Afghan National Arrested For 2008 Abduction Of American Journalist

 

  Audrey Strauss, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, John C. Demers, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, William F. Sweeney Jr., the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Dermot Shea, Police Commissioner of the City of New York (“NYPD”), announced the unsealing of a federal indictment charging HAJI NAJIBULLAH, a/k/a “Najibullah Naim,” a/k/a “Abu Tayeb,” a/k/a “Atiqullah,” with six counts related to the 2008 kidnapping of an American journalist and two Afghan nationals.  NAJIBULLAH was arrested and transferred to the United States from Ukraine to face the charges in the indictment.  NAJIBULLAH will be presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ona T. Wang.  The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla.

Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said:  “As alleged, nearly 12 years ago, the defendant arranged to kidnap at gunpoint an American journalist and two other men, and held them hostage for more than seven months.  The prosecution of Haji Najibullah shows that law enforcement will never stop in our mission to hold accountable those who commit violent crimes against American citizens.”          

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers said:  “Najibullah is charged with taking an American journalist and others hostage in Afghanistan in November 2008.  Journalists risk their lives bringing us news from conflict zones, and no matter how much time may pass, our resolve to find and hold accountable those who target and harm them and other Americans will never wane.  The defendant, like many others before and surely others to come, will now face justice in an American courtroom.”

FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said:  “Whether someone commits a violent act against an American citizen here at home or overseas, we’ll never stop aggressively pursuing charges against them and, when necessary, seeking their transfer to U.S. custody.  Najibullah’s alleged reprehensible actions over a decade ago earned him a flight to the U.S. yesterday.  Today he arrived in U.S. federal court to face our justice system.”

Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said:  “Haji Najibullah’s alleged kidnapping of a United States journalist and two Afghan nationals was a crime against America, a crime against the freedom of the press, and against the integral work of shining a light on important international affairs. While today’s federal indictment reflects events that occurred a dozen years ago, it shows once again that the FBI-NYPD Joint Terrorism Task Force and all of our law enforcement partners will wait as long and go as far as it takes to bring justice.”

According to the Indictment:[1]

On or about November 10, 2008, NAJIBULLAH and his co-conspirators, armed with machineguns, kidnapped an American journalist (“Victim-1”) and two Afghan nationals who were assisting Victim-1 (“Victim-2” and “Victim-3”) at gunpoint in Afghanistan.  Approximately five days later, on or about November 15, 2008, NAJIBULLAH and his co-conspirators forced the three hostages to hike across the border from Afghanistan to Pakistan, where NAJIBULLAH and his co-conspirators detained the hostages.  For the next seven months, NAJIBULLAH and his co-conspirators held the hostages captive in Pakistan.

During their captivity, NAJIBULLAH and his co-conspirators forced the victims to make numerous calls and videos seeking help.  For example, on or about November 19, 2008, while in Pakistan, NAJIBULLAH and a co-conspirator (“CC-1”) directed Victim-1 to call his wife in New York.  In addition, NAJIBULLAH and his co-conspirators made the victims create at least three videos in which they begged for help while surrounded by masked guards armed with machineguns.  In one of the videos, Victim-1 – the American journalist – was forced to beg for his life while a guard pointed a machinegun at Victim-1’s face.         

NAJIBULLAH, 42, of Afghanistan, is charged with hostage taking, conspiracy to commit hostage taking, kidnapping, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, and two counts of using and possessing a machinegun in furtherance of crimes of violence.  Each of the six counts of the Indictment carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.  The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

Ms. Strauss and Mr. Demers praised the outstanding efforts of the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force.  They also thanked the New York and New Jersey Port Authority Police, the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division for its assistance with this investigation, as well as the Ukrainian authorities and the Office of International Affairs of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division for their assistance in the arrest and transfer of the defendant.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. 

Governor Cuomo Introduces Legislation to Provide Additional Enforcement Tools to Hold Utilities Accountable

 

New Legislation Removes Penalty Caps for Storm Response Violations

Expedites and Clarifies the Franchise Revocation Process Following Repeated Failure to Provide Safe, Reliable Service

Requires the PSC to Cap the Amount of Money Ratepayers Contribute to Utility Executive Salaries

Also Requires the PSC to Study Whether Private Water Suppliers on Long Island Should Come Under Municipal Control

State Legislature's Long Island Delegation Voices Support for Bill

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today proposed new legislation to strengthen the State's enforcement tools to hold utilities accountable in response to widespread failures to prepare for and respond to the reality of more frequent and extreme weather events such as Tropical Storm Isaias. If passed by the Legislature, the new law would dramatically increase penalties to shareholders for failing to adhere to emergency response plans and other violations of the Public Service Law, regulations or orders of the Public Service Commission. The new law would also expedite and clarify the process of utility franchise revocation for recurring failures. In addition, the bill requires the PSC to cap the amount of money ratepayers contribute to utility executive salaries.

