RECOVERY FOR ALL OF US: MAYOR DE BLASIO SIGNS RETIREMENT SECURITY AND TENANT PROTECTION LEGISLATION

 

Mayor Bill de Blasio today signed Retirement Security for All legislation, establishing a retirement savings program for private employees and a retirement savings board to administer it. The Mayor also signed two bills expanding New York City’s landmark right to counsel program for low-income tenants facing eviction in Housing Court.

 

“Working New Yorkers have been tested like no other due to the pandemic,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Our recovery must put them front and center.  By expanding Right to Counsel, we’ll continue to drive down evictions and bring support directly to tenants.  With Retirement Security for All, we’re fulfilling our commitment to make New Yorkers more financially secure as they age. I thank the City Council for their partnership and for passing these crucial bills.”

 

Currently, about one and a half million private sector employees in New York City have no access to a retirement saving program through their employer. Retirement Security for All is a continuation of the de Blasio Administration’s commitment to workers’ rights, including Paid Safe and Sick Leave, Fair Workweek, fighting for a $15 minimum wage and Paid Personal Time.

 

Today’s bill signing also codifies the increased speed with which the City has implemented the Mayor’s 2017 commitment to provide all low-income tenants facing eviction with legal representation in Housing Court: the program is now fully funded, well within the five-year expansion plan. Under the de Blasio Administration, the City has increased funding for tenant legal services to prevent evictions from approximately $6 million in 2013 to more than $160 million today, which has helped provide representation for thousands of tenants in housing court, with evictions dropping more than 40 percent since 2013 as a result. 

 

A summary of each bill is below:

 

Intro. 888-A (Kallos) – This bill creates a mandatory auto-enrollment payroll deduction IRA program for employees of private sector employers which do not offer a retirement plan and employ five or more employees.

 

Intro 901-A (Miller) – This bill establishes a retirement savings board to facilitate the implementation of the private sector employee retirement program and tasks the Comptroller with establishing an investment strategy and policy and directing the underlying investments or investment funds. The board would consist of three Mayoral appointees, and would be tasked with entering into contracts with service providers and administrators, creating a process for those not employed by a covered employer to participate, and conducting education and outreach to employers and employees.

 

Intro 1529-A (Levine) – This bill requires the Office of the Civil Justice Coordinator to collaborate with community groups in engaging and educating tenants of their rights in housing court, and then report on their efforts.

 

Intro 2050-A (Levine) – This bill speeds up the timeline for full citywide implementation of the housing court right-to-counsel law from July 31, 2022 to June 1, 2021.

 

The Mayor also held a hearing on Intro 1933-A (Rivera) to make the Open Streets Program permanent and provide a process for to community organizations to apply to operate open streets. A bill signing on this legislation will be held in the coming days.

 

“New Yorkers work hard, but those without the option to save for retirement face a crisis as they age,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Laura Anglin. “Retirement security will change lives and help millions of New Yorkers retire with dignity. I thank Mayor de Blasio and the City Council for focusing on this critical issue.”

 

“Our landmark right-to-counsel initiative providing tenants with legal assistance has helped thousands of New Yorkers avoid homelessness by driving down evictions by 41% in New York City – and in the process, sparked right-to-counsel programs across the country, with other jurisdictions following our City’s lead and providing low-income renters facing eviction with access to free legal counsel,” said Department of Social Services Commissioner Steven Banks. “During this past unprecedented year, our legal services providers met the moment, expanding their efforts under extraordinarily challenging circumstances to serve all low-income tenants facing eviction in New York City – and we thank them for their dedication, compassion, and commitment to community service. Today, we’re proud to codify those efforts, with the full expansion of this game-changing program achieved well within the five-year expansion plan initially agreed upon. We are grateful to our partners and the sponsors of the legislation at City Council for their ongoing support and commitment to keeping New Yorkers in need stably housed.”  

