CONSTRUCTION INJURIES DOWN MORE THAN 26 PERCENT IN 2019 AS CITY ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS INCREASE

Year-to-date decline in injuries comes even as building boom continues

   Mayor Bill de Blasio, Deputy Mayor Laura Anglin, and New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) Commissioner Melanie E. La Rocca announced that injuries during the construction of buildings declined more than 26 percent in January through October 2019 compared to the same period last year. The injury decline comes even as the city’s construction boom shows no signs of abating: permits for major construction projects actually increased slightly over the same timeframe.

“The backbone of New York City’s construction industry are hard-working people in the building trades hoping to earn a good day’s pay and make it home safely,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Taking care of those workers' safety is our top priority, so it's great to see that while scaffolding continues to go up across all five boroughs, construction injuries continue to decline. And thanks to continued proactive inspections and new training requirements, I’m hopeful construction-related injuries will become as rare as a vacant lot in Midtown.”

“Ensuring workers on construction sites are operating in a safe environment is a citywide commitment,” said Deputy Mayor Laura Anglin. “Since the DOB launched its new Construction Safety Compliance Unit, we’ve seen significant decreases in injuries while maintaining continued growth in construction across the city. We must continue to build off this year’s success so that all construction workers can get home safely to their families.”

“Injuries are down even as the city’s construction boom continues, which is welcome news for workers and their families -- and a sign that our focus on proactive enforcement and safety training requirements are having a real impact. Our commitment to workers is simple: everyone who leaves for the job site in the morning deserves to come home safely at night. We are going to keep up the pressure to drive these numbers down further and make safety the highest priority on every construction site,” said Buildings Commissioner Melanie E. La Rocca.

Injuries on construction sites decreased from 657 in the first ten months of 2018 to 483 through October of this year, a decline of 26.5 percent. DOB issued 16,322 permits for major construction projects from January through October 2018, versus 16,291 such projects permitted in the same period of time in 2019. (Major projects are new buildings, major alterations of existing buildings, and demolitions.)

The decrease in injuries comes after the launch of DOB’s Construction Safety Compliance (CSC) Unit, dedicated to conducting proactive, unannounced inspections of major construction sites citywide. The improvement also coincides with the implementation of Local Law 196 of 2017, which requires safety training for workers at New York City’s larger construction sites. CSC is in the process of inspecting roughly 6,000 sites to enforce the law and check whether construction workers have the required training.

In September 2018, DOB dissolved its longtime Buildings Enforcement Safety Team (BEST) and divided BEST’s responsibilities between two new units: the Construction Safety Enforcement Unit, which focuses on emergency response and other functions; and CSC, which focuses on proactive inspections of major construction sites, where workers are at the highest risk of injury. The latter unit also specializes in approving and inspecting site-safety plans and demolition applications.

CSC currently has 38 inspectors and 10 trainees and will have as many as 53 inspectors.

Since the unit’s inception in September 2018, CSC personnel have conducted 20,166 proactive inspections at 10,256 construction sites, issuing 2,523 stop-work orders and 11,484 OATH summonses, which carry penalties of nearly $15 million for safety lapses on job sites in the five boroughs.

Coalition Briefs - November 2019

Public Advocate Williams Joins Membership Meeting

The Coalition's Membership Meeting is a great place to meet our city's leaders. November's membership meeting featured Public Advocate Jumaane Williams in conversation with The Coalition's CEO Amy Dorin. The Public Advocate's recent report, Improving New York City's Responses to Individual's in Mental Health Crisis, highlights many programs our members operate as areas the City should look to expand. The report also recommends expanding mental health urgent care centers and having mental health professionals more involved in emergency response for individuals experiencing a crisis. Members discussed mobile crisis, school mental health programs and more with Public Advocate Williams. We also discussed strategies for reducing stigma and increasing access to care.

