Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
Q&A
NYCHA corruption investigation and DOI's response
0:48:41
ยท
92 sec
Council Member Chris Banks inquires about the Department of Investigation's approach to addressing fraud and corruption in city agencies, particularly NYCHA. Commissioner Strauber explains that DOI has a dedicated squad for NYCHA investigations, which was responsible for a large-scale bribery case announced in February.
- The NYCHA squad is funded through an agreement with NYCHA
- Squad members receive higher salaries due to this arrangement
- DOI has a strong relationship with NYCHA, allowing for effective investigations
Chris Banks
0:48:41
Not a commission, but thank you.
0:48:44
Thank you, madam chair, and to the commissioner.
0:48:49
Thank you for your earlier statement and testimony.
0:48:53
Particularly when it comes to NYCHA, when I first took office, a major scandal regarding NYCHA employees that involved bribery and extortion, which brought significant attention to the issues of corruption and misconduct within the city agencies and authorities.
0:49:11
Wanted to know, given the ongoing need to address fraud and other criminal practices within various city agencies, how does the Department of Investigation prioritize its budget to effectively investigate cases of fraud, bribery, corruption, and particularly in agencies like NYCHA?
Jocelyn E. Strauber
0:49:31
So we actually have a squad that covers that is solely devoted to NYCHA.
0:49:37
It's it's a large squad.
0:49:39
It's a very strong squad.
0:49:41
They are the squad that was responsible for the large scale bribery case that we announced last February.
0:49:47
So that that is a squad that I would describe as on loan where the employees are funded through NYCHA.
0:49:53
They are actually paid higher salaries as it happens.
0:49:57
That's just through an agreement with NYCHA with whom, you know, we have a a strong relationship.
0:50:02
They are committed to strengthening and funding that group of investigators.
0:50:08
And so that is why we've been able to to focus on and develop those those kinds of cases.
Chris Banks
0:50:13
Is there a particular unit?