Mayor Eric Adams reminded city workers this week “not to accept gifts and favors” — raising eyebrows as he stands accused of illegally doing just that.
Municipal employees are not allowed to accept gifts or “tips” for doing their jobs, gifts from their subordinates that exceed $10 or offers and free attendance to holiday parties or sponsored events from entities they’re doing business with outside the city, per the memo, shared with The Post by a city Department of Education staffer.
The email, from Adams, the city Department of Investigation and the Conflicts of Interest Board, usually goes out with similar wording to all city staffers annually around the holiday season.
But for some, the missive read more like an April Fool’s joke or article from satirical site “The Onion” — in light of the mayor’s historic indictment in September accusing him of accepting bribes in the form of luxury travel in exchange for doing favors for foreign governments.
“The fact that he, along with a majority of his cabinet, is either going to be indicted or has resigned for alleged criminal acts and then he has the audacity to remind teachers not to accept a gift, because of ethical impropriety, is just the Gods of irony at work,” Forest Hills High School teacher Adam Bergstein told The Post
Others found the email less amusing.
“I’m still fuming over his (Adams’) nerve to school me on the ethics and legalities of accepting holiday gifts and favors,” said another city educator, who asked to remain anonymous.
Gift rules for city workers and educators
According to city rules, public school teachers are limited to accepting gifts worth $50 or less over a 12-month period. This limit applies to any presents of value, including meals, event tickets and gift cards.
Some exceptions to the rule include:
- Gifts from city colleagues or superiors.
- Gifts for important life events, like a wedding or birth.
- Gifts related to official city duties.
New York City also has a $5 per student spending limit for holiday gifts. This rule was created to help lower-income students contribute to class gifts. When accepting class gifts, teachers should ensure that:
- Parents aren’t asked to contribute more than a small amount.
- All parents are given a chance to sign the card, even if they didn’t contribute to the gift.
- The gift is shared as coming from the entire class.
The email struck a particular nerve with yet another teacher — who pointed to it as a reason the mayor should be stripped of his control over the country’s largest public school system.
“It seems ironic that, amidst the mayor’s current legal troubles, an email is being sent at the start of the holiday season prohibiting students and families from expressing gratitude to teachers,” the Queens teacher, who did not want to be named, said.
“This is yet another reason why the NYC public school system should not be under mayoral control.”
Adams has pleaded not guilty to the five-count indictment charging him with bribery and corruption and vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
City Hall didn’t return a request for comment Friday.
