United States Sues Poultry Distributor To New York City Food Carts And Its Owners For Selling Uninspected And Misbranded Poultry Products

 

Defendants Admit Conduct and Enter Into Consent Decree Prohibiting Future Violations

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Paul Kiecker, the Administrator of the Food Safety and Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA-FSIS”), announced that the United States has sued N and M Food Wholesale Supply, Inc. (“N&M”) and its owners AHMED OMAR, ELSAYED HALIM, and ASHRAF MOUSA (collectively, the “Defendants”) for repeatedly preparing and selling uninspected or misbranded poultry products in violation of the Poultry Products Inspection Act (“PPIA”).  The U.S. has simultaneously entered into a consent decree, approved by U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote, which requires the Defendants to comply with the PPIA and complete mandatory training and imposes significant civil penalties for any future violations.

USDA-FSIS Administrator Paul Kiecker said: “Every individual deserves the assurance that the food they purchase is properly inspected and safe to eat.  FSIS remains committed to public health and we will take swift action to protect American consumers.”

The PPIA protects public health by imposing requirements on food suppliers regarding the inspection, processing, labeling, and packaging of poultry and poultry products.  These requirements give consumers confidence in the safety of poultry products that they purchase and allow public health officials to trace food safety problems to their source.

According to the complaint filed in Manhattan federal court:

The Defendants repeatedly violated the PPIA by offering for sale over 900 pounds of misbranded poultry that had not been federally inspected.  On multiple occasions, the Defendants prepared marinated chicken kebab skewers in a processing room in N&M’s warehouse without federal inspection.  These products were prepared for sale to N&M’s wholesale customers, including food cart owners, who sell the chicken to consumers.  Despite repeated warnings from USDA-FSIS, N&M continued to offer uninspected poultry products for sale and violate the law.  For example, in May 2021, N&M — which does not have a grant of federal inspection to process poultry products — purchased approximately 280 pounds of chicken leg meat and cut and marinated the chicken in its warehouse before returning it to its original packaging.  N&M then offered this uninspected and misbranded product for sale to wholesale customers.  

In this consent decree, the Defendants admit and accept responsibility for having repeatedly sold or offered for sale non-federally inspected and misbranded poultry products to wholesale customers, in violation of the PPIA.  Among other instances, on or about November 12, 2018, August 26, 2020, February 10, 2021, and May 24, 2021, the Defendants processed, sold, and/or offered for sale non-federally inspected poultry products.  Defendants further admit and accept responsibility for the fact that, on at least one occasion, the poultry product was also misbranded and falsely marked as federally inspected.

Pursuant to the consent decree, the Defendants are enjoined from selling or transporting any uninspected poultry products that are required to be inspected and passed by USDA, selling any mislabeled poultry products, preparing or processing poultry or poultry products in unsanitary conditions, not keeping records regarding poultry or poultry product business transactions, and engaging in any other conduct that would violate the PPIA.  The Defendants are subject to additional actions, including civil monetary penalties and other relief, if they violate the provisions of the consent decree.

Mr. Williams thanked the Food Safety and Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture for its efforts on this matter.

NYC PUBLIC ADVOCATE PUSHES FOR RIKERS REFORMS AFTER CALLING FOR FEDERAL RECEIVERSHIP

 

After calling for Rikers to be put under federal receivership, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams furthered his call for reforms on Rikers Island in a statement to the Committees on Criminal Justice and Oversight and Investigations as part of a joint hearing today. The hearing was focused primarily on the Department of Correction’s transportation of detained individuals to Court. a longstanding issue on the island which has contributed to the crisis conditions which now require further federal intervention to protect people on both sides of the bars.

Public Advocate Williams called for receivership after an alarming report from the Rikers federal monitor on Friday revealed recent incidents of harm in the city’s jails and a resistance to transparency from the administration. These were the latest in a long series of incidents for a crisis that dates back and administrations. 

“I don’t celebrate this step, which I know would bring its own challenges, but it is clear that when it comes to protecting people on both sides of the bars and correcting the crisis conditions on Rikers, after over a year of purported reforms, this administration has earned neither the trust nor the confidence it shows in this area,” said the Public Advocate in his making call. “They did not create the longstanding issues on Rikers, but despite any efforts they have undertaken, patterns of abuse, neglect, secrecy and misinformation have continued.”

As part of addressing the crisis conditions on Rikers, where the large majority of detainees are held pre-trial, the Public Advocate pushed for measures to help ensure more detainees are able to attend their court appearances and move through the judicial process. 

“As we strive to close Rikers, the Department of Correction must improve the rate of court production,” said the Public Advocate. “Delays and postponed hearings and trials further burden our judicial system and force people to remain incarcerated longer than necessary as they wait for new court dates.”

