MAYOR ADAMS ANOINTS KATHLEEN CORRADI AS NYC’S FIRST-EVER ‘RAT CZAR’

 

Citywide Director of Rodent Mitigation Will Be First Dedicated Member of Mayor’s Office Working Solely on Rat Reduction — Major Quality-of-Life and Health Challenge

 

Adams Administration Accelerates Rat Reduction Work in Harlem with Combined $3.5 Million Investment to Fight Rats Across Agencies

New York City Mayor Eric Adams appointed Kathleen Corradi as the city’s first-ever citywide director of rodent mitigation, also known as the ‘rat czar.’ In this newly created role, Corradi will coordinate across city government agencies, community organizations, and the private sector to reduce the rat population in New York City — building a cleaner, more welcoming city and tackling a major quality-of-life and health issue. Mayor Adams also announced the new Harlem Rat Mitigation Zone and a $3.5 million investment starting in Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) to expand and accelerate rat reduction work across Harlem.

 

“New York City has done a lot recently when it comes to fighting public enemy number one: rats. But it was clear we needed someone solely focused on leading our rat reduction efforts across all five boroughs, and today I’m proud to announce Kathy Corradi as New York City’s first-ever ‘rat czar,’” said Mayor Adams. “Kathy has the knowledge, drive, experience, and energy to send rats packing and create a cleaner more welcoming city for all New Yorkers. Beginning with this $3.5 million investment toward rodent mitigation in Harlem, Kathy will take the lead on our multi-agency effort to test new mitigation techniques, expand outreach and education efforts, and increase maintenance and remediation work. The rats are going to hate Kathy, but we’re excited to have her leading this important effort.”

 

“Rats are more than just a quality-of-life issue — they are a symbol of systemic issues that for too long have plagued New Yorkers, particularly low-income and communities of color,” said Chief of Staff Camille Joseph Varlack. “I’m thrilled to have Kathy Corradi as our first rat czar, who will coordinate across agencies, bring a scientific, data-driven approach to the role, and deliver on Mayor Adams’ vision to finally control our rat population. It will take each and every New Yorker working together to create the rat free New York City we all want, and Kathy is the right person to lead us forward.”

 

“Every New Yorker — regardless of their zip code, income level, or any defining factor — deserves to live in a city free from rats,” said First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright. “I’m thrilled to have Kathy Corradi as the city’s first ever rat czar, who with a background in science and expertise in rodent mitigation, will help deliver an equitable quality of life experience for all New Yorkers. Through Kathy’s leadership and each and every New Yorker playing their own part, we can write a new chapter in our city on cleanliness and ending the rat crisis.”

 

“On behalf of all New Yorkers, we welcome Kathy to the war on rats,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “She will lead a team of experts with focus and energy, every day diligently depriving rats of food, water, and shelter. And the rest will be history!”

 

“No person or family should have to deal with rats in their home, in any significant way in their neighborhood, or elsewhere across the city,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “I am excited to continue the work of this interagency effort and welcome Kathy Corradi on board to tackle what is a serious quality of life issue affecting many communities across the city.”

 

“Rat mitigation is more than a quality-of-life issue for New Yorkers,” said Citywide Director of Rodent Mitigation Kathleen Corradi. “Rats are a symptom of systemic issues, including sanitation, health, housing, and economic justice. As the first director of rodent mitigation, I’m excited to bring a science- and systems-based approach to fight rats. New York may be famous for the Pizza Rat, but rats, and the conditions that help them thrive will no longer be tolerated — no more dirty curbs, unmanaged spaces, or brazen burrowing. I’m honored to lead this work, grateful to Mayor Adams for this opportunity, and look forward to sending the rats packing.”

 

As the citywide director of rodent mitigation, Corradi will lead and implement a unified strategy to reduce rats in neighborhoods across New York’s five boroughs, with a focus on innovative ways to cut off rats’ food sources, as well as through testing and deploying new technologies to detect and exterminate rat populations. Corradi will play a vital role in developing and executing the city’s rat mitigation efforts, harnessing both the expertise and operational capacity of several city agencies including the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks), the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), the New York City Department of Education (DOE), the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY), and the New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS), in addition to different private sector partners.

 

Harlem Rat Mitigation Zone

As part of today’s announcement, Mayor Adams also announced four city agencies will invest $3.5 million starting in FY23 to launch the Harlem Rat Mitigation Zone — an accelerated rat reduction plan covering Community Boards, 9, 10, and 11, and which includes 28 NYCHA properties, 73 NYC Parks locations, nearly 70 DOE schools, and over 10,000 private properties. DOHMH, NYC Parks, NYCHA, and DOE will receive this funding to accelerate critical rat mitigation work in Harlem and to test new and emerging technologies to fight rats, including:

• 19 full-time staff and 14 seasonal staff to inspect, exterminate, and maintain or clean public spaces to prevent “mischiefs” of rats.
• New equipment, like tilt trucks, to better contain and manage waste and extermination supplies, such as bait, traps, sensors, fumigation machines (including Burrow RX and CO₂ machines); Rat Ice; and exclusion methods, like wire lathe around structural rat burrows and landscaper fabric designed to keep pests out.
• Eight new “Rat Slabs” at NYCHA Douglass Houses and Johnson Houses, a rat mitigation tool to harden earthen floors and prevent rat burrowing.

