NYS Office of the Comptroller DiNapoli Releases Fiscal Stress Scores for Villages and Cities

 

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced that 10 villages and two cities were designated in fiscal stress under his Fiscal Stress Monitoring System. DiNapoli evaluated all non-calendar year local governments and designated one city and two villages in “moderate fiscal stress” and eight villages and one city as “susceptible to fiscal stress.” While no municipalities were in the highest category of “significant fiscal stress,” 73 villages and cities have not filed their financial information, as required. These scores also largely reflect the period when local governments in New York received federal relief funds to assist them in recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. “The financial landscape for many local governments has improved with the infusion of federal aid and stronger economic activity,” DiNapoli said. “The relief funds are temporary, so it is critical that local communities make changes, including carefully managing debt and engaging in long-term planning, that help improve their financial outlook for years down the road.” The latest round of fiscal scores evaluated local governments with fiscal years ending between Feb. 28 and July 31. DiNapoli’s office evaluated the fiscal health of 522 villages, which predominantly have a fiscal year ending on May 31, based on self-reported data for 2021. The scores also cover the 17 cities with non-calendar fiscal years, including the “Big 4” cities of Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Yonkers, each of which have fiscal years ending on June 30. Amsterdam (Montgomery County) was the only city in “moderate fiscal stress” with a score of 58.3. Last year, Amsterdam was ranked in “significant fiscal stress” with a score of 75. The villages of Addison (Steuben County) and South Dayton (Cattaraugus County) were also in “moderate fiscal stress.” Both villages were ranked in “susceptible to fiscal stress” last year but jumped in score this year with Addison going from 53.8 to 61.7 and South Dayton going from 47.5 to 55.4. The system, which has been in place since 2012, assesses levels of fiscal stress in local governments using financial indicators including year-end fund balance, cash position, short-term cash-flow borrowing and patterns of operating deficits. It generates overall fiscal stress scores, which ultimately drive final classifications. The system also analyzes separate environmental indicators to help provide insight into the health of local economies and other challenges that might affect a local government’s or school district’s finances. This information includes population trends, poverty and unemployment. DiNapoli’s office also has a self-assessment tool that allows local officials to calculate fiscal stress scores based on current and future financial assumptions. Officials can use this tool to assist in budget planning, which is especially helpful during periods of revenue and expenditure fluctuations. In January, DiNapoli released fiscal stress scores for school districts. In September, his office will release scores for municipalities with a calendar-year fiscal year, which includes all counties, towns, most cities and a few villages. List of Villages and Cities in Fiscal Stress Municipalities in Fiscal Stress List of Villages and Cities that Failed to File Financial Information Municipalities that Failed to File or Inconclusive List Complete List of Fiscal Stress Scores Data Files FSMS Search Tool Tool

Governor Hochul Commutes on the Subway and Visits Victims of Sunset Park Shooting

 

Governor Kathy Hochul commuted on the New York City subways and visited the victims of the Sunset Park subway shooting. 

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The governor and her aides better get tested for COVID-19 putting their bare hands on a subway pole that others have touched, coughed, and sneezed on. 

Permits Filed For 497 East 166th Street In Morrisania, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for an eight-story mixed-use building at 497 East 166th Street in Morrisania, The Bronx. Located between Washington Avenue and Third Avenue, the lot is one block north of the Freeman Street subway station, serviced by the 2 and 5 trains. Anthony Verrelli is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 74-foot-tall development will yield 39,960 square feet, with 31,392 square feet designated for residential space, 8,199 square feet for commercial space, and 369 square feet for community facility space. The building will have 46 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 682 square feet. The masonry-based structure will also have a cellar and a 56-foot-long rear yard.

Badaly Architects is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits have not been filed yet for the site. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

WILLIAMS' STATEMENT ON RESIGNATION OF LT. GOVERNOR BRIAN BENJAMIN

 

“As Lieutenant Governor, Kathy Hochul denied knowledge or awareness of Andrew Cuomo’s wrongdoing — now she’s repeating the same posture and strategy with her own Lieutenant. Either she’s consistently shamefully out of the loop, or shamefully enabling through her inaction, and either way it’s clear that unless we elect leadership outside of the old ways of Albany, these patterns of scandal and corruption will keep repeating.