He made clear that increasing the rate of court production is essential to the ultimate goal of closing Rikers, arguing that “Court delays have significantly led to rapid population growth at Rikers, complicating the planned closing of the jail…the majority of people in the jails on Rikers Island have not been convicted of any crime, and these long stays are unacceptable, and violates their Sixth Amendment right to a speedy trial.” 

The Public Advocate’s full statement to the committee is below, and his statement calling for receivership is here. 

STATEMENT OF PUBLIC ADVOCATE JUMAANE D. WILLIAMS

TO THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEES ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND OVERSIGHT AND INVESTIGATIONS

MAY 30, 2023 

Good afternoon, 

My name is Jumaane D. Williams, and I am the Public Advocate for the City of New York. I would like to thank Chairs Rivera and Brewer and the members of the Committees on Criminal Justice and Oversight and Investigations for holding this hearing. 

Access to the courts is a vital necessity to those incarcerated in our city’s jail yet recent statistics from the Mayor’s Management Report indicate that more than a quarter of people incarcerated in NYC jails are either not getting to court on time or failing to show up for their court appearances. It is the highest rate of failure on record since the data became publicly available in 1999 and a departure from just two years ago when the rate of court transportation was 94.6 percent. 

As we strive to close Rikers, the Department of Correction (DOC) must improve the rate of court production. Delays and postponed hearings and trials further burden our judicial system and force people to remain incarcerated longer than necessary as they wait for new court dates. Furthermore, court delays have significantly led to rapid population growth at Rikers, complicating the planned closing of the jail. The city forecasts that the jail population will increase to 7,000 by next year, but the four proposed borough-based replacement jails together cannot house more than 3,300 people. Last year, those incarcerated on Rikers Island awaiting the conclusion of their cases spent an average of 115 days locked up, four times the national average. According to a list of the longest-serving detainees in city custody obtained by THE CITY last year, several men have been on Rikers Island and in other city Department of Correction jails for years, with one person housed there for more than a decade. It is important to reiterate that the majority of people in the jails on Rikers Island have not been convicted of any crime, and these long stays are unacceptable, and violates their Sixth Amendment right to a speedy trial.

Court delays can be attributed to understaffing and chronic misuse of sick leave. Though DOC has made improvements in its overall absence rate, the recent Preliminary Mayor’s Management Report for the first four months of Fiscal 2023 indicates DOC still had the highest absence rate out of all city agencies at 17.4 percent, a decrease from FY 2022’s total absence rate of 26.58 percent. In addition to delayed transportation of detainees for court hearings and trials, unlimited sick leave has also opened the door for exploitation and abuse, leaving jails understaffed and officers vulnerable to violence. This chronic lack of staffing has also led to an overuse of emergency lockdowns; during a lockdown, there is no movement on or off Rikers Island, meaning that the people incarcerated there cannot leave the jail to go to court.

There is also a lack of adequate space to hold people transported from jail in the courthouses, and inadequate staff to escort people from holding cells to the courtroom itself. For those who have a scheduled court appearance, the day starts early: as there are no longer jails close to the courthouses in Manhattan and Brooklyn, detainees are typically woken at 4:00 am to be shackled and bussed to the courthouse. Even with the early start, many are still late to their hearings. This causes a domino effect of delayed hearings. 

The dangerous and inhumane conditions that exist at Rikers Island take a significant toll on detainees, exacerbating physical and mental health struggles. More than half of the population at Rikers has a mental health diagnosis, with 16 percent having a serious mental illness. Ensuring that people spend as little time as possible in these conditions means processing their cases in a timely fashion. We call on the Department of Corrections and the Adams administration to rectify this issue and create a criminal justice system that is truly just. Thank you.

MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES MARIA-TORRES SPRINGER TO TAKE ON EXPANDED PORTFOLIO AS DEPUTY MAYOR FOR HOUSING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, WORKFORCE

 

Deputy Mayor and Former Housing Commissioner Torres-Springer Will Lead Adams Administration’s Housing Agenda Upon Departure of Chief Housing Officer

 

Will Now Also Oversee New York City Housing Authority, Department of Housing Preservation and Development, Housing Development Corporation, and Housing Recovery Office in Addition to Current Agency Portfolio

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced that Deputy Mayor Maria Torres Springer will serve in a newly expanded role as deputy mayor for housing, economic development, and workforce. In her expanded role, Deputy Mayor Torres-Springer will drive the city’s efforts to preserve and improve the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), move New Yorkers experiencing homelessness into stable housing, and advance Mayor Adams’ moonshot goal of creating 500,000 new homes for New Yorkers over the next decade.