As part of this work in Harlem, private properties will be inspected twice annually for rat-related violations, and issued violations accordingly. City locations will be inspected monthly. The city will also offer Harlem-specific rat academies in Community Boards 9, 10, and 11 in the coming months. New Yorkers can learn more about how to prevent rats at their properties at Rat Academies hosted by DOHMH. The best way for New Yorkers to prevent rats is to adhere to the following common-sense tips:

• Keep homes clean and secure trash:
• Store trash in containers and follow DSNY’s new trash set-out times to reduce the time that trash sits out;
• Do not feed wildlife; and
• Pick up after dogs.

• Destroy potential rat homes:
• Seal cracks or holes around buildings, sidewalks, and under doors;
• Keep green spaces around a property clean and maintained; and
• Cover or destroy earthen rat burrows (also known as rat holes.)

The newly established Harlem Rat Mitigation Zone.

Rodent Control Gift

The Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City also recently received a generous donation of over 1,000 Tomcat rodent control products, including 100 bait stations, 1,000 rat snap traps, and refillable bait for use in NYCHA, NYC Parks, and DOE gardens for use.

 

“We appreciate the opportunity to support New York City's mitigation efforts,” said Jodi Lee, vice president of controls, Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, which owns Tomcat. “Rodent control starts with preventive measures, such as removing access to water and food sources, and includes proven rodent control products for challenging settings. Tomcat's solutions are an effective tool in the fight to stem rodent infestations.”

 

Today’s announcement builds on historic investments in rat mitigation and cleanliness that the Adams administration has made, including the launch of ‘Get Stuff Clean,’ that invested $14.5 million to clean neglected spaces, ending New York City’s ‘5 o’clock shadow’ by drastically reducing the hours that black trash bags sit on the curb, and implementing the nation’s largest curbside composting program citywide.

 

About Kathleen Corradi

 

Kathleen Corradi brings over a decade of community engagement, program development, and facilities operations to the Adams administration at the first-ever citywide director of rodent mitigation. Spearheading sustainability, sanitation, rodent and pest mitigation, and space utilization projects, Corradi has dedicated her career to developing effective systems in service of a more equitable and resilient New York City.

Corradi began her career as an elementary teacher in Central Brooklyn and program lead at Brooklyn Botanic Garden. At the DOE’s Office of Sustainability, Corradi developed New York City’s Zero Waste Schools program, the nation’s largest zero waste program that reached over 350,000 students, and led the agency's rodent reduction efforts, coordinating and implementing pest mitigation plans across nearly 120 public schools that led to 70 percent compliance on the Neighborhood Rodent Reduction taskforce. Most recently she has served as DOE’s Queens Director of Space Planning, managing $500 million in capital development funds to optimize New York City public schools’ building utilization and ensure fair distribution of resources.

 

Corradi earned Bachelor of Science in Biology from Eckerd College, and a Master of Science in Urban Sustainability from The City College of New York.

 

Corradi will report to Chief of Staff Camille Joseph Varlack, and will work closely with Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi and Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom.

“Today marks a new era in our battle against the scourge of rats in New York City,” said DOE Chancellor David C. Banks. “With the hiring of our first citywide director of rodent mitigation, we are taking a significant step forward in protecting the health and safety of our students both at home and at school. I am confident that under the leadership of the new rat czar, we will make great strides in controlling the rat population and creating a cleaner, more livable city for future generations of New Yorkers.”

 

“Rats are the sworn enemies of public health,” said DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “DOHMH is proud to have a leading role in the city’s pest-fighting partnership, and we are confident that, together, we will drive these detested rodents from the five boroughs and take back our city. We are especially excited to have the rat czar’s leadership, and we welcome her to the frontlines of this critical battle for health and quality of life for all New Yorkers.”

 

“While we respect all creatures that call New York City home, managing the rodent population is vital to maintaining a healthy urban ecosystem,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “Kathy’s appointment as rat czar shouts, rather than squeaks, our city’s commitment to addressing this issue thoughtfully and effectively, and I look forward to working with her and our partner agencies to keep our city greenspaces safe and sanitary for all New Yorkers.”

 

“Improving our ability to substantially reduce the presence of pests, including rats, is not only a key component of our agreement with HUD, but also a critical part of enhancing conditions and quality of life for NYCHA residents,” said NYCHA Interim CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “The transformative work that has been underway at NYCHA goes hand-in-hand with these larger citywide mitigation efforts, as we all come together to combat rodent issues across the five boroughs.” 

