Friday, March 25, 2022

Governor Hochul Illuminates New York Landmarks in Celebration of Greek Independence Day

 

Governor Kathy Hochul New York State Seal

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that New York State landmarks will be lit blue and white tonight, March 25, in celebration of Greek Independence Day. This day marks the 201st anniversary of Greece's independence from the Ottoman Empire following the Greek revolution of 1821.

“Today we celebrate Greek Independence Day with New York's Greek community by showing how thankful we are for their cultural contributions to this great state,” Governor Hochul said. “Greek culture is built into the foundation of our everyday lives in many ways as New Yorkers and I'm proud to light New York's landmarks blue and white this evening to celebrate the strong ties we have with this great nation and its people.”                      

New York State has one of the largest Greek populations in America, contributing to every profession and sharing their culture through restaurants, churches, street festivals, parades, and many other ways.

The landmarks to be lit in celebration of Greek Independence Day include:

  • One World Trade Center 
  • Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge    
  • Kosciuszko Bridge   
  • The H. Carl McCall SUNY Building   
  • State Education Building   
  • Alfred E. Smith State Office Building    
  • Empire State Plaza  
  • State Fairgrounds - Main Gate and Expo Center   
  • Niagara Falls  
  • The "Franklin D. Roosevelt" Mid-Hudson Bridge   
  • Grand Central Terminal - Pershing Square Viaduct   
  • Albany International Airport Gateway  

Attorney General James Secures Nearly $7 Million From Home Health Agencies for Cheating Workers and Medicaid Fraud

 

All American Homecare Agency and Crown of Life Care Submitted False Claims to Medicaid and Failed to Pay Millions of Dollars in Wages to Employees

Companies Agree to Pay $5.4 Million to Medicaid and Crown Agrees to Return $1.5 Million to Employees Cheated Out of Wages

 New York Attorney General Letitia James announced agreements with two home health agencies for cheating employees out of wages and submitting false Medicaid claims. Under the terms of the agreements, All American Homecare Agency, Inc. (All American) repaid $4 million and Crown of Life Care NY LLC (Crown) will return $1.4 million to the Medicaid program. Crown will also pay more than $1.5 million for distribution to employees that were cheated out of their wages. Both All American and Crown have admitted to their wrongful conduct and have simultaneously entered into settlement agreements with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York (EDNY) to resolve their Medicaid fraud liability.

“Home health aides provide critical care for our most vulnerable, and they must be fairly compensated for their work,” said Attorney General James. “Not only did these companies shamelessly cheat their workers, they also cheated our state and stole from communities that need it most. My office will never tolerate fraud of any kind, and we will continue to do everything we can to ensure that New Yorkers get their fair pay and treatment.”

“It is outrageous to cheat home health aides of their hard-earned benefits guaranteed under New York law and the Medicaid program,” said U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace. “These settlements reflect this office’s firm commitment to preventing fraud in government programs and protecting home health aides — who perform physically and emotionally taxing work in caring for some of the members of our community most in need.” 

The New York Wage Parity Act sets wage and benefit minimums that state-licensed home care services agencies (LHCSAs) are required to pay staff who perform home health aide and personal care services to Medicaid recipients. Under the law, workers are currently entitled to a base wage of $15.00 per hour that agencies must pay, and an additional $4.09 per hour in New York City and $3.22 in Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester counties. Reimbursement by the Medicaid program for services rendered to Medicaid recipients is conditioned upon compliance with these wage and benefit requirements.

The joint investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) and EDNY found that both All American and Crown failed to pay their home health aides the required wages and benefits owed to them pursuant to the Wage Parity Act; unlawfully sought payment from Medicaid and received money for care performed by aides who were underpaid; and falsely certified compliance with the Wage Parity Act.

