04/02/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/02/2024 09:12
47th St BID spent $391K for NYPD security for the Board Chair's out-of-district office, paid Executive Director $33K for time not worked, repeatedly flouted laws & policies.
In a blistering new audit, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander unveiled ongoing fiscal mismanagement by the 47thStreet Business Improvement District (BID), the non-profit chartered by the City's Department of Small Business Services (SBS) and provided with City property tax assessments to maintain, develop, and promote the commercial activities of the Diamond District (West 47thStreet between 5thand 6thAvenues).
Despite a 2019 audit by the Comptroller's office documenting extensive weaknesses in its finances and operations and detailing correction action, the BID failed to correct its practices. Comptroller Lander's newly-released follow-up audit revealed that the BID spent nearly $400,000 improperly providing security for the offices of the Board Chair, which are outside of the district, paid its Executive Director over $30,000 for time not worked, and repeatedly flouted laws and policies in order to keep control in the hands of its leadership. Meanwhile, fewer than 3% of the businesses within the Diamond District participate as members in the BID's work.
Given the BID's repeated non-compliance, the Comptroller recommends that the City place the 47thStreet BID's tax assessment funding in escrow until the BID makes changes in its leadership, by-laws, and policies to address ongoing mismanagement.
"The leadership of the 47thStreet BID is misusing City property tax assessment for its own benefit, and repeatedly violating laws and policies to improperly maintain its control. Meanwhile, fewer than 3% of the businesses in the district are participating members," said Comptroller Brad Lander. "Given the board's repeated refusal to address ongoing fiscal mismanagement of City funds, the Department of Small Business Services must take the serious step of withholding the BID's assessments until there are changes in leadership, by-laws, and practices."
The Comptroller Office's prior audit from 2019 had found that the BID:
Comptroller Lander's new audit found that the 47thStreet BID did not clean up its act and instead:
BIDs are chartered by the City to deliver services to commercial districts to help keep them vibrant, clean, and safe, through street cleaning and sanitation, security, beautification, marketing and events, and other services. Each BID is run by a not-for-profit organization with a Board of Directors elected by its members.
The NYC Department of Finance (DOF) levies a special assessment, billed to property owners, to fund BID services, which are then voted on by property owners in the area. The City of New York collects the special assessment and then turns it over to the BID.
The Comptroller, who holds a Class D position on each of NYC's 76 BID boards of directors (along with SBS, the borough president, and the local councilmember), analyzed all 76 BIDsin 2023, which showed that the vast majority of BIDs follow applicable governance and fiscal guidelines.
For the first time, the Comptroller has recommended that SBS instruct DOF to place the BID's special assessment collections in escrow until the BID changes its by-laws, re-elects or appoints leadership, and agrees to implement the audit's recommendations.
Lander continued, "The 47thStreet BID's funds are collected by the City and delivered to the BID to enhance safety, security, and vibrancy for the 3,000 businesses, workers, and customers of the district - not for the benefit of its Board Chair and Executive Director. The City should withhold future funds until fundamental changes are made."
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