Water's Edge Centerport

NY Restaurateur Accuses Bill de Blasio of Accepting His Bribes | Eater NY

"Once a prominent Long Island City waterfront restaurant and wedding venue, Water’s Edge is now shuttered; I note that its former owner, Harendra Singh, pleaded guilty earlier this year to attempting to bribe Mayor Bill de Blasio in hopes of securing a better lease on the city-owned restaurant. Singh testified that he raised as much as $80,000 for de Blasio and that discussions about donations and the lease often occurred in the same conversations. The restaurant had faced drama long before: the FBI arrested Singh in September 2015 on charges of bribery, fraud, and obstruction for allegedly underreporting $17 million in sales, and the popular waterfront spot closed shortly afterward when unpaid employees walked out. Singh has said the donations were primarily intended to help a business that was behind on rent and seeking a lease renewal; de Blasio’s team denies any inappropriate conduct and suggests Singh is lying to avoid jail, and Singh’s comments came as he testified in an ongoing corruption trial of other Long Island public officials." - Serena Dai