Statement from Commissioner Castro on Non-Cooperation with ICE Laws and Policies

 

 “All New Yorkers have the right to live in a city that is safe and inclusive, no matter their immigration status. The City is proud of and will continue to stand by our laws and policies limiting our cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). These laws and policies make our city safer for all and have helped build trust with our immigrant communities. Our welcoming practices reflect our local expertise and have helped maximize community trust and safety. The best way we can advance public safety together is through advancing humane immigration policies that support and stabilize our essential workers, TPS and DACA recipients, and asylum seekers.”

MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENTS OF CLIMATE LEADERSHIP TEAM, STREAMLINES MULTIPLE CITY ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCIES INTO ONE

 

Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice Will Consolidate and Incorporate Four City Agencies

 New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the appointments of his climate leadership team that will focus on environmental protection and environmental justice across New York City. Mayor Adams appointed Rohit T. Aggarwala as chief climate officer and commissioner of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Vincent Sapienza as chief operations officer of DEP, and Kizzy Charles-Guzman as executive director of the new Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice (MOCEJ) — which consolidates multiple city agencies into one. Mayor Adams highlighted these accomplished environmentalists’ proven track record of promoting cleaner air, advancing climate resiliency, and protecting New Yorkers.

“It is evident to anyone who opens their eyes that we are in the midst of a climate crisis in this city and around the world, so it’s time to think outside the box and determine how we can handle the crisis before it's too late,” said Mayor Adams. “This past year alone, we have experienced extreme weather anomalies and rising sea levels, which have endangered New Yorkers’ lives, their homes, and their livelihoods. The remnants of these different calamities are still being repaired to this day, but my administration is committed to transforming the city’s quality of life and fighting for environmental justice for all New Yorkers, and this team is exactly who will get the job done for New Yorkers.”

 

Today’s appointments signal the Adams administration’s commitment to rolling out a comprehensive system that will allow this city to offset the effects of climate change and unnecessary carbon emissions. Additionally, the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice will fulfill Mayor Adams’ key commitments to climate sustainability, environmental justice, and resiliency including:

• Installing 100 megawatts of solar on schools, libraries, community centers, and other public buildings;
• Expanding citywide resiliency projects and infrastructure;
• Breaking ground on a massive clean energy complex at Wards Island Water Resource Recovery Facility; and
• Completing New York City’s first comprehensive study of environmental justice.

 

The Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice also delivers on Mayor Adams’ promise of reducing waste and creating more efficiencies in government. The new office will consolidate the Mayor’s Office of Climate Resiliency and the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Sustainability, as well as incorporate the Mayor’s Office of Environmental Coordination and the Mayor’s Office of Environmental Remediation. This new, streamlined office will provide an integrated approach to climate leadership by uniting four offices that had independently addressed remediation, resiliency, sustainability and environmental justice, and environmental review.

 

“Today’s team combines renowned expertise with deep, personal, lifelong commitment to protecting every New Yorker from the devastating effects of our climate crisis,” said Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi. “Bringing the full force of their skills and foresight to solidify today’s infrastructure and prepare for tomorrow’s underscores the Adams administration’s deep commitment to making New York City a more livable place today and for generations to come.”

 

“Making progress on climate requires not only good policies but also driving resilience, decarbonization, and environmental justice into daily city operations,” said Rohit T. Aggarwala, commissioner, DEP, and chief climate officer for the City of New York. “I’m excited to shape the city’s climate work on behalf of Mayor Adams and Deputy Mayor Joshi and am honored to lead the 6,000 men and women at DEP who ensure that New York’s drinking water, harbor, and air are safe and clean, and who are our front lines on managing stormwater. I'm especially grateful to Vinny Sapienza for agreeing to stay on at DEP, so I can rely on his deep operational expertise in managing this mission-critical agency.” 

 

About Rohit T. Aggarwala – DEP Commissioner and Chief Climate Officer

Rohit T. “Rit” Aggarwala is a widely recognized expert on urban sustainability, technology, and mobility. He led the creation of the Mayor’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability under Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, founded the environmental grantmaking program at Bloomberg Philanthropies, and served as president of the Board of Directors of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group. He was part of the founding team at Sidewalk Labs — Google’s urban technology startup — and more recently was a senior urban tech fellow at the Jacobs Cornell-Technion Institute. He has provided advice and assistance to a number of foundations and impact investment funds and chaired the Regional Plan Association’s Fourth Regional Plan for the New York region. Aggarwala holds a PhD, MBA, and BA from Columbia University and an MA from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario.

 

Aggarwala will report to Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi.

 

“Increasingly intense storms, warmer temperatures, and rising sea levels threaten the ability to provide ample amounts of high-quality drinking water and keep city streets from repeatedly flooding,” said Vincent Sapienza, chief operations officer, DEP. “I’ve had the great privilege of working shoulder-to-shoulder with an incredibly talented team at DEP, and I’m eager to continue working with them alongside Rit and Kizzy to coordinate and accelerate our environmental initiatives and combat these issues.”

