Thursday, July 23, 2020

MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF THE NYC RECOVERY DATA PARTNERSHIP WITH OPEN CALL FOR DATA


Initial cohort includes LinkedIn, StreetEasy, Foursquare and more; City invites community, non-profit, and private organizations to join partnership to inform Covid-19 recovery efforts

  Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced the NYC Recovery Data Partnership and called on community, non-profit, and private organizations to share data with the City to aid in Covid-19 response and recovery efforts. The Partnership will be a first-of-its-kind effort for the City, centered on principles of privacy, fairness, accountability, and transparency. Partner organizations are providing data free-of-charge to bolster understanding of how New Yorkers have been impacted by Covid-19, and will help to inform programmatic and policy decisions for an equitable recovery.

"As we recover from COVID-19 and build a fairer city, it's essential that we make decisions based in data, facts, and an understanding of the lived experiences of all New Yorkers," said Mayor Bill de Blasio. "That's why we're launching the NYC Recovery Data Partnership to harness data from partner organizations that will help us identify and support local industries and communities that are most in need.  I call on other civic-minded organizations to join the Recovery Data Partnership as a way to contribute to the City's recovery efforts."

The Recovery Data Partnership will be chaired by the Mayor’s Office of Policy and Planning, the Mayor’s Office of Data Analytics, and the Mayor’s Office of Operations, with counsel from the City’s Chief Privacy Officer.

The City takes protecting and being a custodian of New Yorkers’ information very seriously. All partners have agreed to adhere to City privacy and confidentiality guidelines. The Recovery Data Partnership team will review all proposed City uses of data, and will make information about how this data is being used available to New Yorkers.

The founding cohort of the NYC Recovery Data Partnership includes:
·      StreetEasy, Zillow Group’s NYC brand
·      LinkedIn
·      Foursquare
·      Upsolve
·      ioby
·      OATS
·      Kinsa
·      BetaNYC and a coalition of community organizations
·      Cuebiq
·      Urban Systems Lab

“We can’t do this alone – the Mayor’s Office of Data Analytics knows firsthand that high frequency data and insights are pivotal for Covid-19 crisis response and recovery,” said Kelly Jin, NYC Chief Analytics Officer and Director of the Mayor’s Office of Data Analytics. “Better data makes for better analysis, and this economic and community data will empower our analysts and policymakers as NYC continues to recover. Thank you to all of the partner organizations that have agreed to share data already, and I look forward to welcoming more partners in the months to come.”

“I am proud that the Mayor's Office of Operations is providing legal, privacy, and data analytics expertise to the Recovery Data Partnership. Building on our strong past data sharing and standards work with agencies, the partnership will help power an equitable recovery by providing City analysts with data that reflects the diverse experiences of New Yorkers while protecting individual privacy. I look forward to seeing innovative ways that City agencies will use partner data,” said Jeff Thamkittikasem, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Operations.

“The Recovery Data Partnership will provide the City with essential indicators of the economic well-being of our communities,” said Dominic Williams, the Chief Policy Advisor and Director of the Mayor’s Office of Policy and Planning. “The insights we derive from the data shared by partners will be used to strengthen the City’s recovery initiatives and inform our long-term planning.”

“In this critical time we are excited and grateful to have the support of community, non-profit and private organizations willing and able to share their data in order to support the City's COVID-19 recovery efforts, and continue providing the programs, benefits and services that New Yorkers need. As the City’s Chief Privacy Officer, I know data can be a powerful tool as we work to inform fair and equitable programs through this initiative – and of paramount importance, our privacy protection values have been made an integral part of the Partnership's design. Our response and recovery efforts will be strengthened as we learn more about the lived experiences of New York residents during this time while protecting their privacy and building public trust through transparency and accountability," said Laura Negrón, Chief Privacy Officer.

