Governor Hochul Urges Caution in Advance of Winter Storm Expected to Impact Most of New York State Thursday Through Saturday

 

12 to 18 Inches of Snow Expected in Parts of North Country, with Parts of Mohawk Valley, Central New York, Southern Tier and Capital Regions Expected to Receive 8 to 12 Inches of Snow Through Saturday

Wintry Mix of Snow and Rain Anticipated in Western New York, Finger Lakes, Southern Tier, and Central New York

Winter Weather Will Cause Hazardous Travel Conditions in Multiple Regions, With Potential for Power Outages in Areas with Heavy Snowfall

Governor Hochul Urges No Unnecessary Travel Thursday Afternoon through Friday in Impacted Regions

 Governor Kathy Hochul today urged caution in advance of a winter storm forecast to impact most of the state, particularly the North Country, Mohawk Valley, Capital Region, Mid-Hudson and Central New York regions, with a mixture of snow and rain beginning Thursday and continuing through Friday. Starting Thursday, parts of the North Country could see 12 to 18 inches or more of snow, and parts of the Mohawk Valley, Central New York, Southern Tier and Capital Region are expected to receive up to a foot of snow by Saturday, with peak snowfall rates up to two inches per hour possible Thursday night and on Friday. Freezing rain or sleet is not expected to produce significant ice accumulations during the event. However, travel conditions will be dangerous starting Thursday evening and snow may be wet and heavy enough to cause localized power outages. Governor Hochul urged New Yorkers to monitor their local forecasts, be prepared for changing weather conditions Thursday evening through Friday, and no unnecessary travel in impacted regions.

"I encourage all New Yorkers to exercise caution and be ready for possible power outages and tough commutes on Thursday and Friday as snow and ice accumulate in eastern parts of upstate," Governor Hochul said. "Our emergency response agencies are well-prepared for this storm and will be working around the clock these next few days to keep New Yorkers safe."

In addition to snowfall in the forecast, the New York City and Long Island regions are expected to see up to two inches of rain beginning Thursday afternoon into Saturday morning. This precipitation could begin as a wintry mix on Thursday afternoon that could impact evening commutes.

Multiple weather warnings and advisories have been issued for several parts of the state through Saturday. For a complete listing of weather warnings in your area, visit your area's National Weather Service website.

New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, "Pay close attention to your local forecast today and tomorrow. Most of the state will see at least several inches of snow and some regions will see more than a foot. It may be dangerous to travel on Friday in certain regions so, if you have to travel, be sure to build out extra time in your commute and take all necessary precautions."

Safety Tips

Travel

Some of the most important tips for safe driving include:

• Do not drive unless necessary.
• Use caution on bridges as ice can form quicker than on roads.
• If you must travel, make sure your car is stocked with survival gear like blankets, a shovel, flashlight and extra batteries, extra warm clothing, set of tire chains, battery booster cables, quick energy foods and brightly colored cloth to use as a distress flag.
• If you have a cell phone or other communications device such as a two-way radio available for your use, keep the battery charged and keep it with you whenever traveling. If you should become stranded, you will be able to call for help, advising rescuers of your location.
• The leading cause of death and injuries during winter storms is transportation accidents. Before getting behind the wheel, make sure that your vehicle is clear of ice and snow; good vision is key to good driving. Plan your stops and keep more distance between cars. Be extra alert and remember that snowdrifts can hide smaller children. Always match your speed to the road and weather conditions.
• It is important for motorists on all roads to note that snowplows travel at speeds up to 35 mph, which in many cases is lower than the posted speed limit, to ensure that salt being dispersed stays in the driving lanes and does not scatter off the roadways. Oftentimes on interstate highways, snowplows will operate side by side, as this is the most efficient and safe way to clear several lanes at one time.
• Motorists and pedestrians should also keep in mind that snowplow drivers have limited lines of sight, and the size and weight of snowplows can make it very difficult to maneuver and stop quickly. Snow blowing from behind the plow can severely reduce visibility or cause whiteout conditions. Motorists should not attempt to pass snowplows or follow too closely. The safest place for motorists to drive is well behind the snowplows where the roadway is clear and salted. Never attempt to pass a snowplow while its operating.

