‘Eric is still the commissioner there.’ Adams stands behind Ulrich, despite probe

The mayor of second chances isn’t selling off his buildings commissioner yet. Even though Department of Buildings chief Eric Ulrich was reportedly questioned in connection with an illegal gambling investigation by the Manhattan district attorney’s office – and had his phone seized in the probe – New York City Mayor Eric Adams is buttressing his buildings czar. “I really think that this is really so early for us to be saying ‘Should we, shouldn't we, should we, shouldn’t we, should we?’” Adams said at an unrelated press conference Wednesday morning. “The DA's office is going to do their review, and that review will determine how to move forward.” While City Hall told the Daily News that Ulrich had taken a couple personal days away from work to deal with it, “Eric is still the commissioner there.” 

Adams’ previous public tension with progressive Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg might have cost him a heads up though – the mayor said he only learned of his commissioner’s legal exposure when reporters started asking City Hall about it. The Republican former City Council member’s role in the investigation was broken by The New York Times, which reported that Ulrich hasn’t been accused of any wrongdoing, and the probe predates Ulrich joining the Adams administration.