Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson - Community Resources & Updates

 

Dear Neighbor,

 

Thank you for joining us for another week in review. 

Yesterday, Governor Kathy Hochul announced a plan to advance transportation projects in the Bronx, in an effort to reduce congestion and improve public health in the Bronx. For decades, Bronxites have suffered the effects of congestion and poor air quality. We are grateful to have partners in Albany who prioritize the health and wellness of our borough.

Last week, we joined with Congressman Ritchie Torres, the Bronx Economic Development Corporation and Business Initiative Corporation of New York to announce a $10 million loan fund for our Bronx small businesses. The loans will range from $5,000 to $350,000 for payroll, inventory purchases, new equipment and other things that could be vital to our Bronx businesses. $5,000 to $350,000 could be the difference between a business staying open or permanently shutting its doors. Our Bronx is a borough of promise and opportunities but none of that is possible without our small businesses. For more information, click here.

Lastly, while Queens made history with the unveiling of Trinidad and Tobago Street in recognition of our Trinbagonian community, we also made history in the Bronx with the appointment of Adela Livingston as the thirteenth United States Postal Service (USPS) postmaster of the Bronx and the first Trinidadian woman to hold the position. Congratulations to Adela! We cannot wait to see all that she accomplishes. 

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our office at 718-590-3500 or email us at webmail@bronxbp.nyc.gov.

 

In partnership,

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson

IN THE COMMUNITY

We joined with Congressman Ritchie Torres, BxEDC, BICNY and Empire State Development at Bronx Kreate Hub to announce a $10 Million loan program for our Bronx businesses!

Historically, the Bronx has been overlooked and suffered the consequences of decades of disinvestment; but fulfilling a promise from our State of the Borough, together we will ensure that the funds are distributed equitably amongst our Bronx small business owners. Our small businesses have shown up for us and now it’s time to show up for them.

Thank you to everyone who made this possible!

  

We celebrated 50 years of Roberto Clemente State Park!

Named after famed baseball player and the first Latino-American Baseball Hall of Fame inductee, the park has served the Bronx with a recreation building, swimming pool, a playground, ball fields, basketball courts, biking areas and a beautiful waterfront!

Thank you to the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and parks advocates for all that you do to maintain and advocate for our state parks.

We would not be the borough that we are today without our amazing nonprofits. They work tirelessly each day to provide vital services for our communities and we are forever grateful for their partnership in supporting the residents and families of the Bronx.

Thank you, Councilmember Althea Stevens, The Bronx Community Foundation, New Settlement and SUYO Gastrofusion for your partnership in hosting this year's National Nonprofit Day event. I look forward to our continued work together supporting and advocating for our nonprofit workers.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Permanent Injunction and $650,000 Civil Penalty Imposed on Experian Consumer Services for Allegedly Sending Commercial Emails Without Providing Consumers the Ability to Opt Out of Future Emails, in Violation the CAN-SPAM Act

 

The Justice Department, together with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), today announced that ConsumerInfo.com, Inc. dba Experian Consumer Services (Experian), has agreed to a permanent injunction and a $650,000 civil penalty as part of a settlement to resolve alleged violations of the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003 (CAN-SPAM Act), the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Rule (CAN-SPAM Rule), and the Federal Trade Commission Act. The CAN-SPAM Act and Rule require senders of commercial emails to notify the recipients of such emails of their right to opt-out of future emails and to provide an opt-out mechanism. Experian shares a parent company, Experian PLC, with Experian Information Solutions Inc., which offers credit information, analytical tools and marketing services.

The case, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, involves emails Experian sent to consumers who had created free Experian accounts to control third-party access to their credit reports. Account holders may “freeze” their credit reports to make them inaccessible to identity thieves and legitimate potential creditors such as banks. They can also “unfreeze” their credit reports when they require a credit check, for example, to finance a expensive purchase. The complaint asserts that Experian sent its account holders millions of commercial emails promoting additional Experian services. These emails asked the consumer to confirm whether a car that Experian had associated with the user’s account was theirs, offered a service aimed at boosting the user’s credit score, and advertised a free scan of the dark web. The emails did not give the recipients notice that they could opt-out of future such emails or provide any opt-out mechanism, violating the CAN-SPAM Act and the CAN-SPAM Rule. The complaint alleges that these emails implied that they contained important information about the recipient’s account, even though they were commercial in nature. The government received many consumer complaints that these emails contained no opt-out mechanism.

