Set Sail! Mayor de Blasio Announces First Citywide Ferry Boat Has Departed Gulf Coast Shipyard for New York City

   Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced that the first of twenty new boats built for the soon-to-be-launched Citywide Ferry Service has departed Horizon Shipyard in Bayou La Batre, Alabama and is on its way to New York City.

The vessel, which departed Tuesday afternoon, will travel 1,742 nautical miles, across the Gulf of Mexico, through Lake Okeechobee, and up the East Coast of the United States.

The vessel will cover approximately 280 nautical miles every 12-18 hours, with periodic port calls for refueling and any needed mechanical and system adjustments. Depending on weather and other conditions, the vessel is expected to arrive in New York Harbor early next month. You can follow the boat’s progress by following @CitywideFerry or www.citywideferry.nyc.

“The brand new boats are hitting the water. Construction on our docks is in full swing. And we’re hiring the crews that will carry New Yorkers across the city. This is an exciting time as we prepare to launch a whole new public transit service for our people,” Mayor de Blasio said.

From start to first splash (when a new boat hits water), each Citywide Ferry vessel takes roughly eight months to complete. The vessel then undergoes a sea trial to ensure it is fit for service and for its maiden voyage up the East Coast.

Video of the first Citywide Ferry leaving port and at sea and photos can be accessed here.

“The first Citywide Ferry boat is officially on its way,” said New York City Economic Development Corporation President James Patchett. “Soon you’ll be seeing these modern, efficient vessels right here in New York Harbor. This is a major milestone toward launching Citywide Ferry this summer, and connecting more New Yorkers to good jobs and opportunities all along our waterfront.”

“The first of 20 Citywide Ferry vessels is homeward bound for New York City – the newest way for New Yorkers and visitors to “work, live, play” throughout the boroughs when we launch this summer,” said Cameron Clark, Senior Vice President and Project Manager for Citywide Ferry by Hornblower. “These brand new state-of-the-art vessels will create new links to tech hubs, job centers, educational opportunities and so much more, all for the price of a subway ride and with regular, reliable service.”

Each sea trial, which lasts about a week, includes a series of tests conducted by the shipyard, the vessel’s owner and the U.S. Coast Guard. A professional team of engineers, captains and other technical crew membersthoroughly vet the vessel’s equipment, speed, safety and overall performance. Once the vessel is certified by the U.S. Coast Guard, the vessel can sail up to New York City.

With 20 vessels operating at 21 landings across New York City, Citywide Ferry will carry an estimated 4.6 million trips per year across six routes – providing a new and easily accessible transit option for traditionally underserved communities and where jobs and housing are growing rapidly.

Mayor de Blasio recently announced hiring for the first of 200 new jobs to be created by Citywide Ferry Service. All boats will now be docked, fueled and maintained out of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, where an additional passenger stop also will be added in 2018.

All Citywide Ferry jobs will pay the City’s Living Wage or higher, and provide comprehensive benefits. Workforce1 Career Centers will be accepting applicants for captain and deckhand jobs throughout the spring and summer. The first interviews will be March 24 at the downtown Brooklyn Workforce1 Career Center. The next round of hiring will take place in early summer for positions ranging from concessions to deckhands and operations. For a list of all Workforce1 locations, click here. Applicant may also apply through the Brooklyn Navy Yard’s Employment Center, here or via the Citywide Ferry by Hornblower Website.

For more information on Citywide Ferry and to stay up-to-date on the latest information, visit www.CitywideFerry.NYC.

More Details on Citywide Ferry Service

Routes:

·         Rockaway, South Brooklyn and Astoria routes are scheduled to launch in 2017.

·         Rockaway route will connect to the Brooklyn Army Terminal and Wall Street.

·         Astoria route will connect to Astoria, Roosevelt Island, Long Island City, East 34th Street and Wall Street.

·         South Brooklyn route will connect Bay Ridge, Brooklyn Army Terminal, Red Hook, Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 1 and Pier 6, and Wall Street, with an optional link to Governors Island.

·         Soundview and Lower East Side routes to launch in 2018.

·         Routes from Coney Island and Stapleton on Staten Island are in the planning stages for future expansion.

·         Combined routes will cover over 60 miles of waterway.

Commuting Times:

·         Rockaway to Wall Street (1 stop): Approximately 1 hour

·         Astoria to E 34th Street (2 stops): Approximately 22 minutes

·         Astoria to Wall Street (3 stops): Approximately 38 minutes

·         Soundview to Wall Street (2 stops): Approximately 43 minutes

·         Bay Ridge to Wall Street (4 stops): Approximately 48 minutes

Pricing:

·         Cost per ride will equal that of a single subway ride.

