Fwd: [EXTERNAL] Re: [OpenRecords] Request FOIL-2023-836-00688 Closed - Mayor Eric Adams and Bitcoin

[Gunnar Larson]

"I Have a Dream" is a public speech that was delivered by American civil
rights activist and Baptist minister Martin Luther King Jr. during the
March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963. In the speech,
King called for civil and economic rights and an end to racism in the
United States.

Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given its colored
people a bad check, a check that has come back marked "insufficient funds."
But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to
believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of
opportunity of this nation.

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Gunnar Larson <g at xny.io>
Date: Sat, Dec 23, 2023, 3:05 PM
Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] Re: [OpenRecords] Request FOIL-2023-836-00688
Closed - Mayor Eric Adams and Bitcoin
To: FoilAppeals (DOF) <FoilAppeals at finance.nyc.gov>, <
district3 at council.nyc.gov>
Cc: Best, Joan (DOF) <BestJ at finance.nyc.gov>, FOIL <DOF-FOIL at finance.nyc.gov>,
<cypherpunks at cpunks.org>, Reader, Shaun <sreader at curtis.com>, <
letitia.james at ag.ny.gov>, Harris, Adrienne A (DFS) <
Adrienne.Harris at dfs.ny.gov>


Erik:

How could there be no records?

Gunnar

Gunnar Larson
xNY.io - Bank.org
917-580-8053


On Fri, Dec 22, 2023, 3:53 PM Gunnar Larson <g at xny.io> wrote:

> Dear Dara:
>
> Thank you for your email.
>
> Have a nice weekend.
>
> Thanks & Regards,
>
> Gunnar
>
> Gunnar Larson
> 917-580-8053
> xNY.io - Bank.org
>
> On Fri, Dec 22, 2023, 3:46 PM FoilAppeals (DOF) <
> FoilAppeals at finance.nyc.gov> wrote:
>
>> Dear Gunnar Larson,
>>
>>
>>
>> I received your appeal email below regarding FOIL 2023-836-00688, which
>> was submitted on July 16, 2023, and acknowledged by DOF on July 21, 2023.
>> After informing you of extensions, on December 15, 2023, DOF’s Records
>> Access Officer sent the response below informing you that “a diligent
>> search for records responsive to your request did not locate any such
>> records. Accordingly, your request is denied.” On December 15, you sent
>> this appeal.
>>
>>
>>
>> I have reviewed your appeal. DOF’s FOIL office conducted a diligent
>> search for responsive records of the New York City Department of Finance.
>> As the December 15 email explained, the search did not identify any
>> responsive records of the Department of Finance.  To further address your
>> question below, DOF’s Records Access Officer did not withhold or redact any
>> responsive records.  As a result, I affirm the determination of the DOF
>> Records Access Officer.
>>
>>
>>
>> Pursuant to Public Officers Law §89(4)(b), a denial of a FOIL appeal may
>> be appealed to the Supreme Court in a proceeding for review pursuant to
>> CPLR Article 78.
>>
>>
>>
>> Thank you,
>>
>> Dara
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Dara Jaffee
>>
>> FOIL Appeals Officer
>>
>> Assistant Commissioner, Legal Affairs
>>
>> NYC Department of Finance
>>
>> 375 Pearl Street, 30th Floor
>>
>> New York, NY 10038
>>
>> FoilAppeals at finance.nyc.gov
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* Gunnar Larson <g at xny.io>
>> *Sent:* Friday, December 15, 2023 3:11 PM
>> *To:* FOIL <DOF-FOIL at finance.nyc.gov>; FoilAppeals (DOF) <
>> FoilAppeals at finance.nyc.gov>
>> *Cc:* cypherpunks at cpunks.org; Harris, Adrienne A (DFS) <
>> Adrienne.Harris at dfs.ny.gov>; letitia.james at ag.ny.gov; Corey Johnson <
>> district3 at council.nyc.gov>; Reader, Shaun <sreader at curtis.com>;
>> PressOffice at cityhall.nyc.gov
>> *Subject:* [EXTERNAL] Re: [OpenRecords] Request FOIL-2023-836-00688
>> Closed - Mayor Eric Adams and Bitcoin
>>
>>
>>
>> You don't often get email from g at xny.io. Learn why this is important
>> <https://aka.ms/LearnAboutSenderIdentification>
>>
>> *CAUTION:* This email originated from outside of the organization. Do
>> not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and
>> know the content is safe.  Forward suspect email to phish at oti.nyc.gov as
>> an attachment (Click the More button, then forward as attachment).
>>
>>
>> Dear Department of Finance (DOF):
>>
>>
>>
>> xNY.io - Bank.org kindly elects to appeal this response.
>>
>>
>>
>> xNY.io - Bank.org aims to understand if DOF is suggesting no New York
>> City records are available. Or, if DOF has redacted in part or withheld due
>> diligence records in entirety concerning "Mayor Adams to Receive First
>> Paycheck in Cryptocurrency... Paycheck to Be Automatically Converted Into
>> Bitcoin and Ethereum" quoted by NYC.gov.
>>
>>
>>
>> From our research, there are several New York City records available. For
>> example:
>>
>>
>> https://www.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/041-22/mayor-adams-receive-first-paycheck-cryptocurrency
>>
>>
>>
>> Furthermore, New York City's press office has said "Cryptocurrencies are
>> at the forefront of Web3innovations and can bring greater accessibility to
>> financial services."
>>
>>
>>
>> Mayor Eric Adams also touted New York City's approach to digital asset
>> innovation on Bloomberg radio:
>>
>>
>> https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-11-03/mayor-elect-eric-adams-to-explore-nyc-coin-similar-to-miami-s?embedded-checkout=true
>>
>>
>>
>> According to Bloomberg, "New York City Mayor-Elect Eric Adams said he
>> wanted to turn New York into a crypto-friendly city and wagered a “friendly
>> competition” with the mayor of Miami, who was the first to set up a
>> so-called CityCoin cryptocurrency.
>>
>>
>>
>> “He has a MiamiCoin that is doing very well -- we’re going to look in the
>> direction to carry that out,” Adams said in a Wednesday interview on
>> Bloomberg Radio. He vowed to “look at what’s preventing the growth of
>> Bitcoin...""
>>
>>
>>
>> As a matter of urgency, xNY.io - Bank.org kindly requests DOF's response
>> by December 31, 2023.
>>
>>
>>
>> Warm regards,
>>
>>
>>
>> Gunnar
>>
>>
>>
>> Gunnar Larson
>>
>> --
>>
>> Gunnar Larson - xNY.io - Bank.org
>>
>> MSc - Digital Currency
>>
>> MBA - Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ip)
>>
>>
>>
>> G at xNY.io
>>
>> +1-917-580-8053
>>
>> New York, New York 10001
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Dec 15, 2023, 12:23 PM <donotreply at records.nyc.gov> wrote:
>>
>> The Department of Finance (DOF) has *closed* your FOIL request
>> FOIL-2023-836-00688
>> <https://a860-openrecords.nyc.gov/request/view/FOIL-2023-836-00688> for
>> the following reasons:
>>
>>    - A diligent search for records responsive to your request did not
>>    locate any such records. Accordingly, your request is denied.
>>
>>
>>
>> You may appeal the decision to deny access to material that was redacted
>> in part or withheld in entirety by contacting the agency's FOIL Appeals
>> Officer: foilappeals at finance.nyc.gov
>> <foilappeals at finance.nyc.gov?subject=FOIL-2023-836-00688%20-%20Appeal>
