CHALLENGER KRISTY MARMORATO OUTRAISES INCUMBENT IN BRONX'S 13TH COUNCIL DISTRICT IN JUST 8 DAYS

 

Councilman Joe Borelli: "Kristy has made this one of the most competitive seats in the Council"

Morris Park, NY… Kristy Marmorato, candidate for Council District 13 in the Bronx, today announced that not only has she raised enough funds for her campaign to make the first matching funds deadline, but she outraised her incumbent opponent's entire filing period in just 8 days. NYC Council Republican Leader Joe Borelli said, "Overnight, Kristy has made this one of the most competitive seats in the Council in a borough where just a few years ago it would have seemed impossible. Parts of the Bronx are waking up to one-party rule.” Kristy Marmorato said, "I am grateful for the early support for my campaign to flip the 13th Council District. I am born and raised in the Bronx, spent the majority of my life in this district and my husband and I are raising our children here. I am running for City Council because we are very worried about the direction of the community and city that we love. My top priorities will be ensuring our streets are safe, keeping our cost of living down and our quality of life up. My campaign has the grassroots support in the community and outraising my opponent and qualifying for matching funds in just 8 days shows that we will also have the financial support necessary to win this competitive race and bring some much needed common sense to the NYC Council." In just 8 days, Marmorato raised $15,960 from 173 donors, including 116 in-district residents for a grand matching funds total of $98,955 already. About Kristy Kristy was born, raised, and educated right here in the Bronx. She understands this community because she truly embodies District 13. Kristy grew up in Throggs Neck and, as an adult, lived in both Pelham Bay and Country Club. Currently she resides in Morris Park. Alongside her husband, she decided to raise their daughter here so she can have similar life experiences like they both had growing up in District 13.    Kristy is a wife, mother and healthcare worker who has served this community for 16 years. She has extensive background in training and educating medical personnel as well as working with a team of highly skilled individuals to devise a plan of action for patients when they are at their most vulnerable.  Currently our community and our city is in its most vulnerable state. Kristy will be the assertive advocate that our district needs. She will help provide solutions and ideas for the issues and problems that our community is currently facing.    Even though we live in a big city, our district still has small town needs. Kristy will protect our quality of life, fight for our public safety and advocate for better education for our children.   Kristy is running for City Council because our district is in dire need for proper representation within the City Council. She will be the voice that our community needs. For more information: www.kristyforny.com

News, updates and more from NYC Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Jr.

 

CELEBRATING & REMEMBERING  REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.   Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Jr. joins Pastor Dr. Frederick Crawford and elected officials in celebration of the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., at Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church. LONGWOOD SHOOTING & RESPONSE  Our community is still reeling from Thursday night's tragic shooting outside the Longwood Police Athletic League NYC that resulted in the death of a 15-year-old teen. While the PAL has always served as a safe haven for our youth, the prevalence of gun violence knows no bounds. With Assembly Member Kenny Burgos & Bronx Community Board #2, Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Jr. met with the Executive Director of the PAL & NYPD 41 Precinct to offer our city’s resources in reopening the center & catching the people who brought this crime to our doorstep. If you have information relating to this incident, contact NYPD Crimestoppers. COUNCIL MEMBER RAFAEL SALAMANCA, JR. AND COUNCILWOMAN CARLINA RIVERA INTRODUCING A BILL  THAT WILL PROTECT OUR STREETS Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Jr.,  ensures that we are providing the proper programs within our communities to take as many guns off our streets. That is why Council Member Rafael Salamanca Jr., is introducing a bill at the New York City Council today with Councilwoman Carlina Rivera that will mandate monthly gun buybacks in every borough. Email Council Member Salamanca Visit our District Office at:  1070 Southern Boulevard Bronx, New York 10459 (718) 402-6130 salamanca@council.nyc.gov STAFF Shanna Knotts Chief of Staff Brian Hetey Deputy Chief of Staff Legislative Director & Budget Director Maritza Ogaldes-Wiggins  Constituent Services  Sayda Arriola Scheduling Leila Martinez Senior Advisor Angel Gaud Advisor to the Council Member Cristobal Vivir  Advisor to the Council Member Freddy Perez, Jr. Constituent Services

