MAYOR DE BLASIO, UFT ANNOUNCE CONTRACT AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE PAID PARENTAL LEAVE FOR ALL NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS

  Mayor Bill de Blasio, United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew, Office of Labor Relations Commissioner Robert Linn and Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza today announced an agreement to provide six weeks of paid parental leave at 100 percent of salary for 120,000 UFT-represented employees – including all New York City public school teachers.

Paid parental leave will be available for the birth of a child for both birth parents and non-birth parents and adoption or foster of a child under the age of 6. Birth parents will be able to combine their current paid sick leave provisions with parental leave for up to 12 to 14 weeks total. It is estimated that more than 4,000 new parents will use this benefit annually. The benefit will begin on September 4, 2018.

“No teacher should have to come to school sick because they’re saving their sick days to have a baby,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “That’s not fair to our teachers and that’s not fair to our students. Today, we right that wrong and make the city a little fairer. We were at the forefront of paid parental leave policies when we announced the benefit for managers in 2015 and now we build on that legacy, extending it to 120,000 more New Yorkers who can plan for their families knowing they’ll have the support of their employer.”

“As we have said for months, in New York City where collective bargaining is so strong, the place to resolve parental leave is with the unions, at the negotiation table. Through collective bargaining with the UFT, we were able to reach an agreement to provide this parental leave benefit – and we did it in a way that is fair to workers, the City and taxpayers,” said Robert W. Linn, Commissioner of the Office of Labor Relations. “We worked hard, we worked together and we showed that public sector bargaining can indeed work. It’s a crucial way to deliver a resource that allows new parents to balance the great work they do while caring for a new life.”

“As a parent, I can’t overstate how important it is for new parents to have the opportunity to care for and bond with their newborn. As Chancellor, I’m proud of this major step forward that gives teachers the security they deserve to take care of their own families without having to worry about losing a paycheck,” said Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza. “Today we’ve shown that New York City is dedicated to ensuring our tireless and committed teachers have a strong support system.”

“Our educators give so much to the children in their classrooms. Now, New York City has a way for educators to spend more time with their own children. I give credit to Mayor de Blasio. He knew this was important for our city. No mayor before him was willing to do it, but he got it done,” said UFT President Michael Mulgrew.

“Teachers are parents too, and they should be entitled to the same paid leave as any other working New Yorker. Giving teachers paid parental leave will not only be fair for them and their families but also fairer for their students and colleagues. I thank Mayor de Blasio, Chancellor Carranza for coming to an agreement with Michael Mulgrew and the United Federation of Teachers so our teachers can finally get the break they deserve. Today is an historic day for our educators and I congratulate them on this victory,” said Council Speaker Corey Johnson.

Comptroller Scott Stringer said, “All New Yorkers deserve paid parental leave and this deal for our incredible public school teachers is a huge step toward that goal. I want to thank Mayor de Blasio and United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew for reaching a solution that will lift up more than 120,000 families in New York City. No parent should have to choose between spending their first precious moments with a newborn child and risking their job. No parent should have to run out of vacation and sick days to care for a newborn whose life depends on them. Finally, our public school teachers will no longer have to make those sacrifices. I commend this solution on paid parental leave and look forward to continuing this momentum until all New Yorkers have access to this fundamental benefit.”

The contract covers all of the approximately 79,000 New York City public school teachers, plus UFT-represented school nurses, therapists, guidance counselors, secretaries and others. Eligible full-time and part-time employees may initially claim the benefit after being on payroll for a total of one calendar year. While on leave, they will be paid their full salary.

The new benefit will come at no new cost to New York City taxpayers. The City will contribute approximately $51 million to the UFT Welfare Fund annually. This will be offset by extending the 2009-2018 UFT collective bargaining agreement by approximately two and one-half months, and fringe benefit and other savings.

Cynthia Nixon Releases Statement on the End of the State's Legislative Session

Despite many press conferences, the Governor and his allies fail to actually deliver, once again

Cynthia also released a video on Tuesday calling for the Governor to act on criminal justice reform before the legislature recesses 

  With the close of session today, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon released the following statement. 

"Another legislative session has come to a close, and, yet again, the Governor has failed to address the greatest drivers of inequity in our state: our education system and our criminal justice system.  

"Despite being sued by numerous parents in low-income school districts across the state, the Governor refused again this year to fully fund Foundation Aid, which would address the $10,000 gap in per pupil spending between our state's wealthiest and poorest school districts.  He also has refused to end over testing in schools and the punitive teacher evaluation system he put in place, which proved so unpopular that one in five of our state's children have opted out of these tests. Additionally, Cuomo refused to increase funding for CUNY and SUNY, even though tuition has risen by $1,700 during his time as governor and only 3.6 percent of students qualify for his so called free college program. Most, hypocritically, the Governor failed this session to pass legislation that would ensure a speedy trial and a more just discovery statute. While the Governor made these proposals a centerpiece of his budget address, he since broke his promise to the Browder family and others who have been devastated by our state's discriminatory justice system. 

