Council Member Marjorie Velázquez - Redistricting in Council District 13

 

Dear Neighbor,

This year, the New York City Districting Commission has worked diligently to update our communities on the changes coming to New York City. To reach as many community members as possible, they have held Public Meetings throughout the City. Recently, the Commission held a Public Meeting to vote on sending the Commission’s Revised Plan to the City Council. The Commission declined to send the maps to the Council, however, they have made the plan and its data available on their website.

Additionally, there will be two Public Meetings this week to discuss revisions to the Plan over Zoom. They will be live-streamed, recorded, and available on their digital archives through the Commission’s website under the “Participate” tab.

The Public Meetings will take place on:

• Thursday, September 29th from 5 PM to 8 PM

• Friday, September 30th from 10 AM to 1 PM.

If you haven’t submitted your testimony, there is still time to do so. At this time, there have been over 9,600 testimonies submitted to the Commission. Remember, only testimonies submitted to the Districting Commission will be considered. Please send your testimonies to publictestimony@redistricting.nyc.gov.

If you have any questions or would like assistance submitting your testimony, please call my office at 718-931-1721 or email district13@council.nyc.gov.

Council Member Marjorie Velázquez.

U.S. Attorney Announces Total Distributions Of Over $4 Billion To Victims Of Madoff Ponzi Scheme

 

Payments of Approximately $372 Million Are the Eighth Distribution in a Series of Payments That Together Will Constitute the Largest Payment of Forfeited Funds in the History of the Department of Justice’s Victim Compensation Program

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, announced today that the Madoff Victim Fund established by the Department of Justice began its eighth distribution to victims of funds forfeited to the United States Government in connection with the Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC (“BLMIS”) fraud scheme.  The distribution will include approximately $372 million in additional funds, bringing the total distributed to date to over $4 billion.  The funds will be sent to 40,000 victims worldwide, the eighth payment to victims that will bring their total recovery from all sources of compensation to 88.35% of their losses.  The Madoff Victim Fund will ultimately return to victims more than $4 billion in assets that have been recovered as compensation for losses suffered by the collapse of BLMIS, following the largest fraud in history, announced by this Office in 2013.  Another $5 billion in assets recovered by the U.S. Attorney’s Office are being separately paid to Madoff victims through the BLMIS Customer Fund administered by the Securities Investor Protection Act Trustee.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:  “This Office continues its historic work seeking justice for the victims of Madoff’s heinous crimes.  Today’s additional payments of $372 million by this Office and the U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section represents the eighth in a series of distributions that will leave victims with compensation for more than 88 percent of their losses—a truly remarkable result.  But our work is not fully complete, and this Office’s tireless commitment to compensating the victims who suffered as a result of Madoff’s crimes continues.”

Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite said:  “The Criminal Division is proud to continue providing compensation to victims through the largest remission process the Department has overseen.  The billions distributed worldwide is a testament to the Department’s sustained efforts to ensure justice for the victims of Bernard Madoff’s massive fraud.” 

Since the early 1970s, BERNARD L. MADOFF (“MADOFF”) used his position as Chairman of BLMIS, the investment advisory business he founded, to steal billions from his clients.  On March 12, 2009, MADOFF pled guilty to 11 federal felonies, admitting that he had turned his wealth management business into the world’s largest Ponzi scheme, benefitting himself, his family, and select members of his inner circle.  On June 29, 2009, United States District Judge Denny Chin sentenced MADOFF to 150 years in prison for running the largest fraudulent scheme in history.  Judge Chin ordered MADOFF to forfeit $170,799,000,000 as part of MADOFF’s sentence.   

The Madoff Victim Fund is funded through recoveries by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in various criminal and civil forfeiture actions and is overseen by Richard Breeden, the former Chairman of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, in his capacity as Special Master appointed by the Department of Justice to assist in connection with the victim remission proceedings.