Permits Filed For 586 Gerard Avenue In Concourse Village, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a nine-story mixed-use building at 586 Gerard Avenue in Concourse Village, The Bronx. Located between East 150th and East 151st Streets, the lot is closest to the 161 Street-Yankee Stadium subway station, serviced by the B and D trains. The Karten Organization is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 90-foot-tall development will yield 147,178 square feet, with 142,602 square feet designated for residential space and 4,576 square feet for commercial space. The building will have 200 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 713 square feet. The concrete-based structure will also have a cellar, a 30-foot-long rear yard, and 80 enclosed parking spaces.

Issac & Stern Architects is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits were filed in August 2021. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

State Labor Department Releases Preliminary December 2022 Area Unemployment Rates

 

The New York State Department of Labor today released preliminary local area unemployment rates for December 2022. Rates are calculated using methods prescribed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The State’s area unemployment rates rely in part on the results of the Current Population Survey, which contacts approximately 3,100 households in New York State each month. To recap last week’s statewide press release, New York State’s seasonally adjusted unemployment held constant at 4.3% in December 2022.

Local Area Unemployment Rates*(%)
 December 2021 and December 2022
(Not seasonally adjusted)

The data in the preceding table are not seasonally adjusted, which means they reflect seasonal influences (e.g., holiday and summer hires). Therefore, the most valid comparisons with this type of data are year-to-year comparisons of the same month, for example, December 2021 versus December 2022. Labor force data for the current month are preliminary and subject to revision as more information becomes available the following month. Revised estimates for prior months are available at: https://dol.ny.gov/local-area-unemployment-statistics

Labor force statistics, including the unemployment rate, for New York and every other state are based on statistical regression models specified by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. These are the most up-to-date estimates of persons employed and unemployed by place of residence. Estimates are available for New York State, labor market regions, metropolitan areas, counties and municipalities with population of at least 25,000.

Unemployment Rates By County,
New York State,
December 2022

Jobs and Unemployment Fact Sheet

This fact sheet conveys important technical information that will contribute to a better understanding of labor force data (“household survey”), including resident employment/unemployment rates, and jobs by industry data (“business survey”), which are presented in the New York State Department of Labor’s monthly press release.

State Unemployment Rates Based on Regression Model

Beginning with data for January 1996, unemployment rates for New York State and all other states (as well as New York City and the City of Los Angeles) have been estimated using time-series regression statistical models developed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Advantage of Regression Model

Use of a time-series regression model reduces the month-to-month variation in unemployment rates and resident employment by reducing variation caused by sampling errors and other components of statistical noise (irregularities).

Benchmarking of Estimates

Once each year, labor force estimates, such as civilian labor force and the unemployment rate, are revised to reflect updated input data including new Census Bureau populations controls, newly revised establishment jobs data and new state-level annual average data from the Current Population Survey (CPS). As part of this procedure, all state figures are reviewed, revised as necessary and then re-estimated. This process is commonly referred to as “benchmarking.”

Changes in Methodology

Labor force estimates are now produced with an improved time-series regression model, which utilizes “real-time” benchmarking. “Real-time” benchmarking reduces end-of-year revisions, which also means that major economic events will be reflected in a more timely manner in state labor force estimates.

In addition, the new methodology includes an updated way of estimating for sub-state areas (e.g. counties, metro areas) the number of unemployed who are new entrants or re-entrants into the labor force. This change in methodology will result in lower unemployment rates in some areas and increased rates in others.

Unemployed and UI Beneficiaries

The estimate of the number of unemployed includes all persons who had no employment during the reference week (the week including the 12th of the month), were available for work, except for temporary illness, and had made specific efforts to find employment sometime during the 4-week period ending with the reference week. Unemployment insurance (UI) beneficiaries include those who apply for and qualify for UI benefits. Consequently, the estimate of the number of unemployed and the number of UI beneficiaries do not necessarily move in tandem.