Between April 2014 and December 2018, Crown underpaid its home care aides by more than $1.5 million, all of which will now be repaid to current and former employees impacted by Crown’s wage parity issues. Of that amount, $1,167,050 will be paid to OAG for distribution to the impacted home health aides and $411,000 will be paid in the form of paid time off for current aides who are owed back wages. Crown will also pay $1.4 million to the Medicaid program, of which $840,000 will be paid to the state and the remaining $560,000 will be paid to the federal government. Also as part of its agreement with OAG’s Labor Bureau, Crown is required to revise company policies and procedures; train personnel on updated policies subject to OAG’s approval; and regularly report staff wages and policy implementations to OAG for six years. If Crown fails to comply with these terms or properly compensate its aides, OAG has the authority to bring a civil action against the agency and demand $15,000 in liquidated damages for violating its legal obligations.

Although All American provided certain benefits to its staff, it did not timely pay the full $4.09 per hour required by law. During the investigation, All American remunerated its impacted home health aides by depositing money into current employees’ 401(k) accounts and issuing checks for back pay to former employees. All American has now repaid $4 million to Medicaid to resolve its liability for submitting false claims. Under the terms of the agreements, All American will also self-report to OAG for a two-year period to ensure continued compliance with the Wage Parity Act.

The OAG’s Labor Bureau and Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), in conjunction with EDNY, commenced these investigations after whistleblowers filed a complaint under the qui tam provisions of the New York False Claims Act, as well as the federal False Claims Act, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. The New York False Claims Act allows individuals to file actions on behalf of the government and share in any recovery. The whistleblowers’ complaint alleged that All American and Crown failed to pay their home health aides the statutorily required amount pursuant to Wage Parity. The state has since filed a notice of intervention against both companies with these settlement agreements. This is also the Labor Bureau’s largest settlement to date for violations of the Wage Parity Act and is a vital victory in Attorney General James’ ongoing efforts to protecting New Yorkers’ rights and wages.

“Thank you to Attorney General James and her staff, who investigated and made sure that things are fair and that justice is served,” said Carmen Perez Collado, a former Crown of Life Care worker. “I am grateful that our hard work of caring for individuals at home is valued and recognized.”

“Thank you, Attorney General Letitia James, for taking into account our work and for investigating the company, as there were some irregularities,” said Susana, a home health aide.

MFCU’s total funding for federal fiscal year (FY) 2022 is $59,918,216. Of that total, 75 percent — or $44,938,664 — is awarded under a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The remaining 25 percent of the approved grant — totaling $14,979,552 for FY 2022 — is funded by New York state. Through its recoveries in law enforcement actions, MFCU regularly returns more to the state than it receives in state funding.

MAYOR ADAMS, PARTNERS URGE ALBANY TO PASS LOCAL CONTROL FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY

 

Adams Administration, Legislators, and Advocates Push for New York City to Gain Power to Set Speed Limits, Control Automated Traffic Enforcement

 

City Asking for Proven Tools to Combat COVID-Fueled Rise in Traffic Violence, Increase in Crashes Occurring When Speed Cameras Are Off


 New York City Mayor Eric Adams today led a coalition of administration officials, legislators, and advocates urging Albany to give New York City control of critical tools to tackle the spike in traffic violence that has played out across the city throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Joined by senior administration officials, members of the state Legislature and the City Council, transportation advocates, and New Yorkers whose families have been affected by traffic violence, Mayor Adams called on the state Legislature to pass legislation empowering the city to set speed limits and control the automated traffic enforcement program. Under current law, speed cameras in the automated enforcement program can only be active Monday to Friday, 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and the program is set to expire this year.

 

“No family should have to suffer the loss of loved one to traffic violence, but that’s what can happen when a speeding car drives through a red light,” said Mayor Adams. “My job is to prevent New Yorkers from dying in our streets, and I need Albany to give me the tools to do my job. I want New Yorkers to hold me accountable for my decisions and my results, and that means I need home rule control over our speed cameras and red-light cameras. This is about keeping New Yorkers safe.”

 

Mayor Adams and the coalition visited the intersection of Ocean Avenue and Beverley Road near P.S. 245 in Flatbush, Brooklyn — the site of a fatal speeding crash that took place on August 18, 2020. In that incident, the driver of a speeding car ran a red light at high speed, ramming a second car in its side. An 18-year-old in the rear seat of the second car, Isaiah Benloss, suffered a traumatic brain injury and died in November 2021. Since the crash occurred at 3:30 AM on a Tuesday, the speed cameras were turned off, as required by New York state law.

