The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) today announced the opening of a new residential treatment center in the Bronx. Operated by Argus Inc, the Elizabeth L. Sturz Treatment Center will house 114 treatment beds for women and men, offering rehabilitation and reintegration services in one location. OASAS provided more than $26 million for the construction of the new building, as well as more than $2,600,000 in annual operational funding.
“This new facility will provide much needed help to underserved persons in the community who have been impacted by addiction,” OASAS Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham said. “Residential service programs are an important part of the full addiction service continuum in New York State and provide a safe and supportive setting to improve long-term health.”
“Argus is excited for the opening of its new state-of-art treatment facility and grateful to OASAS for providing guidance and funding for its design and construction,” said Argus Co-Executive Director Cynthia Delarosa. “The new facility will house a residential treatment program, as well as a medically-supervised outpatient SUD treatment clinic, which will provide life changing resources and services in our communities.”
The Elizabeth L. Sturz Treatment Center will provide individualized care management and evidence-based treatment to persons with co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorder, as well as HIV positive individuals and formerly incarcerated and/or formerly homeless individuals.
The new facility is located at 830 Forrest Avenue, Bronx, NY 10456
The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports oversees one of the nation’s largest substance use disorder systems of care with approximately 1,700 prevention, treatment and recovery programs serving over 731,000 individuals per year. This includes the direct operation of 12 Addiction Treatment Centers where our doctors, nurses, and clinical staff provide inpatient and residential services to approximately 8,000 individuals per year.
If you, or a loved one, have experienced insurance obstacles related to treatment or need help filing an appeal for a denied claim, contact the CHAMP helpline by phone at 888-614-5400 or email at ombuds@oasas.ny.gov.
State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli yesterday awarded through negotiated sale $572,715,000 of New York State General Obligation (GO) Bonds. After a one-day retail and institutional order period, the State received total orders of over $1.6 billion or 2.8 times the amount of bonds offered, which allowed the State to reduce yields in many maturities. Ultimately, retail orders supported over 55 percent of the total bond sale, of which 85 percent was from New York retail buyers. The true interest cost of the GO Bonds was 3.99 percent.
“I am very pleased with the sale results, which demonstrate robust demand from investors large and small for New York’s General Obligation bonds,” said DiNapoli. “This buoyant demand allowed the state to reduce yields offered, and hence reduce costs for taxpayers.”
The GO Bonds consist of:
BofA Securities, Inc. was the Senior Book-Running Manager along with Ramirez & Co., Inc. as Co-Senior Manager, to sell the bonds on behalf of the State. Co-Managers included Loop Capital Markets, RBC Capital Markets and Seibert Williams Shank & Co.. In addition, BofA Securities, Inc. acted as Lead Dealer Manager, along with Loop Capital Markets as Co-Dealer Manager, to assist the State with an Invitation to Tender certain outstanding GO Bonds to be refunded.
The bonds are scheduled to be delivered on Oct. 11, 2023.
New Yorkers Should Continue to Use Caution
New York City Mayor Eric Adams updated New Yorkers on the city’s ongoing response to recent significant rainfall and associated flooding. New York City Emergency Management Department (NYCEM) remains in an active response posture, leading interagency coordination efforts to the historic citywide flooding that began early Friday morning. NYCEM is working in close collaboration with key city agencies — including the New York City Police Department (NYPD), the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation (NYC Parks), the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB), the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY), the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT), and other city agencies, as well as the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and external partners, including New York State, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), Con Edison, and the American Red Cross in Greater New York — to address the range of impacts that this storm created. Their efforts have been crucial in the city’s comprehensive response strategy, extending its reach and effectiveness across affected communities to all five boroughs.
“I want to thank all New Yorkers who followed our guidance and stayed safe today, and I especially want to thank our first responders and city workers who stepped up to aid their fellow New Yorkers in need and keep our city going,” said Mayor Adams. “Though the forecast is looking better, all New Yorkers should stay vigilant, and stay safe and informed by signing up for Notify NYC to continue to get up-to-date information directly from the city.”
