Council Member Eric Dinowitz - ACTION ALERT: Pied-à-terre Tax

 

New York City Council Member

ERIC DINOWITZ

Proudly serving the neighborhoods of Bedford Park, Kingsbridge, Riverdale, Norwood, Van Cortlandt Village, Spuyten Duyvil, Wakefield, and Woodlawn in 

Council District 11.277 West 231st, Bronx, NY 10463 · Tel: (718) 549 - 7300

ACTION ALERT:

Pied-à-terre Tax

Dear Neighbor:

The state recently passed a pied-à-terre tax, taxing those who own second homes in NYC worth more than $5 million. While I believe this tax is a reasonable way to raise money for critical city services–taxing wealthy non-New Yorkers–its rollout has been confusing.

Some New Yorkers received notices about the tax even though they do not own a second home, and extremely short deadlines have changed, adding to the confusion.

The City Council is holding a hearing on the rollout of the tax TOMORROW, August 18th at 1:00 pm. Sign up to testify here.

The administration has refused to send a representative to testify or answer questions. Your voice is more critical than ever. Sign up to testify here.

Sincerely,

Council Member Eric Dinowitz

ICE Arrests Illegal Alien Drug Trafficker With 126 Kilograms of Methamphetamine

 

This criminal illegal alien had previously been deported from the United States TWICE

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) arrested a criminal illegal alien and convicted drug trafficker with 126 kilograms of methamphetamine.

On August 13, HSI Atlanta carried out a controlled delivery to a residence where Pedro Guadarrama-Loza, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico, was observed retrieving the packages. When HSI Atlanta arrested Guadarrama-Loza, they also seized 126 kilograms of methamphetamine.

Pedro Guadarrama-Loza

Guadarrama-Loza’s criminal history includes a prior conviction for felony drug trafficking and a prior arrest for driving without a valid driver’s license in Georgia.

“This criminal illegal alien from Mexico was arrested with 126 kilograms of methamphetamine, has prior convictions for drug trafficking, and has already been deported from our country TWICE,” said a DHS Spokesperson. “Thanks to the hard work of the brave men and women of HSI, this drug trafficker is off our streets and will soon be removed from our country. He will no longer be able to peddle his poison on American streets and endanger American lives.”

Guadarrama-Loza claims to have illegally entered the United States through Texas, near Austin, in 2004. A Department of Justice (DOJ) Immigration Judge issued Guadarrama-Loza a final order of removal on May 8, 2008, and he was deported on May 15, 2008. He then claimed to have illegally re-entered the United States – a felony – at an unknown date through Texas, near Eagle Pass. He was deported for a second time by the Trump Administration on June 22, 2017. He then illegally entered the United States for a THIRD time at an unknown date and location.