Jobs Data

Jobs data are obtained from a separate joint federal-state survey of business establishments. The survey, called the Current Employment Statistics of Establishments, samples establishments in New York State. It excludes self-employed workers, agricultural workers, unpaid family workers and domestic workers employed by private households. This data represents a count of jobs by place of work. Data for each month is revised the following month as more complete information becomes available.

The New York State Department of Labor is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Program.

Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

New York City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce - 2023 Women in Business Luncheon

 

Learn More and Register

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson - Community Resources & Updates

Dear Neighbor,

 

Thank you for joining us for another week in review.

As promised, our first-ever digital Community Board application is live and available in both English and Spanish. We wanted to make our application easy and accessible to our community by eliminating the barriers that could keep our neighbors from joining. We encourage everyone to apply - our community boards should reflect the diversity of our great Borough. We also encourage our youth (16 years or older) to join us! We want to hear from you. Help us build the Borough you want to see! The application deadline is March 3rd, 2023. Click here to apply. 

Yesterday, Mayor Eric Adams joined with Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Kevin D. Kim to announce the creation of the $75 million NYC Small Business Opportunity Fund, the largest public-private loan fund directed at small businesses in the city’s history. For more information on the groundbreaking initiative, click here.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our office at 718-590-3500 or email us at webmail@bronxbp.nyc.gov.

 

In partnership,

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson

Last week, we were reminded of our nation's desperate need for gun control legislation. Two teens were shot, one of them fatally, outside of the Police Athletic League; a school safety agent discovered weapons in a 13-year-old’s backpack; and on Sunday, a gunman carried out a mass shooting at a Lunar Year celebration in Monterrey, California, leaving 11 people fatally injured. The time for gun control is now. We cannot afford to wait.  Join the Team! Become an NYC Parks lifeguard.   January lifeguard qualifying tests have been added for the summer 2023 season! Make summer happen for NYC! Work outdoors in some of New York City's most iconic locations and become part of a team and meet people who share your interests. The first step to becoming a lifeguard is to pass our qualifying test. Tests start Friday, December 2 and continue into January at sites across the city. Register now for a test to enter our 16-week training program to be beach or pool-ready for next summer. If you successfully complete the training program, you may be offered a full-time job for the summer working at a beach or pool in one of the best cities in the world! Registration for test slots is available on a first-come, first-served basis. HOW TO JOIN All potential lifeguards must pass the Lifeguard Qualifying Test, a vision and swim exam. To qualify, you must:   Be at least 16 years of age by the start of employment.   Have at least 20/30 vision in one eye and 20/40 in the other - without corrective lenses. Glasses and contact lenses may not be worn during the eye exam.   Be able to swim 50 yards in 45 seconds or less, with proper form.   Sign up today at nyc.gov/parks/lifeguards.

 

Former CEO Of Email Security Company Sentenced To Five Years In Prison

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that ROBERT BERNARDI, the founder and former Chief Executive Officer of the Virginia-based email security company GigaMedia Access Corporation, d/b/a GigaTrust (“GigaTrust”), was sentenced to five years in prison by United States District Judge Paul G. Gardephe.  BERNARDI was sentenced for orchestrating a scheme to defraud investors and lenders of millions of dollars through false and misleading misrepresentations, including fabricated bank statements and audit reports, and by impersonating a purported customer, auditor, and GigaTrust lawyer.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Robert Bernardi repeatedly lied and impersonated others in order to convince investors and lenders to fund his failing company.  Rather than admit that GigaTrust was underperforming, Bernardi concocted multiple schemes to keep the company afloat, defrauding investors and lenders out of millions.  Today’s sentence is a just consequence of Bernardi’s fraudulent actions”

According to the allegations in the Indictment and other filings and statements made in court:[1]

From in or about 2016 through at least in or about 2019, GigaTrust was a private company headquartered in Virginia that purported to be a market-leading provider of cloud-based content security solutions.  BERNARDI founded GigaTrust and served as its CEO.  BERNARDI, along with two co-defendants, NIHAT CARDAK and SUNIL CHANDRA, devised a scheme to defraud investors and lenders by (i) fabricating and disseminating false and misleading bank account statements that overstated GigaTrust’s cash deposits; (ii) fabricating and disseminating false and misleading audit materials that purported to have been issued by GigaTrust’s auditors and overstated GigaTrust’s performance; (iii) forging and disseminating a false and misleading letter purporting to be from GigaTrust’s New York-based counsel; and (iv) impersonating or causing others to impersonate a purported customer and auditor of GigaTrust on telephone calls with a prospective lender. 

