Joint Statement from Speaker Adrienne Adams and Finance Chair Justin Brannan on the Mayor’s Fiscal Year 2025 Executive Budget

 

“The City has a responsibility to invest in the essential services that New Yorkers rely on and can help working- and middle-class families remain in our city. The Mayor’s Executive Budget begins to reverse a fraction of previous cuts that have proven harmful to our city’s stability and were unnecessary in the context of our resilient economy, but significant work remains ahead to ensure a city budget that advances the health, safety, and strength of our communities.

“As responsible stewards of our city’s fiscal health, the Council presented a Preliminary Budget Response that identified $6.15 billion in newly available resources for fiscal years 2024 and 2025. Some of these funds can be used to produce a sound city budget by restoring and ensuring investments in education, cultural institutions, proven mental health and safety solutions, libraries, and many other vital services, yet the Executive Budget only realizes a portion of these resources leaving too many cuts in place. We are disappointed that critical support for key mental health services, programs to reduce recidivism, and libraries that our city desperately needs are not included in the Executive Budget. The Council’s budget response proposed $1.63 billion for the restoration of essential services and set aside nearly $3 billion to protect against fiscal risks and under-budgeted costs, while dedicating $500 million to the Rainy Day Fund and leaving an over $1 billion surplus as a safeguard. The Council’s balanced approach is one that can protect vital services and chart a path towards greater stability for our city and its neighborhoods, outlining the roadmap necessary between the Executive Budget and the Adopted Budget.

“The Council will closely review the Mayor’s Fiscal Year 2025 Executive Budget through our public hearings and other efforts to examine its impact on City agencies and New Yorkers. We look forward to working together as a Council, alongside the Administration and all stakeholders in our city, to deliver a final budget that fulfills our obligations to all New Yorkers and supports their success.”

Permits Filed For 1356 Fulton Avenue In Morrisania, The Bronx

  

 

Permits have been filed for a nine-story residential building to be used for affordable senior housing at 1356 Fulton Avenue in Morrisania, The Bronx. Located between East 169th Street and East 170th Street, the lot is near the Freeman Street subway station, serviced by the 2 and 5 trains. Cornelia Narovici is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 95-foot-tall development will yield 101,539 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 152 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 668 square feet. The concrete-based structure will also have a cellar, a 30-foot-long rear yard, 15 open parking spaces, and eight enclosed parking spaces.

Saky Yakas is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits will likely not be needed as the lot is vacant. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

Governor Hochul Celebrates Long Island Rail Road’s 190th Anniversary

 

Under Governor Hochul’s Leadership LIRR Experienced Nation’s Largest Service Increase

Railroad Grows the Region, Enhances Safety, Service and Infrastructure

Governor Hochul and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) celebrated the 190th anniversary of the founding of MTA Long Island Rail Road on April 24, 1834. The LIRR is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, carrying more than 200,000 customers each weekday and last year in conjunction with the opening of Grand Central Madison and Main Line Third Track, it operated more than 77,000 more trains than it did the prior year, a service increase of 41 percent.

“The founding of the Long Island Rail Road on April 24, 1834 marked a new beginning of travel and regional connectivity.” Governor Hochul said. “It has delivered significant benefits to the tens of thousands of New Yorkers who rely on it every day and shows the importance of continuing to expand transit throughout our state.”

Out of the past 190 years, the last five have been some of the most monumental in the railroad’s history. Since 2018 the Long Island Rail Road has activated Positive Train Control, a system that provides an extra layer of safety to train operations, added a 13-mile long second track to the Ronkonkoma Branch, a 10-mile long Main Line Third Track between from Floral Park and Hicksville, built the first new full-service in 50 years at Elmont-UBS Arena and opened a new terminal at Grand Central Madison that brought LIRR service directly to Manhattan’s east side for the first time. Some features of these projects were new signal systems, electrical substation modifications and modern amenities. The Main Line Third Track was not only a major advance in service but a huge leap in safety with the elimination of eight street-level grade crossings and, modifications to seven rail bridges.

Penn Station, the LIRR’s terminal on the West Side received a massive upgrade starting in 2020 with the opening of an iconic new entrance to the LIRR Concourse at Seventh Avenue and 33rd Street. Construction crews then moved on to the rest of the concourse between 7th and 8th avenues, first removing the low hanging “headknocker” beams that had kept ceilings low since the reconstructed terminal opened more than 50 years ago. Removal of these headknockers allowed the LIRR to raise the ceilings to 18 feet high and the full project nearly doubled the width of the corridor, provided key accessibility upgrades, improved lighting and air flow, added intuitive wayfinding, enhanced retail and dining options and added an LED powered luminous ceiling.

