NYPD Announces Citywide Crime Statistics for October 2022

 

Strategies to curb shootings, seize guns, patrol the subways, and clear cases remain strong

For the month of October 2022, the number of overall shooting incidents decreased in New York City compared with October 2021. Citywide shooting incidents decreased by 33.6% (85 v. 128), driven by significant declines in the Bronx, Brooklyn, northern Manhattan, and Queens. The decreases in gun violence across the city reflect the NYPD’s ongoing work to deploy officers to neighborhoods, public housing areas, and transit stations that need them most and to ensure that our steadfast focus remains on the victims of crime.

Additionally, the number of murders citywide decreased for the month of October by 32.6% (29 v. 43) compared to the same period last year.

With two months remaining in 2022, the tally of illegal firearms seized from New York City’s streets by our brave officers has reached more than 6,100 – with each seizure another opportunity to keep New Yorkers free from the violence wrought by guns. So far this year, 215 fewer people have suffered gunshots in the city, compared to the same period a year ago. The tireless work of the women and men of the NYPD has seen citywide gun arrests rise by 4.3% (3,978 v. 3,815) through October 2022, compared with the same period in 2021. The number of citywide gun arrests through the first 10 months of 2022 continues to stand at a 27-year high – as it did through the first three quarters of the year.

On enforcement, NYPD officers in October 2022 made 4,367 arrests for complaints of major felony crimes, a 16.5% increase over the 3,749 arrests for major felonies in the same month last year. Arrests for major felonies are up 25.8% (39,742 v. 31,582) so far in calendar 2022, compared with the first 10 months of 2021.

Overall index crime in New York City increased in October 2022, by 5.9% compared with October 2021 (10,930 v. 10,324) driven largely by a 19.3% increase in grand larceny auto (1,244 v. 1,043), a 9.6% increase in grand larceny (4,564 v. 4,163), and a 8.9% increase (1,388 v. 1,274) in burglary.

“Keeping New Yorkers safe is our mission – and the NYPD’s commitment to the public will never waver,” said Police Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell. “Our work to suppress violence, to maintain order on our streets and in our subway stations is intelligence-driven, flexible, and focused on prevention. Our officers are elevating their work every day – particularly in the subway system where the public is seeing our visible presence, extensive coverage in trains and platforms, and more engagement with riders and those who work in the system.”

Across all bureaus, the NYPD’s relentless focus on gun violence has driven a 14.7% (1,129 v. 1,323) reduction in shooting incidents year-to-date and a 13.9% decrease in murders (359 v. 417) year-to-date through the end of October. The NYPD’s Firearms Suppression Section continues to build strong cases by identifying firearms traffickers and concentrating on interdicting illegal guns before they hit the city’s streets, where a small number of people are willing to wield them to harm others.

The NYPD is working with its partners, including in the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), to keep all of those who use the transit system – on more than 6,000 train cars running along more than 600 miles of mainline track through 472 stations – safe.

As part of the NYPD’s recent Transit Safety Awareness Campaign, Crime Prevention Officers are handing out informational fliers to riders to remind them of best practices for safety. Subway conductors are making live announcements as trains enter stations to alert riders when officers are on the platform and where NYPD Transit District facilities are located when applicable. Additional police officers have been deployed to patrol platforms and engage with riders and conductors about the conditions aboard their trains.

Whether underground or on the street level, the NYPD’s focus remains on driving down violence and addressing community concerns. So far this year, the NYPD Detective Bureau has cleared by arrest 64.3% of homicides that have occurred since January. In another 10% of murder cases, perpetrators are identified and actively being sought by detectives. Additionally, the NYPD’s clearance rate for shooting incidents has been rising in recent years, and so far this year is nearly 43 percent – with shooting suspects identified and currently being sought in an additional 18% of shooting incidents.

