Attorney General James to Hold Public Hearing on Closure of Preston High School in the Bronx

 

Public Hearing Scheduled for Tuesday, April 8 at 5:00 p.m.

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that her office will hold a public hearing on the pending closure of Preston High School in the Bronx. The public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, April 8 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m at the Lehman High School Auditorium. Attorney General James encourages community members, teachers, alumni, and other stakeholders to testify. Individuals who wish to provide oral testimony at the hearing must submit their written testimony online by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 4, and written testimony will be accepted online until 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8.

“For decades, Preston High School has helped educate thousands of students in the Bronx, and has been an essential part of this community,” said Attorney General James. “The prospect of the school closing its doors is concerning and will greatly impact students, staff, and local families. While we continue to monitor and assess this matter, it is essential that we hear directly from stakeholders on how to move forward in the best interest of the community.”  

Preston High School is an all-girls Catholic school that has served the Bronx community for 75 years. Last month, the school announced plans to close at the end of this school year.

Through this hearing, Attorney General James aims to gain insight directly from community members, teachers, alumni, and public officials in the region and will use that information to find a resolution to this matter.  

Individuals who wish to provide oral testimony at the hearing must submit their testimony in writing by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 4.

The hearing will be viewable to the public via livestream.

If you require an accommodation to participate in a program, service, or activity of our office, please contact our ADA Administrator at ADA.administrator@ag.ny.gov, preferably 48 hours before the event.

Disclaimer: This activity is not sponsored or endorsed by the New York City Department of Education or the City of New York.

Governor Hochul Directs State Agencies to Prepare for Snow, Freezing Rain and Ice This Weekend

Urges New Yorkers in North Country, Mohawk Valley and Capital Region To Take Precautions With Hazardous Travel and Power Outages Possible

Up to Seven Inches of Snow and Half an Inch of Ice Accumulation Possible in Parts of North Country

Wet Snow and Sleet Expected Tonight With Transition to Freezing Rain Overnight Except Far Northern New York

Freezing Rain To Continue Over Weekend With Greatest Ice Accumulations Expected During Overnight and Early Morning Hours on Saturday and Sunday

Governor Kathy Hochul urged New Yorkers to prepare for snow, freezing rain and ice continuing through Sunday for parts of the North Country, Mohawk Valley and Capital District. A period of wet snow and sleet is expected to transition over to freezing rain except over far Northern New York where a mix will persist. Freezing rain will occur into Sunday with the greatest ice accumulation potential occurring during the early morning hours. Some parts of the North Country could see up to seven inches of snow and more than a quarter inch of ice accumulation through Sunday. In these areas, hazardous travel is likely and local power outages are possible. Governor Hochul urged New Yorkers to pay close attention to weather conditions this weekend and adjust plans accordingly.

“We’re expecting a series of winter weather conditions to hit parts of the North County, Mohawk Valley and the Capital District, and our agencies are prepared to assist as the forecast fluctuates across the regions this weekend,” Governor Hochul said. “New Yorkers in these regions should monitor emergency alerts and their local forecasts to prepare themselves for the snow, freezing rain and ice accumulation.”

A Winter Weather Advisory in effect for the North Country and northern parts of the Mohawk Valley and Capital District for mixed precipitation and ice into Sunday. Also on Sunday, for parts of Western New York and the Finger Lakes, there is a risk of severe thunderstorms. On Monday, additional severe thunderstorms with damaging winds are possible, mainly across the southeast half of the state.

For a complete listing of weather alerts, visit the National Weather Service website. New Yorkers are also encouraged to sign up for emergency alerts by subscribing to NY Alert — a free service providing critical emergency information to your cell phone or computer.

Safety Tips

Travel

Some of the most important tips for safe driving include:

• Monitor the forecast for your local area and areas you may be travelling to.
• Avoid unnecessary travel.
• If you must travel, make sure your car is stocked with survival gear like blankets, a shovel, flashlight and extra batteries, extra warm clothing, set of tire chains, battery booster cables, quick energy foods and brightly colored cloth to use as a distress flag.
• If you have a cellphone or other communications device such as a two-way radio available for your use, keep the battery charged and keep it with you whenever traveling. If you should become stranded, you will be able to call for help, advising rescuers of your location.
• The leading cause of death and injuries during winter storms is transportation accidents. Before getting behind the wheel, make sure that your vehicle is clear of ice and snow; good vision is key to good driving. Plan your stops and keep more distance between cars. Be extra alert and remember that snowdrifts can hide smaller children. Always match your speed to the road and weather conditions.
• It is important for motorists on all roads to note that snowplows travel at speeds up to 35 mph, which in many cases is lower than the posted speed limit.
• Oftentimes on interstate highways, snowplows will operate side by side, to safely clear several lanes at one time.
• Motorists and pedestrians should also keep in mind that snowplow drivers have limited lines of sight, and the size and weight of snowplows can make it very difficult to maneuver and stop quickly. Snow blowing from behind the plow can severely reduce visibility or cause whiteout conditions.
• Motorists should not attempt to pass snowplows or follow too closely. The safest place for motorists to drive is well behind the snowplows where the roadway is clear and salted. Never attempt to pass a snowplow while it's operating.

Power Outages

• Check with your utility to determine area repair schedules.
• If you lose power, turn off or unplug lights and appliances to prevent a circuit overload when service is restored; leave one light on to indicate when power has been restored.
• If heat goes out during a winter storm, keep warm by closing off rooms you do not need.

To Report an Electric Outage, call:

• Central Hudson: 800-527-2714
• Con Edison: 800-752-6633
• National Grid: 800-867-5222
• NYSEG: 800-572-1131
• O&R: 877-434-4100
• PSEG-LI: 800-490-0075
• RG&E: 800-743-1701

For more safety tips, visit https://www.dhses.ny.gov/safety.

For all non-emergency service needs in New York State before, during or after a storm, call 211 or visit www.211nys.org/. 

Diopsys Inc. Agrees to Pay up to $14.25 Million to Resolve Alleged Federal False Claims Act and State Law Violations Relating to Vision Testing

 

Diopsys Inc., a medical device company based in Middletown, Pennsylvania, has agreed to pay up to $14.25 million to resolve allegations that the company violated the federal False Claims Act and various state laws by knowingly submitting or causing others to submit false claims for payment to Medicare and Medicaid in connection with certain vision testing services.

The settlement resolves allegations relating to Diopsys’ NOVA device, an electrophysiological device that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared for visual evoked potential (VEP) testing. The United States alleged that, during the period from Jan. 1, 2015 through Dec. 31, 2021, Diopsys caused healthcare providers to submit false claims to Medicare and Medicaid for services in which the NOVA device was utilized for medically unnecessary uses, specifically electroretinography (ERG) vision testing, a substantially different vision test for which the NOVA device lacked FDA clearance. The government further contended that Diopsys made substantial changes to the NOVA device that it never submitted to FDA for clearance or approval despite knowing that such a submission was required.

“This resolution reaffirms our commitment to protect the integrity of the Medicare and Medicaid programs,” said U.S. Attorney John Giordano for the District of New Jersey. “Health care companies must not encourage doctors to submit claims for payment for medically unnecessary tests.”

Under the terms of the settlement, Diopsys will make guaranteed payments of $1,225,000 and contingent payments of up to $13,025,000. The settlement is based on Diopsys’ financial condition.

The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Dr. Atul Jain, a California ophthalmologist. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery.  Approximately $1,120,000 of the guaranteed payment and up to approximately $11,900,000 of the contingent payments constitute the federal portion of the recovery. Dr. Jain will receive at least approximately $207,000 as his share of the federal recovery in this case.

The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, with assistance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.

The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

The matter was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Simunovich of the Health Care Fraud Unit in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, and Trial Attorney Daniel Meyler of the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section.

The case is captioned United States ex rel. Jain v. Diopsys Inc., et al., Civil Action No. 21-18151 (D.N.J.).

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.

VAN NEST NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE (VNNA)–APRIL 2–MONTHLY MEETING—7:00PM

 

VAN NEST NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2025

7:00 PM

MONSIGNOR FIORENTINO APTS

1830 AMETHYST STREET

GROUND FLOOR, COMMUNITY ROOM

BRONX, NY 10462

BRING A FRIEND! BRING A NEIGHBOR!

Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance

www.facebook.com/VanNestNeighborhoodAlliance

Affordable Housing Site Development Opens At 4180 Carpenter Avenue In Wakefield, The Bronx

 

Mayor Eric Adams and Department of Social Services (DSS) Commissioner Molly Wasow Park recently celebrated the opening of a new affordable housing development at 4180 Carpenter Avenue in Wakefield, The Bronx. Designed by Marin Architects and developed by RYTY Home Builders, the 64-unit building is the first created through the city’s Affordable Housing Services (AHS) initiative to prioritize women-led households. It supports residents with CityFHEPS vouchers and aims to provide long-term affordable housing for households transitioning out of the shelter system.

