Thursday, October 26, 2017

VISION ZERO: DE BLASIO ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES RETURN OF “DUSK AND DARKNESS” SAFETY CAMPAIGN


Starting today, New York City will aggressively address the traditional upturn in pedestrian-involved crashes normally associated with darker fall and winter evenings; in its second year, the Dusk and Darkness campaign will combine increased enforcement with education and engineering

  Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced that as New York City enters what has traditionally been the deadliest time of year for pedestrians, it would once again conduct its trailblazing Dusk and Darkness campaign as part of Vision Zero. Standing at Brooklyn Borough Hall during City Hall in Your Borough, de Blasio Administration officials outlined the new and returning elements of the campaign, reminding drivers that in the months ahead, they should continue to obey the speed limit, slow down, yield to pedestrians when turning and expect heightened enforcement – especially in the dusk and evening hours -- over the next several months.

“Our success at Vision Zero these last three years – driving down crashes here in New York City while traffic fatalities nationally are on the rise – does not mean we can rest on our past successes,” said Mayor de Blasio.  “Last year’s Dusk and Darkness campaign was very promising, as we proved that a data-driven approach to time and seasonality could help actually prevent traffic fatalities – and literally save lives.  But one death is one too many and there's still so much more we can do.  This year Dusk and Darkness campaign will build on last year’s effort with different elements, including new TV and radio advertising and even more focused NYPD enforcement.”

Before the first Dusk and Darkness campaign launched in October 2016, DOT conducted close analyses of year-over-year crash trends – and had observed the following:
·         The earlier onset of darkness in the fall and winter is highly correlated to an increase in traffic injuries and fatalities (see “heat map”).  Prior to last year, severe crashes involving pedestrians increased by nearly 40 percent in the early evening hours compared to crashes outside the fall and winter.
·         Lower visibility during the dark hours of the colder months leads to twice as many crashes involving turns.
·         In 2015, 57 pedestrian fatalities occurred after October 1st, 41 percent of that year’s total.  The enforcement and education efforts in last year’s Dusk and Darkness campaign together helped contribute to a dramatic 25 percent decrease – 43 pedestrian fatalities in the last quarter, 29 percent of 2016’s total.   
“Where Vision Zero is concerned, the Mayor has charged his agencies to keep innovating – and our success in driving down the traditional upsurge in pedestrian fatalities last fall and winter guaranteed the Dusk and Darkness campaign would return this year,” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg.  “We had seen that as the days shorten and the weather gets colder, crashes on our streets involving pedestrians increase.  Using the data-driven strategies we employed last year -- education and enforcement with our sister agencies, ensuring that every driver learns about the limited visibility of this season and the dangers of fast turns, especially in the evening hours – we are working to make Dusk and Darkness 2.0 an even greater success.” 

“The Dusk to Darkness Campaign is a crucial part of the Vision Zero initiative,” said Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill. “Raising awareness about the dangers that accompany reduced daylight and the onset of cold weather makes both pedestrians and motorists safer. Throughout the campaign, the NYPD will be conducting focused enforcement in areas that have experienced fatalities, ensuring everyone is adhering to the traffic rules. Together, we seek to build on the previous successes of this campaign, as we work to reduce traffic fatalities even further.”  
“With heightened attention to traffic safety during dusk and nighttime, professional drivers can play a major role in preventing traffic fatalities and injuries in New York City, bringing us closer to Vision Zero,” said TLC Commissioner and Chair Meera Joshi.  “We particularly appreciate the vigilance and safety efforts of TLC-licensed drivers during the dark hours of the colder months, when there is less visibility on the road.”

“It is important for New Yorkers to keep their neighborhoods safe for all pedestrians – especially vulnerable older adults who may have limited mobility, slower reflexes and low vision. There is enough room for all of us, drivers and pedestrians alike,” saidDepartment for the Aging Commissioner Donna Corrado. “This city that never sleeps also includes older adults, and it is imperative that they also feel safe walking at night.”

“With nights getting longer and darkness settling in earlier, we must be extra vigilant to ensure the safety of all New Yorkers as they walk our city streets,” said Youth and Community Development Commissioner Bill Chong.  “I applaud Mayor de Blasio,Commissioner Trottenberg and the NYPD for protecting students leaving afterschool programs. I am encouraged by the progress of the Dusk and Darkness campaign in reducing fatalities and making the streets safer for young people and their families, and look forward to continued improvement,”.