The NYPD works every day to gain increasing degrees of support and partnership from the community. This is at the core of a recently launched pilot program, Community CompStat– which innovates the Department’s CompStat model by featuring members of the community joining with officers from various patrol boroughs to identify and address local concerns. Set to launch in early 2023, these meetings will better connect the NYPD with the people they serve throughout New York City.

The NYPD will never stop fighting for New Yorkers, and will continue to fight crime while working in partnership with every community in New York City.

*All crime statistics are preliminary and subject to further analysis, revision, or change.*

Index Crime Statistics: October 2022

	October 2022	October 2021	+/-	%
Murder	29	43	-14	-32.6%
Rape	139	120	+19	+15.8%
Robbery	1478	1454	+24	+1.7%
Fel. Assault	2088	2227	-139	-6.2%
Burglary	1388	1274	+114	+8.9%
Grand Larceny	4564	4163	+401	+19.3%
Grand Larceny Auto	1244	1043	+201	+19.3%
TOTAL	10930	10324	+606	+5.9%

Additional Statistics For October 2022

	October 2022	October 2021	+/-	%
Transit	210	164	+46	+28.0%
Housing	449	501	-52	-10.4%
Citywide Shooting  Incidents	85	128	-43	-33.6%

Rape Incident Reporting Statistics: October 2022

(Reports filed from October 1 – October 31 in years indicated)

Year	Total  Incidents  Reported	Incident  Occurred  Same Year	Incident  Occurred  Previous  Year	Incident  Occurred  2 Years  Prior	Incident  Occurred  3 Years  Prior	Incident  Occurred  4 Years  Prior	Incident  Occurred  5+ Years  Prior
2022	140	115	11	1	1	3	9
2021	120	79	14	7	6	1	13
2020	127	102	3	3	3	3	13
2019	155	116	8	9	1	1	20
2018	165	130	6	6	4	3	16
2017	152	126	7	5	2	0	12

Rape continues to be underreported. If you are a victim of 

sexual assault, please come forward. The 24-hour NYPD 

Special Victims Division hotline is: 212-267-RAPE (7273).

Hate Crimes Statistics Summary for October 2022

(Representing October 1st – October 31st for calendar years 

2022 and 2021)

Motivation	2022	2021	Diff	% Change
Asian	5	6	-1	-17%
Black	1	2	-1	-50%
Disability	0	0	0	0%
Ethnic	3	0	+3	***
Gender	0	4	-4	-100%
Hispanic	5	2	+3	+150%
Jewish	20	18	+2	+11%
Muslim	0	1	-1	-100%
Religion	5	5	0	0%
Sexual Orientation	2	5	-3	-60%
White	2	5	-3	-60%
TOTAL	46	43	+3	+7%

Note: Statistics above are subject to change, as active 

possible bias cases may be reclassified to non-bias cases 

and removed from counted data upon investigation.

Attorney General James Announces Conviction of Former Nursing Home Employee for Raping a Resident Suffering from Dementia

 

Khadka Pradhan Raped an 81-Year-Old Resident While He Worked as Housekeeper at Shore Winds Nursing Home in Rochester

New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced that Khadka Pradhan, 52, of Rochester was found guilty of raping and otherwise sexually assaulting an 81-year-old resident suffering from dementia at the Shore Winds Nursing Home in Rochester, where he worked as a housekeeper in September 2021. A Monroe County jury convicted Pradhan of all charges in the December 2021 indictment: Rape in the First Degree, Criminal Sexual Act in the First Degree, and Endangering the Welfare of an Incompetent or Physically Disabled Person in the First Degree, and lesser-included offenses. Pradhan has been remanded into custody until sentencing, scheduled for January 6, 2023. He faces up to 25 years in state prison.

“Khadka Pradhan hideously violated an elderly woman with dementia in her home, where her loved ones trusted she would be cared for and protected,” said Attorney General James. “Pradhan abused and took advantage of our most vulnerable, and today, the jury convicted him of these heinous and reprehensible crimes. My office will always ensure violent criminals are held accountable for threatening New Yorkers’ safety.”