The combination the Main Line Third Track and the opening of Grand Central Madison allowed the Long Island Rail Road to completely overhaul its schedules, adding 41 percent more service with more trains running during peak hours and better reverse commuting options to Long Island. Long Islanders now have the ability to travel from Montauk to Mount Kisco, Patchogue to Peekskill and Stony Brook to Stratford with only one ticket.

LIRR on-time performance was 94 percent in 2023, 95 percent in January, and 96 percent in February, even with ridership up 22 percent compared to February 2023. This number has continued to improve throughout 2024.

Moving Forward

Within the current Capital Program, MTA Construction & Development is moving forward with ADA upgrades at nine Long Island Rail Road stations. New elevators and upgrades are planned for Amityville, Copiague, Laurelton, Lindenhurst, Locust Manor, Massapequa Park and St. Albans. Earlier this month, the MTA announced it will move forward with upgrades to make Hollis Station accessible as well as improve accessibility at Babylon and Forest Hills. All LIRR stations are advancing in either construction or design for ADA accessibility.

The existing accessibility components at Auburndale and Valley Stream stations will also be upgraded, including new elevators between street and platform level, modification of canopies, new sidewalks and curb ramps that are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

As workers continue to return to the office following the COVID pandemic the LIRR is focused on providing reliable service, improved safety onboard trains and in its facilities and reducing crowding on trains as ridership continues to grow. The LIRR is improving the customer experience so more people will take the Long Island Railroad. The LIRR is the cheapest, most convenient and comfortable way to get into and out of the city.

President Joseph R. Biden is Granting Clemency to 16 Individuals, Consisting of 11 Pardons and Five Commutations.

 

President Biden is pardoning the following 11 individuals:

Jason Hernandez – McKinney, Texas

Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances; possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (two counts); possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine/cocaine hydrochloride; distribution of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school (three counts); establishing a place for the manufacture and distribution of a controlled substance (two counts); Eastern District of Texas

Sentence: 240 months in prison (as commuted on Dec. 19, 2013); eight years of supervised release; $3,500 fine (as amended by order of Feb. 29, 2016); Oct. 2, 1998

Beverly Denise Holcy, also known as Beverly Canty – Palatka, Florida

Offense: Knowingly, willfully, and intentionally distributing a quantity of cocaine base, commonly known as “crack”; Middle District of Florida

Sentence: 60 months in prison; four years of supervised release; $1,000 fine; June 22, 1994

Jeffrey Alan Lewis – Douglasville, Georgia

Offense: Use of a communication facility to facilitate a felony; Eastern District of Virginia

Sentence: Six months in prison; one year of supervise release; Feb. 17, 2006

Bobby Darrell Lowery – Jackson, Mississippi

Offense: Possession of cocaine base with intent to distribute; felon in possession of a firearm; Northern District of Mississippi

Sentence: 60 months in prison (as amended on Oct. 4, 2000, Sept. 21, 2001, Oct. 3, 2001, and Oct. 11, 2002); five years of supervised release; May 28, 1999

Jesse Mosley, also known as Jessie Mosley – Ponchatoula, Louisiana

Offense: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine; use of a communication facility in furtherance of a drug offense; Eastern District of Louisiana

Sentence: 28 months in prison; five years of supervised release; June 20, 2001

Katrina Polk – Washington, D.C.

Offense: Conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine; Southern District of West Virginia

Sentence: One day in prison; four years of supervised release; July 5, 1988

Glenn Ray Royal Jr. – San Antonio, Texas

Offense: Conspiracy to manufacture, distribute, and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; Western District of Texas

Sentence: 30 months in prison; four years of supervised release; $500 fine; May 23, 1996

Alexis Sutton – New Haven, Connecticut

Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of heroin; District of Connecticut

Sentence: 48 months of probation; Feb. 25, 2014

Ricky Donnell Tyler, also known as Rick Tyler – Columbia, South Carolina

Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine and cocaine base; possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base (three counts); District of South Carolina

Sentence: Time served (as amended on Aug. 17, 1999, and June 15, 2007); five years of supervised release; Sept. 12, 1996

Stacy L. Wilder – Albany, New York

Offense: Conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine base; Northern District of New York

Sentence: 70 months in prison; five years of supervised release; Jan. 7, 2003

Pilar Alejandra Yelicie-Rodriguez – Fairfax, Virginia

Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 50 grams or more of cocaine base; Eastern District of Virginia

Sentence: 42 months in prison (as amended on May 11, 2007); three years of supervised release; Sept. 23, 2004

President Biden is commuting the sentences of the following five individuals:

Daequon Charles Davis – Johnson City, Tennessee

Offense: Conspiracy to distribute or to possess with intent to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine (Eastern District of Tennessee).

Sentence: 262 months in prison; 10 years of supervised release (July 13, 2017).