 

“All New Yorkers deserve to retire with income security to enjoy their years of hard work. Retirement income security is obtained through Social Security, personal savings and pension income. While it is a necessity in an individual’s life, savings may be difficult to acquire and is oftentimes dismissed or not considered until it is too late.  Through these bills, working New Yorkers have the opportunity to save for their futures and not have to spend their retirement years worried about finances, but instead, spend it enjoying the fruits of their labor. We  thank Mayor de Blasio and City Councilmembers for their work in passing this important legislation that makes New York a model Age-Inclusive City,” said Department for the Aging Commissioner Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez. 

 

“Retirement Security for All creates a vehicle that makes it simple for employers and easy for workers to save for retirement. All workers deserve to retire with dignity rather than trying to subsist on Social Security or working until they die.  Now 1.5 million New Yorkers will have the opportunity to join 9 million workers in other states who already have gained the opportunity to save for retirement through their paychecks.  Hopefully many millions more will follow in our footsteps,” said John Adler, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Pensions and Investments Chief Pension Investment Advisor for the Mayor.

 

“I'm proud that four of the bills we recently passed to help stabilize New Yorkers are being signed into law today. We expanded the number of New Yorkers eligible for free legal counsel in housing court to stop evictions, which must be one of our main priorities as a city right now. And we established a City-facilitated retirement savings program for private sector employees because we know too many New Yorkers don't have the access to employer plans. We have a lot of work to do as we rebuild from COVID, and legislation like this is crucial to helping rebuild a stronger city," said Council Speaker Corey Johnson. 

 

“Automatic workplace retirement savings provide an easy pathway for workers to start building a safety net and grow the savings they need to take control of their future. Employees are 20 times more likely to save for retirement with automatic payroll deduction,” said AARP New York State Director Beth Finkel. “On behalf of our 750,000 New York City members, AARP New York thanks Mayor de Blasio for signing this critical program into law so more New Yorkers can save at work. We appreciate the leadership of Council Speaker Johnson and Council Members Kallos and Miller in making this program a reality for our private-sector workers.”

 

"Today is a victory in the middle of a pandemic. A step forward to expand and implement right to counsel for tenants to have legal representation in New York City in-house court. It would help keep families in their homes and prevent homelessness and it is also a huge victory for organizers who can educate communities about their right to have an attorney,” said Randy Dillard, Right to Counsel Coalition.

 

In Memory of Aurelia Greene

 

In Memory of Aurelia Green

The entire Bronx Dems family mourns the passing of the Honorable Aurelia Greene. Aurelia Greene was a shining light in this world. From her decades-long career in public service as Assemblymember and Bronx Deputy Borough President to her legislative accomplishments and contributions to her community, she was a trailblazer and inspiration to so many. She will be remembered for an extraordinary life and legacy of generosity and public service. 

Ms. Greene served as New York State Assembly Member for the 77th District from 1982 to 2009, representing parts of her native Morrisania, Highbridge, and Morris Heights. Prior to her election to the State Assembly, she served as the Female Democratic District Leader for the 76th Assembly District. During her tenure in Albany, Ms. Greene became the first woman to lead the Assembly’s Banking Committee and was the first African-American appointed as Speaker Pro Tempore. She also served in leadership positions on numerous committees. From 2009 to 2017, she served as Deputy Bronx Borough President. In 2018, the Bronx Dems presented Aurelia Greene with our very first Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her lifelong work for the betterment of Bronx County.

Aurelia Greene was beloved by the entire Bronx community, and she will always hold a special place in our hearts. A true community leader and champion for Bronxites, she dedicated her life to the betterment of our borough, opening doors for women in elected office and fighting to improve the lives of New Yorkers everywhere. She was the epitome of grace and generosity and never passed up an opportunity to help others. Her contributions to our borough, city, and state will live on forever.

The Bronx lost a legend, a phenomenal woman, leader, mentor, and friend to many. She will be greatly missed. We send our deepest condolences to her family and loved ones. May she rest in peace.