Pradhan was tried in Monroe County Court in Rochester before Judge Caroline E. Morrison. Evidence presented at the trial proved that in the early morning hours of September 29, 2021, Pradhan entered the room of a vulnerable and mentally disabled resident at Shore Winds Nursing Home and raped her. Another employee at the facility entered the resident’s room and observed Pradhan engaged in the assault. Other employees detained Pradhan and attended to the resident until the Rochester Police Department (RPD) arrived on the scene. DNA evidence obtained by RPD and admitted into evidence during the trial connected Pradhan to the crime.

Attorney General James would like to thank RPD, the Monroe County District Attorney’s office, and the Monroe County Crime Laboratory for their valuable assistance in this investigation, and the New York State Department of Health for promptly referring this matter to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG).

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, they should call 911.

MFCU’s total funding for federal fiscal year (FY) 2023 is $65,717,936. Of that total, 75 percent, or $49,288,452, is awarded under a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $16,429,484 for FY 2023, is funded by New York state. Through MFCU’s recoveries in law enforcement actions, it regularly returns more to the state than it receives in state funding.

VCJC News & Notes 11/4/22

 

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center
News and Notes

Here's this week's edition of the VCJC News and Notes email. We hope you enjoy it and find it useful! Reminders Shabbos Shabbos information is, as always, available on our website, both in the information sidebar and the events calendar. Here are the times you need:   Shabbos Candles Friday 11/4/22 @ 5:30 pm Shabbos morning services MAY NOT BE HELD, BUT WOULD BE at 8:45 am. SEE BELOW. Please join the services if you can do so safely.  Shabbos Ends Saturday 11/5/22 @ 6:33 pm   Building Closure As a result of a leak in the Con Ed gas line to the building, the building has been closed.  While repairs are already underway, we are not certain when they will be completed and when we will be able to reopen.   The status of the building, and whether it will be open, won't be open, or we don't know which, for Shabbos services will be posted by 5:15PM on Friday,  The notice will be on the home page of the website.  Van Cortlandt Jewish Center 3880 Sedgwick Ave Bronx, NY 10463

Founder Of Cyberfraud Prevention Company Sentenced To Five Years In Prison For Defrauding Investors Out Of Over $100 Million

Adam Rogas Raised $123 Million From Investors Using Financial Statements That Showed Tens of Millions of Dollars of Revenue and Assets that Did Not Exist 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that ADAM ROGAS, the co-founder and former CEO, CFO, and member of the board of directors of a Las Vegas-based cyberfraud prevention company NS8, Inc. (“NS8”), was sentenced today in Manhattan federal court to five years in prison for engaging in securities fraud by creating and using fraudulent financial data to obtain over $123 million in financing for NS8, of which he personally obtained approximately $17.5 million.  ROGAS pled guilty on March 16, 2022, before United States District Judge John P. Cronan, who imposed today’s sentence.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Adam Rogas took the ‘fake-it-till-you-make-it’ saying to a criminal extreme.  While claiming to be in the fraud prevention business, Rogas himself faked nearly all of his company’s customers, revenue, and assets.  In doing so, he defrauded investors out of over $100 million.  Now Rogas will report to prison to be held accountable for his fraudulent scheme.”

In handing down ROGAS’s sentence, Judge Cronan characterized the defendant’s fraud as “brazen, calculated, and long-running.”

According to the Complaint, Indictment, other publicly filed documents, and statements made in court:

ADAM ROGAS was a co-founder of NS8 and served as its CEO, CFO, and as a member of its board of directors.  ROGAS was also primarily responsible for the company’s fundraising activities.  NS8, which was based in Las Vegas, Nevada, was a cyberfraud prevention company that developed and sold electronic tools to help online vendors assess the fraud risks of customer transactions.  In the fall of 2019 and the spring of 2020, NS8 engaged in fundraising rounds through which it issued Series A Preferred Shares and obtained approximately $123 million in investor funds.  ROGAS used the materially misleading financial statements to raise those funds.

