- New York City wasted $200 million on unused COVID-19 materials and sold them off for a tiny fraction of the purchase price, according to reporting by NYC outlet The City.
- The city government auctioned off materials, including N-95 masks and breathing devices known as “bridge vents,” for a steeply discounted price. For the 9.5 million items auctioned off, taxpayers recouped just $500,000, or five cents per item, per the report.
- According to emails acquired by The City, in one of the auctions that yielded sales, the bidders paid $194,000 for materials that originally cost $980,000. The report also notes that taxpayers shelled out $12 million for ventilators that were later sold as scrap metal for less than $25,000.
