As questions swirl around a public health lab's transition from public to private hands, the New York City Council digs for documentation about the relationship between a city official and his former employer, spotlighting potential conflicts of interest amid high-stakes real estate dealings. NBC New York's investigation unearthed financial disclosures showing Nate Bliss, Chief of Staff at City Hall, had previous employment and ongoing financial ties with Taconic Partners, the firm contracted to redevelop the public health laboratory's former site at 455 First Avenue in Manhattan.

Despite Taconic and city representatives' assurances, council members Gale Brewer and Amanda Farias have expressed unease because when the historic lab earmarked for relocation to Harlem, was announced for private development back in April 2022, Bliss was freshly implanted in City Hall, having recently left his position as Taconic's vice president; the Daily News obtained a letter in which they stated, “The overlap between Mr. Bliss’ financial ties to Taconic, his roles at City Hall overseeing EDC and at LDC, and his involvement in projects like Innovation East raise significant concerns about potential conflicts of interest.” Brewer and Farias have given the administration a deadline to provide a trove of records ranging from confidential bidding documents to communications involving Bliss and Taconic, according to the Daily News.

Liz Garcia, speaking on behalf of Mayor Adams, mentioned they were reviewing the council's inquiry and would "respond to the Council accordingly," as per the initial NBC report. Meanwhile, EDC's earlier statement, captured by spokesperson Jeff Holmes, defended the selection process as "competitive and robust," noting, "Nate Bliss was not part of this selection committee nor was he employed at the New York City Economic Development Corporation when the project entered into negotiations."

Amidst swirling ethical concerns rise and the probe itself brewing, New York's DOI's acknowledgment of receiving the council's letter adds another layer to the unfolding scrutiny Bliss faces particularly because his financial disclosure forms revealed he's still entitled to "future distributions" from a Taconic-managed real estate fund, with investments linked to six New York City properties, as noted by NBC New York. The ongoing financial relationship with his former firm remains in question, and that's as Brewer and Farias from the city council seek to cast a light on the apparently opaque circumstances surrounding the lab's privatisation deal. Taconic Partners, when approached, refrained from commenting on the situation, as did Nate Bliss when prompted by the I-Team, adding a veil of silence over the investigation's revelations.