Bernard Adams, Mayor’s brother, to Serve as Adviser to Mayoral Security for $1 Salary

By Yehudit Garmaise

After Mayor Eric Adams, in early January, announced that his brother would lead his security team, the New York City Conflicts of Interest Board (COIB) weighed in, and now, instead of the the $210,000 salary that Bernard Adams would have made, $1 a year will be the salary for the mayor's brother to serve as an adviser to the mayoral security detail.

As part of the agreement, Bernard Adams will not have any subordinates, nor will he command any authority over any member of the NYPD, however, he will continue to receive health insurance and the pension he receives as a retired NYPD sergeant.

The reason for the extreme drop in salary is that the New York City Charter does not allow elected officials to employ family members and other close associates, unless waivers are granted by the COIB, which oversees public employees’ adherence to local conflicts of interest, ethics, and lobbyist gift laws.

Both Mayors Michael Bloomberg and Bill de Blasio hired family members to serve unpaid positions in their administrations.

Mayor Adams had originally planned to hire his 56-year-old brother, who since 2011, has served as an assistant director for parking at Virginia Commonwealth University, as the "executive director of mayoral security."

Earlier this month, Mayor Adams passionately defended his choice to appoint his brother to oversee his security by saying he trusted and loved his brother, who had the right experience to do the job well.

“Let me be clear on this: My brother is qualified for the position,” Mayor Adams previously said CNN. “Number one, he will be in charge of my security, which is extremely important to me at a time when we see an increase in white supremacy and hate crimes.”

Although the NYPD does not discuss specific security threats to elected officials, Adams said, “I have to take my security very seriously.”

Although, during mayoral debates , Adams had said that instead of using the traditional NYPD security detail, he would carry a gun himself, a City Hall spokesman told The New York Post that Adams does not carry a gun as mayor, and that the NYPD will continue to oversee the mayor's security detail.

After the COIB reviewed the appointment of Bernard Adams, City Hall officials said that, to avoid the appearance of nepotism and potential conflicts of interest, the mayor's brother offered to serve as an adviser to mayoral security for a nominal salary.

"Bernard Adams is uniquely qualified for this job, and in order to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest, he offered to serve for the nominal salary of $1,” said Maxwell Young, a spokesman of the mayor. “We made this proposal to the COIB, and they've agreed, and we're grateful to Bernard for being willing to serve the city for no salary."

Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office