Cash in a Chip Bag: Red Envelopes Cause Uproar at Adams Campaign Events

A curious—and unsettling—incident has cast a shadow over Mayor Eric Adams’s re-election campaign. During a campaign rally in Harlem, a close volunteer adviser unexpectedly handed a reporter a bag of potato chips. Inside, concealed within a red envelope, was a stack of cash. This gesture, witnessed by New York Times reporters, has prompted serious ethical questions and sparked rapid action from the mayor’s team.

A Gift That Sparked Alarm

Winnie Greco, a long-time adviser and former director of Asian affairs for Mayor Adams, approached a reporter following the event. She slipped a red envelope full of bills into a snack bag of chips. The recipient, working for a Chinese-language media outlet, initially assumed the offering was merely a friendly token—but soon realized otherwise. The unexpected windfall triggered alarm, particularly amid ongoing scrutiny of campaign ethics.AP NewsThe Washington Post

Campaign Response: Ethics at the Forefront

Mayor Adams’s campaign responded swiftly once the incident came to light. Greco was immediately suspended from all volunteer-related activities. Campaign officials emphasized that Adams had no prior knowledge of the envelope or its contents. A spokesperson reaffirmed the campaign's commitment to ethics, stating that they were "shocked by these reports" and would uphold the highest standards.The Washington Post

Ethics, Culture, or Influence?

Greco’s attorney offered an explanation steeped in culture rather than corruption. He framed the envelope as a token of friendship—a gesture he described as commonplace in Chinese tradition. “In the Chinese culture, money is often given to others in a gesture of friendship and gratitude,” he said. Despite this explanation, ethics watchdogs, journalists, and campaign critics remain unconvinced. The optics of giving cash in this manner, especially to members of the media, raise red flags about propriety and influence.AP NewsThe Daily Beast

A Broader Climate of Scrutiny

This incident arrives amid broader legal and ethical headaches for Adams’s administration. Other senior aides, including Ingrid Lewis-Martin, have faced recent indictments, and multiple campaign advisers have been subjects of federal investigations. Embedding such controversies into his inner circle places growing pressure on the mayor's reputation and re-election bid.The GuardianThe Washington Post

What It Means: Integrity on the Ballot

Campaigns rely on trust—not only from the public but within their own ranks. This episode underscores how a single gesture, no matter its intent, can become a liability. As New York voters weigh their choices, incidents like this shape perceptions of leadership, transparency, and moral conduct.