Of the approximately $4.05 billion that will be made available to victims through the Madoff Victim Fund, approximately $2.2 billion was collected as part of the civil forfeiture recovery from the estate of deceased MADOFF investor Jeffry Picower.  An additional $1.7 billion was collected as part of a Deferred Prosecution Agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. for MADOFF-related Bank Secrecy Act violations.  Additional funds were collected through criminal and civil forfeiture actions against MADOFF and his co-conspirators, and certain MADOFF investors.

Mr. Williams praised the work of the FBI and the Madoff Victim Fund and thanked the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division for their assistance.

For more information about the Madoff Victim Fund, compensation to victims of BLMIS, eligibility criteria, and payment information, please visit www.madoffvictimfund.com.

Flatbush Landlord Sentenced to Jail and Probation in Connection with Fatal Fire that Left One Tenant Dead

 

Defendant Rented Out Illegally Subdivided Apartments Leading to Unsafe Conditions

 Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, New York City Department of Investigation Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber, New York City Fire Department Acting Commissioner Laura Kavanagh and New York City Buildings Department Commissioner Eric Ulrich, announced that the owner of an illegally subdivided Flatbush apartment building has been sentenced to six months in jail and five years’ probation in connection with a fatal two-alarm fire in 2019 that left one tenant dead and six others injured.  

 District Attorney Gonzalez said, “This landlord’s unconscionable negligence cost an innocent man his life and left six others injured when a horrific fire broke out in his illegal apartments. This sentence holds him accountable and sends a strong message to landlords who put profit over the health and safety of their tenants that violations of our housing laws and regulations can come with serious consequences.” 

 Commissioner Strauber said, “The City’s housing laws and regulations protect tenants’ safety, including in the event of a fire. This defendant broke those laws, renting out four illegally-subdivided apartments and creating other hazardous conditions that led to the death of one tenant and injuries to the others when a two-alarm fire broke out in his property. Mr. Leon’s conviction and sentence for criminally negligent homicide reflects his utter disregard for his tenants’ lives and his legal obligations. I thank the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, the City Department of Buildings and Fire Department for their commitment and partnership on this investigation.”

 Acting Commissioner Kavanagh said, “This landlord forced his residents to live in incredibly unsafe conditions which led to a fire that claimed the life of one innocent New Yorker, and needlessly risked the lives of other occupants and dozens of Firefighters who bravely responded to fight the fire. The outstanding efforts of our Fire Marshals to determine the cause and origin of this fire were critical to the investigation. Thank you to the members of the Department of Investigation and the Department of Buildings for their close collaboration with our Marshals and thank you to District Attorney Gonzalez for his office’s work to bring justice in this case.”

 Commissioner Ulrich said, “The defendant carved up a building into illegal apartments without regard for fire-safety protections – causing the death of one tenant, injuring six others, and even putting his own family at risk. I commend District Attorney Gonzalez for his swift prosecution in this case. He is sending a strong message to New Yorkers that we will not tolerate landlords who act recklessly and disregard the law.”

 The District Attorney identified the defendant as Evener Leon, 63, of Flatbush, Brooklyn. He was sentenced to six months in jail and five years’ probation by Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun. The defendant was convicted of criminally negligent homicide on May 23, 2022, following a bench trial.

 The District Attorney said that, according to the evidence, Leon owned 1776 Nostrand Avenue, a three-story, two-family dwelling with a commercial space on the first floor. The defendant’s family lived in the second-floor apartment and the third-floor apartment was divided into four illegal apartments occupied by a total of seven adults and four children.

 Furthermore, according to the evidence, the building did not have gas or heat because the defendant stopped paying his utility bills years before the fire. Instead, he provided tenants with space heaters and some of the tenants used hot plates to cook their meals.

 On December 2, 2019, at approximately 4:00 a.m., a two-alarm fire erupted on the second floor and spread to the third floor, according to the evidence. Most of the tenants suffered some smoke inhalation and other injuries as they crowded onto a rear fire escape to get out of the building.