“Throughout our campaign we've highlighted how the Hochul administration represented Albany's dysfunctional status quo. She claims to have cleaned up the Capitol. But just this week, with historic handouts to Buffalo billionaires, donor-driven scandals, and resignation, it’s never felt more familiar, or more clear that we need drastic change.”

Statement from Governor Kathy Hochul Re: Brian Benjamin

 

"I have accepted Brian Benjamin's resignation effective immediately. While the legal process plays out, it is clear to both of us that he cannot continue to serve as Lieutenant Governor. New Yorkers deserve absolute confidence in their government, and I will continue working every day to deliver for them."

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - APRIL 12, 2022

 

As New Yorkers Make Preparations to Travel and Gather with Loved Ones ForEaster and Passover Holidays, Remember to Use the Toolkit: Vaccines, Boosters, Testing, and Treatment

8 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday   

 Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combating COVID-19.

Important Note: Effective Monday, April 4, the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is no longer requiring testing facilities that use COVID-19 rapid antigen tests to report negative results. As a result, New York State's percent positive metric will be computed using only lab-reported PCR results. Positive antigen tests will still be reported to New York State and reporting of new daily cases and cases per 100k will continue to include both PCR and antigen tests. Due to this change and other factors, including changes in testing practices, the most reliable metric to measure virus impact on a community is the case per 100,000 data -- not percent positivity.

"As we approach the Easter and Passover holidays and we see more New Yorkers travel and gather together, let's continue to use the tools to keep each other safe and move forward through this pandemic safely," Governor Hochul said. "Make sure you get tested before you travel, and if you test positive, isolate from others and talk to your doctor about treatments. The number one way to protect yourself against COVID-19 is to get vaccinated. Second booster doses have been authorized for individuals 55 and up, so make sure to sign up for your booster today if you're eligible."

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Cases Per 100k - 18.76
• 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 25.62
• Test Results Reported - 85,815
• Total Positive - 3,666
• Percent Positive - 4.12% **
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 4.13% **
• Patient Hospitalization - 1,128 (+68)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 185
• Patients in ICU - 138 (+8)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 63 (-3)
• Total Discharges - 292,483 (+122)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 8
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 55,240

** Due to the test reporting policy change by the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and several other factors, the most reliable metric to measure virus impact on a community is the case per 100,000 data -- not percent positivity.

The Health Electronic Response Data System is a NYS DOH data source that collects confirmed daily death data as reported by hospitals, nursing homes and adult care facilities only.

• Total deaths reported to and compiled by the CDC - 70,455

This daily COVID-19 provisional death certificate data reported by NYS DOH and NYC to the CDC includes those who died in any location, including hospitals, nursing homes, adult care facilities, at home, in hospice and other settings.

• Total vaccine doses administered - 37,823,031
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 25,250
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 235,114
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 92.2%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 83.5%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 95.0%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 86.4%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 82.7%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 72.8%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 81.7%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 73.9%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 89.8%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 76.5%

Each New York City borough's 7-day average percentage of positive test results reported over the last three days is as follows **:

Borough	Saturday, April 9, 2022	Sunday, April 10, 2022	Monday, April 11, 2022
Bronx	1.40%	1.41%	1.39%
Kings	2.75%	2.79%	2.60%
New York	4.16%	4.19%	4.25%
Queens	2.37%	2.36%	2.39%
Richmond	2.61%	2.64%	2.79%

Former NYPD Officer Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison For Trafficking Large Quantities Of Imported Date Rape Drug And Methamphetamine

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that former New York City Police Department (“NYPD”) officer and Bronxville, New York resident JOHN CICERO was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas to 10 years in prison for distributing large quantities of imported gamma-butyrolactone (known as “GBL”) and methamphetamine in Westchester County and New York City.  CICERO previously pled guilty on October 13, 2021 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause, to one count of conspiring to distribute GBL and 50 grams of methamphetamine.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:  “A former NYPD police officer once sworn to protect the public, John Cicero spent years betraying his former law enforcement partners, enriching himself, and endangering the community by importing GBL, a dangerous liquid date-rape drug, from China and methamphetamine from Mexico and trafficking massive amounts of both throughout Westchester and New York City, including in Hell’s Kitchen and midtown-Manhattan around Penn Station.  Thanks to the tireless efforts of law enforcement, Cicero will serve a substantial sentence in prison for his callous crimes.”      

