Deputy Borough President Janet Peguero speaks at a rally protesting in opposition to Mayor Adams’ choice to chop training budgets citywide on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2024.
Picture Emily Swanson
Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson introduced April 7 that her deputy, Janet Peguero, has resigned from her publish, citing household causes. The announcement comes as each officers face a lawsuit accusing them, the town, and the NYC Financial Growth Company of corruption associated to the Kingsbridge Armory redevelopment contract.
Peguero, who joined the administration in January 2022, made historical past as the primary Dominican American lady to function deputy borough president. She labored alongside Gibson, the primary Black lady to carry the borough presidency. Peguero earned $172,592 in fiscal 12 months 2024, in keeping with Citywide Payroll Knowledge.
Peguero is reported to have returned to Constantinople and Vallone Consulting, the place metropolis data present she labored as a lobbyist in 2020 and 2021. Whereas on the consulting agency, Peguero represented Maddd Equities—the agency awarded the Kingsbridge Armory redevelopment contract on Jan. 7—throughout her time on the consulting agency.
Gibson’s workplace didn’t affirm her subsequent position.
A lawsuit filed March 28 by one of many shedding bidders alleges that Peguero had a battle of curiosity that ought to have disqualified her from involvement within the Kingsbridge Armory mission. The criticism, filed by Agallas Equities, argues that Peguero’s prior lobbying for the profitable developer and her place on the NYCEDC board—which helped choose the bid—created an moral breach that ought to have barred her from the method.
Manny Tavarez, managing associate for Agallas, beforehand advised the Bronx Occasions {that a} former EDC worker advised him of Peguero’s departure nicely earlier than it was publicly introduced. The criticism was filed 10 days earlier than Gibson’s announcement and acknowledged that Peguero “is set to return in April 2025” to her former lobbying job representing Maddd Equities on the armory mission.
The Bronx Occasions reached out to Gibson’s workplace for affirmation of Peguero’s return to the lobbying agency, and in response, her workplace re-sent the assertion beforehand despatched to the Bronx Occasions relating to the Kingsbridge Armory lawsuit.
“The redevelopment of the Kingsbridge Armory is a long-overdue investment in The Bronx, promising thousands of jobs, hundreds of affordable housing units, and numerous safe community spaces. Attempting to obstruct this development for selfish business and political reasons is nothing short of disgraceful.”
Peguero’s bio on the borough president’s web site credited her for the armory mission, stating that she “worked closely with the Bronx Economic Development Corporation and the New York Economic Development Corporation to bring resources to small business owners in the Bronx and reimagine the Kingsbridge Armory.”
“Her collaboration with both entities resulted in the discovery of a $20 million loan fund for [South Bronx small business] empowerment zones and a $200 million grant from Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams to go toward revitalizing the largest armory in the world after nearly two decades of dormancy.”
In saying Peguero’s departure, Gibson mentioned that her deputy “made an incredible impact” and “redefined the role.”
“[Peguero] fostered vital partnerships, supported economic development, and advocated tirelessly for our immigrant communities, ensuring they were heard, represented, and supported,” mentioned Gibson.
It stays unclear whether or not or how the emptiness can be crammed, and Gibson’s workplace has not but responded to the Bronx Occasions’ inquiry.