 A tenant who lived in a small room in the front of the building, Jean Yves Lalanne, 70, was trapped in what firefighters refer to as a “dead man’s room” because once the fire engulfed the stairwell, he had no way to safely exit the property. There was no fire escape in the front of the building and at least one of the rear illegal apartments was locked, which prevented him from reaching the fire escape in the rear. Lalanne jumped from his third-floor window and fell to his death.

 Fire Marshals determined that it was an electrical fire that started in the vicinity of the insulation of a cord connected to a space heater in the rear bedroom on the second floor. Additionally, there were no sprinkler heads on the second or third floors, and there were no fireproof or self-closing doors on the third floor, all of which were violations of provisions of the New York State Multiple Dwelling Law.

 The District Attorney thanked the New York City Department of Investigation, the New York City Department of Buildings and the New York City Fire Department for their assistance in this investigation.

Statement on Mayor Adams’ Proposed Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers

 

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander released the following statement on Mayor Eric Adams’ proposal to open Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers (HERRCs) to triage the needs of the hundreds of asylum seekers arriving in New York City from Texas and other border states daily:

“As a city that prides itself on its embrace of immigrants, it is incumbent on New York City to welcome the hundreds of asylum seekers arriving here each day, many having walked on foot for weeks across two continents fleeing violence and war, with compassion and care.

“Given the large volume of people arriving and the need to scale up support for them rapidly, my office is authorizing New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM) to use the emergency contracting process to procure vendors to create a Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center for adult migrants.

“We are granting this authorization to move forward on emergency contracting with the understanding, provided to us by the Administration, that:

1. Families with children will not sleep or be held overnight in congregate settings as any part of this program.

2. Regular transportation will be provided at no cost to enable people to get from Orchard Beach to mass transit.

3. All people seeking shelter in New York City, including asylum seekers, retain their right to shelter under the New York State Constitution per the Callahan consent decree, and would be free to go to intake centers like the PATH Center or 30th Street without visiting or staying in one of the HERRCs.

“The Comptroller’s office is responsible for signing off on whether emergency procurement is warranted, not whether we agree that this plan is the best approach. We have serious concerns about the siting of support centers in Orchard Beach, a location far from mass transit, outside the legal obligations of the right to shelter, and especially without a plan to do onsite intake of people into the shelter system. I urge the administration to bring the staff and resources needed to inform asylum seekers of their rights and conduct intake into the shelter system onsite so that people will not need to travel from Orchard Beach to various sites across the city to obtain shelter. The individuals and families arriving here have endured long and difficult journeys; the goal must be to provide support and services, not to create new obstacles and barriers.

“Given that the City has indicated that the relief centers will not be part of the shelter system (which operates under an established set of legal guidelines), the City must publicly establish rules and standards for the vendors that will be involved in these relief centers to ensure operational integrity and meet minimum environmental standards of care. When the emergency contracts for the relief centers arrive at our office for registration, we will ask to see the policies and standards vendors will be expected to adhere to. We cannot fully evaluate if the contract is appropriate without knowing what standards the vendors will be expected to meet. Those guidelines should include what oversight and independent organizations will have access. My office expects to have access to the sites to conduct oversight and ongoing monitoring to ensure the City fulfills its stated commitments.

“As part of our Charter-mandated responsibility to review and register City contracts, the Comptroller’s office assesses whether the necessary funding for a contract has been budgeted. In this case, the City is rightly stepping up to provide services at a cost which was not included in the City’s Adopted FY23 budget. This is part of why the emergency procurement request is appropriate. However, this does not mean the City should bear the cost alone. New York State and the Federal government must not continue to take advantage of the City’s expeditious action; each should step up immediately to bear its share of the costs.

“To be clear, any new strategies to triage the needs of newly arrived asylum seekers, some share of whom will require temporary shelter, must be accompanied by swift action to maximize the capacity of the existing shelter system, including by addressing barriers to exiting shelter into permanent housing.

