WORLD WORLDWIDE US USA - New York NY - New York City - THE CITY SCOOP - A sixth corruption suit against the NYPD and Adams.

 

FRIDAY, AUG. 8, 2025

Dear New Yorkers,

A former top NYPD lawyer has filed suit against the department and Mayor Eric Adams alleging she was fired for supporting disciplinary action against a longtime friend of the mayor who was the force’s top uniformed chief.

Amy Litwin, who headed the Department Advocate’s Office, claimed her ouster was the price she paid for determining that Jeffrey Maddrey, then the chief of the department, abused his authority by voiding the arrest of a retired cop in a Thanksgiving eve incident in Brooklyn four years ago, exposed by THE CITY.

Dramatic video that we obtained captured the ex-cop, who had once worked under Maddrey, chasing three youths while allegedly brandishing a gun through the streets of Brownsville, Brooklyn; getting booked and arrested; and then being freed after Maddrey showed up late at night at the 73rd Precinct station house.

At the end of the video, the former cop is seen joyfully greeting Maddrey in the station lobby.

No less cinematic was the scene of Litwin’s firing as described in her lawsuit. After rejecting her recommendation, then-Commissioner Edward Caban — who resigned after the FBI raided his home last year — canned her while Maddrey sat nearby in his office.

Litwin became the sixth high-ranking former police official to file suit in a month claiming they were victims of cronyism, retaliation and alleged corruption by police leaders close to Adams.

A spokesperson for Adams said he did not know Litwin and did not direct Caban to send her packing. Read more here.

Weather ☀️

Sunny and clear with a high near 82 and a low around 66.

MTA 🚇

The W train is suspended today from 9:30 a.m. till 3 p.m. but riders instead can take the N, Q or R lines. Find all the MTA’s planned changes and the latest delays here.

Alternate side parking 🚙

It’s in effect today, on August 8.

By the way …

From our archives, how to snoop through property records like a reporter. (We know you’re curious.)

Our Other Top Stories

A new experiment connects air conditioning units into batteries in New Yorkers' homes so they don’t rely on the taxed electric grid during heat waves. This new approach could make the city more resilient and keep people comfortable during times when the electric system is straining.  Public schools are getting $16 million to spend on implementing the cellphone ban in classrooms this year. From our friends at Chalkbeat, click here to see how much of that funding your local school will get. Is the sprinkler, spray showers or water fountain in your local park broken? We want to hear about it! In this week’s summer newsletter, we explore why the pipes get clogged and talk to a Parks Department plumber about what it takes to keep the water flowing.

SPONSORED A Conversation on the Future of Work in NYC On Wednesday, August 6th, THE CITY joined non-profit leaders and experts from JPMorganChase for a panel discussion on the future of work in New York City and workforce development at Chase’s flagship Community Center Branch in Harlem. Dozens of New Yorkers at the event heard from THE CITY Executive Director Nic Dawes and Chase Community Manager Rocky Chowdhury, along with a panel including economics reporter Greg David, labor reporter Claudia Irizarry Aponte, Brooklyn Workforce Innovations Executive Director Aaron Shiffman, and Pathways to Apprenticeship Executive Director Gyasi Headen. The conversation – which included audience Q&A - was moderated by JPMorganChase Global Philanthropy Program Officer Rafia Zahir-Uddin. Panelists covered topics ranging from the industries driving New York City’s economy, to barriers that hold New Yorkers back from good-paying jobs like difficulty securing affordable child care, to the potential positive and negative impacts of artificial intelligence. To learn more about how JPMorganChase supports career-connected education, skills training, and policy solutions that connect job seekers to opportunities, click here: https://www.jpmorganchase.com/impact/careers-and-skills Member FDIC. Equal Opportunity Lender.  © 2025 JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Reporter’s Notebook

Tourism Remains Robust, Despite Trump

President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement was supposed to deliver a major blow to New York City’s tourism industry. Halfway through the crucial summer season, however, it appears New York remains an irresistible location for visitors.

Preliminary figures for July show that hotel occupancy is virtually unchanged from last year at 85.6% and the average daily room rate has increased by $13 a night to $283, according to figures released this week by the hotel data company STR.

Broadway attendance, another crucial indicator since tourists purchase about two-thirds of all tickets, is up 7% for the season that began in late May.

The hotels that are doing best are the luxury accommodations, said Vijay Dandapini, head of the New York Hotel Association, who says the city is ignoring an opportunity to attract more budget-minded young travelers by prohibiting hostels.

With fears that international tourists would stay away, especially Canadians angered by Trump, New York City Tourism + Conventions in May reduced its forecast for visitors this year to 61.4 million, about 3 million less than it had expected in February and about 300,000 short of last year’s total.

— Greg David

Things To Do

Here’s what’s going on around the city this weekend.

Friday, August 8: Listen to Calliope Brass play pops, theater, movie favorites and songs from their award-winning album as part of the Summer on the Hudson festival from 7 to 8 p.m. at Riverside Park. Friday, August 8: Come watch performances from Puerto Rican singer Tony Vega, salsa band La Excelencia and Cuban musician Ariacne Trijullo at the Coney Island Amphitheater, from 7 to 10 p.m.  Saturday, August 9: The 35th annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival starts at 9 a.m. at Flushing Meadows Corona Park, honoring the year of the snake. Sunday, August 10: Attend an origami workshop geared towards beginners of all ages at Industry City with the first session beginning at 12 p.m. and the second session starting at 2 p.m.

THE KICKER: The diesel-powered Governors Island ferry boat will be retired and replaced by the city’s first hybrid-electric boat later this month.

Thanks, as always, for reading. Make it a great Friday.

Love,

THE CITY

PS. Love THE CITY? Our nonprofit newsroom is powered by readers like you. Donate here.

Want to view Scoop in your web browser? Click here.

THE CITY's work is made possible, in part, through the support of our sponsors. Interested in becoming a sponsor of THE CITY? Contact us here.  Copyright © 2024 THE CITY, All rights reserved.