Q&A
Inquiry into Deputy Commissioner Hamilton's phone seizure and subsequent actions
0:23:44
·
154 sec
Council Member Restler questions Commissioner Molina about the seizure of Deputy Commissioner Hamilton's phone by investigators and the actions taken by DCAS in response. Molina provides information about when he became aware of the incident and the steps taken afterward.
- Molina became aware of the phone seizure the week of September 30th
- No changes were made to Hamilton's responsibilities or authority following the incident
- Molina consulted with DCAS human resources and general counsel, but not with the Office of the Inspector General
Louis Molina
0:23:44
I became aware of that the week of September 30th.
Lincoln Restler
0:23:49
Week of September 30th.
0:23:50
Okay?
0:23:51
I'm gonna just bring up my calendars.
0:23:53
We're doing this so I can understand things.
0:23:57
And since September 30th, have you have so that's 30th was the following Monday after the the the following week after the incident occurred.
0:24:08
Since that time where he became aware of his phones being seized and others phones being seized that that handle contracts he oversees, have Mister Hamilton's responsibility has been modified at all?
Louis Molina
0:24:19
No.
0:24:20
They have not.
Lincoln Restler
0:24:21
Did you consult with the OI on what actions to take in light of this news?
Louis Molina
0:24:26
No.
0:24:26
I consulted with my human resources and had or my general counsel review if based on public reporting in what I knew the week of September 30th, if DC Hamilton had violated any decast policies or conference of interest rules, and he had not.
Lincoln Restler
0:24:43
So okay.
0:24:44
Well, that's that's elite.
0:24:46
So we'll get to that.
0:24:47
What authority so no change in authority, no change in responsibilities, have any additional guardrails been put in place to ensure that he's acting with integrity and light of his phones being seized?
Louis Molina
0:24:57
Well, the there were no guardrails placed upon the deputy commissioner of real estate services.
0:25:02
As you pointed out a few minutes ago, historically, the deputy commissioner of real estate services have been investigated with the delegation authority of the commissioner to bind the city to real estate transactions.
0:25:15
And during my transition that occurred 30 days prior to me officially becoming the commissioner, and during my first 30 days of assessing overall agency operations, I felt that it was important for the office of the commissioner way before any of the events took place here that a direct report to me should be have that delegation of authority.
0:25:36
So that delegation of authority does not lie with the deputy commissioner of real estate.
Lincoln Restler
0:25:40
Okay.
0:25:40
So since his phones were seized, we've seen no change in responsibilities, no authority stripped from his portfolio, no additional guardrails put in place.
0:25:52
I just wanna ask, you mentioned consulting with your general counsel and human resources division around how to handle this this situation.
0:25:58
Did you consult with city hall about whether to take any action regarding deputy commissioner Hamilton?
Louis Molina
0:26:05
I did not consult with city hall.
0:26:07
I mean, city hall, I've had discussions with the first deputy mayor about what my opinion is on the work that he has been doing, but I did not consult about guardrails.