Finally, the bill would also require the PSC to study whether private water suppliers like American Water on Long Island should come under municipal control. The majority of the State Legislature's Long Island delegation joined the announcement, pledging to sponsor the bill and help ensure its passage.

"God did not give the utility company the franchise - the people of the state gave the utility company the right to operate," Governor Cuomo said. "If the people of this state allow the utility company to operate, the people of the state can revoke their right to operate. So you have a penalty or you have a revocation—but both are very hard to affect right now by the current law, and we need to change the law. New Yorkers will no longer be bullied by utility companies who have long believed they are too big to fail. The abuse of public trust by utility companies will not be tolerated in New York State. The penalty should be commensurate with the damage caused by the utility companies. By removing the caps on penalties and easing the path to franchise revocation, utility companies will be held accountable."

The new legislation would also do the following:

• Extend enforcement mechanisms to other types of utilities such as electric, cable, television and water
• Give the state authority to seek up to $500 per household for consumer damages like spoiled food and lost medications due to extended outages
• Require a plan for better communications to customers by utilities during an outage

Under current rules, electric utilities provide the PSC with emergency response plans and are required under such plans to prepare for service outages as a result of extreme weather. Recent events have illustrated that the penalties in the PSL have not been a sufficient deterrent against actions or inaction that violates such emergency response plans. Not only do these violations jeopardize public health and safety, but ratepayers deserve better service, and utilities should be held to higher standards given the franchise they are awarded to provide service to their customers.

The bill would amend the public service law to increase penalties by removing existing caps and replacing the current penalty assessment system with a system that tailors penalties to the nature and extent of harm caused by public utilities who violate the law. Currently, penalties related to reliability and continuity of electric service, including restoration following a major outage or event, start at $100,000 or .02 of 1% of annual intrastate gross operating revenue, whichever is greater, for each separate and distinct offense. Penalties rise to $500,000 or .04 of 1%, whichever is greater, for combo gas and electric utilities in the restoration of electric service following a major outage event or emergency.

The provision clarifying revocation will address questions including the ownership and transfer of assets such as substations, cables and trucks to ensure that the ratepayers who funded them are not charged again in the event of a new operator taking them over. The bill would also authorize appointment of a receiver if the PSC moves to revoke the utilities certificate to operate, which will ensure that operation of a utility is in the public interest during a transition.

In addition, the bill requires the PSC to study whether private water suppliers on Long Island should come under municipal control in order to improve delivery of water service to ratepayers. Recent concerns over the quality of water service and the management of private water supplies warrants closer scrutiny to determine if the public would be better served by a municipal entity. The bill would require the PSC to issue a report by April 1, 2021.

VISION ZERO: MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES MAJOR TRAFFIC SAFETY CAMPAIGNS FOR RETURN OF "DUSK AND DARKNESS" AND NEW BACK-SEAT SEATBELT LAW

 

With the end of daylight saving time on Sunday, the fifth annual Dusk and Darkness campaign focuses on fall and winter evening hours when pedestrian crashes have historically increased; new statewide law also takes effect Sunday, requiring seatbelts for all vehicle occupants, including for first time adults in the back seat

 

Multi-agency efforts will combine education and awareness with enforcement

 Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced the launch of the City’s fifth annual fall Dusk and Darkness campaign, reminding motorists how dangerous fall and winter evenings are for pedestrians and cyclists, especially after clocks “fall back” for the end of Daylight Saving Time this Sunday. Department of Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg was joined by NYPD and TLC officials to also announce similar education and enforcement efforts will take place around new state laws that also take effect on Sunday. The new laws require all motor vehicle passengers to wear seat belts, including for the first time adults riding in the back seat, including inside cabs and for-hire vehicles.

 

Both campaigns are part of the Vision Zero initiative, aimed to shift driver behavior and decrease traffic deaths and injuries in the time of year when they have historically increased.