Specifically, ROGAS maintained control over a bank account into which NS8 received revenue from its customers and periodically provided monthly statements from that account to NS8’s finance department so that NS8’s financial statements could be created.  ROGAS also maintained control over spreadsheets that purportedly tracked customer revenue, which were also used to generate NS8’s financial statements.

During the fundraising process in the fall of 2019 and spring of 2020, ROGAS altered the bank statements before providing them to NS8’s finance department to show tens of millions of dollars in both customer revenue and bank balances that did not exist.  In the period from January 2019 through February 2020, between at least approximately 40% and 95% of the purported total assets on NS8’s balance sheet were fictitious.  In that same period, the bank statements that ROGAS altered reflected over $40 million in fictitious revenue.  ROGAS also falsified nearly all of NS8’s purported customers on internal tracking spreadsheets.

Additionally, ROGAS provided the falsified bank records he had created to auditors who were conducting due diligence on behalf of potential investors.  After these fundraising rounds concluded, NS8 conducted a tender offer with the funds raised from investors, and ROGAS received $17.5 million in proceeds from that tender offer, personally and through a company he controlled.  After ROGAS’s fraud was uncovered, NS8 ultimately entered bankruptcy proceedings.  ROGAS used his fraudulent proceeds to purchase, among other things, luxury goods and a residence in the Dominican Republic.

In addition to his prison term, ROGAS, 45, of Las Vegas, Nevada, was sentenced to three years’ supervised release and ordered to forfeit $17,542,259.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI in this investigation.  Mr. Williams further thanked the Securities and Exchange Commission for its cooperation and assistance in this investigation.  

MAYOR ADAMS CELEBRATES OPENING OF 90 SANDS, FORMER HOTEL REIMAGINED AS AFFORDABLE, SUPPORTIVE HOUSING

 

90 Sands Brings Nearly 500 New Affordable and Supportive Homes to Brooklyn With Successful Pilot Program to Directly Refer Clients from Street Outreach

 

Project Delivers on Goals Outlined in Mayor Adams’ “Housing Our Neighbors” Blueprint and Demonstrates Need for State Law on Hotel Conversions That Adams Administration Helped Pass

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), and the New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC) today joined Breaking Ground to celebrate the opening of 90 Sands, a former Jehovah’s Witnesses hotel converted into 491 affordable and supportive housing units in the high-cost neighborhood of Dumbo, Brooklyn. Of the 491 apartments at 90 Sands, 185 will be rent-restricted for New Yorkers — affordable for extremely low- to moderate-income households. Additionally, 305 units will be home to New Yorkers who formerly experienced homelessness.

 

“When we launched ‘Housing Our Neighbors,’ I said that safe, stable, and affordable housing is fundamental to a prosperous, inclusive city. That is what we are delivering today,” said Mayor Adams. “90 Sands demonstrates exactly why we fought for hotel conversion legislation in Albany: To create affordable housing more quickly and efficiently than we can starting from scratch. And I promised we would celebrate New Yorkers getting into homes, not people signing deals, and I am proud to say that with our innovative referral pilot, we housed 80 people here in just one week.”

 

The Adams administration worked closely with Breaking Ground to implement a pilot program specific to the development of 90 Sands that allowed for the direct referral of clients experiencing homelessness from street outreach and transitional housing programs to supportive apartments. This streamlined process — made possible by cross-agency collaboration — cuts the time it typically takes to complete a permanent housing placement by more than two months.

 

As a part of Mayor Adams’ “Housing Our Neighbors” blueprint, the city is also pursuing opportunities to convert vacant hotels into new supportive and affordable housing, creating additional housing options for low-income households and New Yorkers experiencing homelessness. This project underwent a lengthy and expensive land use review process to convert to affordable housing, despite being uniquely well positioned for such a conversion. A new state law that Mayor Adams helped get passed in the state Legislature — which would have eliminated two years from the development process at 90 Sands had it been in place — will ease the process for these conversions going forward, and additional state funds are available to help these projects reach completion more quickly and cost efficiently.

