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Tracey Collins, Mayor Eric Adams’ romantic accomplice, has quietly retired from a senior place on the Training Division amid allegations that she didn’t present as much as work and didn’t disclose luxurious journey advantages.
Collins — who acquired a major promotion and a roughly $50,000 elevate after Adams took workplace in 2022 — wrapped up her final day of labor on Nov. 1, a division spokesperson confirmed.
Her retirement comes after a former division worker tipped off metropolis investigators that Collins “has had a no present job,” in response to a criticism obtained by Chalkbeat and first reported by the New York Publish. The previous worker, who requested anonymity, stated Collins had not appeared at work since final Thanksgiving.
A spokesperson for the Particular Commissioner of Investigation confirmed they acquired the criticism and are “wanting into the matter.” The town’s Division of Investigation can also be reviewing the allegations, in response to the Day by day Information, which first reported Collins’ retirement. A DOI spokesperson declined to remark.
Some proof appears to again considerations about Collins’ absence. Within the eight months after being promoted as a senior advisor within the Division of College Management, about three-quarters of the times on her work calendar had been empty, in response to information first revealed by Chalkbeat.
Her calendar confirmed about 40 scheduled conferences and occasions, together with “scorching warmth” periods to assessment superintendent efficiency, a one-on-one sitdown with a college meals chief, and conferences with officers managing the inflow of migrant college students.
Officers on the Training Division’s public information workplace stated this week they may not present newer variations of Collins’ every day schedule till February, regardless of initially indicating the information can be supplied Nov. 5. (The division repeatedly ignores its personal deadlines for responding to public information requests.)
Collins couldn’t be reached for remark. Training Division spokesperson Nathaniel Styer didn’t say why she retired.
“Ms. Collins served public college college students for over 30 years as a trainer, principal, and administrator, and we want her one of the best in her retirement,” Styer wrote in an e mail. He famous that her tasks included “strategic planning, making suggestions on company priorities, and offering recommendation and assist to senior management.”
Collins was thrust into the highlight by the mayor’s federal indictment final month. She allegedly benefitted from tens of 1000’s of {dollars} in journey perks from Turkish officers who sought to affect Adams, in response to the indictment. These advantages weren’t listed on Collins’ monetary disclosure kinds as required, Politico first reported. Adams additionally omitted them.
Collins has not been charged with any crimes related to that investigation. A spokesperson for town’s Conflicts of Curiosity Board stated they may not affirm whether or not the company is wanting into the matter.
Questions on Collins’ function on the Training Division started swirling quickly after she landed a promotion in 2022, the place she earned about $221,000 as a senior advisor.
Together with different non-union Training Division officers, Collins just lately obtained a pay bump, bringing her wage to just about $253,000, information present.
Collins moved this summer season from the Division of College Management to be a senior advisor for the deputy chancellor of household and group engagement — a task occupied on the time by Melissa Aviles-Ramos. Aviles-Ramos was appointed colleges chancellor final month after David Banks abruptly stepped down beneath strain from the mayor. (Banks’ digital gadgets had been seized in September by federal investigators, although he has not been accused of wrongdoing.)
Collins isn’t the one Training Division official associated to Adams. The mayor’s sister-in-law additionally obtained a job within the college system, incomes a major pay bump. Nonetheless, Adams has rejected any suggestion that his relationship with Collins helped her win a promotion and has defended her work ethic.
“There was a job emptiness. She filed for it. Being the numerous different of the mayor mustn’t cease your monitor,” he beforehand informed reporters. “Tracey does her job and he or she does it properly.”
Alex Zimmerman is a reporter for Chalkbeat New York, protecting NYC public colleges. Contact Alex at azimmerman@chalkbeat.org.
