August 14th 2024.
The recent actions of a waste hauling company in Queens have sparked accusations of corruption and pay-to-play schemes within the administration of New York City Mayor Eric Adams. According to reports from The Gothamist, five employees of Royal Waste Services made donations totaling $10,800 to Adams' 2021 mayoral campaign on June 7, 2021. One employee even exceeded the legal limit for campaign donations, resulting in half of the money being returned to them by the campaign.
This is not the first time the company has come under scrutiny for its relationship with the mayor's administration. In 2024, RWS was one of 18 waste management companies selected to take part in a contract to collect trash from businesses, as part of a larger effort to improve the city's commercial waste management system. However, their donations to the mayor's campaign have raised red flags, and the Campaign Finance Board has launched an investigation into the matter.
The board is specifically looking into whether the company's donations were bundled in order to circumvent campaign donation limits. Joshua Goodman, a spokesperson for the sanitation department, has stated that RWS received no special treatment in relation to their donation. He also emphasized the strict ethical standards that are in place for city contracts and the willingness of the department to enforce them.
However, Rachel Fauss, a policy advisor with Reinvent Albany, has raised concerns about the practice of bundling donations. She believes it could potentially allow companies to gain more influence in a campaign than they would be able to on their own. Council member Sandy Nurse, who previously chaired the city's sanitation department, shares this sentiment and believes that pay-to-play is a common practice within the current administration.
The issue of commercial waste management has been a contentious one in New York City, with labor groups protesting against the private companies for mistreatment of employees. In response, Mayor Bill de Blasio implemented reforms to the system, which were supported by Queens Borough President Donovan Richards. He hopes that these reforms will allow for better oversight and accountability for companies like RWS.
As the situation continues to unfold, many are closely watching to see how the Adams administration will handle the allegations of corruption. With the city's reputation at stake, it is important that swift and decisive action is taken to address any wrongdoings.
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