 

“Buckle up, look out for pedestrians and cyclists, and drive carefully,” said Mayor de Blasio. “Motorists have a responsibility to keep their fellow New Yorkers safe, and we’re going to continue building on Vision Zero to finish this year strong.”

 

“Dusk and Darkness has illustrated the very best of what New York City has done around Vision Zero, as it has fundamentally changed the way we approach education and enforcement during a season that is traditionally the most dangerous on our streets for pedestrians,” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg.  “Today, we are not only getting out the word to drivers about the dangers of earlier sunsets, we are joining our agency partners at NYPD and TLC to  remind them about the new life-saving seat-belt law that takes effect this coming weekend.”

 

“The New York City Police Department remains committed to the mission of ensuring the safety and security of everyone who travels throughout our city. As we enter the fall and winter months, our officers in every neighborhood are continuing to focus on protecting safe passage for all of our pedestrians, bicyclists, seniors and children, for they are truly our most vulnerable road users,” said NYPD Deputy Chief Michael Pilecki.

 

“Driving carefully can save a life,” said TLC Commissioner and Chair Aloysee Heredia Jarmoszuk. “As darkness falls earlier this time of year, we ask our professionally licensed Drivers to please continue to be the best – do not speed, make slow turns and always stay alert for pedestrians and cyclists.”

 

Today’s announcement included the following elements:

 

Dusk and Darkness: Before the first Dusk and Darkness campaign launched in October 2016, DOT had conducted close analyses of year-over-year crash trends. Statistics from 2010-2014 showed that serious collisions involving pedestrians increase by approximately 40 percent in darker early evenings in late fall and winter. Additionally, lower visibility during the dark hours of the colder months leads to twice as many crashes involving turns.

 

The Dusk and Darkness campaign is also designed to protect the increasing number of cyclists on New York City’s streets. In 2020, cycling has grown more popular for both transportation and recreation. (Ridership between May and September 2020 has increased 27 percent compared to the same time period last year, with over one million more bike trips taken so far this year.) With more cyclists on the roads and visibility decreasing during the fall and winter months, the City urges drivers to look carefully for pedestrians and cyclists.

 

“Dusk and Darkness” also includes:

• Increased Evening/Nighttime Enforcement: Speeding and failure to yield are key behaviors that contribute to roadway fatalities and this week, NYPD will begin focusing enforcement resources on these hazardous violations. Precincts will be increasing their on-street presence around sunset hours on high-crash corridors for both cyclists and pedestrians.
• Daylight Saving Awareness: Daylight savings time will end at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 1 when clocks “fall back.” As with previous years, DOT will run radio ads during the evening commute, alerting drivers to the dangers of lower visibility and encouraging them to follow the 25 MPH citywide speed limit and to yield to pedestrians and cyclists. Ads are running through November 15, on 12 stations. DOT has also invested in outdoor advertising and will feature the driver targeted “Was it Worth It” awareness campaign on digital/static billboards, gas toppers, bus tails and shelters as well as the Staten Island Ferry, and Link NYC kiosks. The campaign uses realistic and emotionally driven post-crash imagery to warn motorists of the deadly results of reckless driving. This year’s campaign focuses on speeding, which has been a major factor in many of this year’s deadliest crashes.
• Motorcycle Education and Enforcement: While this year has seen fatalities decline for pedestrians and cyclists, motorcyclist fatalities have increased, exceeding all previous years of the Vision Zero era (since 2014). To help combat this trend, DOT today also announced the “Legit & Alive” digital media campaign which includes helpful tips for operating a motorcycle safely, and testimonies from riders on the importance of legal riding and training.
• Universal Seatbelt Laws: Earlier this year, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law amendments to the state’s Vehicle and Traffic Law, which as of November 1^st, will require that all vehicle passengers be buckled up, including inside cabs and for-hire vehicles. (The previous law only required front-seat passengers and children under 16 in rear seats to wear a seat belt.) As part of the fall campaign, New York City’s Vision Zero agencies will support and spread awareness of the state’s expanded seatbelt law: DOT’s new “Everybody. Every Seat,” messaging aims to encourage seatbelt use in private as well as taxi and for-hire vehicles. The messaging will be incorporated on all DOT social media platforms to remind motorists about this important new law – as well the safety benefits of all passengers buckling up. 

