Comptroller Stringer Debars Contractor that Cheated Immigrant Workers out of $1.7 million in Prevailing Wages and Benefits

K.S. Contracting Corporation employed a kickback scheme that preyed on at least 36 immigrant workers

   New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer today assessed $3.2 million in fines against K.S. Contracting Corporation and its owner, Paresh Shah, for cheating dozens of workers out of the prevailing wages and benefits they were owed under the New York State Labor Law. In addition to being assessed $3.2 million in unpaid wages, interest, and civil penalties, K.S Contracting and Mr. Shah will be barred from working on New York City and State contracts for five years.  K.S. Contracting was named as one of the worst wage theft violators in New York in a report by the Center for Popular Democracy in 2015.

“With President Trump taking clear aim at immigrants across the country, we need to stand up and protect the foreign-born New Yorkers who keep our City running. Every New Yorker has rights, and my office won’t back down in defending them,” New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer said. “Contractors might think they can take advantage of immigrants, but today we’re sending a strong message: my office will fight for every worker in New York City. This is about basic fairness and accountability.”

K.S. Contracting was awarded more than $21 million in contracts by the City Departments of Design and Construction, Parks and Recreation, and Sanitation between 2007 and 2010. Projects included the Morrisania Health Center in the Bronx, the 122 Community Center in Manhattan, the Barbara S. Kleinman Men’s Residence in Brooklyn, the North Infirmary Command Building on Rikers Island, Bronx River Park, the District 15 Sanitation Garage in Brooklyn, and various City sidewalks in Queens.

The Comptroller’s Office began investigating the company after an employee filed a complaint with the office in May 2010. The multi-year investigation used subpoenas, video evidence, union records, and City agency data to uncover a kickback scheme that preyed on immigrant workers.

After a four-day administrative trial in May 2016, the Comptroller found that K.S. Contracting routinely issued paychecks to just half of its workforce and then required those employees to cash the checks and surrender the money to company supervisors. The Comptroller further found that those supervisors would then redistribute the cash to all of the employees on a jobsite, paying them at rates significantly below prevailing wages, and that K.S. Contracting falsely reported to the City agencies that all employees on the jobsite who received checks were paid the prevailing wage.

Between August 2008 and November 2011, the company cheated at least 36 workers out of $1.7 million in wages and benefits on seven New York City public works projects. K.S. Contracting reported that it paid its workers combined wage and benefit rates starting at $50 per hour but actually paid daily cash salaries starting at $90 per day.  The majority of the workers impacted were immigrants of Latino, South Asian, or West Indian descent.

Examples of Paysheets Used by K.S. Contracting

The New York City Comptroller’s office enforces state and local laws which require private contractors working on New York City public works projects or those with service contracts with City agencies to pay no less than the prevailing wage or living wage rate to their employees.

When workers are underpaid, the New York City Comptroller’s office works to recoup the amount of the underpayment plus interest.

Since taking office in 2014, Comptroller Scott M. Stringer’s Bureau of Labor Law has assessed over $20 million and barred 40 contractors from state and City contracts due to prevailing wage violations, both record amounts. The assessed violation number includes underpayment of wages and benefits with interest payable to workers, and civil penalties payable to the City treasury/To read more about how the Comptroller’s Office sets and enforces prevailing wage and benefit rates on New York City public works projects, please click here.

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center Tribute to Frank Sinatra

The Van Cortlandt Jewish Center is having its 12^th Annual Winter fund raising event, a tribute to Frank Sinatra, on Sunday February 26, 2017. This will be a three-part event. In addition to entertainment, there will be a Do It your way raffle and a Chinese buffet with dessert. It will be held at Vladeck Hall, 74 Van Cortlandt Park South, Bronx, NY 10463.

The doors will open at 11 AM. Admission is free from 11 to 12, so everyone can come in to purchase any of the more than 60 raffles. (You don’t have to be present to win.) At 12 noon, there will be a delicious kosher Chinese lunch. At one o’clock the phenomenal Steven Maglio will thrill you with songs for Sinatra lovers. Following the entertainment, there will be dessert and raffle drawing. For this fabulous all afternoon event, tickets are just $35.00 in advance, $40.00 after February 21^st. There will also be Show and dessert only option, for which tickets are $20.00. Advance raffle ticket sales are available who cannot make it the 26^th. Catalog and order forms are available at the VCJC office.

To purchase tickets, get a catalog, or for more information, call 718-884-6105 or visit the VCJC office at 3880 Sedgwick Ave, Bronx, NY 10463, 9 AM to 5 AM Monday to Thursday or 9 AM to 1 PM Friday.