 

“Our commercial corridors should be thriving with businesses and shoppers, not rats,” said SBS Commissioner Kevin D. Kim. “Through our work on the Interagency Rat Task Force, and educating local businesses and community organizations about rat mitigation, SBS remains committed to tackling this quality-of-life and health issue. We look forward to working closely with Kathy.”

 

“Congratulations to Kathy Corradi on this historic appointment,” said Mayor’s Office of Operations Director Dan Steinberg. “It’s a trademark of the Adams administration to attack our city’s most intractable problems with new ideas, technology, and talent. The city's rat reduction agenda is bolder and more creative than ever thanks to the interdisciplinary work of the Rat Reduction Task Force. We’re thrilled to now have a dynamic leader at City Hall to drive this work into the future.”

 

“Mayor Adams has made it clear that the rats don't run this city, we do,” said DSNY Commissioner Jessica Tisch. “I'm looking forward to working with Kathy to send these pests packing!”

 

Announcing SAGE Equity Innovation Lab Grant Recipients for LGBTQ+ Aging Work

 

Six awardees throughout the U.S. will receive financial and technical support from SAGE  

SAGE, the world’s largest organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBTQ+ elders, is thrilled to announce the inaugural six recipients of its new Equity Innovation Lab program. An external selection panel chose The San Gabriel Valley LGBTQ+ Center, T.R.A.N.S., Hualapai Tribal Council Senior Services, Love Wins Food Pantry, and the radical healing lab out of a competitive array of organizations from elder communities across the country.    

SAGE’s Equity Innovation Lab offers financial and technical support to multiply-marginalized and historically under-resourced LGBTQ+ elder communities nationwide. The program provides a $5,000 grant and year-long technical assistance. Additionally, SAGE will facilitate community-building opportunities to foster learning and build trust-based collaborations among the grant recipients.  

“We are overjoyed to announce the SAGE Equity Innovation Lab grants to these remarkable organizations,” declared SAGE CEO Michael Adams, “With this program, we are taking a pivotal step towards empowering and uplifting marginalized LGBTQ+ elder communities nationwide.” Continued Adams, “wWe are deeply passionate about supporting community, elder-driven innovation by sharing resources and power to support initiatives emerging from particularly marginalized LGBTQ+ elder communities, and we’re excited to see how our Equity Innovation Lab can accelerate community-driven progress.”  

The following six awardees were selected to receive support from SAGE’s Equity Innovation Lab:    

The San Gabriel Valley LGBTQ Center in California has developed a plan to enhance support for its elder community members, particularly those in rural areas. Their peer support programs play a crucial role in this effort by creating a culturally and geographically competent resource list that addresses the specific needs of LGBTQ+ elders in rural communities. The Center also intends to expand its peer support services, both in-person and online, to provide more opportunities for LGBTQ+ elders to connect and receive support.   

T.R.A.N.S., led by activist Tanya Walker, is a project that assists houseless and formerly homeless trans elders in New York City. T.R.A.N.S has identified BIPOC and TGNC communities as the most impacted and therefore aims to provide support specifically for members of these communities. The project will plan and host an intergenerational masquerade event that brings community members together and helps connect them to resources. By creating this safe and supportive environment, T.R.A.N.S. hopes to address the unique challenges faced by trans elders in New York City, particularly those who are homeless or formerly homeless. Through these efforts, T.R.A.N.S aims to empower and uplift community members and ensure their voices and needs are heard.   

The Hualapai Tribal Council Senior Services, headquartered in Peach Springs, Arizona, is a group that supports and unites tribal elders and they will leverage the program to extend its support to LGBTQ+ elders. The project recognizes this community’s unique challenges and needs, particularly those tribal LGBTQ+ elders who live in rural areas. The organization will use the grant for various activities and initiatives to create a supportive and inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ tribal elders. In particular, the program will initiate a Talking Circle for LGBTQ+ elders to connect with each other and LGBTQ+ youth, engage in storytelling, and access resources offered by Hualapai Tribal Council Senior Services. Additionally, outreach efforts are conducted to engage and involve the elders in the community while also discussing the historical trauma experienced by the LGBTQ+ tribal community.   

Golden Rainbows of Illinois South, Inc. (GRIS) aims to support rural LGBTQ+ people in southern Illinois. GRIS conducts outreach, hosts educational and social events, and works on legislation to help raise awareness about the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ elders in rural communities. Guided by elder LGBTQ+ community members, GRIS uses grant funding to organize and host a resource and information summit. The summit, and subsequent survey and roundtable discussion, will identify areas for improvement and encourage the inclusion of LGBTQ+ specific policies throughout their community. Moreover, the summit will also allow GRIS to update a much-needed resource guide for the aging LGBTQ+ population.   