Board Leaders, Member Agencies Honored by City & State

The Coalition is thrilled when the work of our members is recognized publicly. City & State recently released their Nonprofit Power 100, which honors the leaders of over twenty of our member agencies. Mitchell Netburn, Chair of The Coalition's Board, and David Woodlock, Vice Chair, were both acknowledged. Congratulations to all our members on the list! Honored Members: Ariel Zwang, Safe Horizon Jeremy Kohomban, Children's Village JoAnne Page, The Fortune Society Alan van Capelle, Educational Alliance Keith Little, SCO Family of Services Phoebe Boyer, Children's Aid Ronald Richter, JCCA Alan Mucatel, Rising Ground Kelsey Louie, GMHC Elizabeth McCarthy, Sheltering Arms Katy Gaul-Stigge, Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey Joanne Oplustil, CAMBA Doug Wirth, Amida Care Elizabeth Gaynes, Osborne Association Raul Russi, Acacia Network Tony Hannigan, CUCS Eric Weinarten, University Settlement David Garza, Henry Street Settlement Michelle Yanche, Good Shepherd Services David Nocenti, Union Settlement

The Coalition in Action

Event with New York Academy of Medicine: Innovative Models of Integrating Behavioral Health & Primary Care for Older People

The Coalition was pleased to co-sponsor this this important forum with the New York Academy of Medicine's Section on Healthy Aging. The event started with a keynote from Dr. Gary Kennedy. A panel followed, featuring CEO Amy Dorin and member Nancy Harvey of SPOP, along with Dr. Karinn Glover of Montefiore, moderated by Martha Adams Sullivan of the Creedmoor Psychiatric Center.

Coalition Keynote at NYC Health + Hospitals Event

Liz Breier, Senior Training and Implementation Specialist at The Coalition, delivered a keynote address at NYC Health & Hospital's event Peer Counseling: Sharing Hope and Recovery. Liz spoke about using character strengths as a part of peer work, focusing on how one's strengths and talents are part of what makes peer support unique and vital to behavioral health. Clinton Green, Senior Training and Implementation Specialist, presented with Liz at the International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis. Clinton and Liz were joined by Jeremuy Reuling of MHA Westchester for a presentation on Walking the Fine Line: Viewpoints of Practitioners with Lived Experience.

RARC Sponsors Reel Recovery Film Festival

Chris Herron & Leaonard Buschel Founders of the REEL Recovery Film Festival

Our Regional Addiction Resource Center (RARC) was proud to co-sponsor the Reel Recovery Film Festival, which showcases filmmakers who make honest films about addiction, alcoholism, behavioral disorders, treatment and recovery. Over seven days at the beginning of November, dozens of films were shown to New York audiences.

Around the Water Cooler

Outreach announces the appointment of Christal Montague, MSW, LMHC, CASAC, CARC, as Chief Strategy Officer. Mrs. Montague’s depth of experience in the human services and nonprofit sectors, which includes policy and leadership development, will advance Outreach’s mission and growth. Samaritan Daytop Village announces their annual gala, honoring Council Member Diana Ayala, raised over $440,000. Council Member Ayala gave a powerful speech about the importance of addressing behavioral health issues. SPOP announces that Teresa Tehophano, LCSW, has been appointed Senior Vice President for Community Programs, where she oversees training programs, satellite clinics and other community-based initiatives. Sheltering Arms opened a new mental health clinic in the Bronx.Personal mental health services are available for children, families, and adults. To learn more, contact the center (432 East 149th St, 3rd floor, Bronx, NY 10455) at 212-937-1425 or mhreferrals@shelteringarmsny.org.  ACMH received a third PPS award, with a grant from OneCity Health to provide short-term crisis respite & transitional step-down housing services. SPOP received a three-year grant of $90,000 form the Rose M. Badgeley Charitable Trust in support of behavioral health care for older adults with co-occurring substance use disorders.

Annual Bronx Democratic County Holiday Party and Ugly Sweater Contest - Tuesday, December 10

Annual Bronx Democratic County Holiday Party 

and Ugly Sweater Contest.

Tuesday December 10  6:30 PM

1534 Boone Avenue Bronx

For more information 347-281-9759

A photo from last years party.

Thanksgiving Community Dinner

Why is a Manhattan City Councilman all of a Sudden interested in a South Bronx Congressional District? Answer Below.

             

 THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY 

OF NEW YORK

OFFICE OF COUNCIL MEMBER

YDANIS RODRIGUEZ

  

CITY HALL

NEW YORK, NY 10007

(212) 788-7053

Friday, November 22, 2019

Community Coat Drive and Turkey Giveaways

 

Turkey Giveaway with The Cesar Presbott Foundation:

 

New York, NY-- Today! Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez will be supporting the Cesar Presbott Foundation on their 41st year serving the community. This year they will be donating turkeys at the International Community Aspira New York Beacon Program, alongside their Director, Bernardo Hernandez. The Cesar Presbott Foundation Inc. (CPF) is a nonprofit charity institution committed to supporting communities through sports, education, and many more resources.