Statement from Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on Expanded Use Authorization for the Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine

 

 "Yesterday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration expanded the emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to include people ages 12 to 15. This is an encouraging step in the ongoing battle against this global pandemic.  

"As we have with the authorization of each COVID-19 vaccine and subsequent changes, we will use science and data to determine the safest path forward for New Yorkers. Tomorrow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's vaccine advisory committee, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), will meet publicly to review data and discuss whether to recommend the vaccine for this age group to the CDC director. Following that review, Dr. Howard Zucker will meet with our Clinical Advisory Task Force and make a final recommendation, which means we could have full authorization for vaccinations to begin for 12 to 15 year olds here in New York as early as Thursday. 

"The COVID-19 vaccine is our best weapon to defeat the virus, and we're taking all the appropriate precautions to ensure the safety and effectiveness of our vaccine program." 

**TONIGHT**: 5/11, 7PM: Chippewa & LDA - Bronx Borough President Candidates Forum

 

The Chippewa Democratic Club & Liberty Democratic Association for the 2021 Bronx Borough President Candidates Forum on Tuesday, May 11 at 7PM.

Please register here: http://bit.ly/ChippewaBP2021.

Sammy Ravelo Opens Bronx Borough President Headquarters in Morris Park

 

Saturday afternoon Bronx Borough President candidate Sammy Ravelo took over the Bronx Conservative Party office to make it his Bronx Borough President's race headquarters. As you can see in the photo above people blocked us from getting a photo of candidate Ravelo at first. 

As the event continued residents who passed by were wondering what was going on. There were supporters of candidate Ravelo, but none were from the local area, and in fact many were not from the Bronx, but from Manhattan.

Candidate Ravelo a former police officer announces his platform which included no cuts to the NYPD. 

Here Manhattan Borough President candidate Guillermo Perez talks about his candidacy.

Inside there is a giant photo of Candidate Ravelo who is with write in 17th Council District candidate Lattina Brown, and Anthony Rivieccio of the Northwest Bronx Democrats..

MAYOR DE BLASIO APPOINTS RACHEL LOEB AS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF NEW YORK CITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

 

 Mayor de Blasio appointed Rachel Loeb the President and CEO of the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) effective today. Loeb has been NYCEDC’s Acting President since March, when she succeeded James Patchett. 

“New York City will build a recovery for all of us by driving economic growth in every neighborhood. That’s a tall order – but visionary, forward-thinking leaders like Rachel Loeb can help us get it done,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Rachel has been an extraordinary public servant at several roles at EDC. The creativity and hard work she demonstrated in helping us fight back COVID-19 this past year will help New York City become the public health capital of the world, and create a lasting, equitable economic recovery.”

 

“During her tenure as EDC’s Chief Operating Officer, Rachel Loeb met the unexpected challenges of the past year with grace and effectiveness,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Recovery Vicki Been. “She demonstrated exceptional leadership on matters ranging from obtaining necessary PPE and technology at the height of the pandemic to creating the city’s first-in-its-class Pandemic Response Lab. Rachel has the tenacity, vision, and thoughtfulness to deliver on the Mayor’s plan for a recovery for all of us. I congratulate her on this well-deserved promotion, and look forward to continuing our work together to bring back the city we both love.”

 

"It is my pleasure to accept this permanent role leading NYCEDC. Thank you to Mayor de Blasio and Deputy Mayor Been for continuing to have faith in me as we work together toward a full recovery for New York City,” said NYCEDC President & CEO Rachel Loeb. “I am amazed and inspired every day to work alongside my excellent colleagues at EDC as we focus on rebuilding our economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and make this city more resilient for the future.”

 

“I look forward to working with Rachel during this important time in NYC’s re-opening and recovery. Her thoughtfulness, strength and vision for New York City are crucial to our city’s long-term renaissance,” said Danny Meyer, CEO Union Square Hospitality Group, who was recently appointed Chairman of the NYCEDC Board of Directors.