Starting early Thursday morning, DOT and NYPD street teams will engage in a Citywide “Day of Awareness,” distributing more than a million palm cards to educate drivers and other New Yorkers at high-priority Vision Zero target areas across all five boroughs. The palm cards underscore a pre-enforcement message about speeding, failure to yield and the dangers posed by increasing darkness in the fall – reminding drivers that with less sunlight, they will have less time to react to the unexpected.


The following are the new and returning multi-agency Vision Zero initiatives being pursued over the next several months of Dusk and Darkness:

Enforcement

·   Increased Evening/ Nighttime Enforcement: As it did last year, NYPD will focus enforcement resources on the most hazardous violations (speeding and failure-to-yield to pedestrians), with precincts increasing their on-street presence around sunset hours when data show serious pedestrian crashes increase.
·  Focus on Priority Locations: NYPD will again deploy Traffic Safety personnel to provide coverage at intersections and corridors with high rates of pedestrian injuries and fatal crashes during key dusk and darkness hours.
·   Focused Initiatives Cracking Down on Dangerous Driving Behaviors: In October, November and December the NYPD will launch a series of initiatives to promote concentrated enforcement on speeding, cellphone/texting, failure to yield to pedestrians, blocked bicycle lanes, and other hazardous violations.
·  Drunk or Impaired Driving: NYPD will also focus resources on drunk-driving efforts, as the evening and nighttime hours in the fall and winter have historically been when the incidence of DWI also increases.
· Taxis and For-Hire Vehicles:  TLC inspectors will conduct speed enforcement to deter speeding among TLC-licensed drivers, as well as targeted enforcement of distracted drivers.  The TLC will also continue its expanded deployment of inspectors, focused on safety summonses during early morning and evening hours. 
Education

· “Day of Awareness:” NYPD and DOT street teams will today be educating and engaging drivers and other New Yorkers at different Vision Zero priority areas in all five boroughs, including at: Brooklyn Borough Hall; Penn Station; Grand Central Station,; the Hub in the Bronx; Main Street in Flushing, Queens; St. George Ferry Terminal on Staten Island; and at Flatbush Junction in Brooklyn. 
· “Signs” – New Vision Zero public safety campaign for Drivers to Obey Speed Limit and Yield to Pedestrians: The award-winning Vision Zero campaigns will be updated this fall with completely fresh content. In the new campaign, real New Yorkers hold up street signs to powerfully illustrate the underlying safety message.  Radio advertisements timed to air specifically around sunset hours will educate drivers to the correlation between darkness and crashes – and remind them to lower their speeds and turn slowly.
· Daylight Saving Awareness: As it has done in the spring when clocks “spring forward,” DOT will lead a public-awareness campaign around the end of Daylight Saving Time, when DOT statistics from 2010-2014 show that serious collisions in early evening increase by approximately 40 percent. This year, Daylight Savings Time will end at 1:00 AM on Sunday, November 5when clocks “fall back.”
· Youth Education and After-school Programming:  DOT’s Safety Educators and the DOE will be continuing teaching Cross This Way curriculum in NYC schools, noting the dangers of dusk to our most vulnerable pedestrians.  The Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) also notes that more than 150,000 students are currently involved in after-school programming in public schools that put them on streets during dusk hours.  
· Senior Center Outreach: Older adults who attend DFTA’s network of senior centers have received education and outreach focused on improving safety conditions in their neighborhoods and sharing tips for getting around safely, presented by NYC DOT and NYPD.
·TLC-Licensed Driver Outreach: TLC will provide outreach to the city’s 170,000 taxi and for-hire vehicle drivers on the need to be cautious during dusk hours through text messages, postcards, and other channels. In addition, Vision Zero ads will run on Taxi TV, providing another opportunity to reach the broader public. 
Street Design