The Love Wins Food Pantry will utilize support from SAGE’s Equity Innovation Lab to understand the nutritional needs of BIPOC LGBTQ+ elders in New York City. Love Wins Food Pantry prides itself in creating a safe space for LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming people especially, but they eagerly help all those in need. The organization understands that not all people are comfortable going to church-based food pantries, so they operate out of an LGBTQ+ bar, Friends Tavern, in Jackson Heights, Queens – one of New York City’s most ethnically diverse neighborhoods –  to meet the needs of BIPOC LGBTQ+ elders.   

The radical healing lab is embarking on a project to bridge support and intercommunal relationships with and for queer elders of color in Chicago, Illinois. The project’s goal is to create a safe and inclusive space where BIPOC and TGNC elders can come together and share their experiences, challenges, and wisdom with younger members of the community. By fostering intergenerational connections, the project aims to support the well-being and resilience of queer elders of color.    

“There is nothing more powerful than supporting elder LGBTQ+ communities already doing the work and aspiring to do more,” said Elise Hernandez, Director of Research and Impact at SAGE and head of the program. “I’m excited to see these groups take their critically needed and innovative projects to the next level and to help uplift their knowledge and insights so others can learn from them.”    

SAGE is dedicated to creating a world where LGBTQ+ elders can live with dignity, honor, and respect. Learn more about the SAGE Center of Excellence and SAGE’s Equity and Innovation Lab at http://sageusa.org/excellence.   

ABOUT SAGE:  

SAGE is the world’s oldest organization dedicated to advocacy, services, and innovations to ensure lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer and/or questioning (LGBTQ+) elders everywhere age with the dignity and respect they deserve. Founded in 1978, SAGE offers supportive services and consumer resources to LGBTQ+ older people and their caregivers, advocates for public policy changes, provides education and technical assistance for aging providers and LGBTQ+ community organizations through its National Resource Center on LGBTQ+ Aging, and cultural competency training through SAGECare. SAGE is headquartered in NYC with collaborative partnerships across the United States and globally. Learn more at sageusa.org. 

AIR QUALITY HEALTH ADVISORY ISSUED FOR LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK CITY METRO, LOWER HUDSON VALLEY, EASTERN LAKE ONTARIO, CENTRAL AND WESTERN NEW YORK

 

In Effect for Friday, April 14, 2023

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos and State Department of Health (DOH) Commissioner Dr. James McDonald issued an Air Quality Health Advisory for the Long Island, New York City Metro, Lower Hudson Valley, Eastern Lake Ontario, Central and Western New York regions for Friday, April 14, 2023.  

The pollutant of concern is: Ozone 

The advisory will be in effect 11 a.m. through 11 p.m. 

DEC and DOH issue Air Quality Health Advisories when DEC meteorologists predict levels of pollution, either ozone or fine particulate matter are expected to exceed an Air Quality Index (AQI) value of 100. The AQI was created as an easy way to correlate levels of different pollutants to one scale, with a higher AQI value indicating a greater health concern. 

OZONE 

Summer heat can lead to the formation of ground-level ozone, a major component of photochemical smog. Automobile exhaust and out-of-state emission sources are the primary sources of ground-level ozone and are the most serious air pollution problems in the northeast. This surface pollutant should not be confused with the protective layer of ozone in the upper atmosphere. 

People, especially young children, those who exercise outdoors, those involved in vigorous outdoor work and those who have respiratory disease (such as asthma) should consider limiting strenuous outdoor physical activity when ozone levels are the highest (generally afternoon to early evening). When outdoor levels of ozone are elevated, going indoors will usually reduce your exposure. Individuals experiencing symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain or coughing should consider consulting their doctor. 

Ozone levels generally decrease at night and can be minimized during daylight hours by curtailment of automobile travel and the use of public transportation where available. 

New Yorkers also are urged to take the following energy-saving and pollution-reducing steps: 

• use mass transit or carpool instead of driving, as automobile emissions account for about 60 percent of pollution in our cities; 
• conserve fuel and reduce exhaust emissions by combining necessary motor vehicle trips; 
• turn off all lights and electrical appliances in unoccupied areas; 
• use fans to circulate air. If air conditioning is necessary, set thermostats at 78 degrees; 
• close the blinds and shades to limit heat build-up and to preserve cooled air; 
• limit use of household appliances. If necessary, run the appliances at off-peak (after 7 p.m.) hours. These would include dishwashers, dryers, pool pumps and water heaters; 
• set refrigerators and freezers at more efficient temperatures; 
• purchase and install energy efficient lighting and appliances with the Energy Star label; and 
• reduce or eliminate outdoor burning and attempt to minimize indoor sources of PM 2.5 such as smoking. A toll-free Air Quality Hotline (1-800-535-1345) has been established by DEC to keep New Yorkers informed of the latest Air Quality situation.

