Mayor Eric Adams’ longtime girlfriend has quietly retired from her high-ranking six-figure place within the Massive Apple’s schooling division amid a metropolis probe into the unofficial first girl’s alleged “no-show job.”
Tracey Collins, who had been working as a senior adviser to Colleges Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos, served her final day on Nov. 1, along with her retirement efficient as of Monday, metropolis Division of Schooling spokesperson Nathaniel Styer confirmed.
Styer didn’t specify why Collins left her plum place, for which her wage was just lately raised to $225,761, in keeping with metropolis knowledge.
“Ms. Collins served public college college students for over 30 years as a trainer, principal and administrator, and we want her the perfect in her retirement,” he stated.
In September, a former DOE worker filed complaints about Collins and her alleged “no-show job” with DOE ethics officer Samantha Biletsky, the Conflicts of Curiosity Board, the Particular Commissioner of Investigation for metropolis colleges and the town Division of Investigation.
The worker additionally alleged Collins had hardly ever appeared within the workplace since November 2023, and her work calendar had remained empty.
Co-workers stated they hadn’t seen Collins in individual since Thanksgiving, the ex-employee reported on the time.
On Friday, the SCI — a metropolis company tasked with investigating misconduct by DOE staff and distributors — confirmed to The Submit it was probing the allegations however didn’t go into element.
Biletsky didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Collins, a former DOE trainer, principal and administrator who was promoted after Adams took workplace, can also be referenced in a bombshell 57-page federal indictment towards Hizzoner.
Whereas she hasn’t been charged of any wrongdoing, the Fort Lee, NJ, resident was described as taking journeys to India, Hungary, Turkey, Jordan, Oman and Ghana with Adams beginning in 2016, amongst different luxurious jaunts, in keeping with prosecutors who accuse the mayor of accepting journey perks value as much as $123,000.
Collins can also be alleged to haven’t disclosed these perks in her annual conflicts of curiosity disclosure, in keeping with the ex-employee’s criticism.
“It’s my understanding that DOE staff are solely permitted to work at home two days per week,” the previous staffer who beforehand labored in the identical constructing as Collins wrote in an e mail to Biletsky.
Investigators ought to look into Collins allegedly “accepting items in extra of 100K from a overseas authorities and never declaring stated items on her Conflicts of Curiosity disclosure,” the criticism states.
Collins’ time and attendance information additionally have to be examined to “confirm that she put in for trip whereas she took all of these unlawful journeys,” in keeping with the criticism.
A number of months after Adams took workplace and named David Banks colleges chancellor, Banks promoted Collins to senior adviser to the deputy chancellor of college management, then Desmond Blackburn, who later give up.
Collins on the time obtained a 23% elevate to $221,597 a 12 months.
Aviles-Ramos took over as chancellor after Banks stepped down amid the federal probe that has encircled a number of high Metropolis Corridor officers and Adams allies.
Adams has pleaded not responsible.
Supply hyperlink
