NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ANNOUNCES FIRST-EVER YOUTH APPRENTICESHIP WEEK, EXPANDED APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW YORK STUDENTS

Governor Hochul Issues Proclamation Declaring

May 5-11, 2024, Youth Apprenticeship Week in New York State

NYSDOL Unveils New Online Portal to Help Businesses Start Their Own Youth Apprenticeship Programs and Create a Pipeline Into the Workforce for New York Students

The New York State Department of Labor today announced that Governor Kathy Hochul proclaimed this week (May 5-11) to be the inaugural Youth Apprenticeship Week in New York State, in line with the federal Youth Apprenticeship Week and events taking place across the nation to highlight pathways for youth into Registered Apprenticeship. This initiative underscores the state's commitment to enhancing work-based learning opportunities for youth, enabling them to apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings alongside professionals.

“Today, the opportunity of using the time-honored earn-while-you-learn Registered Apprenticeship model is growing in popularity both with those looking to comprehensively learn an occupation and with businesses who find this approach successful to train and retain their own workers,” Governor Hochul said. “There is significant interest in expanding this model as an opportunity for youth while they are in high school, and we are proud to partner with businesses and education leaders to grow awareness and expand this opportunity.”

The New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) oversees Registered Apprenticeship programs, in partnership with the State Education Department, which approves the Related Instruction portion of the program. Registered Apprenticeship is regulated by rules at both the state and federal level and includes a nationally recognized and portable credential upon completion.

Beginning as part of the inaugural Youth Apprenticeship Week, NYSDOL will aim to:

• Increase awareness about Registered Apprenticeship and the spectrum of career exploration and training models that lead to and include Apprenticeship.
• Show how youth as young as 16 can take part, including in taking part in career exploration and pre-apprenticeship programs that prepare them for Registered Apprenticeships.
• Offer businesses a direct pathway to learn more about starting or expanding a Registered Apprenticeship program.

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, “As youth begin exploring their occupational interests, it is important that they consider all possible career pathways. Registered Apprenticeships continue to help young New Yorkers into great occupations while businesses secure a workforce catered to its needs. It is my hope that more employers will consider launching Registered Apprenticeships and Pre-Apprenticeships programs to provide the inheritors of our economy with the skills they need to succeed.”

NYSDOL today unveiled a new resource outlining for the first time a comprehensive look at the spectrum of training opportunities that build into these highly sought after programs, including pre-apprenticeship programs, which help individual build skills needed to be successful in both Registered Apprenticeship programs and informal apprenticeships, which do not come with portable credentials and are not consistent across programs.

Registered Apprenticeship programs bring with them numerous benefits. Apprentices learn from experts in their field, find a structured, proven, and intentional way of learning their occupation, get support from mentors along the way and complete their programs with a nationally certified credential. For businesses, advantages include having a pipeline of skilled workers trained in their specific processes along with increased retention and attendance and workers who are more connected to their business.

The Registered Apprenticeship program in New York State, traditionally a gold standard in building and construction trades and the core of how labor unions train workers through joint labor management training programs, is expanding into additional high-demand fields like IT, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and education. Over $6.5 million has been awarded by NYSDOL to support this expansion, with an additional $3 million committed this year to further increase apprenticeships in high-demand occupations. The Department is also providing $2 million to support pre-apprenticeship programs that help underrepresented groups gain entry into these apprenticeships.

The State University of New York (SUNY) and the City University of New York (CUNY) are involved in growing these programs. SUNY offers funding and incentives to support apprentices and employers, while CUNY has integrated pre-apprenticeships into degree programs at 10 colleges. Additional efforts include tax credits for employers, a social media campaign, educational videos, and a state apprenticeship summit scheduled for November 2024 to raise awareness and participation in these programs.

SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr. said, “We thank Governor Hochul for her support of pre- and registered apprenticeships and the designation of Youth Apprenticeship Week to engage future generations in high quality apprenticeship opportunities that can lead to a successful career. SUNY is proud to offer thousands of apprenticeship opportunities in high-demand industries in partnership with employers across the state, providing important benefits for students and employers alike. Students can gain hands-on skills, training, and mentorship, while employers benefit from training apprentices on-the-job while maintaining productivity and retaining a highly skilled workforce.”