 

“As a lifelong supportive housing advocate, I am so proud to celebrate the opening of 90 Sands with Breaking Ground, CUCS, and all of our new neighbors who now have a home of their own. This project was not easy, including a lengthy and expensive land use rezoning, but it is a model of the type of work we can do to house all New Yorkers,” said Chief Housing Officer Jessica Katz. “Beyond housing for almost 500 more people, a top priority of the Adams administration strategic housing blueprint, ‘Housing Our Neighbors,’ is to tackle administrative burdens that delay housing access. In an incredible feat, Breaking Ground and CUCS worked with the city to house people in a new direct referral pilot that we hope to explore as a way to get people out of the shelter system and into permanent housing faster.”

 

“In line with this administration’s ‘Housing Our Neighbors’ blueprint, serving the most vulnerable New Yorkers is a key priority, as is creating affordable housing opportunities in all our city’s neighborhoods. As we look to convert vacant hotels into affordable and supportive housing, 90 Sands serves as an important model,” said HPD Commissioner Adolfo Carrión. “An old hotel is now 491 beautiful affordable homes in the heart of Dumbo, with critical supportive services to help more than 300 New Yorkers formerly experiencing homelessness get back on their feet. We commend Breaking Ground and all our partners for bringing this ambitious project to fruition.”

 

“The 90 Sands development is providing hundreds of households with safe and affordable housing alongside extensive services, ranging from case management to health care and career counseling,” said New York City Housing Development Corporation President Eric Enderlin. “Congratulations to all the residents on their new homes, and thanks to our many partners who remain deeply committed to providing safe and stable housing to New Yorkers in need.”

 

“This administration continues to put people first by prioritizing the creation of affordable and supportive housing across the city, while also expanding access to these critical housing opportunities for some of our most vulnerable populations,” said New York City Department of Social Services Commissioner Gary P. Jenkins. “Projects like 90 Sands are essential to the city’s effort to efficiently connect New Yorkers in need — including those who formerly experienced homelessness — to affordable housing and high-quality supports that allow them to stabilize their lives and get back on their feet. We would like to thank Breaking Ground, CUCS, our partners in city government, and all others who worked so hard to make this tremendous project a reality.”

 

The 30-story building features a 24-hour attended lobby, security camera system throughout, multipurpose room for community events and meetings, a digital library, a fitness room, and extensive bike storage. 90 Sands also includes a newly activated plaza for public use at the corner of Sands Street and Jay Street, adding a new green space to the Downtown Brooklyn and Dumbo communities. Breaking Ground plans to bring in community-serving uses to occupy more than 20,000 square feet of community facility and commercial space on the ground floor and lower level.

 

CUCS will provide onsite social services to residents of 90 Sands. Services provided at 90 Sands will be available to all tenants and will include case management, primary medical care, mental health services, employment readiness, and benefits counseling, among others. Breaking Ground and CUCS have a longstanding partnership, and 90 Sands marks their 12^th building together to provide housing and onsite support for individuals and families formerly experiencing homelessness. This is Breaking Ground’s fourth hotel conversion project in New York City.

 

Until August 2017, 90 Sands was a residential hotel operated by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. On this project, Monadnock Construction, Inc. is the general contractor, Beyer Blinder Belle is the project architect, and W Architecture and Planning designed the public plaza space at the corner of Jay and Sands Street.

 

DEPARTMENT OF STATE’S CONSUMER PROTECTION DIVISION ISSUES WARNINGS FOR CONSUMERS AS HOLIDAY SEASON APPROACHES

Five-Part Shopping Series to Assist Cost-Conscious Consumers During this Year’s Holiday Season

Part One: Tips to Help Consumers Shop Safely Online as Holiday Season Gets an Early Start

Secretary Robert J. Rodriguez, “It’s a one-two punch for cost-conscious New Yorkers as they battle rising prices and ever-evolving scams”

The New York Department of State’s Consumer Protection Division (DCP) today announced the rollout of a five-part consumer alert series to help cost-conscious New Yorkers navigate the holiday shopping season. In the coming weeks, consumers will receive guidance on charity scams, credit cards, gift cards, refunds, returns and warranties. In this first consumer alert, DCP wants to empower New Yorkers with actionable fraud prevention tips, so they have greater awareness and control when shopping online.