·         Over 4,000 daily East River Ferry customers will see fares reduced from $4 to the cost of a single subway ride.

·         Fare will allow for free transfers to any other ferry route within the system, including the East River Ferry.

·         Both paper and smartphone ticketing will be available, with payments accepted via cash, credit, or debit card. Discounts will be available for seniors, children and New Yorkers with disabilities.

·         Passengers will be allowed to bring bicycles on board for a $1 fee.

The Boats:

·         Each boat will be able to carry 150 passengers.

·         All boats will be equipped with WiFi.

·         Boats will be fully accessible to New Yorkers with disabilities, and will comply with the requirements of both the Americans with Disabilities Act and New York City Local Law 68 of 2005.

·         New boats will be equipped with the most modern engine design available to reduce emissions and noise, as well as an efficient hull design that will limit wakes and maximize fuel economy.

City Support:

·         The city is investing $55 million in infrastructure upgrades, including building 10 new ferry landings. Barge construction is currently underway at a facility on Staten Island.

·         The city is providing $30 million in operating support per year, over a period of six years. Based on a projection of 4.6 million annual trips, the per-trip subsidy for Citywide Ferry Service will be $6.60, lower than the nearly $8 per trip subsidy on the Long Island Railroad or the nearly $15 per trip subsidy for express buses. The city is providing $10 million for additional startup costs, such as vessel upgrades and ticketing machines.

·         City negotiated an option to acquire ferry vessels, allowing for greater operational flexibility and providing significant savings to taxpayers over the life of the service (roughly up to $5 million per year).

·         City will receive a portion of fare-box revenue if ridership exceeds 5.6 million passengers.

5th Annual Fair Housing Symposium

NO! to Housing Discrimination. Enough is Enough!

Thursday, April 27^th at Hostos Community College - Hostos Café  

450 Grand Concourse  Bronx, NY

(Wheelchair Accessible)

SESSION 1:

2:30pm - 5:15pm

For attorneys, advocates, and service providers

SESSION 2:

5:30pm - 8:30pm

For tenants and tenant organizers

Assistive listening device, language interpretation, other other accommodation is available upon request.

Kajori Chaudhuri, LMSW

Bronx Community Service Center Director

New York City Commission on Human Rights

1932 Arthur Avenue, Room 203A | Bronx, NY 10457

t: 718-579-6702 | c: 347-703-2137 | f: 718-500-7336 | nyc.gov/humanrights

MAYOR DE BLASIO SIGNS PACKAGE OF LEGISLATION INCREASING ACCESIBILITY IN CITY FACILITIES

   Mayor Bill de Blasio today held public hearings for and signed 14 pieces of legislation– Intros. 1161-A in relation to requiring DOHMH report annually on immunization rates of New Yorkers for Human Papillomavirus; Intro. 1162-A in relation to requiring DOHMH to report annually on the use of contraceptives; Intro 1172-A in relation to requiring DOHMH to report annually on maternal mortality;  Intro. 748-B in relation to amending the New York City charter in relation to drug strategy; Intro. 882-A in relation to requiring that a hearing loop – which helps people with hearing loss hear better – be installed in certain capital projects; Intro. 1280-B in relation to requiring NYPD to make collision reports available online to individuals involved; Intro. 1071-A in relation to requiring DOT to conduct a study of private streets; Intro. 1474-A in relation to lowering the tax on the transfer of a taxi medallion; Intro. 1475-A in relation to removing restrictions on the transfer of taxi medallions; Intro 873-A in relation to establishing a car-sharing pilot program that reserves some street parking spaces for car-share vehicles; Intro. 267-A in relation to requiring DOT to designate parking spaces in municipal parking lots for car-share organizations; Intro. 247-A in relation to increasing the fines for performing electrical work without a license; Intro. 820-A in relation to requiring DSNY to consider programs that would incentivize recycling in public housing; and Intro. 1198-A in relation to requiring DEP to publish a plan for reducing flooding in Queens Community Districts 12 and 13, and to report annually on progress.

“Hearing loops allow those with hearing loss to fully participate in daily, civic life. Intro 882-A will ensure appropriate accommodations are made in City facilities for those with hearing loss whenever the City does major capital renovations,” said Mayor de Blasio. “Additionally, Intros 873-A and 267-A provide a new mobility service in City neighborhoods that will reduce the need for personal car ownership, provide greater access to motor vehicle use for the majority of New Yorkers who don’t own one, and help reduce congestion on City streets.”

Intro. 882-A requires that a hearing loop – which helps people with hearing loss hear better – be installed for certain capital projects.