 

Since January 2022, Deputy Mayor Torres-Springer has helped lead the Adams administration’s work to accelerate the creation of much-needed housing in her oversight of the New York City Department of City Planning and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC). She was one of the chief architects of Mayor Adams’ “Get Stuff Built” plan to speed up housing construction as a co-chair of the Building and Land Use Approval Streamlining Task Force; the “City of Yes” citywide zoning text amendments to support small businesses, create new housing, and promote sustainability; the transformation of Willets Point with 2,500 affordable homes; and the administration’s community planning efforts in the East Bronx, Central Brooklyn, the North Shore of Staten Island, Midtown South, and Jamaica.

 

“In a year and half with this administration and throughout her career in public service, Deputy Mayor Torres-Springer has shown clearly that she is ready to take bold action to tackle the city’s affordable housing crisis,” said Mayor Adams. “She has a proven record of creating affordable housing and economic opportunity for New Yorkers, and her leadership of our economic recovery efforts has delivered real results. She is the right person at the right time to create and preserve the safe, high-quality, affordable housing New Yorkers so desperately need, and I congratulate her on this expanded role that will allow her to serve even more New Yorkers.”

 

“Having grown up in Section 8 housing, I know firsthand that safe and affordable housing is about more than mere brick and mortar — it’s about creating opportunity and improving lives,” said Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer. “Under Mayor Adams’ leadership, we came in with a bold agenda to change the paradigm for how we grow equitably as a city. I am incredibly humbled to further serve New Yorkers as we strive to provide stable housing for our neighbors, protect our existing affordable and public housing, and identify new ways to make housing affordable for all New Yorkers at this critical moment in our city’s history. I want to thank Jessica Katz for her tireless efforts and Mayor Adams for entrusting me to carry this critical work forward.”

 

“Maria Torres-Springer has been one of the primary drivers of our administration’s efforts to build more of the housing New Yorkers so desperately need and build it faster in every corner of our city,” said First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright. “She has a long record of delivering results at the highest levels of city government and of partnering with impacted communities to ensure their voices are heard and their needs are being met. There could not be a better choice to continue the work started by the chief housing officer and her team, and I am excited to continue working with Deputy Mayor Torres-Springer to keep this city affordable for working- and middle-class families in all five boroughs.”

 

“Deputy Mayor Torres-Springer has a proven record of results delivering new housing for New Yorkers and helping to make this city more affordable,” said Chief of Staff Camille Joseph Varlack. “She has been a tremendous partner and a pivotal member of the leadership team since day one of this administration, and I am excited to work with her to protect NYCHA tenants, prevent New Yorkers from experiencing homelessness and housing instability, and speed up the production of new homes in all five boroughs.”

 

“Over the last 17 months, I have been thrilled and delighted to work closely with Deputy Mayor Torres-Springer to advance new housing developments and other critical community investments,” said Chief Advisor Ingrid P. Lewis-Martin. “Maria is a visionary with the experience, the creativity, and the compassion that we need to tackle the housing crisis head on and to deliver on Mayor Adams’ vision for a stronger and more affordable New York City.”

 

“Having worked with Maria for years, I’m thrilled to see her continue the important work of solving our city’s housing crisis as deputy mayor for housing, economic development, and workforce,” said Chief Housing Officer Jessica Katz. “Maria is committed to ensuring New Yorkers have safe, stable, and affordable homes, and she will keep tenants and our neighbors experiencing homelessness centered in these conversations at City Hall.”

 

About Maria Torres-Springer

 

Maria Torres-Springer has served as the deputy mayor for economic and workforce development since January 2022, spearheading the Adams administration’s efforts to strengthen and diversify the city’s economy, invest in emerging industries, bolster small businesses, connect New Yorkers to family-sustaining jobs, and expand access to arts and culture. As deputy mayor, she has overseen “Rebuild, Renew, Reinvent: A Blueprint for New York City’s Economic Recovery” and the city’s strong jobs recovery, efforts to support small businesses with the “Small Business Forward” executive order, commercial district recovery and the “New” New York panel’s “Making New York Work for Everyone” action plan, and transformational projects in Willets Point and on Governors Island.

 

She was previously vice president of U.S. programs at the Ford Foundation, where she oversaw the foundation’s domestic grantmaking and made historic investments in support of racial equity, workers’ rights, voting rights, and arts and culture across the country.