 

About Vincent Sapienza – DEP Chief Operations Officer

Vincent Sapienza has dedicated his career to protecting and improving New York City’s water and wastewater infrastructure. Sapienza served in three senior positions within DEP, leading the Bureau of Wastewater Treatment from 2009 through 2014, then heading the Bureau of Engineering, Design and Construction through 2016, and then as commissioner for the past five years. Sapienza is a New York State licensed professional engineer and holds a BS from Columbia and an MBA from Hofstra.

 

Sapienza will report to Aggarwala in his role as DEP Commissioner.

 

“I am thrilled and honored to continue to serve my city, doing urgent and critical work in the face of a climate crisis,” said Kizzy Charles-Guzman, executive director, Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice. “My team will focus on helping New Yorkers access the benefits of our climate actions and investments today, while also improving our environment, adapting our neighborhoods, and preparing for the challenges of tomorrow.”

 

About Kizzy Charles-Guzman – Executive Director, Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice

Kizzy Charles-Guzman has spent over 15 years of her New York City service developing and delivering work at the intersection of sustainability, climate policy, public health, resiliency, and racial equity. She led the development of Cool Neighborhoods NYC, the city’s first strategy to address the impacts of rising temperatures and heatwaves, and several adaptation initiatives to ensure that New York City residents are ready to withstand and emerge stronger from the impacts of climate change. Charles-Guzman served as a deputy director at the Mayor’s Offices of Sustainability and Climate Resiliency, as director of the Climate Change and Health Program at the New York City Department of Health, and as policy advisor on air quality during the Bloomberg administration. She received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Quality Award and a Champion of Change Award from the White House in recognition of her work. She is a graduate of Carleton College and the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

 

Charles-Guzman will report to Aggarwala in his role as chief climate officer.

 

“Consolidation of agencies with a common purpose brings efficiency to state operations. It makes the most sense when bureaucracy is set aside to efficiently address the needs of our communities,” said New York State Senator Luis Sepúlveda. “The announcement by Mayor Adams not only provides this perspective, but also does so with a work plan. As proposed, it would commit to installing 100 megawatts of solar on public buildings, expand resilience projects, and study effects of climate change and unnecessary carbon emissions. The use of renewable energy, as well as resiliency and infrastructure projects are needed throughout our state. I welcome the team appointed by the mayor and hope that their experience in environmental issues will be of benefit to their work and to all New Yorkers”.

 

“New York City can and will be a leader in the fight against climate change,” said New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams. “This new leadership team is an important step in prioritizing environmental justice in addition to environmental protection, and creating our city’s first comprehensive environmental justice study, which is essential for a just transition away from fossil fuels. There is a great deal more to do, and my office looks forward to continuing the work with our governing partners to confront the climate crisis, and ensuring that impacted communities are at the center of that work.” 

 

“With the rise in extreme weather and the damage we have seen from recent storms, it is clear that New York City must make tackling climate change a priority,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “Mayor Adams has assembled a team of hardworking, skilled individuals that are committed to efficiently acting to ensure our city leads the way in building towards a sustainable city to live in now and for the future generation of New Yorkers. I look forward to working with them in the fight for climate justice for all.”

 

“This is an exceptionally strong team to lead Mayor Adams’ climate and water initiatives,” said Carter Strickland, mid-Atlantic region and New York State director, Trust for Public Land, and a former DEP Commissioner. “Rit, Kizzy, and Vinny will bring deep experience on a broad range of environmental issues as well as a data-driven, analytical approach for efficient investments. Best of all, they understand that it is critical to work closely with communities, and that programs like eliminating dirty heating oil, adding in green infrastructure and other natural climate solutions, and adopting holistic resilience measures will succeed if they provide equitable public health and other benefits today, while laying the foundation for a more sustainable future tomorrow.”

 

“The appointment of Rit and Kizzy could not come at a more influential point for decarbonization, environmental justice, and resiliency,” said John Mandyck, CEO, Urban Green Council. “Their caliber and dedication will drive the city’s agenda when we need it most. They’re the right leaders for the work ahead. and Urban Green looks forward to helping them advance world-leading climate policy.”

 

“Kudos to Mayor Adams for appointing Rit Aggarwala as commissioner of Environmental Protection and chief climate officer, and Kizzy Charles-Guzman as executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice,” said Julie Tighe, president, New York League of Conservation Voters. “It is clear the city must continue to meet the complex environmental and climate challenges facing our city, and a commitment to science-based strategies is paramount to achieve the ambitious goals we have set. Commissioner Aggarwala and Executive Director Charles-Guzman are proven leaders in sustainability, environmental, and urban issues, and will serve critical roles helping build New York smarter and safer and we look forward to working with them.”

 

“Rit Aggarwala is an outstanding choice to help lead our city's fight against the greatest challenge of our time. If we're going to tackle climate change, we need an all-hands-on-deck approach, and Rit understands how important it is that we all do our part to prevent environmental degradation,” said Kyle Bragg, president, 32BJ SEIU. “Just as our members have been on the frontlines of the pandemic, they're on the frontlines of the climate fight, as critical foot soldiers in the spreading green revolution. This is our moment, and I'm excited and honored to partner with Rit on behalf of our workers, our city, and our future."