Intro. 1161-A requires DOHMH to report annually on immunization rates of New Yorkers for Human Papillomavirus. 

Intro. 1162-A requires DOHMH to report annually on the use of contraceptives.

Intro 1172-A requires DOHMH to report annually on maternal mortality.

Intro. 748-B requires the City of NY to issue a biennial report on strategies to address drug misuse in NYC.

Intro. 1280-B requires NYPD to make collision reports available online to individuals involved.

Intro. 1071-A requires DOT to conduct a study of private streets.

Intro. 1474-A lowers the tax on the transfer of a taxi medallion.

Intro. 1475-A removes certain restrictions on the transfer of taxi medallions.

Intro 873-A establishes a car-sharing pilot program that reserves some street parking spaces for car-share vehicles.

 Intro. 267-A requires DOT to designate parking spaces in municipal parking lots for car-share organizations. 

Intro. 247-A increases the fines for performing electrical work without a license.

Intro. 820-A requires DSNY to consider programs that would incentivize recycling in public housing.

Intro. 1198-A requires DEP to publish a plan for reducing flooding in Queens Community Districts 12 and 13, and to report annually on progress.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

In case you were wondering about Intro 873-A, and Intro 267-A taking public parking away for so called ride sharing companies here are the council members.

 Intro 873-A establishes a car-sharing pilot program that reserves some street parking spaces for car-share vehicles. 

"New York is home to more than 1.4 million cars, and as anyone who's ever looked for a parking spot in Borough Park, Forest Hills or anywhere in Manhattan knows all too well, it is a brutal and time consuming process. The research is clear that for every one shared car put on a city street, between 5 and 10 less fuel efficient cars are taken off. Car sharing programs have extraordinary potential to reduce road congestion, while actually growing the number of people who have access to cars, especially in the outer boroughs. The quality of life, economic, and environmental benefits of these programs are significant and I thank Mayor de Blasio for signing this legislation in to law today,” said Council Member Mark Levine.

 Intro. 267-A requires DOT to designate parking spaces in municipal parking lots for car-share organizations.

“Today's expanding sharing economy makes Intro 267A common sense legislation that would allow for the Department of Transportation (“DOT”) to create a pilot program that would allow designate 600 parking spaces in municipal parking facilities, as well as on designated street parking spaces for the use of car-sharing organizations throughout the five boroughs. I want to thank Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer for introducing this bill many years ago and trusting me to steer it into passage. Also, I want to thank DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg and Mayor de Blasio for working with us to make this bill a reality,” Council Member Rosie Mendez.

Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney And FBI Announce Charges Against Correction Officer In Rikers Island Assault

Officer Charged With Federal Civil Rights Violation and Filing False Reports

   Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and William F. Sweeney Jr., the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced today the unsealing of criminal charges against RODINY CALYPSO, a New York City Correction Officer, in the assault of an inmate at Rikers Island.  CALYPSO was charged with repeatedly punching and elbowing the inmate in the head and face without physical provocation while the inmate was handcuffed behind his back, in violation of his rights under the United States Constitution, and with filing a false report in order to cover up the incident.  CALYPSO was arrested this afternoon on charges contained in a criminal Complaint and is expected to be presented in federal court later today. 

Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said:  “Rodiny Calypso allegedly violated a Rikers Island inmate’s constitutional rights by viciously beating him – without physical provocation – while the inmate was restrained in handcuffs.  As we have said before, the protections of our Constitution extend to those in prisons, and this Office will remain vigilant about protecting the rights of all, including those confined within the walls of Rikers Island.”

FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said:  “Today, Rodiny Calypso, a New York City Correction Officer, is charged with subjecting an inmate to cruel, unnecessary, and inappropriate punishment—behavior that simply won’t be tolerated. The rules that apply to the appropriate use of force are specific and clear, and the vast majority of those within the law enforcement community are quick to adhere to them. Today’s charges not only defend the rights of all prisoners to be afforded proper treatment under the law, but also the reputation of those within the criminal justice system who uphold the rule of law; if you don’t, you’ll swiftly be removed from serving in any official capacity.”

According to the Complaint[1] unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:

Rikers Island is a jail complex, located in the Bronx, New York, maintained by the New York City Department of Correction.  At the time of his assault, the inmate (“Inmate-1”) was housed in pretrial detention in the Otis Bantum Correctional Center (“OBCC”), a facility that houses, among other inmates, inmates in need of maximum security.  Inmate-1 was housed in Dorm 5 North, a dormitory area within the OBCC in which inmates were generally kept in solitary confinement in individual cells for 23 hours per day.  The shower facilities within Dorm 5 North were individual stalls, to be occupied by one inmate at a time, and to which inmates were brought handcuffed, then uncuffed through a port in the shower stall door, and then handcuffed again through the port before being brought out of the stalls by correction officers.

