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Dear New Yorkers,

An investigation that began after pop singer Sabrina Carpenter filmed a music video in a Williamsburg church — and which involved a lot of money being transferred to Mayor Eric Adams’ former chief of staff — has resulted in a top monsignor being relieved of administrative duties.

Msgr. Jamie Gigantiello will remain the head of Our Lady of Mount Carmel–Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Williamsburg but won’t have any administrative oversight, the Brooklyn diocese announced.

Gigantiello transferred $1.9 million in parish funds between 2019 and 2021 to bank accounts affiliated with a law firm and two companies owned by Frank Carone, the mayor’s former chief of staff.

Gigantiello told THE CITY the transferred money was for investments that yielded big returns for his parish.

“The investments were made legally and the investments came back,” he said.

THE CITY previously wrote about Gigantiello’s financial ties to one of Carone’s businesses. In May, the pair traveled to Rome on a trip where Adams met with Pope Francis.

Read more here about the investigation into Gigantiello, who’s still being investigated by the church and who received a subpoena from federal prosecutors last year.

Weather ☀️

Sunny today, with temperatures reaching the high 50s.

MTA 🚇

All G trains at Greenpoint Avenue board from the Court Square platform overnight, and more. Find all the MTA’s planned changes and the latest delays here.

Alternate side parking 🚙

It’s in effect today, Nov. 19.

Our Other Top Stories

Last week, federal enforcement officers raided a hotel in Long Island City owned by Weihong Hu — a Chinese businesswoman and developer who bundled tens of thousands of dollars of donations to Adams’s 2021 mayoral campaign. It comes after donors to Adams’ current reelection campaign told THE CITY, Documented and The Guardian that family members of Hu’s reimbursed them in cash for their donations to Adams, which is illegal.  New York’s dry weather continues — and upstate reservoirs’ levels now hover at around 60% of their capacity. The mayor declared a drought warning yesterday, triggering city agencies to begin enacting water-saving plans. (The MTA, for its part, is planning to wash subways and buses less frequently.) Adams also paused a years-long project to repair a leak in the Delaware Aqueduct to ensure that its water could keep flowing to the city. Officials are also urging people to take voluntary measures to conserve water at home, and to be mindful of the heightened fire risk. The city’s ambitious plan to close Rikers Island took a major step forward this month, after the Adams administration tapped two construction firms to build a new jail in Lower Manhattan. The selection of Tutor Perini and O & G Industries to design and build the lockup on White Street in Chinatown represents a final piece in the borough-jails puzzle. But a timeline for its completion has yet to be announced. A plan to bring a free celestial observatory to The Bronx has failed. The planners say that the city’s requirement to have insurance made it financially untenable for them. On the latest episode of FAQ NYC, the hosts discuss President-elect Donald Trump hanging out with New York City’s mayor at the recent UFC title fight, and much more. Listen here.

Things To Do

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

Tuesday, Nov. 19: ‘Tis the season for the annual Gingerbread NYC exhibit at the Museum of the City of New York, where bakers create incredibly detailed, edible versions of city buildings, blocks and monuments. The exhibit runs through Jan. 12, 2025, and is free with museum admission. Wednesday, Nov. 20: A virtual meetup for community gardeners about how to face climate change and think about preparedness in your neighborhoods. Free from 6 to 7:30 p.m. online. Thursday, Nov. 21: A talk with four contemporary artists whose works were recently added to the Brooklyn Museum’s collection. Tickets: $20 (members $12), from 7 to 9 p.m. at the museum’s Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Auditorium.

THE KICKER: Last night, along with the moon, the planets Mars and Jupiter were visible in the clear skies over the city.

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

Love,

THE CITY

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