Heavy Exertion

Heavy exertion, such as shoveling snow, clearing debris or pushing a car, increase the risk of a heart attack. To avoid problems:

• Stay warm, dress warm, and slow down when working outdoors.
• Take frequent rests to avoid overexertion.
• If you feel chest pain, shortness of breath, or pain in your jaw radiating down your arm, stop what you are doing and seek help immediately.

Power Outages

• Call your utility to determine area repair schedules.
• Turn off or unplug lights and appliances to prevent a circuit overload when service is restored; leave one light on to indicate when power has been restored.
• If heat goes out during a winter storm, keep warm by closing off rooms you do not need.

Heating Safety

• Use only safe sources of alternative heat such as a fireplace, small well-vented wood or coal stove or portable space heaters.
• Always follow manufacturer's instructions.
• When using alternative heat sources such as a fireplace, woodstove, etc. always make sure you have proper ventilation.
• Keep curtains, towels, and potholders away from hot surfaces.
• Have a fire extinguisher and smoke detectors and make sure they work.
• If you use kerosene heaters to supplement your regular heating fuel, or as an emergency source of heat, follow these safety tips:
  • Follow the manufacturers' instructions.
  • Use only the correct fuel for your unit.
  • Refuel outdoors only and only when the unit is cool.
  • Keep the heater at least three feet away from furniture and other flammable objects.
  • When using the heater, use fire safeguards and ventilate properly.

For more safety tips, visit https://dhses.ny.gov/safety.

Two Defendants Plead Guilty To COVID-19 Fraud

 

Tatiana Benjamin and Heaven West Defrauded New York City’s COVID-19 Hotel Room Isolation Program

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that TATIANA BENJAMIN and HEAVEN WEST pled guilty to defrauding New York City’s COVID-19 Hotel Room Isolation Program.  BENJAMIN pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, while WEST pled guilty today to wire fraud.  Both defendants pled guilty before United States Magistrate Judge James L. Cott.  Both defendants’ case is assigned to United States District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As they admitted, the defendants abused a program designed to provide shelter to the sick and needy during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.  In connection with the fraud, Tatiana Benjamin even purchased the personal identifying information of several medical professionals.  For their brazen misconduct, the defendants now face possible prison time.”

According to the allegations contained in the Indictment, court filings, and statements made during plea proceedings:

From approximately April 2020 through July 2020, the defendants defrauded the COVID-19 Hotel Room Isolation Program (the “Program”).  In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, New York City created the Program.  Funded by New York City and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Program provided free hotel rooms for qualifying individuals throughout New York City.  The Program was open to (a) healthcare workers who needed to isolate because of exposure to COVID-19; (b) patients who had tested positive for COVID-19; (c) individuals who believed, based on their symptoms, that they were infected with COVID-19; and (d) individuals who lived with someone who contracted COVID-19.  As stated on the City’s website describing the Program, such individuals “may qualify to self-isolate in a hotel, free of charge, for up to 14 days if you do not have a safe place to self-isolate.”  Those who wished to book a hotel room through the Program could either call a phone number or use an online hotel booking platform. 

BENJAMIN and WEST defrauded the Program in several respects.  First, BENJAMIN and WEST each secured free Program hotel rooms for themselves by falsely claiming to be a respiratory therapist and a hospital employee, respectively.  Second, BENJAMIN and WEST each sold fraudulently obtained hotel rooms to customers who were ineligible for the Program.  Third, BENJAMIN purchased inside information from co-defendant Chanette Lewis, who worked at a call center that handled phone calls and certain reservations for the Program for several months in 2020.  Lewis was hired specifically for the Program, which gave her access to legitimate healthcare workers’ identifying information.  Lewis sold BENJAMIN, for $800, personal identifying information of at least five healthcare professionals, as well as certain “codes” to use when booking hotel reservations through the Program, such as an employee ID number and license number. 

BENJAMIN and WEST used Facebook to advertise the sale of fraudulently obtained Program hotel rooms and to communicate directly with customers.  For example, BENJAMIN told a Facebook user, “Friend at 311 gave me the juice for the hotel so I been booking ppl rooms,” and when WEST was asked whether she had “rooms” available, she replied, “Nah I dead don’t bro / All essential hotels are clipped” and added, “They finding out we was scamming the system lol.” 

