873 East 228th Street Wraps Up Construction In Williamsbridge, The Bronx

 

Construction is complete on 873 East 228th Street, a four-story building in Williamsbridge, The Bronx. Designed by Node Architecture Engineering and Consulting P.C., which took over from Badaly Architects, and developed by L&A Development, the 37-foot-tall structure yields 16 rental units spread across 12,171 square feet. The property is located between Barnes and Bronxwood Avenues, near the 225 Street subway station.

The façade features an exterior insulated finish system (EIFS), promoting energy efficiency and weather resistance. Additionally, high-performance windows by Visum Fenestration Systems ensure a quiet living environment for residents. Amenities include on-site and bike parking, along with a private recreational area in the rear yard.

Node AEC and L&A Development have successfully delivered a modern, sustainable residential building to the Williamsbridge neighborhood, reflecting a thoughtful blend of design and functionality.

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on Solidarity Mission to Israel

Governor Hochul: “These are my messages: solidarity, deep concern for the people of Israel, particularly in the aftermath, bring home the hostages, as well as get that humanitarian aid flowing. People need it.”

Hochul: “It's obviously been a life changing experience for me to come into a war zone so quickly after the assault, the attack, the massacre…There’s a strong Jewish community in the State of New York that has deep ties…So as representing the largest Jewish population outside of Israel, it was important for me to come and experience this and be able to report firsthand of the atrocities, but also our support for Israel at this time.”

I want to take this opportunity to report to New Yorkers on the experience I've had since my arrival. It has been a whirlwind 24 hours of seeing people in their darkest pain, but also hopeful that there can be a peaceful resolution of this longstanding conflict.

What I witnessed was, in many senses, more horrific than I had imagined. First, there's the personal stories of searing pain to see a loved one stripped from your arms and taken hostage or shot in front of you. A young woman in a hospital who was crushed under the weight of five or six family members who perished, and she hid under them while the terrorists were trying to amass more casualties. And she is obviously traumatized and in the hospital and has broken ribs.

I spoke to a young soldier who, 19 years old, almost lost his leg. He wasn't even on duty, he ran back to try and save his fellow citizens and was able to extract a 95 year old woman who was trapped in her safe house surrounded by people who had been murdered. And she couldn't get out and they got her out a small window, they were able to get her with her wheelchair. And he kept fighting and fighting trying to save people, and almost lost his own life.

I met a young man who also was severely, severely injured, brought to the hospital, and his very pregnant wife was able to join him as she gave birth to the baby. After a week of intensive therapy ICU, the young man survived and was able to hold that newborn infant. So I did see some joyous images.

I also saw people with a strong sense of defiance and resiliency – people that would say what happened was an act of terror. We agree with that assessment. It was an act of terror by Hamas. And I also came to not just hear the stories, but to also bear witness to the scene of one of the most horrific attacks on the Kfar Azza kibbutz, which was one of the first places that the terrorists breached. And the slaughter of innocents, the smells, the sites, were difficult to process. There was blood all over the walls, the floors, the mattresses, safe rooms that became a house of horrors.

I saw where a hostage had been held until he was shot in the head. Saw two, the room where two young women, found naked, had been butchered. I spoke to the military. I also had a chance to speak to Israel's leaders, reconfirming New York State's solidarity with Israel, but also our strong desire to see a safe return for the hostages.

I specifically spoke to President Herzog, and showed him a picture of Omer Neutra, whose parents I met at a rally in New York City. I saw his aunt and uncle and cousin here in Israel, and spoke about the other ones who had a connection to New York, about the need to bring them home safely. I spoke to Prime Minister Netanyahu about our support for Israel, but also reinforcing President Biden's desire, request that there be a flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza to make sure that there's no further loss of innocent life there either.

These are my messages: solidarity, deep concern for the people of Israel, particularly in the aftermath, bring home the hostages, as well as get that humanitarian aid flowing. People need it. I'd be happy to take any questions. It's obviously been a life changing experience for me to come into a war zone so quickly after the assault, the attack, the massacre. We were literally one mile from the Gaza border. You could hear rockets, smoke in the air.

I needed to go process this in person because I have so many people back in New York who stand with the Jewish people and their right to live free, to coexist with others, a right that's been conferred upon them for 75 years. We respect that. And there's a strong Jewish community in the State of New York that has deep ties, many concerned about loved ones, their own stories of loss, hostages, the unknown.

So as representing the largest Jewish population outside of Israel, it was important for me to come and experience this and be able to report firsthand of the atrocities, but also our support for Israel at this time.