4180 Carpenter Avenue marks the fifth AHS site to open since AHS launched in 2024, bringing the total number of units created under the program to approximately 460. An additional 568 units are currently in development. The AHS initiative enables the city to partner with nonprofit organizations to secure building-wide leases or property acquisitions, offering 30-year affordability contracts and tenant protections for voucher holders.

Photograph from opening of 4180 Carpenter Avenue, via nyc.gov

The building will be operated by Community Housing Innovations, one of several nonprofit providers partnering with DSS on the AHS pipeline. Others include Riseboro, The Doe Fund, VIP Community Services, and the Fortune Society.

Transit nearby 4180 Carpenter Avenue includes subway stations served by the 2 and 5 subway lines.

Statement from Department of Environmental Conservation Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton Re: October Wildlife Seizure in Chemung County

 

Following the notable wildlife seizure in Chemung County in October, DEC undertook an internal investigation of agency wildlife enforcement procedures. At the direction of the Governor, in my initial few weeks as acting commissioner, I have prioritized a review of our current wildlife protection and enforcement process to protect New Yorkers and this agency from similar incidents in the future. We have carefully reviewed all the public feedback, and we understand the distress caused to communities throughout the state. We know that we can do better moving forward. 

Our agency is committed to developing additional protocols to address illegally possessed wildlife and ensuring that our staff and environmental conservation officers have the necessary resources to carry them out. In addition, DEC will be welcoming a new Deputy Commissioner for Public Protection & Emergency Response. 

  

We recognize that these improvements are necessary and in my new role I will ensure that DEC is focused on its mission to deliver clean air and water for every New Yorker while protecting the environment and our invaluable natural resources for future generations. 

Former Colombian Navy Lieutenant Sentenced to 15 Years for Helping Sell Locations of Navy Drug Interdiction Vessels to International Drug Traffickers

 

Cesar Augusto Romero Caballero, of Colombia, was sentenced to 15 years in prison by U.S. District Court Judge James Moody Jr. for conspiracy to distribute cocaine having reasonable cause to believe it would be unlawfully imported into the United States. Romero Caballero pleaded guilty on April 8, 2024.

According to court documents, Caballero, 35, was a former member of the Colombian Navy. In exchange for money, he recruited active-duty members of the Colombian Navy to secretly plant global positioning system (GPS) tracking devices in Colombian Navy vessels. Transnational Criminal Organizations used the location data derived from these tracking devices to direct vessels filled with cocaine bound for the United States around Colombian Navy ships and patrols.

“This foreign national committed serious crimes to enable the flow of drugs into our country,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “This sentencing reflects the Department of Justice’s ironclad commitment to not only hunting down criminals, but ensuring that they suffer severe legal consequences following their apprehension.”

“Our teams focus on sophisticated and violent drug trafficking organizations and work countless investigative hours,” said Special Agent in Charge Deanne L. Reuter of the Drug Enforcement Administration Miami Field Division. “I am proud of our team’s efforts and thankful for our law enforcement partners who brought this case to conclusion.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Stoia for the Middle District of Florida prosecuted this case.

The Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section’s Office of the Judicial Attaché in Bogotá, Colombia, provided significant assistance.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Strike Force Initiative, which provides for the establishment of permanent multi-agency task force teams that work side-by-side in the same location. This co-located model enables agents from different agencies to collaborate on intelligence-driven, multi- jurisdictional operations to disrupt and dismantle the most significant drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations.

The specific mission of the OCDETF Panama Express Strike Force is to disrupt and dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations involved in large-scale drug trafficking, money laundering, and related activities. The OCDETF Panama Express Strike Force is comprised of agents and officers from the Coast Guard Investigative Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, FBI, and Homeland Security Investigations.

State Senator Gustavo Rivera's Update on the Ongoing CDPAP Transition to a Single Fiscal Intermediary

 

Dear Neighbor, 

Last year, the Executive made the decision to consolidate the CDPA program, from the more than 600 fiscal intermediaries currently operating in the State and replace them with a single entity by April 1st, 2025. This meant that enrollees and caregivers who previously were registered with one or more agencies would now receive their care services and payments through just one entity.  