 

Permits Filed For 3880 Ninth Avenue In Inwood, Manhattan

 

3880 Ninth Avenue in Inwood, Manhattan via Google Maps

Permits have been filed for a 17-story mixed-use building at 3880 Ninth Avenue in Inwood, Manhattan. Located at the intersection of West 207th Street and Ninth Avenue, the lot is steps from the 207th Street subway station, serviced by the 1 train. The Jay Group is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 70-foot-tall development will yield 210,932 square feet, with 190,821 square feet designated for residential space and 20,111 square feet for commercial space. The building will have 270 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 706 square feet. The concrete-based structure will also have a cellar, one commercial loading berth, and 41 enclosed parking spaces.

JFA Architects & Engineers is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits were filed earlier this month for a one-story building on the site. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

EDITOR'SS NOTE:

This is included because it is right over the bridge from the Bronx to Inwood. The new 17 story building should be visible to much of the Bronx.

NYS Office of the Comptroller DiNapoli: Money Earmarked for Highway and Bridge Infrastructure Siphoned Off

 

Just 17 Cents of Each Dollar in the Dedicated Highway and Bridge Trust Fund Goes Toward New Capital Projects, Rest Pays Debt and Operating Costs

 Highway and bridge projects have been shortchanged because the state continues to use money in the Dedicated Highway and Bridge Trust Fund (DHBTF) to pay down debt from past projects and cover the operating costs for state agencies, according to a report by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

Similar concerns were raised by DiNapoli in reports in 2009 and in 2014, and this updated analysis shows the problems have gotten worse. DHBTF spending for capital projects declined between state fiscal year (SFY) 2012-13 and SFY 2020-21 from $665 million to $594 million, a decrease of nearly 11%. In SFY 2020-21, only 17 cents of every dollar spent from DHBTF supported a new capital investment.

“New York is at a crossroads. Far too little of the money set aside to build or repair roads and bridges is being used for new capital projects by the state,” DiNapoli said. “It is time for New York to change direction and use the money in the Dedicated Highway and Bridge Trust Fund for critical repairs and to increase pay-as-you-go projects as the fund was created to do. Our state’s financial position has improved, and we are expecting billions of dollars from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. We cannot afford to squander this historic opportunity. Policymakers need to act now to shore up the trust fund.”

The 1991 law that created DHBTF was narrowly focused to ensure a dedicated funding stream would be available to alleviate the need to borrow funds for transportation capital projects. Over the years, the scope of eligible expenditures was expanded so the trust fund no longer serves its original purpose of directly paying for road and bridge projects. Transfers to pay for debt surpassed capital projects spending both in absolute dollars and as a percentage of total disbursements by SFY 2001-02.

DHBTF spending in SFY 2020-21 totaled $3.46 billion. Of this total, just 17.2% was used for capital construction, while state operations and debt service costs consumed 43% and 40%, respectively. Capital projects spending declined 10.8% between SFYs 2012-13 and 2020-21, while disbursements to pay operational costs increased from 40.8% to 42.8% and debt service payments remained roughly level.

In total, $5.3 billion has been spent on transportation capital projects since SFY 2012-13, while $12.3 billion was spent on debt service from past borrowings and $13.6 billion on operational costs.

There are four major sources of revenue in the DHBTF: taxes and fees, bond proceeds, transfers from other funds and miscellaneous revenue. To offset shortfalls from the dedicated taxes and fees, in SFY 2004-05, a General Fund transfer of $4.6 million was made to help cover trust fund expenses. By SFY 2020-21, that amount had risen to $786 million. Compared to SFY 2012-13, receipts from taxes and fees were down 15.1% in 2020-21, and General Fund transfers were up 51.4%. This reliance on the General Fund puts highway and bridge projects at risk because these transfers are made on an annual basis and can be unpredictable based on changing budget circumstances.

DiNapoli recommended the state:

• Maximize the share of trust fund revenue used for new capital projects by developing a multi-year plan to reduce state operations and debt service costs paid for by the DHBTF;
• Increase the share of transportation capital projects funded on a pay-as-you-go basis to reduce debt service costs; and
• Reduce the trust fund’s reliance on annual General Fund transfers and consider augmenting the fund’s dedicated revenue streams.

Reports

Dedicated Highway and Bridge Trust Fund: At a Crossroads

2014 Report on Dedicated Highway and Bridge Trust Fund

2009 Report

Attorney General James Bans Predatory Landlord From Real Estate Business in New York

 

Raphael Toledano Violated Agreement with OAG to End Tenant Harassment and Illegal Business Practices

 New York Attorney General Letitia James furthered her efforts to protect New York tenants by securing a major court victory against notorious landlord, Raphael Toledano, banning him from engaging in any real estate activity in New York. An order by the New York Supreme Court bars Toledano from engaging in any New York real estate business activity for at least five years, at which point he can petition the court for reentrance. This decision comes after Toledano repeatedly violated a 2019 agreement with the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) that required him to stop harassing New York City tenants and stop engaging in illegal and predatory real estate practices.