 

Bronx Man Pleads Guilty To Distribution Of Fentanyl In Connection With Death Of 19-Year-Old Victim And Sex Trafficking Of A Minor

 

Virgil Wardlow Exchanged Black Market Fentanyl Pills for Sex with a Minor Victim and Caused the Death of a 19-Year-Old

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that VIRGIL WARDLOW pled guilty today to one count of distributing fentanyl.  In connection with his guilty plea, WARDLOW stipulated that he paid for commercial sex with a minor using fentanyl-laced pills that caused the death of a 19-year-old victim.  WARDLOW pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 13, 2024. 

 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “The consequences of the defendant’s conduct are heart-wrenching:  The defendant paid for sex with a 16-year-old victim using fentanyl-laced pills, which the victim’s 19-year-old friend then ingested, poisoning her and causing her death.  Today’s guilty plea demonstrates that this Office will seek justice for families facing the horrific tragedy of losing a loved one to fentanyl poisoning and for victims of child sexual exploitation.” 

According to court filings and statements made in court proceedings:

WARDLOW engaged in a pattern of paying for commercial sex with black market pills that contained fentanyl.  On or about March 25, 2023, at a hotel room in the Bronx, New York, WARDLOW provided two of those pills to a 16-year-old female (“Victim-1”) in exchange for sex with Victim-1.  After Victim-1 had sex with WARDLOW and WARDLOW left the hotel room, Victim-1 and her 19-year-old female friend (“Victim-2”) ingested the pills provided by WARDLOW.  Thereafter, Victim-1 became ill, and Victim-2 became unconscious and died of a drug poisoning.

Between at least on or about February 8, 2023, and on or about April 7, 2023, WARDLOW exchanged several messages with other individuals in which WARDLOW offered to provide pills in exchange for sex or money.  WARDLOW sent these messages using an anonymized cellphone number that masked his identity from his intended victims.

WARDLOW, 31, of the Bronx, New York, pled guilty to distribution and possession with intent to distribute mixtures and substances containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and oxycodone, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York State Police, the New York City Police Department, and Special Agents from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.

Preliminary Injunction Entered in Justice Department Suit to Stop Fraudulent Debt Collection Scheme that Harmed Veterans

 

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma has issued a preliminary injunction enjoining three individuals and two companies from continuing their fraudulent debt collection scheme. The order was issued after the department filed a civil complaint against Assured Collections LLC, Assured Financial LLC, Christopher Parks, Christopher Noah Parks and Stephen Miller.

According to the complaint, Christopher Parks, 62, who is currently incarcerated in Cushing, Oklahoma, his son, Christopher Noah Parks, 29, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and Stephen Miller, 39, also of Broken Arrow, operate Assured Collections LLC and Assured Financial LLC. The defendants, according to the complaint, used those companies to distribute thousands of fraudulent debt collection notices to consumers across the country. These notices falsely stated that consumers owed money, often thousands of dollars, for durable medical equipment. In fact, defendants had no authority to contact consumers to attempt to collect any debt. Many of the notices were sent to older adults and veterans.

“No consumer should have to panic at the thought of needing to pay thousands of dollars they do not in fact need to pay,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The department and its partners remain steadfast in our resolve to protect consumers from companies and individuals responsible for sending fraudulent debt collection notices.”

“The defendants in this case victimized individuals who were already traumatized by illness and were struggling emotionally, physically and financially,” said U.S. Attorney Clinton Johnson for the Northern District of Oklahoma. “This fraudulent billing scheme caused additional harm and eroded the public’s trust in the medical industry. I’m thankful for the collaborative effort of all the investigative agencies that worked together in pursuit of justice for the victims.”

“The Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) is committed to protecting the integrity of TRICARE, the healthcare system for our military members,” said Special Agent-in-Charge Michael C. Mentavlos of DCIS’s Southwest Field Office. “This action is the result of strong partnerships across the law enforcement community, and demonstrates the DCIS’s ongoing commitment to investigating and prosecuting companies and individuals that seek to enrich themselves at the expense of our military members, their families and the American taxpayer.” 

“This action sends a clear message that the VA Office of Inspector General makes it a priority to investigate those who would seek to exploit our nation’s most vulnerable veterans,” said Special Agent in Charge Kris Raper of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s (VA-OIG) South Central Field Office. “The VA-OIG is grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and our law enforcement partners for their efforts to achieve justice in this case.”