Specifically, BERNARDI sent fabricated audit materials to a New York-based investment firm, and BERNARDI and CARDAK used fabricated bank statements to obtain multiple rounds of loans and investments for GigaTrust worth millions of dollars.  After a New York-based bank (“Bank-1”), which had loaned GigaTrust $25 million, declared that GigaTrust had defaulted on the terms of its loan agreement, BERNARDI and CARDAK induced additional investments in GigaTrust through, among other things, forging a letter purporting to be from GigaTrust’s New-York based counsel.  Shortly thereafter, while negotiating another $25 million deal with a lender (“Lender-1”), BERNARDI and CARDAK devised a scheme to impersonate a GigaTrust customer and auditor on requested diligence calls, which induced Lender-1 to make a $25 million loan to GigaTrust.  BERNARDI recruited CHANDRA to pose as one of GigaTrust’s alleged customers on a call with Lender-1.  BERNARDI and CARDAK also fabricated bank statements and sent them to Lender-1 right before closing the $25 million deal. 

GigaTrust filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection in the District of Delaware on or about November 27, 2019.

In addition to his prison term, BERNARDI, 68, of McLean, Virginia, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit $3,442,264 and to pay restitution to his victims.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in this case.  Mr. Williams further thanked the Securities and Exchange Commission, which has separately filed a civil enforcement action against the defendants, for its assistance in the investigation. 

NIHAT CARDAK pled guilty on January 12, 2023, and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 16, 2023.  The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations as to SUNIL CHANDRA, and CHANDRA is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment constitutes only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation. 

Governor Hochul Announces Expansion of the Capital Region Crime Analysis Center and Highlights State of the State Proposals to Increase Funding for Local Law Enforcement Agencies

 

New Center is $500,000 Upgrade, Four Times the Size of Former Location,and has Space for Twice the Number of Staff

One of 10 Across the State Funded by a Record $15 Million Investment Secured by Governor Hochul

Governor Highlighted Major Public Safety Initiatives as Part of the 2023 State of the State Agenda, Including Expanding Crime Analysis Center Network to New York City, Doubling Funding for the Gun Involved Violence Elimination Initiative, and Tripling Funding to the State's 62 District Attorneys' Offices

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the expansion of the Capital Region Crime Analysis Center in Albany, one of 10 centers in a state-supported network providing critical crime analysis, information, and investigative support to help law enforcement agencies more effectively solve, reduce, and prevent crime. Located at the City of Albany's Police Headquarters, the center received a $500,000 upgrade, making it four times the size of its former location with space for twice the number of staff. After touring the center, Governor Hochul highlighted the major public safety initiatives included in the 2023 State of the State agenda, which includes expanding the Crime Analysis Center network to New York City, doubling funding for the state's Gun Involved Violence Elimination initiative, and more than tripling aid to the state's 62 district attorneys' offices.

"There is no greater obligation than ensuring every New Yorker can live in safety, and that has always been my number one priority," Governor Hochul said. "We have leveraged local, state, and federal resources to create a one-of-a-kind network that is the backbone of local law enforcement agencies' crime-fighting efforts. We will continue to use state-of-the-art tools and technology to analyze data and share information - allowing investigators to solve murders, robberies, burglaries and gun crimes across the state, and creating a safer New York for all."