 Additional information on ozone and PM 2.5 is available on DEC's website and on DOH's website. To stay up-to-date with announcements from DEC, sign up for DEC Delivers: DEC's Premier Email Service.

The Friday, April 14 Air Quality Health Advisory regions consist of the following: Long Island, which includes Nassau and Suffolk counties; New York City Metro, which includes New York City, Rockland, and Westchester counties; Lower Hudson Valley, which includes Sullivan, Ulster, Dutchess, Orange, and Putnam counties; Eastern Lake Ontario, which includes northern Cayuga, Jefferson, Monroe, Oswego, and Wayne counties; Central New York, which includes Allegany, Broome, southern Cayuga, Chemung, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, southern Herkimer, Livingston, Madison, Onondaga, Oneida, Ontario, Otsego, Tioga, Tompkins, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, and Yates counties and Western New York, which includes Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans, and Wyoming counties.

Community Food Distribution Norwood

 

Dear Friends, Together with Council Member Eric Dinowitz and District  Leader Sandra Pabon in partnership with NY Common  Pantry we are holding a Community Food Distribution. When: Friday, April 14th, 2023 at 1:00pm. Where: 204th Street & Hull Avenue. If you have any questions please contact my community  office at (718) 409-0109.

MAYOR ADAMS REMINDS NEW YORKERS TO FILE TAXES DURING LAST WEEK OF TAX SEASON

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today issued a reminder to New Yorkers to remember to file their taxes as the city and the nation enter the last week of the 2023 tax season. The reminder comes on the heels of Mayor Adams’ successful push last year in Albany to expand and enhance the New York City Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which is available to eligible New Yorkers this year.

 

“The end of tax season is around the corner, which is why we are encouraging all New Yorkers to take advantage of all the resources available to them and file their taxes as soon as they can,” said Mayor Adams. “Thanks to our expansion of NYC Free Tax Prep, more New Yorkers can get free tax help and get their taxes filed quickly and easily. And with the increase our administration secured in the New York City Earned Income Tax Credit, eligible New Yorkers can expect to get more money back on their return and in their pockets. Let’s finish this tax season strong.”

 

“As we approach the final days of tax season 2023, we want to remind all New Yorkers to file their taxes as soon as possible and to take advantage of NYC Free Tax Prep services if you qualify,” said New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga. “Thank you to Mayor Adams for expanding the New York City EITC, helping more New Yorkers get even more of their hard-earned money back to help with essentials, and to all of our NYC Free Tax Prep partners for helping thousands of residents get their full refund!”

 

NYC Free Tax Prep helps New Yorkers meet the full potential of their refunds, including valuable tax credits like the enhanced New York City EITC, at no cost to them. Single-filing New Yorkers who earned $56,000 or less in 2022, or families who earned $80,000 or less, are eligible for NYC Free Tax Prep. The new NYC Free Tax Prep for self-employed New Yorkers provides year-round tax preparation services for gig workers, freelancers, and small business owners who often struggle to file taxes and manage financial record-keeping and who face limited access to capital, banking services, and loans. Self-employed individuals and owners of businesses can work with specially trained preparers on their annual return and, later this year, quarterly estimated tax filings, including workshops, one-on-one consultations, and other resources on record-keeping and tax filing. Services are available in-person, online, and through drop-off, and in multiple languages. For more information about NYC Free Tax Prep, tax credits, and more, New Yorkers can visit the New York City’s tax prep website or call 311 and say “Tax Prep.”

 

NYC Free Tax Prep Services include:

• In-Person Tax Prep — sit down with a volunteer preparer: At in-person tax prep sites, knowledgeable Internal Revenue Service (IRS)-certified Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)/Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) volunteer preparers help eligible filers complete an accurate tax return. Over 140 sites are currently open across the city.
• Drop-off Service — drop off documents and pick up completed returns later: With drop-off service, filers can drop off their tax documents and pick up their completed returns later.
• Virtual Tax Prep — like in-person free filing but online: Virtual Tax Prep is an online service where an IRS-certified VITA/TCE volunteer preparer will video conference with eligible filers to help prepare their tax return using a secure digital system. Filers can submit photos or scans of tax documents to the preparer, confirm their identity, and complete their return by video call with a preparer. Filers will need access to a computer, tablet, or smartphone; a stable internet connection; and the ability to download secure video conference software.
• Assisted Self-Preparation — free online tax prep on one’s own or with help: Assisted self-preparation allows filers to complete their tax return online on their own, and an IRS-certified VITA/TCE volunteer preparer will be available by phone or email to answer questions. Filers will need access to a computer, tablet, or smartphone; a stable internet connection; an email address; and their 2021 adjusted gross income or self-select PIN.