According to the complaint, Christopher Parks (who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud and was recently sentenced to 18 months in prison), Christopher Noah Parks and Stephen Miller knew that debt notices were fraudulent. Despite that knowledge, defendants continued to contact consumers attempting to collect.

Anyone who believes that they are a victim of the unlawful debt collection activity is encouraged to report to the Federal Trade Commission at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov/#.

The VA-OIG, DCIS, Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and FBI investigated the case.

Senior Litigation Counsel Patrick Runkle of the Civil Division's Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorney Marianne Hardcastle for the Northern District of Oklahoma filed the case.

Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch.

Additional information about the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Oklahoma can be found at www.justice.gov/usao-ndok.

Governor Hochul Announces Completion of 72-Unit Affordable and Supportive Housing Development in the Bronx

HELP Home Simpson Offers Affordable Apartments with On-Site Supportive Services for 44 Formerly Homeless Adults

Development Includes Food Pantry and Community Services from St. Peter’s Deliverance Ministries

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the completion of a 72-unit affordable and supportive housing development in the Foxhurst section of the Bronx. HELP Home Simpson replaces a one-story church building with an energy-efficient development that includes commercial space for St. Peter’s Deliverance Ministries to operate a food pantry and provide community services.

“With the completion of HELP Home Simpson, more than 70 Bronx families will now have a safe, modern, and affordable place to call home," Governor Hochul said. “My administration remains committed to increasing the supply of quality affordable housing, expanding access to critical support and services, and working closely with local organizations and service providers to ensure that all New Yorkers – particularly New Yorkers experiencing homelessness – have the security and stability they need to thrive."

In the last five years, New York State Homes and Community Renewal has created or preserved 14,700 affordable homes in the Bronx. HELP Home Simpson continues this effort and complements Governor Hochul's $25 billion comprehensive Housing Plan to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes across New York, including 10,000 with support services for vulnerable populations, plus the electrification of an additional 50,000 homes.

The seven-story building offers 72 apartments affordable to households earning at or below 60 percent of the Area Median Income. Forty-four apartments are reserved for chronically homeless single adults in need of supportive services to live independently. These residents will have access to services funded by the New York City 15/15 Initiative and provided by HELP USA, Inc.

The building’s ground floor features 8,500 square feet of commercial space for use by St. Peter’s Deliverance Church to conduct their ministry and community programs, including a food pantry and educational programs. Residential amenities include a roof terrace, bike storage and laundry facilities.

The building was designed to meet the heightened energy efficiency standards of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority Multifamily New Construction Program. Features include energy efficient windows, Energy Star appliances and lighting, and a partial green roof.

The development team consists of HELPDevCo, CMC Development LLC, and St. Peter’s Deliverance Ministries Church.

State financing for the $33 million development includes $17.5 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credits from HCR and $63,200 from NYSERDA. The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development provided $6 million from the Supportive Housing Loan Program. The Community Preservation Corporation will provide $7.6 million under Freddie Mac’s permanent loan program.

161st Street Business Improvement District - 2nd Annual Halloween Fun in the 161 - Saturday, October 28

 

Next Saturday, October 28 join us for our 2nd Annual Halloween Fun in the 161! This event is part of NYC Department of Transportation's Open Streets Program with collaboration with NYC Parks and NYPD Community Affairs. Bubbledad will make an appearance along with Bindlestiff Family Cirkus and LeMonde Studio. Look for lots of fun, candy and your chance to test out your costumes before the big day on October 31!

RSVP HERE!

MAYOR ADAMS, DOT COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ TAKE MAJOR STEPS TO ADVANCE “DINING OUT NYC,” NATION’S LARGEST OUTDOOR DINING PROGRAM

 

Proposed Rules Offer Clear Guidance for Restaurant Owners, Prioritizing Equity and Expanding Access to Safe, Clean, Rat-Free Outdoor Dining in All Five Boroughs

 

With Launch of Outreach Plan, City Agencies Will Engage With Local Restaurants and Community Organizations

 

First Approved “Outdoor Dining NYC” Setups Expected on City Streets in Spring 2024

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez today took a major step forward to advance “Dining Out NYC” — the city’s permanent outdoor dining program and the largest in the country. Beginning today, the Adams administration is launching a public outreach and engagement campaign to solicit feedback on new proposed rules that will give restaurant owners and community members the clear guidance they need for outdoor dining to become a permanent, rat-free staple of the city’s streets. DOT — in partnership with the New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) — will engage with the local restaurants, business organizations, trade associations, and community groups to solicit feedback on proposed rules for the program. The first approved Dining Out NYC setups are expected to hit New York City streets in spring 2024.