 

The automated enforcement program has been highly effective when speed cameras are active, as speeding violations near the intersection of Ocean Avenue and Beverley Road have declined 89 percent since the installation of cameras began around P.S. 245 in 2019. Overall, since the start of the speed camera automated enforcement program in 2014, speeding violations are down 72 percent on average at camera locations during the hours they operate. Meanwhile, traffic violence has skyrocketed nationwide during the pandemic, including in New York City — and 59 percent of traffic fatalities now occur during hours when the city’s speed cameras cannot operate, inhibiting the city’s ability to identify drivers and take appropriate actions. Last year, more than one in three fatal on-street crashes occurred in school zones during hours when cameras were required to be inactive.

 

The Adams administration supports legislation establishing local control in the following areas:

 

  • School Zone Speed Cameras: Without action by the state Legislature, New York City’s authority to operate nearly 2,000 cameras in 750 school speed zones will expire this year. The city seeks control over the program to ensure it continues and to lift the limits on the hours this life-saving program is permitted to operate.

 

  • Red-Light Cameras: In 1993, New York City was among the first major American cities to receive state authorization for red-light cameras. While the Legislature has renewed the law multiple times since initial passage, the number of allowed camera locations has remained at 150, and fines have remained at $50 since inception, preventing a system of escalating fines for repeat offenders.

 

  • Bus Lane Enforcement: Under state law, the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority are authorized to operate stationary and on-bus automated cameras to enforce bus lane restrictions but not violations that impede operations on bus routes with no bus lane.

 

  • Local Speed Limits: Changes to the default speed limit in New York City require state authorization, which last came in 2014. Sammy’s Law, named after Samuel Cohen Eckstein, a 12-year-old who was killed by a speeding driver in Park Slope in 2013, would give New York City the authority to set safer speed limits on certain streets.

 

“Speed cameras save lives, as do lower speed limits,” said DOT Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “Unfortunately, as a former councilmember, I know too well that New York City is not always able to control our destiny around public safety, which means that some critical life-saving changes to our streets happen too slowly. New York City has been a model for Vision Zero cities across the country, so based on our proven success, I am joining the mayor in calling on the state to give the city the authority to manage traffic safety — including all our automated enforcement programs.”

 

“The NYPD fully supports the expansion of automated enforcement. The data provided by DOT is clear — speed cameras save lives,” said New York City Police Department Chief of Transportation Kim Y. Royster. “The NYPD will continue to supplement speed enforcement on New York City’s highways and local roads. Speed is a major factor in determining the severity of injuries, and the NYPD will continue in its mission of educating the public about the dangers of speeding and taking enforcement action against speeding drivers.”

 

“Speeding is dangerous and all too common among drivers here in New York City,” said New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “Automated enforcement works. It is an important and necessary tool in making our streets safer. We need to continue all efforts to reduce and prevent traffic deaths and serious injuries. I stand by the mayor and our sister Vision Zero agencies to support local control of speed cameras and speed limits as a proven public health measure that saves lives.”

 

“New York City deserves safe streets,” said New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission Acting Commissioner and Chair Ryan Wanttaja. “Automated enforcement has proven time and time again to save lives, making our streets safer for pedestrians, bicyclists, and law-abiding drivers, including the professional TLC-licensed drivers that keep our city moving 24/7. I join Mayor Adams in calling on the state to give New York City the tools it needs to keep our streets safe for everyone.”

 

“Keeping our city safe includes keeping our streets safe,” said New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) Commissioner Dawn M. Pinnock. “With support from our colleagues in Albany, we can save lives and make New York City’s streets safer for all road users. At DCAS, in our role managing the city’s municipal vehicle fleet, we are investing in technology and employee training to prevent collisions and set the standard for fleet safety.”

 

“Speed cameras, lower speed limits, and bus lane enforcement — simply put — save lives,” said New York City Comptroller Brad Lander. “New York City needs the ability to tackle our epidemic of traffic violence with effective tools to make our streets safer. I urge Albany to give us the power to do so.”

