What we know about the building in the Bronx apartment fire
A spokesperson for Camber said the company inherited violations in the Brooklyn building and repaired the boiler to fix the heating issues. After acquiring the building from the Bronx in 2018, Camber made repairs to the building’s heating system, the group spokesperson said.
During his career in real estate, Mr. Gropper contributed more than $ 11,000 to the campaigns of local lawmakers, according to the records. He also attended a fundraiser for Mr. Adams, then Brooklyn Borough President, in May 2018 at the home of a real estate developer named Jamie Wiseman.
About 50 guests, many from the real estate industry, were in attendance, according to a spokesperson for Camber. At the time, Mr Gropper was awaiting a recommendation from Mr Adams for the development of two apartment buildings in Bushwick – a project which met with local opposition and was rejected by the local community council.
Mr. Adams had held a hearing on the project about a month before the fundraiser. Mr. Gropper made a contribution of $ 400 to Mr. Adams on May 22, 2018, the maximum amount allowed for people doing business with the city.
A week later, Adams recommended that the project go ahead.
A spokesperson for Camber said the developer had worked to gain Mr. Adams’ approval by increasing the level of affordable units in the project. Max Young, a spokesperson for Mr Adams, said Mr Gropper’s contribution played no role in Mr Adams’ decision-making.
Camber’s lobbyist on this Bushwick project was Tiffany Raspberry, whom Mr Adams appointed as senior external affairs adviser last week. Lobbying disclosures show Ms Raspberry worked for Camber in 2018 and 2019.
When Mr. Adams was elected mayor, Mr. Gropper was also part of the transition team advising him on housing. A spokesperson for Camber said Mr Gropper had attended two Zoom meetings as part of the work of the 56-member housing group, and neither meeting included Mr Adams.