“We applaud and thank Governor Hochul for spotlighting the value of paid work experience through Youth Apprenticeship Week, and also for supporting the expansion of these opportunities to high school students, which will expose them to more possibilities and increase their chances for career success,” said CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez. “At CUNY, we have seen time and again how valuable apprenticeships are for our students, and we are proud to help prepare the next generation of talent to lead New York’s workforce.”

State Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa said, “Apprenticeships provide invaluable hands-on experience and connect students, schools, and employers, ensuring our young people are equipped with the skills needed to succeed and achieve their goals. Working with Governor Hochul and our partner agencies, we are excited to collaborate to expand apprenticeship opportunities for all students across the state.”

NYC Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development Executive Director Abby Jo Sigal said, “We applaud Governor Hochul for recognizing the power of the apprenticeship model by designating May 5-11th as the inaugural youth apprenticeship week in New York State. Apprenticeships have proven to be one of the most effective ways to build onramps to economic mobility and prosperity for our youth through career connected learning and paid on the job training, which allows employers to tap the talent they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving economy."

Any business interested in learning more about registered apprenticeship should complete the form on the Department’s new portal.

For individuals interested in learning more about apprenticeship and opportunities in various occupations, visit: https://dol.ny.gov/apprenticeship/

NYS OASAS TO AIR 30-MINUTE SPECIAL ACROSS NEW YORK STATE TO HIGHLIGHT ONGOING EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THE IMPACT OF OPIOIDS AND THE OVERDOSE EPIDEMIC ON NEW YORK

New Special Educates Public on Dangers of Fentanyl, Work to Address Stigma, and Efforts to Support Addiction Workforce

 

Features Q&A With OASAS Commissioner Chinazo Cunningham

Program Coincides with National Prevention Week Which Begins May 12 (link to local listings here) 

The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (NYS OASAS) will air a new 30-minute special TV presentation of the OASAS podcast “Addiction: The Next Step” on stations across the state during the week of May 12^th, highlighting the impact the opioid and overdose epidemic has had on New York State, and the steps OASAS is taking to address this crisis. The new special features real stories of several New Yorkers, including 19-year-old Paige Gibbons who died after overdosing on a counterfeit pill that contained fentanyl without her knowledge. It also includes personal stories of other New Yorkers who have benefitted from OASAS services, and information about how to access scholarships for those interested in a career in addiction services. 

The program also features insight from OASAS Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham about each of the segments, and how they relate to the work of OASAS. 

“New Yorkers in every community across the state are being impacted by the opioid and overdose crisis. At OASAS, we continue to focus on addressing this issue through new education and prevention efforts, as well as expanding and enhancing services throughout the state,” OASAS Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham said. “This new special program is an opportunity for us to continue to educate the public about the dangers of illicit substances and where they can get help for addiction, as well as highlight some of the personal stories of New Yorkers and their families who have felt the effects of this crisis.”

This special presentation of “Addiction: The Next Step” is part of an ongoing OASAS fentanyl awareness campaign, and also coincides with the start of SAMHSA’s National Prevention Week. This nationwide observance dedicated to the prevention of substance use and the promotion of positive mental health.

This special focuses on three important aspects of OASAS’ work:

 

Education on the Dangers of Fentanyl

Rochester-area teenager Paige Gibbons was 19 years old when she died of an accidental overdose, after taking a counterfeit pill that contained fentanyl without her knowledge. This program features Paige’s parents, who say they want her story to increase awareness, reduce stigma, and prevent more tragedies.

 

As part of this segment, Commissioner Cunningham speaks to recent research that shows there are fewer instances of substance use disorder among teens, but rising rates of overdoses, indicating that Paige’s story is not unique, and underscoring the dangers of illicit fentanyl, which is often added to substances without the knowledge of the person taking it.

 

Addressing Stigma

This segment, entitled “Routine for Recovery” highlights the work of Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) providers, and the stories of clients who have received lifesaving services at these facilities. The goal is to explain the work that these providers do and emphasize that medication for addiction treatment is a safe, effective, and proven way to save lives and support the long-term health of those impacted by addiction. As the Commissioner highlights in this segment, this is part of the ongoing work by OASAS to address the stigma surrounding addiction services, which keeps many people from seeking the help they need and prevents the expansion of these services in many areas.