New York Attorney General Letitia James today secured $6 million from three nursing homes in the Buffalo region, Safire Rehabilitation of Northtowns, Safire Rehabilitation of Southtowns, and Williamsville Suburban Nursing Home (the Safire homes), for submitting tens of thousands of fraudulent claims to Medicaid to boost their revenue. A joint investigation between the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York (WDNY) revealed that from July 1, 2016 through December 31, 2020, the Safire homes submitted false data that artificially increased their reimbursement rates from Medicaid, allowing them to earn millions of dollars more than they should have by filing fraudulent claims. Under settlements with OAG and WDNY, the Safire homes will repay a total of $9 million and implement new procedures to prevent false billing and ensure all residents get the proper services they need. “Nursing homes that commit financial fraud are stealing funds meant to provide care for our most vulnerable,” said Attorney General James. “The Safire homes used fraudulent data to rake in millions of dollars from Medicaid without regard for the needs of the residents they were supposed to be serving. My office has rooted out fraud and resident neglect in nursing homes throughout New York, and we will continue to investigate Medicaid fraud to protect New Yorkers.” “Medicare and Medicaid fraud drains taxpayer funds and weakens these vital government programs,” said U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York Michael DiGiacomo. “This settlement reinforces our commitment to safeguarding federal funds and ensuring seniors receive the care they deserve.” Nursing homes are required to submit data accurately reflecting the care required by their residents to the New York Department of Health (DOH). The DOH uses that data to calculate the nursing homes’ Medicaid reimbursement rates for all claims submitted within the following six months. The OAG’s investigation found that for years, the Safire homes falsely inflated the amount of rehabilitative services certain residents needed during periods that impacted their Medicaid reimbursement rates. During periods that did not impact the Medicaid reimbursement rates, the Safire homes reduced the amount of rehabilitation services provided to certain residents, regardless of their need. As a result of their fraud, the Safire homes received millions of dollars from Medicaid at inflated rates. Under the settlement announced today, the Safire homes admit wrongdoing and will pay $6 million to Medicaid, of which $3.6 million will go directly to New York. The remaining $2.4 million will be paid to the federal government. The Safire homes will also pay an additional $3 million to the federal government for defrauding Medicare. In addition, the facilities must adopt new policies and procedures to ensure that residents covered by Medicaid receive all the services they need and that services are properly documented to prevent future fraud. The OAG and WDNY began this investigation after a whistleblower filed a complaint in December 2020 under the qui tam provisions of the New York False Claims Act and the federal False Claims Act in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York. The New York False Claims Act allows individuals to file actions on behalf of the government and share in any recovery. Reporting Medicaid Provider Fraud: MFCU defends the public by addressing Medicaid provider fraud and protecting nursing home residents from abuse and neglect. If an individual believes they have information about Medicaid provider fraud or about an incident of abuse or neglect of a nursing home resident, they can file a confidential complaint online or call the MFCU hotline at (800) 771-7755. If the situation is an emergency, please call 911. The MFCU investigation was conducted by Auditor-Investigator Rebecca Whitescarver, under the supervision of Regional Chief Auditor Mary Henry. Support was provided by Data Analytics Team members Si Lok Chao and Elise Roche. Chief Auditor Dejan Budimir supervised the audit and data analytics teams. The settlement was handled by Special Assistant Attorneys General Jill D. Brenner and Amanda L. Raimondi, under the supervision of Chief of Civil Enforcement Alee Scott and Buffalo Regional Director Paul C. Parisi. MFCU is led by Director Amy Held and Assistant Deputy Attorney General Thomas O’Hanlon. MFCU is part of the Division for Criminal Justice, which is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General José Maldonado and overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Meghan Faux. New York MFCU’s total funding for federal fiscal year (FY) 2026 is $70,793,651. Of that total, 75 percent, or $53,095,240, is awarded under a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $17,698,411 for FY 2026, is funded by New York State.

 

Pearish Pierre Pretty, 43, of Columbia, has been sentenced to more than 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. 

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Pretty was a major cocaine and methamphetamine supplier for a drug trafficking organization operating in the Columbia and Lexington County areas. Pretty was held responsible for distributing more than 18,000 grams of methamphetamine and 9,000 grams of cocaine between November 2022 and December 2024. 

Pretty has prior federal convictions for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Pretty committed the offenses while on federal supervise release.

United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Pretty to 250 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. 

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. 

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the City of Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana Gore prosecuted the case.

Attorney General James Secures $6 Million from Three Buffalo Nursing Homes for Years-Long Fraudulent Billing Scheme

 

New York Attorney General Letitia James today secured $6 million from three nursing homes in the Buffalo region, Safire Rehabilitation of Northtowns, Safire Rehabilitation of Southtowns, and Williamsville Suburban Nursing Home (the Safire homes), for submitting tens of thousands of fraudulent claims to Medicaid to boost their revenue. A joint investigation between the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York (WDNY) revealed that from July 1, 2016 through December 31, 2020, the Safire homes submitted false data that artificially increased their reimbursement rates from Medicaid, allowing them to earn millions of dollars more than they should have by filing fraudulent claims. Under settlements with OAG and WDNY, the Safire homes will repay a total of $9 million and implement new procedures to prevent false billing and ensure all residents get the proper services they need. 

“Nursing homes that commit financial fraud are stealing funds meant to provide care for our most vulnerable,” said Attorney General James. “The Safire homes used fraudulent data to rake in millions of dollars from Medicaid without regard for the needs of the residents they were supposed to be serving. My office has rooted out fraud and resident neglect in nursing homes throughout New York, and we will continue to investigate Medicaid fraud to protect New Yorkers.”

