Attorney General James Announces Arrest of Rochester Nursing Home Employee for Stealing $150,000 from Residents

 

Tammy Echols Embezzled Resident Funds from St. John’s Home

New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced the arrest and arraignment of Tammy Echols, 56, of Rochester, for stealing more than $150,000 from vulnerable residents of St. John’s Home (St. John’s), where she worked. An investigation by the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) found that from January 2023 to August 2025, Echols used her position in the nursing home’s business office to issue checks from the facility to her friends, associates, and local businesses to which she owed money. After taking a fee, Echols’ friends and associates sent most of the stolen money back to Echols. Echols was arrested and charged with Grand Larceny in the Second Degree and Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree.

“New Yorkers save up for their entire lives to afford dignified care in a nursing home, and they expect the staff treating them to have their best interests at heart,” said Attorney General James. “Tammy Echols took advantage of the trust St. John’s residents placed in the facility to line her pockets with vulnerable residents’ savings. My office will continue to go after fraudsters who corrupt our health care system and make sure they are held accountable.”

As a Senior Account Specialist at St. John’s, Echols was responsible for billing residents and their families for expenses not covered by Medicaid as well as issuing refund checks when they made overpayments to the facility. The OAG’s investigation found that Echols used her position to issue fraudulent refund checks from the nursing home to businesses she owed money to and to friends and associates who would transfer the funds to Echols after taking a small handling fee. In total, Echols embezzled $154,525.99 that St. John’s residents had deposited with the facility to cover their expenses. The investigation found that the businesses Echols issued checks to included a local florist, a bakery, and a construction contractor.

Echols was arrested, charged, and arraigned before Rochester City Court Judge Latoya Lee. If convicted on the top count, she faces a maximum sentence of five to 15 years in prison. The charges against the defendant are merely allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proved guilty in court.

The OAG thanks the Rochester Police Department for its valuable assistance in this investigation.

Governor Hochul Announces Start of Construction on $225 Million North Aud Block in Buffalo’s Canalside

Mixed-Use Development Will Create Affordable Housing and Commercial Spaces, Broaden Efforts to Reconnect Buffalo to its Historic Waterfront

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the start of construction at North Aud Block, a $225 million mixed-use development in Buffalo’s Canalside. This transformative project will convert a vacant parcel into 251 affordable and market-rate apartments, and will include 18,000 square feet of commercial space, 20,000 square feet of open, community space and 137 parking spaces. The project is built on the site of the former Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, also known as the Aud, which closed in 1996. It is part of a comprehensive plan to redevelop the entire parcel of land where the Aud once stood and follows last year’s opening of a visitor center there. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) has created or preserved more than 11,600 homes in Erie County, including more than 8,300 in the city of Buffalo. North Aud Block continues this effort and is part of Governor Hochul’s $25 billion five-year Housing Plan, which is on track to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide.

“For too long, the North Aud Block has sat in the shadow of Canalside as a vacant reminder of the past, but today, we are rewriting its future as a vibrant destination on Buffalo’s historic waterfront,” Governor Hochul said. “This transformation represents exactly what our strategy was designed to achieve: turning underutilized land into hundreds of new homes and enhancing an important economic corridor. By honoring Buffalo’s rich history while investing in the future, we are ensuring Canalside remains a premier, welcoming destination for generations to come.”

North Aud Block, developed by Pennrose, will appeal to families of varying sizes and income levels. It will feature 187 affordable units available to households earning up to 80 percent of the Area Median Income. The remainder of the apartments will be market-rate. There will be a mix of studios, one-, two- and three-bedroom units.

The project’s design will retain the site’s connection to the former auditorium and will reflect portions of the area’s original 19th-century street grid. The facades will incorporate exposed brick, terracotta and metal paneling. The ground floor will consist of stone materials reminiscent of other historic downtown buildings nearby.

The buildings will be situated on the site to create a 20,000-square-foot public plaza along the canal, including seating and landscape features that will also serve as wind barriers and heat preservation. The open space will help connect the project to the surrounding Canalside neighborhood and KeyBank Center, home to the Buffalo Sabres and Buffalo Bandits.

While the project celebrates the historic Auditorium, it will incorporate 21st-century amenities. The development will be all-electric, with heat pumps, energy recovery ventilation, ENERGY STAR appliances, water-conserving plumbing and electric vehicle charging. It will have fully accessible and adaptable apartments. There will be 13 units to accommodate residents with mobility disabilities and six units to accommodate residents with sensory disabilities.

The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation, a subsidiary of Empire State Development (ESD), previously owned the North Aud Block site. The Aud was demolished by the state in 2009.