According to the Indictment, public court filings, and statements made in court:

Beginning in at least 2017 and lasting until his arrest in February 2020, CICERO and his co-conspirators stockpiled and sold liters of GBL and kilograms of methamphetamine in apartments, hotel rooms, and storage units in the heart of midtown Manhattan, and a residence in Bronxville, New York.  CICERO played a prominent and leadership role in the conspiracy, as the conspiracy’s top importer of GBL from China, and as someone who had direct access to the Mexico-based source of supply and with whom he arranged the receipt of and payment for methamphetamine.  CICERO also created and used fake identity documents and stolen credit cards to pay for, among other things, the luxury Manhattan hotel rooms where drugs were trafficked and used.  CICERO repeatedly brokered large-scale narcotics transactions over recorded prison calls with an inmate then in New York State custody.  U.S. Customs and Border Protection has previously seized GBL sent from China to CICERO’s address in New York.  CICERO held a supervisory role in the criminal activity, which involved over three kilograms of methamphetamine and 750 liters of GBL.  The charged conduct began years after CICERO left the NYPD.

On February 19, 2020, CICERO was arrested in a Wall Street hotel, in a room he had rented under a false identity.  In addition to methamphetamine and GBL, law enforcement recovered from CICERO’s room a bank card and a fake ID, bearing CICERO’s photograph, all in the name of the false identity to whom the room was rented.  As part of CICERO’s arrest, law enforcement also recovered detailed drug ledgers, sophisticated credit card making equipment, and notebooks full of victims’ personally identifiable information.

In addition to the prison sentence, CICERO, 40, of Bronxville, New York, was sentenced to four years of supervised release and ordered to pay a forfeiture penalty of $216,262.50.

Earlier in the case, three of CICERO’s co-defendants pled guilty for their roles in the same conspiracy.  MARCO CASO, 50, of New York, New York and IRMA MATERASSO, 38, of New Rochelle, New York, previously pled guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute GBL and 50 grams of methamphetamine and MATTHEW MATEO, 25, of the Bronx, New York, previously pled guilty to one count of conspiring to distribute GBL and 500 grams of methamphetamine.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force, which comprises agents and detectives from the FBI, Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, Westchester County Police Department, Yonkers Police Department, Peekskill Police Department, Mount Vernon Police Department, New York Police Department, and U.S. Probation.  He also thanked the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the New York State Department of Corrections Office of Special Investigations for their assistance.

BPECA Meeting: Wednesday April 12 6:30 - 8:00 at PS 96 - with free Covid home test kits!

 

Dear Community Member:

Join us tomorrow evening to hear about all the new developments in the community - including 10 new apartment buildings underway, and the reopening of the renovated Waring Playground and Basketball Court, with a ribbon-cutting Thursday April 14 at 1 PM.  

Bring your questions, as we'll discuss how we're going to stay on top of all these changes and bring improvement to the neighborhood!

[Note that proof of vaccination is no longer required to enter the school.  Masks encouraged and will be provided.]

Join us / Unase a nosotros 
Community Discussion
Discusión de la Comunidad

 Pelham Parkway to Allerton, Bronx Park East to White Plains Rd:
*10 New Apartment Buildings*
Is This Too Many For Parking & Schools?
10 nuevos edificios de apartamentos
Demasiados para el estacionamiento y las escuelas?

**Waring Playground & Basketball Court**
Reopening/Reapertura!

Help us Decide on a 
$500 Community Improvement Grant
Ayudanos a decidir sobre una subvención de $500 para mejoras comunitarias

FREE At-Home Covid Test Kits
courtesy of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez 
and NY Governor Hochul

at PS 96 Cafeteria   8 PM 
2385 Olinville Ave @ Waring Ave

*We meet every month on the 2^nd Wednesday*

*Nos reunimos todos los meses el 2º miércoles*