 

Torres-Springer has a long track record of public service in New York City, having led three city agencies with over 3,000 employees and approximately $2 billion in annual operating budgets, addressing some of the city’s most significant public policy challenges. As commissioner of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, she oversaw the financing of approximately 60,000 affordable homes — the most over any two-year period in the agency’s history. She also helped develop comprehensive plans for investments in Inwood, Downtown Far Rockaway, Jerome Avenue, and other neighborhoods; advanced initiatives to promote innovations in design and construction; and launched several new programs to protect tenants’ rights. She has served as board chair of the New York City Housing Development Corporation and as a board member of the New York City Housing Authority.

 

As the first woman to serve as president of NYCEDC, she led the implementation of the citywide NYC Ferry service and oversaw major investments in key sectors of the city’s economy. Working closely with community leaders, she also spearheaded several neighborhood revitalization plans across the city.

 

As commissioner of the New York City Department of Small Business Services, she prioritized efforts to raise wages and support women- and immigrant-owned businesses. She also launched Women Entrepreneurs NYC and worked to prepare New Yorkers for 21^st-century jobs through the Tech to Talent Pipeline program.

 

Torres-Springer earned a bachelor’s degree in ethics, politics, and economics from Yale University and a master’s degree in public policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

 

Deputy Mayor Torres-Springer will continue to report to First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright.

 

“I had the pleasure of working with Maria for many years and saw firsthand what an effective and passionate leader she is,” said Alicia Glen, former deputy mayor of housing and economic development. “And with housing issues more front and center in New York City than ever, I commend Mayor Adams for recognizing the importance of having someone who has a deep understanding of the relationship between affordability and economic development to be charged with delivering practical solutions and moving forward a pro-growth agenda.”

 

“Getting things done in government is hard, which is why reducing bureaucratic friction is so important. Putting agencies that need to work together under a single deputy mayor makes complete sense,” said Dan Doctoroff, former deputy mayor for economic development; and co-chair, “New” New York panel. “That’s why having Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer, with her deep and valuable experience, lead housing is a great decision and represents a significant move by Mayor Adams.”

 

Memorial Day Remembrances at Peace Plaza and Van Nest War Memorial

While they were two separate events these two Memorial Day events could be put together as one was right after the other in the 80th Assembly District. 

The Peace Plaza Memorial Day event began at 11 AM at the corner of Pelham Parkway and Williamsbridge Road with over one hundred people in attendance. There are 1.3 million soldiers who have died in wars America has been involved in. Veterans Joe Ronda and Gene De Francis have taken over the event after the passing of Silvio Mazzara. Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark and several veterans spoke on what Veterans Day means to each and everyone of them. Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez coming from another event arrived as the event was almost over and was able to speak. 

The Van Nest Memorial Day event began at 12:15 PM so that people could arrive from after the Peace Plaza ceremony. Rich Vitacco was the emcee for Van Nest event which also had Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark, Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez, and 80th Assembly District State Committeewoman Christine Culpepper (who was also at Peace Plaza). Vitacco and veterans Earl Menard Jr. and Richard Garcia read a story of a young Bronx man from the Van Nest area who joined the Air Force, and his story of being shot down over Germany by German fighter pilots during one of the B-17 Bomber raids by the Allied Armed Forces. 

Veteran Joe Ronda speaking with (L - R) Bronx DA Darcel Clark, a local veteran, Veteran Gene DeFrancis, Veteran Sammy Ravelo, and Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez standing in front of the Peace Plaza Memorial.

All turn to salute the flag as the National Anthem is sung by Ms. Grace Lovac. 

Vietnam Veteran Joseph Thompson speaks of being a child during World War II.

A reef is placed by the next to the headstones by the flag in honor of Memorial Day.

Rabbi Saadia Pewzner of the nearby Bronx Jewish Center says the closing prayer after a short story.

At the Van Nest Memorial Day event there was a parade around the War Memorial on White Plains Road.

Rich Vitacco speaks as on his left is Local post commander Richard Garcia and on his right (white shirt) is Bronx County Vice Commander Earl L. Menard Jr. with Bronx DA Darcel Clark, Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez, and 80th A.D. State Committeewoman Christine Culpepper.

 Members of the John Frazer Bryan American Legion post pose with their banner in front of the Van Nest War Memorial.

Release of Body Camera Footage from an Officer Involved Shooting that Occurred on February 5th, 2023 in the confines of the 44th Precinct.

 

The NYPD is releasing today body-worn camera footage from an officer-involved shooting that occurred on February 5th, 2023 in the confines of the 44th Precinct..

The video includes available evidence leading up to the incident as well as during the incident. The NYPD is releasing this video for clear viewing of the totality of the incident.

All NYPD patrol officers are equipped with body-worn cameras. The benefits of cameras are clear: transparency into police activity, de-escalation of police encounters and accountability for police officers, through an independent account of interactions between the police and the citizens they serve. Body-worn cameras serve as a vital part of ongoing efforts to increase trust between the police and all New Yorkers.