BENJAMIN, 28, of Brooklyn, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  Under the terms of her plea agreement, BENJAMIN has agreed to forfeit $51,088 and to pay restitution of $294,624. 

WEST, 22, of Atlanta, Georgia, pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  Under the terms of her plea agreement, WEST has agreed to forfeit $23,684 and to pay restitution of $59,644.

The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.  The defendants are both scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Kaplan on May 18, 2023, at 3:00 p.m.

Two co-defendants previously pled guilty: Tatiana Daniel previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Kaplan on March 29, 2023, at 2:30 p.m.  Chanette Lewis previously pled guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Kaplan on May 18, 2023, at 3:00 p.m.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding efforts of agents, investigators, and analysts from the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), DOI - NYCHA Office of the Inspector General, the New York Regional Office of the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General (“DOL-OIG”), and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.  Mr. Williams also thanked the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Intelligence Analysts for their support and assistance in this investigation.  He also expressed gratitude to the New York City Police Department, the New York State Department of Labor, and the DOL-OIG Atlanta Regional Office for their assistance.

Insider At Major Financial Services Organization And Retired Financial Professional Charged With Multimillion Dollar Front-Running Scheme

 

Lawrence Billimek and Alan Williams Made Tens of Millions of Dollars in Profits by Trading Based on Stolen Confidential Trade Information

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced that LAWRENCE BILLIMEK, a trader at a major financial services organization (the “Employer’), and ALAN WILLIAMS, a retired financial professional and active day-trader, were charged in an indictment in Manhattan federal court with securities fraud and wire fraud in connection with an extensive insider trading scheme, in which they stole confidential information about the trade orders of the Employer in order to conduct over a thousand timely, profitable securities trades in the same stocks as the Employer.  BILLIMEK attempted to hide his conduct by using prepaid, unregistered “burner” phones, and WILLIAMS sent millions of dollars back to BILLIMEK for sharing the confidential information.  BILLIMEK was arrested today in the Western District of Texas and WILLIAMS was arrested in the District of Oregon.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “By stealing confidential trade information from a major financial services organization, Lawrence Billimek betrayed the trust and confidence of his employer and schemed with Alan Williams to make tens of millions of dollars of illegal profit.  Billimek and Williams tried to cover their tracks by using burner phones and secret payments, but their scheme has now been laid bare.”

FBI Assistant Director in Charge Michael J. Driscoll said: “As alleged, the defendants engaged in a years-long scheme in which Mr. Billimek obtained information regarding his employer’s intent to make relatively large trades in certain stocks.  In turn, this allowed Mr. Williams to trade in the same stocks in advance and realize substantial ill-gotten profits.  These types of insider-trading schemes satisfy the greedy ambitions of nefarious actors at the expense of average investors.  The FBI remains steadfast in our efforts to ensure our financial markets are a level playing field for all by bringing to justice those who would seek to illegally exploit them.”

As alleged in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:[1]

LAWRENCE BILLIMEK has been employed at the Employer since approximately 2012.  The Employer is a major financial services organization that provides asset management services with over $200 billion in assets.  ALAN WILLIAMS spent years working as a trader in the financial services industry.  WILLIAMS is currently retired but is an active day-trader. 

The Front Running Scheme

Based on his position as a trader at the Employer, BILLIMEK had access to the trade information and trade orders of the Employer.  Like most large asset managers, the Employer had rules and regulations concerning employees’ personal trading, including requirements about the confidentiality of client information and prohibitions against insider trading and personal trading in the same securities as the Employer.  Because of the size of the Employer’s trade orders, trades by the Employer often caused temporary movements in the price of the securities they traded.  For example, if the Employer engaged in a large purchase of stock, the increased demand could cause a rise in the stock price, and if the Employer engaged in a large sale of stock, the increased supply could cause a drop in the stock price.  Because BILLIMEK had access to the Employer’s trade orders, he knew in advance when a particular stock price would move up or down based on that trading.