“New York tenants can breathe more easily knowing that Rafi Toledano is no longer in the real estate business,” said Attorney General James. “Through his deceptive and illegal actions, Toledano caused incredible pain and suffering to hundreds of vulnerable families, who are still feeling the effects of his harassment today. Every New Yorker deserves to live in a safe, decent home free of abuse and fear. Let this serve as a reminder to New York landlords: Any attempt to use illegal, manipulative methods to put profits over people will be met with the full force of my office.”

Attorney General James’ original investigation established that Toledano engaged in a pattern of fraudulent and illegal conduct throughout his work as a landlord and real estate developer. Toledano harassed tenants in the East Village through coercive buyouts and illegal construction practices, and failed to provide his rent-regulated tenants with utilities, repairs, and other necessary services. Toledano also engaged in deceptive business practices in his real estate transactions, including repeatedly and persistently misrepresenting himself as a lawyer and advertising apartments with three or four bedrooms, when legally the apartment could have one or two bedrooms only.

Under the terms of the 2019 Consent Order (stipulation and judgment) negotiated by Attorney General James, Toledano’s real estate business was ordered to be supervised by an independent monitor to ensure that Toledano stopped engaging in fraud and tenant harassment. Additionally, Toledano was not allowed to have any direct contact with tenants, required to hire an independent management company for his properties, and required to pay damages and penalties. The June 2019 agreement stipulated that Toledano could be subject to penalties for violating the agreement, including a ban against participating in the real estate business, and a further suspended judgment of $7 million. While continuing to monitor Toledano, OAG found that he was violating the terms of the agreement, including:

• Failing to disclose his real estate business activities to the independent monitor, or to get the monitor’s approval for further deals;
• Diverting funds from a reserve account established by the agreement;
• Failing to make penalty payments (other than initial payments totaling $520,000); and
• Failing to maintain his properties in a manner that complied with applicable laws and protected tenants’ rights, health, and safety.

In response to Toledano’s blatant disregard for the provisions laid out in the 2019 agreement, Attorney General James filed a motion seeking enforcement of the consent order’s penalty provisions (including the real estate ban) in December 2020. This month, the New York Supreme Court entered a supplemental consent order barring Toledano from any further real estate business activity in New York state (other than activities relating to the liquidation of his current portfolio). Toledano will be required to pay OAG an additional $500,000 from the sales of his current properties to cover past-due penalties. Toledano may petition the court for permission to rejoin the New York real estate industry after five years, but only if he has shown compliance with the consent order during that time.

“While Toledano’s story and his attempts to use dangerous construction and intimidation in order to harass and displace rent regulated tenants were cartoonish, they are all too common in the New York real estate industry,” said Liam Reilly, housing organizer, Cooper Square Committee. “This settlement is a welcome result of years of committed organizing by Tenants Taking Control (formerly known as the Toledano Tenants’ Coalition), who have been steadfast in their demands for safe conditions and basic dignity in their homes since Madison Realty Capital financed Toledano’s descent upon the East Village over 5 years ago. I applaud the example Attorney General James has set by barring Raphael Toledano from purchasing more buildings in the city, and hope that this settlement serves as a wakeup call to show speculative landlords and real estate investment firms that when tenants are harassed and fight to give voice to their concerns, they’re heard both at home and in Albany.”

“Tenants Taking Control is grateful to Attorney General James for barring Raphael Toledano from engaging in real estate dealings throughout the state of New York,” said Liz Haak, a former tenant of Toledano. “In the future, tenants will not have to suffer the harms that Toledano inflicted on us. During his ownership of 22 buildings, Toledano harassed tenants with in-person visits and phone calls urging the acceptance of low-ball buyouts. He succeeded in intimidating almost half of the tenants into vacating their mostly rent-regulated apartments. Toledano engaged sometimes illegally in wanton destruction of habitable apartments, causing elevated levels of lead dust. Some buildings had cooking gas and intercom shutoffs. All tenants experienced a lack of janitorial maintenance services, exterminator services, and warranty of habitability. Our coalition is grateful to Attorney General James for taking action on our complaints.”

“Tenants are not pawns to be abused and discarded in big real estate’s illegal, money-making schemes,” said Sandra Mayer, a former tenant of Toledano. “At least one bad-acting chess piece has been removed from the board in New York. On behalf of future tenants who deserve peace in their homes, Tenants Taking Control is extremely grateful to Attorney General Letitia James and her staff for barring Mr. Toledano.”

BRONX MAN SENTENCED TO 18 YEARS IN PRISON FOR FATALLY STABBING MOTHER’S ROOMMATE

 

Defendant Pleaded Guilty to First-Degree Manslaughter

 Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to first-degree Manslaughter for fatally stabbing his mother’s roommate in their Williamsbridge apartment in 2019.

 District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant stabbed the 60-year-old victim approximately seven times, causing his death. After the incident, the defendant confessed to the 911 operator and responding NYPD Police Officers that he had stabbed and killed the victim.”

 District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Arian Medina, 26, last of 724 East 220th Street, was sentenced today to 18 years in prison and five years of post-release supervision by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Steven Hornstein. The defendant pleaded guilty to first-degree Manslaughter on December 1, 2021.

