Q&A
Deputy Commissioner Hamilton's international trip with Diana Boutross
0:28:46
·
3 min
Council Member Restler questions Commissioner Molina about Deputy Commissioner Hamilton's international trip with Diana Boutross, a broker from Cushman & Wakefield who handles the DCAS account. The discussion reveals Molina's lack of prior knowledge about the trip and raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
- Molina was unaware of the trip before September 27th
- The trip was described as a personal vacation, not a business trip
- Concerns were raised about the appropriateness of Hamilton vacationing with someone who handles a multimillion-dollar contract he oversees
Lincoln Restler
0:28:46
Okay.
0:28:46
I'd like to ask briefly about the trip, and then we'll shift over to 14 wall.
0:28:54
We've got a few folks who would like to ask questions as well.
0:28:57
Before September 27th, we you mentioned that you were not aware that deputy you were not aware that deputy commissioner was on an international trip.
0:29:05
Is that what it was you testified to earlier?
Louis Molina
0:29:07
I was not aware prior to September 27th.
Lincoln Restler
0:29:10
So you were not aware that he was on this trip with Diana Butros, the lead broker for Cushman Wakefield.
Louis Molina
0:29:16
Prior to the September 27th?
0:29:17
No.
Lincoln Restler
0:29:18
Okay.
0:29:18
And since returning, have you asked Mister Hamilton who paid for the trip?
Louis Molina
0:29:24
I've had a number of personal conversations with deputy commissioner Hamilton.
0:29:29
I did not ask him who paid for the trip.
0:29:32
The trip was not paid for by the city of New York.
0:29:34
It was not a business trip.
0:29:35
It was a personal vacation.
Lincoln Restler
0:29:36
It was a personal vacation that he took with somebody who handles a multimillion dollar contract that he oversees.
0:29:42
Do you think it's appropriate for someone in charge of such a significant lucrative contract that he oversees to vacation with that person?
Louis Molina
0:29:51
Based on what I have been informed and what I know up to date, there has not been anything internally that the deputy commissioner of real estate has done that has violated any decast policy or a conflict of interest.
Lincoln Restler
0:30:04
And have you consulted with okay.
0:30:10
Will dig into this further.
0:30:12
But did you consult with DeCast?
0:30:14
This is general counsel, or Khoib, when you were informed about this trip?
Louis Molina
0:30:18
I consulted with the DeCast general counsel and our human resource personnel.
Lincoln Restler
0:30:23
Okay.
0:30:25
And
Louis Molina
0:30:26
being that it was not a city trip, there would not have been a reason for me to consult with for the the agency to consult with Coip on the issue.
0:30:34
It was a personal vacation.
Lincoln Restler
0:30:36
Personal vacation that he took with a representative of a contract that's worth many 1,000,000 of dollars annually to the account holder that he is responsible for overseeing.
0:30:46
He oversees the procurement process for determining whether she continues to have that contract.
0:30:51
He went on a trip with her.
0:30:53
We don't know who paid for it according to your testimony today.
0:30:58
And you can say it was not you don't believe it was illegal based on the conversations you've had with the general counsel, but it was clearly unseemly and highly inappropriate.
Louis Molina
0:31:08
But we should point out that deputy commissioner Hamilton, who leverage the deputy commissioner of real estate, does not solely on their own oversee the procurement process of of of any city lease.
Lincoln Restler
0:31:19
Yeah.
Louis Molina
0:31:19
So But
Lincoln Restler
0:31:20
from your long experience in government, you know, as well as I do, that a deputy commissioner has important influence in determining the vendors that they work with on contracts that they oversee There's a competitive process and that they play an important role.
0:31:34
So Mister Hamilton's we've seen no change in Mister Hamilton's responsibility, including his oversight, of this contract with Cushman Wakefield since the trip was taking place.
0:31:46
I know you mentioned there was no change in his responsibilities, but he still oversees the same Cushman Wakefield contract.
Louis Molina
0:31:51
He oversees both of the tenant representative contracts that are Cushman and Wakefield and CBRE Group.
Lincoln Restler
0:31:56
And have you met with miss Butros since this trip when her phones were seized?