The stipulated order, entered by the federal district court yesterday, enjoins Experian from sending commercial emails that do not provide notice that the recipient may opt-out of receiving such emails in the future or an opt-out mechanism. The order also enjoins Experian from otherwise violating the CAN-SPAM Act. Under the order, Experian is also subject to a civil penalty judgment of $650,000. 

“Consumers have the right to opt-out of email advertising that they do not want,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department is committed to enforcing the CAN-SPAM Act and preventing senders of commercial emails from falsely describing those emails as providing account updates or other transactional information in order to circumvent the opt-out requirements.”

“Signing up for a membership doesn’t mean you’re signing up for unwanted email, especially when all you’re trying to do is freeze your credit to protect your identity,” said Director Samuel Levine of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “You always have the right to unsubscribe from marketing messages, and the FTC takes enforcing that right seriously.”

“It is critical that consumers have the ability to opt-out of unwanted commercial emails, and such emails should not be misleading in any way,” said U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada for the Central District of California. “This permanent injunction and civil penalty will provide relief to consumers and help to prevent future violations of the CAN-SPAM Act.”

For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. For more information about the FTC, visit www.FTC.gov

Attorney General James Takes Action to Prevent Domestic Abusers from Accessing Guns

 

Multistate Coalition of Attorneys General Urges Supreme Court to Uphold Law Barring Domestic Abusers from Obtaining Guns

New York Attorney General Letitia James today took action to defend a federal law that prevents persons under a domestic violence restraining order from accessing guns. Joining a coalition of 25 attorneys general to file an amicus brief in the United States Supreme Court in the case of United States v. Rahimi, Attorney General James urged the court to preserve this critical tool meant to protect survivors of domestic abuse. The case involves Zackey Rahimi, who was under a domestic violence restraining order for assaulting his girlfriend, and was therefore barred from possessing guns. Rahimi was subsequently involved in multiple shootings and then indicted for possession of a firearm while under a domestic violence restraining order. Rahimi challenged the federal statute and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit held that the Second Amendment prohibits disarming persons under orders of protection for domestic violence. The amicus brief filed by Attorney General James and the coalition of attorneys general urges the Supreme Court to overrule the lower court. 

“Keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous domestic abusers is a commonsense way to save lives and protect communities,” said Attorney General James. “Nearly every state in the nation has some form of law barring abusers and people under active restraining orders from accessing guns. With these reasonable laws under threat, I will use the full force of my office to protect New York residents and communities from gun violence.”

In the amicus brief, Attorney General James and the coalition argue that striking down the existing federal law would make it more difficult to protect survivors of domestic abuse. The coalition notes that studies have shown an abuser is five times more likely to murder his or her intimate partner if a firearm is in the home and that firearms are the leading cause of intimate partner homicides — more so than all other weapons combined. In the United States, 80 percent of these homicide victims are women, and pregnant women and women of color are disproportionately the targets of intimate partner violence.

The attorneys general also note that in addition to the federal law, 46 states, the District of Columbia, and multiple territories have laws limiting the ability of those under a domestic violence restraining order to access firearms. These statutes reflect the established fact that perpetrators of domestic abuse can be uniquely dangerous. The coalition asserts that the lower court ruling could negatively impact these existing laws and therefore make it harder to protect Americans’ lives and safety.

Joining Attorney General James in filing today’s amicus brief are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Former Puerto Rico Mayor Sentenced for Accepting Bribes

 

The former mayor of the municipality of Humacao, Puerto Rico, was sentenced today to three years and one month in prison for his involvement in a bribery scheme in which he received cash payments for awarding municipal contracts to two companies.