 

Dining Out NYC represents one of the most significant efforts of the last decade to reimagine the city’s streetscape to support all New Yorkers and small businesses, while creating vibrant public spaces that improve quality of life and continue to accelerate the city’s economic recovery. The new program draws on lessons learned from the temporary outdoor dining program created during the COVID-19 pandemic, which saved 100,000 jobs across the city but led to quality-of-life issues, as a subset of restaurant owners were unable to maintain loosely regulated outdoor dining setups.

 

“Outdoor dining saved 100,000 jobs in New York City during the pandemic and gave the five boroughs something New Yorkers had been craving for a long time, and now, thanks to this program, it is here to stay,” said Mayor Adams. “Our vision for the program will be developed in close partnership with restaurant owners, diners, and communities, and I am confident it will be a win for our entire city. We are taking the lessons of the temporary pandemic-era program — what worked, what didn’t, and what we can improve — and assemble the ingredients for the nation’s largest and best outdoor dining program. This public engagement period will allow us to refine the recipe and deliver a delicious final product.”

 

“Outdoor dining is here to stay, and we look forward to getting New Yorkers’ feedback on how to make the largest outdoor dining program in the country a success,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “Step by step, we are transforming what it feels like to be outside in New York City and making this city a better place to live, work, play, and eat.”

 

“Outdoor dining has made our streets more vibrant public spaces, and Dining Out NYC will provide diners with an enjoyable experience while helping restaurants thrive,” said DOT Commissioner Rodriguez. “Dining Out NYC will build upon what has worked and say goodbye to what has not. This public engagement period will help inform program rules and make sure the nation’s biggest outdoor dining program is also the best.”

 

“Outdoor dining helped save hundreds of restaurants and thousands of jobs during the pandemic while revolutionizing how New Yorkers experience their city,” said SBS Commissioner Kevin D. Kim. “As we begin this next phase of Dining Out NYC, it is important to listen to community stakeholders, small business owners, and everyday citizens on how to make outdoor dining work for everyone. That’s why SBS is proud to stand with Mayor Adams and Commissioner Rodriguez as we embark together on this ambitious outreach and education plan.”

“I would like to congratulate Commissioner Rodriguez and the Department of Transportation, as well as our Chief Public Realm Officer Ya-Ting Liu, for creating a permanent, world-class outdoor dining program that will boost our small businesses, enhance our streetscapes, prioritize cleanliness, and give people — not rats — a quality dining experience,” said New York City Department of Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch.

“Outdoor dining has been a boon to New York City, saving thousands of restaurants and jobs during the worst of the pandemic and transforming our streets for the better,” said New York City Department of City Planning Director Dan Garodnick. “As the city moves forward on permanent design rules for Dining Out NYC, it is critical that residents, patrons, and restaurant owners all have a voice. Your input will help the city create a more flexible outdoor dining experience that’s cleaner, healthier, safer, and more welcoming.”

“Today marks another step closer to the launch of the largest outdoor dining program in the country,” said Chief Public Realm Officer Ya-Ting Liu. “Through these proposed rules, DOT and its partner agencies are envisioning a program that works for restaurant owners, patrons, pedestrians, and road users alike. These rules seek to ensure that outdoor dining setups are beautiful, safe, clean, and available to restaurants in all five boroughs.”

 

“These Dining Out NYC proposed rules showcase the city’s dedication to comprehensive rodent mitigation,” said Director of Citywide Rodent Mitigation Kathy Corradi. “Tackling both the design and management elements of public realm dining spaces, these rules lay a strong foundation of a rat-free outdoor dining program.”

 

“With the release of these Dining Out NYC rules, we are reaching yet another crucial milestone to make outdoor dining a permanent, safe, accessible, and rat-free reality,” said “New” New York Executive Director B.J. Jones. “By actively engaging with restaurant owners, community members, and local organizations, the Adams administration is making every effort to balance stakeholder needs to create innovative and inviting ways to enliven neighborhoods across the city.”

