On the last day of February this year, Winnie Greco, the closest Chinese aide to New York City Mayor Eric Adams and the Asian Affairs Director and Special Advisor, began taking unpaid sick leave and disappeared from the public eye after her property was raided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Recent reports from New York media revealed that the City Hall spokesperson confirmed Greco’s return to work.
THE CITY was the first to report this on the 8th. Sources from City Hall saw Winnie Greco at her office located at 253 Broadway, opposite City Hall, last Friday. The sources told the media that Greco “came back” and many were surprised by the news.
On the morning of February 29th, the FBI conducted a raid on Greco’s property at 1447 Gillespie Ave in the Bronx. The FBI also searched Greco’s second residence in the Bronx and the office at New World Mall in Flushing where the mayor’s campaign team held multiple fundraising events.
The purpose of the FBI raids on properties owned by Greco and whether they are related to Mayor Adams remains unknown to the public.
A statement from the mayor’s spokesperson at the time said, “Our government will always abide by the law, and we expect all employees to adhere to the strictest ethical standards. As we have repeatedly stated, we will not comment on ongoing investigations but will fully cooperate with any investigations. The mayor has not been accused of any wrongdoing.”
The New York Daily News reported on the 8th that Kayla Mamelak, spokesperson for Mayor Adams’ office, stated that the mayor’s team decided last week that Greco could return to her position, but Mamelak did not provide a reason for it.
Mamelak mentioned that Greco has been a key political fundraiser for Adams since he served as Brooklyn Borough President. She has now returned to serve as Adams’ Asian Affairs Director and reports directly to Fred Kreizman, the Director of Community Affairs in the mayor’s office.
A Chinese source familiar with City Hall affairs told this newspaper that if Greco is indeed working in the Mayor’s Community Affairs Office, she is likely to be at 100 Gold St in Manhattan.
Regarding Greco’s return to City Hall, inquiries about her title and salary were sent to the mayor’s office by this newspaper but as of deadline, no response has been received.