According to court documents, from 2021 until 2022, Reinaldo Vargas-Rodriguez, 49, was the mayor and highest-ranking government official in the municipality of Humacao. Starting in 2021, Vargas-Rodriguez was involved in a bribery conspiracy in which he received and accepted cash payments from two businessmen in exchange for awarding municipal contracts for waste disposal services, asphalt and paving services, and debris removal, and paying outstanding invoices on the contracts. Vargas-Rodriguez received at least $27,000 in cash bribes from January 2021 through July 2021 from the two businessmen.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico, Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, and Special Agent in Charge Joseph Gonzalez of the FBI San Juan Field Office made the announcement. 

The FBI San Juan Field Office investigated the case.

This case is part of the Justice Department’s ongoing efforts to combat public corruption by municipal officials in Puerto Rico. In addition to the above matters, the Public Integrity Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico have recently obtained convictions against other former public officials and contractors in the District of Puerto Rico for soliciting and accepting bribes related to municipal contracts.

Governor Hochul Announces Significant Expansion at Ice Cream Plant in Dunkirk

 

Wells Enterprises’ New Manufacturing Facility Will Retain 401 Jobs and Create More Than 200 New Jobs for the Production of Ice Cream and Frozen Novelty Products

  Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that Wells Enterprises is planning to expand its manufacturing facility in Dunkirk, making a significant investment to create a world-class ice cream plant on its current property. The project will allow the company to add more than 200 new jobs and retain 401 existing full-time jobs. New York State is supporting the project with up to $10 million in Excelsior Jobs Program tax credits and a $6 million grant from Empire State Development in exchange for job creation and capital investment commitments. The Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency is also working with the management team of Wells to provide the support necessary for company executives to officially greenlight the project.

“The new, state-of-art ice cream manufacturing plant in Chautauqua County will create jobs and spur economic growth for years to come,” Governor Hochul said. “This project is a win for hundreds of plant workers, a victory for many local business partners that benefit from the facility, and an important success story for the region’s overall economy.”

Liam Killeen, CEO of Wells Enterprises said, “We are extremely excited to build on the strength of our team in Dunkirk and continue to work with the community to grow and expand our operations here. The investment in Dunkirk illustrates our passion to provide high-quality premium ice cream products that bring joy to consumers around the world. The planned expansion also reinforces our dedication to our team, consumers, and the community as a critical part of the long-term future of our company.”

The Dunkirk manufacturing facility, located at 1 Ice Cream Drive, plays an important role in the company’s expansion plans for its national manufacturing network of its Blue Bunny, Halo Top, Bomb Pop and Blue Ribbon Classics brands. The expansion is anticipated to more than double the facility's current production capacity and help support the company’s continued plans for growth in novelty and packaged ice cream, while enabling future innovation.

 

State Labor Department Releases Preliminary July 2023 Area Unemployment Rates

The New York State Department of Labor today released preliminary local area unemployment rates for July 2023. Rates are calculated using methods prescribed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The State’s area unemployment rates rely in part on the results of the Current Population Survey, which contacts approximately 3,100 households in New York State each month. To recap last week’s statewide press release, New York State’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held constant at 3.9% in July 2023.

Local Area Unemployment Rates* (%)
July 2022 and July 2023
(Not seasonally adjusted)

The data in the preceding table are not seasonally adjusted, which means they reflect seasonal influences (e.g., holiday and summer hires). Therefore, the most valid comparisons with this type of data are year-to-year comparisons of the same month, for example, July 2022 versus July 2023. Labor force data for the current month are preliminary and subject to revision as more information becomes available the following month. Revised estimates for prior months are available at: https://dol.ny.gov/local-area-unemployment-statistics

Labor force statistics, including the unemployment rate, for New York and every other state are based on statistical regression models specified by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. These are the most up-to-date estimates of persons employed and unemployed by place of residence. Estimates are available for New York State, labor market regions, metropolitan areas, counties and municipalities with population of at least 25,000.

Unemployment Rates By County,
New York State,
July 2023

Jobs and Unemployment Fact Sheet

This fact sheet conveys important technical information that will contribute to a better understanding of labor force data (“household survey”), including resident employment/unemployment rates, and jobs by industry data (“business survey”), which are presented in the New York State Department of Labor’s monthly press release.

State Unemployment Rates Based on Regression Model

Beginning with data for January 1996, unemployment rates for New York State and all other states (as well as New York City and the City of Los Angeles) have been estimated using time-series regression statistical models developed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Advantage of Regression Model

Use of a time-series regression model reduces the month-to-month variation in unemployment rates and resident employment by reducing variation caused by sampling errors and other components of statistical noise (irregularities).