 

“Speed limits and speed cameras save lives, and we must act immediately to make our streets safer,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “Local control for traffic safety would allow for those closest to the problems to address the needs, and I applaud Mayor Adams and Commissioner Rodriguez for their efforts to make safety our priority.”

 

“The government powers and mechanisms to keep our streets and commuters safe should be placed at the local level — to elected officials and community groups who know what’s occurring on a street-by-street basis,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “New York City must have local control of our traffic laws and measures to provide safety to all.”

 

NYS Office of the Comptroller - DiNapoli: Despite Progress, Pay Gap for Women Persists


NYS Office of the Comptroller Banner

Median earnings for full-time working women in New York were 86 cents for every dollar earned by men in 2019, an annual wage gap of $8,821, according to a new analysis by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. The analysis, based on the most recent state-level data available, finds the gap in New York was smaller than the national wage gap of $10,150, with women earning 81 cents for every dollar paid to men on average. New York ranked 11th best among the states (including Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia) in terms of the dollar value of the gap and 7th best in terms of share, meaning New York’s women take home more dollars relative to men than in most other states.

While the national gender pay gap has improved from 60 cents in the 1960’s, it has remained around 80 cents since 2015. In New York, the gap has widened since 2015, with the ratio of women’s earnings compared to men’s earnings dropping from almost 89 percent in 2015 to 86 percent in 2019. 

“March is Women’s History Month and there is no better time to highlight this unfair pay disparity in the workforce,” DiNapoli said. “My analysis shows our country still has a long way to go in closing the gap between full-time working men and women. While New York has done better than most states, more can and should be done. Policies to expand childcare and improve pay transparency should be part of any multi-faceted approach to achieve equal pay.”

DiNapoli’s analysis, includes:

  • Women’s median earnings as a percentage of men’s median earnings;
  • Median earnings gender pay gap, U.S. and New York, 2015-2019;
  • New York’s gender gap by occupation and educational attainment; and
  • New York’s gender gap by race and ethnicity and age.

Analysis

Economic and Policy Insights

New York City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce - 2022 Virtual Women in Business Brunch March 30, 2022

 

Zoom Event

The Women in Business brunch is one of our premier fundraising events that was created to salute and honor the commitment of exceptional Hispanic women. All honorees have proven themselves in their respective fields, worked diligently to climb up the corporate ladder with integrity, and have demonstrated social responsibility by giving back to their communities. Join us in Honoring Their Powerful Prism!
Our 2022 Honorees
EXCELLENCE IN BANKING &
 FINANCE AWARD

VANESSA BLANCO

Sr. Business Consultant 
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
TRAILBLAZZER AWARD

ZANAIDA RODRIGUEZ

Human Resources Administrator
New York State Executive Chamber
EXCELLENCE IN MEDIA AWARD

VERONICA ROSARIO

TV Producer 
WPIX-TV

Bronx Man Charged With Shooting At Off-Duty NYPD Officer

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Keechant L. Sewell, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the filing of a criminal complaint charging JAMAR BAKER with illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition.  BAKER, who is on federal supervised release for a prior conviction, was arrested yesterday and was presented today before the Honorable Barbara C. Moses.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:  “For no apparent reason, Jamar Baker allegedly decided to pick a fight with an innocent driver heading to work.  Little did he know, the victim we allege he harassed and shot at is an NYPD officer who was on his way to the precinct to begin his shift.  The random attack and senseless criminal behavior not only put the officer in danger, but we also allege Mr. Baker hid the weapon inside a child’s toy, and put it back in the child’s crib.  Mr. Baker will now face federal justice for his reckless actions.”   

NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell said:  “Gun violence impacts all New Yorkers – including NYPD police officers, both on and off duty.  The NYPD and our law enforcement partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York vow to use every resource available to ensure that criminals are always held fully accountable for their reckless actions.”