 

To illustrate the importance of rear seat belts, Commissioner Trottenberg cited a deadly crash earlier this month in Queens.  In that October 6th incident, three victims, all between the ages of 19-21 and none wearing seat belts, were killed when the driver of a Nissan Altima in which they were passengers lost control when traveling at a high speed in the early morning along Conduit Boulevard.

 

RECOVERY AGENDA: MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES OPEN STOREFRONTS PROGRAM

Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced the Open Storefronts program, permitting storefront businesses to use a portion of their sidewalk to display merchandise, sell goods, complete transactions, and provide queuing areas. The program will begin October 30^th and run until December 31^st.

 

Building on the success of the Open Restaurants and Open Streets programs, Open Storefronts will provide safe spaces for small businesses to rebound in challenging economic times. This program is a part of an effort to make New York City the world’s capital for healthy outdoor living and to advance the Mayor’s recovery agenda, which is centered on public health and social justice.

 

“Rebuilding a fairer, better New York City means maximizing use of our outdoor space, helping businesses keep their employees, and giving New Yorkers more reasons than ever to shop local and enjoy their communities. Open Storefronts does all three,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “This program builds on the successful legacy of our Open Streets and Open Restaurants programs, and I look forward to finding more ways than ever to reimagine our urban landscape.”

 

“As we move into the holiday season we want to make sure our small businesses – who have been hit so hard throughout this pandemic – have a new and common sense way to sell their goods and merchandise,” said Deputy Mayor Laura Anglin. “Building off the highly successful and popular Open Restaurants program, we’re cutting the red tape and making it easier for small businesses to utilize public space, all while keeping New Yorkers safe.”

 

"To recover from the economic consequences of the pandemic, we must be creative about how to use our outdoor public spaces," said Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Vicki Been. "Open Storefronts offers small businesses and their employees economic relief, while also making our neighborhoods safer, livelier, and more convenient for consumers."

 

An eight-foot clear path of sidewalk from the curb must be maintained for Open Storefronts to operate. Retailers cannot use the space of adjacent businesses, and they must bring all furniture and goods indoors when closed. For existing Open Streets: Restaurants locations, the Open Storefronts program will also permit businesses to use the curb lane directly fronting their storefront to conduct business activities during operating hours. Businesses can visit www.nyc.gov/openstorefronts to review eligibility requirements and to complete a brief online application.

 

“Our 240,000 small businesses are the backbone of our economy and we will continue to fight for their survival,” said Jonnel Doris, Commissioner of NYC Department of Small Business Services. “The Open Restaurants and Open Streets: Restaurants programs have brought great success to our restaurant industry, and we are excited to now include our small retail shops. This innovative approach will help bring back customers, revive the character of our neighborhoods, and build a stronger NYC."

 

“As New York City continues to recover from COVID, Open Storefronts is the next step in helping save thousands of small businesses,” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg. “Thanks to the Mayor’s leadership, stores will be able to use a portion of the sidewalk for sales space, which should be a real economic boost as we near the holiday season.  We ask that business owners carefully follow the application and guidance on our website, so that we can guarantee that our sidewalks remain fully accessible to the public.”

 

"Our recovery presents an opportunity to re-imagine our city by leveraging its streetscapes and outdoor spaces to create a healthier, more vibrant place for all New Yorkers," said James Patchett, president and CEO of New York City Economic Development Corporation. "The new Open Storefronts program is advancing this vision while providing a boost to our small businesses, retailers, and economy."

 

The program is anticipated to impact 40,000 businesses and support over 450,000 employees, while providing customers with an additional option to shop in-person and locally ahead of the holiday season.

 

"Outdoor space has been a lifeline for bars and restaurants, and there's no reason why our city shouldn't give retailers space outdoors as well. Open Storefronts and the reopening of our hugely popular winter markets will continue our city's reimagining of how we use our street space to help businesses and New Yorkers get the most out of our streetscape,” said NYC Council Speaker Corey Johnson.

NEW YORK STATE DIVISION OF CONSUMER PROTECTION AND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH URGE NEW YORK FAMILIES TO BE SAFE DURING HALLOWEEN CELEBRATIONS THIS YEAR

 

Keeping Everyone Safe is the Goal While Avoiding the Spread of COVID-19

Avoid Large Crowds, Keep Your Distance, Wear a Mask and Wash Your Hands Often

Safety Tips for Adults and Children for an Enjoyable and Safe Halloween Celebration 

 The New York State’s Division of Consumer Protection and the New York State Department of Health urge caution to parents and children during this year’s Halloween celebrations. Halloween traditions may look different this year due to COVID-19, and keeping everyone safe is the goal so families and children can have fun while avoiding being exposed or spreading the virus.