Benchmarking of Estimates

Once each year, labor force estimates, such as civilian labor force and the unemployment rate, are revised to reflect updated input data including new Census Bureau populations controls, newly revised establishment jobs data and new state-level annual average data from the Current Population Survey (CPS). As part of this procedure, all state figures are reviewed, revised as necessary and then re-estimated. This process is commonly referred to as “benchmarking.”

Changes in Methodology

Labor force estimates are now produced with an improved time-series regression model, which utilizes “real-time” benchmarking. “Real-time” benchmarking reduces end-of-year revisions, which also means that major economic events will be reflected in a more timely manner in state labor force estimates.

In addition, the new methodology includes an updated way of estimating for sub-state areas (e.g. counties, metro areas) the number of unemployed who are new entrants or re-entrants into the labor force. This change in methodology will result in lower unemployment rates in some areas and increased rates in others.

Unemployed and UI Beneficiaries

The estimate of the number of unemployed includes all persons who had no employment during the reference week (the week including the 12th of the month), were available for work, except for temporary illness, and had made specific efforts to find employment sometime during the 4-week period ending with the reference week. Unemployment insurance (UI) beneficiaries include those who apply for and qualify for UI benefits. Consequently, the estimate of the number of unemployed and the number of UI beneficiaries do not necessarily move in tandem.

Jobs Data

Jobs data are obtained from a separate joint federal-state survey of business establishments. The survey, called the Current Employment Statistics of Establishments, samples establishments in New York State. It excludes self-employed workers, agricultural workers, unpaid family workers and domestic workers employed by private households. This data represents a count of jobs by place of work. Data for each month is revised the following month as more complete information becomes available.

The New York State Department of Labor is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Program.

40th Annual Queens County Fair: Sep 8-10

 

Photo credit: Lily Landes

Queens County Fair Celebrates Landmark 40th Anniversary on  September 8-10, 2023 Enjoy a Taste of Autumn, Agriculture, Arts & Culture, Along with New Fair Offerings including Tractor Exhibit, Free Mac & Cheese and Dozens of Other Activities Fair Also Beginning of Fall Fun with Opening of NYC’s Only Corn Maze as This Year’s Maze Theme is Inspired by the Farm Itself