 

New Yorkers can call 311 or visit New York City’s tax prep website to choose the best filing option for themselves and find the most convenient location if choosing in-person or drop-off tax prep. A checklist of what documents New Yorkers need to bring with them to file and multilingual information about the services are available online. In-person services are available in English, Arabic, Armenian, Bengali, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Hebrew, Korean, Russian, Spanish, and Urdu. Over-the-phone interpretation for other languages is also available.

 

Last year, thanks to efforts by Mayor Adams, the state Legislature, and the City Council, the adopted state budget increased the state and city match to the federal EITC for the first time in nearly 20 years. After the city committed $250 million annually to the New York City EITC, it received a one-time state payment of $100 million. Under the city’s expansion of this program, a single parent with one child and an annual income of $14,750 or less will see their benefit rise from $187 to $933 — a 400-percent increase. A married couple with two children and an annual income of $25,000 will see their New York City benefit grow from $308 to $925 under the city payment — a 200-percent increase. The expansion of the New York City EITC will help approximately 800,000 New Yorkers be able to better afford essential items like food, rent, and utilities, as well as promote a more equitable recovery across the city.

 

Last month, Mayor Adams announced the launch of a $1.5 million multimedia marketing campaign to promote the expanded New York City EITC. The marketing campaign is running on television, radio, social media, in print, and out-of-home advertising (i.e. billboards, posters, or any other forms of media consumed outside the home) to promote the enhanced benefit and provide information on how eligible New Yorkers can access it.

THREE CONTRACTORS INDICTED IN FIRST BRONX CASE CHARGING MANSLAUGHTER AND CRIMINALLY NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE IN A CONSTRUCTION FATALITY

Victim Crushed By 1,000 Pounds of Debris in Egregiously Dangerous Building Site; Joint Investigation by NYC Department of Investigation and Bronx DA Found Builders Falsified Credentials/Permits and Flouted Safety 

 Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark and New York City Department of Investigation Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber today announced that three contractors have been charged in the death of a construction worker at a Bronx building site in 2019, and a fourth man was charged with fraud in relation to the incident that allegedly resulted from blatant disregard for building safety codes and worker’s protections.

 District Attorney Clark said, “The horrendous death of Segundo Manuel Huerta Mayancela—buried under cinderblocks and metal sheets--was entirely preventable. The construction site at 94 East 208th St. was a deathtrap waiting to happen. An unqualified company allegedly used fraudulent credentials, ignored oversight requirements and building code, and built a dangerously unstable structure. Workers are not expendable. Along with our partners at the Department of Investigation, we will hold anyone accountable for putting workers at risk in an already hazardous profession.

 “The death of an Ecuadoran immigrant at a construction site led to the passage of Carlos’ Law, which creates greater accountability for tragic and avoidable injury to workers at New York construction sites and increases the penalties for criminal corporate liability for the death or serious physical injury of an employee, a felony or misdemeanor, by a fine of up to $500,000. The dangerous conditions presented in this case are precisely why Carlos’ Law was enacted, but this case predates the statute. In the future any construction-related fatalities in the Bronx will be met with this important tool.”

 Commissioner Strauber said, “The City’s buildings codes are written to support and advance safety on construction sites. As charged, these defendants failed to follow the law and to carry out their most basic responsibilities, including to show up in person to ensure safety standards were being met. These failures resulted in dangerous conditions that could have been prevented, and ultimately led to the death of one worker, and injuries to five others. I thank the Bronx District Attorney’s Office for bringing this prosecution and the Department of Buildings for assisting in this important investigation. As these charges show, there are grave consequences for those who would treat the City’s construction safety regulations as merely optional.”

 Department of Buildings Acting Commissioner Kazimir Vilenchik P.E. said, “New York City has among the strongest construction safety regulations anywhere in the country. The defendants’ stunning disregard of even the most basic of these regulations in this case is reprehensible. The Department of Buildings is committed to bringing accountability to the construction industry, and our work in support of this indictment sends a strong message that negligence on the worksite will not be tolerated. My sincerest thanks to the Bronx District Attorney’s Office for bringing charges in this important case, and for their continued partnership helping us build a culture of safety in the industry.”

 District Attorney Clark identified the defendants as Augustine Adesanmi, 67, owner of Favored Design and Construction, engaged in the actual construction; Akhlak Choudhary, 54, owner of Pioneer General Construction, general contractor for the project; Abazi Okoro, 66, owner of Linzi Construction, construction superintendent at site; and Fatos Mustafaj, 64. Adesanmi is charged with second-degree Manslaughter, and he, Choudhary and Okoro are charged with Criminally Negligent Homicide; Adesanmi and Mustafaj are charged with seconddegree Grand Larceny and Choudhary is charged with four counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing.

 Defendants Adesanmi, Okoro and Mustafaj were arraigned on April 11, 2023 before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Guy Mitchell and were put on Supervised Release. They are due back on June 8, 2023. Choudhary has not yet been arrested.