The goal of the Recovery Data Partnership is to responsibly build a repository of data to help serve communities most in need, with the knowledge that new potential uses of data to support Covid-19 response and recovery will continue to emerge over time. The types of data being shared by the initial cohort include:
·            Weekly real estate market metrics from StreetEasy, Zillow Group’s NYC brand
·            Real-time measures of hiring activity from LinkedIn
·            Rates of illness from aggregated smart thermometer readings from Kinsa
·            Sociodemographic information about New Yorkers seeking personal bankruptcy services from Upsolve
·            Foot traffic data aggregated by neighborhood and business type from Foursquare

The City is particularly interested in data in the categories below that reflect communities and industries that have been acutely impacted by the pandemic or are traditionally underrepresented in data:
housing and accommodations
food/beverage industry
retail purchasing
arts and entertainment
transportation
public safety
public health
experiences of children and elderly 

To support the Recovery Data Partnership, the City has also engaged advisors who are data experts and practitioners from academic institutions and community-based organizations to draw on their expertise to provide input on potential data uses. A list of these advisors is available at nyc.gov/recoverydata.

“New Yorkers have come together throughout the Covid-19 pandemic to support one another, highlighting yet again that the City is made stronger through collaboration,” said Adrienne Schmoeker, Deputy Chief Analytics Officer, and Director of Civic Engagement and Strategy, for the Mayor’s Office of Data Analytics. “The City has shared data with New Yorkers for over a decade via the NYC Open Data program, and we're excited to announce the NYC Recovery Data Partnership as a new program for data collaboration with NYC communities, companies, and organizations to inform Covid-19 recovery efforts powered by NYC data.”

“It is through collaboration that society accomplishes its grandest goals and solves its hardest challenges. The NYC Recovery Data Partnership exemplifies how industry and government can combine their unique strengths to collaboratively respond to and recover from a world-changing crisis,” said John Paul Farmer, Chief Technology Officer of New York City. “This effort will provide critical data to help City agencies accomplish their missions and provide essential services to people in need, while keeping privacy and the digital rights of New Yorkers at the forefront.”

“Data is power – and the more that we share data, the stronger we are and the faster we recover. The NYC Recovery Data Partnership will help us see what is working - and what isn’t - across many sectors and communities. This unique partnership will generate new ideas, perspectives and solutions to address today’s and tomorrow’s unprecedented challenges. I have no doubt that when we plan together, we create a stronger, more equitable and more resilient New York City,” said Marisa Lago, Director of the Department of City Planning.

“Older Adults Technology Services is proud to partner with NYC in its Recovery Data Partnership by supplying data to provide insight into how older adults are remaining connected to critical technologies, resources, and support services during Covid-19,” said Alex Grazebrook, Director of Operations at Older Adults Technology Services (OATS).

“The City’s commitment to transparency and education resonates with us. One of our core values at StreetEasy is to turn on the lights, empowering New Yorkers with data-driven insights so it’s easier to make informed real estate decisions day in and day out," said StreetEasy Economist Nancy Wu. “As the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve, real-time data is critical to help inform the city’s recovery. We appreciate the opportunity to contribute our data and be a part of these efforts to better understand the pandemic’s impacts on the NYC housing market, the real estate industry and local communities.”

“As we navigate massive changes to how we work and live, it’s more critical than ever that leaders have access to the most detailed and dynamic data,” said Nick DePorter, Public Policy Lead at LinkedIn. “We’re thrilled that LinkedIn's real-time hiring insights will help the City of New York build policies for an equitable, speedy economic recovery for all New Yorkers.”

"We want to thank the 100s of volunteers who continue to contribute their time, knowledge, and edits to produce hyper-local datasets documenting thousands of local businesses," said Noel Hidalgo, Executive Director of BetaNYC. "Over the last four months and with 10 community partners, we have translated hand written notes and social media posts into mobile friendly maps and community databases featuring the accessibility of food distribution locations, opening hours and senior hours! Through the uprising, we noted businesses owned or operated by neighbors who are women, BIPOC, and/or LGBTQ. Together, we are maintaining and sharing community knowledge to rebuild and support each other. We are honored to support City analysts in their efforts to move our city forward — Pal'ante!"

"We’re extremely proud to be a part of this opportunity — we fully believe that our data will be critical when it comes to guiding policy decisions, specifically to benefit New Yorkers who have been affected significantly by COVID-19. As a New York based company, we firmly believe in the principles of this partnership and recognize the importance of working with the city to support its recovery," said Antonio Tomarchio, CEO of Cuebiq.

“This partnership is a big step forward on the journey towards healing and ioby is excited to be a part of it. Everyday neighbors are key to a just and equitable recovery, and we look forward to sharing our expertise in community-led change with the City," said Erin Barnes, CEO of ioby.