The Assault and Cover-Up

 

Shortly before noon on February 27, 2014, CALYPSO relieved another correction officer at 5 North while Inmate-1 was in the shower.  Inmate-1 and CALYPSO had an extended verbal exchange, during which CALYPSO picked up some personal items Inmate-1 had dropped outside of the door through the port.  At one point, CALYPSO stepped away from the door and spoke to a fellow correction officer one level down within the dorm area.  That person left the dorm area and returned with another officer (“Officer-1”), who looked up at the shower area.

CALYPSO rear-cuffed Inmate-1 for removal and briefly looked down in the direction of the other officer.  CALYPSO then opened the door to the shower stall and immediately punched Inmate-1 several times in the face.  He followed Inmate-1 into the shower area, where he put Inmate-1 into a headlock and punched him several more times in the head.  CALYPSO began to lose his footing at this point, and clung to Inmate-1’s side.  Officer-1 arrived in the stall at this point.  As Officer-1 restrained Inmate-1, CALYPSO regained his footing and elbowed Inmate-1 repeatedly – approximately five times – in the head.  As a result of the assault, Inmate-1 suffered lacerations to his face and the back of his head.  The entire assault was captured on surveillance video and witnessed by multiple inmates whose cells were positioned opposite the shower area.

The New York City Department of Correction issues directives governing the circumstances under which the use of force against inmates is appropriate.  Under these directives, force is to be used as a last resort, when an inmate in restraints is still dangerous to himself and others.  Among other things, the directives prohibit:  the use of more force than is necessary to restrain an inmate, control a situation, or protect oneself or others; the use of force out of proportion to the threat posed by an inmate at the time; the use of blows where a control hold, grasping, or pushing would suffice to restrain the inmate; the direction of blows to the head if the use of such blows is otherwise avoidable; and multiple strikes, punches, or kicks where a single blow would be sufficient to stop an inmate’s attack. 

After the assault, CALYPSO filled out a “Use of Force Report” form on which he was supposed to report the circumstances of that assault.  In that Use of Force Report, CALYPSO attempted to justify his conduct by falsely stating that Inmate-1 had spit on him and attempted to spit on him again.  He also mischaracterized and misstated portions of the assault, omitting the punches he delivered while holding Inmate-1 in a headlock and claiming that he had hit CALYPSO in the “upper torso” area.

RODINY CALYPSO, 38, of Springfield Gardens, New York, is charged with one count of deprivation of rights under color of law, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and one count of filing false forms, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  CALYPSO faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.

Mr. Kim praised the investigative work of the FBI.  Mr. Kim also thanked the New York City Department of Investigation, the New York City Department of Correction, Investigative Division, and the Bronx District Attorney’s Office for their assistance in the investigation, which remains ongoing.

This case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights and Public Corruption Units.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tara M. La Morte and Martin S. Bell are in charge of the prosecution.  

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

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

A.G. Schneiderman Announces Record Number Of Data Breach Notices For 2016

Hacking Drives Data Breaches Up By 60%, Exposing Info Of 1.6 Million New Yorkers

Schneiderman: It’s On Businesses And Citizens Alike To Protect Against Dangerous Data Exposures That Undermine NY'ers Financial Health And Cost Billions

  Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced that his office received a record number of data breach notices in 2016. The close to 1,300 reported data breaches in 2016 represented a 60 percent increase over the previous year; these breaches exposed the personal records of 1.6 million New Yorkers in 2016, representing a threefold increase over the prior year. Analysis conducted by the Attorney General's office revealed that the exposed information consisted overwhelmingly of social security numbers and financial account information and surmised that hacking and inadvertent disclosure were the two leading causes of data security breaches. 

“In 2016, New Yorkers were the victims of one of the highest data exposure rates in our state’s history,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “The total annual number of reported security breaches increased by 60% and the number of exposed personal records tripled. Hacking is increasingly prevalent – making it all the more important for companies and citizens alike to take precaution when sharing and storing personal data. It’s on all of us to guard against those who try to use our personal information for harm – as these breaches too often jeopardize the financial health of New Yorkers and cost the public and private sectors billions of dollars.”

The Attorney General’s office first began collecting information regarding exposure of personal data in 2005, after § 899-aa was added to New York State Business Law requiring businesses to report all security breaches of their computerized data systems containing private consumer information to the OAG in a timely manner. The research included today builds on the NYAG’s 2014 report titled "Information Exposed: Historical Examination of Data Security in New York State,” which analyzed eight years of security breach data and how it impacted New Yorkers.

