As the state attorney general and the city comptroller investigate the lifting of a deed restriction on the Lower East Side, a similar case is making headlines in Harlem. NY1's Courtney Gross filed the following report.
She was there to take questions on the budget, but the head of an obscure city agency that oversees deeds was trying to avoid one particular topic.
"As I am sure you understand, out of a paramount interest in preserving the integrity of investigations surrounding this specific modification, we will not be able to discuss with you today what may have gone wrong and how exactly we can fix it," said Lisette Camilo of the Department of Citywide Administrative Services.
Her appearance before the City Council on Friday came the same day her agency was once again making headlines, this time related to a vacant lot in Harlem, which was sold earlier this month by a nonprofit dance company to a real estate developer.
Up until last year, this property had a deed restriction, which meant it had to remain as a nonprofit cultural institution. The city lifted that restriction it last year.
The Harlem deal follows another scandal on the Lower East Side called Rivington House. In that case, the deed was supposed to keep the property as a nonprofit. The city lifted the restriction, and now, it's a condo development.
In both cases, the developer or those closely associated with the developer were donating thousands of dollars to the mayor's political agenda.
"It would be wrong for me to draw any conclusions as to the specifics of what happened, but I can tell you that I find this whole process from Harlem to the Lower East Side outrageous and inappropriate," said City Comptroller Scott Stringer.
"I can't speak to what factors were considered to make each determination. It was handled on a case-by-case basis," Camilo said.
The commissioner says for now, these deed applications are on hold as several investigations unfold. She would not take any questions from reporters as she left Friday's hearing.
While the commissioner did not want to take any specific questions, we did learn a little bit more about the process - that is, the lifting of deed restrictions is actually quite rare. In fact, the commissioner says it happens only about four times a year, meaning a good portion are now under scrutiny.