For more information contact --

Jack Spiegel

Cell- 646-296-1737

Email- jspiegel831@yahoo.com

The Jewish Community Council of Pelham Parkway Annual Breakfast 2017

SAVE THE DATE!!

The Jewish Community Council of Pelham Parkway

 

ANNUAL BREAKFAST

Will be held on

SUNDAY, MARCH 19, 2017

AT

 

Bronx House Community Center

990 Pelham Parkway South

Bronx, NY  10461

 

The Jewish Community Council of Pelham Parkway

Working for our Community and Its People

 Call 718-792-4744 for further information

Bronx Jewish Community Council, 2930 Wallace Avenue, Bronx, NY 10467

Bronx Chamber of Commerce Black Heritage Celebration Luncheon to honor six distinguished individuals for their contributions to our borough

Rep. Engel Renews Push to Keep Seniors Out of Poverty, Reintroduces Guaranteed 3% COLA for Seniors Act

   Congressman Eliot L. Engel has renewed his push to save seniors from poverty by reintroducing a bill that would guarantee every senior a reasonable Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) annually.

Last year, the Social Security Administration announced that seniors’ Social Security benefits would increase just 0.3 percent in 2017, a bump of about $5 per month for the average senior citizen. Engel’s bill, the Guaranteed 3% COLA for Seniors Act (H.R.991), would set a floor of 3% to ensure that every senior citizen receives at least a 3% COLA each year. The bill would also update the formula that the government uses to determine seniors’ yearly COLA to one that better reflects the costs seniors typically face.

“This year’s measly cost-of-living increase would be laughable if it weren’t for the very real dangers it poses for seniors,” Engel said. “Seniors’ Social Security benefits have not gone up more than 1.7% since 2012. These tiny bumps fail to account for the living costs seniors face and could force many to do without necessities, like medication – a choice no senior should be forced to make.

“This problem is made worse by Republicans’ assaults on the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Thanks to the ACA, seniors in the so-called Medicare ‘donut hole’ have saved more than $23.5 billion on their prescription drugs. If the GOP repeals the law, seniors will have to pay more for services the ACA guarantees without copays like prescription drugs and preventive doctors’ visits, and those costs could be catastrophic for them.

“America’s seniors shouldn’t be forced to the brink of poverty because of an archaic formula and Republican apathy. I will continue to push for passage of the Guaranteed 3% COLA for Seniors Act and finally afford seniors the protections they deserve.”

The Guaranteed 3% COLA for Seniors Act is supported by the Seniors Coalition and the Senior Citizens League. Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) and Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (NY-09) are original cosponsors of the bill.

Engel Writes to City on Behalf of P.S. 41 Parents Regarding Elevated Lead Levels in School’s Water

Requests frequent updates and transparency regarding elevated lead levels in the school’s water

   Following reports of elevated lead levels in the drinking water at P.S. 41 in the Bronx, Congressman Eliot L. Engel, a leading member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, wrote to New York City officials urging transparency and frequent updates as the City addresses the issue.

Recent testing showed levels of lead that exceeded EPA limits. Though the City has promised swift action, questions remain regarding how the situation will be handled to best benefit those who live in the community.

“Reports of elevated lead levels in drinking water are always gravely concerning, but that concern is compounded when it’s happening in a school with young children,”Engel said.  “We need to make sure everything that can be done to protect the health and well-being of those in the community is being done, including testing and remediation.”

Text of the letter to the City can be found below:

February 10, 2017

Dear Mayor de Blasio,

I write regarding reports of elevated lead levels at P.S. 41 in my Congressional District. Such reports are gravely concerning. Given the dangers associated with lead poisoning, I hope that we can work together to address this issue expeditiously and ensure New Yorkers’ safety.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), lead exposure can have particularly harmful effects on children and pregnant women.¹ As such, reports of elevated lead levels in any public school are especially alarming. We must take every step possible to keep the P.S. 41 community informed and to facilitate the necessary health responses.

To that end, I pose the following questions on behalf of my constituents:

·         I understand that every New York City public school is currently being tested for elevated lead levels, and I applaud the City for taking this critical step. It is vital that this testing be carried out quickly, and that results are immediately shared with New Yorkers who may have been exposed to lead. I ask that you additionally share a complete list of testing results with my office. When will this testing be complete? Will testing results be made public as soon as they are available?

·         I understand that you have alerted the P.S. 41 community of lead’s health effects. According to the CDC, the best way to determine the level of lead in blood is via a blood test.² Will the CDC’s recommendations be shared with students’ parents/guardians and P.S. 41 staff?  

