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New York Mayor Eric Adams Faces Scrutiny Over Incomplete Schedule Disclosures

NYC Mayor Eric Adams (center) attends a summit hosted by the Anatolian Lions Businessmen’s Association. | Benny Polatseck/ Mayoral Photography Office

New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ official schedules for the past year were released on Wednesday, revealing a packed agenda of meetings, events, and engagements. However, the records lack key details, raising questions about transparency in the mayoral office.

The schedules, covering July 2022 through August 2023, highlight Adams’ interactions with the city’s elite, including business and financial leaders. Notable attendees in his calendar include former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman, and Starbucks board chair Mellody Hobson.

Despite the detailed nature of the schedules, certain critical aspects of Adams’ activities remain undisclosed. Notably, information about his overseas trips, late-night engagements, and some of the basic details of his daily encounters are missing. The schedules do not provide insight into which elected officials Adams communicates with during regular calls, and several entries lack specifics, such as the participants in a “meet and greet” at City Hall.

Compared to his predecessor, Bill de Blasio, Adams has scaled back transparency measures, discontinuing the practice of disclosing lobbying interactions, citing legal non-requirements and the departure from such practices during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The release of the schedules comes after a Freedom of Information Law request, marking the first such disclosure in 15 months. The absence of certain details raises concerns about the level of transparency in Adams’ administration.

Additionally, the schedules shed light on Adams’ interactions with Turkish organizations, which is noteworthy in light of an ongoing federal probe into potential collusion between Adams’ 2021 campaign and the government of Turkey. The mayor participated in events with Turkish groups and delivered virtual remarks at an Anatolian Lions Businessmen’s Association summit.

Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks’ schedules were also released, revealing meetings with figures connected to Adams’ political operations and the ongoing federal investigation into the mayor’s 2021 campaign. The documents show interactions with Brianna Suggs, the mayor’s chief political fundraiser, and Dwayne Montgomery, a central figure accused of orchestrating a straw donor scheme.

Adams and his team have maintained that the 2021 campaign followed all rules, and no charges have been filed in the investigation.

The incomplete schedule disclosures raise questions about transparency and accountability in Mayor Eric Adams’ administration, prompting further scrutiny into the details of his daily activities and engagements.

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