“Medicare and Medicaid fraud drains taxpayer funds and weakens these vital government programs,” said U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York Michael DiGiacomo. “This settlement reinforces our commitment to safeguarding federal funds and ensuring seniors receive the care they deserve.”

Nursing homes are required to submit data accurately reflecting the care required by their residents to the New York Department of Health (DOH). The DOH uses that data to calculate the nursing homes’ Medicaid reimbursement rates for all claims submitted within the following six months. The OAG’s investigation found that for years, the Safire homes falsely inflated the amount of rehabilitative services certain residents needed during periods that impacted their Medicaid reimbursement rates. During periods that did not impact the Medicaid reimbursement rates, the Safire homes reduced the amount of rehabilitation services provided to certain residents, regardless of their need. As a result of their fraud, the Safire homes received millions of dollars from Medicaid at inflated rates.

Under the settlement announced today, the Safire homes admit wrongdoing and will pay $6 million to Medicaid, of which $3.6 million will go directly to New York. The remaining $2.4 million will be paid to the federal government. The Safire homes will also pay an additional $3 million to the federal government for defrauding Medicare. In addition, the facilities must adopt new policies and procedures to ensure that residents covered by Medicaid receive all the services they need and that services are properly documented to prevent future fraud.

The OAG and WDNY began this investigation after a whistleblower filed a complaint in December 2020 under the qui tam provisions of the New York False Claims Act and the federal False Claims Act in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York. The New York False Claims Act allows individuals to file actions on behalf of the government and share in any recovery.

Reporting Medicaid Provider Fraud: MFCU defends the public by addressing Medicaid provider fraud and protecting nursing home residents from abuse and neglect. If an individual believes they have information about Medicaid provider fraud or about an incident of abuse or neglect of a nursing home resident, they can file a confidential complaint online or call the MFCU hotline at (800) 771-7755. If the situation is an emergency, please call 911.

The MFCU investigation was conducted by Auditor-Investigator Rebecca Whitescarver, under the supervision of Regional Chief Auditor Mary Henry. Support was provided by Data Analytics Team members Si Lok Chao and Elise Roche. Chief Auditor Dejan Budimir supervised the audit and data analytics teams.

New York MFCU’s total funding for federal fiscal year (FY) 2026 is $70,793,651. Of that total, 75 percent, or $53,095,240, is awarded under a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $17,698,411 for FY 2026, is funded by New York State.

Top Financial Officers from Six Jurisdictions Raise Concerns Over Media Companies Retreat from Diversity Initiatives

 

Amid shifting regulatory policy changes, fiscal leaders from New York City, New York State, Connecticut, California, Maryland and Massachusetts sent a letter to Verizon, Paramount Skydance, Nexstar, Charter and AT&T underscoring long-term operational and financial risks introduced by rollbacks

New York City Comptroller Mark Levine, New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, Connecticut Treasurer Erick Russell, Massachusetts State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg, California Controller Malia Cohen, and Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman today jointly sent letters to several major media companies raising concerns about recent decisions to rollback diversity initiatives and urging them to maintain commitments to building diverse and inclusive workplaces.

The letters to Verizon Communications Inc., Paramount Skydance Corporation, Nexstar Media Group, Inc., Charter Communications, Inc., and AT&T Inc. express concerns with each company’s recent retrenchment:

• Each of these companies must still comply with federal anti-discrimination statutes, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Additionally, state and municipal civil rights laws — many of which impose broader statutory compliance obligations than federal law — preserve private rights of action for individual employees independent of federal enforcement priorities.
• The pursuit of regulatory approvals does not diminish the Board’s fiduciary obligations to oversee effective compliance systems, maintain rigorous internal controls over human capital management, and ensure the ongoing accuracy of public disclosures.
• Failure to maintain adequate compliance infrastructure and disclosure practices in these areas exposes these companies to significant litigation risk, material financial liability, and reputational harm.
• The elimination of diversity and inclusion programs also creates distinct business risk. Inclusive human capital management programs support and may directly bolster talent recruitment, employee retention, and overall operational performance.