 According to the investigation, on June 16, 2019 the defendant, who was living with his mother and her roommate, Jose Garcia, heard his mother and Garcia arguing. The next morning, at approximately 8:37 a.m., Medina stabbed Garcia multiple times in the torso and right arm using multiple knives. The defendant then called 911 and told the operator: “I just stabbed somebody and killed him. Come get me.” Medina also told NYPD Officers who responded to the scene that he had stabbed the victim. His confession was captured on the Officers’ body-worn camera. The victim was declared dead at the scene.

 District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detective Tracey Treanor of the 47th Precinct and Detective Patrick Flatley of Bronx Homicide fortheir assistance in the investigation.

ADAMS ADMINISTRATION RELEASES OPEN LETTER SHOWING BROAD SUPPORT FOR MAYOR ADAMS’ EFFORTS TO MAKE NEW YORK A SAFER AND MORE JUST CITY

 

Letter Signed by Coalition of More Than 200 Top Business, Labor, and Civic Leaders in NYC — Representing Over 3 Million Jobs and Workers

 

 The Adams administration today released an open letter from over 200 business, civic, and labor leaders showing broad support for Mayor Eric Adams’ efforts to make New York a safer and more just city. The letter comes a week after Mayor Adams put forth a comprehensive Blueprint to End Gun Violence and follows a series of shocking violent crimes across the city.

 

“Making New York a safer city is a prerequisite for prosperity and social justice — and will move us past the multiple crises we’re facing,” said Mayor Adams. “It will take all New Yorkers to help move us forward, and the support from this extraordinary coalition is an indication that we are on the right track.”

 

“The signatories to this letter are leaders in industries that represent more than three million jobs in New York City,” said Kathryn Wylde, president & CEO, Partnership for New York City. “Public safety is the number one concern of employers and workers. We are united behind the mayor’s efforts to reverse the rise in crime.”

 

“Mayor Adams’ focus on making both New Yorkers and tourists feel safe in our city is crucial for New York City’s recovery,” said Stuart Appelbaum, president, Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union.

 

“As an institution focused entirely on the health and wellbeing of our fellow New Yorkers, we applaud the mayor’s leadership in offering new solutions to make our city safer,” said Steven J. Corwin, MD, president and CEO, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.

 

“We appreciate and stand with Mayor Adams in his critical efforts to reduce crime and improve public safety,” said Eric S. Goldstein, CEO, UJA-Federation of New York. 

 

“In many ways, public safety is at the root of our city’s economic recovery — it's of course important to bringing visitors and people back to the five boroughs, but it’s also critical to securing investment in New York’s future that lead to the creation of middle-class careers both in construction and across other industries,” said Gary LaBarbera, president, Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York. “The men and women of the New York City Building Trades stand with Mayor Adams in his call to bring a heightened sense of safety and justice to our streets, and urge leaders at the local, state, and federal level to move quickly to ensure these vital goals are met.”

 

"The mayor's blueprint for public safety is a common-sense approach to New York's crime challenges, pairing essential social services and community-based interventions with appropriate tools for the courts and strategies for police,” said Jonathan Lippman, former Chief Judge, New York Court of Appeals. “I very much urge our city, state, and federal leaders to collaboratively support the mayor’s smart and practical efforts to both tackle crime and ensure fairness in our system of justice.”

 

“We support Mayor Adams’ comprehensive approach to reducing crime and gun violence,” said Rob Speyer and Steven Swartz, co-chairs, Partnership for New York City. “The return of the pre-pandemic vibrancy of our city depends on his success.”

 

“On our buses, in the subway, and in the neighborhoods where we live, transit workers see the need to improve public safety every single day,” said Tony Utano, president, TWU Local 100. “All branches of government must step up and take action, and that includes addressing the mental health crisis more effectively. The mayor’s plan is a big step in the right direction.”

 

“This is a well thought out, comprehensive public safety plan at a time when New Yorkers are looking for action and results,” said Charles Phillips, co-chair, newly formed Mayor’s Corporate Council. “Now is the time to come together around constructive next steps.”

 

“This is an important and historic approach to public safety,” said Stephen Scherr, co-chair, newly formed Corporate Council. “The strength of our city and its continued economic recovery depend on this type of leadership.”

Open Letter in Support of Mayor Adams’ Efforts To Make New York a Safer And More Just City

 

We support Mayor Eric Adams’ efforts to reduce crime in New York City. Public safety is the bedrock of a thriving city and, as the mayor has made clear, it is equally necessary to invest in mental health care and alleviate conditions that contribute to violent behavior, including substance abuse, homelessness, and joblessness.

 

The killing of two young police officers, Jason Rivera and Wilbert Mora, and the dramatic increase in senseless shootings across the five boroughs have elevated the need to get illegal guns off the streets and maximize the ability of law enforcement to function fairly and effectively. The killing of Michelle Go, the Deloitte executive who was pushed under a subway in Times Square, illustrates that illegal guns are only one dimension of a much larger problem.

 

During the pandemic, both crime and quality of life conditions have worsened in the Central Business Districts, in many residential neighborhoods, on the public transit system, and in local shopping strips where small business owners and employees are vulnerable to attack. New York cannot recover from the devastating impacts of the pandemic without first restoring the sense of personal security that every resident, worker, visitor, and community in our city has the right to expect.