 

Workforce

To support the addiction services workforce, last year OASAS announced the establishment of a new scholarship program through the New York State Opioid Settlement Fund. This initiative helps students pursue various certifications, or a bachelor’s degree at three different colleges in New York State to either enter the addiction services workforce, or advance in their careers. This segment features interviews with scholarship recipients, a professor overseeing the addiction services program at Empire State University, and Commissioner Cunningham.

 

As the Commissioner highlights in this segment, growing and supporting the addiction services workforce is something that is brought up in meetings throughout the state. Workforce matters were discussed often during the Commissioner's recently concluded Listening Tour, which covered eight locations statewide. The scholarship program is the latest in a series of efforts related to workforce development, which includes cost of living increases over each of the last three years, loan forgiveness programs, training, and funding to providers to support workforce retention and development.

 

More information on the scholarships is available on the OASAS website, and links to other episodes of “Addiction: The Next Step” can be found here.

 

The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports oversees one of the nation’s largest systems of addiction services with approximately 1,700 prevention, treatment and recovery programs serving over 731,000 individuals per year. This includes the direct operation of 12 Addiction Treatment Centers where our doctors, nurses, and clinical staff provide inpatient and residential services to approximately 8,000 individuals per year. 

New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-days-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369). 

If you, or a loved one, have experienced insurance obstacles related to treatment or need help filing an appeal for a denied claim, contact the CHAMP helpline by phone at 888-614-5400 or email at ombuds@oasas.ny.gov.

Bronx Chamber Seminars - May 15 - The 3 Ps of Marketing Pt II - Verizon Digital Inclusion Workshop

 

Ready for Part 2 of The Three P's of Marketing?

Those in attendance for all four Verizon Digital Inclusion Workshops in this series will be eligible for one of two $500.00 gifts toward your business!

With support from Verizon’s Digital Inclusion program, The Bronx Chamber of Commerce is offering a series of webinars aimed at helping small businesses maximize the potential of digital tools and literacy for business growth.

Continuing with “The Three Ps of Marketing" during Small Business Month, this second session emphasizes best practices and offers a two-step roadmap around each business/ organization’s “Personal” story, and the “Persistent” approach needed to market that story.

Monica Yehle-Glick of M4 Consulting Services will lead this discussion on May 15 from 11:00 am - 12:00 pm on Zoom. Check out the full flyer above for information about the upcoming sessions on Cybersecurity June 5 and June 12!

Access Free Registration Here

Date: Wednesday, May 15

Time: 11:00am - 12:00pm

Location: Zoom

Sign Up for the May 15 Workshop

Bronx Metro-North Update, May 2024

 

Monthly Bronx Metro-North Neighborhood Plan Update
May 2024

Bronx Borough Board Votes in Support

On April 29th, the Bronx Borough Board held a public hearing on the Bronx Metro-North Neighborhood Plan and joined the ranks of other stakeholders that have voted to approve the plan!

This plan seeks to rethink land use around new Metro-North stations in the East Bronx, allowing for thousands of new transit-oriented homes, jobs, and public open space. 

Up Next!

Public Hearing at City Planning Commission On Wednesday May 15th, the City Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to vote on the Bronx Metro-North Neighborhood Plan. This public hearing will take place at 120 Broadway, and the public may attend in person, testify via phone or videoconference, or watch via livestream. See more details below! When: May 15th, 10:00AM Where:  IN PERSON:  City Planning Commission Hearing Room, Lower Concourse 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271 ONLINE: TO TESTIFY - Please follow instructions posted here one hour before the meeting (May 15th) TO LIVESTREAM -  If you do not wish to testify but would like to watch the meeting via livestream, please visit bit.ly/NYCPlanningStream. Are you looking for another way to get involved?  Remote Office Hours: Have questions or thoughts you’d like to share with us? We’d love to hear from you. Sign up for one-on-one remote office hours with the neighborhood plan team here: Sign up!   Follow us: Find us on Twitter, Instagram and Threads. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel and check out our Bronx Metro-North video playlist.