Hacking & Negligence Continue as Main Causes of Data Breaches

In 2016, hacking accounted for more than 40% of data security breaches.  519 notices reported unauthorized outside access of computerized data (see Figures 1 and 2).  In the OAG’s 2014 report, hacking similarly represented the leading cause of all data breaches from 2006 to 2013.  This past year however, employee negligence, which consists of a combination of inadvertent exposure of records, insider wrongdoing, and the loss of a device or media, nearly tied hacking by accounting for approximately 37% of breaches.  

Figure 1: Data Security Breach Cause (Chart)

Figure 2: Data Security Breach Cause (Table)

Social Security and Financial Information as Primary Targets

The most frequently acquired information in 2016 was Social Security numbers and financial account information, which together accounted for 81% of breaches in New York. Other records such as driver’s license numbers (8%), date of birth (7%) and password/account information (2%) (see Figure 4) together accounted for 1,284,037 of exposed personal records in 2016. 

Figure 3: Type of Information Acquired (Chart) 

Figure 4: Type of Information Acquired (Table)

Mega-Breaches in 2016

While 2016 saw a 59% increase in the total number of reported breaches, only two mega-breaches figured among them. Comparatively, 28 mega-breaches were reported to the OAG between 2006 and 2013.  On October 12, 2016, Newkirk Products, Inc., a business associate of Capital District Physicians’ Health Plan, Inc., CDPHP Universal Benefits, Inc., and Capital District Physicians’ Healthcare Network, Inc., reported exposing the personal health information of 761,782 New Yorkers.  The next largest breach, reported on January 13, 2016, was at HSBC bank.  It exposed the financial, personal, and social security information of 251,201 New Yorkers.  Additionally, breaches at Eddie Bauer and Emblem Health reportedly affected 60,205 and 55,664 New Yorkers in August and November, respectively.  These breaches, not surprisingly, had a substantial impact on the total number of New York residents affected during those months (See Figure 5).  The number of New Yorkers affected steadily declined in the months that followed.

Figure 5: Total Affected and Total NY Residents Affected by 2016 Reported Breaches (Table) 

Figure 6: Total NY Residents by 2016 Reported Breaches (Graph)

Average Delays in Notification Remain Constant Throughout 2016

As part of New York General Business Law Section § 899-aa, entities that experience a breach must notify the OAG, among other entities, and the individuals immediately affected, without unreasonable delay.  Entities that suffered a breach exhibited the greatest delay in notification in March.  While the difference in shortest and longest amount of time for entities to notify the OAG and consumers is extreme, between one day and several months, the average delays decreased throughout the year. 

All Organizations are at Risk

No organization is exempt from the risk of a data breach. Data exposure can occur at small family businesses, government agencies, and large multinational corporations.

The Attorney General’s Office recommends that organizations follow these simple steps to help protect sensitive personal information against unauthorized disclosures. 

• Understand Where Your Business Stands:  The first step toward an effective data security policy is to understand what information your business requires for its operation, what data have already been collected and stored, how long the data are needed and what steps have been taken to ensure security. Organizations should review how sensitive data are acquired, how sensitive information is being shared with third parties, and what access controls are in place. 
• Identify and Minimize Data Collection Practices:  Put simply, data that do not exist cannot be stolen or lost. Collect only information that you need, store it only for the minimum time that you need it, and deploy data minimization tactics wherever possible. For example, if your company uses a point-of-sale system, ensure that expiration dates are not stored with credit card numbers. Reduce the use of highly sensitive data points, such as Social Security numbers, unless absolutely necessary, and minimize the length of retention for such data.  Delete any information you no longer need.
• Create an Information Security Plan That Includes Encryption:  Creating a comprehensive Information Security Plan is a complex but necessary endeavor. Studies show that entities with an effective plan will articulate not only technical standards, but will incorporate training, awareness, and detailed procedural steps in the event of data breaches. Read more about what a comprehensive security plan should include in the report. 
• Implement an Information Security Plan:  Successful implementation of a thoughtfully designed plan can be one of the most effective ways to minimize the risk of a data breach. Elements to consider when implementing a plan include ensuring employees are aware of the plan and conducting regular reviews to ensure the plan continues to conform with evolving best practices.
• Take Immediate Action in the Event of a Breach:  Remember to investigate all security incidents immediately and thoroughly. In the event of a breach, the law may require you to notify consumers, law enforcement, state Attorney Generals’ offices, credit bureaus and other businesses. 
• Offer Mitigation Products in the Event of a Breach:  While not required by law, New Yorkers affected by a data breach should be provided with mitigation services for free. These include credit monitoring, which provides alerts, usually by email, whenever an application for new credit is submitted to a consumer credit reporting agency, and a security freeze, which blocks new credit accounts. The cost of clearing up the consequences of identity theft can easily reach into the thousands of dollars and require hundreds of hours attending to administrative burdens.  

