MAYOR ADAMS’ STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO FRUITFUL NEW YORK STATE BUDGET AGREEMENT

 

After Months of Collaboration and Advocacy, Major Adams Administration Priorities to Be Delivered in New York State Budget

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released the following statement in response to the $237 billion Fiscal Year 2025 budget agreement reached by New York Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York state Legislature this afternoon:

“This budget will be a win for New Yorkers. Every day, this administration works to deliver on our vision that supports working-class families by protecting public safety, rebuilding our economy, and making this city more livable. As a result, crime is down, jobs are up, and our administration continues to deliver each day for everyday New Yorkers. But we’ve been clear that we need additional support from our partners in Albany to fully realize those goals and today we celebrate as most of our key asks were granted by our state partners.

“We want to thank Governor Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, Assembly Speaker Heastie, and the Legislature for hearing us out and delivering today on a number of our administration’s and this city’s priorities in the state budget.

“From the beginning of this process, we carried our bold agenda to Albany to achieve several key requests, including legislation that will allow New York City to build the affordable housing New Yorkers need and deserve, regulatory authority to finally close down illegal smoke shops plaguing our streets, and funding for the unprecedented migrant crisis that New York City has overwhelmingly shouldered.

“We are thrilled that there has been agreement on most of our core priorities, including the major package of legislation to grow our affordable housing supply and protect tenants, municipal enforcement of illegal smoke shops, and $2.4 billion for migrant support. We will continue to fight for New Yorkers on crucial issues, especially preserving mayoral accountability as we advocate to support public school children and families and boost student test scores and graduation rates, while decreasing racial disparities.

“Today, we celebrate along with our colleagues in state government and look forward to our continued partnership to advancing the critical issues that working-class New Yorkers expect and deserve.”

Cox: Hochul's housing policies doomed to failure

 

NYGOP Chair Ed Cox released the following statement in response to Democrats' latest disastrous housing policy proposal:

 

“Governor Hochul and legislative Democrats continue to ignore reality regarding housing. Their policies will continue to mean fewer housing choices, less investment in new housing, and a continued deterioration of existing housing stock. 

 

"Socialist schemes such as so-called 'good cause eviction' will only make the situation worse. Now they want to export the decades-long failed housing policies in New York City to the rest of the state.  These policies are doomed to failure.”

Canadian Man Sentenced for Operating $175M Psychic Mass-Mailing Fraud Scheme

 

Scheme Defrauded Over 1.3 Million Victims in the United States

A Canadian man was sentenced to 10 years in prison today in the Eastern District of New York for perpetrating a massive psychic mass-mailing fraud scheme that stole more than $175 million from more than 1.3 million victims in the United States.

Following a two-week trial, a federal jury convicted Patrice Runner, 57, a Canadian and French citizen, in June 2023 of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering and multiple counts of mail fraud and wire fraud.

Runner operated a mass-mailing fraud scheme from 1994 through November 2014. As part of the scheme, Runner sent letters to millions of U.S. consumers, many of whom were elderly and vulnerable. The letters falsely purported to be individualized, personal communications from well-known so-called “psychics” Maria Duval and Patrick Guerin and promised that the recipient had the opportunity to achieve great wealth and happiness with the assistance of the “psychics” in exchange for payment of a fee. Once a victim made a single payment in response to one of the letters, the victim was bombarded with dozens of additional letters, all purporting to be personalized communications from the “psychics” and offering additional services and items for a fee.

Although the scheme’s letters frequently stated that a “psychic” had seen a personalized vision regarding the recipient of the letter, in fact, the scheme sent nearly identical form letters to tens of thousands of victims each week. Runner and his co-conspirators obtained the names of elderly and vulnerable victims by renting and trading mailing lists with other mail fraud schemes. In reality, Duval and Guerin had no role in sending the letters, did not receive responses from the victims, and did not send the additional letters after victims paid money. In fact, no “psychics” played any role in Runner’s operation. Some victims made dozens of payments in response to the fraudulent letters, losing thousands of dollars.

Runner directed the scheme for the entirety of its twenty-year operation, directing co-conspirators, who ran the day-to-day operations of the scheme through a Canadian company. Runner used a series of shell companies registered in Canada and Hong Kong to hide his involvement in the scheme while living in multiple foreign countries, including Switzerland, France, the Netherlands, Costa Rica and Spain.