The most important tip you can follow is to keep doing what you have been doing: Avoid large gatherings, keep your distance of six feet from others, wear a mask or face covering, and wash your hands often. 

This year, do not trick-or-treat or leave out candy if you are sick, live with someone who is sick, have been exposed to someone known to have COVID-19 in the last 14 days, are under isolation or quarantine, or have traveled internationally or to a state affected by the NYS Travel Advisory in the last 14 days.

“Halloween has a long tradition of being fun for families and children but this year the rules have changed due to COVID-19,” said Secretary of State Rossana Rosado, who oversees the Division of Consumer Protection. “We urge everyone to be mindful and protect our children and each other so the experience of trick-or-treating remains enjoyable while maintaining healthy habits during this pandemic year. Let’s find safe ways to celebrate and create magical memories this Halloween.” 

“We all want our children and our communities to enjoy the magic of Halloween, but it’s critical to prioritize health and safety due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said New York State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker. “We urge families to remember to wear masks, social distance, practice proper hand hygiene and take steps to make sure the Halloween activities you choose to engage in are as safe as possible.”  

Creative Ways to Celebrate Safely 

This year there are some creative ways to celebrate more safely, according to the NYS Department of Health guidelines found here :

• Organize a virtual Halloween costume party with costumes and games.

• Have a neighborhood car parade or vehicle caravan where families show off their costumes while staying socially distanced and remaining in their cars.

• Make this year even more special and consider non-candy Halloween treats that your trick-or-treaters will love, such as spooky or glittery stickers, magnets, temporary tattoos, pencils/erasers, bookmarks, glow sticks, or mini notepads.

• Create a home or neighborhood scavenger hunt where parents or guardians give their kids candy when they find each “clue.”

• Go all out to decorate your house this year – have a neighborhood contest for the best

            decorated house.

• Carve and decorate pumpkins at home – try some new creative ideas and have a

            family contest.

• Play Halloween-themed games with members of your household or watch spooky movies.

• Trick-or-treat room to room in your home.

Outside trick-or-treating

• The New York State Department of Health recommends that if people decide to go out, wear a protective cloth mask of at least two layers of breathable fabric—not a costume mask. A Halloween mask should not be a substitute for a protective mask. 

• Trick-or-treat only with your household family group. Always stay socially distanced from those who are not living in your household.

• Do not pick out candy from a bowl or receive candy directly from someone’s hands. If there is crowding in front of a home, or if treats are directly taken from a bowl or directly

handed out from someone’s hands, skip that house and find a safer option. 

• If you hand out treats, consider sitting outside and lining up individually prepacked treat bags for families.

• Look for community events focused on safe ways to have fun. These may include programs offered by a park district, arboretum, zoo or other outdoorvenues in your area. 

• Wash hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer before, during and after any Halloween activities. Consider carrying Halloween-themed or decorated hand sanitizer or leaving some out for your trick-or-treaters to use.

Activities

• In cities or apartment buildings, communities can come together to trick-or-treat around the block or other outdoor spaces so kids and families aren’t tempted to trick-or-treat inside –building residents and businesses can contribute treats that are individually wrapped and placed on a table(s) outside of the front door of the building, or in the other outdoor space for grab and go trick-or-treating.

• Avoid indoor events such as haunted houses. A local haunted forest or corn maze may be a better option, as long as you use a cloth face covering, practice physical distancing and proper steps are taken by the venue such as enforcing one-way walk paths. 

• If you think the haunted house or activity may illicit some screaming, leave extra distance between you and the next group to lower the risk of spreading the virus.

• If you go to a pumpkin patch or apple orchard, use hand sanitizerbefore and after touching what you pick.

• Trick-or-treating may be discouraged or cancelled in some areas this year. A family scavenger hunt for treats in your home or yard can be a fun alternative.

Costumes 

• See if you can incorporate your face covering into a costume, but remember, a face covering must always be made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers the mouth and nose and doesn’t leave gaps around the face!