The Attorney General’s Office suggests that consumers guard against threats in the following ways:

• Create Strong Passwords for Online Accounts and Update Them Frequently. Use different passwords for different accounts, especially for websites where you have disseminated sensitive information, such as credit card or Social Security numbers. 
• Carefully Monitor Credit Card and Debit Card Statements Each Month.  If you find any abnormal transactions, contact your bank or credit card agency immediately. 
• Do Not Write Down or Store Passwords Electronically. If you do, be extremely careful of where you store passwords. Be aware that any passwords stored electronically (such as in a word processing document or cell phone’s notepad) can be easily stolen and provide fraudsters with one-stop shopping for all your sensitive information. If you hand-write passwords, do not store them in plain sight. 
• Do Not Post Any Sensitive Information on Social Media.  Information such as birthdays, addresses, and phone numbers can be used by fraudsters to authenticate account information. Practice data minimization techniques. Don’t overshare.
• Always Be Aware of the Current Threat Landscape. Stay up to date on media reports of data security breaches and consumer advisories.  

The Attorney General’s Office recommends taking the following steps if you believe you have been victimized by a data security breach: 

• User Names and Passwords:  For user names and passwords, change them immediately on the relevant account and monitor the account for unusual activity. If you use the same user name or password on other accounts, change those as well.  
• Credit Card Numbers:  For breaches involving credit card numbers, Social Security numbers and other sensitive numbers, create an Identity Theft Report by filing a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and printing your Identity Theft Affidavit. You can call the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-438-4338 or complete the form online here. Use the Identity Theft Affidavit to file a police report and create your Identity Theft Report. An Identity Theft Report will help you deal with credit reporting companies, debt collectors and any fraudulent accounts that the identity thief opened in your name.  You may also want to put a fraud alert and/or security freeze on your credit report by notifying each of the credit reporting agencies (Equifax, TransUnion and Experian).  A security freeze remains on your credit file until you remove it or choose to lift it temporarily when applying for credit services. 

Contact information for the credit reporting agencies: 

Equifax 1-800-525-6285 

Experian 1-888-397-3742 

TransUnion 1-800-680-7289

As NYC’s Senior Population Surges, Comptroller Stringer Releases New Report and Calls for Strategic City Planning

   With the number of NYC seniors skyrocketing, new report lays out comprehensive proposals to support the growing population

City faces an imbalance between where New Yorkers are aging and where programs and services – like senior centers – are located

Analysis highlights the need for holistic, agency-by-agency approach

  Today, New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer called on the City to launch an agency-by-agency, neighborhood-by-neighborhood approach to serving its seniors. Unveiling a new a report – entitled “Aging with Dignity: A Blueprint for Serving NYC’s Growing Senior Population” – the Comptroller highlighted current challenges and the need for additional support for New York City’s senior population now and in the future. While calling for the city to perform long-term, comprehensive planning, the blueprint lays out specific proposals that will be necessary to better serve New Yorkers aged 65 and older.

“We need to act today – not tomorrow. Seniors are the anchors of our communities, and we must ensure they have the support they deserve. We need to have an all-hands-on-deck approach, from every City agency, because this is too important. As we face significant demographic changes, we need to reimagine how we support our current and future seniors,” New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer said.  “We hope these specific ideas and this blueprint will jumpstart a long-term conversation in the City — and help develop a long-term strategy — about how to deliver for New Yorkers for decades to come. Our approach should help more New Yorkers stay in their homes and age in place — it’s cheaper, it’s smarter, it allows New Yorkers to remain involved in their communities. Most importantly, it’s the right thing to do, and now is the time to act.”

Currently, New York City’s seniors face affordability, transit, housing and other obstacles. As the City’s population ages, so too does the urgency for holistic planning:

A Rising Population

• From 2005 to 2015, the number of New Yorkers over 65 years old surged by 19.2 percent. That is more than triple the rate of growth for the population under age 65.

• The number of New Yorkers aged 65 and older has grown in each borough over the last ten years, with the population growing fastest in Staten Island and the Bronx.

• By 2040, city planners expect there will be 1.4 million older adults living in New York City – an increase of hundreds of thousands of people from today.