“When I visited with some of the families seeking asylum at Port Authority last month, I was in awe of their journey and struggles. They have braved many horrors, arriving in our city with nothing but the clothes on their backs and their dreams of a better life. As we work to ensure that the welcome they receive here is safe and supportive, and that they receive all services and benefits to which they are entitled, we remain grateful and proud that immigrants are the past, present, and future of a thriving New York City.”

Statement from Governor Kathy Hochul on Approval of New York's Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment Plan

 

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced that it has approved New York State's Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Deployment Plan - a critical step to help New York build out the charging infrastructure needed to support the greater use of electric vehicles and protect our environment for future generations.

"The approval, which includes up to $175 million to expand New York's network, will help further facilitate the transition to zero emission vehicles and advance New York State's nation-leading goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, combat climate change, improve air quality, provide benefits to disadvantaged communities, and create green jobs.

"I applaud Secretary Buttigieg and the Biden-Harris Administration for their swift action to approve New York's NEVI plan, and thank Senator Schumer, Senator Gillibrand and the entire New York congressional delegation for passing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law."

Morris Park Theater Presents 'A Stroll Down Memory Lane'

 

The Morris Park Performing Arts Theater at Jacobi Hospital in the Rotunda presented 'A Stroll Down Memory Lane'. That brought back memories to some of when the hospital opened in 1955 as the Bronx Municipal Hospital Center, and many of the songs heard were popular. There were Traditional, Rock and Roll, Soul, Country, and a couple of other  genres of music sung by the performers. Peter Lupo, the Souldees, Jimmy Sage, The Acchords, Twin Gold, Dennis "Dennis Rodgers' Gustafarr, Gene DiNapoli, and John Scupaletti and the Reactions.

A crowd of over two-hundred people were in attendance including elected officials Assemblyman Michael Benedetto who opened the event with Morris Park community Association President Al D'Angelo, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson who enjoyed a couple of acts saying that it is wonderful that the empty auditorium and be repurposed as a community theater. Also speaking was Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez who came in and ran out without even taking off her coat. Besides performing Twin Gold introduced each act. 

Morris Park Community Association President Al D'Angelo welcomes everybody to the inauguration show 'A Stroll Down Memory Lane'.  

The sound system went quiet for a few minutes as all in the audience joined in to sing the National Anthem. 

Peter Lupo was the opening act as he sang several oldies.

One of the hits of the show were the Souldees.

Jimmy Sage finishes his act to cheers from the audience.

The Acchords singing one of their songs.

Bronx Borough President Vanesa Gibson said it is wonderful how an empty auditorium can be repurposed into a community theater.

Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez didn't take off her coat, and left right after she spoke as not to be asked when exactly she knew about the just Home project at Jacobi Hospital. She said she knew in June when everyone else did, but a power point presentation to her about Just Home is dated March 1, 2022. 

Twin Gold, Jane and Louise are singing in between announcing the other performers.

Dennis 'Denny Rodgers' Gustafarr doing his Kenny Rodgers imitation singing the Gambler. Denny said he knows 'When to Hold Them and When to Fold Them.'

Bronx favorite Gene DiNapoli performing.

Another highlight was when the sound went silent for a few minutes, so John Scupaletti told some jokes including the one about the Parrot and the Lady. She  would pass by the pet shop every day to a comment from the parrot, 'You Know'. 

After the show ended many of the performers came on stage for a group photo. 

Governor Andrew Cuomo Returns To The Bronx

You should know that at this time, when Puerto Rico my Homeland, is suffering from a lack of electricity, drinking water and other necessities, due to the ravaging effects left by Hurricane Fiona, Former Governor Andrew Cuomo returns to the Bronx, and will join The New York Hispanic Clergy Organization in a humanitarian effort to help the Island of Puerto Rico.  A Shipping Container will be available to be filled with vital supplies such as canned goods, medicine, water, and other vital necessities desperately needed for the victims of Puerto Rico. 