“This holiday season, it’s a one-two punch for cost-conscious New Yorkers as they battle rising prices and ever-evolving scams,” said New York Secretary of State Robert Rodriguez, who oversees the Division of Consumer Protection.  “New Yorkers need to know how to spot fake online reviews, fake texts impersonating package delivery companies and they should never keep their credit cards on file for future purchases. There are laws to protect consumers, but consumers also need to know how to protect themselves from scammers this holiday season.”

The convenience of shopping online creates both opportunities and challenges for consumers. One of the major challenges is figuring out what is real or fake as scammers find new, more sophisticated ways to trick consumers. 

Shop Safely Online with these Tips:

• Don’t rush when buying online: Technology has simplified the way we shop. With a click of a button, we can quickly shop multiple sites, browse hundreds of items, comparison shop, find deals, read consumer reviews and make purchase decisions for a variety of items. Before you click, take the time to carefully read and review what you’re buying and who you’re buying it from.
• Be careful when shopping on social media: Social media commerce is gaining ground among shoppers, and according to experts it’s growing three times faster than traditional ecommerce. As more consumers browse and shop directly on social media platforms, we urge consumers to pay attention to brand imposters and fake retailers with fake consumer reviews. Avoid placing orders on these copycat sites for products that will never arrive.
• Shop on trusted sites with retailers known to you. Consumers are exposed to hundreds of retailer websites, and some promote products that may not meet their expectation by offering a poor-quality version of the advertised item. Some consumers have also reported not receiving any product at all. Use caution on trusted sites that host items for third-party sellers.
• Beware of third-party vendors. If redirected from a trusted site to a third-party site, read the seller’s policies, review ratings, read consumer comments, and most importantly do a broad internet search before making your purchase. Trusted retailers who host third-party sellers do not warranty their sales, thus you could get a substandard product or no product at all when you take the risk and purchase from an unknown third-party vendor.
• Do your research if you want to try a new site or retailer. Performing a broad internet search will provide you with important feedback from other customers.
• Learn how to spot a fake review: Watch out for fake reviews online. One red flag to look for is one-sided reviews with no specifics. Real reviews often reflect customer experiences that are balanced, descriptive and subjective. Also look for multiple reviews that look very similar and posted during the same timeframe. This is a sign that the reviewers are either copying information or were all written by the same person.
• Read product specifications. Online marketing is geared to get you to buy, so it is important to understand the product you are purchasing and the terms of the sale to ensure you are getting what you want.

Don’t be Fooled by Package and Delivery Scams:

• Keep track of your packages. Package tracking and delivery scams are common during the holidays. Review the tracking information for your package and note any issues right away through the retailer’s websites.
• Beware of phishing attempts. Another common scam this time of year is scammers using phishing emails and text messages to impersonate delivery companies (e.g., UPS, USPS, FedEx), banking and credit card companies, and other large retailers (e.g., Netflix, PayPal, eBay, Amazon), which often include links to sites attempting to steal your information.  Always open a browser and type the company’s website address yourself instead of clicking on a link in an email or text message.

Tips for Using Credit Cards Online:

• Check the website’s encryption; It’s easier than you think. Before entering your credit card information, make sure that the website’s address begins with “https” and that there is a closed lock on the website address bar or unbroken key symbol in the lower portion of your window.
• Don’t keep the credit card on file for future purchases. Provide your credit card number each time you make a purchase.
• Designate one credit card and one email address for online shopping. This will allow for easy review of purchases and provide protection in case of a dispute.

