Harlem Development Group Accused of Mismanaging $100M Endowment and Ignoring Community Needs

The West Harlem Development Corporation, created to channel Columbia University’s near-$100 million endowment into West Harlem revitalization, now holds only $56 million, according to insiders. Board members, many with Ivy League credentials, are said to defer to chair ex-judge Milton Tingling and avoid challenging his authority. Former board member and employee Vincent Morgan filed a federal suit alleging that executive director Zead Ramadan perpetrated racism and antisemitism, citing offensive remarks toward board members and a Columbia vice president.

Ramadan’s termination was blocked by the board, and earlier votes to oust board member Larry English did not succeed. Critics, including Congressman Adriano Espaillat’s representative Larry English, contend that the board’s expenditures—roughly $2 million annually on festivals and turkeys—do little for the neighborhood’s long-term development. The organization’s leadership has not responded to requests for comment.