 

The mayor has taken a courageous position and we all share responsibility to help him carry out his agenda. Governor Kathy Hochul took prompt action to establish an interstate task force and new state office to address the problem of illegal guns. We need to do everything in our power to make New York safe again.

 

Sincerely,

 

Richard Aborn, President, Citizens Crime Commission of New York City

William D. Abramson, Principal, Buchbinder & Warren Realty Group LLC

Pranay Agrawal, Co-Founder & CEO, Fractal Analytics Inc.

Lee S. Ainslie, III, Managing Partner, Maverick Capital

Yo Akatsuka, President & CEO, Nomura Holding America Inc.

Simon Allen, Chief Executive Officer, McGraw-Hill Education, Inc.

Stuart Appelbaum, President, Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union

Jeffrey H. Aronson, Managing Principal, Centerbridge Partners

Robert Bakish, President & CEO, ViacomCBS Inc.

Linda Baran, President & CEO, Staten Island Chamber of Commerce

Candace K. Beinecke, Senior Partner, Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP

Charles R. Bendit, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Taconic Investment Partners LLC

Stephen Berger, Chairman, Odyssey Investment Partners, LLC

William H. Berkman, Co-Chairman & CEO, Radius Global Infrastructure, Inc.

Seth Bernstein, President & CEO, AB

David Beveridge, Senior Partner, Shearman & Sterling, LLP

Michael W. Blair, Presiding Partner, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP

Jeff T. Blau, Chief Executive Officer, The Related Companies, L.P.

Kathy Bloomgarden, Chief Executive Officer, Ruder Finn, Inc.

Lee Bollinger, President, Columbia University

John Borthwick, Founder & CEO, Betaworks

Albert Bourla, Chairman & CEO, Pfizer Inc.

Greg Bovitz, Chief Executive Officer, Bovitz

LaRay Brown, Chief Executive Officer, One Brooklyn Health System

Kenneth Buckfire, President & Managing Director, Miller Buckfire & Co.

Marty Burger, Chief Executive Officer, Silverstein Properties, Inc.

Frank A. Calamari, President & CEO, Calvary Hospital

Mark Cannizzaro, President, Council of School Supervisors and Administrators 

Donald A. Capoccia, Principal, BFC Partners

Timothy Cawley, Chairman, President & CEO, Con Edison

Kenneth I. Chenault, Chairman & Managing Director, General Catalyst Partners

Richard A.C. Coles, Founder & Managing Partner, Vanbarton Group LLC

Marc Cooper, Chief Executive Officer, Solomon Partners

Steven Corwin, President & CEO, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center

Vijay Dandapani, President & CEO, Hotel Association of New York City

Kenneth L. Davis, President & CEO, Mount Sinai Health System

Anthony J. de Nicola, Chairman, Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe

Emma DeVito, President & CEO, VillageCare

Annemarie DiCola, Chief Executive Officer, Trepp, LLC

Jamie Dimon, Chairman & CEO, JPMorgan Chase & Co.

James L. Dolan, Executive Chairman & CEO, The Madison Square Garden Entertainment Company

William R. Dougherty, Chairman, Executive Committee, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

Michael Dowling, President & CEO, Northwell Health

Douglas Durst, Chairman, Durst Organization Inc.

Blair W. Effron, Co-Founder, Centerview Partners

Joel S. Ehrenkranz, Partner and Co-Founder, Ehrenkranz Partners L.P.

Douglas F. Eisenberg, Executive Chairman & Co-Founder, A&E Real Estate, LLC

Steven Ellis, Chairman of the Firm, Proskauer

Christopher Erikson, Business Manager, Local 3 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

Jeffrey Farber, President & CEO, The New Jewish Home

Alexander Farman-Farmaian, Vice Chairman, Portfolio Manager, Edgewood Management LLC

Sean Feeney, Co-Owner of Lilia & Misi and Co-Founder, Grovehouse

Laurence D. Fink, Chairman & CEO, BlackRock

Peter Finn, Founding Partner, Finn Partners

Winston C. Fisher, Partner, Fisher Brothers

Alan H. Fishman, Founder, Willow Holdings, Inc.

Robert B. Fiske, Jr., Former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York

Bruce J. Flanz, President & CEO, MediSys Health Network

Charles Flateman, Chair, NYC & Company and Vice President of Marketing, The Shubert Organization, Inc.

William E. Ford, Chairman & CEO, General Atlantic LLC

Jane Fraser, Chief Executive Officer, Citi

Adena Friedman, President & CEO, Nasdaq

Miguel A. Fuentes, Jr., President & CEO, BronxCare Health System

Kenneth M. Garschina, Principal, Mason Capital Management, LLC

Peter Gelb, General Manager, The Metropolitan Opera

Jeff Gennette, Chairman & CEO, Macy's, Inc.

Michael Gerstenzang, Managing Partner, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

Thomas P. Gibbons, Chief Executive Officer, BNY Mellon

Kenneth Gibbs, President & CEO, Maimonides Medical Center

MaryAnne Gilmartin, Founder & CEO, MAG Partners LP

Dan Glaser, President & CEO, Marsh McLennan

Timothy Gokey, Chief Executive Officer, Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.