Governor Hochul toured the center with Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan and Albany County Executive Dan McCoy after meeting with the Center Board of Directors to learn more about how the centers assist police agencies and prosecutors' office, particularly with cases involving firearms. Through a unique partnership between the state Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the 10 centers access the ATF's National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) and by this summer, each center will have technology on-site to process shell casings and identify potential matches from different crime scenes in multiple jurisdictions across the state. This identification process previously took up to a month but will now take 24 to 48 hours and has a 99.6 accuracy rating.

In the Governor's 2023 State of the State agenda, Governor Hochul outlined a comprehensive public safety plan and investments to drive down gun violence and violent crime that includes:

• Expanding the state's Crime Analysis Center Network to New York City.
• Doubling funding for the Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative to $36 million. The GIVE initiative supports 20 police departments in 17 counties that account for more than 80 percent of the violent crime that occurs in New York State outside of New York City: Albany, Broome, Chautauqua, Dutchess, Erie, Monroe, Nassau, Niagara, Oneida, Onondaga, Orange, Rensselaer, Rockland, Schenectady, Suffolk, Ulster and Westchester. District attorneys' offices, probation departments, sheriffs' offices, and other partners in those counties also receive funding through the initiative.
  • In 2022, shootings in several GIVE jurisdictions decreased from the year before, including Buffalo (32 percent decrease), Long Island (29 percent decrease), Westchester (17 percent), and Rochester (13 percent).
• Bolstering State Police support by increasing Community Stabilization Units from 16 to 25 communities, funding an unprecedented four academy classes and expanding presence on federal task forces.
• More than tripling funding to $52 million, up from $12 million, for the state's 62 district attorney's offices and sustaining discovery and pretrial services funding for costs associated with implementation of recent criminal justice reforms to discovery and pretrial procedures, which took effect January 1, 2020.

Driving Down Gun Violence

Last year, shootings dropped 17 percent in New York City and 15 percent outside of the city. Additionally, 10,093 guns were seized by all law enforcement agencies across New York last year. This marks a 59 percent increase from 2019, during which 6,819 guns were seized, and an 11 percent increase from 2021, during which 9,088 guns seized. Gun seizures by the State Police are also up 160 percent compared to pre-pandemic levels, from 528 seizures in 2019 to 1,376 in 2022. State Police also seized 120 ghost guns in 2022, which is 85 percent more than in 2021.

Since taking office, Governor Hochul has taken actions to strengthen New York State's gun violence prevention laws by advancing efforts to:

• Ban ghost guns.
• Expand bail eligibility for gun crimes.
• Toughen prosecutions of gun trafficking.
• Mandate the use of the Red Flag law, leading to more than 5,400 Extreme Risk Protection Orders issued, which was a 300 percent increase from 2021.
• Raise the age to purchase semi-automatic weapons to 21.
• Launch the first-in-the-nation Interstate Task Force on Illegal Guns, which will meet again in mid-February.
• Triple State investments in gun violence interruption programs.

Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said, "Albany is proud to be home to the newest and largest Crime Analysis Center in New York State. The work happening here is helping us take a record number of illegal guns off our streets, apprehend violent individuals, and identify trends to help inform our proactive deployment of police resources. Thank you to Governor Hochul and DCJS Commissioner RossanaRosado for partnering with Chief Hawkins and the Albany Police Department and making this important investment that is enhancing public safety every day."

Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy said, "New Yorkers deserve the peace of mind that comes with living in safe communities, and this $500,000 investment for an expanded crime analysis center in Albany is another demonstration of Governor Hochul's commitment to public safety. Today I was happy to tour the new facility with the Governor and Mayor Sheehan to see firsthand the important work being done to assist local law enforcement in getting guns off the street and preventing violent crime in the future."

The Division of Criminal Justice Services is a multi-function criminal justice support agency and has a variety of responsibilities, including law enforcement training; collection and analysis of statewide crime data; maintenance of criminal history information and fingerprint files; administrative oversight of the state's DNA databank, in partnership with the New York State Police; funding and oversight of probation and community correction programs; administration of federal and state criminal justice funds; support of criminal justice-related agencies across the state; and administration of the state's Sex Offender Registry. Follow the agency on Twitter and Facebook.