Holy cow! The Queens County Farm Museum announced today its 40th anniversary programming of the Queens County Fair, which begins Friday, September 8 with a ribbon cutting, live DJ and Motown concert. Saturday, September 9 and Sunday, September 10 features a full line up of traditional county fair programming including opening weekend of the Amazing Maize Maze, NYC’s only corn maze sponsored by Con Edison and shaped in the theme of a 1954 Ford tractor, along with other new surprises. The party begins with the ceremonial ribbon cutting on Friday, September 8 at 6:00 p.m. with local officials and farm friends launching the long-awaited 40th annual Queens County Fair. Co-curator Malik Work sets off the sound system and greets fair-goers with some of Queens’ favorite sonic selections, followed by the joyful and absolutely soul-warming offerings of this milestone year’s celebrated inaugural band: Dr. K’s Motown Revue. East Coast Street Tacos will debut a limited-edition 40th Anniversary Apple Cider Margarita and souvenir cup for the opening ceremony, one of many local culinary offerings throughout the weekend.  Then brand-new surprises and activities await fair goers of all ages as Queens County Fair continues Saturday and Sunday, September 9-10, 11am to 6pm.  New activations to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Queens County Fair include: • The Taste New York Pavilion will showcase its delicious New York State growers and producers. • Keeping the tractor theme going: A tractor exhibit highlighting the evolution of farming. • Say Cheese! The Cabot Cheese Cruiser Cheese Truck with free mac n’ cheese.   • Heartee Mushroom Vessel featuring gourmet mushroom tastings, recipes and education materials from this leading vertical mushroom farmer. • The Colonial Lab at the Adriance Farmhouse features historic house tours and demonstrations such as butter churning, colonial cooking and quill writing.  • Lewis Latimer House Museum’s Mobile Lewis Latimer Lab makes its debut showcasing its state-of-the-art mobile TinkerLab with free STEAM activities to fair-goers. • Paint the Farm: The Arts Parlor offers free face painting, caricatures, farm-themed temporary tattoos and the Growing Artists Challenge, where kids can draw their favorite farm animals for an exciting chance to be featured in future Queens County Farm Museum maps and signage - in partnership with Commonpoint Queens. • Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater Puppet Mobile (Sunday only). Additional robust and diverse programming for all ages includes: • Opening weekend of the Amazing Maize Maze, inspired by the 1954 Ford tractor generously donated by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Keep the tractor theme going by also enjoying a hayride.  • Best in Show: Blue Ribbon Competition where makers across New York are invited to showcase their work and compete for a coveted Award Ribbon, or perhaps a golden cow adorned Best-in-Show trophy. The six divisions include Arts & Crafts, Culinary Arts, Vegetables, Apiculture, Flower Arranging, and Horticulture. Nicole Haroutunian - Senior Educator at the American Folk Art Museum - will lead the panel of judges which also includes NYC lifestyle influencer Viveca Chow. • A Beer Garden showcasing NYS beer & cider curated by Queens Night Market, along with the Museum’s famed apple cider donuts and pies. Food vendors include Teriyaki Plus, CBao Asian Buns, TaDa Noodles, Tania’s Kitchen, Our Green Acres Corn, Ed’s Italian Sausage & Polish, Long Island Seafood, Cousins Maine Lobster, Wafels and Dinges, Kelli’s Funnel Cake and more.  • Main Stage Entertainment: The Main Stage features noteworthy artists including Fogo Azul, New York City-based all-women Brazilian Samba Reggae drum line; Louis Armstrong Eternity Band, The Bone Squad, Surya Botofasina Band and MOMENTNYC: Tribute to Queens. • The Family Entertainment Tent features Midnight Radio Show, NuTribe Dance Company, jugglers, and acrobats for interactive family fun. Shinbone Alley Stilt Band & Harold the Unicycle Clown also make an appearance, plus free games for all to enjoy.  • Carnival rides and midway games to vie for a prize.  • Free games include pie eating & corn husking competitions, and more. • The Con Edison Ecology Booth brings free crafts, sustainability tips and the uber popular Adopt-a-Worm composting program to visitors. Plus, Apiary talks in partnership with New York City’s Andrew’s Honey.

Photo credits: Lily Landes

“Forty never looked so good!” said Jennifer Walden Weprin, Executive Director of the Queens County Farm Museum. “There is something for everyone at the 40th Annual Queens County Fair between the opening Motown concert, two full days of live entertainment on the Main Stage and the Family Entertainment Tent, plus the Taste NY Pavilion, all of our community collaborations and free mac n’ cheese. We are so excited to welcome everyone down on the farm.” “Con Edison is proud to support Queens County Farm Museum’s work to make learning and caring for the environment a lifelong pursuit,” said Museum Board Director Stuart Nachmias, President and Chief Executive Officer of Con Edison Transmission. “Congratulations on the Fair’s 40th anniversary, and we hope many New Yorkers get to enjoy this year’s Amazing Maize Maze sponsored by Con Edison.”  “We at Brooklyn Botanic Garden are a-mazed to see our 1954 Ford tractor getting traction in this year’s Queens County Fair,” said Adrian Benepe, President and CEO of Brooklyn Botanic Garden and former Commissioner of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. “It's such an honor to be involved in the 40th year of the iconic Queens County Fair. We've visited Queens County Farm Museum on numerous occasions this year as a family, but it's a great privilege and pleasure to help curate the food vendors and beer garden highlighting New York State products. I can't wait!" said John Wang, Founder of Queens Night Market.  “We're incredibly excited and honored to be a part of the 40th Anniversary of the Queens County Fair,” said Rob Imbeault, Co-founder & Chief Product Officer, Heartee Foods. “We are Heartee Foods and we're advancing access to sustainably grown food.”

Photo credits: Queens County Farm Museum

Photo credits: Matthew Borowick (left), Queens County Farm Museum (right)

The Queens County Farm Museum is located at 73-50 Little Neck Parkway in Floral Park, New York 11004. Tickets for the 40th Annual Queens County Fair start at $15. Single, 2- and 3-Day passes are available. To purchase tickets and for more information, visit queensfarm.org/queens-county-fair.