As alleged in the Complaint filed in Manhattan federal court[1]:

Shortly after 6:30 a.m. on March 23, 2022, an off-duty NYPD Officer (“Victim-1”) was driving his personal vehicle to his NYPD precinct in Manhattan to begin his shift.  While crossing from the Bronx into Manhattan on the Macombs Dam Bridge, BAKER’s vehicle struck Victim‑1’s vehicle multiple times.  BAKER then pulled his vehicle alongside Victim-1’s vehicle, spit towards Victim-1, and shouted a slur at Victim-1.  As the vehicles continued driving, BAKER fired a gun at Victim-1, striking the front bumper and tire of Victim‑1’s vehicle.  Officers later recovered two .380-caliber shell casings from the road where the vehicles had traveled.

Law enforcement identified BAKER’s vehicle using license plate reader photographs.  When officers searched an apartment to which BAKER had gone immediately after the shooting, officers found a .380-caliber pistol concealed inside a teddy bear in a child’s crib.  BAKER is currently on federal supervised release in connection with a 2014 robbery conspiracy conviction, for which he served approximately five years in prison.

Baker Jamar complaint teddy bear

 

baker jamar complaint gun

BAKER, 26, of Bronx, New York, was charged with one count of possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony, and one count of possessing ammunition after having been convicted of a felony.  Each count carries a maximum sentence of ten years in prison.  The maximum potential penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD’s 32nd Precinct Detective Unit, the NYPD’s Firearm Suppression Section, and the Special Agents of the United States Attorney’s Office. 

The case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit.  Assistant United States Attorney Patrick R. Moroney is in charge of the prosecution.

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint, and the description of the Complaint set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation.

Attorney General James Announces Sentencing of Bronx Clinic Owner for Stealing More Than $4 Million

 

Leslie Montgomery Sentenced to 3 to 9 Years in State Prison, Ordered to Pay Millions for Sham Housing Assistance Scheme

 New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced the sentencing of Leslie Montgomery, 51, of the Bronx, for defrauding New York state out of millions of dollars in false Medicaid claims and exploiting low-income New Yorkers. Montgomery — who owned Healthy Living Community Center (Healthy Living) and LCM Livery P/U, Inc. (LCM Livery) — scammed New Yorkers through an elaborate scheme, whereby Montgomery advertised a sham housing assistance program to lure low-income individuals into providing their personal information. She then used the personal information to submit false claims for custom-molded back braces to MetroPlus Health Plan, a Medicaid-funded managed care organization, for braces that were not needed and never ordered by patients. Montgomery was sentenced today in Bronx County Supreme Court to three to nine years in state prison and ordered to pay back more than $4 million dollars in restitution to New York state.

“Exploiting New Yorkers’ desperate need for affordable housing to steal public funds is despicable,” said Attorney General James. “Ms. Montgomery’s greedy and illegal scheme violated the public’s trust and hurt our vulnerable communities in the process. My office will continue to root out this kind of greed and corruption. Those who attempt to steal off the backs of New Yorkers will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.” 

Last month, Montgomery pled guilty to Grand Larceny in the First Degree and Money Laundering in the First Degree, both class B felonies. Her company, LCM Livery, pled guilty to Money Laundering in the First Degree. As outlined in court documents, Montgomery used social media to advertise a sham housing assistance program as a ruse to lure low-income New Yorkers to Healthy Living. Healthy Living then required New Yorkers to divulge personal information, including their Medicaid numbers, in order to qualify for the purported program. But instead of helping people find housing, Montgomery used their information to submit false claims to MetroPlus for highly customized back braces that she never provided to the Medicaid recipients. From time to time, Montgomery provided a $20 “off-the-shelf” back brace that was mailed directly from Amazon to the recipient. However, most of the time, she never provided a back brace at all, and yet still billed MetroPlus between approximately $750 to $1,550 per item.

As part of her guilty plea, Montgomery admitted to submitting false Medicaid claims to MetroPlus for the custom-molded back braces, which were never requested or provided to the Medicaid recipients. Altogether, she pocketed more than $4 million from the scheme. Montgomery also admitted to hiding the criminal proceeds using shell companies, including LCM Livery, through which she funneled the stolen money to purchase two homes in the Bronx.

In conjunction with the criminal case, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) also filed a civil complaint against Montgomery and her companies. The complaint — which asserts violations of New York’s False Claims Act, Section 145-b of New York’s Social Services Law, Executive Law Sections 63(12) and 63-c, and other causes of action — seeks to additionally recover millions of dollars in Medicaid money obtained by these defendants as a result of their fraudulent conduct. That suit is still pending in court.