You can find the video here

Release of Body Camera Footage from an Officer Involved Shooting that Occurred on March 22nd, 2023 in the confines of the 50th Precinct.

 

The NYPD is releasing today body-worn camera footage from an officer-involved shooting that occurred on March 22nd, 2023 in the confines of the 50th Precinct..

The video includes available evidence leading up to the incident as well as during the incident. The NYPD is releasing this video for clear viewing of the totality of the incident.

All NYPD patrol officers are equipped with body-worn cameras. The benefits of cameras are clear: transparency into police activity, de-escalation of police encounters and accountability for police officers, through an independent account of interactions between the police and the citizens they serve. Body-worn cameras serve as a vital part of ongoing efforts to increase trust between the police and all New Yorkers.

You can find the video here

Governor Hochul Awards $4 Million in Grants for Offshore Wind Training and Workforce Development

 

First-Round Offshore Wind Training Institute Awards Approved for SUNY and Its Partners to Develop Programs Preparing Students for Careers in Offshore Wind

Awards Will Expand Workforce Development and Training Initiatives for Jobs in Constructing, Manufacturing, Installing, Operating, and Maintaining Offshore Wind Farms

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced $4 million in grants awarded from the Offshore Wind Training Institute to SUNY campus-led programs designed to prepare students for careers in this growing industry. The winning programs will expand workforce development and training initiatives for jobs in constructing, manufacturing, installing, operating and maintaining offshore wind farms.

"Nation-leading programs like the Offshore Wind Training Institute are essential to ensuring that the State’s workforce is ready to support our ambitious renewable energy goals,” Governor Hochul said. “SUNY, in partnership with NYSERDA, is equipping new and existing workers to participate in the green energy revolution here in New York for generations to come — helping us address the climate crisis and create a greener state for all.”

In this round of grants, 10 programs were approved for seven SUNY campuses including: Alfred State College, University at Buffalo, Farmingdale State College, Hudson Valley Community College, Suffolk County Community College, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, and Stony Brook University.

Governor Hochul launched the request for proposals in October 2022. The grant process is led by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) in collaboration with Farmingdale State College and Stony Brook University. The funding, to be distributed through multiple rounds of selection, will award each program up to $500,000.

Applicants were asked to apply under one or more “priority focus areas,” which include expanding existing SUNY curricula relevant to offshore wind; responding to rapid, targeted training needs; and addressing barriers to entry. Proposals addressed equity needs, long-term outreach to young students, community-driven efforts to raise awareness, and partnerships with connected or adjacent sectors.

A second round of awards will be announced in summer 2023.

Finishers Recruit Apprentices

 

The Finishing Trades Institute of New York will conduct a recruitment from June 26, 2023 through July 10, 2023 for 50 Dry Wall Taper (Finisher) apprentices, the New York State Department of Labor announced today.

Please note, the openings listed for apprentices represent the total number for two recruitment regions – the New York City and Long Island regions.

Applications can be obtained, in person only, from the Finishing Trades Institute of New York, 45-15 36th Street, Long Island City, NY 11101, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. during the recruitment period. This is a limited-application recruitment. Only 500 applications will be distributed, on a first-come, first-served basis. The recruitment will be offered for ten (10) business days or until 500 applications have been issued, whichever comes first.

The Committee requires that applicants:

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Must have a high school diploma or a high school equivalency diploma (such as TASC or GED). Proof will be required at time of enrollment in apprenticeship.
• Must attend a mandatory orientation which includes an evaluation for working from heights and completing a personal statement.
• Must sign an affidavit attesting that they are physically able to perform the work of a Dry Wall Taper (Finisher), which may include:
  • Lifting and moving heavy equipment, and/or materials weighing up to 70 pounds.
  • Working from ladders, scaffolds, stilts, and personal lifts, which may exceed 100 feet in height.
• Must take and pass a drug test, at the expense of the sponsor, after selection and randomly throughout the apprenticeship.
• Must be able to hear and understand instructions and warnings in English.

For further information, applicants should contact the Finishing Trades Institute of New York at (718) 937-7440. Additional job search assistance can be obtained at your local New York State Department of Labor Career Center (see: dol.ny.gov/career-centers).

Apprentice programs registered with the Department of Labor must meet standards established by the Commissioner. Under state law, sponsors of programs cannot discriminate against applicants because of race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, disability, or marital status. Women and minorities are encouraged to submit applications for apprenticeship programs. Sponsors of programs are required to adopt affirmative action plans for the recruitment of women and minorities.