• Yet, currently, the Department for the Aging’s budget is just 0.4 percent of total City expenditures – equivalent to about $300 per New Yorker over the age of 65.

• That’s while New York City senior centers—visited by over 29,680 seniors daily—served over 160,000 New Yorkers in FY16.

Affordability

• Over 40 percent of senior-headed households depend on government programs for more than half their income, with Social Security benefits comprising more than half of incomes for 397,000 senior-headed households.

• Six out of 10 senior renters spend more than 30 percent of their income on rent – a significantly higher percentage than the general population.

Accessibility and Transit

• More than 35 percent of seniors in NYC are living with a disability that can impair their mobility. Yet, data show that 61 percent of residential units in NYC do not have a wheelchair accessible entrance and 68 percent of housing units are not accessible from the sidewalk without the use of stairs.

• Adults over 65 – despite being 13 percent of the City’s population – made up 39 percent of all pedestrian fatalities in 2014.

• As the NYC population ages, the MTA expects Access-A-Ride usage to double to more than 14 million trips for New Yorkers by 2022, up from six million trips in 2015. Yet, a Comptroller’s Office audit showed that Access-A-Ride vehicles failed to show up for a scheduled trip more than 31,000 times in 2015.
• Certain neighborhoods across the city have large numbers of seniors, but relatively few senior centers or amenities like bus shelter or accessible subway stops – a challenge that must be addressed since it deprives seniors of services and because New York City will undergo further demographic changes.

• Though the City has 24,798 bus stops, only about one quarter have bus shelters, which are critical for seniors to travel. And despite its stated purpose, the City Bench program is not serving neighborhoods with a large number of seniors. Further, the community districts with the highest numbers of seniors generally have the fewest number of City bus benches.

Despite widespread documentation of these challenges, the City is not engaged in a comprehensive planning process for it seniors. As such, today, the Comptroller called for a cohesive, long-term planning process from the City in order to streamline services and develop a holistic strategy. Serving seniors should not be the job of the Department for the Aging alone. Almost all City agencies serve seniors, and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Department of Transportation, Department of Housing Preservation and Development, Department of Consumer Affairs, Department of Finance and others that offer direct services to seniors should be engaged in a robust, coordinated planning process.

To plan for the City’s demographic changes, the Comptroller’s report emphasizes the importance of keeping seniors in their homes and communities, a policy known as “aging in place.” Aging in place – rather than in nursing homes or institutional settings – is not only the preference of the vast majority of older New Yorkers, but research has demonstrated that it can be five times more cost-effective in serving the City’s swelling senior population.

This report offers a specific “aging in place agenda” for New York City based on three broad goals with specific proposals:

Creating Safe, Healthy, Affordable Housing Options

• Freezing rents by automatically enrolling New Yorkers in the Senior Citizens Rent Increase Exemption: Additional senior renters can more easily remain in their apartments if they are automatically enrolled in the Senior Citizens Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) program, which freezes their rent. This change would add an estimated 26,000 seniors to the program.

• Mitigating affordability challenges by expanding tax credits through the Senior Citizens Homeowners’ Exemption:To support seniors who own their homes, the City should expand eligibility for the Senior Citizens Homeowners’ Exemption to cover those with incomes up to $50,000. That would make approximately 29,000 more homeowners eligible for the program and mitigate affordability challenges.

• Transforming age-friendly home improvements: The City should establish a program that helps seniors make their homes age-friendly through enhanced requirements on landlords, or new tax credits for homeowners, that finance modifications like widened doors, grab bars in bathrooms, and no-slip surfaces, as other cities already have.

Developing More Liveable Communities

• Creating tailored, neighborhood action plans by expanding the Age-Friendly Neighborhoods program: In 2010, the City launched the “Age-Friendly Neighborhoods” program, which created neighborhood action plans for over a dozen neighborhoods to better support seniors. To do long-term planning, that program should be expanded significantly so communities can pinpoint their needs in a local way.

• Eliminating senior center deserts by strengthening investments: Senior centers are not consistently located in places with a large number of seniors, which may be preventing seniors in certain neighborhoods from benefitting from services. Currently, certain neighborhoods– like Bensenhurst, Bayside, Queens Village, Cambria Heights, Tottenville, and others – with large number of seniors have relatively few options. Studies show that seniors who do not utilize senior centers cite inconvenient locations as one of the top five reasons they do not attend. Additional funding and modernization of our senior centers is necessary to not only eliminate senior center deserts, but also to prepare for an aging population.

