Following our initial investigation of NYC Council Speaker Adrienne Adams’ $1,393 car service expense, newly obtained records reveal an even more startling picture of public spending: The total bill for what appears to be a campaign speech masquerading as a State of the City address on March 13, 2024 – a staggering $29,541.06 of taxpayer money.
In an era where virtual meetings have become the norm and city agencies regularly conduct business via Zoom at virtually no cost, Speaker Adams chose to rent the Brooklyn Academy of Music for $24,998. The question naturally arises: Why spend nearly $25,000 on a venue when a simple video conference could have delivered the same message to even more New Yorkers?
Breaking Down the Expenses
Let’s dissect this theatrical production disguised as official business:
- $24,998 to the Brooklyn Academy of Music for venue rental on March 13, 2024
- $2,200 to Nuanced Interpretation LLC for “professional services”
- $950 to the same company for additional transportation
- And yes, that now-infamous $1,393.06 car service bill for a 22-mile round trip
Remember that seven-word description we investigated? “PICK UP AND RETURN: FROM ROCHDALE QUEENS TO BAM” turned out to be just the tip of an expensive iceberg. The Speaker’s office managed to spend nearly $25,000 just to secure BAM as the venue – a choice that conveniently necessitated that costly car service journey and created an impressive backdrop more suited to a campaign event than a civic update.
The irony thickens when you consider that Speaker Adams leads the very body responsible for scrutinizing city spending. The Council chambers – a perfectly suitable venue that taxpayers already fund – apparently couldn’t suffice. And a Zoom call, which would have cost taxpayers nothing and reached more constituents? Apparently not grand enough for this particular performance.
Putting It in Perspective
For those counting at home, the total expenditure could have funded:
- 232 monthly unlimited MetroCards for New Yorkers
- 4,843 subway rides
- An entire year of transportation for 19 average New York commuters
- Countless Zoom Pro subscriptions for virtual city meetings
Our Freedom of Information Law request, submitted on October 21, 2024, remains unanswered. Despite the city’s promise to “provide you with a response within 20 business days,” no information has been forthcoming. Meanwhile, these new figures raise even more pressing questions: Who approved these expenses? What policy justifies spending $25,000 on a venue for a speech that could have been delivered virtually? Why did additional transportation services require another $950 on top of the $1,393 car service?
As stewards of public funds, the City Council – and particularly its Speaker – owe New Yorkers an explanation. In a city where countless residents make difficult financial choices daily, watching their elected officials spend so freely on what appears to be a campaign-style event masquerading as official business demands accountability.
The streets between Rochdale Village Shopping Center and BAM remain the same ones New Yorkers navigate every day. Only now we know the full price tag of the Speaker’s journey – not just in miles, but in taxpayer dollars that could have served the public in far more meaningful ways, particularly in an era where virtual alternatives are readily available and widely accepted.
All spending records were obtained from CheckbookNYC, the city’s public spending database.