In early September of 2024, given the lack of progress in the transition process, Senator Rivera introduced bill S1189 or “The CDPAP Accountability Act” as a reasonable alternative to ensure transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility for fiscal intermediaries, with a licensure process, while maintaining service accessibility for New Yorkers.

In late September of that same year, the State selected PPL as CDPAP’s single fiscal intermediary. Since then, Senator Rivera has urged the Governor to extend the April 1st deadline knowing that this would not be completed on time, and that many New Yorkers would be affected. Unfortunately, the Executive has not made any modifications to this deadline. As April 1st approaches, Senator Rivera continues to sound the alarm, urging the Executive to extend the deadline. 

This week, the State Health Commissioner announced that they will not extend the deadline, but will open a “registration window” for those who have not completed the transition. This means that those who do not complete the transition by March 31st will still be able to do so by April 30th. However, their payment will be processed retroactively. Anyone that has not completed enrollment prior to April 1st should expect significant delays in payment until enrollment is complete. Meaning that workers will not be paid until both the consumer and worker have completed enrollment. To receive payment retroactively you must follow the policy outlined by PPL here: https://pplfirst.com/cdpap-late-registration/

In the meantime, New Yorkers who are affiliated and who would like to stay in the program should finalize the enrollment process by April 30, 2025. Below you’ll find all the information that you need to make it happen. Please do not wait to begin registration, as we have heard (and continue to hear) first hand accounts of significant delays in the registration process. If you are encountering an issue during this process, please contact our office at 718-933-2034. 

Sincerely,

Gustavo Rivera

New York State Senate

33rd District

NYS Private Sector Employment Up 3,700 Jobs in February 2025

After Holding Steady for Seven Months, Unemployment Rate Decreases

According to preliminary seasonally adjusted figures released today by the New York State Department of Labor, the number of private sector jobs in New York State increased over the month by 3,700, or 0.1%, to 8,463,100 in February 2025. The number of private sector jobs in the U.S. increased by 0.1% in February 2025.

New York State's private sector jobs (not seasonally adjusted) increased by 106,300, or 1.3%, over the year in February 2025, matching the 1.2% increase in the number of private sector jobs in the U.S.

New York State's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased from 4.4% in January to 4.3% in February 2025. At the same time, New York State's labor force (seasonally adjusted) increased by 2,800. The statewide labor force participation rate increased from 60.8% in January to 60.9% in February 2025.

The number of private sector jobs in New York State is based on a payroll survey of New York businesses conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Monthly payroll employment estimates are preliminary and subject to revision as more complete data become available the following month. The BLS calculates New York State’s unemployment rate based partly upon the results of the monthly Current Population Survey (CPS) of approximately 3,100 households in the State.

The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for January 2025 was revised down by 6,400, from +20,100 to +13,700. At the same time, the change in total private employment was revised down by 7,000, from +14,500 to +7,500. Monthly revisions result from additional reports received from businesses and government agencies since the last published estimates and from the recalculation of seasonal factors.

Note: Seasonally adjusted data provide the most valid month-to-month comparison. Non-seasonally adjusted data are valuable in year-to-year comparisons of the same month – for example, February 2024 versus February 2025.

Statewide Industry Employment

February 2025 – Seasonally Adjusted

• On a net basis, the total number of nonfarm jobs in the state increased by 5,800 over the month, while private sector jobs increased by 3,700 in February 2025.
• At the same time, the total number of nonfarm jobs in the nation increased by 151,000, while private sector jobs increased by 140,000.

NYS Equaled Nation in Total Nonfarm Job Growth

Over-the-Month % Change in Total Nonfarm & Private Sector Jobs, January – February 2025