>> within 30 days.
>>
>>
>>
>> Please find the attached memo with reference footnotes.
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>>
>>
>>
>> March 10, 2023
>>
>>
>>
>> BY ELECTRONIC MAIL
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Ms. Camille Joseph Varlack
>>
>> Office of the Mayor of New York City
>>
>> City Hall Park, 260 Broadway
>>
>> New York, NY 10007 United States
>>
>> PressOffice at CityHall.NYC.gov
>>
>>
>>
>> Re: Mayor Eric Adams NYCCoin Touting
>>
>>
>>
>> Dear Ms. Joseph Varlack:
>>
>>
>>
>> Today’s memo is to kindly submit xNY.io - Bank.org's inquiry into Mayor
>> Eric Adams' promotion of NYCCoin.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> The federal securities laws are clear that any celebrity or individual
>> who promotes digital assets must disclose the nature, source and amount of
>> compensation they received in exchange for the promotion.
>>
>>
>>
>> As a matter of ethics, risk and compliance associated with digital asset
>> innovation, xNY.io asks if NYCCoin promotion by the Mayor of New York City
>> damaged the market for the xNY digital asset (by, for example, devaluing it
>> through parody or sealed via embossed criticism).
>>
>>
>>
>> xNY.io - Bank.org concerns made above have evidentiary support to
>> interlocking director and officer conflicts recognized by the Department of
>> Justice as potential threats that stifle individual and corporate freedom.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Ms. Joseph Varlack, as a matter relating to working at one of the world's
>> most ethical companies, famous for risk management and corporate
>> governance, and as an internationally recognized Blockchain Scholar, I must
>> adhere to federal securities laws.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> As such, I classify Mayor Adams as an individual who promoted the digital
>> asset NYCCoin and must disclose the nature, scope, and amount of
>> compensation associated.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> A failure to disclose this information may violate the anti-touting
>> provisions of the federal securities laws. Mayor Adams' making these
>> endorsements may also be liable for potential violations of the anti-fraud
>> provisions of the federal securities laws, for participating in an
>> unregistered offer and sale of securities, and for acting as unregistered
>> brokers.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> xNY.io - Bank.org respectfully requests the Office of the Mayor of New
>> York City to respond to this request by Wednesday March, 15 2023 by Noon
>> EST.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Respectfully yours with appreciation,
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Gunnar Larson - xNY.io - Bank.org
>>
>> MSc - Digital Currency
>>
>> MBA - Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ip)
>>
>> G at xNY.io +1-917-580-8053
>>
>>
>>
>> ---------- Forwarded message ---------
>>
>> From: <donotreply at records.nyc.gov>
>>
>> Date: Fri, Jul 21, 2023, 10:22 AM
>>
>> Subject: [OpenRecords] Request FOIL-2023-836-00688 Acknowledged
>>
>> To: <g at xny.io>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> The Department of Finance (DOF) has acknowledged your FOIL request
>> FOIL-2023-836-00688.
>>
>>
>>
>> You can expect a response on or about Tuesday, October 17, 2023.
>>
>>
>>
>> Additional Information:
>>
>> Hello, we are extending your request because our office needs more time
>> to fulfill your request. We are finding and reviewing your requested
>> records and you should hear from us by the date indicated above. We
>> appreciate your patience as we subject each page of each record to legal
>> review while processing other FOIL requests.Thank you for your continued
>> patience.
>>
>>
>>
>> Please visit FOIL-2023-836-00688 to view additional information and take
>> any necessary action.
>>
>>
>>
>> Your request FOIL-2023-836-00688 has been successfully submitted to the
>> Department of Finance (DOF). The details of your request are shown below.
>>
>> Request Title: Mayor Eric Adams and Bitcoin
>>
>>
>>
>> Request Description: Dear Madam or Sir: Mayor Adams announced paychecks
>> will automatically be converted into cryptocurrency via Coinbase, a secure
>> online platform for buying, selling, transferring, and storing digital
>> currency.
>> https://www.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/041-22/mayor-adams-receive-first-paycheck-cryptocurrency
>> xNY.io kindly requests access to records concerning the payment structure
>> related to this payment vehicle. Additionally, we would like any records
>> concerning the City’s due diligence of the online payment platform's
>> compliance to New York State investigation. Thank you, Gunnar Larson
>> 917-580-8053
>>
>>
>>
>> Requester's Contact Information
>>
>>
>>
>> Name:
>>
>> Gunnar Larson
>>
>> Title:
>>
>> Not provided
>>
>> Organization:
>>
>> Not provided
>>
>> Email:
>>
>> g at xny.io
>>
>> Phone Number:
>>
>> Not provided
>>
>> Fax Number:
>>
>> Not provided
>>
>> Street Address (line 1):
>>
>> 406 West 25th Street
>>
>> Street Address (line 2):
>>
>> Not provided
>>
>> City:
>>
>> New York
>>
>> State:
>>
>> NY
>>
>> Zip Code:
>>
>> 10001
>>
>> You can view the request and take any necessary action at the following
>> webpage:
>> https://a860-openrecords.nyc.gov/request/view/FOIL-2023-836-00688
>>
>>
>>
>
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