Thursday, September 14, 2023

Developer gave Eric Ulrich a discount on a lux apartment hoping he would condemn a supportive housing building for the homeless across the street

 

 https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F5_Lwb5WUAA2HgO?format=jpg&name=4096x4096

THE CITY 

On the evening of Aug. 10, 2021, Eric Adams joined a rooftop party in Brooklyn where a crowd of real estate industry figures awaited him, each of them bearing gifts. It was a month after Adams’ victory in his hard-fought race to become the Democratic mayoral nominee and he was busily harvesting donations from those eager to show support for the man overwhelmingly favored to become the next mayor of the City of New York.

That morning, a breakfast fundraiser at a Manhattan law firm active in land use issues netted the candidate $38,750 in contributions. He picked up $20,250 more at a later event with healthcare executives and doctors. Another soiree, at a hotel in the Rockaways, yielded $25,925 for his campaign coffers. 

But his biggest haul of the day came on the Brooklyn rooftop. The host was a successful developer and investor in commercial and residential projects around the city named Mark Caller. The party was held atop Caller’s office building on Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn’s Midwood neighborhood where his firm, The Marcal Group, is headquartered. 

Once all donations from the gala had been collected, Adams’ campaign was $47,050 to the better. Almost a third of that money, $15,400, came from members of Caller’s family, with the rest from his friends and business associates, records obtained by THE CITY via a freedom of information request show. 

Even in a campaign that ultimately took in nearly $9 million in private donations, it was the kind of political generosity that stood out. 

Now, the previously undisclosed fundraiser stands out for a much different reason. 

In coming days Caller is expecting to be indicted by the Manhattan district attorney on charges that he provided a luxury apartment at below-market rent to Eric Ulrich, a former City Council member and Adams appointee, in exchange for official favors. 

Ulrich, a Republican ex-Council member from Queens who bucked his party in 2021 to support Adams’ mayoral bid, is also expected to be charged. After Adams took office, he was appointed a senior advisor to the mayor.  A few months later, Adams named him city buildings commissioner.  The post put Ulrich, who held no management experience other than handling his Council staff, in charge of a sprawling agency of some 1,700 employees, one that is crucial to the city’s construction industry and notoriously prone to corruption.

The job didn’t last long. In November, five months after his appointment, Ulrich was forced to resign after it was revealed that the DA had seized his cell phone during an investigation into a mob-tied gambling ring. 

It’s unclear what favors Ulrich is alleged to have provided for Caller. The developer has been involved in significant construction projects that needed city approvals. Since 2020, Caller has built at least four new projects in the Rockaways, part of Ulrich’s former Council district. Just two weeks before he hosted the Adams fundraiser, Caller won a zoning change approval from the city planning commission to add a gym to a new condominium project he built on Beach 116th Street in Rockaway Park. That’s the complex where Ulrich lived in a fifth floor apartment near the ocean with two bedrooms and two baths. Units there currently range from $700,000 to $1.4 million; listed rents go from $3,000 to $4,100.

Campaign records show Caller was an early supporter of Adams’ mayoral bid. In December 2019, nearly a year before Adams officially announced his candidacy, Caller and his wife, Rivka Spitzer, made donations of $1,000 apiece to Adams’ campaign. After Adams became an official candidate, the campaign returned $600 of Caller’s own donation. That’s because, due to his quest for city land use assistance for his Rockaway condo project, he is considered someone doing business with the city and limited to donations of $400 to candidates for citywide office. His wife’s donation was unaffected.

THE CITY

One of the more disturbing allegations involved Ulrich’s effort in 2022 to shut down a hotel housing the homeless because it enraged Caller, the real estate developer. Prosecutors say he made this corrupt effort to aid Caller at the same time he was negotiating to obtain a discount apartment across the street from the hotel from Caller.

At one point in March 2022, while he was a senior advisor to Adams, Caller let Ulrich know he wanted to shut down a hotel at 158 Beach 116th Street that was housing homeless adults because it happened to be across the street from and adjacent to two of his upscale rental buildings.

In a WhatsApp exchange captured by prosecutors, Caller wrote to Ulrich, “There has to be a way to put 158 B116th out of business. It’s an absolute disgrace.”

 In response, Ulrich promised Caller to set up a “task force” of inspectors from the FDNY and the buildings department, writing, “They might be able to vacate the f...g thing. It’ll take months to get it reopened.”

Prosecutors described a conversation Ulrich had with a state Assemblymember described as Jane Doe #1. At the time, Stacy Pheffer Amato was the Assembly member representing the Rockaways. 

Ulrich is alleged to have requested that the Assembly member demand an FDNY/DOB inspection of the hotel, and instructed the Assembly member “to make sure FDNY and DOB issue a full vacate order so the occupants can be moved by the New York City Department of Homeless Services into alternative housing.”

Prosecutors say that shortly after several violations were issued at that address, but none involved a vacate order. Pheffer Amato did not respond to THE CITY’s questions Wednesday about this exchange.