“While this storm has brought significant challenges, our preparations were comprehensive and began well before the situation escalated,” said NYCEM Commissioner Zachary Iscol. “We have been in a state of coordinated action, working tirelessly around the clock with all involved agencies and partners. Our focus remains on providing immediate and effective support to New Yorkers, and then shifting to recovery and building operations.”
New York City experienced widespread flash flooding starting from the early hours of Friday into early Friday afternoon, and periods of rainfall are forecast to continue into the evening. Since late yesterday afternoon through 3:00 PM today, Central Park recorded about 5.8 inches of rain, and John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) and LaGuardia International Airport (LGA) saw roughly 8.5 and 4.9 inches, respectively. Although not yet officially confirmed, the National Weather Service has preliminarily reported that JFK had its wettest day on record since August 14, 2011. All three locations may end up with top-10 all-time daily records, depending on how much additional rainfall occurs this evening.
This marks the second highest daily rainfall ever recorded at JFK, and the highest daily amount in a September, previously set by Hurricane Donna in 1960, per the National Weather Service. Both Central Park and LGA measurements are top-10 amounts, and the rainfall is not yet over. Mayor Adams declared a State of Emergency earlier today due to the weather.
SAFETY TIPS
AGENCY AND PARTNER OPERATIONS:
NYCEM
DOT
FDNY
DEP
NYPD
NYCHA
DOB
NYC PARKS
DSNY
CON EDISON
AMERICAN RED CROSS IN GREATER NEW YORK
Defendant Admits Causing Inaccurate Submissions to the Fund and Agrees to Pay $2.5 Million
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Richard C. Breeden, Special Master of the Madoff Victim Fund (“MVF”), announced today that the United States has filed and settled a civil fraud lawsuit against FULCRUM CAPITAL PARTNERS LLC (“FULCRUM”), an investment firm based in Austin, Texas, alleging that FULCRUM fraudulently obtained payments from the MVF, an entity created by the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) to distribute funds collected by the United States through civil and criminal asset forfeiture to victims of the fraud perpetrated by Bernard L. Madoff. Specifically, the United States alleges that FULCRUM, in violation of the False Claims Act, purchased recovery rights from various Madoff fraud victims who had submitted claims to the MVF and required the Madoff fraud victims to conceal these transactions from the MVF. As a result, FULCRUM caused the MVF to make inflated payouts to the victims, which they paid over to FULCRUM. Under the settlement, submitted today to U.S. District Judge Valerie E. Caproni for review and approval, FULCRUM will pay $2,511,084 to the United States. FULCRUM also made extensive factual admissions regarding its conduct, including that it caused inaccurate statements to be submitted to the MVF and received amounts from the MVF to which FULCRUM was not entitled.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “The Madoff Victim Fund was created to compensate victims who suffered unreimbursed losses from the massive fraud perpetrated by Bernard Madoff. The MVF’s ability to make fair and accurate distributions to Madoff victims depends on claimants’ compliance with MVF reporting requirements, including truthful disclosure of all Madoff-related recoveries received from any other source. Fulcrum obtained a fraudulent windfall from the MVF by purchasing recovery rights from Madoff fraud victims, then compelling them to conceal the sales proceeds from the MVF and transfer the resulting inflated MVF payments to Fulcrum. This Office will not tolerate lying to the MVF and will continue to pursue and hold accountable those who would use deceptive practices to obtain MVF funds.”
MVF Special Master Richard C. Breeden said: “The defendant Fulcrum is a claim buying financial firm that never lost a penny from Madoff’s conduct. After secretively buying claims from real victims, Fulcrum caused others to conceal information from the Madoff Victim Fund with the objective of gaining greater payments for itself. The inevitable consequence of orchestrating false reports to MVF was diminishing the help that we could be provided to real fraud victims. We applaud the SDNY U.S. Attorney’s Office for recovering $2.5 million that the defendants should never have received. Of equal importance is the message that lying to MVF and concealing recoveries is an illegal act that will be prosecuted vigorously.”