“A diverse workforce is a competitive advantage, particularly at media companies who are not only in the business of people, but most successful when they can reach increasingly diverse audiences creatively and innovatively. These programs cannot become expendable in the face of noise and short-term regulatory pressures. Rolling them back does not make the underlying legal obligations disappear. Anti-discrimination laws remain on the books, and state and local civil rights protections remain enforceable, Investors want to know that when a company expresses a commitment to these programs it goes beyond rhetoric, even when pressure mounts.” said New York City Comptroller Mark Levine.

“As a major long-term investor, the New York State Pension Fund expects boards to protect value, not abandon it under outside political pressure. Diversity programs directly strengthen recruitment, retention, and overall performance,” said New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. “Stripping them away may expose these companies to lasting legal and reputational liabilities. We are asking these boards a simple question: did you actually weigh what you were giving up before you gave in?”

The recent retrenchment by these companies is striking, but their peers, such as Netflix have assured investors by publicly reaffirming their commitments to these programs and Verizon, Paramount, Nexstar, Charter and AT&T have an opportunity to do the same.

To better understand the potential implications of these companies’ workplace diversity rollbacks, the signatories are requesting information on whether a formal risk assessment of these changes has been issued by the companies’ management to their boards, and if the boards have explicitly determined that sufficient compliance, monitoring, and disclosure mechanisms would remain in place following these changes.

The letter to each company is available at the links below.

Verizon Communications: https://comptroller.nyc.gov/reports/joint-letter-to-verizon-communications-re-dei-rollbacks/

Paramount Skydance Corporation: https://comptroller.nyc.gov/reports/joint-letter-to-paramount-skydance-corporation-re-dei-rollbacks/

Nextstar Media Group: https://comptroller.nyc.gov/reports/joint-letter-to-nexstar-media-group-re-dei-rollbacks/

Charter: https://comptroller.nyc.gov/reports/joint-letter-to-charter-communications-re-dei-rollbacks/

AT&T: https://comptroller.nyc.gov/reports/joint-letter-to-att-re-dei-rollbacks/

Governor Hochul Announces Start of $24.5 Million Project to Replace Two Bridges Connecting Interstates 84 and 684

New Bridges Will Keep Traffic Flowing Along Major Commuter Hub, Reduce Noise Pollution and Decrease Future Maintenance Costs

Project Will Enhance Safety, Improve Traffic Flow and Build More Resilient Infrastructure Along Critical Hudson Valley Connection

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that work is underway on a $24.5 million project to replace two 59-year-old bridges along the ramp from Interstate 84 westbound to Interstate 684 southbound in the Town of Southeast, Putnam County. The project will replace the aging structures with wider, more resilient bridges that will enhance safety and ensure continued smooth travel along this key gateway that links New England and the lower Hudson Valley. Additionally, environmentally friendly engineering practices will be utilized to boost sustainability and protect local ecosystems.

“This project is yet another example of our ongoing commitment to make critical infrastructure investments throughout the Hudson Valley that focus on the needs of our communities, move our economy forward, and improve quality of life,” Governor Hochul said. “By replacing these outdated bridges, we are modernizing a key junction that New Yorkers depend on every day, ensuring that people and goods remain on the move and that our communities continue to grow and prosper.”

The work includes the replacement of two bridges — one over Interstate 84 and the other over Interstate 684. The new bridges will allow for more efficient, wider ramps with additional shoulder width to provide space for emergency vehicles and meet federal safety standards. The new bridges will also have clearances of 16 feet, 6 inches — higher than the original structures — aligning them with modern interstate standards and reducing the potential for bridge strikes. 

NYS Office of the Comptroller DiNapoli: State Pension Fund Valued at $309.7 Billion at End of First Quarter

 

The estimated value of the New York State Common Retirement Fund (Fund) was $309.7 billion at the end of the first quarter of State Fiscal Year 2026-27, New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced today. Fund investments returned an estimated 6.12% for the quarter.

"The New York State Common Retirement Fund returned another strong quarter despite a host of factors including persistent inflation, higher energy prices, and ongoing geopolitical conflicts,” DiNapoli said. “Our disciplined investment strategy is focused on diversification, responsible risk management, and long-term stability so that we achieve the Fund’s purpose of protecting the retirement security of our public workers, retirees, and their families.”

