The CEO of the Central Park Conservancy has sparked outrage from the operator of Wollman Rink after she shared her recent op-ed criticizing the city and the operator during a board meeting.
Elizabeth “Betsy” Smith, the Conservancy’s CEO, appeared to overlook the fact that the head of Related Companies, the firm involved, is also part of her board—an oversight that did not sit well with Related’s CEO, Jeff Blau, who responded with a fierce letter to Smith and her board, which was exclusively obtained by The Post.
“It’s quite remarkable to make baseless and provocative claims about a fellow board member and then take pride in it,” Blau remarked, voicing his displeasure in response to Smith’s op-ed published in the Daily News on Tuesday.
In her op-ed, Smith criticized Mayor Eric Adams’ administration for its anticipated decision to award a 20-year management contract for the renowned Wollman Rink to a partnership involving Related Companies and City Pickle, a pickleball brand.
“For decades, the rink has been managed by profit-driven entities that primarily focus on profit maximization. The city sees only modest revenue, while these corporate interests enjoy significant profits and extensive branding opportunities,” Smith asserted.
“I wanted to share the op-ed I penned for today’s edition of the New York Daily News, where we articulate our vision for the renovation of Wollman Rink and the surrounding area, expressing our discontent with the current direction the City has taken,” she included in her communication to the board, which was also acquired by The Post.
In an official response to inquiries from The Post regarding the dispute, a representative for the Conservancy presented Smith’s reply to Blau, affirming her stance on the op-ed and her choice to publish it.
“We firmly believed it was essential to take our case directly to the public, and we stand by that decision,” she reiterated, emphasizing that the Conservancy should have been considered for its offer to invest $120 million.
A committee from the NYC Parks Department is set to hold ahearing regarding the proposed licensing of the rink on Thursday.
The Trump Organization managed the rink until 2021, when Mayor Bill de Blasio terminated their contract.
This year, the Trump Organization made an attempt to reclaim management of the rink, but their bid was unsuccessful against the joint venture of Related Companies and City Pickle, which operates as Wollman Park Partners II, LLC.
The Conservancy, which manages Central Park for the city, did not enter the bidding for the rink’s operation but instead offered a separate investment proposal of $120 million aimed at Wollman and its adjacent areas.
There was no response from Related Companies regarding requests for comments late Wednesday.
Recently, Smith and other high-ranking officials from the Conservancy have come under scrutiny for their substantial salaries within the non-profit sector, with Smith reportedly earning an annual salary of $933,000, alongside more than a dozen other officers with salaries exceeding $300,000.