Spanish authorities extradited Runner to the United States to face federal charges in December 2020.

“This case demonstrates that the Justice Department’s Consumer Protection Branch and its partners in the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) are committed to investigating and prosecuting transnational fraud schemes targeting Americans consumers,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The global nature of this scheme meant that we had to rely on law enforcement from around the globe to provide evidence of criminality. We want to thank officials from France, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Canada, and in particular the Canadian Competition Bureau, for providing assistance in securing evidence in this matter, as well as Spain for arresting and extraditing Runner, ensuring that justice could be done.” 

“Patrice Runner’s extravagant lifestyle, born on the backs of millions of older and vulnerable Americans, has come to an end,” said Inspector in Charge Chris Nielsen of the USPIS Philadelphia Division. “The conviction and federal sentencing of Patrice Runner is the appropriate punishment for someone who routinely preyed on vulnerable and elderly Americans. Postal Inspectors will continue to work tirelessly to ensure you can trust that the US Mail is free of these types of predatory schemes.”

Four other co-conspirators previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud in connection with this mass-mailing fraud scheme: Maria Thanos, 60, of Montreal, Canada; Philip Lett, 53, of Montreal; Sherry Gore, 73, of Indiana, and Daniel Arnold, 62, of Connecticut.

USPIS investigated the case.

Assistant Director John W. Burke and Trial Attorneys Charles B. Dunn, Rachel Baron and Ann Entwistle of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch prosecuted the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided critical assistance in securing Runner’s extradition.

The department urges individuals to be on the lookout for fraudulent “psychic,” lottery, prize notification and sweepstakes scams. If you receive a phone call, letter or email promising a large prize in exchange for a fee, do not respond. Fraudsters often will use official-sounding names or the names of real lotteries or sweepstakes, or pretend to be a government agent purportedly helping to secure a prize.

If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has experienced financial fraud, experienced professionals are standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This Justice Department hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, can provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with inappropriate agencies and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available.

More information about the department’s efforts to help American seniors is available at its Elder Justice Initiative webpage at www.justice.gov/elderjustice. For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts visit www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. Elder fraud complaints may be filed with the FTC at www.reportfraud.ftc.gov or at 877-FTC-HELP. The Justice Department provides a variety of resources relating to elder fraud victimization through its Office for Victims of Crime, which can be reached at www.ovc.gov.

Bronx Tax Preparer Charged With Filing Tens Of Thousands Of False Tax Returns Causing Over $100 Million In Fraudulent Tax Loss

 

Rafael Alvarez Is Alleged to Have Perpetrated One of the Largest Ever Tax Frauds by a Return Preparer

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Thomas Fattorusso, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”); James Smith, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”); and Trevor R. Nelson, the Deputy Inspector General for Investigations for the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (“TIGTA”), announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging RAFAEL ALVAREZ, a/k/a “the Magician,” with conspiracy to defraud the United States, aiding and abetting the filing of false federal tax returns, attempting to interfere with the administration of the internal revenue laws, making false statements, and aggravated identity theft.  These charges arise from ALVAREZ’s alleged orchestration of a wide-ranging scheme to file tens of thousands of federal individual income tax returns that included false information designed to fraudulently reduce the individuals’ tax burden and to make false statements to the IRS.  ALVAREZ was arrested today and will be presented in Manhattan federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker. 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Rafael Alvarez was allegedly so prolific in falsifying his customers’ tax returns that he came to be known as ‘the Magician’ for his ability to make customers’ tax burden disappear.  But, Alvarez’s sleight of hand was criminal tax fraud, a serious federal tax crime he was allegedly committing for over a decade, depriving the IRS of more than $100 million in tax revenue.  Today’s charges, on Tax Day, should serve as an important reminder to tax professionals that when they try to cheat the public fisc they will face grave consequences.” 

IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Thomas Fattorusso said: “While Alvarez may have been known as the ‘magician,’ he can’t say abracadabra and make these charges disappear.  This one person is charged with creating a criminal enterprise that defrauded the government of more than $100 million.  The evidence points to Alvarez’s alleged scheme to file tens of thousands of fraudulent tax returns, while his company, ATAX, grossed over $15 million in revenue in just three years.  Today’s arrest was no magical illusion, and Alvarez now faces the reality of his actions.”

FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith said: “Rafael Alvarez, the CEO, owner, and manager of ATAX New York, allegedly orchestrated one of the largest ever tax fraud schemes by submitting false federal tax returns that ultimately cost the IRS over $100 million in revenue while simultaneously generating $15 million for his own company.  Alvarez’s alleged 10-year fraudulent operation is not a magic act, but rather a deliberate slight against the integrity of our country’s tax system. Today, Alvarez must pay the price for his actions – the FBI does not tolerate those who steal from the government for personal economic fortune.”

TIGTA Deputy Inspector General Trevor R. Nelson said: “The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration aggressively investigates tax preparers who attempt to corrupt our Nation’s tax system.  Our mission at TIGTA is to protect the integrity of our Nation’s system of tax administration.  We are committed to working with our law enforcement partners to ensure those who endeavor to corrupt Federal tax administration are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

As alleged in the Indictment unsealed in Manhattan federal court and court filings:[1]

From at least in or about 2010, up to and including in or about 2020, RAFAEL ALVAREZ was the CEO, owner, and manager of ATAX New York, LLC, also doing business as ATAX New York-Marble Hill, ATAX Marble Hill, ATAX Marble Hill NY, and ATAX Corporation (together, “ATAX”).  ATAX was a high-volume tax preparation company located in the Bronx, which prepared approximately 90,000 federal income tax returns for its customers during this period.  ALVAREZ both prepared tax returns for ATAX customers and recruited, supervised, and directed other ATAX personnel who in turn prepared tax returns for customers.  During this period, ALVAREZ oversaw a sweeping fraudulent scheme, whereby he and his employees submitted false information to the IRS in ATAX customers’ tax returns.  This false information, which included, among other things, bogus itemized tax deductions, made-up capital losses, phony business expenses, and fraudulent tax credits, served to fraudulently reduce the customers’ tax liability and increase the customers’ tax refunds from the IRS.  In total, ALVAREZ oversaw ATAX’s fraudulent submission of tax returns on behalf of customers that deprived the IRS of substantially more than $100 million in tax revenue.  ALVAREZ was so consistent at falsifying ATAX customer tax returns that he became known to ATAX’s customers as “the Magician.”  Additionally, as part of ALVAREZ’s unlawful operation of ATAX, he and an ATAX employee made false statements to an IRS Revenue Agent.  ALVAREZ’s operation of ATAX helped the company generate at least approximately $15 million in gross revenues over the period of in or about 2016 to in or about 2019.

RAFAEL ALVAREZ, 60, of Cortlandt Manor, New York, is charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and making false statements, each of which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.  He is also charged with four counts of aiding and assisting preparation of false and fraudulent U.S. individual income tax returns and attempting to interfere with the administration of the internal revenue laws, each of which carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison.  He is further charged with aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison.

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

Mr. Williams praised the investigative work of the IRS-CI, FBI, and TIGTA.

This case is being handled by the Office’s Illicit Finance and Money Laundering Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys David R. Felton and Samuel Raymond are in charge of the prosecution.

The allegations in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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

NYS Office of the Comptroller DiNapoli: State Tax Collections Outperform Budget Division Projections for 2023-24

   

Tax collections for State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2023-24 totaled $106.4 billion, over $2 billion higher than forecast by the Division of the Budget (DOB) in the most recent financial plan, according to the March State Cash Report released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. Tax receipts also exceeded the projection in the Consensus Economic and Revenue Forecast Report, which estimated $1.35 billion in additional receipts above DOB estimates through the end of SFY 2024-25.

Tax collections for SFY 2023-24 were $5.2 billion lower than the previous year, due, in part, to a decline in Personal Income Tax (PIT) receipts resulting from lower middle-class tax rates and lower payments related to tax year 2022 annual returns.    

“With an economy that performed better than expected, the state’s tax collections outpaced forecasts,” DiNapoli said. “The pace of inflation and Federal Reserve Board interest rate decisions will continue to impact economic growth in the coming fiscal year. State policy makers should ensure that the enacted budget for State Fiscal Year 2024-25 accounts for such risk.”

PIT collections totaled $53.8 billion, $4.9 billion or 8.4% lower than prior year collections. The decline was primarily attributable to lower tax rates and the timing of payments. PIT collections exceeded the most recent Financial Plan projections by $1.6 billion, as receipts from estimated payments and withholding in the final quarter of the year were higher than DOB forecast.