· Upgraded Corridors and Intersections, with Record Amount of Protected Bike Lanes: In 2017, DOT has so far completed 66 Safety Improvement Projects around New York City – including expanded pedestrian space, corridor improvements, and intersection treatments -- with 39 of them located in targeted Vision Zero priority geographies.  By the end of 2017, DOT expects to complete at least 40 more SIPs, along with a record 25 miles of protected bike lanes.
· Woodhaven/Cross Bay Boulevard Safety Improvements: The largest safety project being completed by DOT this year is along Woodhaven and Cross Bay Boulevards in Queens.  A Vision Zero Priority Corridor, the 14-mile roadway is among the widest and most crash-prone in all of New York City; between 2011-2015, nearly 3,000 people were injured along this corridor, with 24 people killed.  As part of its transformation this fall into a new Select Bus Service route for the Q52 and Q53 MTA buses that travel from Elmhurst to the Rockaways, DOT has started extending curbs, as well as adding pedestrian refuge islands, left-turn bays and dedicated bus lanes – along with a plan for new public art.   
In 2017, as part of Vision Zero, DOT has implemented its most aggressive street redesign safety program, with increased investment in street redesign and traffic-calming measures citywide. DOT has improved the safety at a record number of dangerous intersections and thoroughfares, expecting to install more than 25 miles of protected bike lanes along key high-traffic corridors like Queens Boulevard and 111th Street in Queens, 5th Avenue, 7th Avenue and Park Row in Manhattan --  as well as installing a record number of leading pedestrian intervals (LPIs) – more than 700 – to give pedestrians a head start while crossing the street.

Administration officials also shared the latest Vision Zero safety statistics: for 2017 to date, New York City has seen 179 traffic fatalities, compared to 191 on this date in 2016 – a 6 percent decrease. The number of pedestrians struck and killed in 2017 is 85, compared to 118 by this date in 2016, a 28 percent decrease.  

For more information about the de Blasio Administration’s Vision Zero initiative, please see www.nyc.gov/visionzero.

Wave Hill Events Nov 10–Nov 17


Sat, November 11    Family Art Project: Dances with Leaves
Toss fall leaves in the wind, or walk through a giant leaf pile. Find an assortment of freshly fallen leaves to use as the subject for fresh, bright prints. Roll up leaves with ink and layer leaf prints, add punched-paper leaf shapes in artful arrangements or make your own hanging, bordered with a crisp, leaf stencil. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon. 
WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM


Sat, November 11    Garden Highlights Walk
Join a Wave Hill Garden Guide for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11AM

Sat, November 11    Gallery Tour
Wave Hill’s Curatorial Fellow leads a tour of the current exhibition in Glyndor Gallery. This fall, the entire gallery is given over to new site-responsive projects honoring the tenth anniversary of Wave Hill’s Sunroom Project Space. Call & Response showcases the work of 50 artists who have exhibited in this unique venue, in projects ranging from art objects created from natural materials gathered onsite, to sound pieces, outdoor installations and performance works. Free with admission to the grounds.
GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM

Sun, November 12    Fall Birding
Naturalist Gabriel Willow contributes his extensive knowledge of bird species and their behaviors on these captivating walks. Wave Hill’s garden setting overlooking the Hudson River provides the perfect habitat for resident and migrating birds. Birders of all levels welcome. Ages 10 and older welcome with an adult. Severe weather cancels. Free with admission to the grounds. NYC Audubon members enjoy two-for-one admission to the grounds. 
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 9:30AM


Sun, November 12    Family Art Project: Dances with Leaves
Toss fall leaves in the wind, or walk through a giant leaf pile. Find an assortment of freshly fallen leaves to use as the subject for fresh, bright prints. Roll up leaves with ink and layer leaf prints, add punched-paper leaf shapes in artful arrangements or make your own hanging, bordered with a crisp, leaf stencil. Free with admission to the grounds. 
WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM


Sun, November 12    Family Nature Walk
Join naturalist and educator Gabriel Willow on a family-friendly walk through the gardens or woodlands. No registration required. Children ages six and older welcome with an adult. Severe weather cancels. Free with admission to the grounds. 
MEET AT WAVE HILL HOUSE, NOON


Sun, November 12    Pre-Concert Tea
Enjoy Afternoon Tea in the Mark Twain Room prior to today’s concert in Armor Hall. The Café at Wave Hill pairs a classic menu with an assortment of green, black and herbal teas. This traditional tea service includes the four classic elements of savory, scones, sweets and tea. The menu, presented by Great Performances, includes an array of tea sandwiches, scones and bite-sized desserts. Afternoon Tea also includes a glass of sparkling wine. Afternoon Tea Service is $36. Wave Hill Members receive a 10% discount. Advanced registration is required online. We will take reservations until 5PM, Thursday, November 9.