"Recovery in NYC — economic and otherwise — will require our government to work closely with the private sector and other city stakeholders toward shared goals, and we are glad to see that happening with the launch of the Recovery Data Partnership," said Julie Samuels, Executive Director of Tech:NYC. "We applaud Mayor de Blasio and his administration for this important effort that will help foster equitable growth, and we hope that the trend toward responsible and transparent data sharing will continue throughout our recovery and beyond."

"Inefficiencies in data collaboration lead to costly delays in response times, lost opportunities to save lives and livelihoods, and a persistent lack of preparation for future threats. As a society we need to find new partnership models to leverage data for the public good in more systematic, sustainable and responsible ways. The Recovery Data Partnership provides a unique and exciting approach to meet those ends,” said Stefaan Verhulst, Co-Founder of The GovLab, Lead of its Data Collaboratives Program, and Recovery Data Partnership Advisor.

"As we work to rebuild a more resilient New York City in the wake of COVID-19, data will play a critical role. At Urban Tech Hub @ Company, we are working alongside entrepreneurs and startups that make up the fabric of this city and whose insights and perspectives will be invaluable in driving recovery," said Robinson Hernandez, Executive Director of the Urban Tech Hub @ Company, and Recovery Data Partnership Advisor.

Virtual Wave Hill


The countdown begins! We can't wait to welcome the public back on July 30. For social distancing, and everyone's safety, pre-registration for your visit will be required. Learn more about what to expect when you visit at wavehill.org. While we wait for the special day, our virtual programs for the week will help you stay connected to Wave Hill in the meantime. Check out what's new this week:

Friday, July 24
Join naturalist Gabriel Willow on another virtual walk. This time, he's back on the grounds of Wave Hill! Find the video on our website this Friday.

Saturday, July 25, 10AM
In this week's Family Art Project #depthindistance series, create your own clay and plant pulp sculptures of nests modelled after the expert home-making of swallows, orioles, kingfishers, wasps and termites.

Join Artist Alison Moritsugu on a studio visit as she discusses two of her paintings, We are the ash (Remnant) and We are the ash (Vestige), with Eileen Jeng Lynch, Wave Hill’s Curator. Both paintings were made in response to the presence of the invasive emerald ash borer, an insect destroying North America’s ash tree forests. They will also explore the linguistic and logistical parallels between the invasive ash borer and the current pandemic.

A 28-acre public garden and cultural center overlooking the Hudson River  and Palisades, Wave Hill’s mission is to celebrate the artistry and legacy of its gardens and landscape, to preserve its magnificent views, and to explore human connections to the natural world through programs in horticulture, education and the arts.


HOURS: Open all year, Tuesday–Sunday and many major holidays: 9AM–5:30PM; Nov 1–Mar 14, closes 4:30PM. Special restricted hours as New York City recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic: NOON–5:30PM;Thursday–Sunday, effective July 30, 2020.


Information at 718.549.3200. On the web at www.wavehill.org.


MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES CITYWIDE TESTING CAPACITY OF 50,000 TESTS PER DAY AND UPDATES NEW YORKERS ON THE TEST & TRACE CORPS


 The City will now have the capacity to test up to 50,000 New Yorkers per day, Mayor de Blasio announced today, building on the city's commitment to test, trace, and treat all positive cases of COVID-19.  The City will also now activate the next stage of its hyper-local response in the Rockaways and Sunset Park. The first two-week pilot initiative, launched in the Tremont, Bronx neighborhood, tested over 7,400 New Yorkers. All 200 positive cases received immediate, on-site counseling, allowing them to immediately safely separate and receive assistance through supportive services, such as food and financial counseling

"Widespread testing and tracing is the key to reopening our city safely," said Mayor Bill de Blasio. "Getting tested isn't just about taking care of yourself—it's a civic duty to your fellow New Yorkers. We have made testing as fast and convenient as possible to ensure New Yorkers have the tools they need to protect themselves and their loved ones."

Test & Trace Program Metrics
The Test & Trace Corps is the City’s comprehensive effort to test, trace, and treat every case of COVID-19. Through a partnership with NYC Health + Hospitals and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Corps allows the City to immediately isolate and care for those who test positive for the virus and then rapidly track, assess, and quarantine anyone they may have infected. 

The Test & Trace Corps is aiming to reach at least 90% of all positive cases and have at least 75% of all cases complete intake and isolate.

