The Rev. Al Cockfield, Center, Joined Other Faith Leaders At City Hall To Announce A New Program With Mayor Eric Adams To Help House Migrants.

Investigation initiated into connections between Pastor linked to Adams and Hotel Developer aided by them

Federal and city authorities raided the Queens home of a pastor connected to Mayor Eric Adams and a developer, Weihong Hu. The investigation is looking into their dealings, including efforts to influence city agencies for construction projects. The pastor’s political action committee and financial transactions are also under scrutiny. The investigation is connected to fundraising for Adams and dealings at Hu’s hotel where individuals linked to Adams stayed. The pastor and developer have not commented, while Adams has defended their actions. City agencies are working to reverse decisions made in favor of Hu’s projects.

The recent events surrounding the search warrant executed at the Queens home of Pastor Rev. Al Cockfield II, who led a political action committee for Mayor Eric Adams, along with the investigation into his dealings with developer Weihong Hu, have attracted significant attention. This probe led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York involves the FBI and city Department of Investigation, following an in-depth reporting project by THE CITY, Guardian US, and Documented earlier this year.

The joint news project exposed Hu’s efforts to influence the city Department of Buildings through Pastor Cockfield to advance her development projects, which had faced regulatory issues. The investigation also delved into Cockfield’s political action committee, Striving for a Better New York, and its financial transactions, raising questions about the PAC’s operations.

The search warrant at Cockfield’s home, as reported by the New York Post, is connected to Hu’s activities, as revealed by The New York Times. The U.S. Attorney, Breon Peace, is also scrutinizing Cockfield’s role in the PAC and his ties to Hu. Campaign finance records indicate significant payments made to Cockfield by the PAC, as well as donations to a charter school he operates that were later returned following inquiries from authorities.

Further investigations earlier this year targeted Winnie Greco, Adams’ Asian community liaison, who stayed at Hu’s hotel in Fresh Meadows, Queens, while it housed individuals released from city jails. Hu’s fundraising for Adams and her connections to his campaign have raised concerns, leading to increased scrutiny by law enforcement.

Hu’s lawyer, Ben Brafman, has stated that she is not a target of the investigation and is not cooperating with authorities. Adams has stood by his relationship with Cockfield, despite the ongoing investigations into their activities. The Department of Buildings’ decisions related to Hu’s development projects, which were influenced by Cockfield, have come under intense scrutiny, with allegations of preferential treatment and regulatory violations.

The investigation has highlighted instances where the Department of Buildings reversed stop work orders on Hu’s projects, allowing construction to proceed despite safety concerns and violations of affordable housing requirements. The involvement of influential individuals like Cockfield in securing favorable decisions for Hu has raised questions about the integrity of the regulatory process and potential conflicts of interest.

Following the publication of the joint investigation on Hu, city agencies have taken steps to rectify the lapses and ensure compliance with regulations. Meetings with community boards and apologies from city officials have signaled a willingness to address the issues raised by the investigations. The Department of Buildings has issued stop work orders at Hu’s development sites and mandated compliance with affordable housing regulations to rectify past shortcomings.

The efforts to preserve affordable housing in Hu’s projects have been met with some progress, with new plans presented to community boards for review and approval. The involvement of city agencies and community stakeholders in overseeing Hu’s developments underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in urban planning and development processes.

As the investigations continue and more details emerge, the implications of the actions taken by individuals like Cockfield and Hu on city governance and regulatory oversight remain a subject of public interest and scrutiny. The outcomes of these probes are likely to have far-reaching consequences for the involved parties and the broader political landscape in New York City.

Source: TheCity.NYC

 

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