WAVE HILL HOUSE, NOON2PM

Sun, November 12    Concert: The Alonso Brothers
Cuban-born and Bronx-based, Orlando and Orlay Alonso are brothers who began playing the piano when each was six years old. Both attended the National School of the Arts in Havana, followed by studies at the Manhattan School of Music and Yale University. Describing the artistry of the duo, The New York Times declared: “It is never about showing off what they can do technically, but rather about bringing the listener into the meaning of the music. They are real virtuosos of their instrument not only because of their rock solid performances, but because of their considerable intelligence, sensitivity, intense feeling and contagious joy.” In a dance themed program of four-hand piano works, Orlando and Orlay will offer works by Brahms, Debussy, Stravinsky, Piazzolla, Cervantes and more. Tickets for this concert are $28 plus admission to the grounds/$24 Wave Hill Member/$12 Children ages 818. Order tickets online at wavehill.org or onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center. For additional information, please call 718.549.3200 x251.
WAVE HILL HOUSE, 2PM


Sun, November 12    Garden Highlights Walk
Join a Wave Hill Garden Guide for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds.
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 2PM

Mon, November 13    
Closed to the public.


Tue, November 14    Garden Highlights Walk
Join a Wave Hill Garden Guide for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.
MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11AM

Tue, November 14    Gallery Tour
Wave Hill’s Curatorial Fellow leads a tour of the current exhibition in Glyndor Gallery. This fall, the entire gallery is given over to new site-responsive projects honoring the tenth anniversary of Wave Hill’s Sunroom Project Space. Call & Response showcases the work of 50 artists who have exhibited in this unique venue, in projects ranging from art objects created from natural materials gathered onsite, to sound pieces, outdoor installations and performance works. Free with admission to the grounds.
GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM

A 28-acre public garden and cultural center overlooking the Hudson River  and Palisades, Wave Hill’s mission is to celebrate the artistry and legacy of its gardens and landscape, to preserve its magnificent views, and to explore human connections to the natural world through programs in horticulture, education and the arts.

HOURS  Open all year, Tuesday through Sunday and many major holidays: 9AM–4:30PM, November 1–March 14. Closes 5:30PM, starting March 15.

ADMISSION  $8 adults, $4 students and seniors 65+, $2 children 6–18. Free Saturday and Tuesday mornings until noon. Free to Wave Hill Members and children under 6.

PROGRAM FEES  Programs are free with admission to the grounds unless otherwise noted.

Visitors to Wave Hill can take advantage of Metro-North’s one-day getaway offer. Purchase a discount round-trip rail far and discount admission to the gardens. More at http://mta.info/mnr/html/getaways/outbound_wavehill.htm

DIRECTIONS – Getting here is easy! Located only 30 minutes from midtown Manhattan, Wave Hill’s free shuttle van transports you to and from our front gate and Metro-North’s Riverdale station, as well as the W. 242nd Street stop on the #1 subway line. Limited onsite parking is available for $8 per vehicle. Free offsite parking is available nearby with continuous, complimentary shuttle service to and from the offsite lot and our front gate. Complete directions and shuttle bus schedule at www.wavehill.org/visit/.

Information at 718.549.3200. On the web at www.wavehill.org.

A.G. Schneiderman Announces $220 Million Multi-State Settlement With Deutsche Bank For Artificially Manipulating Interest Rates