For the week ending July 18th, the Test & Trace Corps successfully reached 89% of all cases. Seventy-one percent of these cases who were reached completed intake. These completed interviews have allowed tracers to identify and reach more than 2,137 symptomatic people and help them quickly isolate, potentially preventing as many as 5,000 new COVID-19 cases in New York City.

Additional information on the Test & Trace Corps, including program metrics, is available here.

Testing Update
The City will open four new testing sites with the urgent care partner Medrite. The following sites will launch Monday, July 27th, with operating hours between 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM.

Manhattan
330 West 42nd Street
919 2nd Avenue
77 Dyckman Street

Brooklyn
504 Myrtle Avenue

With labs like Bioreference and Quest now using pooled testing, and the City’s Test & Trace Corps efforts to expand lab capacity, the average citywide turnaround time for a COVID-19 test is now down to a median of two days.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

Be very careful with BioReference Labs. We had an anti body test taken on May 16th at a BioReference site, and we still have not received our results. This was brought to the attention of Mayor Bill de Blasio who gave this to his staff to handle, but they could do nothing to get the result.

The reason was that I refused to agree to BioReferences terms that would make me a patient of BioReference, that my  private information was to be shared with unnamed third parties and there would be no no security of my information, that BioReference can change the agreement at any time, and that there was a paragraph about payment of services for a free test according to Mayor de Blasio. The test is listed at $82.00 on BioReference's website. 

Where is the NYC Department of Investigation on this matter of fraud? 

Passage of Abolition Commemoration Day


Yesterday, the New York State Legislature passed a bill that would designate the second Monday in July each year as Abolition Commemoration Day. New York was one of the first states to abolish slavery in the U.S., but it has never fully acknowledged or atoned for the horrors of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, nor has the State ever honored those leaders who fought to abolish slavery with a public holiday. By designating a state-wide holiday, New York will commemorate the Abolition Act that was passed by New York State legislators on March 31st, 1817, which abolished slavery in New York State effective July 4th, 1827.
“The passing of this bill marks a historic time here in New York State,” said Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie. “Having the ability to now, not only celebrate Abolition Commemoration Day as an individual, but also have this day solidified as a state wide holiday, gives many that have come before us the notoriety they so deserve.  The abolitionist movement brought forth the end to the practice of slavery here in the United States. We acknowledge that we cannot erase the centuries of pain African Americans as well as people of color have felt for generations, but this recognition is one that we should celebrate.  I would like to thank all who have had a hand in bringing us forward to where we are today, and I would like to extend my gratitude to the New York State Director of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, retired public school educator and my constituent Bessie Jackson who for years has advocated for this recognition.”
“As our nation finally begins coming to grips with the consequences of systemic racism and the disparate impact it has had on people of color and African-Americans in particular, we must not forget that New York State has never fully acknowledged or atoned for the horrors of the trans-Atlantic slave trade.  More importantly, we have yet to honor those leaders who fought bravely to abolish slavery. I am proud to announce the passage of my bill designating the second Monday in July of each year as a day of commemoration to be known as Abolition Commemoration day.  Nothing can remove the generational damage that resulted from the trans-Atlantic slave trade, but we can at least start by setting aside one day a year to honor the brave abolitionists and atone for having engaged in the process of maintaining an exploitative, abusive, and disparaging society for countless generations,” said Bill Sponsor, State Senator Jamaal T. Bailey. 
“Slavery was not an institution confined to the south – New York had its own long history with its cruelty and horrors. Our state also has a legacy of abolitionists like Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman and countless others,” Bill Sponsor, Assemblymember Gary Pretlow said. “By recognizing Abolition Commemoration Day, we remember and shed light on both sides of Black and African American history, and New York State’s history, including the parts that are too often glossed over.”
“Freedom was never given, it was fought for. Yesterday marks the creation of a new holiday – Abolition Commemoration Day – to recognize the end of slavery in New York State and a start to teaching our full uncompromised history. New York was one of the largest slave-holding states in this country and we are convinced that a civilized state should do no less than spend at least one day a year in atonement for its participation in the horror, fear and trauma that sustained slavery for more than 200 years. We are proud to have led this fight and stand with the entire state legislature to recognize the sacrifices of African Americans and other abolitionists in their fight for freedom,” said Bessie M. Jackson, NYS Director of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.
This bill will take effect on January 1st, 2021.

