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Dear New Yorkers,

Yet more law enforcement action against one of Mayor Eric Adams’ top former staffers has emerged. But first, a different type of enforcement action, spurred by THE CITY’s reporting: HotHead Grabba, which packages tubes of loose ground tobacco leaves sold in smoke shops and bodegas around the New York region, is facing more than $91,000 in fines from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

And the probes are still ongoing.

So far, federal workplace health and safety inspectors have found more than two dozen fire, electrical, respiratory and sanitary hazards at tobacco factories in Brooklyn and Queens.

Immigrant workers had complained about substandard pay and conditions. Earlier this year, women employed at the Brooklyn factory alleged in an interview with THE CITY that they had endured working 13-hour days, six days a week stripping tobacco in an enclosed space. They reported symptoms of health problems including dizziness, fainting, fatigue and nausea.

The agency launched its probe just days after our article was published.

Read more here about the fines HotHead Grabba is facing.

Our Other Top Story

Earlier this week, the mayor released a video for the final push to enact his City of Yes housing plan. It argued that the ambitious proposal is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to undo decades of racist, discriminatory zoning laws. The video got almost no attention, overshadowed by the scandals rocking his administration. And now, the mayor will have only two months to convince City Council members — most of whom are at odds with him — to approve it. Can he?

Reporter’s Notebook

Subpoena at Carone-Linked Church

Federal investigators sent a subpoena to a Catholic church in Brooklyn over ties between its monsignor and Frank Carone, Mayor Eric Adams’s former chief of staff, according to NBC 4 New York.

Investigators are looking at any business dealings between Carone and Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello, the former vicar for the Diocese of Brooklyn who leads Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Williamsburg, sources told NBC 4.

A spokesperson for the diocese told the outlet they are “fully committed to cooperating with law enforcement in all investigations, including of conduct at individual parishes or involving any priests.” It’s unclear exactly what investigators are looking at.

THE CITY reported in 2022 that Msgr. Gigantiello was a partial owner of a financial company with Carone that helped fund medical companies. A spokesperson at the time said the monsignor personally invested in the company “with a well-respected friend.”

The pair traveled earlier this year to Rome to meet Pope Francis.

— Yoav Gonen and Katie Honan

Aide’s Income and Freebies Now Disclosed

Mayor Eric Adams’ Asian affairs director Winnie Greco has revised a previous financial disclosure to include income, gifts and free travel to the city’s Conflicts of Interest Board after questions from THE CITY. The change to her disclosure form covering 2023 added three financial benefits not previously listed. Among the changes, Greco acknowledged receiving up to $54,999 in rental income for one of two homes she owns or co-owns in The Bronx, both of which the FBI raided in February as part of a probe out the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn.

Greco also reported accepting airfare and hotel accommodations worth more than $5,000 from the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, which hosts annual trips for elected officials and staffers to Israel.

City Hall spokesperson Amaris Cockfield declined to say when the trip was, who else accompanied Greco and what the purpose was.

Greco also newly reported receiving “small gifts from guest [sic] at city events” with a total value of under $1,000. The only example given was “food at Autumn Festival.”

The revisions to the form — originally submitted to the city’s Conflicts of Interest Board in the spring — came after THE CITY sent questions to the mayor’s office last month about Greco’s disclosure.

“Once Winnie was informed of the mistakes on the COIB form, she rectified them as soon as possible,” said an attorney for Greco, Steven Brill.

— Yoav Gonen and Katie Honan

Things To Do

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

Saturday, Sept. 21: Pitch in to beautify the city shoreline for International Coastal Cleanup Day. All supplies provided. From 2 to 4 p.m. at Shirley Chisholm State Park, Brooklyn. Saturday, Sept. 21: Do yoga on the stoop outside of the Brooklyn Museum. Tickets are $20 and include museum admission. Class is 10  to 11 a.m. at 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn. Saturday, Sept. 21: An outdoor sketching workshop led by an artist and illustrator. Free from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Riverside Park, Manhattan.

THE KICKER: A celestial roommate is about to move in! Starting next week, Earth is getting a second “moon” for a couple of months.

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

Love,

THE CITY

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