From as early as the 1970s through December 2008, Bernard L. Madoff perpetrated the largest Ponzi scheme in history, defrauding thousands of victims of billions of dollars through Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC (“Madoff Securities”) (the “Madoff Fraud”). The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York has recovered over $9 billion related to the Madoff Fraud through civil and criminal asset forfeitures. In 2013, the DOJ created the MVF to distribute to victims of the Madoff Fraud certain of the forfeited funds through a process called remission.
As alleged in the Complaint filed in Manhattan federal court:
From at least October 2016 through October 2022, FULCRUM violated the False Claims Act by causing the submission of false claims and statements to the MVF that failed to disclose payments certain MVF claimants had received from FULCRUM. As a result of this scheme, FULCRUM fraudulently received payments from the MVF to which it was not entitled.
FULCRUM is an investment firm that specializes in trading distressed assets, including Madoff Securities feeder fund shares and attendant rights. One Madoff Securities feeder fund whose underlying investors suffered losses from the Madoff Fraud was the Luxembourg-based Luxalpha SICAV Fund (“Luxalpha”). From 2014 to 2019, FULCRUM purchased Luxalpha shares and attendant Madoff-related recovery rights from three investor groups: (i) Carac, a public pension fund based in France; (ii) a group of investors in Fondaco Absolute Return, a fund based in Italy (the “Fondaco Investors”); and (iii) a group of related individual investors based in France (the “Planckes”).
Carac, the Fondaco Investors, and the Planckes (the “Claimants”) had previously filed claims with the MVF seeking remission payments for losses they claimed to have incurred as a result of their investments in Madoff Securities through Luxalpha. FULCRUM entered into a series of Purchase and Sale Agreements (“PSAs”) with Carac, one of the Fondaco Investors (a foundation called Compagnia di San Paolo (“CSP”)), and the Planckes, pursuant to which FULCRUM bought their rights to receive remission payments from the MVF. In particular, under the PSAs, Carac, CSP, and the Planckes each agreed to deliver all payments received from the MVF to FULCRUM; permit FULCRUM to act in each of their names, places, and steads with respect to the MVF; and take all actions requested by FULCRUM regarding the MVF.
FULCRUM was aware that the MVF requires all claimants to disclose collateral recoveries received from any other source, including proceeds from the sale of MVF recovery rights. The MVF issued multiple Collateral Recovery Update (“CRU”) Notices to each of the Claimants, requiring them to report all collateral recoveries. FULCRUM instructed Carac, CSP, and the Planckes to fraudulently conceal in their CRU responses the payments they had received from FULCRUM for the sale of their Luxalpha shares and rights to remission payments from the MVF. The MVF was required to reduce the Claimants’ remission payments by the amount of their collateral recoveries to prevent the Claimants from receiving duplicative recoveries. As a result of FULCRUM’s fraudulent scheme, the MVF made inflated remission payments to the Claimants. Carac, CSP, and the Planckes then transferred these amounts to FULCRUM.
As part of the settlement, FULCRUM made extensive admissions of conduct alleged in the United States’ Complaint, including the following:
FULCRUM will pay $2,511,084 to the United States under the settlement. In addition, FULCRUM agreed that it and the Claimants are not entitled to receive any amounts from the MVF in the future, and that FULCRUM shall not seek to obtain, on behalf of itself or the Claimants, any further amounts from the MVF. In connection with the filing of the lawsuit and the settlement, the Government joined a private whistleblower lawsuit that had been filed under seal pursuant to the False Claims Act.
Mr. Williams thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the MVF for their assistance with the case.
New York Attorney General Letitia James today issued a consumer alert warning against price gouging of essential goods and services in the aftermath of heavy rainstorms that caused flash flooding and significant damages in New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, and other parts of the state. A state of emergency has been declared in counties impacted by the heavy storms. New York’s price gouging statute prevents businesses from taking advantage of consumers by selling essential goods or services at an excessively higher price during market disruptions or emergencies. Attorney General James urges New Yorkers who see higher prices on essential goods and services, including ride-hailing, to report the issue to her office.