Manipulated Interest Rates Harmed Government And Not-For-Profit Entities In New York And Throughout The Country
Schneiderman: Protecting The Integrity Of Our Financial Markets, And Making Sure That Banks Are Deterred From Wrongdoing, Are Two Of Our Top Enforcement Priorities. New York Is Committed To Maintaining The Strength Of The Financial Services Sector By Working To Keep It Free Of Manipulation And Fraud.
 Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced a $220 million, 45-state settlement with Deutsche Bank for fraudulent conduct involving the manipulation of U.S. Dollar (USD) LIBOR (the London Interbank Offered Rate) and other benchmark interest rates. Benchmark interest rates affect financial instruments worth trillions of dollars and have a widespread impact on global markets and consumers because LIBOR may determine how much they will be paid on their investments. New York and California led the working group of State Attorneys General investigating Deutsche Bank.  
“We will not tolerate fraudulent, manipulative or collusive conduct that interferes with or undermines confidence in our financial markets. Large financial institutions, like all other market participants, have to abide by the rules,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “As a result of Deutsche Bank’s misconduct, government entities and not-for-profits were defrauded of funds that otherwise could have been used to benefit New Yorkers.”
From 2005-2010, a panel of 16 banks made USD LIBOR submissions that were supposed to reflect borrowing rates in the interbank market. A daily LIBOR rate was calculated by averaging the middle eight submissions. The investigation found that from as early as 2005 and continuing through the financial crisis, Deutsche Bank acted unlawfully. Specifically, the investigation found that Deutsche Bank defrauded counterparties by failing to disclose that: (a) Deutsche Bank made false or misleading LIBOR submissions; (b) Deutsche Bank’s traders attempted to influence other banks’ LIBOR submissions to benefit Deutsche Bank’s trading positions; and (c) Deutsche Bank was aware that other banks were manipulating their LIBOR submissions and that LIBOR was a false rate. As a result of this misconduct, Deutsche Bank employees and management knew or had strong reason to believe that Deutsche Bank’s and other panel banks’ LIBOR submissions did not reflect their true borrowing rates and that published LIBOR rates did not reflect the actual borrowing costs of Deutsche Bank and other panel banks.
Deutsche Bank employees did not disclose these facts to the affected governmental and not-for profit counterparties, even though these rates were material terms of the transactions. Government entities and not-for-profit organizations in New York and throughout the U.S., among others, were defrauded of millions of dollars when they entered into swaps and other financial contracts with Deutsche Bank without knowing that Deutsche Bank and other banks on the USD-LIBOR-setting panel were manipulating LIBOR.
According to the terms of the settlement, those entities with LIBOR-linked swaps and other investment contracts with Deutsche Bank will be notified if they are eligible to receive a distribution from a settlement fund of $213,350,000. The balance of the settlement payment will be used for the expenses of the investigation and for other uses consistent with state laws.
Deutsche Bank is the second of several USD-LIBOR-setting panel banks under investigation by the State Attorneys General to resolve the claims against it, and Deutsche Bank has cooperated with the investigation. The Attorney General’s Office benefits from the information and evidence provided by corporations that timely cooperate with the Attorney General’s investigations. Such cooperation can facilitate civil enforcement efforts, including restitution for victims of the offense.
Other states joining New York in the Deutsche Bank settlement include: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire,  New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. The investigation into the conduct of several other USD LIBOR-setting panel banks is ongoing.

MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES NEW PROGRAM TO SAVE CITY’S REMAINING AFFORDABLE MITCHELL-LAMA DEVELOPMENTS


Key piece of City’s accelerated 300,000-apartment affordable housing plan will invest $250 million to protect 15,000 Mitchell-Lama apartments at risk of flipping to market-rate

   Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced a new Mitchell-Lama Reinvestment Program to protect the long-term affordability of the City’s remaining Mitchell-Lama developments.  Nearly 20,000 of the City-supervised co-ops and rentals in New York City’s storied Mitchell-Lama buildings have left the program since 1989. The lure of raising rents to profit from the City’s real estate boom, or of selling once affordable co-op units for market-rate prices is an ever-present threat to this critical portfolio. The new program, with an initial infusion of $250 million, will target more than 15,000 homes over the next eight years to save Mitchell-Lamas where affordability is at risk.

Along with the Neighborhood Pillars program, the Mitchell-Lama Reinvestment Program is the second new initiative announced as part of the Mayor’s plan to accelerate the creation and preservation of affordable housing across the city by financing 200,000 affordable homes, and expand that goal to 300,000 affordable homes by 2026 – enough to house the entire population of Boston.

“From Coney Island to the Upper West Side and for decades, hundreds of Mitchell-Lama buildings have offered stable, affordable homes for New York working families. We cannot afford to lose one more of these homes. We’re investing to protect them for the seniors and families who helped build our neighborhoods, and for generations to come,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Since the inception of the Mayor’s Housing New York Plan, the City has preserved, or extended the affordability, of 30 Mitchell-Lama developments with 11,000 residences. Of the approximately 100 remaining developments, with more than 45,000 homes, about two-thirds are affordable cooperatives, representing a significant source of affordable homeownership opportunity for New York City. The others are affordable rental apartments.

With an initial investment of $250 million, the City aims to prevent loss of these affordable homes and apartments by leveraging an array of financing tools to restructure existing debt, provide long-term tax benefits, and fund critical capital repairs.