 

Rachel Loeb joined NYCEDC in 2018. In both her roles as Acting President & CEO and as former Chief Operating Officer, she helped lead the organization through the challenges of the COVID-19 crisis and focused on infusing equity and inclusion more deeply into the work of NYCEDC.

 

As President and CEO, she will continue to oversee NYCEDC’s portfolio of projects in life sciences, ferries, investments in infrastructure, sustainability, and innovation. Recently, Loeb led elected officials on a tour of the South Brooklyn Marine Terminal, where she spearheaded plans to activate the site to support offshore wind development, and laid out a vision for the future, including a plan for sustainability and growth in green jobs for New Yorkers.

 

She also negotiated the deal with Steiner Studios to develop a new film and television production hub at the Made in New York campus in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, which will support 2,200 jobs and fund local workforce development to diversify the film and television industry.

 

Prior to joining NYCEDC, Loeb was a senior executive member of World Wide Group, overseeing all aspects and phases of the development process. Before joining WWG, Loeb was a Senior Director of Development for AvalonBay, where she was responsible for the development of over 1,400 apartments. She began her career in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam where she worked on the Saigon South development, an 8,000-acre new town community.

 

Loeb is a graduate of Northwestern University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she earned a master's in City Planning. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two sons.

Former Honduran National Police Officer Sentenced To 12 Years In Prison For Conspiring To Import Cocaine Into The United States And Related Weapons Offense

 

Ludwig Criss Zelaya Romero Is the Seventh Former Member of the Honduran National Police To Be Convicted And Sentenced For Drug Trafficking Offenses In SDNY

 Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that LUDWIG CRISS ZELAYA ROMERO, a former member of the Honduran National Police (“HNP”), was sentenced today to 12 years in prison for conspiring to import cocaine into the United States and conspiring to use machineguns and destructive devices in furtherance of drug trafficking.  ZELAYA ROMERO previously pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield, who imposed today’s sentence. 

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said:  “Ludwig Criss Zelaya Romero was a lawless law enforcement officer, a purported crime-fighter working for a murderous criminal enterprise.  For the personal role he played in cocaine trafficking and multiple murders, Zelaya Romero has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term.”

According to the Superseding Indictment, other court filings, and statements made during court proceedings: 

Between at least approximately 2004 and 2014, ZELAYA ROMERO worked with members of a drug trafficking organization known as the Cachiros, which was a prolific and violent criminal syndicate that relied on connections to politicians, military personnel, and law enforcement to transport cocaine to, within, and from Honduras.  During that time, and while ZELAYA ROMERO was purportedly enforcing the law as member of the HNP, he participated in the Cachiros’ criminal enterprise by engaging in cocaine trafficking and violence.  Among other things, ZELAYA ROMERO participated in Cachiros drug shipments, recruited other members of the HNP to join the Cachiros, located teams of hitmen in Honduras to carry out murders for the Cachiros, and himself committed and attempted to commit murders to protect and strengthen the Cachiros’ criminal enterprise. 

Beginning in about 2004, ZELAYA ROMERO personally helped escort large drug shipments belonging to the Cachiros as they were transported through Honduras over land toward the Guatemalan border, so that the drugs could be brought by others to the United States via Mexico and Guatemala.  ZELAYA ROMERO helped transport cocaine from the Atlantic coast of Honduras, where many maritime shipments arrived on their way to the United States, and also coordinated with other members of the HNP along the planned drug routes to ensure that tons of cocaine would transit Honduras unimpeded.  With the help of ZELAYA ROMERO and other members of the HNP, the Cachiros were able to distribute over 130 tons of cocaine to the United States.    

In addition, ZELAYA ROMERO participated in violence and murder for the Cachiros.  ZELAYA ROMERO participated in a 2011 massacre at the airport in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, that left six dead, and recruited a hitman who murdered Honduran journalist Anibal Barrow in 2013.  ZELAYA ROMERO also himself shot and killed a victim at the Cachiros’ request, murdering an individual who had participated in the robbery of a truck containing a large quantity of concealed currency.