Consumption and use taxes, which includes sales tax, totaled $21.9 billion, exceeding the prior year total by $1.3 billion or 6.2%. Collections were $70.4 million lower than DOB’s latest projections. 

Business tax collections totaled $27.7 billion which was $922.2 million lower than the previous year, primarily reflecting a nearly $1 billion decrease in Pass Through Entity Tax receipts as well as the absence of audit collections from the repealed bank tax. Total business tax collections exceeded DOB’s latest projections by $527.2 million. 

All Funds spending totaled $234.9 billion, which was $14.4 billion or 6.5% higher than last year. The General Fund ended the fiscal year with a balance of $46.3 billion, an increase of $2.9 billion from the opening balance. Major actions taken by DOB at the end of the fiscal year include:

• $4.7 billion in debt service pre-payments.
• Transferring $2.25 billion of federal funds from the American Rescue Plan State Fiscal Relief program to the General Fund, leaving approximately $4.2 billion remaining.
• The deferment of nearly $3.2 billion in Medicaid provider payments from March to April, including $1.4 billion of state share payments, continuing a multi-year pattern.

March Cash Report

MAYOR ADAMS LAUNCHES PILOT TO RAPIDLY CONNECT FAMILIES FLEEING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WITH PERMANENT HOUSING

  

“Project Home” Will Provide Intensive Permanent Housing Search Assistance to Domestic Violence Survivors With Children Living in City Shelters

 

Advances Mayor Adams’ “Women Forward NYC” Initiative, 2024 State of the City Commitment to Make NYC a National Leader on Gender Equity

 

Mayor Adams Also Expands Eligibility for Supportive and Affordable Housing to Include Survivors of Domestic Violence

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Social Services (DSS) Commissioner Molly Wasow Park today announced “Project Home,” a pilot program to provide intensive, specialized housing search assistance to domestic violence survivors with children living in city shelters. Beginning with 100 families, Project Home will help domestic violence survivors find safe, permanent homes and reduce the amount of time spent in shelter. Launched in partnership with New Destiny Housing — a nonprofit that provides housing and services to domestic violence survivors and their families — the pilot is funded with a $300,000 grant from the NYC Fund to End Youth & Family Homelessness. Mayor Adams also today announced expansions to eligibility for supportive and affordable housing units for survivors of domestic violence, minimizing the amount of time survivors spend in shelter and significantly increasing the permanent housing options available to them. These eligibility expansions undo unnecessary bureaucratic rules that have historically made domestic violence survivors ineligible for New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) supportive housing or New York City Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) affordable housing and expands the pool of homes available to this vulnerable population.

 

“Everyone deserves to be safe in their relationships and live a life free of domestic and gender-based violence,” said Mayor Adams. “But for too many New Yorkers, home is no longer safe and, too often, domestic violence survivors end up in shelters as they are forced to leave their homes. Today, we are giving survivors hope with Project Home, a pilot program to provide housing assistance to domestic violence survivors living in shelter. We’re also announcing expanded eligibility for supportive and affordable housing for survivors, helping families move into permanent housing faster. This announcement builds on our work to deliver a safer city for all New Yorkers, especially domestic violence survivors, and is another commitment delivered from part of our ‘Women Forward NYC’ initiative — a more than $43 million investment that addresses the needs of women across the five boroughs.”

 

“For families that have experienced domestic violence, shortening the steps needed to secure a safe, stable home is critical,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “This new pilot will provide specialized support to those families and lessen the time spent in shelter before moving to permanent housing. As we continue to fight for a world free from domestic violence, we are taking action to support survivors today.”

 

“Domestic violence is one of the leading causes of homelessness for New York families entering the shelter system, further upending a survivor’s ability to heal and build community in a permanent home. To show the Adams administration’s commitment to tackling the issue of family homelessness head on, we set a goal of increasing the number of families with children existing shelter into permanent housing by 25 percent,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer. “I thank the Department of Homeless Services and New Housing Destiny, a trusted community partner, for supporting our goals to bring domestic violence survivors and their children in shelter back into local communities through housing search assistance.”