The OAG wishes to thank the New York State Department of Health, the Office of the Medicaid Inspector General, and MetroPlus for their assistance and cooperation in this investigation.

MFCU’s investigation was led by Detectives Alexander Kats and David Salembier, with the assistance of Supervising Detective James Briscoe, under the supervision of Deputy Chief Executive Officer Kenneth Morgan and Deputy Chief Commanding Officer William Falk. The underlying financial audit was completed by Senior Auditor Investigator Ying Tuo, with the assistance of NYC Regional Deputy Chief Auditor Jonathan Romano and NYC Regional Chief Auditor Thomasina Smith. Legal Assistants Victoria Sepe and Danielle Vercelli also assisted in the investigation.

The criminal case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant Attorneys General Hayley Campbell and Anjna Kapoor, with assistance from Deputy Regional Director David Arias and NYC Regional Director Twan Bounds. Thomas O’Hanlon is MFCU’s Chief of Criminal Investigations-Downstate. The civil action is being litigated by MFCU Civil Enforcement Division Deputy Chief Konrad Payne, with the assistance of Civil Enforcement Chief Alee N. Scott. MFCU is led by Director Amy Held and Assistant Deputy Attorney General Paul J. Mahoney and is a part of the Division for Criminal Justice. The Division for Criminal Justice is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General José Maldonado and is overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.

Reporting Medicaid Provider Fraud: MFCU defends the public by addressing Medicaid provider fraud and protecting nursing home residents from abuse and neglect. If an individual believes they have information about Medicaid provider fraud or about an incident of abuse or neglect of a nursing home resident, they can file a confidential complaint online on the OAG website or by calling the MFCU hotline at (800) 771-7755. If the situation is an emergency, please call 911.

MFCU’s total funding for federal fiscal year (FY) 2022 is $59,918,216. Of that total, 75 percent — or $44,938,664 — is awarded under a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The remaining 25 percent of the approved grant — totaling $14,979,552 for FY 2022 — is funded by New York state. Through its recoveries in law enforcement actions, MFCU regularly returns more to the state than it receives in state funding.

Governor Hochul Illuminates New York Landmarks in Solidarity with the People of Ukraine

 State of Education Building Lit up to support the people of Ukraine

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that New York State landmarks will be lit blue and yellow March 24, marking one month since the beginning of the Russian invasion, in solidarity with the Ukrainian people.

“As the proud home of the largest Ukrainian population in the United States, New York will continue to stand by the Ukrainian people in their fight against tyranny and oppression,” Governor Hochul said. “Our prayers are with the innocent victims of the unconscionable violence that continues to be perpetrated on a free and sovereign nation.”

Governor Hochul launched a new website containing resources offered by New York State and its partners to help Ukrainian people and their friends and allies here in New York. This follows the Governor’s announcement warning consumers about scams and cybersecurity threats amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In an additional show of support, the Governor also announced the Ukrainian flag will be flown on the Capitol building, the Executive Mansion, and the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services headquarters.

Last week, the Governor announced an Executive Order to prohibit state agencies and authorities from contracting with entities that continue to do business in Russia. In early March, Governor Hochul announced actions to strengthen the Department of Financial Services' (DFS) enforcement of sanctions against Russia, including the expedited procurement of additional blockchain analytics technology. In February, Governor Hochul ordered all state agencies and authorities to divest public funds from Russia and stop doing business with Russian companies.

The landmarks to be lit in solidarity with the people of Ukraine include:

  • One World Trade Center
  • Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge  
  • Kosciuszko Bridge 
  • The H. Carl McCall SUNY Building 
  • State Education Building 
  • Alfred E. Smith State Office Building  
  • Empire State Plaza
  • State Fairgrounds - Main Gate and Expo Center 
  • Niagara Falls
  • The "Franklin D. Roosevelt" Mid-Hudson Bridge 
  • Grand Central Terminal - Pershing Square Viaduct 
  • Albany International Airport Gateway
  • Fairport Lift Bridge over the Erie Canal