Commutation Grant: Sentence commuted to a term of 120 months, leaving intact and in effect the 10 years of supervised release with all its conditions and all other components of the sentence.

Jophaney Hyppolite – Miami

Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 280 grams cocaine base; distribution and aiding and abetting the distribution of cocaine base (Middle District of Florida).

Sentence: Life in prison; 10 years of supervised release (Jan. 22, 2013).

Commutation Grant: Sentence commuted to a term of 360 months in prison, leaving intact and in effect the 10 years of supervised release with all its conditions and all other components of the sentence.

Xavier Martez Parnell – Clarksville, Tennessee

Offense: Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, including 500 grams or more of cocaine and 280 grams or more of cocaine base (Middle District of Tennessee).

Sentence: 300 months in prison; 10 years of supervised release (Sept. 18, 2012).

Commutation Grant: Sentence commuted to a term of 210 months, leaving intact and in effect the 10 years of supervised release with all its conditions and all other components of the sentence.

Leshay Nicole Rhoton – Bristol, Tennessee

Offense: Conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base and 5 kilograms or more of cocaine (Western District of Virginia).

Sentence: 240 months in prison; 10 years of supervised release (Sept. 5, 2013).

Commutation Grant: Sentence commuted to a term of 150 months in prison, leaving intact and in effect the 10 years of supervised release with all its conditions and all other components of the sentence.

Margaret Ann Vandyke – Ellenville, New York

Offense: Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance (crack cocaine) (Northern District of New York).

Sentence: 60 months in prison; three years of supervised release (Jan. 19, 2022).

Commutation Grant: Sentence commuted to expire on Aug. 22, leaving intact and in effect the three years of supervised release with all its conditions and all other components of the sentence.

NYC PUBLIC ADVOCATE'S STATEMENT ON THE FY25 EXECUTIVE BUDGET

"I’m glad that many of the administration’s previous, misguided cuts have been removed in this budget, though this seems to be less a result of good management now than of bad budgeting in the past. And still, many cuts remain, seemingly without fiscal justification, given the still-too-low projections from an administration which has already been mistaken.

“The administration’s conservative approach to budgeting seems more ideological than financial. Putting the first available money into additional NYPD officers shows a misunderstanding of true public safety – without commensurate, adequate increase for non-police response such as mental health– and a prioritization of headcount over accountability.  The reported removal of CCRB Chair Arva Rice, if true, is further proof of this troubling trend: The administration would rather reduce accountability and remove dissent than focus on properly funding oversight agencies like the CCRB or the Board of Correction. I urge the City Council to fight for funding where it will best serve our communities. Increasing enforcement at the expense of accountability will have a real and lasting cost to the safety of New Yorkers.” 

NYS Office of the Comptroller DiNapoli: Local Sales Tax Collections Up 1.6% in First Quarter

 

Local government sales tax collections totaled $5.6 billion in the first calendar quarter (January-March) of 2024, an increase of 1.6%, or $87.3 million, compared to the same quarter last year, the lowest rate of growth since the first quarter in 2021, according to a report released by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. This growth was largely driven by New York City, with several upstate regions experiencing a year-over-year decline for the quarter.

“Local sales tax collections in the first quarter showed modest year-over-year growth, led by New York City and its resurgent hospitality industry,” DiNapoli said. “The numbers from the city signal a healthy tax base and a return to its pre-pandemic role as a major driver of sales tax growth in the state. Collections outside the city were relatively flat, resulting from a variety of economic influences.”

Tourism Strong Again in New York City

In the first quarter of 2024, New York City saw a 3.2%, or $79.4 million, increase in collections, accounting for nearly all statewide growth. The city’s first quarter collections represented over 45% of total statewide collections for the first time since 2019, after having dipped to 41%, on average, in 2020 and 2021.

New York City’s growth reflects a tourism industry that has nearly fully recovered from the effects of the pandemic, in terms of the number of visitors and the economic activity being generated. In addition, hotel occupancy has improved and both business travel and Broadway attendance are seeing increased activity.

Rest of State Remains Flat

First quarter collections for the counties and cities in the rest of the state, in aggregate, were virtually flat (-0.03%), year over year. This marked the first time that quarterly collections have not grown since the first quarter of 2021, though it was not unusual to see flat growth, or even declines, on a quarterly basis prior to the pandemic.

On a county-by-county basis, Westchester County had the strongest growth at 12.7%, followed by the counties of Sullivan (12.4%) and Allegany (7.3%). Yates County had the steepest decline at -7.1%, followed by Franklin County (-6.8%), as well as the counties of Erie and Delaware, at -6.4% each.

A majority of cities (12 of 18) outside of New York City that impose their own sales tax experienced year-over-year growth in the first quarter. Oswego had the strongest increase at 15.3%, followed by Glens Falls (8.4%) and Saratoga Springs (7.6%). Of the six cities that saw declines, Norwich experienced the steepest drop at -7.3%.