 

“We know that domestic violence is a primary driver of homelessness in New York City, and we recognize the critical importance of not only minimizing the amount of time survivors spend in temporary housing but ensuring that they are positioned for long-term stability,” said DSS Commissioner Park. “With Project Home, we are proud to partner with New Destiny Housing to test a new approach to connecting survivors in city shelters to the support they need to effectively navigate the housing process and acclimate to their new home as they continue to heal and recover. By concurrently working to expand access to supportive housing and affordable units for survivors, we are also increasing the stock of housing available to them which will further expedite connections to safe and affordable permanent housing.”

 

“We cannot over emphasize how important safe, stable housing is for domestic violence survivors trying to move forward from experiences of abuse," said Mayor's Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence (ENDGBV) Acting Commissioner Saloni Sethi. “We see daily how critical housing is to survivors' ability to heal, and we are grateful to have a long-standing partnership with New Destiny, an organization that is unparalleled in its commitment to helping survivors access permanent housing. ENDGBV is excited that Project Home will build upon the success we had partnering with New Destiny to offer housing navigation services to survivors through the city’s Emergency Housing Voucher Program, and through stationing their rapid rehousing program, HousingLink, at our Family Justice Centers. We are thrilled to extend this much-needed resource to families within the homeless shelter system who have experienced domestic violence. We look forward to supporting DSS and New Destiny in furthering this work on behalf of survivors.”

 

“Access to safe, permanent housing is crucial to wellbeing,” said DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “Everyone deserves a home and the work to build connections for neighbors with diverse needs – like Project Home – will help support a healthier New York City for all.”

 

One hundred families staying in New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS) shelters will be randomly selected from the pool of eligible households, comprised of those in shelters as a result of domestic violence. The participating families will be directly connected to a specialized housing navigator — trained in the challenging dynamics of domestic violence as well as affordable housing — who will work closely with each participating family to quickly secure permanent housing. They will identify appropriate apartments from trusted landlords, advocate on behalf of the family with landlords and brokers, and assist with applications, with the goal of minimizing the amount of time each family spends in shelter.

 

To ensure families remain stably housed for the long term, this pilot will include an aftercare coordinator to provide light-touch services after families move out of shelter. These light-touch services will include financial coaching; connecting families to new doctors, schools, childcare, and other resources in their new neighborhood; and linking families to counseling to help survivors recover from the traumas of homelessness and domestic abuse. The aftercare coordinator will also assist families in obtaining or maintaining government benefits. Aftercare services will be available to families for up to one year after they move into their new home and are supported by a grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.

 

Currently, residents of New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA) Domestic Violence Shelters are ineligible for HPD units, which are set aside for New Yorkers experiencing homelessness, as eligibility is based strictly on stays in DHS shelters. To eliminate this unnecessary discrepancy between the two systems and expand access to affordable housing for a vulnerable population, DSS and HPD will allow clients in HRA shelters to apply directly for these units, ultimately shortening their stays in shelter. Additionally, in partnership with DOHMH, DSS will expand eligibility for city-supportive housing, which currently provides rental assistance and on-site supportive services to individuals and families struggling with homelessness and serious behavioral health challenges, to also include survivors of domestic violence and their families. These families will have access to on-site services to help them maintain stability.

    

“The NYC Fund to End Youth & Family Homelessness believes all New Yorkers need the safety and dignity of a stable home. We applaud the City of New York for moving towards that north star by investing in rental assistance to help those of us who are struggling to get by to find permanent homes,” said John Kimble, senior advisor, NYC Fund to End Youth & Family Homelessness. “We stand in awe of the grit and determination of the families participating in Project Home, who are securing better lives for themselves and their children as they overcome enormous adversity. New York is safer and stronger when all its children and families have a place to call home, and the Fund is proud to be investing with the city in that future.”

 

“New Destiny Housing has created the right set of specialists on their team to help families experiencing homelessness due to domestic violence to navigate the challenges of finding housing, and then, in turn, to continue offering them support through the fragile transition to stabilize their lives,” said Tracy Perrizo, program officer, The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. “Housing is foundational to both physical and mental health, and we are inspired by New Destiny’s success and Commissioner Park’s recognition of their model in her efforts to continue to improve housing and services for all New Yorkers.” 

 

The initial phase of Project Home will last approximately one year, during which families will receive dedicated assistance from New Destiny Housing Navigators during the housing search and aftercare support once they move into their new homes. Following the placement of all families, DSS will conduct a robust evaluation of the results of the pilot, including its ability to shorten shelter stays, place families in new homes, and help those families stay stably housed. To ensure an accurate and rigorous analysis of the pilot, eligible families will be randomly assigned to Project Home and the results will be compared against the outcomes of other similarly situated families receiving standard housing placement assistance during the same time frame.