WILLIAMS was an active day trader through at least two retail brokerage accounts.  From at least 2016 through 2022, after obtaining information about the Employer’s upcoming trading activity from BILLIMEK, WILLIAMS bought or sold the same securities that the Employer would be buying or selling in order to profit through the subsequent movement of the stock that would occur along with the Employer’s trading.  WILLIAMS would then exit those positions once the Employer’s trading was underway or complete, often within minutes.  For example, if WILLIAMS learned from BILLIMEK that the Employer would be buying a particular stock, WILLIAMS purchased that stock beforehand.  Then, as the Employer made relatively large purchases, the stock price would increase and WILLIAMS would sell those same stock, on the same day, at a profit. 

BILLIMEK and WILLIAMS engaged in these front-running trades on at least over a thousand occasions between 2016 and 2022.  In order to hide their communication throughout the scheme, BILLIMEK used prepaid, unregistered “burner” phones to provide confidential information as well as trading instructions to WILLIAMS.  In total, WILLIAMS’ trading based on the confidential trade information from BILLIMEK generated tens of millions of dollars in profits, and WILLIAMS shared millions of dollars of those profits with BILLIMEK through checks and wire transfers.  At times, BILLIMEK also provided false and misleading information to financial institutions about the purpose and nature of those transfers, including referring to them as gifts.

LAWRENCE BILLIMEK, 51, of Hailey, Idaho, and ALAN WILLIAMS, 77, of West Linn, Oregon, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and wire fraud, one count of securities fraud, and one count of wire fraud, which carry a total maximum sentence of 45 years in prison. 

The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Williams praised the work of the FBI.  Mr. Williams further thanked the Office of United States Securities and Exchange Commission for their cooperation and assistance in this investigation. 

The allegations contained in the Indictment 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 Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

Borough President Mark Levine - Community Board Applications OPEN NOW

 

I am tremendously excited to announce the opening of the 2023 Manhattan Community Board application period. Applications are now open through 5 pm on March 17, 2023. Current members who wish to serve another term must reapply

APPLY HERE As Manhattan Borough President, one of my City Charter-mandated responsibilities is appointing members to the borough’s 12 Community Boards each year.  Community Boards provide Manhattanites with an opportunity to participate in local democracy and decision making, helping to shape the future of the borough as we navigate a range of challenges and opportunities. Community Boards touch every aspect of life in NYC, from parks, sanitation, and education, to land use, health, and more. While Community Boards are independent, my office relies on them to be the voice of local concerns and keep their finger on the pulse of community issues.  One of my top priorities is ensuring that our Community Boards represent the diversity and beauty of the neighborhoods they speak for. I’m committed to ensuring that our boards lift up the lived experience and concerns of Manhattanites who have long been underrepresented and whose voices have not been adequately heard.  Community Board members must live, work, or have an otherwise significant interest in the neighborhoods served by the community district, and be a New York City resident. In addition, we look for applicants with histories of community involvement, expertise, skill sets, and attendance at Board meetings and who can commit to a two-year term.  I served on Community Board 12 for many years, and it gave me a deep appreciation for my neighbors and how everyday community members can influence local government.  I strongly urge anyone who has a desire to get involved in the wellbeing of your community to apply.  Looking forward to reading your applications,  Mark  Join Team Levine! Donations Needed for Hamilton Heights Fire Victims We're partnering with Council Member Shaun Abreu to collect donations for families who lost their homes in the fire at 617 W. 141st St. earlier this month. Click here to see what items are needed. Donations can be dropped off at PS 192 at 500 W. 138th St. on weekdays between 8 am – 3 pm. From our Partners at BetaNYC: Submit to Open Data Week Open Data Week 2023, March 11-18, is a week-long festival that celebrates NYC Open Data and provides opportunities to interact with the people behind that data. We are searching for events that celebrate all things open data and NYC! Want to join? Submit a proposal here. The last day to submit is December 21. Follow us! Keep up with BP Mark Levine: Instagram Facebook Twitter

MAYOR ADAMS, DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS AWARD MORE THAN $58 MILLION IN GRANTS TO OVER 1,000 NONPROFITS THROUGH CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT FUND

 

With Newly Implemented Equity Reforms, This Year’s CDF Will Distribute Record Funding to 1,070 Cultural Nonprofits, More Than Ever Before 

Full List of Current Cultural Development Fund Grantees Online

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) Commissioner Laurie Cumbo today announced over $58 million in Cultural Development Fund (CDF) grants to 1,070 cultural organizations across the five boroughs. This year’s process introduced a series of equity reforms dedicated to identifying and reducing biases in DCLA’s grantmaking process, and saw the return of the competitive, peer-panel review process for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. With a record investment from the Adams administration and the City Council, DCLA awarded the most funding to the largest number of cultural organizations ever, marked by major boosts for smaller groups and organizations led by people of color, as well as an increase in the number of groups receiving city support for the first time. The CDF awards also continue to invest in priorities like language and disability access, as well as individual artists, and includes an infusion of funds from Mayor Adams’ “Blueprint for New York City’s Economic Recovery.”   