Housing Lottery Launches For Andrews Avenue South Senior Residence In Morris Heights, The Bronx

 

The affordable housing lottery has launched for Andrews Avenue South Senior Residence, a nine-story mixed-use building at 1746 Andrews Avenue in Morris Heights, The Bronx. Designed by Magnusson Architecture And Planning and developed by Volunteers of America-Greater NY and Robert Sanborn Development, the structure yields 118 residences. Available on NYC Housing Connect are 80 units for residents at 50 to 60 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $0 to $74,580.

Amenities include bike storage lockers, community center, outdoor areas, recreation room, on-site resident manager, 24-hour attended front desk concierge, security monitoring, on-site support services, package lockers, elevator, shared laundry room, and eighth-floor sundeck. Residences come with intercoms, energy-efficient appliances, and air conditioning. Residents are responsible for electricity.

At 50 percent of the AMI, there are 24 one-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $0 for incomes ranging from $0 to $69,900. At 60 percent of the AMI, there are 56 studios with a monthly rent of $0 for incomes ranging from $0 to $74,580.

Prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than July 9, 2024.

Attorney General James Wins Trial Against Quincy Bioscience for Deceptive and Fraudulent Advertising of “Memory Improvement” Supplement Prevagen

 

Court Accepts Jury Finding that Quincy Violated New York’s 63(12) Statute by Making Fraudulent Statements About its Supplement Prevagen

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that a federal judge in Manhattan accepted a jury’s finding that Quincy Bioscience Holding Company, Inc., Quincy Bioscience, LLC, Prevagen, Inc., Quincy Bioscience Manufacturing, LLC (Quincy), and four corporate defendants made fraudulent and deceptive statements about the supplement Prevagen and are liable for violating New York’s consumer protection laws. Quincy advertised its supplement, Prevagen, in media markets across New York, including in Albany, Syracuse, New York City, and the Southern Tier, as a way to reduce memory problems, improve memory, and support cognitive health. After a two-week trial, the jury concluded that Quincy had not substantiated any of its claims about Prevagen with reliable scientific evidence. The jury found some of Quincy’s claims about Prevagen to be materially misleading and all of them to have the tendency to deceive and constitute fraud under New York Executive Law Section 63(12). With the court’s acceptance of the jury’s verdict, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) will seek a permanent injunction to block Quincy from continuing to make deceptive statements when selling its product in New York and will seek monetary relief.

“New York laws are clear: companies and individuals cannot lie and manipulate consumers,” said Attorney General James. “Quincy took advantage of the very real fear of cognitive decline and preyed on elderly New Yorkers to make a profit. Consumers bought Prevagen with the hopes that they could improve their cognitive health. My office will always use every tool and resource at our disposal to protect New Yorkers and uphold the rule of law. I will not allow modern day ‘snake oil salespeople’ to operate in New York.”

Prevagen, which can cost up to $89.95 for a 30-day supply and purports to help improve memory, is sold online directly to consumers and at major retailers and pharmacies across the country, including CVS, Walgreens, Rite-Aid, Walmart, GNC, and Amazon. The OAG took action and brought a lawsuit asserting that Quincy did not have adequate scientific evidence to substantiate claims about Prevagen, including that it improves memory, improves memory within 90 days, reduces memory problems associated with aging, provides other cognitive benefits, including a healthy brain function, a sharper mind, and clearer thinking, and has been “clinically shown” to do each of these things. Quincy has been marketing Prevagen with variations of these claims on its packaging since at least 2011 and in its national television and radio ads since 2013.

Over the course of the trial, OAG along with the Federal Trade Commission, which assisted OAG in the trial and will have its claims determined separately by Judge Louis L. Stanton of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, presented evidence about Quincy’s marketing and the lack of adequate science behind its claims. The evidence presented by OAG included:

• Testimony from experts in biostatistics and clinical trial design about the flaws in the planning, execution, and analysis of Quincy’s clinical trial for Prevagen;
• Internal Quincy documents and submissions to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) admitting that Prevagen is quickly digested and unlikely to reach the brain;
• Multiple televisions advertisements, along with packaging, containing unsubstantiated and deceptive claims that Quincy used to market and sell Prevagen over the years;
• Testimony from Quincy’s market development director about a bar graph prominently displayed by Quincy in much of its advertising that selectively and misleadingly displayed certain data from Quincy’s human clinical trial for Prevagen; and
• Testimony from Prevagen’s principal investigator who oversaw Quincy’s clinical trial for Prevagen about the flawed planning and execution of that study.