 According to the investigation, in early 2019, Atin Batra entered into a formal agreement to pay $1.2 million to Favored Design to construct a four-story, eight-unit residential building on a vacant lot he had purchased at 94 E.208th Street. Adesanmi and Mustafaj allegedly claimed that Favored Design was qualified to engage in new construction and would file necessary permits and proof of insurance. Favored Design did not have qualifications under the New York City Building Code to engage in construction of a new building, so they allegedly enlisted Choudhary, a qualified contractor, to obtain a permit. Four notarized documents containing false statements were filed in Choudhary’s name to obtain the building permit, including a forged insurance policy for the worksite.

 The Building Code requires the General Contractor to appoint a Construction Superintendent, a qualified outside professional who visits the site daily to ensure the work is being done according to the NYC Building Code and sound construction practices. Okoro, a former employee of the NYC Department of Design and Construction, allegedly was paid $3,000 for the use of his credentials, and allegedly never visited the site.

 During the spring and summer of 2019, work continued at the premises without a qualified General Contractor or Construction Superintendent monitoring the work. Adesanmi was the designated “competent person” and was supposed to be present at all times; on the day of the collapse, he was not there.

 According to the investigation, on August 27, 2019, workers were bringing cinder blocks and bricks from the second floor onto a work platform at the third floor. It was made of sheets of metal that were placed on top of metal joists. The joists were not properly secured to the structure. Workers had brought nearly a ton of material onto the platform when the unsecured joists fell forward and failed, causing the platform, the workers on the third floor and building materials on the front half of the building to fall onto the workers below.

 Several workers received serious injuries and Segundo Manuel Huerta Mayancela, a 46 year-old Ecuadoran immigrant, died as a result of blunt force trauma with crushing injuries.

 An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.

U.S. Attorney Announces Agreement With The City University Of New York To Remedy The Exclusion Of A Student With Visual Impairments

 

CUNY Has Also Agreed to Implement Systemwide Reforms to Ensure Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced a voluntary compliance agreement under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) with the City University of New York (“CUNY”) pursuant to which CUNY will provide individual relief to a student with visual impairments who was excluded from full participation in their academic courses and implement systemwide policies to ensure future compliance with the ADA across CUNY’s 25 colleges in the five boroughs of New York City, which collectively serve 243,000 students.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “It is simply unacceptable that any student should be denied equal access to an education because of a disability.  We are pleased that CUNY has agreed to provide relief to the student whose education was compromised and that CUNY is committed to improving the accessibility of its courses, including online and digital content, for all future students.”  

Title II of the ADA prohibits public entities from discriminating against any individual on the basis of disability by excluding the individual from participation in services, programs, and activities.  The ADA requires public entities to make reasonable modifications to avoid such discrimination and to administer their services, programs, and activities in the most integrated setting appropriate to the needs of qualified individuals with disabilities, including by furnishing appropriate auxiliary aids and services to ensure effective communication. 

The out-of-court agreement resolves an investigation during which the U.S. Attorney’s Office determined that CUNY failed to provide reasonable accommodations required under the ADA for a student with visual impairments at CUNY’s John Jay School of Criminal Justice and identified shortcomings in CUNY’s accessibility and reasonable accommodation policies and procedures.  Specifically, the investigation found, among other things, that CUNY failed to make qualified learning assistants available to ensure an integrated learning setting for the student in numerous science and mathematics courses.  Additionally, John Jay instructors required students to use WebAssign, a third-party online learning product, to complete assignments, but that digital platform was not fully capable of reading out mathematical and scientific symbols and equations.  Furthermore, John Jay repeatedly failed to make usable versions of required textbooks and other course materials available to the student by the start of courses.  The student made a number of attempts to bring the deficiencies to the attention of staff at John Jay and CUNY, but neither John Jay nor CUNY had adequate policies and procedures to ensure that reasonable accommodation requests and related complaints are addressed in a timely and appropriate manner.  As a result, the student received unduly poor grades and was forced to forgo taking other desired and required advanced courses for a number of academic years.        

CUNY has agreed to prepare and implement systemwide policies to ensure improved accessibility of educational content to visually impaired students, including digital learning content, proper training of staff and faculty, and effective reasonable accommodation and complaint procedures.   

Under the agreement, CUNY will permanently purge all of the affected student’s grades in the relevant courses in which reasonable modifications were not provided and pay the student $10,000 in compensatory damages.  CUNY will also adopt systemwide policies and procedures to ensure:

• The prompt availability of qualified learning assistants, including by initiating an appropriate and timely search process, involving the relevant affected students in that process, and setting a reasonable level of compensation likely to attract qualified candidates;   
• The prompt availability of accessible course materials by the start of the relevant course or as soon as practicable based upon early consultations with affected students;
• Reasonable accommodation and complaint mechanisms based on clear, short deadlines by which accommodation requests and complaints must be addressed and remaining concerns are promptly escalated to higher-level administrators as necessary;
• Information Technology accessibility consistent with the latest Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, including via verification of the accessibility of third-party learning products and of instructors’ awareness of accessibility requirements for instructor-created content; and
• Training of faculty and accessibility-services staff on ADA requirements.  