·         What steps are being taken to ensure that every affected P.S. 41 student and employee is screened for elevated lead levels and, if necessary, treated for lead poisoning?

·         I understand that affected water fixtures at P.S. 41 are being “remediated.” What exactly does this remediation entail? When are these activities expected to be complete?

As parents, there is nothing more important than the health and wellbeing of our children. It is absolutely essential that we keep the P.S. 41 community up-to-date on new developments, and that we do everything possible to connect them with the services they need.

As a Member of Congress, I am committed to working with you to share information with the P.S. 41 community, and to continue to work together to ensure that New York City has the resources and support necessary to keep every New Yorker – especially children – safe.

Thank you for your attention to this issue. I look forward to your prompt reply.

                                                                                                                Sincerely,

                                                                                                                Eliot L. Engel

                                                                                                                Member of Congress

C.C.:

Ms. Carmen Fariña

Chancellor, New York City Department of Education

Dr. Mary Travis Bassett 

Commissioner, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Mr. Vincent Sapienza,

Acting Commissioner, New York City Department of Environmental Protection

1 “Lead.” U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/

2 “Childhood Lead Poisoning Data, Statistics, and Surveillance.” U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/data/index.htm.

MORE THAN 58,000 CATCH BASINS INSPECTED AS RESULT OF WILLIAMS' BILL

Williams' bill requires New York City Department of Environmental  Protection (DEP) to submit semiannual reports to the Mayor and City Council regarding the inspection, maintenance and repair of catch basins, disaggregated by community district. 

The bill also requires DEP to inspect every catch basin at least once per year, and to unclog/repair a catch basin within nine days from when a complaint is filed.

Council Member Jumaane D. Williams, Deputy Leader, issued the following statement in response to a report by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regarding reporting on catch basin inspections, maintenance and repairs. 

According to the report that was released on Feb. 2, about 58,000 catch basins have been inspected between July 1 and December 31 of last year. Of the 58,000 catch basins inspected, nearly 2,000 were identified as "non-functioning," and about 1,800 were repaired as a result of the inspections. 

The increased inspections, remediation, and the annual report are a result of a bill, sponsored by Williams, which requires the DEP to inspect every catch basin at least once per year, and to unclog/repair a catch basin within nine days from when a complaint is filed.

STATEMENT BY COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS

"For many areas in the City, including parts in my district, rain has caused much more damage than it should because of clogged catch basins, among several other causes. When I introduced this bill, my goal was to provide relief to residents and drivers, who would have to deal with flooded streets on a regular basis. It's an issue that not only inconveniences neighborhoods, but also can cause significant water damage to property. 

"I'm pleased to see the DEP is following through with the mandates of the law, which include annual inspections. Prior to the law passing, the DEP only checked catch basins every three years, which we knew was not frequent enough to address the flooding that occurred as a result of clogged drains. I would like to thank Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, my colleagues in Council, and the Administration, for supporting this important legislation that has improved the quality of life for many of the City's residents."

CITY COUNCIL PASSES LEGISLATION CO-SPONSORED BY COUNCIL MEMBER COHEN, EXTENDING INCOME ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SCRIE/DRIE PROGRAMS

 The New York City Council unanimously passed legislation co-sponsored by Council Members Andrew Cohen and Margaret Chin, to extend income eligibility requirements for those who qualify for the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption and Disability Rent Increase Exemption programs through the year 2020.  An expansion in 2014 raised the annual income eligibility from $29,000 to $50,000, providing rent freezes to tens of thousands more individuals, but due to a technicality, these vital protections could have been lost in the absence of this legislation.

   

“There is no question that housing costs are rising dramatically in New York City,” said Council Member Andrew Cohen. “The SCRIE/DRIE income threshold must keep pace with the times, or we risk jeopardizing the housing security of our most vulnerable populations. This legislation extends the current income eligibility limits to ensure that our seniors and New Yorkers with disabilities continue to be protected from future rent increases.”

The NYC Rent Freeze Program was established to protect low-income seniors and tenants with disabilities from the rent increases that otherwise are imposed for rent-regulated housing. New Yorkers who meet the income requirements are eligible for benefits under the Rent Freeze Program if they rent an apartment regulated by the State Division of Housing and Community Renewal or within a Mitchell-Lama Development, and spend more than one-third of their monthly household income on rent. For those who qualify, rent is frozen at time of application approval, protecting participants from future increases, and participating landlords receive a property tax credit to cover the increase in rent.