The New York State Division of Consumer Protection provides resources and education materials to consumers on product safety, as well as voluntary mediation services between consumers and businesses. The Consumer Assistance Helpline 1-800-697-1220 is available Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm, excluding State Holidays, and consumer complaints can be filed at any time at www.dos.ny.gov/consumer-protection.

For more consumer protection tips, follow the Division on social media at Twitter: @NYSConsumer and Facebook: www.facebook.com/nysconsumer

MAYOR ADAMS BRINGS BACK “DUSK AND DARKNESS,” MULTI-AGENCY TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT, EDUCATION CAMPAIGN

 

As Daylight Savings Ends, Streets Become More Dangerous in Evenings and at Night, Especially for Pedestrians and Cyclists

 

As Overnight Garbage Collection Has Increased, Campaign Will Place Greater Emphasis on Safer Truck Driving and Worker Protection

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the return of the city’s annual “Dusk and Darkness” traffic enforcement and education campaign to keep pedestrians, cyclists, and all road users safe during fall and winter evenings, especially after the end of daylight saving time this Sunday, November 6. This year, the Dusk and Darkness campaign will focus on promoting safe practices for the carting of commercial waste — handled by private companies — to protect workers and other road users, while the New York City Police Department (NYPD) will expand traffic enforcement of dangerous moving violations during the more dangerous evening and overnight hours.

 

Launched in 2016 and now in its seventh year, the Dusk and Darkness campaign combines proven tactics to combat elevated rates of fatal crashes. During fall evenings, rush hour occurs at a time when sunlight and visibility are dramatically and suddenly reduced, leading to some of the highest fatal crash rates of the calendar year. In the past, this campaign has improved safety on city streets — reducing the average number of evening and overnight fatalities each year by 13.5 percent over the years it has been in place as compared to the five years prior. In that time frame, the average number of pedestrian fatalities declined 21.7 percent and the average number of motor vehicle occupant fatalities dropped by 25.8 percent.

 

“This initiative brings together three things our administration has focused on since day one: following the data, breaking down siloes between agencies, and keeping New Yorkers safe,” said Mayor Adams. “We have seen how dangerous the streets can be after the clocks change, and we are deploying targeted, proven strategies to give New Yorkers the tools they need to keep themselves and their neighbors safe. Street safety is public safety.”

 

“This goes for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians: It’s on everyone sharing the road to be aware of each other, their surroundings, and the heightened risks this time of year,” said Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks III. “At the end of the day, we want everyone to get home safely. Education and enforcement are key to making that happen.”

 

“As the days get shorter, it’s important we all travel through this city with caution and consideration for our fellow New Yorkers. I urge all drivers to keep their speeds low, bikers to wear reflective gear, and pedestrians to cross the streets with caution,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “I thank DOT, TLC, NYPD, and all the Vision Zero agencies for getting this important message out and helping to keep our streets safe.”

‘Dusk and Darkness’ tips for drivers and pedestrians. Credit: New York City Department of Transportation

“Our campaign this year will be a layered initiative of preventive policing measures designed to keep all road users safe — focused on increased enforcement and education on the hazards of this time of year,” said NYPD Chief of Transportation Kim Y. Royster. “Prevention will be a key component to this seasonal initiative, and the NYPD will be utilizing data to inform our flexible deployment plan and conducting outreach to drivers to remind them that their choices matter behind the wheel.”

 

“Drivers must operate their vehicles responsibly every time they get behind the wheel, but as our days get shorter, they have a heightened responsibility to drive carefully to keep their fellow New Yorkers safe, especially in the evenings that we know are more dangerous,” said New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “Programs like Dusk and Darkness are great examples of how education and enforcement complement our safe street redesigns to combat reckless driving. We thank our sister agencies for their continued partnership.”

 

“While this season brings less daylight for us all, that should not mean more New Yorkers dying due to dangerous driving,” said New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “The Dusk to Darkness program reminds us to stay vigilant and helps everyone navigate these darker months safely.”