While Ulrich was targeting the homeless shelter, he was simultaneously discussing with Caller obtaining an apartment at a discount rate in a building across the street from the hotel, an upscale address at 133 Beach 116th Street, prosecutors say.

Caller then offered Ulrich an apartment for $2,000 a month, the lowest monthly rental in the building, and said Ulrich could apply the rental toward a down payment on the unit at a reduced rate. He also threw in the furniture and offered to void the closing costs.

Ulrich moved into the apartment about a week before he was named buildings commissioner. Just before the appointment was made public, he called Caller to advise that their communications would no longer be direct.

“We have to be smart,” he said. “I have to be a little more careful because I can’t be conflicted. If you have to communicate with me about something directly, about something concerning a property you own, maybe it’s better if it comes from the councilwoman or the elected officials, so that we’re working on it at their requests.”


 

60 comments:

Anonymous said...

Cmon man. That stuff was all put there by the Russians don’t you know.

Anonymous said...

I thought Trump built this already.

LowIQAnon said...

These dem0Rats as so corrupt. Vote them out!

EricDAwful said...

I'm outraged with the lack of any real outrage!

GopGeorge said...

The homeless are poor people and therefore don't count.

Anonymous said...

Property developers are generally lowlifes and crooks. I believe one of them became president for a while in 2016.

Anonymous said...

There’s no low that’s low enough for Republicans. Trying to empty a shelter for fire victims to save a few dollars. Shows the rightwing mentality.

GopGeorge said...

Another tax cut for the rich and corporations is what’s needed now!

Anonymous said...

Hey LowIQAnon....he is a Republican.

LowIQAnon said...

@"I thought Trump built this already."
Yes, he did along with the Great Wall Of Texas, which keeps immigrants out. He also fixed everything, from roads, rail, and air traffic. He solved all the world's problems, just by saying he did. Everyone is saying it. He is such a wonderful man. I love him so much.

NPC_translator said...

This is what happens when you let the Small Hat People dominate your real estate landscape. Crap service, "worst landlord" listings up the wazoo, corruption. Who could have seen it coming? The rest of us are just goy fish to fry.

All that said, the homeless hotels ARE a disgrace.

Anonymous said...

And I thought the Democrats were bad. Jeeeez...

Anonymous said...

That's why we should impeach Hunter Biden.

Anonymous said...

$2k for a month is the cheapest in this building?? Who says landlords aren't crooks. This is blatant extortion of the American people by property owners. This is an example of the real criminal class. Not some dude who steals $50 from a Walmart.

Anonymous said...

"And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."

-Jesus

Anonymous said...

Landlords are the real criminals now. Lock them up!

Anonymous said...

NYC Rents have to be raised to offset rising expenses such as utilities, salaries, repairs and maintenance, property taxes and the rising cost of debt resulting from interest rate hikes.
Free Market ! Don't like the price don't buy/rent the product.

Anonymous said...

NYC has too much regulation !

Anonymous said...

What would Trump say ? Gag order ?

Texas Tom said...

Here in the "Great Red Desert of Texas", we don't have any corruption issues.
While our attorney general accepts bribes, commits securities fraud and is generally an all around asshole, we just pretend it didn't happen and blame democrats.
That's how you run a state!

Kitara said...

I see a pattern here. Ulrich, Texas Republicans, Lauren "The Vape" Boebert, Tricky Vickie Paladino, George Santos and Trump Turd.
Severe dishonesty, dysfunction, thuggery and criminality in the current Republican Party. How did they get so bad?


Anonymous said...

@"What would Trump say ? Gag order ?"

He'd just tell his loyal fawning Sheeple how wonderful he is.

Anonymous said...

@""And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.""

Take a hike, commie! And take your class warfare with you!

Anonymous said...

kitara said: "Severe dishonesty, dysfunction, thuggery and criminality in the current Republican Party. How did they get so bad?"

They took a couple of pages from the democrat playbook

Anonymous said...

This is what Dem0rats do for voters.
Want to see more how money is stolen from Tax Papers in a all Dem0rAt controled city ?

CEO of NYC "migrant" contractor DocGo resigns after allegedly lying about college credentials.
"a $432 million no-bid contract from New York City."

Anonymous said...

Kitara you do know he was appointed by 'The Migrant's" Dem0rAt Mayor ?
Two Wrongs Don't make it Right....

Anonymous said...

If Lyin’ Hiden can lie why can’t other criminals?

Anonymous said...

I see a pattern here. Leftism is built upon a foundation of hypocrisy and double standards.

Anonymous said...

I see a pattern here. The Left likes Causing more DIVISION & HATE.

Anonymous said...

Don't snivel Sheeple when you see a "Connected" guy getting rich off the backs of the little people. Keep paying your taxes and STFU !

Anonymous said...

Selling out tax papers is hard work.

Anonymous said...

@"Cmon man. That stuff was all put there by the Russians don’t you know."

What kind of medication are you on?

Anonymous said...