Total Nonfarm and Private Sector Jobs Up in February 2025 Total Nonfarm and Private Sector Jobs (in 1000s), January 1990 – February 2025 Statewide Unemployment February 2025 – Seasonally Adjusted The statewide unemployment decreased from 4.4% in January to 4.3% in February 2025. New York City’s unemployment rate decreased from 5.5% to 5.3%. In the rest of the state, the unemployment rate increased from 3.5% to 3.6% in February 2025. The number of unemployed New Yorkers decreased over the month by 9,400 from 433,800 in January to 424,400 in February 2025. NYS Unemployment Rate Decreased Over the Month Labor Force Statistics, February 2024, January 2025 – February 2025 Labor Force Increased, Number of Unemployed Decreased Total Labor Force & Number of Unemployed, January 2009 – February 2025 Unemployment Rate Decreased in NYS, Increased in US Unemployment Rate, NYS & US, January 2009 – February 2025 Unemployment Rate Decreased in NYC, Increased in Balance of State Unemployment Rate, NYC & BOS, January 2009 – February 2025 Substate and Industry Employment  February 2025 – Not Seasonally Adjusted New York State Gained Private Sector Jobs Over the Year Over-the-Year Change in Total Nonfarm & Private Sector Jobs, February 2024 – February 2025 Note: The sum of sub-state area job estimates will usually differ from the New York State total. This is because the State total is calculated separately from the sub-state areas and is estimated based on an independent sample. Private Education and Health Services Jobs Increased by 3.4% Over the Year Over-the-Year Change in Jobs by Major Industry Sector, February 2024 – February 2025 *Government includes public education and public health services. Note: The responsibility for the production of monthly estimates of state and metro area nonfarm employment by industry moved from the NYS Department of Labor’s Division of Research and Statistics to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), starting with the March 2011 estimates. More detailed information on the change is available on the BLS web site. Many economic data series have a seasonal pattern, which means they tend to occur at the same time each year (e.g., retail jobs usually increase in December). Seasonal adjustment is the process of removing seasonal effects from a data series. This is done to simplify the data so that they may be more easily interpreted and help to reveal true underlying trends. Seasonal adjustment permits comparisons of data from one month to data from any other month. In New York State, payroll jobs data by industry come from a monthly survey of business establishments conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Data are preliminary and subject to revision. Jobs data by industry do not include agricultural workers, the self-employed, unpaid family workers, or domestic workers in private households. Labor force statistics, including the unemployment rate, for New York and every other state are based on statistical regression models specified by the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The state’s unemployment rate is based partly upon the results of the Current Population Survey, which contacts approximately 3,100 households in New York each month.  Jobs and Unemployment Fact Sheet This fact sheet conveys important technical information that will contribute to a better understanding of labor force data (“household survey”), including resident employment/unemployment rates, and jobs by industry data (“business survey”), which are presented in the New York State Department of Labor’s monthly press release. State Unemployment Rates Based on Regression Model Beginning with data for January 1996, unemployment rates for New York State and all other states (as well as New York City and the City of Los Angeles) have been estimated using time-series regression statistical models developed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Advantage of Regression Model Use of a time-series regression model reduces the month-to-month variation in unemployment rates and resident employment by reducing variation caused by sampling errors and other components of statistical noise (irregularities). Benchmarking of Estimates Once each year, labor force estimates, such as civilian labor force and the unemployment rate, are revised to reflect updated input data including new Census Bureau populations controls, newly revised establishment jobs data and new state-level annual average data from the Current Population Survey (CPS). As part of this procedure, all state figures are reviewed, revised as necessary and then re-estimated. This process is commonly referred to as “benchmarking.” Changes in Methodology Labor force estimates are now produced with an improved time-series regression model, which utilizes “real-time” benchmarking. “Real-time” benchmarking reduces end-of-year revisions, which also means that major economic events will be reflected in a more timely manner in state labor force estimates. In addition, the new methodology includes an updated way of estimating for sub-state areas (e.g. counties, metro areas) the number of unemployed who are new entrants or re-entrants into the labor force. This change in methodology will result in lower unemployment rates in some areas and increased rates in others. Unemployed and UI Beneficiaries The estimate of the number of unemployed includes all persons who had no employment during the reference week (the week including the 12th of the month), were available for work, except for temporary illness, and had made specific efforts to find employment sometime during the 4-week period ending with the reference week. Unemployment insurance (UI) beneficiaries include those who apply for and qualify for UI benefits. Consequently, the estimate of the number of unemployed and the number of UI beneficiaries do not necessarily move in tandem. Jobs Data Jobs data are obtained from a separate joint federal-state survey of business establishments. The survey, called the Current Employment Statistics of Establishments, has a sample size of 18,000 establishments in New York State. It excludes self-employed workers, agricultural workers, unpaid family workers and domestic workers employed by private households. This data represents a count of jobs by place of work. Data for each month is revised the following month as more complete information becomes available. The New York State Department of Labor is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Program.