This prosecution resulted in the drug trafficking convictions of Fabio Porfirio Lobo, the son of former Honduran president Porfirio Lobo Sosa, and seven former members of the HNP: Zelaya Romero, Mario Guillermo Mejia Vargas, Juan Manuel Avila Meza, Carlos Jose Zavala Velasquez, Victor Oswaldo Lopez Flores, Jorge Alfredo Cruz Chavez, and Carlos Alberto Valladares Garcia.  On September 5, 2017, Judge Schofield sentenced Lobo to 24 years in prison.  On February 6, 2018, Judge Schofield sentenced Lopez Flores to five years in prison.  On June 27, 2018, Judge Schofield sentenced Zavala Velasquez to 12 years in prison.  On September 27, 2018, Judge Schofield sentenced Valladares Garcia to 14 years in prison.  On March 29, 2021, Judge Schofield sentenced Avila Meza to 12 years in prison.

In addition to the prison term, ZELAYA ROMERO, 44, was sentenced to four years of supervised release and forfeiture of $120,000.    

Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding efforts of the DEA’s Special Operations Division Bilateral Investigations Unit, New York Strike Force, and Tegucigalpa Country Office, as well as the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs.

Attorney General James Leads Bipartisan Coalition Calling on Congress to Support Federal Funds for State Antitrust Enforcement

 

AG James Leads Coalition of 45 AGs in Requesting Congress to Support Critical State Enforcement Efforts that Promote Competition and Benefit Consumers 

 New York Attorney General Letitia James continued her work fighting for New York’s consumers and small businesses by calling on federal leaders to provide funding to support state antitrust enforcement efforts. Attorney General James co-leads a bipartisan coalition of 45 attorneys general in sending a letter to congressional leaders requesting the federal government to provide the necessary support to states so that antitrust efforts are not hamstrung as state budgets tighten, many now being exacerbated as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health crisis continues to ravage state and local economies.

“All too often we’ve seen powerful firms use their clout to stop competition from gaining a foothold, leaving every day New Yorkers and Americans across the nation to suffer,” said Attorney General James. “States investigate and litigate antitrust matters to ensure that consumers benefit from higher quality, increased innovation, and lower costs — all direct results of increased competition in the market. But these initiatives require massive commitments of resources, which is why we are asking the federal government to partner with us and help fund efforts to support state antitrust enforcement.”

State attorneys general around the country — from both parties — are currently leading cutting edge, resource-intensive antitrust cases against powerful and sophisticated Big Tech firms. Attorney General James is leading a bipartisan coalition of 48 attorneys general in a lawsuit against Facebook for anticompetitive conduct, and is simultaneously co-leading another bipartisan coalition of 38 attorneys general in suing Google on antitrust grounds. Additionally, in 2019, Attorney General James led a coalition of attorneys general in filing an antitrust lawsuit to stop the merger of T-Mobile and Sprint.

These are just some of the examples of the many types of enforcement actions states have and can bring to challenge anticompetitive conduct by major players with vast resources in a variety of industries. Often working closely with federal partners, states bring these enforcement actions in the public interest to protect consumers and the competitive process.

The coalition notes in their letter to the chairs and ranking members of the respective Senate and House committees, that, as the nation’s economy has grown, so too has the need to staff and finance a greater number of antitrust enforcement actions that are fundamentally more complex and resource-intensive than in the past. There is a growing bipartisan consensus that antitrust is at a turning point, and Congress currently is considering a number of bills that would enable more robust enforcement. Whether antitrust investigations and litigation are pursued together with federal partners or in multistate coalitions they require massive commitments by lawyers and experts, as well as significant technological resources. Congress is already considering additional funding for the federal agencies, but additional funding for state agencies will enhance the states’ ability to fulfill their obligations as integral partners to the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission and as part of Congress’ plan for protecting competition.