Most Mitchell-Lama developments, originally funded by the federal government, date from the 1950s and 1960s, and many now need significant rehabilitation work. In addition to low-cost financing, the program will provide Mitchell-Lamas with extended property tax exemptions. These tools help reduce operating costs, which in turn works to keep rents and maintenance fees low for residents. In exchange for the benefits, property owners agree to keep the buildings affordable for at least 20 more years – extending their affordability for another generation or more.

Over the next eight years, the program will seek to preserve long-term affordability for 15,000 Mitchell-Lama residences, both co-ops and rentals.

“With the City’s existing affordable housing stock under increased threat, it’s more important than ever that we preserve our remaining Mitchell-Lama developments,” said City Housing Development Corporation President Eric Enderlin. “I look forward to working with the Mayor and HPD, as we ramp up our efforts to ensure that hardworking individuals and families have continued access to affordable homeownership and rental opportunities.”

“We are working on every front to shore up the affordability of our neighborhoods and saving our Mitchell-Lamas is a key priority.  As part of our push to accelerate and expand the Housing New York plan, this new program will expand our capacity to secure the remaining Mitchell-Lama developments, a vital source of affordable homeownership,” said Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Maria Torres-Springer. “I want to thank the Mayor, my colleagues at HPD and HDC, and our many partners for their efforts to protect the long-term health and affordability of this critical stock of affordable housing for New Yorkers.”

Engel: Declaring Public Health Emergency for Opioid Epidemic a Step Forward, But Lacks Teeth


  Congressman Eliot L. Engel, a top Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, released the following statement on President Trump’s declaration of a public health emergency regarding the nation’s ongoing opioid epidemic:

“Today’s declaration is a step forward, but a delayed one that lacks real teeth. Though it is progress, we still cannot let the Administration and Congressional Republicans continue to promote policies that would take us backward.

“We will not successfully combat the opioid epidemic if Republicans continue their crusade against the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Prior to the ACA, more than a third of individual market policies did not cover substance use treatment. Now, thanks to the ACA, coverage of that treatment is guaranteed. Republicans’ ACA repeal bills would have also ended the Medicaid expansion and cut more than $800 billion from the Medicaid program, which has been a lifeline in affording people with substance use disorders access to treatment.

“On top of sabotaging the ACA, Republicans have allowed funding for community health centers and the Children’s Health Insurance Program run dry, allowed cuts to safety net hospitals, and repeatedly failed to allot the funding needed to tackle this emergency head-on. While this declaration is positive, without additional funds to aid medical facilities that are already facing severe Republican cuts, it will not be enough to make a real impact.

“Rhetoric alone will not save lives. Congress must invest the funds needed to respond to the opioid epidemic and support proven public health interventions. This crisis will require real dollars, and I hope the Republican Majority will support the investment needed to turn the tide of this epidemic for good.”

New Yorkers for Mark Gjonaj


Dear Friends,
As we are reaching the final weeks of my NYC Council Campaign for the General Election on Tuesday, November 7th, I'm gathering my friends, family, and close supporters for one final push to help me over the line on Monday, October 30th at Pine Bar & Grill Restaurant on Eastchester Road.
Please find below a flier with details of the event. As always, feel free to reach out to me at our campaign office located at 2018 Williamsbridge Road, Bronx, NY 10461 or call (718) 684-4888.
 
Thank you again.
Respectfully,

Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj & Senator Jeff Klein's - Halloween Events!



Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj & Senator Jeff Klein's

5th Annual Halloween Parade & Party

Saturday, October 28th,2017

Parade: 
Assemble at 1:30PM 
SE Corner of Pelham Parkway & White Plains Rd
Parade Kick-Off: 2PM
towards P.S 105

Party: 
P.S 105
2:30PM-4:30PM 
For more information please call 718-409-0109.

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Drug Dealer Charged In Manhattan Federal Court For Selling Heroin And Counterfeit Oxycodone Over The Internet


Defendant Arrested With Approximately 32 Kilograms of Illicit Prescription Pills In His Possession

  Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, James J. Hunt, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), Philip R. Bartlett, Inspector-in-Charge of the New York Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”), James P. O’Neill, the Police Commissioner of the City of New York (“NYPD”), George P. Beach II, the Superintendent of the New York State Police (“NYSP”), and Angel M. Melendez, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”)announced today the arrest of CRISTIAN RODRIGUEZ, who distributed through the U.S. mail heroin, oxycodone and other prescription drugs that were illegally sold over the Internet and on “dark web” marketplaces.  When RODRIGUEZ was arrested yesterday, the DEA and USPIS seized approximately 32 kilograms of prescription drugs that were in his apartment.  The defendant was presented yesterday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ronald L. Ellis in Manhattan federal court.     

Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said:  “As alleged, Cristian Rodriguez used the anonymity of the internet to peddle massive quantities of addictive pain killers without valid prescriptions.  Hiding behind computers, Rodriguez and his co-conspirators allegedly sold and shipped multiple kilograms of highly addictive prescription drugs and potentially lethal opioids.  Thanks to the outstanding work of our law enforcement partners, Rodriguez has been arrested and his dangerous business has been taken offline.”
DEA Special Agent-in-Charge James J. Hunt said:  “Anonymity is a drug trafficker’s friend and law enforcement’s foe.  Yesterday’s street corner dealer has been replaced by the dark web that enables criminal activity and drug addiction.  Online illicit marketplaces challenge law enforcement, but this investigation demonstrates how joint efforts can lead to the arrest of an alleged major drug distributor based in New York City.”
USPIS Inspector-in-Charge Philip R. Bartlett said: “The opioid crisis has become a national emergency impacting the lives of so many unsuspecting families.  Postal Inspectors, along with their law enforcement partners, are determined to put a stop to the distribution of illegal narcotics, safeguarding the American public.”
NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill said:  “This defendant attempted to use the anonymity of the internet to peddle heroin, counterfeit oxycodone, and other prescription drugs to those battling serious addiction.  Those who profit on at the expense of others’ well-being will be investigated and prosecuted, aggressively. Today’s arrest is the latest example of our continued commitment.”
NYSP Superintendent George P. Beach II said:  “This arrest is another example of how dedicated police work and strong law enforcement partnerships are succeeding in keeping dangerous narcotics from infiltrating our neighborhoods.  Criminals who illegally sell counterfeit prescription drugs are putting our communities as risk.  These pharmaceuticals, when not taken under the supervision of a doctor, can be highly addictive and destroy lives.  I commend the hard work of the Strike Force and all of our law enforcement partners as they fight to keep drugs off our streets and work to prevent prescription drug abuse.”
HSI Special Agent-in-Charge Angel Melendez said:  “These multi-agency task forces are essential in the fight against the illegal proliferation of potentially deadly and highly-addictive prescription drugs.  The arrest of the defendant and the significant seizures announced today ensure that these drugs will never make it into our communities to do untold harm.”
According to the allegations in the Complaint and statements made in Manhattan federal court:[[1]]    

Since at least May 2016, RODRIGUEZ and his co-conspirators anonymously sold and distributed controlled substances over the Internet via online marketplaces and “dark web” sites.  RODRIGUEZ shipped various prescription drugs, including counterfeit oxycodone, which was actually made of heroin and other substances, to individuals across the United States.  RODRIGUEZ maintained a stockpile of these drugs in his apartment in the Bronx, New York.  A search of RODRIGUEZ’s residence at the time of his arrest uncovered, among other things, approximately 32 kilograms of prescription drugs, shipping supplies, drug paraphernalia, money transfer records, and electronics typically used in the operation of online narcotics distribution schemes.                

           
RODRIGUEZ, 43, of the Dominican Republic, was charged with one count of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute heroin and oxycodone, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge. 

Mr. Kim praised the outstanding investigative work of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the DEA’s New York Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Strike Force.  The Strike Force comprises agents and officers of the DEA, the New York City Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the New York State Police, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigative Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Marshals Service, the New York National Guard, the Clarkstown Police Department, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Port Washington Police Department, and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.  The Strike Force is partially funded by the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (“HIDTA”), which is a federally funded crime fighting initiative and part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (“OCDTEF”) program.

In an effort to help prevent prescription drug abuse and theft, the DEA and its local law enforcement, community, and tribal partners are offering the public its 14th opportunity in seven years to rid their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.  This Saturday, October 28, 2017, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., individuals can take pills and other solid forms of medication to one of almost 5,000 collection sites manned by more than 4,000 partners nationwide.   Individuals can find nearby collection sites at www.DEATakeBack.com  The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

The charges contained in the Complaint 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 Complaint and the descriptions of the Complaint set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.