Who: Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, The Cesar Presbott Foundation, and Aspira New York

What: Turkey Giveaway with The Cesar Presbott Foundation

Where: 345 Brook Ave. Corner, 141st, Bronx New York, 10454

When: Today! Friday, November 22; 4:00PM

---------------------------------------------------------------

Thanksgiving Coat Drive: 

 

New York, NY- On Saturday, November 23rd, Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez will be participating in a Thanksgiving Coat Drive. The Latino Pastoral Action Center Inc, will be hosting the community event, which is sponsored by Major World, Dominican Sunday, S.O.Y, and Credit City. As the City drops in temperature, these organizations want to provide some relief to those in need as we approach the holiday season. 

Who: Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, Latino Pastoral Action Center INC

What: Thanksgiving Coat Drives

Where: 14 West 170th ST, Bronx

When: Saturday, November 23; 12:00PM - 4:00PM

EDITOR'S NOTE:

Why all of a sudden would a Manhattan City Councilman give out turkeys in the South Bronx, and participate in a South Bronx coat drive?

Could the answer be that this Manhattan City Councilman has announced that he is now running for this South Bronx Congressional district?

Also how is this Manhattan City Councilman connected to the Latino Patoral Action Center Inc?

Los Nutcrackers returns to BAAD! - Gay Latino Holiday Show in the Bronx

BAAD! The Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance proudly presents Los Nutcrackers: A Christmas Carajo, written by Charles Rice-González and directed by Fernando Vieira. This year marks the play’s 16^th year at BAAD!, and the second time that Vieira helms the work. The play interweaves two holiday classics, The Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol, to create a queer, Latino play about a couple who go on a psychedelic trip through their lives one Christmas Eve. The playdates are December 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, and 20 at 8pm; Saturday, December 14 at 3pm and the closing night show on December 21 is at 7pm with a post-show party. All performances are at BAAD!, 2474 Westchester Avenue in the Westchester Square section of the Bronx. Tickets are $25 with discounts offered for seniors and students.  For tickets call 718-918-2110 or visit www.BAADBronx.org. BAAD! can be reached by the #6 train to Westchester Square or Zerega Avenue.

This  gay, Latino  comedic  play  centers  around  a couple,  Carlos  and  Gabriel,  who  have  been together for 15 years. Their arguing and fighting has reached the queer heavens from which comes a diva spirit who guides them on a trip through their lives. They travel to the first time they met, and this year the play rewinds back to 1978 to the height of disco, then the couple moves through scenes that include a catastrophic trip to City Center to see The Nutcracker, a dinner party with Martha Stewart fanatics, and more.

The play features a talented and sexy cast of actors. Returning from previous years are Robert Maisonett, Yosvany Reyes and Jesse Vega. Returning from last year’s production is Manny Lopez and joining the cast for the first time is Danny Arguello. Los Nutcrackers spent three years in development at BAAD!, then had its premiere production in 2004.

Charles Rice-González has written several plays including Pink Jesus, The Artist and I Just Love Andy Gibb published in Blacktino Queer Performance: A Critical Anthology (Duke Press). His lauded debut novel, Chulito, is about a 16 year old, Latino thug coming out in the South Bronx and he co-edited the anthology From Macho to Mariposa: New Gay Latino Fiction. He has won several awards, including the 2014 Emerging Writers Award from the Lambda Literary Foundation. He received an MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College.

Fernando Vieira is an Ecuadorean-born, New York City-based award-winning director, actor and writer who works both on the stage and screen.  In 2016, Vieira wrote and directed a monologue titled "Me voy porque puedo." Other directing credits include "Enrique," "Las Sirvientas," Jean Genet's "The Maids," "Pensamientos," "Las cuarentonas tienen derecho a amar," and in 2018 and 2019 participated as a director in "48 Hour in...El Bronx" a theatrical collaboration produced by Harlem9 and Pregones/Puerto Rican Traveling Theater.  He wrote and directed a Spanish-language short film titled "La sospecha" in 2010. That same year, he debuted on the stage in an adaptation of Federico Garcia Lorca's "Bodas de sangre." His television debut was in the Telemundo telenovela "Alguien te mira." Other credits acting credits include "La casa de al lado," "El fantasma de Elena" and "Corazón valiente."

Crowned “a funky and welcoming performance space” by The New York Times, BAAD presents cutting-edge and challenging works that are empowering to women, people of color and the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) community.   BAAD! is home to Arthur Aviles Typical Theatre, The AATT Academy and the Bronx Dance Coalition. In 2013, BAAD! moved from Hunts Point to Westchester Square and in December will mark 21 years of being BAAD!