At the conclusion of the trial, the jury found that Quincy was liable for deceptive acts and practices, false advertising, and repeated and persistent fraud about Prevagen, which derives its active ingredient from a protein that makes jellyfish glow. Following Judge Stanton’s acceptance of the jury verdict, OAG will take action to block Quincy from continuing to make deceptive claims when selling its product in New York and will seek monetary relief.

Flight Attendants Charged In Connection With Smuggling Drug Money To The Dominican Republic

 

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Ivan J. Arvelo, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), announced today the unsealing of two Complaints charging flight attendants CHARLIE HERNANDEZ, SARAH VALERIO PUJOLS, EMMANUEL TORRES, and JAROL FABIO with various offenses in connection with their years-long participation in smuggling narcotics trafficking proceeds from the United States to the Dominican Republic on commercial flights.  All of the defendants were arrested yesterday.  PUJOLS and FABIO were presented yesterday in Manhattan federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gary Stein, and HERNANDEZ and TORRES will be presented later today before Judge Stein.   

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, these flight attendants smuggled millions of dollars of drug money and law enforcement funds that they thought was drug money from the United States to the Dominican Republic over many years by abusing their privileges as airline employees.  Today’s charges should serve as a reminder to those who break the law by helping drug traffickers move their money that crime doesn’t pay.” 

HSI Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo said: “As alleged, the defendants knowingly smuggled large amounts of illicit money linked to the sale of narcotics, to include fentanyl, and took advantage of airport security checkpoints by using their trusted positions as flight attendants.  This investigation has exposed critical vulnerabilities in the airline security industry and has illuminated methods that narcotics traffickers are utilizing.  Today’s announcement should serve as a warning to all airline personnel: HSI New York will not tolerate employees’ attempts to abuse their power for the sake of transporting illicit goods.  I commend El Dorado Task Force’s Transnational Criminal Enterprise Investigations Group and our partners in the public and private sectors for recognizing the seriousness of this issue.”

According to the allegations contained in the Complaints:[1]

During the relevant period charged in the Complaints, all of the defendants were employed as flight attendants with different international airlines that operated routes between New York City and the Dominican Republic.  All of the defendants had “Known Crewmember” (“KCM”) status with the Transportation Security Administration, which allowed them to pass through a special security lane at John F. Kennedy International Airport and other airports with less scrutiny than normal passengers.  In total, the defendants smuggled approximately $8 million in bulk cash from the United States to the Dominican Republic.

Before his or her arrest in about October 2021, a cooperating witness (“CW-1”) operated a significant money laundering organization (“MLO”) in New York City, specializing in the movement of cash proceeds from narcotics sales from New York City to the Dominican Republic.  One method that CW-1 used in furtherance of his or her MLO was corrupting flight attendants, like the defendants, who worked routes between New York City and the Dominican Republic.  In exchange for a fee – which generally amounted to a small percentage of the amount of money that they would be smuggling – the defendants accepted bulk cash from CW-1 in New York City, got it past airport security via the KCM lane, and passed it off to other members of CW-1’s MLO in the Dominican Republic, including another cooperating witness (“CW-2”).  After CW-1 and CW-2 began cooperating with law enforcement, HSI orchestrated a number of sting operations in which CW-1 provided law enforcement funds represented to be narcotics proceeds to the defendants, who then smuggled it down to the Dominican Republic and handed it off to CW-2. 

CHARLIE HERNANDEZ, 42, of West New York, New Jersey, SARAH VALERIO PUJOLS, 42, of the Bronx, New York, EMMANUEL TORRES, 34, of Brooklyn, New York, and JAROL FABIO, 35, of New York, New York, are each charged with one count of operation of an unlicensed money transmission business, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and one count of entering an airport or aircraft area in violation of security requirements, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.  PUJOLS and HERNANDEZ are additionally charged with one count of conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmission business, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and PUJOLS is further charged with one count of bulk cash smuggling, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Williams praised the investigative work of HSI and the New York City Police Department.

This case is being handled by the Office’s Illicit Finance and Money Laundering Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Benjamin A. Gianforti and Jackie Delligatti are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Complaints are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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