NEW YORK — A members-only social club in Manhattan co-owned by prominent political donors to Mayor Eric Adams was selected to host a city government event this month where the mayor delivered remarks about making New York the world’s “most business-friendly” city, the Daily News has learned.

The event, an annual procurement fair held by Adams’ Small Business Services Department, took place Nov. 4 at Casa Cipriani, a club the mayor and several of his top advisers have been known to patronize. Adams has also hosted campaign fundraisers at the club, which is housed in the Battery Maritime Building overlooking the Statue of Liberty.

A Small Business Services spokeswoman said her agency paid Casa Cipriani $31,883 for the fair. Most of that sum — $20,927 — covered technical assistance the club provided, including security, while the rest — $10,956 — covered beverages and pastries, she said. The tab is about $9,000 higher than previous SBS procurement fairs.

The annual fair was held at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center in 2022 and 2023, and SBS paid that venue about $22,000 for each event, the agency rep said. The rep said the Barclays tabs were lower because that venue didn’t charge for technical assistance. This month’s fair marked the first time SBS has held an event at Casa Cipriani.

There are no rules restricting city agencies from holding events at venues owned by the mayor’s political supporters. But John Kaehny, executive director of the Reinvent Albany government watchdog group, said Adams’ administration should be more mindful of appearances given the mayor’s bribery indictment and several separate corruption investigations into members of his inner circle.

“The city should seek to avoid using venues owned by big contributors because it undermines public trust in government,” he said. “That’s especially important right now, when the mayor is under so much scrutiny.”

The SBS spokeswoman confirmed there was no competitive bidding before her agency picked Casa Cipriani. She didn’t say who made the call to throw this year’s fair at Casa Cipriani, but told The News the venue was selected “based on the size, location, incidental costs and availability.”

Casa Cipriani didn’t respond to emailed questions.

Casa Cipriani is co-owned by Midtown Equities, one of the city’s largest real estate firms, which is operated by the politically powerful Cayre family.

The Cayres have a track record of donating to Adams’ political and legal initiatives.

In December 2023, Michael Cayre, who helps run Midtown Equities and is the son of firm founder Joseph Cayre, gave $5,000, the legal max, to Adams’ legal defense trust, which he launched to cover lawyer fees he racks up in the corruption case in which he has pleaded not guilty.

Also in December, Trina and Sarah Cayre, wives of Joseph Cayre and his brother Jack Cayre, each gave Adams’ trust $5,000 — but the fund returned those contributions after news outlet Hell Gate reported they were legally barred from donating to it as their husbands are in the city’s Doing Business database in their capacities as Midtown Equities executives. Though Michael Cayre helps run Midtown Equities, he’s not listed in the database, allowing him to give to the trust.

The Cayres — including Michael, Joseph, Jack and their wives — have given another $16,920 to Adams’ 2021 and 2025 campaigns, contributions that unlocked at least an additional $13,400 in public matching funds, records show.

At the event, Adams — whose indictment alleges he took bribes from Turkish government operatives and others in exchange for political favors — told business owners in attendance they shouldn’t “believe the bullshit” being reported about him because he’s “kicking ass and people need to recognize what we are doing.”

Pivoting to financial issues, he said his administration is focused on generating private business in the city, including in the real estate sector.

“This needs to become the most business-friendly city and state on the globe — that’s the goal,” he said.

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