Paes Changes Post-Olympics Plans

(ATR) Eduardo Paes will not be teaching at Columbia University in 2017.

A spokesperson for the Columbia School of International and Public Affairs confirmed to Around the Rings a delay in Paes’ plans. The statement said the outgoing Rio de Janeiro Mayor will be "[delaying] his planned residency at SIPA." The spokesperson said the school had no further comment on the matter, and would not share if Paes plans to fulfill his residency in the future.

Paes was chosen by Columbia to take a residency focusing on public security. Multiple mayors of Brazilian cities applied for the residency, which was eventually awarded to Paes. After the residency, Paes says he planned to run for Rio State Governor in 2018.

Speaking to Brazilian press, Paes said he would split his time in 2017 between New York City and Rio de Janeiro. Paes’ family has been living in New York City since earlier this year.

"Classrooms would hold me back," Paes said to Globo. "My idea is to have more freedom to come and go. I warned Columbia of my decision."

Requests for comment from Paes’ office were not returned.

Paes has seen two scandals rock the last month of his mandate as Rio mayor. First, his personal bank account was frozen by a Rio court over the alleged mismanagement of environmental taxes. Paes said in a statement he would appeal the decision, and put forth documents suggesting the city acted correctly.

Second, Paes was named in leaked plea bargain testimony from Odebrecht executive Leandro Andrade Azevedo. The testimony said Paes received nearly $9 million in undeclared campaign contributions from Odebrecht, to "keep the company's privileged access to Paes' agenda".

Paes will serve as Mayor of Rio de Janeiro until evangelical bishop Marcelo Crivella takes over later this month.

Written by Aaron Bauer

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