• Significantly increasing bus shelters and benches, and bolstering the Safe Streets for Seniors program:Just one fourth of all bus stops have shelters, and fourteen of the 20 community districts with the largest number of seniors have among the lowest ratio of benches per 10,000 seniors. The ability to travel is central to supporting older New Yorkers as they age in place, and sometimes a bus shelter or bench can be the deciding factor for seniors’ ability to travel. The City and State can improve accessibility to public transportation by adding more bus shelters, benches, elevators, and escalators.

Supporting the Well-Being of Older New Yorkers

• Invest in citywide programs that support seniors’ health, well-being, and independence: The City can increase the number of Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs), enhance support for caregivers, and provide additional resources for DFTA’s homecare and case management programs. In addition, through agency planning, the City can encourage more seniors to take advantage of Medicare’s free annual wellness screening, improve Social Security’s annual cost of living adjustment, and match the federal retirement savings tax credit with local funds.

To read the full report, click here.

BRONX MAN INDICTED FOR RAPE, MURDER OF NEIGHBOR IN 1999

Defendant’s DNA Was Taken In 2016 Arrest And Matched To Evidence on Victim 

   Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx man has been indicted on murder and rape charges for the 1999 killing of his neighbor. 

   District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant allegedly stabbed the victim repeatedly and raped her in her apartment, in the same building in which he lived. After two decades he was finally brought to justice when his DNA was taken after a minor arrest and it matched evidence from the crime scene. Victims of such atrocious crimes will never be forgotten, no matter how long it takes to get the perpetrator.” 

   District Attorney Clark said that Curtis Batchelor, 41, of the Bronx, was charged with first-degree Murder, two counts of second-degree Murder, and first-degree Rape. He was arraigned today before Bronx Supreme Court Justice William Mogulescu and is due back in court on April 13, 2017.

   According to the investigation, on or about and between May 25, 1999 and May 27, 1999, in 825 Gerard Avenue, Batchelor stabbed Elsa Grullon multiple times in the neck and chest, in the course of raping her. 

  Batchelor was arrested in January, 2016, and his DNA was taken. In March, 2016, the DNA was found to match semen recovered from the victim’s body. Further investigation led to the arrest of Batchelor on Feb. 27, 2017. 

   The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Michael Schordine and Morgan Dolan, under the supervision of Christine Scaccia, Chief of the Homicide Bureau, and the overall supervision of Nicole Keary, Deputy Chief of the Trial Division and Jeremy Shockett, Chief of the Trial Division.

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

City must notify residents of homeless shelters in advance: Senator Klein

Proposal to create real community notification & hearing process moves forward in NYS budget talks

Residents in The Bronx have been outraged when a homeless hotel, motel or shelter opens without notice.

But under a proposal advancing in the New York State budget, pushed by Senator Jeff Klein, and his colleagues in the Independent Democratic Conference, the City would be required to give elected officials, community groups and residents ample time to provide insight on shelter siting.

“The Bronx has been a dumping ground for shelters due to a lack of foresight and planning for the city’s homeless population. Residents here are simply fed up by the lack of notification, hearings and planning. This lack of transparency needs to end. Communities deserve notification and to have a say in what’s happening in the neighborhoods they care about,” said Senator Klein.

Under the IDC proposal advancing in this year’s budget, communities would have a greater amount of input on the placement of shelters within their communities than they would under the plan announced by the Mayor’s Office. Rather than community notification 30 days prior to the opening of a permanent shelter, the proposal gives communities notice 45 days before the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services hearings. The legislation would also empower local community boards to request public hearings on a shelter. DHS would be required to modify its proposal based on reasonable concerns from such hearings.

For temporary shelters the proposal requires notification one week from the city’s use of the hotel as a shelter, and requires DHS perform inspections to ensure sites are safe and free of violations. They must also maintain a publicly available list of these sites. The legislation also requires a quarterly report from DHS on the use and proposed use of these sites to be submitted to local elected officials. Because many times hotels are used for weather related emergencies, the legislation allows for 48 hour post placement notification in the event of an emergency situation.

The IDC is also advocating for the inclusion of the Home Stability Support program in the budget. This comprehensive initiative would provide a statewide rent supplement for families and individuals who are facing eviction, are currently homeless or who have lost housing due to domestic violence and/or hazardous conditions.

In January, Senator Klein and the Independent Democratic Conference released an investigative report, “Horrors in Homeless Housing,” detailing the conditions inside the hotels and cluster sites used for homeless housing. The city announced a five year phase out of these sites and a proposal to open 90 additional permanent shelters soon after.

The report listed the top ten worst offenders in both categories, with sites that had violations for issues such as rodent and roach infestations, mold, lead paint, unlawful cooking areas and failure to install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.