We need a Governor who will invest in schools, not jails. After 17 years of fighting for education funding for our state's poorest districts, I am committed to destroying inequity in this state. After 8 years, the Governor has shown that he is far more interested in making headlines than he is in actually addressing the racial and economic inequality that plagues New York."

ENGEL STATEMENT ON WORLD REFUGEE DAY

  Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement marking World Refugee Day:

“Around the world, nearly 70 million people—the highest number ever recorded—have been driven from their homes by conflict, violence, and disaster. From Central America to Venezuela to the DRC to Burma to Syria, upheaval has deprived these millions of their homes and possessions, destroyed communities, and eroded the bonds that knit families together.

“There was a time when the United States welcomed desperate people. There was a time when we could speak with moral clarity and demonstrate leadership to help ease their plight. There was a time when we treated refugees and asylum seekers in a way that reflected the best of our country.

“Today, as we mark World Refugee Day, that’s no longer the case. The United States is instead slamming the door on refugees, turning a blind eye to victims of violence, tearing families apart, and holding children ransom to a radical, anti-immigrant agenda. President Trump’s barbaric policies are an appalling betrayal of our values and an assault on the human rights of already vulnerable people.

“The President should immediately change course and abandon this heartless agenda.”

DE BLASIO ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES ADVISORY PANEL TO COMMISSION PUBLIC ARTWORK HONORING LOCAL WOMEN AND WOMEN’S HISTORY

The public can nominate women, groups of women, or moments in women’s history starting today at women.nyc

  Today, First Lady Chirlane McCray, Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen and the Department of Cultural Affairs announced She Built NYC, a new effort to commission a public monument or artwork on City property that honors women’s history in New York City. The effort kicks off with an open call for nominations from the public which will run through August 1, 2018. During this time, New Yorkers can submit their ideas for how to honor the inspiring, diverse people and events that comprise the history of New York women. Visitors to women.nyc can submit nominations of women, groups of women, and events involving women that significantly impacted the history of New York City. Nominated individuals must have been deceased for at least 20 years, and nominated events must have taken place at least 20 years ago.

“There are big gaps in our City’s public art, with few statues of women, trans and gender nonconforming people,” said First Lady Chirlane McCray. “The message that lack of representation sends is that these people have no value and did not make contributions to our city. This first step we are taking will help us more accurately show the diversity in the people who helped make New York City so great.”

“She Built NYC puts women in their rightful place – on pedestals,” said Alicia Glen, Deputy Mayor for Housing & Economic Development. “The people we celebrate in our public realm can either inspire young girls to dream big, or it can perpetuate the message that women have not contributed to society – something we know is untrue.”

She Built NYC builds on the recommendations of the Mayoral Advisory Commission on City Art, Monuments, and Markers to expand the stories, histories, and narratives represented on public property in New York. These representations have historically failed to reflect the trailblazing women that have contributed to the City. The Department of Cultural Affairs has committed up to $10 million over the next four years to commissioning new permanent public monuments and commemorations.

“New York was made into the extraordinary city it is by people from all backgrounds who have come here to live, work, advocate, play, raise families, make art, and everything in between,” said Cultural Affairs Commissioner Tom Finkelpearl. "But this rich history is not reflected in our public spaces, where a story focused on a small group - overwhelmingly men - dominates. Starting today, I’m humbled and honored to be a part of the She Built NYC effort  to tell a fuller story in the art and monuments on City property. This is just one more step toward creating a more inclusive public realm, and we invite all New Yorkers to share their ideas."

In the fall, using submissions from the open call, an advisory panel with individuals representing a broad range of expertise and backgrounds will create a list of nominees for commemoration. The woman, group, or event that is honored with a monument, and which artist will create the monument, will be determined by DCLA and the City’sPercent for Art commissioning process. The subject and site of the monument will be announced in January 2019.