NYS Office of the Comptroller DiNapoli: Temporary Federal Spending Drives Up NY's National Ranking in States' Balance of Payments

 

State Received $1.51 for Every $1 Sent to Washington, Ranks 3rd

for Tax Payments Made to Federal Government

The surge in federal spending in response to the COVID-19 pandemic significantly improved New York’s per capita ranking in the federal balance of payments from 49^th in 2019 to 30^th in Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2021, according to a report released by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. For every dollar New York sent to the federal government in tax receipts, it received $1.51 back in federal spending, as compared to a national average of $1.70. DiNapoli’s report found that for the second year in a row, all states had a positive balance of payments thanks to the emergency federal relief aid.

“New York’s per capita ranking jumped because of pandemic funding for fiscal recovery, economic support, Medicaid and vaccine manufacturing contracts,” DiNapoli said. “This significant improvement reflects short-term measures, however, not enduring policy changes. As the temporary aid winds down, the underlying trends are likely to return, with New York reverting to getting far less from Washington than it sends.” 

New York’s FFY 2021 per capita contribution to the federal treasury was $14,753, and it received $22,208 in federal spending per capita, for a positive balance of payments of $7,455 per capita. New Mexico ranked first in the balance of payments with a $18,878 per capita surplus followed by Hawaii ($15,945), and Virginia ($15,159). Utah ranked 50^th with $3,042, New Hampshire at 49^th with $3,263 and New Jersey at 48^th with a $3,600 per capita surplus.

Federal Spending

Overall, New York received 6.8% of total federal spending examined in FFY 2021, up from 6.4% in the prior year and higher than its share of the population (6%). At $22,208, per capita federal spending was 13.7% higher than the national figure of $19,524. New York ranked eighth in per capita federal spending, up from 17^th in FFY 2020. The improvement was primarily due to increased federal spending in the state in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Compared to FFY 2020, per capita federal spending in New York rose by two-and-a-half times the national average. Major pandemic-related spending that was higher in New York relative to other states includes:

• $2,587 per capita for unemployment compensation;
• $1,219 per capita through the Paycheck Protection Program;
• $998 per capita through State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds;
• $393 per capita in student loan costs from payment waivers; and
• $256 per capita for Restaurant Revitalization and Shuttered Venues Operations.

In FFY 2021, federal spending on Medicaid in New York was close to $47.1 billion or $2,373 per capita, more than one-and-a-half times the national average of $1,559, ranking it third among the states.

Tax Payments to Washington

New York generated 7.7% of the $3.8 trillion in federal tax payments, more than the state’s 6% share of the nation’s population in 2021. At $14,753, New York’s per capita contribution to the federal treasury was third highest among the states and 28.6% more than the national average. The rank is up from fourth in 2020, due primarily to increased income tax payments.

Connecticut had the highest per capita contribution to the federal treasury at $16,916, followed by Massachusetts with $16,314. Mississippi generated the lowest per capita total tax payments at $6,575. New York’s total payments of $293 billion ranked third among the states behind California and Texas.

New York’s individual income tax payments of over $165 billion represented 8.1% of total federal receipts from these taxes. New York’s payments increased by 22.2%, compared to a national increase of 27.4%. New York’s per capita individual income tax payments of $8,332 were more than 36% higher than the national average of $6,114. New York ranked fifth among the states in this category.

New Yorkers’ payments of $87.3 billion were 6.7% of the total federal receipts from social insurance taxes. New York’s per capita contribution for such payments, $4,403, was 11.9% above the national average of $3,935, ranking it 10^th among all states in this category.

Corporate income taxes made up $372 billion, or 9.8%, of total federal receipts from the states in FFY 2021, with $33.6 billion or 9% of that from New York, ranking first on a per capita basis. On total and per capita measures, New York paid the highest corporate income taxes in the 10-year history of this report.

Prior Reports

DiNapoli’s seventh report in this series details the differences among the 50 states and what they pay in federal taxes and how much they receive in federal spending. Past reports put New York’s negative balance of payments at $19.9 billion in FFY 2013, $40.9 billion in FFY 2016, $24.1 billion in FFY 2017, $26.6 billion in FFY 2018 and $23.7 billion in FFY 2019. DiNapoli’s analysis for FFY 2020 was the first time a positive balance was reported, $146.2 billion, and this year's report shows a positive balance of $147.9 billion.

Report

New York’s Balance of Payments in the Federal Budget: Federal Fiscal Year 2021

Interactive Map with Balance of Payments Breakdown in the United States