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Concerns about MWBE goals in the Cushman Wakefield contract

1:34:29

·

169 sec

Council Member Restler raises concerns about changes to MWBE goals in the Cushman Wakefield contract, particularly regarding JRT Realty's role.

Council Member Restler alleges that Diana Boutros reduced JRT Realty's role, effectively slashing MWBE goals in the contract
Commissioner Molina states that the 30% MWBE goal was not reduced, but rather redistributed among black-owned, Hispanic-owned, and women-owned businesses
There's a discussion about a previous meeting with the chief diversity officer regarding these concerns, which Commissioner Molina was not aware of at the time
Commissioner Molina expresses support for diversity and ensuring representation of various MWBE categories
Council Member Restler suggests there might be some misunderstanding or talking past each other on this issue

Lincoln Restler

1:34:29

I'll just say for the record, she had only done retail leasing, never done commercial leasing, and was put in charge of one of the most important commercial leasing contracts in the city Of New York, if not the most.

1:34:39

And so I stand by my description, glaring lack of qualifications.

1:34:46

At the hearing in October, you testified that you were not familiar with the fact that the chief diversity officer for the city had met with JRT Realty and Deputy Commissioner Hamilton multiple times regarding the fact that Diana Boutros and Jesse Hamilton slashed the MWB goals in the contract.

1:35:01

Have you spoken to the chief diversity officer since then and worked to rectify that issue?

Louis Molina

1:35:05

No.

1:35:06

So the issue was that we wanted to make sure that there was equitable representation of diverse contractors or subcontractors in real estate.

1:35:16

So, the 30% goal was not reduced.

1:35:20

What it was was that whether the 10% goal for black owned businesses, 10% for Hispanic owned businesses, and 10% for women owned businesses Right.

1:35:29

To get to the 30.

Lincoln Restler

1:35:29

But the prior the existing contract which has been delayed and delayed and delayed let me restate that.

1:35:35

Has been extended and extended and extended and has continued to be extended under your leadership.

1:35:40

The one sub that was an MWBE was JRT Realty.

1:35:45

When Ms.

1:35:46

Butros became the point person for Cushman Wakefield, she slashed JRT Realty's role on the contract, slashing the MWBE goals on that contract.

1:35:56

You're stating that you want that your priority for the new contract is to expand MWBE's, but you said at the hearing a few months ago, you were not familiar with the fact that that Cushman had been brought into City Hall to meet with the chief diversity officer to address the fact that the MWB goals had been slashed on the current contract, which continues to be extended.

1:36:16

Have you looked at that issue and and tried

Louis Molina

1:36:18

to address I was I was not at the meeting.

1:36:20

What I can say is that I support diversity and I think it's important that we look at the subsets of those diversities to make sure that black owned businesses, Hispanical businesses, and women owned businesses are well represented.

Lincoln Restler

1:36:33

And to be clear, I agree with I know you weren't at the meeting.

1:36:36

It predated your role as commissioner your time as commissioner.

1:36:39

But you were unaware of it at the you testified to being unaware of it a few months ago.

1:36:43

I was just wondering if anything had done in the intervening time to look into this matter and try and rectify the existing contract where the MWBEs had been where the MWB had been cut out.

Louis Molina

1:36:54

Yeah.

1:36:54

So I was appraised on the clarity of that there was no reduction and instead of a reduction, we were just making sure that we were having goals that were representative of all those small businesses.

Lincoln Restler

1:37:05

Okay.

1:37:07

I don't I I think we're we might be talking past one another a little bit.

1:37:10

I have a couple more topics and then I will let you enjoy the rest of your afternoon.

1:37:15

But before I do, I just wanna offer council member Brewer the chance to ask a

Gale A. Brewer

1:37:18

few more Two points.

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Discussion on Cushman Wakefield contract team and Diana Boutros' role

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Council Member Brewer inquires about city-owned buildings, leasing costs, and space utilization