Chair

Pauline Toole, Commissioner, NYC Department of Records and Information Services

Members

1)      Amy Freitag, Executive Director, JM Kaplan Fund

2)      Catie Marron, CEO, Good Companies

3)      Harriet F. Senie, Director of the M.A. program in Art History and Art Museum Studies, City College of New York

4)      Mabel O. Wilson, Professor of Architecture at Columbia University GSAPP

5)      Susana Torruella Leval, Director Emerita, El Museo del Barrio

6)      Kemi Ilesanmi, Executive Director, The Laundromat Project

7)      Sandra Jackson-Dumont, Frederick P. and Sandra P. Rose Chairman of Education, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

8)      Simi Linton, Co-Director of Disability/Arts/NYC Task Force (DANT), author, and filmmaker

9)      Prerana Reddy, Program Director, Blade of Grass

10)  Robina Afzal, Student, Urban Assembly School for Criminal Justice

11)  Janice Monger, CEO & President, Staten Island Museum

12)  Elia Alba, Visual artist; exhibits internationally and has work in the collections of the Smithsonian Museum of Art, El Museo del Barrio, Lowe Art Museum, etc.

13)  Ahsia Badi, Vice-Chair Manhattan's Community Board Six; Senior Policy Associate The New York Academy of Medicine

14)  Alessandra Belloni, Singer, Percussionist, Dancer, Author

15)  Rick Chavolla, Chair, American Indian Community House

16)  Ramona Hernandez, Director, CUNY Dominican Studies Institute & Professor of Sociology,  The Colin L. Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership/Division of Social Science

17)  Valerie Paley, Vice President, Chief Historian and Director, Center for Women's History, NY Historical Society

18)  Cecilia Gentili , Director of Policy at GMHC

Parkchester Times Holds Very Successful Debate for 14th Congressional Debate

   Congressman Joseph Crowley sent a surrogate to fill in for him at Monday night's 14th Congressional debate held by the Parkchester Times which has garnered much interest. Former Councilwoman Annabel Palma sit in for him due to scheduling conflicts according to his campaign office. While the date of the debate was changed Congressman Crowley was in New York, as he attended two events in Queens, and one in the Bronx during that day. 

  Crowley's opponent Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez had the advantage, while she highlighted many items of interest to the audience. Former Councilwoman Palma began by talking of her City Council experience, changing her words to working with Congressman Crowley after being told by the moderator that she was there to speak on Congressman Crowley and not herself. 

  While the debate was one hour it seemed so interesting to the audience that they wanted more questions to be answered. Citywide media called for information on the debate, and one such article appeared on City & State Here.

Owners Of Miami Export Business Sentenced For $100 Million Unlicensed Money Transmitting And International Money Laundering Scheme

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that LUIS DIAZ JR. and LUIS JAVIER DIAZ were sentenced to eight months and four months in prison, respectively, for their roles in funneling more than $100 million through the U.S. financial system on behalf of various foreign businesses based predominantly in Venezuela.  They did so through their Miami-based import/export company, which, for nearly five years, the defendants also used to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business.  LUIS DIAZ JR. and LUIS JAVIER DIAZ were convicted of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business and international money laundering following a jury trial in November 2017 before U.S. District Judge William H. Pauley III, who also imposed today’s sentences.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “This father-and-son duo used their small for a large-scale illegal money transmission and money laundering operation.  By skirting the anti-money laundering safeguards required of licensed institutions, the defendants moved more than $100 million through U.S. financial institutions.  Today’s sentence is a sign of the seriousness of these crimes and our Office’s commitment to prosecute them.”

According to the Indictment, other filings in Manhattan federal court, and the evidence presented at trial:   

Between 2010 and 2016, LUIS DIAZ, JR., and LUIS JAVIER DIAZ used Miami Equipment and Export Company (the “Company”), a company they owned in Doral, Florida, to effect the transmission of at least $100 million on behalf of entities outside the United States, mostly located in Venezuela, to bank accounts in the United States and elsewhere, in exchange for a fee.  During this time, the Company was not registered with the State of Florida or the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a component of the United States Department of the Treasury, as required by both state and federal laws applicable to money transmitting businesses. 

Using unlicensed money transmitting businesses like the Company enables entities and individuals to move money into and through the U.S. financial system while avoiding licensed U.S. financial institutions that monitor for suspicious activity and report it to U.S. authorities, including through suspicious activity reports, or SARs.  Instead, by going through unlicensed entities like the Company, foreign businesses ensure that suspicious patterns of transmissions will not be detected and reported as potential money laundering activity or other financial crime.

Through their unlicensed money transmitting business, LUIS DIAZ JR. and LUIS JAVIER DIAZ enabled a number of foreign businesses to move money into and around the United States.  For instance, the defendants used the Company to transmit over $100 million into the United States on behalf of KCT, a large Venezuelan consortium of construction companies, and other entities located in Central and South America.  After they received these funds from KCT or other companies, the defendants received instructions concerning where to send the money as well as fake invoices and contracts purporting to set forth a valid business reason for these payments.  The fake invoices and contracts made the payments appear connected to legitimate business services being provided to the Company, such as consulting or engineering services.  In this manner, the defendants sent money on behalf of KCT and other companies to U.S. and foreign bank accounts of shell companies located around the world, Venezuelan government officials, KCT employees in Venezuela, and others who had no relationship with the defendants or the Company.  For all of these transmitting activities, the Company received over  $1 million in fees. 

