayor

After three years of litigation, the New York City Conflicts of Interest Board (COIB) has reached a settlement with former Democratic NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio to resolve his violations of the City’s conflicts of interest law in connection with his 2019 presidential campaign, board officials announced Wednesday, May 14. As part of the settlement, De Blasio will pay the City a total of $329,794.20 in restitution and fines. They said he has already paid $100,000 of this sum to the Board.

UPDATE Agallas Equities Responds to Mayor’s Remarks on Possible Microchip Production at Kingsbridge Armory

Agallas Equities, a Manhattan-based real estate firm, has blasted recent comments made by New York City Mayor Eric Adams on possible plans to start microchip production at the Kingsbridge Armory. As reported, Agallas filed a lawsuit on March 28 against NYC Economic Development Corporation (EDC), Andrew Kimball as CEO of EDC, 8th Regiment Partners LLC, a joint venture of Maddd Equities and Joy Construction, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson and now former Deputy Bronx Borough President Janet Peguero over what it alleges was “the controversial selection” of the rival, chosen developer (8th Regiment Partners LLC) for the Armory redevelopment project announced in January.

Old Fordham Library Debate Heats Up

District 15 City Council Member Oswald Feliz (C.D. 15) hosted a town hall Wednesday, April 23, for residents to gather ideas and explore possibilities for the future use of the old Fordham Library building, located at 2556 Bainbridge Avenue in Fordham Manor. 

UPDATE Tremont: May the Force Be With You; Panic Button Safety Plan to Connect Bodega Owners to NYPD

“May the Force be with you” was perhaps the underlying message from New York City Mayor Eric Adams to the City’s worst-hit bodega owners when he visited the Tremont section of The Bronx on Sunday, May 4. He was there to announce $1.6 million in funding to equip an estimated 500 bodegas across the five boroughs with new panic buttons which bodega staff can use to immediately call the NYPD in cases of emergency.

UPDATE District 11 City Council Candidate Danielle Guggenheim Responds to Eric Dinowitz on Medicare Advantage

City Council candidate in the upcoming District 11 Democratic primary election, Danielle Herbert Guggenheim, a self-described single mother and Black and Caribbean American who has served 25 years with the City’s Board of Education, has responded to a letter to the editor published in The Riverdale Press on April 25 titled, “Closing the door on Medicare Advantage,” by incumbent Councilman Eric Dinowitz.