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Indictment And Arrest Of Ophthalmologist For Healthcare Fraud

Government Also Files Civil Fraud Lawsuit Against Ophthalmologist and His Medical Practice

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, William F. Sweeney Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Scott Lampert, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General’s (“HHS-OIG”) New York Region, announced today that AMEET GOYAL, M.D. (“GOYAL”), an ophthalmologist with practices in Rye, Mt. Kisco, and Wappingers Falls, New York, and Greenwich, Connecticut, has been indicted for healthcare fraud.  Mr. Berman’s Office also today filed a civil fraud complaint against GOYAL and the entity that owns his medical practice, AMEET GOYAL, M.D, P.C. d/b/a/ THE EYE ASSOCIATES GROUP (the “Practice”), under the False Claims Act. 

Specifically, the Indictment charges GOYAL with fraudulently billing patients, Medicare, and private insurance programs millions of dollars, between 2010 and 2017, for complex eye surgeries that GOYAL had not actually performed.  The Civil Complaint further alleges that GOYAL and his Practice engaged in widespread healthcare fraud by consistently “upcoding” these and other surgical procedures, examinations, and tests in fraudulent billings submitted to Medicare and Medicaid.  As alleged, GOYAL also falsified patient medical records, pressured other employees in his Practice to engage in the scheme, and initiated debt collection proceedings against patients who did not pay the full amounts of his fraudulently billed charges.

GOYAL was arrested this morning and was arraigned in federal court today before United States Magistrate Judge Paul E. Davison.  The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Cathy Seibel.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “As alleged, Dr. Ameet Goyal repeatedly upcoded minor ophthalmological procedures, defrauding insurers and patients by grossly overbilling, netting millions in ill-gotten gains in the process.  As further alleged, Goyal also billed for tests and procedures that were never performed, falsified medical records, bullied others in his practice to abet the scheme, and intimidated patients who questioned their bills.  Thanks to our law enforcement partners, Goyal’s conduct has come into focus.  Ameet Goyal now faces criminal prosecution and civil sanctions for his conduct.”

FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said:  “When we go to the doctor, we have to put our faith in their knowledge because they have expertise we don’t.  Dr. Goyal allegedly lied to patients about what they were being billed for, forced them to pay for treatments they didn’t receive, and then threatened his staff if they expressed alarm about taking part in the fraud.  Medical practitioners who are more concerned with their profits than with the health of their patients are going against the oath they took, they are doing harm and they should be held accountable.”

HHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Scott Lampert said:  “Goyal’s reprehensible conduct compromised patient care and undermined the integrity of the Medicare program.  Along with our law enforcement partners, HHS-OIG will continue to protect the public and ensure that those who bill for services provided by taxpayer funded health care programs do so in an honest manner.”

According to the Indictment[1]:

From at least in or about January 2010 through in or about March 2017, GOYAL systematically submitted false and fraudulent claims that misrepresented the services provided to patients of the Practice and falsely billed for higher-paying surgical treatments than the lower-paying, minor procedures actually performed.  

For example, GOYAL and others at the Practice routinely treated patients for an excision of a chalazion, a small bump on an eyelid, typically removed in less than 15 minutes.  An excision of chalazion, when billed truthfully under its associated code, paid the Practice approximately $200 on average from patients and insurance programs.  However, GOYAL systematically billed an excision of chalazion and other similar superficial eyelid procedures as if he had performed an orbitotomy together with a conjunctivoplasty, which are complex surgeries into the orbit of the eye, often to remove an orbital tumor, that typically take an hour or more to perform.  These substantial surgeries, as billed, paid the Practice approximately $1,400 on average from a combination of insurance and patient out-of-pocket payments.  Goyal also upcoded certain superficial procedures as an excision and repair of eyelid, a type of higher-paying eyelid surgery involving reconstruction or removal of certain lesions other than chalazions.  During the relevant time period, GOYAL billed less than 40 chalazions under the billing code designated for excision of chalazion, while billing over 1,400 orbitotomies, over 700 bundled conjunctivoplasties, and over 1,600 excision and repair of eyelid surgeries, all of which he claimed to have performed personally. 

To further effectuate the scheme, GOYAL directed other employees of the Practice, including other ophthalmologists, to upcode minor procedures into higher-paying surgeries.  GOYAL threatened the livelihood of employees who were reluctant to comply with these directions.