“Throughout our city, we have a multitude of diverse cultural organizations that reflect the rich history of New Yorkers that have been hidden for too long,” said Mayor Adams. “This administration believes in uplifting these cultural groups with our words and our dollars. By utilizing equity reforms, we are spreading the investments to not only our well-known cultural organizations, but to this city’s smaller, local, and more diverse groups that reflect the histories of all New Yorkers. No matter in what borough, New Yorkers can learn about some of the unique cultures in their own backyards or in locations across the city. I am proud to support and invest in our cultural groups to ensure we are all connected as one.” 

“Our arts and cultural organizations are ‘Getting Art Done’ in every corner of our city, for every community in our city,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development Maria Torres Springer. “We’re so thrilled to make this historic investment in the nonprofit arts groups that bring joy and create opportunities for reflection and connection. The thoughtful, far-reaching reforms that we’re rolling out this year have helped make sure this public support truly serves the public and lifts up artists and cultural groups across the five boroughs.”   

“Culture is the bedrock of our communities and an integral part of who we are as a city,” said DCLA Commissioner Cumbo. “We are honored to invest this historic funding in New York’s vast and vibrant nonprofit cultural community. With the competitive process returning for the first time since the pandemic, hundreds of new groups had the opportunity to apply, and the result is the largest number of grantees in agency history. Our ongoing reform process helped advance first-time grantees, smaller organizations, and those led by people of color — a big first step in fostering greater equity. We’ll continue to work with our cultural community in the months ahead to ensure that our support reaches every corner of New York City in a fair, equitable way and continues to move our city forward.”

The ongoing reforms integrated into the CDF process significantly impacted the outcome of this year’s awards. Nearly three-fourths (73 percent) of grantees received more funding thanks mainly to increases in minimum award sizes (e.g. the minimum grant for the smallest organizations increased from $5,000 to $10,000) — marking the first time these awards have increased since 2008. Smaller groups benefitted tremendously: those with budgets of $25,000 or less saw a 19 percent higher rate of funding success from the previous competitive grant cycle; the average baseline awards for groups with budgets under $250,000 increased by 67 percent, from $8,300 to $13,900.

Minority-led groups saw significant increases in funding. More than four-fifths (82 percent) of groups that identify as being led by or founded by people of color saw an increase in their baseline awards. There was also an increase in the number of awards for first-time applicants due to an effort to welcome groups that had never applied before or had not applied in more than two years: 125 groups in this category received funding, versus just 47 in the previous competitive grant cycle. This helps ensure that city funding continues to reach communities, delivers services in every corner of the city, and gives groups access to new pathways for growth and investment.  

The number of organizations receiving multi-year award commitments increased by 41 percent compared to the last competitive grant cycle. This was thanks to a major component of DCLA’s reform process expanding multi-year award eligibility to all DCLA grantees, something which was previously available only to larger organizations. Multi-year awards offer new stability to groups who can count on city support for more than one year at a time and reduces the time and capacity required to submit annual applications.   

Overall, 80 percent of all applicants received funding. This is a remarkably high rate of success for funders and furthers DCLA’s mission to steward public dollars in a way that supports broad access to cultural programming in all corners of New York City. 

The Fiscal Year 2023 CDF marks the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began that DCLA conducted a competitive, peer-panel review process. The return of the panel process allowed for new applicants to receive city funding and for groups to be evaluated based on the strength of their applications and services to New Yorkers. The panels also saw changes, with an increased honorarium for panelists, recognizing their expertise and time commitment, and dedicated efforts to recruit new panelists to participate in the process. Additional reforms included virtual panels and a streamlined application process that was moved entirely online — eliminating the need to deliver materials to DCLA’s offices in Lower Manhattan, which posed an unfair burden on groups in other areas of the city. These reforms are part of an ongoing, active pilot that will have and will continue to engage all applicants participating in the process.   