“Heavy rain and flash flooding have devastated New York City and parts of the state and I am reminding businesses that they cannot use this storm as an excuse to jack up prices,” said Attorney General James. “Families and neighbors should not have to pay extra for basic necessities as they are dealing with flooding, damages, and road closures. I urge New Yorkers to report any unreasonably high prices for essential items to my office. I also encourage New Yorkers impacted by the storms to follow local guidance to stay safe.”
New York law prohibits businesses from taking unfair advantage of consumers by selling goods or services that are vital to health, safety, or welfare for an unconscionably excessive price during emergencies. The price gouging statute covers New York state vendors, retailers, and suppliers, and includes essential goods and services that are necessary for the health, safety, and welfare of consumers or the general public. These goods and services include food, water, gasoline, generators, batteries, flashlights, hotel lodging, and transportation options.
When reporting price gouging to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), consumers should:
Price gouging violations can carry penalties of up to $25,000 per violation. New Yorkers should report potential concerns about price gouging to OAG by filing a complaint online or calling 800-771-7755.
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander joined Malikah Founder and Executive Director Rana Abdelhamid on a Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) Business Walk in Astoria, Queens, yesterday. The walk aimed to engage with local businesses and celebrate the vibrant immigrant community that built the neighborhood’s cultural richness, culinary diversity, and economic vitality.
“Immigrants have been at the heart of Astoria’s transformation. Through hard work, entrepreneurial spirit, and cultural contributions, MENA communities not only revitalized the neighborhood but wove themselves into an essential part of New York City’s history,” said Comptroller Lander.
Comptroller Lander addressed the community’s most pressing needs for pandemic recovery and the kinds of assistance that were deemed most useful in informing longer-term recovery, particularly in the context of sunsetting pandemic programs with a focus on the anticipated challenges related to rent control and relief for small business owners.
The Comptroller also sought to identify areas where better language access is needed to connect the neighborhood with the city’s small business and social service resources.
Comptroller Lander’s visit began at MoMA PS1 museum, where he joined New York City Council Member Julie Won and community leaders for a tour of the Malikah showcase. The installation is co-designed with twelve women from Little Egypt and the North African communities in Astoria, Queens who weave together stories of migration and belonging.
The second stop brought Comptroller Lander to the Malikah Center, where he joined Council Member Tiffany Cabán for a tour of their new space. There he met with the center’s women’s and youth programs for a group discussion on the challenges and opportunities impacting working class Muslim women and youth.
The walk continued to Dar Yemma, a Moroccan café that opened its doors in March 2022. Here Comptroller Lander and Council Member Cabán met Saber Bouteraa, the owner, who immigrated to the US from Algeria at the age of 16 and now owns a thriving business in Astoria. The conversation touched on the immigrant experience, the challenges of starting a business post-pandemic, and rising rent.
The walk ended at the Egyptian restaurant Mombar, a personal favorite of Comptroller Lander, where he and Council Member Cabán met chef and owner Mustafa El Sayed, who is also one of two employees running the restaurant since 2001.
At each stop, Comptroller Lander presented certificates recognizing the outstanding organizing, leadership, and individual accomplishments that have helped transform Astoria into the thriving MENA community it is today.
“Malikah is thrilled to have partnered with Comptroller Lander, and Council Members Won and Cabán to showcase vibrant MENA businesses in Astoria and our ongoing MoMA PS 1 exhibition. An opportunity to celebrate the contributions of working class immigrants to our community and to advocate for economic empowerment, we hope that this business walk helped raise awareness of the challenges that our communities face and encourage New Yorkers to support small immigrant owned business,” said Rana Abdelhamid, Malikah Founder and Executive Director.
Malikah is a grassroots anti-violence organization advocating against gender and hate based violence through self-defense training, healing justice, economic empowerment, and community organizing for safety and power. They facilitate, train and organize women and girls across all five boroughs in New York City through partnerships with CBOs, public schools and religious institutions. Through their trainer model, they equip women and girls in their communities with their four programmatic pillars 1) healing 2) self-defense 3) organizing and 4) financial literacy.
