Celebrity Events Fueled by City Money

A city official who led a major community program was charged with using public funds to host high‑profile gatherings and promote her own projects. The chief of the Human Rights Commission received an annual salary of $350, 000 while overseeing a $120 million initiative designed to help Black residents after the 2020 police shooting of George Floyd. Investigators say she diverted money through a partner’s nonprofit, turning it into a “slush fund” for events that featured well‑known figures and her own children’s book. The nonprofit, called Collective Impact, got almost $8. 5 million in grants from the initiative between 2021 and 2024. Prosecutors allege that funds were spent on celebrity appearances, restaurant buyouts, and book purchases for the commission’s own department. For instance, a $10 000 speaker fee paid to Sonya Curry and an after‑party costing $4, 810. 50 at a restaurant owned by her husband and chef Michael Mina were billed as part of a “critical dialogue” event aimed at youth. The nonprofit also bought more than $5, 500 of Curry’s memoir and charged another city agency for the expense.Other expenses included performances by musicians Goapele, Ledisi, D‑Nice and Emily King, with total payments exceeding $30 000. A banquet featuring journalist Nikole Hannah‑Jones cost over $20, 500, and a restaurant buyout in October 2022 ran to $5 000. In addition, the official’s office paid a public relations firm and shipped over 200 pounds of books to a hotel in New Orleans during a cultural festival, all under the umbrella of book promotion. Allegations also cover personal benefits. The official is accused of using city money for VIP tickets, first‑class flight upgrades and her son’s university tuition. Contracts with a nonprofit called Homeless Children’s Network worth more than $3. 5 million allegedly paid her son $140, 000 for “research” work that was not related to the city’s mission. Following these findings, she stepped down in 2024. The commission has since appointed new leadership and introduced reforms to prevent conflicts of interest. Meanwhile, the mayor suggested merging this agency with another troubled department to create a new human rights body.