Wednesday, July 22, 2020

Former Vice President Of Teamsters Labor Union Sentenced To 18 Months In Prison For Bribery


  Audrey Strauss, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JOHN ULRICH, the former vice president of International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 812 (the “Union”) and former trustee of the Union’s employee health benefit plan (the “Plan”), was sentenced today in Manhattan federal court to 18 months in prison for soliciting tens of thousands of dollars in bribe payments from an executive with the Plan’s Third Party Administrator (the “TPA-1”) in exchange for using his influence to ensure the Union’s continued retention of TPA-1 as its Plan administrator.  United States District Judge Analisa Torres imposed today’s sentence.

Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said:  “For years, John Ulrich betrayed the trust of the Union members who elected him in order to line his pockets with bribe money.  For abusing his position of trust for his own financial benefit, Ulrich has been sentenced to federal prison.”
According to the allegations in the Indictment, other filings in Manhattan federal court, statements made in court and publicly-available documents:
The Union has more than approximately 3,000 members, and represents workers in the beverage industry throughout the New York metropolitan area.  The Union’s members are covered by the Plan, which provides, among other things, life insurance, health insurance, dental, vision, and disability benefits to Union members and their families.  As the Plan’s third-party administrator, TPA-1 processed health insurance claims for participants in the Plan.  At all times relevant to the Indictment, ULRICH was a member and officer of the Union and a trustee of the Plan.
In or about 2013, ULRICH was experiencing financial difficulties, and solicited bribe payments from an executive with TPA-1 (“Executive-1”) of $5,000 per quarter in exchange for using his influence to maintain TPA-1 as the Plan’s third-party administrator.  Before ULRICH solicited these bribes, the Plan had issued a request for proposals for a new third-party administrator, and TPA-1 was at risk of losing the Plan’s business.  ULRICH told Executive-1 that ULRICH would use his influence with the Union to ensure that the Plan continued to use TPA-1 to administer the Union’s health care plan.  Executive-1 agreed to make $5,000 quarterly payments to ULRICH, and began doing so.  Subsequently, despite receiving multiple bids from other third-party administrators, the Plan continued to work with TPA-1.   
In or about 2014, ULRICH demanded increased bribe payments from Executive-1.  In part, ULRICH told Executive-1 that these increased bribe payments were needed for another trustee of the Plan, and Executive-1 began making such increased payments.  On or about September 19, 2015, ULRICH again solicited additional bribe payments for this trustee.  In an email of the same date, ULRICH referred to the bribe payments as “pizza,” and explained that the additional payments for the other trustee would be “good insurance” for them.
After a special board meeting convened by the Plan in February 2016, ULRICH was terminated as vice president and trustee of the Union and Plan, respectively.  In total, ULRICH demanded, and Executive-1 paid, tens of thousands in bribes before ULRICH was removed from office.
In addition to his prison term, ULRICH, 50, of Newburgh, New York, was sentenced to two years of supervised release, and was ordered to forfeit $55,000, and to pay restitution in an amount to be determined later.  As a result of ULRICH’s conviction, for a period of 13 years he is prohibited from, among other things, being employed by a labor union or employee benefit plan, pursuant to 29 U.S.C. §§ 504 and 1111.
Ms. Strauss praised the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration, and the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Labor-Management Standards for their outstanding investigative work in this case.

Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress During COVID-19 Pandemic July 22, 2020


State Launches New Testing Site in Partnership with Good Samaritan Hospital in Town of Ramapo

Hospitalizations Down to 714 — New Low Since March 18

1.04 Percent of Yesterday's COVID-19 Tests were Positive

9 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday

Confirms 705 Additional Coronavirus Cases in New York State - Bringing Statewide Total to 408,886; New Cases in 42 Counties

  Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The number of new cases, percentage of tests that were positive and many other helpful data points are always available at forward.ny.gov.

The Governor also announced the State has launched a new diagnostic testing site in the Town of Ramapo, a community heavily impacted by COVID-19 in partnership with Good Samaritan Hospital. The clinic, open today between noon and 5 p.m., is at the Town of Ramapo Cultural Arts Center at 64 North Main Street in Spring Valley. The clinic will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

"Every day, we see the hard work of New Yorkers reflected in our numbers, which continue to steadily decline even as every part of the state has entered Phase Four of our phased, data-driven reopening," Governor Cuomo said. "New Yorkers accomplished that - 19 million people working together because they cared about each other. If we are not careful, we could end up back right where we started, and all that hard work will have been for nothing. We cannot go back to the hell we experienced three months ago, so we must protect the progress we've made and continue to be New York Tough."

