Q&A
Commissioner Molina's awareness of 14 Wall Street lease and Deputy Commissioner Hamilton's activities
0:15:47
·
107 sec
Council Member Restler questions Commissioner Molina about his awareness of various events related to the 14 Wall Street lease and Deputy Commissioner Hamilton's activities. Molina consistently denies prior knowledge of these events.
- Molina was unaware of 14 Wall Street building ownership's connection to Mayor Adams
- The commissioner had no knowledge of Hamilton's international trip with a tenant rep contractor
- Molina was not aware of relationships between city officials and the tenant rep Diana Butros
Lincoln Restler
0:15:47
Okay.
0:15:48
Thank you.
0:15:49
I know you're relatively new as you discussed in this role.
0:15:53
So I just wanted to start with a few questions to better understand your awareness of some of the events that have transpired over the past 2 years.
0:16:00
When you signed off on the lease agreement moving forward at 14 Wall Street.
0:16:05
Were you aware that the building was owned by large donors to mayor Adams?
Louis Molina
0:16:09
No.
0:16:10
I was not aware of that.
Lincoln Restler
0:16:11
Prior to September 26th, were you aware that deputy commissioner Hamilton was on an international trip with a lead agent of a multimillion dollar tenant rep contract tenant rep contract that he oversees?
Louis Molina
0:16:22
I had not been aware of that.
Lincoln Restler
0:16:23
You were not aware the trip was taking place?
Louis Molina
0:16:25
I was not aware that the trip was taking place.
Erik Abad
0:16:27
Thank you.
Lincoln Restler
0:16:30
Are you aware that Ingrid Lewis Martin, the chief adviser of the mayor, is a close personal friend of that same tenant rep Diana Butros?
Louis Molina
0:16:36
I was not aware of that relationship.
Lincoln Restler
0:16:38
You were not aware of the relationship.
0:16:39
Are you aware that Jesse Hamilton played a instrumental role in installing her in this position as the tenant for Cushman Wakefield on the Decast contract?
Louis Molina
0:16:47
I was not aware of that.
Lincoln Restler
0:16:49
Are you aware that Decast reduced the MWA goal on the push the Cushman Wakefield tenant rep contract from 30% to 10% after Diana Butros took over the account?
Louis Molina
0:16:59
I was not aware of that.
Lincoln Restler
0:17:01
Okay.
0:17:03
If yeah.
0:17:04
Well, it's hard for me to understand what the justification would be for lowering an MWE goal when the mayor has, you know, reportedly said this is such a critical priority for his administration.
0:17:15
Are you familiar with the monetary compensation packages that tenant representative firms like Cushman Wakefield receive for the transactions they make on behalf of DCAS?
Louis Molina
0:17:23
Yes.
0:17:23
In my transition to to the role, I was aware of I am aware of what.
0:17:28
The max percentages tenant representative can receive as commissions through leases or acquisitions.
