Cash Handouts at Campaign Events Raise Ethical Concerns

Supporters affiliated with Mayor Eric Adams were observed distributing cash in traditional red envelopes at several campaign rallies in July, including in Flushing, Queens; Manhattan’s Chinatown; and Sunset Park, Brooklyn. The practice involved handing out sums ranging from $20 to $300 to attendees, including journalists from Chinese-language media outlets.

At the Flushing event, organizer Steven Tin, director of Better Chinatown USA, was seen giving $50 bills and envelopes to reporters. Similar cash gifts were reported at other rallies, with some organizers claiming it is a customary gesture of appreciation rooted in Chinese culture, meant to cover work-related expenses and support reporters’ salaries.

However, such practices are controversial in the United States. Many see giving cash to journalists as an unethical attempt to influence coverage. The Adams campaign stated they were unaware of and do not endorse any payments to reporters.

Wendy Greco, a former Adams advisor involved in handing out cash, was caught handing a reporter a red envelope containing $300 hidden inside a snack bag. Her lawyer claimed this was a cultural misunderstanding and characterized the act as a gesture of kindness rather than misconduct. Greco resigned from her position in late 2024 amid investigations into her connections with Chinese nationals.

Robert Mui, CEO of Sing Tao Newspapers—a major supporter of some campaign events—confirmed that cash handouts occurred and justified them as a form of appreciation and subsidy for reporters. Mui’s organization has been registered as a foreign agent, with ties to pro-Beijing media in Hong Kong. Both Mui and Tin asserted that giving red envelopes was a common practice in China, though they acknowledged it is viewed as unethical in the U.S.

A journalist familiar with the Chinese community explained that such cash gifts are often used to sway media coverage, as many reporters are underpaid and may accept such gestures to avoid alienation or to gain favor. Despite cultural differences, critics argue that offering money to influence media coverage compromises journalistic integrity.