Eric Goldstein, Chief Executive Officer, UJA Federation of New York

James P. Gorman, Chairman & CEO, Morgan Stanley

Barry M. Gosin, Chief Executive Officer, Newmark

Thomas J. Grech, President & CEO, Queens Chamber of Commerce

David G. Greenfield, Chief Executive Officer, Met Council

David J. Greenwald, Chairman, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP

Efraim Grinberg, Chairman & CEO, Movado Group, Inc.

Stewart KP Gross, Managing Director, Lightyear Capital

Robert I. Grossman, The Saul J. Farber Dean and CEO, NYU Langone Health

Christopher Grosso, Chief Executive Officer, Intersection

Samer Hamadeh, Founder & CEO, Zeel

Andrew Hamilton, President, New York University

Kathryn Haslanger, Chief Executive Officer, JASA

Robin Hayes, Chief Executive Officer, JetBlue Airways Corporation

H. Dale Hemmerdinger, Chairman, Atco Properties & Management, Inc.

Matthew Heyd, Rector, Church of the Heavenly Rest

Matthew Hiltzik, President & CEO, Hiltzik Strategies, LLC

Leslie W. Himmel, Managing Partner, Himmel + Meringoff Properties LLC

Marc Holliday, President & CEO, SL Green Realty Corp.

Brian T. Horey, President, Aurelian Management

Chris Hughes, Co-Founder, Economic Security Project

Donna Imperato, Chief Executive Officer, BCW

Jerry Jacobs Jr., Chief Executive Officer, Delaware North Companies, Inc.

Kenneth M. Jacobs, Chairman & CEO, Lazard

Alan Jones, Senior Managing Director, Intermediate Capital Group plc

Julie H. Jones, Chair, Ropes & Gray LLP

John Josephson, Chairman & CEO, Sesac

Brad S. Karp, Chair, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP

Mitchell Katz, President & CEO, NYC Health + Hospitals

Charles R. Kaye, Chief Executive Officer, Warburg Pincus LLC

Richard A. Kennedy, President & CEO, Skanska USA Inc.

Andrew Klaber, President, Bedford Ridge Capital

Paul Knopp, U.S. Chair & CEO, KPMG LLP

Jack Kopnisky, President & CEO, Sterling Bancorp

Philippe Krakowsky, Chief Executive Officer, Interpublic Group

Henry R. Kravis, Co-Founder & Executive Co-Chairman, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.

Jeremy M. Kroll, Co-CEO, Founder & President, K2 Integrity

Barbara Armand Kushner, President, Armand Corporation

Gary LaBarbera, President, Building & Construction Trades Council of Greater New York

Scott LaRue, President & CEO, ArchCare

Rochelle B. Lazarus, Chairman Emeritus, Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide

Kewsong Lee, Chief Executive Officer, The Carlyle Group

Joey Levin, Chief Executive Officer, IAC

Allan Levine, Chairman & CEO, Global Atlantic Financial Company

Robert A. Levine, Chairman, RAL Companies & Affiliates LLC

Pamela Liebman, President & CEO, The Corcoran Group, Inc.

Judge Jonathan Lippman, Former Chief Judge of New York

Martin Lipton, Senior Partner, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

Robert P. LoCascio, Founder & CEO, LivePerson, Inc.

George Loening, Chairman, CEO & Founder, Select Equity Group, Inc.

Roger Lynch, Chief Executive Officer, Condé Nast

Mehdi Mahmud, CEO & President, First Eagle Investment Management, LLC

Tracy V. Maitland, President, Advent Capital Management, LLC

Anthony Malkin, Chairman, President & CEO, Empire State Realty Trust

Anthony E. Mann, President & CEO, E-J Electric Installation Co.

Lynn Martin, President, NYSE

Ted Mathas, Chairman & CEO, New York Life Insurance Company

Sandeep Mathrani, Chief Executive Officer, WeWork

Shuji Matsuura, Chief Executive Officer, Mizuho Americas

Peter W. May, President & Founding Partner, Trian Partners

Charles R. McCall, Chief Executive Officer, Astoria Energy II LLC & Astoria Energy LLC

Andrew McMahon, CEO & President, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America

Anish Melwani, Chairman & CEO, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton Inc.

Avner Mendelson, President & CEO, Bank Leumi USA

Daniel J. Messina, President & CEO, Richmond University Medical Center

Marc Metrick, President & CEO, Saks Fifth Avenue

Michael Miebach, Chief Executive Officer, Mastercard

Melva M. Miller, Chief Executive Officer, Association for a Better New York

Ken Moelis, Chairman and CEO, Moelis & Company

Daniel Moore, President & CEO, Rockefeller Group International, Inc.

