New York Attorney General Tish James is facing criticism for her office's alleged inaction regarding the West Harlem Development Corp. (WHDC), a non-profit organization accused of significant financial mismanagement and questionable practices.
The WHDC, established in 2009 with initial funding from Columbia University, was intended to spearhead economic development projects and affordable housing initiatives in Harlem. However, the organization is now alleged to have devolved into a vehicle for political patronage, distributing grants to local groups, paying high salaries to connected individuals, and even reportedly assisting the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) with its strategy following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks.
Vincent Morgan, the former director of housing development for WHDC, has filed a federal lawsuit against the organization. The lawsuit includes allegations that Executive Director Zead Ramadan made racist remarks targeting Dominicans, African-Americans, Zionists, and Jewish individuals' influence in New York City. Ramadan has denied any wrongdoing.
WHDC Chair Milton Tingling, a retired judge, was recently appointed to Mayor Zohran Mamdani's advisory panel on judicial appointments. The article notes Tingling's panel is described as a "Jew-free advisory panel."
Critics argue that James, whose responsibilities include overseeing New York's tax-exempt charitable organizations, has failed to investigate the WHDC despite its well-documented issues. The organization has been described as a "poster child for the neglect and deep-rooted waste that defines so much ‘economic development’ in New York."
Despite James's public record of taking legal action against organizations with whose positions she disagrees, such as the NRA and the Catholic Church, she has reportedly not taken significant action concerning the WHDC's financial activities. Columbia University has also reportedly distanced itself from the organization after years of concerns about waste and abuse.
The article suggests that the Attorney General's office has not intervened due to the complex political landscape surrounding such community benefit agreements tied to large development projects in New York.