Winnie Greco attempted to give a reporter a potato-chip bag containing more than $100 in cash at a campaign event. New York Times journalists observed supporters handing red envelopes full of cash to journalists with Chinese-language outlets at rallies in Flushing, Sunset Park, and Manhattan's Chinatown. Greco attended all three events. Steven Tin, director of Better Chinatown USA, was seen giving red envelopes containing numerous $50 bills and said the practice is common in Chinese culture as a thank-you gesture. Robin Mui said the cash was meant to cover transportation and subsidize journalists' salaries because otherwise they don't write their stories. A campaign spokesman said the mayor had no knowledge and did not authorize the payments.
Tin told the Times that distributing the envelopes was common in Chinese culture and that it was intended as a "thank you for coming" gesture to the "reporters, YouTubers, photographers" in attendance.
Robin Mui, the head of the Sing Tao newspaper, confirmed to the Times that the red envelopes were handed out. Mui, who helped to organize the Manhattan campaign event at Confucius Plaza, told the outlet that the cash is intended to cover transportation expenses and "subsidize" the salaries of the journalists because "otherwise they don't write their stories."
"Mayor Adams had absolutely no knowledge of this and does not condone it," he said. "He has never, and would never, authorize anyone to hand out cash or gifts to reporters. Any such behavior is inappropriate and unacceptable"
Collection
[
|
...
]