A reception at Gracie Mansion for the Greek-American neighborhood set for Thursday upfront of the group’s annual parade has stirred controversy after senior Adams administration officers revoked an award for one of many honorees on the final minute.
On March 7, Mayor Adams’ workplace notified Astoria, Queens, businessman Gus Lambropoulos, a current candidate for state Senate, that he can be considered one of 4 honorees on the reception for his a few years of neighborhood service. The vetting had lasted a few month.
Lambropoulos’ spouse, Maria Markou, a lawyer and district chief in Astoria, was steamed.
“This is just another example of reckless judgment by the mayor’s administration in taking back an award from a worthy NYC citizen,” she mentioned. Markou estimated the couple’s buddies had spent some $7,500 to journey to the occasion.
Markou believes there have been politics at play. She thinks Metropolis Corridor modified course as a result of it was conscious she and different district leaders in Queens are planning subsequent week to endorse ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s 2025 mayoral major problem in opposition to Adams.
“To congratulate, give it, and then take it back is a complete disrespect and a slap to our beloved Greek-American community,” she mentioned.
However Kayla Mamelak, a spokeswoman for Adams, mentioned Lambropoulos was faraway from the checklist after officers realized Markou had been honored at an identical heritage occasion two years in the past. “When it comes to heritage events, we do one award per household, so that we can recognize as many community members as possible. And his wife had received a similar award,” Mamelak mentioned.
Markou mentioned that’s stunning, given Metropolis Corridor knew from the beginning the couple was married. The pair are each well-known in the neighborhood.
“If there was a policy as they allege last minute, why did they do the vetting process, my husband passes it and they congratulate him and ask for the list of guests?” she mentioned. “This does not make sense. I believe this is politically motivated by Eric Adams’ side.”
The opposite honorees embody Margo Vondersaar Catsimatidis, the spouse of billionaire grocery store mogul John Catsimatidis, a serious participant in metropolis politics who’s near each Adams and Cuomo. On Feb. 27, Catsimatidis donated $20,000 as a sponsor of the parade and is listed as a boss emeritus.
He was additionally a sponsor of the identical annual Hellenic occasion at Gracie Mansion in 2024.
Catsimatidis is a high-dollar political donor near President Trump and has a radio present that’s influential in conservative circles. The mogul has been a backer of the mayor, however has just lately proven indicators of warming as much as Cuomo. He had Cuomo on his radio present on March 9. A Cuomo spokesman declined to remark Monday.
Lambropoulos mentioned he first discovered he can be an honoree in early February so long as he handed a background verify. He submitted his date of start, bio and résumé to Metropolis Corridor for vetting.
He works as a enterprise advisor on actual property initiatives and describes himself as a 9/11 survivor and a two-time most cancers survivor. He misplaced his bid for the state Senate final 12 months within the Democratic major to Kristen Gonzalez.
“Thank you so much,” Lambropoulos replied, copying Shargal. “My family will attend and are incredibly excited and humbly honored to be a part of this event.”
5 days later, Lambropoulos received a name from Deputy Neighborhood Affairs Commissioner Valerie Vasquez.
Lambropoulos appealed to Fred Kreizman, Adams’ neighborhood affairs commissioner.
“He just said, ‘It is what it is,’ ” Lambropoulos mentioned.
Littman supplied to nonetheless permit his company to attend the occasion.
However Lambropoulos stays unhappy. “It’s just another way they are lacking responsibility and ownership for what they do,” he mentioned. “How would the mayor feel if someone did that to him?”
Initially Printed: March 17, 2025 at 2:41 PM EDT