  

This event will take place on Saturday, October 1st, at 12:00 P.M.  on Aldus Avenue corner of Southern Blvd., in the Bronx.  The New York Hispanic Clergy Organization together with former Governor Andrew Cuomo will be on hand to receive donations and the aforementioned items that will be shipped to Puerto Rico. 

  

In the event you would like to donate and help in this humanitarian effort, please use the Link below for Christian Community Benevolent Association:  

 

https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give-one-time/6078964  

  

Thank you so very much. 

  

I Am Rev. Ruben Diaz, and This Is What You Should Know.

Long Island Man Convicted of Attempted Sex Trafficking, Attempted Kidnapping, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm and Obstruction of Justice

 

Two Victims Escaped by Jumping from the Defendant’s Moving Car

 Earlier today, in federal court in Central Islip, Andrew Frey pleaded guilty before United States Magistrate Judge Arlene R. Lindsay to being a felon in possession of a firearm and obstruction of justice.  Today’s guilty plea follows the defendant’s conviction by a federal jury of the attempted sex trafficking and attempted kidnapping of two victims.  The verdict in that case was returned on September 20, 2022 after two weeks of trial before United States District Judge Joan M. Azrack.  When sentenced, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, and up to life in prison. 

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Rodney K. Harrison, Commissioner, Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD), announced the guilty plea and verdict.  

“Frey targeted and used violence against vulnerable members of our society seeking to exploit them for his own sexual gratification,” stated United States Attorney Peace.  “Fortunately, the young women whom the defendant sought to victimize were able to escape.  Today’s guilty plea, and the jury’s verdict, make clear there was no escape from justice for this dangerous defendant.” 

Mr. Peace also expressed his appreciation to the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for their assistance.

“The victims in this case jumped from a moving vehicle rather than risk the fate Frey had waiting for them. Based on the weapons investigators discovered, Frey's intent was dangerous, if not deadly. These women should be commended for their bravery, which we hope will serve as motivation for any other women being victimized by sexual predators to call us,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll.

“The defendant has proven to be a dangerous individual with a propensity for preying upon and attacking vulnerable women who refuse to bend to the will of a sexual predator,” stated SCPD Commissioner Harrison.  “I commend the victims for taking action and coming forward to work with law enforcement to bring a violent and dangerous man to justice.”

As proven at trial, the defendant attempted to traffic and kidnap two women in Suffolk County.  In October 2018, the defendant lured a sex worker who was addicted to heroin into his car in Mastic, New York.  When the victim refused to accompany him to a secluded location on the beach, the defendant became enraged and threatened her life.  He tried to trap her inside his car by speeding, locking the doors and grabbing her neck.  The victim managed to escape by jumping from his moving vehicle, suffering injuries to her back when she struck the pavement.  The defendant later tracked down his victim sleeping inside of a friend’s parked car at a Long Island Railroad station.  Armed with a knife, the defendant tried to remove the victim from the car, but her friend sped away.  The defendant chased after them in his car, but the victim once again managed to escape. 

In July 2019, the defendant attempted to take a second sex worker to a secluded wooded area in Coram, New York.  When she refused, the defendant became enraged, screamed that he “owned” her and tried to prevent her from leaving by grabbing her as he was driving.  The defendant’s second victim also escaped by jumping out of his moving car, suffering injuries to her knee.   

At the time of the defendant’s arrest in November 2019, law enforcement officers searched the defendant’s car and found multiple sets of handcuffs, as well as knives, rope and other items that he could use for restraint.  The defendant had installed a device in his car which allowed him to conceal his license plate with the push of a button.  Additionally, law enforcement officers recovered a Glock 23 handgun and ammunition located in a safe inside of the defendant’s home.  Because the defendant was a convicted felon and was not legally permitted to possess a firearm, he pressured his son to obtain a pistol permit to conceal that he was the true owner of the firearm.