Sandy was SHOUTED DOWN as Sheeple Turn On Illegal Immigration!!!
That was a beautiful sight seeing Sandy get shouted down. I have a feeling 2024 will be a good year for REAL America First Republicans. It will only get worse with Demonrats in any power.
Now they need to vote her out of office.

TrumpTurd said...

Hey Eric, do you know anything about those boxes?

Anonymous said...

I see a pattern here. If you are not a raging liberal, it's like fighting the tide. Eventually, you give up and move to another state.

Anonymous said...

I have no sympathy for those who vote in their own problems.

Anonymous said...

Perhaps a virtual one party ruling class for years has something to do with this, but the urban masses elect the likes of Hochul and Adams to oversee corrupt legislators, so none of this should surprise anyone. Can't really see it changing, either, why would it?

Anonymous said...

The Democrats have fought against voter ID. I wonder why???

Anonymous said...

Anyone who voted for Swagger and Kathy Clown contributed to this demise. It's the same as intentionally shooting yourself in the foot and being proud of your aim but then surprised by the pain.

Anonymous said...

I thought Clarence Thomas and the corporate Supremes legalized bribery?

Anonymous said...

People need to stop voting for candidates just because a D is next to their name on the ballet if you want the City to survive.

Anonymous said...

New York is Broken !
Sanctuary city, This is what the citizens of NY overwhelmingly voted for over and over again

Anonymous said...

​Its like the Dems burning ants with a magnifying glass. We are the ants.

FreedomFries Fred said...

@“ The Democrats have fought against voter ID. I wonder why?”

IDs are for communists!

Anonymous said...

This idiot Uleich is the epitome of holier than thou republicans.

Anonymous said...

Yes, all these people in the NYC government are brilliant.

Anonymous said...

America First said...
Ned it's Amazing, how brainwashed liberals can rationalize anything.

A. Beirne said...

It is sad how every dimwit that scams his way into office in NYC these days thinks they are the very first to think up these age old corruption schemes and they ALWAYS think their idea is foolproof.

Disgruntled Citizen. said...

How much are the pro landlord trolls paid to dump their crap here? I want to get in on that action. Exremely high rents that no sane person can afford are the reasons for the tsunami of NYC homeless. So many we have a City Agency for it, The Dept of Homeless Services The landlords are being subsidized by the taxpayers in the form of Section 8, Link Advantage, Work Link and City FEPS Housing Vouchers. Let's not forget Jiggets and HRA one shot back rent deals. The landlords already get all our tax dollars, so shaddup you face flimsy real estate trollikins.
Take your alligator tears to Eric Ulrich.

After Hurricane Sandy, Eric Ulrich, was a lot of hot air getting his mug in every photo opp. went to his office for help and was told by his boy genius assistant, oh no not you Dirty Disgruntled Citizen, I have to go help other people. No help from them. What did I expect from a degenerate Gambling Man and crooked Building Commissioner?

Now Eric Ulrich is running to Alcholics Anonymous meetings? Why does he think we would care? They have AA meetings in prison, you can attend inside.

They told me that Rockaway is run by the Mob, now I believe it. The Ghost of Boss Tweed and Tamany Hall is alive and well in the Adams Family.

Anonymous said...

@“ Anyone who voted for Swagger and Kathy Clown ”

Anyone who voted for the clown with the red cap or the Trumpanzee from Long Island is obviously a brainwashed Sheeple.

Anonymous said...

@“ Its like the Dems burning ants with a magnifying glass. We are the ants.”

Speak for yourself. Careful that a Real Merican doesn’t step on you.

Anonymous said...

@"The Democrats have fought against voter ID. I wonder why???"

Why do you want ID's? Are you advocating for more deep state control of the Sheeple?

Take a hike commie!

Anonymous said...

@"If Lyin’ Hiden can lie why can’t other criminals?"

All you got is hate, anger and creating divisions. Typical righwinger.

Anonymous said...

@"I see a pattern here. Leftism is built upon a foundation of hypocrisy and double standards."

Sorry buddy, you couldn't see a pattern on a Tick Tack Toe grid. Go to bed before you confuse yourself more.

Anonymous said...

@"People need to stop voting for candidates just because a D is next to their name on the ballet if you want the City to survive."

I agree totally. I presume you are referring to the D in Donald.

Anonymous said...

@"People need to stop voting for candidates just because a D is next to their name on the ballet if you want the City to survive." DUH, there was an R next to Ulrich's name every time he ran for anything.

Anonymous said...

I see a pattern here said...
Apparently Democrat Senator Menendez is in trouble again !

Anonymous said...

Basket of Deplorables said...
What is a Typical righwinger ? turd ?
Where can I find them in NYC ?
All I see is many broken programmed indoctrinated weirdos who would vote Blue No Matter Who !

Anonymous said...

A typical rightwinger has no morals!

Anonymous said...

The walls are closing in said...

'Missing witness' in Biden probe offers dirt on Hunter FBI 'mole' who tipped him off

https://nypost.com/2023/09/25/offering-dirt-on-hunter-bidens-fbi-mole/