Q&A
Former general counsel's advice on the decision
0:42:29
·
89 sec
Council Member Restler questions Commissioner Molina about the former general counsel's advice regarding the decision to change from 250 Broadway to 14 Wall Street. Molina acknowledges some concerns but downplays their significance.
- Restler asks if the former general counsel deemed the decision to move away from 250 Broadway as unadvisable
- Molina acknowledges that the general counsel noted potential 'troubling' optics but maintains it was not illegal
- Restler emphasizes that the general counsel and former agency leadership advised against the decision
Lincoln Restler
0:42:29
Let's get into that
Louis Molina
0:42:30
decision with non bind to 250 Broadway.
Lincoln Restler
0:42:32
Commissioner Molina, you said you've reviewed this file, this case.
0:42:37
Is it not true or is it true that the former general counsel deemed the decision to move away from 250 Broadway as unadvisable?
0:42:46
Is that true?
Louis Molina
0:42:48
Know what the former general counsel based on what I have seen acknowledged that the optics of changing the decision could be could be troubling to people, but it was not any legal decision to make.
Lincoln Restler
0:43:02
Not illegal, but unadvisable?
Louis Molina
0:43:05
Will we get advice from counselors all the time?
Lincoln Restler
0:43:08
The general counsel advised against making this decision.
0:43:11
I think it's notable that the general counsel advised against making this decision.
0:43:15
And while and when when did the general counsel advise against making this decision?
Louis Molina
0:43:26
I don't know the exact date of when he advised that the optics of making a decision might be troubling.
0:43:35
But it's important to know that we have the 1st and foremost be concerned about city taxpayers spending over $31,000,000 more on a location in which the Department of Aging did not want to be in.
Lincoln Restler
0:43:47
Okay.
0:43:48
So the general counsel and the former agency leadership advised against this decision.
0:43:56
You began July 1 2024.
Gale A. Brewer
0:43:58
Mhmm.
Lincoln Restler
0:43:59
When were you first briefed on the 14 Wall Street lease?