The Fund's estimated value was $295.4 billion as of March 31, 2026, the end of the state’s fiscal year. As of March 31, 2026, the Fund had 39.4% of its assets invested in publicly traded equities. The remaining Fund assets by allocation are invested in cash, bonds, and mortgages (22.9%), private equity (14.3%), real estate and real assets (14.3%), and credit, absolute return strategies, and opportunistic alternatives (9.1%).

The Fund’s long-term expected rate of return is 5.9%.

DiNapoli’s management of the Fund has received praise from two independent reviews released in 2026. First, a statutorily required fiduciary and conflict of interest review of the Fund released in January recognized the Fund for its exemplary investment oversight, risk management, and ethical governance. This review, conducted by Weaver and Tidwell LLP and required by state regulations, is part of the reforms that DiNapoli fought for when he became State Comptroller to provide the public with a clear, independent assessment of how the Fund is being managed and where improvements could be made.

Weaver’s review found:

• The Fund operates under a strong governance framework with a rigorous system of internal controls and maintains a high level of operational transparency.
• DiNapoli manages the Fund with the highest ethical, professional, and conflict of interest standards, and acts for the sole benefit of the retirement system’s members and beneficiaries.
• The Fund has a great deal of focus on the fees applied to each individual deal and whether the proposed fees fall within prevailing market norms.
• The Fund demonstrates a strategic asset allocation between public and private markets that closely aligns with its peer group.
• Fund staff are knowledgeable and dedicated and manage the Fund in the most efficient and effective manner possible.

The fiduciary review highlights that the Fund’s high-funded status and conservative assumed rate of return put it in a stronger financial position to meet long-term obligations than its peers and is able to weather market volatility. The funded status was 96.8% as of March 31, 2026.

The second review was conducted separately by the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS), the regulator of the Fund and the New York State and Local Retirement System. This review found the investment and risk teams are performing their duties professionally and competently while safeguarding the retirement security of the state pension fund’s members.

DFS’ review found:

• Total fund performance versus benchmarks over 3-, 5-, and 10-year periods “has been very good,” and it highlights the pension fund’s consistently healthy funded ratio as evidence of a well-managed portfolio and low risk to pensioners.
• No concerns “that the level of investment fees and expenses is excessive or about the diligence conducted in monitoring them and assuring accuracy."

After conducting numerous interviews and comprehensively examining risk reports, guidelines, asset allocation, asset-liabilities studies, liquidity management, investment due diligence and various other areas, DFS concluded “the NYSCRF investment and risk teams are professional and competent, and they take their fiduciary responsibilities of loyalty, care, and prudence seriously.” DFS determined the consistency of a very healthy funded ratio over a 10-year period is indicative of a well-managed investment portfolio.

DiNapoli initiated quarterly performance reporting by the Fund in 2009 as part of his ongoing efforts to increase accountability and transparency.

VCJC Call for volunteers

 

Can you help?

Do you have expertise?

Are you willing to volunteer?

We are particularly in need of people with some expertise or knowledge about pricing items for the garage sale.  

Here's an overview of some of the categories of items we need help with:

• Sporting Goods

• Baseball

• Boxing

• Bicycles - and additional parts - gears, etc.

• Exercise equipment

• Tennis rackets

• Baseball gloves

• Kitchen - Chairs, microwave, blender, utility stand w/drawer, beautiful possibly mahogany table with 6 chairs

• Folding chairs, coffee urns

• Luggage

• DVDs, Headphones

• Books of all sorts, a lot of them Jewish-themed

• Judaica

• Arts and Crafts - needlepoint, art supplies

• Educational tools, books, classroom supplies, etc., a lot of teaching supplies

• Games for children and adults, models, toys

• Furniture: chest of Drawers and Bureau - wood

• Art work

• Construction equipment of various kinds.

If you can help us set pricing for any of these items, your assistance would be deeply appreciated!  Contact the office in person or at 718-884-6105, or email us.

If you are willing to volunteer during the event or during setup of the event, even without expertise, please contact us as well in person or at 718-884-6105 or email us!

THANKS!