In addition to the prison terms, LUIS DIAZ JR., 76, and LUIS JAVIER DIAZ, 51, both of Miami, Florida, were sentenced to two years of supervised release.  The amount of forfeiture will be determined at a later date.   

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI, DEA, the Englewood, New Jersey, Police Department, and the Border Enforcement Security Task Force.

A.G. Underwood Announces Settlement With Aldo Group Inc. To End Hiring Discrimination Based On Criminal RecordsA.G. Underwood Announces Settlement With Aldo Group Inc. To End Hiring Discrimination Based On Criminal Records

Settlement “Bans the Box” and Ensures Applicants with Criminal Histories Receive a Fair Chance in Hiring Process; Aldo Will Pay $120,000 to New York State

Aldo Settlement Marks Fifth Major Settlement with a National Retailer to Help Ensure Formerly Incarcerated Get Fair Treatment in Hiring Process

  Attorney General Barbara D. Underwood today announced a settlement with Aldo Group Inc., a global shoe and accessories retailer, to “Ban the Box” on initial employment applications in its New York City stores. The settlement will ensure that Aldo complies with the New York City law that prohibits employers from inquiring into criminal history on initial employment applications. Under the agreement, the company will also take steps to comply with New York State laws that prohibit discrimination against job applicants with criminal records.

“Everyone deserves a fair chance when being considered for employment,” said Attorney General Underwood. “Ban the Box helps protect New Yorkers from discrimination and ensure that a job applicant’s qualifications are the focus during the hiring process. My office will continue to enforce the law as we work to ensure all New Yorkers get the fair shot they deserve.”

New York State law requires employers to individually assess an applicant’s criminal record and determine its relevance before rejecting the applicant. Several municipalities across the state, including New York City, have enacted “Ban the Box” legislation which prohibits employers from inquiring into an applicant’s criminal history on initial employment applications. The laws also encourage employers to consider the applicant’s qualifications first and make individualized inquiries into any relevant criminal convictions later in the hiring process. The New York City “Ban the Box” law allows employers to inquire about an applicant’s criminal history after extending a conditional offer of employment.

Aldo has 53 stores across New York State, including 30 stores in New York City. The Attorney General’s investigation found that Aldo distributed employment applications inquiring about the criminal history of prospective applicants in its New York City stores – a violation of the New York City Fair Chance Act. The company did not have consistent policies or procedures specifying whether and how managerial employees should evaluate the criminal records of applicants and employees. With no training provided on how to evaluate criminal records, store-level managerial employees believed they had wide discretion in how they considered the criminal records of applicants and were given little guidance on how to apply that discretion. The investigation also revealed that several managerial employees disseminated information about its hiring policies that indicated any applicant with a felony conviction would be barred from employment. 

Aldo has agreed to ensure that employment applications that inquire about applicants’ criminal history will not be made available at their stores. The company also agreed to create new policies and training to ensure that its stores across the state comply with New York State law by individually assessing applicants’ criminal histories; those policies and training must be reported to the Attorney General’s office. Aldo has also agreed to pay New York State $120,000 in penalties and costs.

Aldo’s commitment to “Ban the Box” on initial employment applications and compliance with state anti-discrimination laws builds off of the longstanding initiative in the Attorney General’s Civil Rights Bureau to enforce local, state, and federal laws ensuring that formerly incarcerated individuals receive fair treatment in the employment process. The Civil Rights Bureau has previously entered into agreements with Marshalls, Big Lots, Party City, and Bed Bath & Beyond to ensure that the companies individually consider the criminal records of prospective applicants.

“Everyone deserves a fair chance, and the justice system should not be misused to perpetually punish people for their previous mistakes,” said Council member Jumaane Williams. “I became a Council Member to try and break down systemic barriers and enact transformational change. When we passed the Fair Chance Act in New York City, we did so not only to protect applicants from being unfairly rejected, but to provide businesses with a broader range of qualified candidates to select from. I thank the Attorney General’s office for recognizing the importance of this issue and aggressively fighting to ensure that all New Yorkers have an equal opportunity to compete for jobs. I hope that this decisive action serves as a message to any other company that would try to deny that fundamental right to a fair chance.”  

The Civil Rights Bureau of the Attorney General’s Office is committed to promoting access to equal employment opportunities and combatting discrimination for all New Yorkers. To file a civil rights complaint, contact the office at 212-416-8250 or civil.rights@ag.ny.gov or visit ag.ny.gov.