NYC Buildings Commissioner Involved in Gambling Controversy

New York City’s Building Commissioner Eric Ulrich has been involved in a gambling controversy. Just recently, the former councilman from Queens by questioned by the authorities as a part of an illegal gambling investigation. Mr. Ulrich was allegedly approached by investigators near his Rockaway Park home and his phone was seized via a search warrant.

The aim of the investigation launched by the office of the Manhattan district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg, was not quite clear. However, according to a source, it concerned conduct that predates Mr. Ulrich’s term in Mayor Eric Adam’s administration. Currently, it is unclear whether the building commissioner has been accused of any crimes or questioned about other individuals.

Details Remain Unclear

Back in 2018, when Mr. Ulrich was part of the City Council, he wrote a letter on official stationery in support of a constituent. This was a reputed Bonanno crime association that was waiting for sentencing on federal charges for the collection of an illegal gambling debt. But it remains to be seen whether the letter in question is a target of the investigation.

Mr. Ulrich refused to comment on the situation. Fabien Levy, a spokesman for Mr. Adams, said in a statement that City Hall was unaware of the investigation. However, he said that if an investigation was underway, City Hall would expect all of its members to fully cooperate. In addition to that, there was no change in Mr. Ulrich’s status as head of the Buildings Department.

The Department of Investigation deals with possible crimes and corruption committed by city employees, but it has not been yet involved in the current investigation involving the Buildings Commissioner. According to the sources, this is due to the fact that the conduct predates Mr. Ulrich’s appointment and may not be correlated to his term as a councilman.

It should be noted that Mr. Ulrich has a history of gambling. Back in 2016, he admitted to the Conflicts of Interest Board that he had won between US$5,000 and US$47,999 from gambling. It is not uncommon for Mr. Adams to recruit people for his administration with a troubled past. The mayor stated that he is a fan of giving people second chances, as he was arrested as a teenager.

Columbus Park’s Gambling Parlours

Just recently, the New York Police Department cracked down on an outdoor casino in Lower Manhattan’s Columbus Park. Numerous middle-aged and elderly bettors gathered at the site and set up tents where they rolled high-money bets. However, at the end of October, the authorities interfered with the illegal gambling activities and dismantled their open-air parlours.

The NYPD reminds locals that individuals who are busted gambling risk a misdemeanour charge for disorderly conduct. However, that is nothing in comparison to the criminal charges and prison time they would face if they are busted for running an illegal gambling operation. People convicted of promoting gambling could have up to four years in jail and US$5,000 in monetary fines.

Source: Rashbaum, William; Bromwich, Jonah and Mays, Jeffery “N.Y.C. Buildings Commissioner’s Phone Seized in Criminal Gambling Probe” New York Times, November 1, 2022