“As the cultural capital of the world, our city is renowned for the creativity and brilliance of New Yorkers,” said New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. “Investing in their success is critical, which is why the council allocated significant funding to support cultural organizations. With the equity reforms implemented by the Department of Cultural Affairs, smaller and traditionally underrepresented organizations will receive city funding, many for the first time, to bolster their work. These changes represent a major step forward, and I thank DCLA for their leadership to assist New York City’s beloved cultural institutions.”

“The Paige Fraser Foundation, Inc. (TPFF) is deeply grateful to NYC Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Development Fund for the 2023 grant we received. This funding will allow us to expand our free, accessible, equitable, and inclusive programs such as Dance is Healing; Stars 2 Be; Comic Book Series; Behind the Music, and other performing arts and wellness programs,” said Lesmah J. Fraser, president and CEO, TPFF.  

“This investment in our organization by the city means that our non-profit organization will continue to nurture professional artists, youths, students, adults and seniors, and will allow us to serve audiences with incredible programming from all divisions of Creative Outlet,” said Jamel Gaines, founder and executive artistic director, Jamel Gaines Creative Outlet.  The award received from the Cultural Development Fund (CDF) will make sure that Jamel Gaines Creative Outlet's annual Black History Month production of ‘REMEMBERING’ will be a huge success. With the support of CDF, we are thrilled to be presenting eight extraordinary performances to thousands of Brooklyn students and community members at BAM Fishman in February 2023.  This award will not only help with our production costs, but it will also help to employ over thirty professional artists.”  

“The Noel Pointer Foundation cannot overstate the importance of the Cultural Development Fund on our efforts to cultivate musicians from underserved communities citywide,” said Chinita Pointer, CEO, Noel Pointer Foundation. “A virtual lifeline in an unprecedented turbulent era, funding from the Department of Cultural Affairs has helped sustain NPF's music programs both within schools across the boroughs and at our home base of Bed Stuy. Together we are tackling disparities and increasing access to artistically rigorous music instruction so that every child may enjoy the transformative benefits of learning a string instrument.”

“DCLA provides vital support that enables the Tenement Museum to honor and share the stories of historic immigrant, migrant, and refugee families to build learning, empathy, and connection in the world today,” said Annie Polland, president, Tenement Museum. “We are proud to serve tens-of-thousands of New Yorkers each year, including K-12 students and recent arrivals, and to celebrate our city's rich history with visitors from across the country and the globe. As we continue to rebuild after the pandemic, support from the DCLA is more important than ever before.” 

“This increased support from NYC Department of Cultural affairs will directly benefit a growing community of BIPOC documentary filmmakers whose work reflects and projects the diversity that defines New York City,” said Marcia Smith, president & co-founder, Firelight Media. “We are grateful to Mayor Eric Adams, Speaker Adrienne Adams and the City Council for supporting Firelight Media’s efforts to build a diverse and equitable nonfiction media industry and to change false narratives about communities of color.”

The $58.1 million — representing $52 million in mayoral funds and $6.1 million in City Councilmember items — includes: 

• Equity-based increases for groups located or operating in underserved communities: $2.5 million was directed to groups to 568 groups working in underserved communities, including 33 priority neighborhoods established by the city’s Task Force on Racial Inclusion and Equity, as well as neighborhoods identified by the Social Impact of the Arts Project.
• Disability and Language Access: Mayoral funding also included $1 million for two programs that grew from CreateNYC cultural plan — the Disability Forward Fund and Language Access Fund — which have been integrated into this round of grants. For Disability Forward, 49 organizations received support for programs that engage people with disabilities as artists, cultural workers, and audience members. For Language Access, 55 groups received support for programming that increases access to arts and culture for those whose primary language is not English. 
• Support for artists and small organizations:A total of $2.93 million for regrant to small arts organizations and individual artists in each of the five boroughs was provided, maintaining this historically high level of support for the city’s local cultural producers.  
• Support for local priorities: 262 organizations received City Council discretionary member items — funding which supports arts programming in each member’s district.