Report

First Quarter 2024 Local Sales Taxes

Data

Regional Table

Related Report

Local Sales Taxes for 2023

Statement on Preliminary Results of Clean Energy Supply Financing Ratio Shareholder Proposal at Bank of America and Goldman Sachs Annual General Meetings

 

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander released the following statement on the preliminary results of the New York City retirement systems’ first-time proposal requesting the disclosure of a clean energy supply financing ratio at Bank of America and Goldman Sachs.

“The climate crisis will not wait for us to get our act together. Strong results today send a wakeup call to the boards of Bank of America and Goldman Sachs that shareholders are paying close attention to ways they can measure their portfolio companies’ progress on the bold climate action to which they’ve committed.

“Three of the largest North American banks (JPMorgan Chase, Citi and the Royal Bank of Canada) have already agreed to disclose this important metric following engagement with my office. We expect this to become a standard disclosure for banks and an increasingly important tool for investors to evaluate a banks’ climate risk and climate commitments including the pace and scale of their financing of the energy transition.

“It is disappointing to see Bank of America, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley drag their feet rather than join their peers who clearly understand the importance of this disclosure to investors. Given the urgency of the climate crisis and the need for a rapid transition, we are hopeful that they will take the necessary steps toward increasing transparency by providing investors with this decision-useful metric.”

The proposals requested annual disclosure of each banks’ ratio of clean energy supply financing to fossil fuel energy supply financing and their underlying methodology. This disclosure will allow long-term investors to better assess the role banks play in the climate transition, and whether they are on track to meet their emissions reduction commitments.

Today’s meeting follows the announcement of agreements New York City’s retirement systems recently reached with JPMorgan Chase, Citi and the Royal Bank of Canada to disclose this ratio.

Shareholders will have the opportunity to vote on this proposal at the upcoming Morgan Stanley Annual General Meeting on May 23rd and we encourage them to vote YES. Our presentation making the case for a vote in favor of the proposal is available here.

Former Comptroller General of Ecuador Convicted for $10M International Bribery and Money Laundering Scheme

A federal jury in Miami convicted the former Comptroller General of Ecuador yesterday for his role in a multimillion-dollar international bribery and money laundering scheme.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, between 2010 to 2015, Carlos Ramon Polit Faggioni, 73, solicited and received over $10 million in bribe payments from Odebrecht S.A., the Brazil-based construction conglomerate. Polit, in his position as Comptroller General of Ecuador, was responsible for protecting public funds against fraud and rooting out corruption. Instead, Polit took bribes from Odebrecht in exchange for removing fines and not imposing fines on Odebrecht’s projects in Ecuador. Additionally, in or around 2015, Polit received a bribe from an Ecuadorian businessman in exchange for assisting the businessman with obtaining certain contracts with the state-owned insurance company of Ecuador.

“As Comptroller General of Ecuador, Carlos Ramon Polit Faggioni was entrusted to protect the people of Ecuador from the misuse of public funds. Instead, Polit abused his position as a public official by soliciting and pocketing over $10 million in bribes and then laundering the illicit funds in Miami,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The Criminal Division is committed to ensuring that the United States is not a safe haven for the illicit funds of corrupt officials.”

“This verdict is a reminder of our office’s firm commitment to investigating and prosecuting corrupt foreign officials who bring their criminally obtained funds to South Florida to buy real estate,” said U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida.

From in or around 2010 and continuing until at least 2017, at the direction of Polit, another member of the conspiracy caused proceeds of Polit’s bribery scheme to “disappear” by using Florida companies registered in the names of friends and associates, often without the associates’ knowledge. The conspirators also used funds from Polit’s bribery scheme to purchase and renovate real estate in Florida.

“This conviction shows that despite your wealth, title, or influence, nobody is above the law,” said Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami. “HSI and its partners on the El Dorado Financial Crimes Task Forces will continue to pursue corrupt foreign officials who utilize their official positions for their own illicit gain”.

The jury convicted Polit of one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, three counts of concealment money laundering, and two counts of engaging in transactions in criminally derived property. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering and a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each count of engaging in transactions in criminally derived property. A sentencing date has not yet been set. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Odebrecht S.A. pleaded guilty in December 2016 in the Eastern District of New York to conspiring to violate the anti-bribery provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in connection with a broader scheme to pay nearly $800 million in bribes to public officials in 12 countries, including Ecuador.

HSI’s Miami Field Office investigated this case. The FBI International Corruption Squad investigated the Odebrecht case and provided substantial assistance in this case.

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided substantial assistance. The Justice Department also thanks the assistance of law enforcement authorities in Ecuador, Brazil, Panama, and Curacao with the investigation.