This project is part of the State’s plan to redevelop the entire former Buffalo Memorial Auditorium parcel of land. In November 2025, Governor Hochul announced the opening of The Chandlery, a visitor center and retail store. The 14,000-square-foot, four-story masonry building evokes 19th century structures along the Erie Canal. A public art installation, Destination, also debuted then in commemoration of the Erie Canal bicentennial.

North Aud Block is supported by HCR’s Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, which is expected to generate more than $30 million in equity, its State Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, which is expected to generate more than $35 million in equity, and $65 million in subsidy. The project is also supported by Empire State Development with $12 million from the NY-RUSH program, $10 million from the NY Works Economic Development Fund, and $2.5 million from the Regional Council Capital Fund Program. The site is participating in the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s successful Brownfield Cleanup Program and, when completed, would be eligible for approximately $20 million in tax credits administered by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. 

Governor Hochul Announces $250 Million Transformative Redevelopment Underway at Buffalo’s Marine Drive Public Housing Comple

Initial Phase of Marine Drive Apartments Will Create 254 Affordable Units

Three-Phase Plan Will Ultimately Bring

730 New Affordable Homes to Buffalo’s Waterfront

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that construction is underway at the redevelopment of Marine Drive Apartments, a 70-year-old public housing complex in Buffalo. The $250 million first phase of the three-phase transformation will include the new construction of 254 apartments across four buildings. When complete, the entire $600 million Marine Drive redevelopment will replace the original 616 units with approximately 730 new apartments. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) has created or preserved more than 11,600 affordable homes in Erie County, including more than 8,300 in the city of Buffalo. Marine Drive Phase I continues this effort and is part of Governor Hochul’s $25 billion five-year Housing Plan, which is on track to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide.

“The Marine Drive redevelopment will help transform the Lake Erie waterfront for generations to come,” Governor Hochul said. “Our administration is prioritizing projects like this – investments that enhance affordability, revitalize neighborhoods, and modernize housing. This project reflects our commitment to building modern, affordable housing that strengthens communities and expands opportunities.”

Built in the 1950s, the pre-existing seven-building Marine Drive housing complex is now nearly obsolete. The three-phase redevelopment will create hundreds of modern, affordable homes and support the continued transformation of Buffalo’s waterfront.

The 254 apartments constructed in the first phase will be affordable to households earning up to 120 percent of the Area Median Income. There will be a mix of studio, one, two, three, and four-bedroom units. All current residents will remain in their homes until new apartments are completed, ensuring there will be no displacement during construction.

Developed by The Habitat Company, Duvernay and Brooks, and Bridges Development, an affiliate of the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority, the development team worked closely with existing residents and the surrounding community to ensure resident input shaped the project’s design and timeline. The project is included in the City of Buffalo’s four-year strategic plan.

The plan also includes 5,000 square feet of new retail and commercial space, a new community center, landscaped green spaces, and a public plaza, as well as upgrades to the site’s essential infrastructure including the electrical grid and the sewer and water lines.

Marine Drive is located on the Lake Erie waterfront, in downtown Buffalo, and within walking distance of the Buffalo Metrorail and the city’s Amtrak station. The project features will bring economic benefits to the entire neighborhood.

Marine Drive Phase I will be all-electric, with energy-efficient appliances, water-conserving plumbing fixtures, LED lighting, and an Energy Recovery Ventilation system to improve indoor air quality. It also will have fully accessible and adaptable apartments. There will be 27 units to accommodate residents with mobility disabilities and seven units to accommodate residents with sensory disabilities.

Marine Drive Phase I is supported by HCR’s Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, which is expected to generate $81 million in equity, its State Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, which is expected to generate $18 million in equity, and $93 million in subsidy.

The site participated in the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's successful Brownfield Cleanup Program and became eligible for $31.6 million in tax credits administered by the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. The Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority provided $4 million in capital funding, the Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency provided $2 million in HOME funding, and the City of Buffalo provided $900,000 in infrastructure funding.

More than 100 units will be covered under a Section 8 Project-Based Housing Assistance Payment Contract issued under the guidelines of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Rental Assistance Demonstration Program to be administered by the Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority. Another 36 units will receive Section 8 Project-Based Vouchers administered by HCR. 

COIB Settlements Announced

 

 

The New York City Conflicts of Interest Board (the “Board”) announces three settlements.

 

Misuse of City Resources. A Highways and Sewers Inspector at the New York City Department of Transportation (“DOT”) used his City vehicle to drive 41 miles for personal trips on 15 days when he did not work for DOT. To resolve this misuse of a City resource, the now-former Highways and Sewers Inspector agreed to pay a $2,500 fine. In setting the fine, the Board considered that the former Highways and Sewers Inspector had similarly misused of a DOT vehicle in the past, resulting in DOT both warning him and suspending his commuting privileges; once his commuting privileges were restored, he engaged in this misconduct yet again. The Disposition is attached as “COIB Disposition (DOT).”

