More lawsuits for the Adams administration
there was too much news to recap it all, actually #76
Two lawsuits involving the Adams administration made headlines this week – one is the long-awaited sex assault complaint against Eric Adams, first filed right under the Adult Survivor’s Act deadline in November. The mayor said he isn’t sure he ever met the plaintiff, Lorna Beach-Mathura, and denied anything ever happening. You can read all about that here.
The second, filed Wednesday, is a detailed sexual harassment and gender discrimination suit filed against Tim Pearson, a longtime friend of the mayor who now works as a top and well-paid officially who we are told oversees asylum seeker and COVID operations.
The complaint, filed by Roxanne Ludemman, a now-retired NYPD sergeant, reveals what she said went on at the newly-formed Mayor’s Office of Municipal Services Assessment, made up of NYPC staffers whose goal was to monitor city agencies.
What does this office do? POLITICO tried to figure that out months ago but the Adams administration didn’t offer much. The lawsuit paints a sordid picture of the unit, one where Tim Pearson used the Pearl Street office as a “hangout” and asked inappropriate questions like if she was married and happy, when he wasn’t also allegedly rubbing women’s shoulders and arms. Ludemman alleges Pearson suggested she work for him – and face more sexual harassment, she feared – to get promoted.
There’s a lot more; you can read the suit here.
And here’s some background on Tim Pearson, from THE CITY –
🌟Adams Advisor Tim Pearson Grabbed and Shoved Shelter Guards, Say Witnesses
🌟Adams Operative Had Altercation at Randall’s Island Shelter Hours Before Fighting Guards at Touro
Other interesting stories
A really sweet profile of the artist painting his neighbors[THE CITY]
A Chinese billionaire plead guilty this week for illegal campaign donations, and his wife has ties to Adams and Winnie Greco [THE CITY]
The Grimaldi’s owner was stealing dough from his workers [EATER]
Two long reads: one on Mayor Adams and the other on Frank Carone.
And take your time on this profile on an Afghan potter who is recreating his work, and his home, in Connecticut. From the piece, written so eloquently by my friend and former colleague Leslie:
When Malikzada created a new line of tableware, he named it “Together,” to honor everyone who helped him along the way. “I don’t know how to say thank you enough,” he said.
And congrats to my friend Roxanna, who won a 2024 National Book Critics Circle Award for her nonfiction masterpiece, We Were Once a Family: A Story of Love, Death, and Child Removal in America.
🎧LISTEN🎧
Here’s some of what I’ve been listening to lately
“Schoolbell/Treehouse” by Indian Ocean (an Arthur Russell project)
”The Believers” by Kim Gordon
Circuit des Yeux’s Tiny Desk (at home) concert
The 1 hour version of “Native New Yorker” by Wendy Williams on “The Masked Singer”
Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy some pastries
Thanks so much for the sweet shout out, Katie! Much appreciated.