 

“As we set our clocks back, let’s also remember to keep our speedometers set — at a safe 25 mph or less unless otherwise posted,” said New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) Chair David Do. “We know that nothing prevents more traffic deaths than driving within the speed limit and between dusk and darkness are the times when crashes are most likely to occur. We literally drive this home to our for-hire drivers during their training. Per miles driven, they are among the safest drivers in the city.”

 

“As the daylight hours decrease in the fall and winter, our attention and focus behind the wheel must increase,” said New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services Commissioner Dawn M. Pinnock. “As the standard bearer for fleet safety, we have a responsibility to ensure our fleet operators have the resources they need to best perform their duties, including investing in adaptive headlights, heated mirrors, and safety lights for work trucks. In addition to these efforts, we are proud to help educate others and increase awareness about the Dusk and Darkness campaign. We remind all motorists to drive cautiously, slow down, and don’t let one night ruin a life.”

 

“Commercial waste haulers perform an essential service for our city, and it is imperative that they prioritize safety during their operations,” said New York City Business Integrity Commission (BIC) Commissioner Elizabeth Crotty. “BIC is proud to participate in the Dusk and Darkness outreach campaign, along with our other Vision Zero partners, as we work to address this important public safety issue.”

 

Dusk and Darkness this year includes the following initiatives:

 

Day of Awareness: DOT and NYPD Vision Zero Street Teams are spread out at high-visibility locations across all five boroughs this morning to remind commuters of the increased dangers of traffic crashes during the fall evening and overnight hours. Those teams will also be visible this evening.

 

Increased Evening and Overnight Enforcement: The NYPD is engaging in sustained, increased enforcement that kicked off on Halloween and will continue through the fall and winter. NYPD officers will be deployed on highways and local streets, with an increased focus on driving behavior that endangers vulnerable road users. Officers will be on alert to enforce against hazardous driving violations to keep pedestrians and cyclists, including older adults and children, safe in neighborhoods throughout the city. Enforcement will focus on speeding drivers, drivers that fail to yield, and distracted drivers using their cell phones while behind the wheel. NYPD traffic agents will increase enforcement against vehicles that are double-parked and blocking bike and bus lanes.

 

Daylight Saving Awareness: As the end of daylight saving time approaches on Sunday, Vision Zero Task Force agencies and partners will use social media channels to alert drivers to the dangers of lower visibility, while encouraging them to follow the 25-mile-per-hour citywide speed limit and to yield to pedestrians and cyclists throughout the season. DOT will also feature the driver-targeted Vision Zero “Speeding Ruins Lives” awareness campaigns on bus shelters, on LinkNYC kiosks, and in print advertising. DOT’s marketing efforts will also focus on evening rush hours, with a drive-time radio ad campaign that targets drivers at the exact time of day when driver awareness needs to be heightened.

 

For-Hire Vehicle Driver Safety: TLC will visit areas frequented by for-hire vehicle drivers to remind them of the importance of using extra caution during low-visibility periods, including by driving 25 miles per hour unless otherwise posted. TLC will also reiterate this message to drivers and passengers via social media.

 

Commercial Waste Industry Safety: BIC enforcement activities include evening and overnight operations in partnership with the NYPD and other partner agencies. Safety enforcement includes garage inspections, truck stops, and regulatory action to ensure trade waste companies comply with safety requirements that aim to protect trade waste workers and all road users. For Dusk and Darkness, BIC is sharing additional resources and information with trade waste companies regarding safe operations.

 

BIC takes a holistic approach to regulating traffic safety in the commercial waste hauling industry, with robust driver training and vehicle inspection programs. Since 2016, BIC has held five safety symposia for the industry and visited more than a dozen trade waste companies to join their safety events and trainings to connect directly with drivers and helpers. BIC is currently engaged in various education, outreach, and compliance tracking efforts to ensure the private sector installs side guards — life-saving tools that protect cyclists and pedestrians — on their vehicles by the legally required mandate of January 1, 2023.