Photo credits: Lily Landes (left), Queens County Farm Museum (right)

About Queens County Farm Museum Queens County Farm Museum is one of the longest continually farmed sites in New York State, dating back to 1697, and the largest tract of farmland in New York City. It implements regenerative farming practices and is a leader in hyper-locally grown food. Queens County Farm Museum is a New York City Landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places. It has been presenting the Queens County Fair for 40 years.

CONSUMER ALERT: New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection Highlights Consumer Protection Resources Available to New Yorkers

 

Division of Consumer Protection Offers a Consumer Helpline, Mediation Services and Consumer Education to Help Protect New Yorkers from Fraud and Scams 

Follow the New York Department of State on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for “Tuesday’s Tips” – Practical Tips to Educate and Empower New York Consumers on a  Variety of Topics

Secretary Rodriguez: “Scams and fraud are becoming more advanced and targeted every single day, and our Consumer Protection team has a variety of useful resources available for New Yorkers so they can stay informed, because we know an informed consumer is a smart consumer.”

For this week’s Tuesday’s Tips, the New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection highlights its resources that help consumers navigate today’s evolving marketplace. The Division of Consumer Protection is committed to assisting, protecting, educating and empowering New Yorkers and offers a variety of resources and tips to help New Yorkers stay safe and informed of their rights as consumers. Follow the New York Department of State on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and check in every Tuesday for more practical tips that educate and empower New York consumers on a variety of topics. Sign up to receive consumer alerts directly to your email or phone here.

“Our Division of Consumer Protection is committed to helping keep New Yorkers safe from fraudulent activities and unscrupulous businesses,” said Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez. “Scams and fraud are becoming more advanced and targeted every single day, and our Consumer Protection team has a variety of useful resources available for New Yorkers so they can stay informed, because we know an informed consumer is a smart consumer.”

The mission of the New York State Division of Consumer Protection (DCP) is to protect, educate and advocate for consumers in an ever-changing economy. From educating the public on marketplace scam prevention, to protecting New Yorkers with direct assistance and mediation services on a variety of consumer complaints, to advocating consumers’ interest before legislative and regulatory bodies, DCP puts consumers first.

RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO HELP NEW YORKERS:

Consumer Helpline: 1-800-697-1220

The Consumer Helpline is staffed Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. by Consumer Advisors who provide identity theft counseling, guidance on scams and frauds and information on businesses’ and companies’ reputability, as well as help consumers file a marketplace complaint.

Mediation Services

The Consumer Assistance Program mediates and resolves thousands of consumer complaints each year on a variety of issues, such as:

• Billing disputes
• Refund policies
• Credit reporting errors
• Non-delivery of goods and services
• Home improvement disputes and more

Any time a consumer has spent money in the marketplace on a good or service and did not get what they bargained for, DCP encourages them to file a complaint online at https://dos.ny.gov/consumer-protection or call the Consumer Helpline at (800) 697-1220 to request a complaint form. 

Consumer Education

DCP publishes brochures, pamphlets, and other educational materials on a variety of topics. The Division provides timely and relevant consumer alerts, tips and product recall notices to keep consumers informed, safe and empowered.

For more, visit www.dos.ny.gov/consumer-protection and follow DCP on Facebook www.facebook.com/nysconsumer and Twitter @NYSConsumer.

Live Consumer Protection Presentations

DCP offers educational seminars and workshops for community groups, local governments, advocacy and grassroots organizations, business associations, faith-based entities and professional service providers. Presentations available include:

• Child Safety: Precautions to Save Little Lives
• Credit and Credit Management: A Matter of Life and Debt
• Preventing and Responding to Identity Theft
• Safeguarding Your Child’s Identity
• Stop, Think, Act: How to Recognize and Avoid Scams
• Do Not Call Compliance: A Seminar for Business

Programming can be tailored to each organization, and each session is filled with current critical consumer protection guidance. For more information or to schedule a presentation, email DCPOutreach@dos.ny.gov or call 518-486-3933.