• Never wear protection mask under the costume mask because it can make breathing difficult especially for a child. If your child’s costume includes a face mask, better to forgo wearing it this year.  Instead, children should wear a protection mask.

• Look for fabrics labeled “flame resistant” such as nylon or polyester when purchasing costumes, beards, wigs and masks. Flame resistant fabrics are not flame proof but they will resist burning and can be extinguished quickly.

• Purchase or make costumes that are light colored, bright and clearly visible to motorists. Dark colored costumes are hard to see at night. 

Treats 

• If your child collects treats from a few, socially distanced neighbors, you may want to wipe the packages or let them sit for a couple days before giving them to your child.

• Examine any toys or small items for young children under three years of age that may pose a choking hazard or may separate while in use and present a choking hazard.

• Though tampering is rare, a responsible adult should closely examine all treats and throw away any spoiled, unwrapped or suspicious items. 

Drivers

• Slow down and take extra care when driving on Halloween, especially in neighborhoods and areas where there may be trick-or-treaters.

• Be careful when passing stopped vehicles. They may be stopping to let trick-or-treaters cross the road or unloading passengers. The visibility of trick-or-treaters and other pedestrians may be obstructed.

• Always look out for pedestrians, especially before turning at a green light or making a “right turn on red.” 

Decorations

• Use battery operated tea-lights, LED lights or glow sticks instead of an open flame candle for your Jack-o-Lanterns. Keep your decorated Jack-o-Lanterns away from curtains, decorations or other flammable objects that could be ignited. Do not leave an open flame candle unattended.

• Keep any candles or Jack-o-Lanterns away from landings or doorsteps where costumes could brush against the flames and place them on a sturdy table. 

The New York State Division of Consumer Protection serves to educate, assist and empower the State’s consumers. For more consumer protection information, call the Consumer Helpline at 800-697-1220, Monday through Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm. Consumer complaints can be filed anytime online at the Division website, www.dos.ny.gov/consumerprotection. You can also request a presentation at, www.dos.ny.gov/consumerprotection/informing/request_presentation.htm. Follow the Division on Twitter at @NYSConsumer or www.facebook.com/nysconsumer.

NYS Office of the Comptroller DiNapoli: Local Sales Tax Collections Down for Third Quarter 2020

 

Sales tax revenue for local governments in New York state dropped 9.5 percent in the third quarter compared to the same period last year, according to State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Sales tax collections from July to September totaled $4.3 billion, or $452 million less than last year.

“The third quarter sales tax figures show a significant improvement from the 27.1 percent decline we saw during the second quarter of this year,” DiNapoli said. “Still, collections are down, especially in New York City, and local governments are facing serious fiscal challenges. The federal government must come up with a plan on how it is going to provide financial help to local governments during this difficult time. New York is resilient, but our local governments are hurting.”

New York City’s steep year-over-year decline of nearly 22 percent in sales tax revenue for the third quarter was the main driver behind the overall drop in local government collections. Nearly every other region of the state saw at least some increase over the third quarter of 2019, although these increases were not as strong as in the pre-COVID first quarter.

Although it is not yet clear what is driving the growth in sales tax collections outside the city, national retail sales increased by 6.4 percent in the third quarter over the same period in 2019, with particularly strong growth in building material and garden centers, sporting goods and hobby stores, and non-store (internet-based) retail. 

New York City, however, was hit earliest and hardest by the pandemic, and has continued to have more restrictions on certain activities than other regions. Indoor dining, in particular, did not resume until Sept. 30, but with strict limitations. In addition, consumer spending continues to be weak and international tourism fell sharply over prior years.

For September, New York City saw a 43.9 percent decline in collections compared to the same month in 2019, while the rest of the state rose 19 percent. However, neither of these variations are likely indicative of a major change in September, as they may be the result of a quarterly reconciliation of distributions based on recent vendor payments. 

Statewide, local sales tax collections declined by 11.8 percent, or $225 million, for the single month of September 2020 compared to the same month in 2019. So far in 2020, year-to-date (January through September), collections declined 11 percent or $1.5 billion compared to the same period last year.

Table

Monthly and Quarterly Local Sales Tax Collections by Region

Report

Third Quarter 2020 Local Sales Tax Collections Down 9.5 Percent; New York City’s Decline Offsets Uptick in the Rest of State

Clergy Council 49th Precinct - “A PRAYER FOR PEACE IN OUR STREETS”