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- Knicks fan’s trash can grab ends with fines, firing and walk of shame return trip for JPMorgan Chase exec (foxnews.com)
A Knicks championship parade stunt that went viral and led to the firing of a JPMorgan Chase executive has now resulted in city fines after New York sanitation officials recovered the Knicks-themed trash can she allegedly took from a Manhattan street.
Angie Báez returned the commemorative litter basket Wednesday morning, according to the New York City Department of Sanitation, nearly a week after video surfaced showing her dumping trash from the container onto the sidewalk and then walking away with it during the Knicks’ championship celebration.
Sanitation Police issued Báez two summonses related to the incident: a $75 fine for littering and a $100 fine for obstructing sanitation operations. A department spokesperson confirmed these are the maximum fines allowed by law for first offenses.
The incident quickly drew attention on social media following the June 18 parade, which attracted hundreds of thousands of fans to Lower Manhattan to celebrate the Knicks’ first NBA championship in over 50 years.
Báez was later identified by the New York Post as a JPMorgan Chase executive who held the role of Executive Director of Community and Industry Engagement for Card and Connected Commerce. Her background also includes leadership roles in diversity, equity, and inclusion, including at The Infatuation, a company acquired by Chase in 2021.
Following the incident, JPMorgan Chase confirmed that Báez is no longer employed by the firm. A company spokesperson reiterated this but declined to provide further comment.
Despite the widespread attention, the New York Police Department indicated it has no complaint report on file regarding the matter. Meanwhile, the Department of Sanitation noted that while it does not have an exact cleanup cost estimate for the trash dumped from the basket, the amount was minimal compared to the overall post-parade cleanup effort, which involved collecting over 75,000 pounds of confetti and litter.
Adding a light touch to the situation, the Department of Sanitation joked on social media about the return of the basket: “We have 23,000 litter baskets on the street citywide, and you never know where one of these may pop up.” They also mentioned that fans interested in Knicks-themed baskets can purchase smaller versions online.