The West Harlem Development Corporation (WHDC), established to aid the area's regeneration, is facing accusations of squandering tens of millions of dollars due to board incompetence, according to sources speaking to The Post. The nonprofit's endowment, initially close to $100 million from Columbia University, has reportedly decreased to $56 million.
Sources attribute the decline to the board's alleged long-term procrastination and failure to initiate significant community investments. The 13-member board, which includes individuals with Ivy League degrees, is described as deferential to its chairman, ex-judge Milton Tingling, and reluctant to challenge his leadership.
Amidst these concerns, the WHDC is also involved in a lawsuit filed by former board member and employee Vincent Morgan. Morgan alleges instances of antisemitism, racism, and harassment perpetrated by the group's executive director, Zead Ramadan. Court filings indicate that Tingling, in a February 2024 meeting, expressed concerns that "things are starting to go off the rails" and instructed Morgan to consult him before raising issues with the board. A transcript suggests Tingling stated, "What goes on here stays here... Nobody should be going to the board. Even Zead doesn’t go to the board. He comes to me first. Okay, that’s the way it has to be. There’s no direct line to the board. That’s out completely now."
Tingling and Ramadan did not respond to requests for comment. The WHDC has denied the allegations made in Morgan's lawsuit.
Larry English, who represents Congressman Adriano Espaillat on the WHDC board, voiced frustration over the board's inaction, stating, "Ultimately the money belongs to the West Harlem community and change will only occur when we demand it."
In April, English introduced a motion to terminate Ramadan, citing "a pattern of behavior characterized by systemic bigotry, professional incompetence and the cultivation of a hostile work environment." The motion, viewed by The Post, alleged that Ramadan referred to two African American women on the board as "old black church ladies" and to Columbia University vice president Ross Frommer as "this messy f—ing Zionist Jewish guy who has done nothing in two decades…he was the biggest bum…piece of s—t."
The motion to terminate Ramadan was ultimately denied by the board. Previously, board members had twice voted on removing English, but he retained sufficient support to remain.
Several board members represent local political figures, including Congressman Espaillat, City Councilmember Sean Abreu, State Assemblyman Jordan Wright, and Community Board 9 chair Victor Edwards. None of these individuals, nor Keith Wright, the father of Jordan Wright and head of the New York County Democrats, returned calls for comment.
Questions have also been raised about the qualifications and presence of some board members. Ted Kovaleff, a former assistant dean at Columbia University's School of Law, has been on the board since its inception in 2009 but resides in Vermont and participates in meetings remotely. Georgette Morgan-Thomas, a reverend and civic leader, reportedly spends significant time in Philadelphia managing a hat factory. Darlene Grant Bruce, a board member, was recently appointed to the New York State Parole Board by Governor Kathy Hochul, a part-time position with a substantial salary.
The WHDC's staff includes a semi-retired bookkeeper with no prior corporate experience in the U.S., whose last known role was as a "restaurant team member" at Google.
Past reporting indicates that the WHDC expends annually on operational costs approximately the same amount the fund earns in interest, estimated at $2 million. These expenditures have reportedly funded items like Thanksgiving turkeys, a music festival, and local arts groups, rather than substantial community development projects.