 

Misuse of City Position; Aiding a Violation of Chapter 68. A City Custodial Assistant at the New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (“DCAS”) created a fraudulent parking placard that said “DCAS” in large letters. With the permission of his supervising Custodian, the City Custodial Assistant also included on the placard the supervisor’s DCAS-issued cell phone number. On at least two occasions, the City Custodial Assistant placed the placard on the dashboard of his car to avoid receiving parking fees and tickets.

 

In a joint settlement with the Board and DCAS, the Custodial Assistant agreed to serve an eight-day suspension, valued at approximately $1,134 to resolve the misuse of his City position for personal gain. And in a joint settlement with the Board and DCAS, the Custodian agreed to serve a four-day suspension, and to forfeit two days of annual leave, for a total value of approximately $1,014, for aiding in a violation of the conflicts of interest law. The Board determined that the penalties imposed by DCAS against the City Custodial Assistant and Custodian were sufficient and imposed no additional penalties. The Dispositions are attached as “COIB-DCAS Disposition 1” and COIB-DCAS Disposition 2.”

Mayor Mamdani Launches “Talk to Tenants” Campaign to Build Tenant Power Across New York City

 

Volunteers will knock on doors in buildings with history of housing violations to connect tenants with organizing resources and inform tenants of their right to organize 

 

Campaign builds on Rental Ripoff hearings by empowering renters to turn shared experiences into collective action 

Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and the Mayor’s Office of Mass Engagement (OME), in partnership with the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants (MOPT), launched “Talk to Tenants,” a door-to-door organizing campaign to support renters living in buildings with chronic housing violations organize together and advocate for safer, healthier homes.

 

Volunteers with OME will knock on doors to inform tenants of their right to organize and connect residents with resources and organizing trainings. The campaign will begin in East Harlem, Washington Heights and Inwood and Flatbush — neighborhoods where renters are confronting rising costs and persistent housing quality concerns — before expanding to communities across the five boroughs. 

 

New Yorkers interested in volunteering can learn more HERE. 

  

“The Rental Ripoff hearings showed us something that every tenant already knows: when landlords neglect their buildings, New Yorkers are left with no heat, kitchens overrun with cockroaches, mold and broken elevators,” said Mayor Mamdani. “When neighbors organize, they have the power to hold landlords accountable and win safe, dignified housing. ‘Talk to Tenants’ is about empowering New Yorkers to build that power one conversation, one building and one block at a time.” 

 

“Every New Yorker has the right to a safe and stable home — and the Talk to Tenants campaign will help make that a reality. Organized tenants can support their neighbors, better building conditions and responsible preservation deals and owners. Thanks to outreach by OME, MOPT and volunteers across the city, we’ll ensure that many more New Yorkers know their rights and how the City can help protect their homes,” said Leila Bozorg, Deputy Mayor for Housing and Planning.   

 

“From a next-door neighbor who is available to bring in your mail when you’re away to widespread collective action to win better repairs and respect from the landlord, the community and solidarity of a tenant association is the very foundation of New York City,” said Director of the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants Cea Weaver. “The most protected tenant is an organized tenant. Through the ‘Talk to Tenants’ campaign, we are calling on New Yorkers to join together with their neighbors and partner with us to secure dignified and affordable housing for all.”

 

 “Every New Yorker has heard the stories—or lived them themselves: landlords who refuse to make basic repairs, ignore dangerous conditions and leave tenants to deal with mold, pests and other hazards. ‘Talk to Tenants’ is about reminding renters that they have the right to a safe, clean and well-maintained home—and the right to organize with their neighbors to demand it,” said Commissioner for the Office of Mass Engagement Tascha Van Auken. “Change often begins with a conversation between neighbors. By knocking on doors and connecting tenants with organizing resources, we’re helping New Yorkers build the collective power to hold negligent landlords accountable and fight for the homes they deserve.” 

 

The campaign builds on Mayor Mamdani’s Rental Ripoff hearings, where tenants across all five boroughs described the conditions they have endured, from mold and vermin to broken elevators, chronic heat outages and years of landlord neglect. Last week, Mayor Mamdani released the Rental Ripoff report, outlining a series of reforms to strengthen tenant protections and hold negligent landlords accountable. “Talk to Tenants” turns those recommendations into action by helping renters organize and advocate together for safe, affordable housing. 

 

Throughout the summer and early fall, OME will also host NYC 101 workshops for New Yorkers interested in learning how tenant organizing works, how to build tenant unions and how collective action can improve conditions in their buildings.

 

NYC 101 Dates and Locations: 

 

•   August 12 — Lower Manhattan 

•   August 19 — Prospect Heights 

•   September 16 — Flatbush 

•   September 24 — East Harlem 

•   September 30 — Washington Heights

 

More information about upcoming events and registration is available HERE. 

 

Since taking office, Mayor Mamdani has made tenant organizing and tenant power central to his administration’s housing agenda. The administration has revitalized the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants, convened Rental Ripoff hearings across all five boroughs and supported tenants in negotiating with new ownership to resolve long-overdue repairs, back rent and other issues affecting their homes.

 

Tenant organizing is also a cornerstone of Block by Block: The Housing Plan for a New Era, Mayor Mamdani’s plan to build and preserve affordable housing while strengthening tenants’ ability to hold negligent landlords accountable. The plan includes outreach to tenants and homeowners about their rights, as well as to landlords about best practices, as well as overhauling the City’s response to housing code and heat complaints, allowing tenants to schedule certain HPD inspections directly and coordinating comprehensive “roof-to-cellar” inspection days in buildings where tenants have organized.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

It should be noted that Lower Manhattan and Prospect Heights are in Congressional District 10 where Mamdani supported Brad Lander won the Democratic Primary and should be the next Congressman there. East Harlem and Washington Heights are in Congressional District 13 where Mamdani supported Dariliza Chevalier won the Democratic Primary and should be the next Congresswoman there.

Permits Filed for 3038 Wilson Avenue in Laconia, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a five-story residential building at 3038 Wilson Avenue in Laconia, The Bronx. Located between Adee Avenue and Burke Avenue, the lot is near the Gun Hill Road subway station, served by the 5 train. Baruch Taub is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 50-foot-tall development will yield 9,646 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 12 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 803 square feet. The concrete-based structure will also have a penthouse and a 20-foot-long rear yard.

Navkiran Cheema of KMA Designs LLC is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits have not been filed yet. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

600-Student Fordham University Dormitory Revealed for 2740 Webster Avenue in Fordham, The Bronx

 

A new rendering has been revealed for 2740 Webster Avenue, a 12-story dormitory for Fordham University in Fordham, The Bronx. Designed by Aufgang Architects and developed in a joint venture between Maddd Equities and Stagg Group, the 130-foot-tall structure will span 215,129 square feet and yield 162 units with a capacity of 600 students. Based on these figures, the units will likely consist mostly of multi-room suites. The project will also include a 20-foot-long rear yard, according to permits filed by RYTY Home Builders in late November. The 10,000-square-foot property is located at the intersection of Webster Avenue and East 197th Street.

The rendering previews the wide western elevation, showing a multifaceted massing with a kink aligned to the angle in Webster Avenue. The façade will be composed of dark red paneling forming an irregular pattern over floor-to-ceiling windows on the northern and southern ends of the building and in two columns near its center. Floors two through eight in the middle will be clad in black metal and ribbon windows, while the upper four stories above the setback will utilize a contrasting light gray envelope framing a tight grid of narrow windows. The ground floor will feature expansive glass for the street frontage.

The site is currently occupied by a surface-level parking lot. Jorge Madruga purchased the property from Edward Nerenberg for $10.3 million.

New Yorkers for Parks - 2026 Daffodil Project Registration opens August 17th!

 

One month until 2026 Daffodil Project registration!

It’s almost time! Registration for the 2026 Daffodil Project opens Monday, August 17th.

 

Whether you’re a first timer or a longtime participant, we’re so excited to welcome you for the 25th anniversary of this beloved citywide volunteer effort. 

 

Every fall, NY4P distributes free daffodil bulbs (and now native seeds!) at events citywide, which New Yorkers plant in parks, schoolyards, tree pits, and community gardens.

 

An enduring symbol of resilience and a catalyst for civic engagement, the initiative champions park stewards while advancing advocates' calls for transformative investment in green spaces.  

 

Be sure to add ny4p@ny4p.org to your safe senders list so you don’t miss out when registration goes live on August 17th, and tell interested friends and family to join our mailing list. 

 

This year all distribution events will take place in October. Keep an eye on your inbox in the coming weeks for additional details about distribution dates, times and locations.

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Support the Daffodil Project

 

The Daffodil Project wouldn't be possible without the generous support of our volunteers, community partners, and donors.

 

Your contributions help us distribute daffodils and native plants in every borough, beautifying communities and mobilizing advocates in services of a greener, more resilient city.

 

Please consider making a donation today. Your support makes a lasting impact.

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