 

Visualization of Hypothetical Roadway Setup Under Proposed Rules for Dining Out NYC (Credit: New York City Department of Transportation)

 

Visualization of Hypothetical Sidewalk Setup Under Proposed Rules for Dining Out NYC (Credit: New York City Department of Transportation)

 

Visualization of Hypothetical Streetscape Under Proposed Rules for Dining Out NYC (Credit: New York City Department of Transportation)

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, outdoor dining was permitted exclusively on the sidewalk, and almost only within Manhattan. Under Dining Out NYC, outdoor dining will be permitted year-round on the sidewalk and from April to November in the roadway. The new program creates an equitable, accessible fee structure for participating restaurants, with rates varying by location and setup size — and with significantly lower fees than existed under the previous sidewalk café program. For example, under the new program, a 100-square-foot sidewalk café in Lower Manhattan would cost about half as much on an annual basis than it did during the pre-pandemic sidewalk café program.

 

The proposed rules outline requirements for a safe, clean outdoor dining program, while providing restaurant owners with the flexibility to develop creative outdoor dining setups that are appropriate for their establishments. Proposed program rules include clear design requirements; siting criteria on where outdoor dining set-ups can be located in relation to other street features like subway entrances, fire hydrants, and more; and the types of materials that can be used in outdoor setups. They also require that the setups preserve clear sidewalk paths and emergency roadway lanes — include water-filled, rat-resistant protective barriers for roadway setups — and use easily moveable furniture and coverings. Ultimately, the proposed rules are designed to create a lighter-weight outdoor dining experience with lines of sight — as compared to the fully-enclosed shacks of the temporary, COVID-19-era program.

 

The proposed rules are subject to a 30-day public comment period and a public hearing before DOT publishes final adopted rules. DOT will review and consider all public feedback and expects to finalize and adopt program rules by the end of 2023. Once the new rules are adopted, DOT will launch an online application portal where restaurants can apply to participate in Dining Out NYC. A restaurant’s outdoor dining setup will need to comply with the program’s design requirements within 30 days of their application approval. On this timeline, the first approved Dining Out NYC setups will hit New York City and be on the street in spring 2024.

 

DOT, SBS, and other city agencies will conduct extensive public outreach to stakeholders to ensure that the city receives a wide range of feedback on the proposed rules. Members of the public can provide written comments on the proposed rules online or by attending a virtual public hearing online or by phone on Monday, November 20, 2023 at 10:00 AM. To sign up to speak at the hearing, email rules@dot.nyc.gov.

Two Businessmen Charged for $1M Kickback Scheme Involving Nuclear Weapons Components

 

An indictment was unsealed today in Kansas City, Kansas, charging two businessmen for an alleged scheme to fraudulently steer and award subcontracts by a major engineering firm for work on nuclear weapons manufacturing projects for the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Kansas City National Security Campus (KCNSC). 

According to court documents, from at least 2011 through approximately January 2021, Michael Clinesmith, 67, of Kansas, allegedly solicited and received kickbacks and bribes from Richard Mueller, 63, of Missouri, in exchange for steering subcontracts from Clinesmith’s employer to Mueller’s company (Subcontractor 1). Clinesmith, a long-tenured employee of a major engineering firm (Company 1) working at the KCNSC, was responsible for designing and procuring gages that were specially designed and manufactured to measure the components of nuclear weapon products. Clinesmith allegedly used his position and authority at Company 1 to steer gage subcontracts to Subcontractor 1 in exchange for Mueller paying him over $1 million for surreptitiously performing some or all of the work. Clinesmith is alleged to have told Mueller how much to bid on gage subcontracts that Company 1 awarded. Then, Clinesmith told his employer, Company 1, that those bids were fair and reasonable without disclosing that, in exchange for the subcontracts, Mueller would secretly funnel to Clinesmith the money awarded to Subcontractor 1. The indictment also alleges that Mueller lied to federal agents regarding the number of impacted subcontracts and his involvement in the scheme.

Clinesmith and Mueller are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and honest services wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud and honest services wire fraud. Mueller is also charged with one count of making false statements to federal agents. If convicted, they each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the conspiracy, wire fraud, and honest services wire fraud charges. Mueller also faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for the false statements charge.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Kate E. Brubacher for the District of Kansas, and Special Agent in Charge Justin Kessel of the Department of Energy Office of Inspector General (DOE-OIG), Western Field Office made the announcement.

The DOE-OIG Western Field Office is investigating the case.

Trial Attorney Andrew Jaco of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section is prosecuting the case.

If you believe you are a victim in this case, please contact the Fraud Section’s Victim Witness Unit toll-free at (888) 549-3945 or by email at victimassistance.fraud@usdoj.gov. To learn more about victims’ rights, please visit www.justice.gov/criminal-vns/crime-victims-rights-actcvra-ley-de-derechos-de-las-victimas-de-delitos.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.