The story reveals that a fundraiser for Eric Adams, a mayoral nominee in New York City, raised over $10 million in public matching funds. The event, hosted by a mall president at his mansion, seemed to be a lavish affair with expensive food and drinks, despite being claimed to cost less than $500. There were allegations of irregularities in donations, with some donors saying they were reimbursed for contributions they didn’t actually make. Adams is facing charges related to illegal donations and the campaign’s fundraising practices are under scrutiny.
The August 2021 fundraiser for Eric Adams, held on Long Island, raised over $10 million in public matching funds from the taxpayers of New York City. The event, which drew 231 donations, featured contributions from low-wage workers at the New World Mall in Queens, each contributing $249 or $250. Thanks to the matching funds program, these donations were significantly multiplied, aiming to reduce the influence of big money in elections.
A recently discovered video on YouTube revealed that the event at a Long Island mansion, hosted by New World Mall president Lian Wu Shao, was a lavish affair with high-end food and drinks. Despite claims by the campaign that the party cost less than $500, the video showed a luxurious setting with expensive items and a high-class atmosphere. The campaign stated that hosts spending more than $500 must report expenses as in-kind contributions and take responsibility for donations but argued that the event was exempt from these rules.
The fundraiser was attended by a few dozen guests, including Eric Adams, who thanked the Chinese community for their support in his mayoral campaign. The event was organized by Winnie Greco, Adams’ liaison to Asian communities, who resigned amidst federal investigations. The video showcased Greco’s prominent role in the event, alongside other campaign staffers who now work in the Adams administration.
The Adams campaign had a history of fundraising events at the New World Mall, with previous events held at the Royal Queen restaurant within the mall. The campaign received significant donations from mall workers, particularly from J-Mart supermarket employees. However, investigations revealed irregularities in the reported donations, with some donors denying making contributions and others claiming they were reimbursed by mall management.
The New World Mall, owned by Lian Wu Shao and his wife, has been a successful venture in Flushing, Queens. The mall has served as a hub for the community and a location for Adams’ campaign fundraisers. Campaign records showed substantial spending on events at the mall, including food expenses exceeding the reported donations from attendees.
Following scrutiny of the Adams campaign’s fundraising practices, the Campaign Finance Board flagged numerous donations as potentially invalid and raised concerns about unreported intermediaries. The campaign was required to respond to these discrepancies and provide documentation to validate the donations. Failure to do so could result in penalties for the campaign and its hosts.
In conclusion, the fundraising event for Eric Adams at the New World Mall raised questions about the integrity of the donations and the transparency of the campaign’s financial practices. The investigation into these issues highlights the importance of accountability and compliance with election laws to ensure fair and ethical campaign financing.
Source: TheCity.NYC