 

Project Home is one of the many programs included in “Women Forward NYC: An Action Plan for Gender Equity,” a more than $43 million investment aimed at making New York City a national leader on gender equity, including for transgender and gender expansive New Yorkers, with the ambitious goal of becoming the most women-forward city in the United States. Supported through city dollars, private and public partnerships, academic institutions, and federal grant funding, the action plan addresses gender disparities by connecting women to professional development and higher-paying jobs; dismantling barriers to sexual, reproductive, and chronic health care; reducing gender-based violence against women; and providing holistic housing services, including for formerly incarcerated women and domestic and gender-based violence survivors.

The East Bronx History Forum will be holding its 184th meeting at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, April 17th in Msgr. Joseph Raimondo Hall at St. Clare’s of Assisi Parish located at 1027 Rhinelander Avenue. Topic: Bronx to Chicago: A Look at 1930s Crime

  

Dear East Bronx History Forum Member,

The East Bronx History Forum is pleased to announce it will be holding its

184^th meeting at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, April 17^th in Msgr. Joseph Raimondo Hall at St. Clare’s of Assisi Parish. Our speaker this month will be Ellen Poulsen. She will be focusing on criminal elements in the Bronx during the era of Dutch Schultz and the mob wars which led to the development of the Five Families and the “Commission.” Through the lens of some fascinating cases, she will explore organized crime’s tentacles – which spread mightily from the Bronx to Chicago in the days of the Great Depression.

         Ellen Poulsen is the author of two books on the John Dillinger gang. She is also the author of The Case Against Lucky Luciano: New York’s Most Sensational Vice Trial. She has participated in TV documentaries, in-person forums and podcast interviews on the subject of the 1930s American crime wave.

         As always, the EBHF meetings are free and open to the public. For more information, please visit BronxNYC.com and if you enjoy our programming, feel free to use the donate button, all contributions are fully tax deductible. We can also be followed on our Facebook and Instagram pages as well. Looking forward to seeing you.

          Dorothy A. Krynicki

          Secretary, East Bronx History Forum

  

News, updates and more from NYC Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Jr.

 

THE WEEK IN REVIEW

2024 HEROES RECOGNITION BREAKFAST

Thank you to everyone who joined Team Salamanca at the New York Botanical Garden for our 3rd Annual Heroes Recognition Breakfast! 

It was an honor to recognize and celebrate 9 #Bronx heroes:

Rachel Arana - Acacia

Sgt. Jessica Torres - PEP

Officer Lisbeth Capellan - PEP

Sgt. Silvia Sanchez - PEP

Officer Kevin Feliciano - PEP

P.O. Jose Ramos - NYPD

P.O. Jorge Arteaga Perez - NYPD

P.O. Kelby Castulo - NYPD

P.O. Ginger Tothsipos - NYPD

2024 COMMUNITY BOARD & PRECINCT COUNCIL BBQ

 

Thank you to everyone who joined Team Salamanca at our 2024 Community Board & Precinct Council BBQ! 

Shout out to the Bronx Zoo for being such welcoming hosts and allowing us all the opportunity to explore all that the zoo has to offer.

2024 OPENING DAY WITH CASTLE HILL LITTLE LEAGUE

Had a great time celebrating Opening Day with Castle Hill Little League/ Castle Hill RBI!

Good luck to all of our Bronx athletes on the season ahead!

DEL VALLE SQUARE REVITALIZATION PROJECT

It was a pleasure to attend the unveiling of beautiful artwork produced by local Bronx students that will highlight the $15 million Del Valle Square revitalization project! 

As we continue to step up our efforts to rebuild the Bronx, it is important to include our youth in this process and encourage the future generations to take ownership and develop a sense of pride in where they come from.

DOT HELMET FITTING AND DISTRIBUTION

My office will be partnering with NYC DOT to host a FREE helmet-fitting and giveaway event on Sunday, April 28th. 

*Please note that helmets will only be distributed to those present, and a parent or legal guardians must be present with children under 18*

Visit our District Office at:  1070 Southern Boulevard Bronx, New York 10459 (718) 402-6130 salamanca@council.nyc.gov