Deanna M. Mulligan, Chief Executive Officer, Purposeful

Liz Neumark, Chair & Founder, Great Performances

Melissa O'Connor, President & CEO, Retail Council of New York State

Philip Ozuah, President & CEO, Montefiore Health System

Randy Peers, President & CEO, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce

David Perlstein, President & CEO, SBH Health System

Douglas L. Peterson, President & CEO, S&P Global

Michael A. Peterson, Chairman & CEO, Peter G. Peterson Foundation

Charles E. Phillips, Jr., Managing Partner & Co-Founder, Recognize

Michael Phillips, President, Jamestown Properties LLC

Deirdre Quinn, Co-Founder & CEO, Lafayette 148 New York

Andrew Rabinowitz, Co-Chief Executive Officer, K2 Integrity

Daniel Ramot, Co-Founder & CEO, Via

Kenneth Raske, President, Greater New York Hospital Association

Steven L. Rattner, Chairman & CEO, Willett Advisors LLC

Scott H. Rechler, Chairman & CEO, RXR 

Daniel Reingold, President & CEO, RiverSpring Living/The Hebrew Home at Riverdale

Christiana Riley, Chief Executive Officer, Deutsche Bank Americas

Michael M. Roberts, President & CEO, HSBC Bank USA

James D. Robinson, Co-Founder & General Partner, RRE Ventures

Ramon Rodriguez, President & CEO, Wyckoff Heights Medical Center

Evan Roth, Co-Chief Executive Officer, BBR Partners, LLC

Steven Roth, Chairman & CEO, Vornado Realty Trust

Steven Rubenstein, President, Rubenstein Communications, Inc.

William C. Rudin, Co-Chairman & CEO, Rudin Management Company, Inc.

Kevin P. Ryan, Founder & CEO, AlleyCorp

Tim Ryan, U.S. Chair & Senior Partner, PwC

John Sabey, Chief Executive Officer, Sabey Corporation/Sabey Datacenters

Scott Salmirs, President & CEO, ABM Industries Inc.

Charles W. Scharf, CEO & President, Wells Fargo & Company

Saul Scherl, President, New York Tri-State Region, The Howard Hughes Corporation

Michael Schmidtberger, Partner & Chair of the Executive Committee, Sidley Austin LLP

Alan D. Schnitzer, Chairman & CEO, The Travelers Companies, Inc.

Martin Schroeter, Chief Executive Officer, Kyndryl Inc.

Alan D. Schwartz, Executive Chairman, Guggenheim Partners, LLC

Stephen A. Schwarzman, Chairman, CEO & Co-Founder, Blackstone

Frank Scremin, Chief Executive Officer, LaGuardia Gateway Partners

Kathleen Shanahan, Chief Executive Officer, Turtle & Hughes, Inc.

Louis Shapiro, President and CEO, Hospital for Special Surgery

Jeff Shell, Chief Executive Officer, NBCUniversal

Tarek Sherif, Co-Founder, Medidata Solutions, Inc.

Betsy Smith, President & CEO, Central Park Conservancy

David M. Solomon, Chairman & CEO, Goldman Sachs

Jeffrey M. Solomon, Chair & CEO, Cowen

Lisa Sorin, President, The Bronx Chamber of Commerce

Rob Speyer, President & CEO, Tishman Speyer

Stephen J. Squeri, Chairman & CEO, American Express

Charlotte St. Martin, President, The Broadway League Inc.

Robert K. Steel, Vice Chair, Perella Weinberg Partners

Barry Stern, President & CEO, New York Community Hospital

Msgr. Kevin Sullivan, Executive Director, The Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York

Steven R. Swartz, President & CEO, Hearst

Jose L. Tavarez, President, Bank of America New York City  

Gary G. Terrinoni, President & CEO, The Brooklyn Hospital Center

Owen D. Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, Boston Properties

Craig B. Thompson, President & CEO, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Mary Ann Tighe, Chief Executive Officer, NY Tri-State Region, CBRE, Inc.

James S. Tisch, President & CEO, Loews Corporation

Gary M. Tischler, Founder & Managing Partner, Vanbarton Group LLC

Paul Todd, Chief Executive Officer, GLG

Joseph Ucuzoglu, Chief Executive Officer, Deloitte

Tony Utano, President, Transport Workers Union of America, Greater NY Local 100

Robert Vecchio, Chief Executive Officer, LPI, Inc.

Ellis Verdi, President, DeVito/Verdi

James R. Wacht, President, Lee & Associates NYC

George H. Walker, Chairman & CEO, Neuberger Berman Group LLC

Jessica Walker, President & CEO, Manhattan Chamber of Commerce

Gerard M. Walsh, Chief Executive Officer, Episcopal Health Services, Inc.

Philip Waterman III, Managing Partner, WatermanCLARK, LLC

Charles Weinstein, Chief Executive Officer, Eisner Advisory Group LLC

Daniel Weiss, President & CEO, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

James Whelan, President, The Real Estate Board of New York 

Valerie D. White, Executive Director, Local Initiatives Support Corporation

Jeff Wilpon, Partner, Sterling Equities

David Winter, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Standard Industries Inc.

Robert Wolf, Chief Executive Officer, 32 Advisors LLC

Kathryn S. Wylde, President & CEO, Partnership for New York City

Strauss Zelnick, Partner, ZMC

Michael Zetlin, Senior Partner, Zetlin & De Chiara LLP

Mitchell Zuklie, Chairman, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP