Saturday, October 10, 2020

Bronx Community Board 8 = FY 2022 Capital & Expense Budget Requests - Public Hearing on Tuesday, 10/13 @ 6:30pm

 

NOTICE OF FULL BOARD MEETING 

& PUBLIC HEARING  

Bronx Community Board 8  

 

*PUBLIC HEARING: Capital & Expense Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2022, Tuesday, October 13th, 2020 from 6:30PM to 7:00 PM via Zoom. 

 

The regular Full Board Meeting of Bronx Community Board 8 will follow the Public Hearing at 7:00 PM

 

Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82537437613 

 

Phone: +16465588656       Pin: 82537437613# 

 

 

AGENDA 

 

  1. 1  Public Gallery Session 
  2. 2 Report from the Bronx Borough President’s Office  
  3. 3 Report from the 50th Police Precinct 
  4. 4  Chairperson’s Report 
  5. 5  Treasurer’s Report 
  6. 6  District Manager’s Report 
  7. 7  Report from the Department of City Planning 
  8. 8  Committee Reports: 
                                                                              

    a. Parks & Recreation
    b. Public Safety 
    c. Traffic & Transportation 
    d. Youth 
    e. Aging 
    f. Budget 
    g. Economic Development 
    h. Education, Libraries & Cultural Affairs 
    i. Environment & Sanitation 
    j. Health, Hospitals & Social Services 
    k. Housing 
    l. Land Use 
    m. Law, Rules & Ethics 
    n. Special Committee on Racial Equity 

     
  9. 9 Discussion of Executive Committee Meeting Minutes of October 7, 2020 
  10. 10 Approval of Board Meeting Minutes of September 8, 2020 
  11. 11 Miscellaneous Business 

Bronx Community Board No. 8
5676 Riverdale Avenue, Suite 100
Bronx, NY 10471-2194
Tel: 718-884-3959  Fax: 718-796-2763
Visit us on the web: www.nyc.gov/bronxcb8
 
Serving the neighborhoods of Fieldston, Kingsbridge, Kingsbridge Heights, Marble Hill, Riverdale, Spuyten Duyvil, and Van Cortlandt Village
...

Friday, October 9, 2020

Governor Cuomo Announces State Police Columbus Day Weekend Traffic Enforcement

 

Troopers will focus on Speeding and Impaired Motorists in North Country, Capital Region, Central New York and Hudson Valley

Statewide Distracted Driving Enforcement Campaign to Run October 8 through October 12 

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the New York State Police will conduct special traffic enforcement efforts for the upcoming Columbus Day Weekend to crackdown on speeding and impaired motorists. The Columbus Day campaign will begin on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020 and run through Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. Troopers expect increased traffic volume during the period due to the holiday weekend and fall tourism, which poses additional risks on our roadways. This enforcement detail will take place in the North Country, Syracuse region, Capital Region and the Catskills.

The targeted Columbus Day Weekend enforcement coincides with the statewide "U Drive. U Text. U Pay." mobilization to keep distracted drivers off the road. During this high-visibility campaign, State Police and local law enforcement from across the state will be cracking down on distracted driving throughout the holiday weekend.

"A fall foliage sightseeing trip is a great way for families to enjoy a safe and social distanced excursion, and our Troopers will be out patrolling to prevent needless tragedies caused by those who choose to speed or drive while impaired," Governor Cuomo said. "New York has zero tolerance for impaired and distracted drivers. I am urging all motorists to drive responsibly and save lives."

Superintendent Keith M. Corlett said, "We want drivers to understand that speeding and distracted driving can bring tragic consequences. Our Troopers will be highly visible during this traffic enforcement period to ensure that drivers are following the posted speed limits and removing reckless drivers from the road. We encourage drivers to do their part by obeying traffic laws, staying alert and designating a sober driver if they have been drinking. Together, we can keep our roadways safe for those who travel them." 

Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner and Governor's Traffic Safety Commission Chair Mark J.F. Schroeder said, "This weekend is a great time to see the changing fall colors in New York State but one thing that should never change is being a safe driver. Distracted driving, speeding and impaired driving are preventable and needlessly put everyone on the road in danger. This weekend and whenever you travel, please follow the speed limit, put your phone away and always drive sober. If you're celebrating, have a plan to get home safely."

Motorists who are traveling this weekend can also expect a number of sobriety checkpoints and additional DWI patrols. Law enforcement will also be looking for motorists who are using their phones and other electronic devices while behind the wheel. Drivers should also remember to "move over" for stopped emergency and hazard vehicles stopped on the side of the road. 

Troopers will be using both marked State Police vehicles and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (CITE) vehicles as part of this crackdown in order to more easily identify motorists who are violating the law. CITE vehicles allow the Trooper to better observe driving violations.  These vehicles blend in with everyday traffic but are unmistakable as emergency vehicles once the emergency lighting is activated. 

The State Police are reminding all motorists to be safe, don't drink and drive, stay off your mobile phones while driving, drive the speed limit, and buckle up all occupants. The main goal of this initiative is to deter unsafe driving behaviors and raise awareness of the importance of traffic safety.

During the 2019 "U Drive. U Text. U Pay." mobilization, which is supportedby the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee, more than 5,000 tickets were issued for distracted driving and more than 46,000 tickets were issued for other serious traffic violations such as impaired driving and speeding.

Tickets issued during last year's "U Drive. U Text. U Pay." enforcement campaign:

Violations 

Number of Tickets 

Distracted Driving  

5,184 

Impaired  

1,298 

Move Over Law  

398 

Seat Belt 

1,768 

Speeding 

9,194 

Other Violation 

34,288 

Total 

52,130 

To help deter motorists from talking on a cell phone without a hands-free device, texting, or using an electronic device while driving, New York State has set strict penalties. The penalties can range from $50 to $450 in fines, 5 driver violation points, and suspension or revocation of license.

Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress During COVID-19 Pandemic - OCTOBER 9, 2020

 

"Red Zone" Focus Areas in Four Counties, with 2.8 Percent of State Population, Have Had 19.7 Percent of All Positive Cases in New York State over Past 3 Weeks

Over Past 3 Weeks, "Red Zone" Focus Areas in Four Counties Positivity is 6.4 Percent; New York State Positivity Without Red Zones Included is 0.91 Percent

6 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday

SLA and State Police Task Force Visits 635 Establishments; Observes 7 Establishments Not in Compliance

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Governor detailed testing results from areas where the state is seeing upticks in cases over the past weeks. In "Red Zone" focus areas in four counties, the positivity rate over the past three weeks has been 6.4 percent, compared to the rest of the state at 0.91 percent. These "Red Zone" focus areas are home to 2.8 percent of state's population, yet have been where 19.7 percent of all positive cases statewide have come from over the past three weeks.

"Our response to these clusters shows just how advanced our testing system is. We do more tests per day than most states do per week. When you do 140,000 tests, you get data that is so granular that you can track it to the block," Governor Cuomo said. "Whenever there is a cluster, we have attacked it, so this situation is nothing new. Our numbers statewide remain positive, but we must work together to protect our progress: It's going to take all of us to keep washing our hands, wearing our masks, remaining socially distant, getting our flu shots and staying New York Tough."

In addition to monitoring the testing results from areas designated as "Red Zones," New York State also tracks testing results on a ZIP code level in areas where there are hot spot, cluster situations. Within the top 20 ZIP codes in counties with recent outbreaks - Brooklyn, Queens, and Rockland and Orange Counties - the average rate of positive test results reported yesterday was 5.4 percent. The rate of positive tests for the remainder of New York State, not counting these 20 ZIP codes, was 0.90 percent. These 20 ZIP codes contained 25 percent of all positive cases in New York State yesterday, but represent only 6.6 percent of the state's population. In these ZIPs, 7,307 test results were reported to New York State yesterday, yielding 398 positives. In the remainder of the state, 131,993 tests were conducted yielding 1,194 positives.

Yesterday, the State Liquor Authority and State Police Task Force visited 635 establishments in New York City and Long Island and observed 7establishments that were not in compliance with state requirements. A county breakdown of yesterday's observed violations is below:

  • Queens - 1
  • Nassau - 5
  • Suffolk - 1

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

  • Patient Hospitalization - 779 (+25)
  • Patients Newly Admitted - 122
  • Hospital Counties - 38
  • Number ICU - 168 (-4)
  • Number ICU with Intubation - 78 (+11)
  • Total Discharges - 77,432 (+81)
  • Deaths - 6
  • Total Deaths - 25,561

MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES $450 MILLION IN LABOR SAVINGS

 

Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced that the City has reached an arbitration agreement with the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) that will result in $450 million in savings in fiscal year 2021. The agreement includes partial payment of lump sum payments which were scheduled to be paid this month, and a commitment the City will not layoff teachers through at least June 30, 2021. The Adopted Budget announced in June included $1 billion in labor savings for FY21 and these savings will account for nearly half of that commitment. The City still needs a minimum of $5 billion in federal or state relief in order to avoid drastic action such as layoffs for FY22.

 

“The City faces the gravest fiscal crisis since 9/11, but we will build on our record of strong financial management by making the tough decisions and sacrifices we need to keep the City running,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “This agreement allows us to avoid laying off the teachers who’ve done so much for New York City’s schools and students. But make no mistake, the need for the Federal and State governments to step up and provide us with aid is as pressing as ever.”

 

The agreement includes:

 

Partial payment: Half of scheduled payment (approx. $450 million) to be paid in October 2020, remaining half to be paid in July 2021.

 

Commitment on layoffsNo layoffs of teachers through June 30, 2021. If the City receives State and Federal assistance of $5 billion or more, the no-layoff pledge is extended to June 30, 2022.

 

Facing an economic downturn driven by COVID-19, the de Blasio Administration has built on its record of strong fiscal management to ensure a robust recovery for New York City:


Increased annual budget reserves to record levels: Along with the City Council, City Hall amassed a record level of $6 billion in budget reserves before the pandemic hit, which were key to savings lives as COVID hit.
Historic cuts and savings in Adopted Budget: The Administration had $7 billion in reserves and savings to balance this year’s budget due to careful planning and savings.
Hiring freeze and vacancy reduction savings: City Hall generated over $600 million citywide in FY20 and FY21 since June 2019 and reduced budgeted headcount by over 5,300 in FY21.
Workforce actions: Furloughs of all managerial and non-represented City employees generated $22 million in savings. On top of other actions, this helped us cut this fiscal year’s Mayor’s Office budget by 12%.
Debt service savings: Achieved $604 million in debt service savings since June 2019 and can achieve hundreds of millions more depending on City Comptroller action.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

While the mayor mentions a $450 Million Dollar savings in Fiscal Year 2021, the mayor fails to mention that Fiscal Year 2021 began on July 1, 2020, and closes out on June 30, 2021, Thus the mayor is pushing half of this payment back one year into Fiscal Year 2022, which the city could be in worse shape than it is currently in. The mayor will be laying off all other city workers except teachers by this agreement. That means all other none UFT personal can be laid off from schools including administrators of any school. 
Good going Mayor de Blasio, would you like to play some poker with me. 


The Bronx Tourism Council - Tour de Bronx 2020

 

OFFICIAL NEWS FROM THE BRONX TOURISM COUNCIL OCTOBER 92020
WEBSITE           VISITOR GUIDE           GO BX POD           

OCTOBER 10 to NOVEMBER 8
Choose from 3 different routes
Ride at your own pace ...
in your own time ...
with your own crew!

Leonard Jerome of JEROME AVENUE in The Bronx,
also had a very famous grandson who played a
pivotal role in World War II.
Who was he?
Listen to Episode 7 of Go Bronx Pod today.

Queens Pharmacy Operator Charged With Obstruction Of Justice For Sending Powder Cocaine To DEA Investigator’s Home

 

 Audrey Strauss, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Raymond P. Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), and Dermot Shea, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced today that DIMITRIOS LYMBERATOS, the operator of a Queens pharmacy, has been charged with obstruction of justice for arranging for a package containing white powder, later identified as cocaine, to be sent to the home address of a DEA Diversion Investigator who was investigating LYMBERATOS’s pharmacy.  LYMBERATOS surrendered to the DEA this morning and will be presented before United States Magistrate Judge Barbara Moses in Manhattan federal court later today.

Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said:  “When Dimitrios Lymberatos learned his pharmacy was under investigation by the DEA, he allegedly took sinister action against a Diversion Investigator assigned to his case.  Lymberatos allegedly sought to interfere with the investigation through intimidation, by sending cocaine to the Investigator’s home, potentially causing physical harm.  Lymberatos’s misguided message was received loud and clear – and he now faces the possibility of a lengthy prison term for his potentially harmful attempt to obstruct law enforcement.”

DEA Special Agent in Charge Raymond P. Donovan said:  “Today’s arrest is another example to the public that DEA Registrants can set out to do harm with ill intent.  One of our own Diversion Investigators was allegedly targeted simply for doing their job, and as such, Mr. Lymberatos’s alleged actions as a pharmacist and licensed professional were completely unconscionable.  Thankfully, due to the diligent work of our Tactical Diversion Squads, he will be brought to justice.” 

NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said:  “I want to commend the officers, detectives, federal agents, and prosecutors who worked together to investigate the dangerous acts alleged in these charges.”

According to the allegations in the Complaint unsealed today[1]:

LYMBERATOS is the operator of a pharmacy in Queens, New York.  Beginning in or about November 2019, the DEA, led by a DEA Diversion Investigator, conducted an overt regulatory investigation into the pharmacy, which had the effect of delaying the issuance of the pharmacy’s registration to dispense controlled substances.  LYMBERATOS responded to the investigation of his pharmacy by taking steps to obstruct the investigation, including hiring a private investigator to obtain the Diversion Investigator’s home address, and then causing to be mailed to the Diversion Investigator’s home a greeting card containing a white powdery substance, which law enforcement later determined to be cocaine.  Upon receiving the package with white powder, the Diversion Investigator immediately notified law enforcement, which responded to the scene, and the Diversion Investigator was taken to the hospital for toxicology screening.  LYMBERATOS caused the package to be sent to the Diversion Investigator in order to interfere with and obstruct the pending investigation into his pharmacy by threatening the Diversion Investigator, deliberately causing the Diversion Investigator to fear for her physical safety, and seeking to create trouble for the Diversion Investigator by causing her to come into possession of an illegal controlled substance. 

LYMBERATOS, 34, of Queens, New York, is charged with one count of obstruction of justice and one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice.  Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years 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 the judge. 

Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the DEA’s New York Tactical Diversion Squad, which comprises agents and officers from the DEA, the New York City Police Department, the New York State Police, New York State Department of Financial Services, New York National Guard, New York City Department of Investigation, and New York State Department of Health Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement.  Ms. Strauss also praised the outstanding work of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDETF”) New York Strike Force Tactical Diversion Squad.  The OCDETF New York Strike Force is a crime-fighting unit comprising federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies supported by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force and the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.  The Strike Force is affiliated with the DEA’s New York Division and includes agents and officers of the DEA, New York City Police Department, New York State Police, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Marshals Service, New York National Guard, Clarkstown Police Department, U.S. Coast Guard, Port Washington Police Department, and New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.

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

 [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

Attorney General James Charges Bronx Clinic Owner With Stealing More Than $4 Million From New York Taxpayers

 

Leslie Montgomery Allegedly Offered Fraudulent Affordable Housing to Scam Low-Income New Yorkers Into Revealing Their Personal Identifying Information 

  Attorney General Letitia James today announced charges against Leslie Montgomery, 49, of the Bronx and her healthcare clinic, Healthy Living Community Center (Healthy Living), for defrauding the New York State Medicaid program by submitting false claims to Medicaid and to MetroPlus, a Medicaid-funded managed care organization (MCO), for customized back braces. Montgomery and Healthy Living allegedly pocketed more than $4 million from the illegal scheme that involved tricking New Yorkers into divulging personal information under the false pretense of applying for affordable housing. Montgomery is charged in the New York City Criminal Court, Bronx County, with Grand Larceny in the First Degree and Identity Theft in the First Degree.

“Using affordable housing as a pretense for Medicaid theft is reprehensible,” said Attorney General James. “My office will do everything in our power to stop New Yorkers in need of housing assistance from being left in the lurch and having their information be unwittingly used for theft from New York taxpayers.”

The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (“MFCU”) alleges that Montgomery regularly advertised online a housing assistance program as a ruse to lure Medicaid recipients to Healthy Living, where they had to divulge their personal Medicaid information in order to “qualify for the program.” There was no legitimate housing assistance program, prosecutors contend, and there was no housing provided to those individuals who responded to the advertisements. 

Instead, Montgomery allegedly stole their personal information to submit false claims to Medicaid for highly specialized, custom-molded back braces. Almost every single Healthy Living recipient had back braces billed in their name. None, allegedly, received custom-molded back braces. In some instances, Montgomery provided a $20 “off-the-shelf” back brace mailed directly from Amazon to the recipient. Other times, she provided nothing at all, yet she billed Medicaid between $750 and $1,550 per back brace. 

Relying on the accuracy of claims submitted by Montgomery and Healthy Living, the Office of Attorney General (OAG) alleges that Medicaid-funded MCOs, such as MetroPlus, paid more than $4 million to Montgomery, directly and through Health Living. 

In papers filed today, Montgomery was charged with Grand Larceny in the First Degree, a Class B felony, and Identity Theft in the First Degree, a Class D felony. Grand Larceny in the First Degree carries a maximum sentence of incarceration of twenty-five years. 

Montgomery was arraigned earlier today in New York City Criminal Court, Bronx County before the Honorable Jeffrey Zimmerman where she was released under the conditions that she surrenders her passport, waives extradition, and restricts travel to within New York state. 

The charges against the defendant are accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless, and until, proven guilty in a court of law. The Attorney General would like to thank the New York State Department of Health, Office of the Medicaid Inspector General, and the MCO MetroPlus for their assistance and cooperation in this investigation.  

MFCU’s investigation was led by Investigator Shavaun Clawson with the assistance of Supervising Investigator James Briscoe, under the supervision of Deputy Chief Investigator Kenneth Morgan. The underlying financial audit was completed by Senior Auditor Investigator Ying Tuo with the assistance of NYC Regional Deputy Chief Auditor Jonathan Romano and NYC Regional Chief Auditor Thomasina Smith. Also assisting in the investigation were Legal Assistants Nicholas Matthews and Victoria Sepe and Data Scientist Si Lok Chao.

Reporting Medicaid Provider Fraud: The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit of the Office of the New York State Attorney General enforces laws that protect the public fisc by addressing Medicaid provider fraud and that protect 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 on the OAG website at https://ag.ny.gov/nursinghomes, or by calling the MFCU hotline at 212-417-5397. If the situation is an emergency, please call 911.

MFCU receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $60,071,905 for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2019-20, of which $45,053,932 is federally funded. The remaining 25 percent of the approved grant, totaling $15,017,973 for FY 2019-20, is funded by New York state. Through MFCU’s recoveries in law enforcement actions, MFCU regularly returns more to the state than it receives in state funding.