Between about January 2010 through about March 2017, GOYAL caused the Practice to bill insurance programs and patients over $8 million for supposedly performed orbitotomies, bundled conjunctivoplasties, and excisions and repair of eyelid.  The Practice received over $3 million in payments for these claims, a substantial portion of which were fraudulently billed. 

According to the Civil Complaint, in addition to falsely billing for orbitotomies and conjunctivoplasties and other related codes:

GOYAL and his Practice routinely submitted fraudulent claims to Medicare and Medicaid for a wide range of other surgical procedures, examinations, and tests purportedly performed by GOYAL that were not actually performed, not medically necessary, not documented in the medical records, and/or failed to otherwise comply with Medicare and Medicaid rules and regulations.  In order to justify this billing, GOYAL falsified patient diagnoses and prepared operative reports that falsely described the procedures performed on patients.  The lawsuit seeks to recover treble damages and civil penalties under the False Claims Act.

GOYAL, 56, of Rye, New York, is charged with three counts in the Indictment.  The first count charges healthcare fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; the second count charges wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; the third count charges making false statements relating to health care matters, 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 defendant will be determined by the judge.           

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and HHS-OIG.     

This criminal case is being handled by the Office’s White Plains Division.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Vladislav Vainberg, David Felton, and Margery Feinzig are in charge of the prosecution.  The civil lawsuit is being handled by the Office’s Civil Frauds Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey K. Powell is in charge of the civil case.

The charges contained 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

Russian Hacker Who Used NeverQuest Malware To Steal Money From Victims’ Bank Accounts Sentenced In Manhattan Federal Court To Four Years In Prison

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that STANISLAV VITALIYEVICH LISOV, a/k/a “Black,” a/k/a “Blackf” (“LISOV”), was sentenced to 48 months in prison today for conspiring to deploy and use a type of malicious software known as NeverQuest to infect the computers of unwitting victims, steal their login information for online banking accounts, and use that information to steal money out of the victims’ accounts.  NeverQuest has been responsible for millions of dollars’ worth of attempts by hackers to steal money out of victims’ bank accounts.  LISOV was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Valerie E. Caproni, who presided over his guilty plea earlier this year.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman stated:  “Stanislav Vitaliyevich Lisov, a Russian hacker, used malware to infect victims’ computers, obtain their login credentials for online banking accounts, and steal money from their accounts.  This type of cybercrime threatens personal privacy and harms financial institutions.  Lisov’s arrest, extradition, conviction, and prison sentence should send an unmistakable message about this Office’s firm commitment to prosecuting hackers – domestic and foreign alike.”

According to the allegations in the Indictment to which LISOV pled guilty, public court filings, and statements made in court:

NeverQuest is a type of malicious software, or malware, known as a banking Trojan.  It can be introduced to victims’ computers through social media websites, phishing emails, or file transfers.  Once surreptitiously installed on a victim’s computer, NeverQuest is able to identify when a victim attempted to log onto an online banking website and transfer the victim’s login credentials – including his or her username and password – back to a computer server used to administer the NeverQuest malware.  Once surreptitiously installed, NeverQuest enables its administrators remotely to control a victim’s computer and log into the victim’s online banking or other financial accounts, transfer money to other accounts, change login credentials, write online checks, and purchase goods from online vendors.

Between June 2012 and January 2015, LISOV was responsible for key aspects of the creation and administration of a network of victim computers known as a “botnet” that was infected with NeverQuest.  Among other things, LISOV maintained infrastructure for this criminal enterprise, including by renting and paying for computer servers used to manage the botnet that had been compromised by NeverQuest.  Those computer servers contained lists with approximately 1.7 million stolen login credentials – including usernames, passwords, and security questions and answers – for victims’ accounts on banking and other financial websites.  LISOV had administrative-level access to those computer servers.

LISOV also personally harvested login information from unwitting victims of NeverQuest malware, including usernames, passwords, and security questions and answers.  In addition, LISOV discussed trafficking in stolen login information and personally identifying information of victims.

On January 13, 2017, LISOV was arrested in Spain pursuant to a provisional arrest warrant.  On January 19, 2018, LISOV was extradited from Spain to the United States.

In addition to his prison term, LISOV, 34, a citizen of Russia, was sentenced to three years of supervised release, and was ordered to pay forfeiture of $50,000 and restitution of $481,388.04.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.