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

  • Patient Hospitalization - 714 (-10)
  • Patients Newly Admitted - 81 (+21)
  • Hospital Counties - 31
  • Number ICU - 179 (+16)
  • Number ICU with Intubation - 96 (+5)
  • Total Discharges - 72,386 (+84)
  • Deaths - 9
  • Total Deaths - 25,068

AG James Announces Conviction of Buffalo Firearms Instructor for Falsifying Firearms Safety Training Courses


Dennis Brennan Fraudulently Certified Individuals for Firearms, Use of Deadly Force Trainings

   Attorney General Letitia James announced the guilty plea of Dennis Brennan for defrauding the state and students and falsifying firearms training course completions at the Peace Officer Training Academy of Buffalo, NY, which he owned and directed. Brennan, 66 of South Wales, New York, failed to provide proper security guard and peace officer training courses required by New York State law and submitted fraudulent documents to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) falsely stating that proper training requirements had been met. The scheme involved fraudulently reporting that individuals completed necessary and required courses on firearms training and use of deadly physical force, putting the lives of officers and the public at risk.

“We won’t tolerate those who put greed over the safety of our communities,” said Attorney General James. “By enabling individuals to have guns without adequate training and clearance, Dennis Brennan put others at risk. I will continue to fight to uphold measures designed to protect our communities from gun violence.”
Brennan entered guilty pleas before the Honorable Christopher J. Burns in Erie County Court, to one count of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, and one count of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, both class E felonies. The Court has also ordered Brennan’s firearms license to be revoked and has directed him to surrender all weapons.    
Between 2016 and 2019, Brennan offered Security Guard Training Courses at his training academy, which are required to obtain or maintain an Armed Security Guard License. On several occasions, Brennan accepted payment from students for the courses and provided them with fraudulent completion certificates, despite not requiring them to fire their weapons or provide training on the safe and proper use of firearms, as mandated by DCJS. Brennan then presented the false documents to DCJS with the intent to defraud.
The DCJS issues peace officer certifications to individuals who successfully complete an approved peace officer training course once an approved instructor provides documentation that all rules and regulations surrounding that course are followed. Brennan knowingly marketed and provided peace officer training courses to civilians, though he was fully aware that his academy was not authorized to issue such certifications to civilians. Brennan kept the tuition money paid by the individuals who remained in the course, which amounted to over $1,000 per student. 
As mandated by DCJS, New York state requires security guard students to complete a 47 Hour Firearms Training Course prior to obtaining their Armed Security Guard License and to complete an annual 8 Hour Firearms Training Course to maintain their Armed Security Guard License. One of the requirements for successfully completing both courses is that students must train and fire with their duty type handgun and achieve a minimum qualifying score.
Brennan’s guilty pleas are the result of an investigation by the Attorney General’s Office following a referral from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, which culminated in a multi-count indictment charging Brennan with 16 felony counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree. Brennan was arraigned before Judge Burns on February 26, 2020.  Brennan is scheduled to be sentenced on September 21, 2020.   
The DCJS, the Municipal Police Training Council (MPTC), and the Security Guard Advisory Council (SCAG) took administrative action and revoked Brennan’s MPTC instructor certification, which allowed him to train peace officers, and his SCAC instructor, director and school certifications, which allowed him to train security guards.
“DCJS, the Municipal Police Training Council and the Security Guard Advisory Council take our responsibilities to establish training for police, peace officers, and security personnel seriously because proper training is critical to helping ensure public safety for all New York State residents,” said Division of Criminal Justice Services Executive Deputy Commissioner Michael C. Green. “I commend Attorney General James’ team for their handling of this case and want to recognize DCJS Office of Public Safety staff members, who provided invaluable assistance so the Attorney General’s Office could hold Mr. Brennan accountable for skirting the rules, falsifying paperwork, taking advantage of unsuspecting individuals seeking gainful employment and endangering the public so he could profit. We hope this case serves as a deterrent to those who would consider compromising the integrity of police, peace officer and security guard training in our state.” 
The Attorney General thanks the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services and the New York State Police for their valuable assistance in this investigation