MANHATTAN MAN SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON FOR $26 MILLION SCHEME TO DEFRAUD MEDICARE AND MEDICAID

Defendant Established Six Clinics in Brooklyn that Paid Elderly People to Pose as Patients, and Billed Medicare and Medicaid For Unnecessary and Non-Existent Medical Care and Equipment

  Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that ALEKSANDR BURMAN, a/k/a “Alexander Burman,” was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Paul G. Gardephe to 10 years in prison. BURMAN organized and managed a large health care fraud scheme through six medical clinics in Brooklyn, through which BURMAN and his co-conspirators defrauded the Medicare and New York State Medicaid (“Medicaid”) programs of more than $26 million. As part of the scheme, BURMAN and his co-conspirators paid cash kickbacks to elderly and financially disadvantaged patients insured by Medicare and/or Medicaid, to induce those patients to receive medically unnecessary medical services and equipment, and then to bill Medicare and Medicaid for those unnecessary services or for additional non-existent services and equipment. BURMAN pled guilty on March 18, 2016, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry B. Pitman to conspiring to commit wire fraud and health care fraud, health care fraud, and committing an offense while on pretrial release in an earlier criminal case.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said: “Alexander Burman victimized both patients and taxpayers. He established and operated six fraudulent medical clinics, bilking Medicare and Medicaid out of more than $26 million. Medicare and Medicaid were established to assist the elderly and disadvantaged, not to enrich corrupt fraudsters.”

According to the Information to which BURMAN pled guilty, other filings in Manhattan federal court, and statements made in connection with BURMAN’s sentencing:

ALEKSANDR BURMAN established six clinics in Brooklyn (the “BURMAN Clinics”) that operated between 2007 and July 2013, which purported to offer medical services and diagnostic testing performed by or under the supervision of licensed medical doctors. Although BURMAN in fact owned and operated the Clinics, he caused them to employ three doctors (the “Clinic Doctors”) and arranged for these doctors to be listed as the respective nominal owners of the Clinics, since New York State law requires that such clinics be owned by health care professionals. Under BURMAN’s direction, employees of the Clinics paid cash kickbacks to elderly and disadvantaged people insured by Medicare and/or Medicaid to undergo unnecessary medical tests and procedures, and then fraudulently billed Medicare and Medicaid for such visits. The bills submitted to Medicare and Medicaid were fraudulent because, among other things, (a) they were for medically unnecessary treatment; (b) patients were paid kickbacks for receiving treatment; and (c) the bills fraudulently claimed that the Clinic Doctors had treated the patients. In other cases, BURMAN and his co-conspirators billed Medicare and Medicaid for medical services and supplies that were not provided at all.

The fraud also extended to other companies. For example, prescriptions from the doctors at the BURMAN clinics were used by a supply company that BURMAN partly owned to bill Medicaid for more than $3.5 million in durable medical equipment such as adult diapers, many of which were never provided to patients. Similarly, referrals from these same doctors were used by transportation companies to bill Medicaid for millions of dollars for medically unnecessary ambulette services.

In addition to his prison term, BURMAN, 55, a resident of Manhattan, was ordered to pay $16,686,811 in forfeiture, of which $1.8 million, plus 22 pieces of real estate, have already been forfeited. BURMAN was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and a restitution order of $18,683,691. BURMAN was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons.

Nine former employees of the BURMAN clinics, as well an additional associate, are facing charges in a separate case for related conduct. Those defendants are awaiting trial before United States District Judge Lorna G. Schofield in United States v. Vaid.

Mr. Kim praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the New York State Office of the Medicaid Inspector General (“OMIG”).

Construction Company Owner Indicted for Manslaughter

Ignored Workers’ Safety Concerns and Industry Protocols Prior to Wall Collapse that Killed One Man and Seriously Injured Two Others

  Acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, together with New York City Department of Investigation Commissioner Mark G. Peters, New York City Department of Buildings Commissioner Rick Chandler and Occupational Safety and Health Administration Regional Administrator Robert Kulick, today announced that the owner of a Bedford-Stuyvesant construction company and his businesses have been indicted on manslaughter and other charges after a wall collapsed at an excavation site, killing one construction worker and injuring two others. 

Acting District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Fernando Vanegaz should be alive today. Construction site deaths such as his are becoming all too common as builders ignore safety protocols and hire untrained workers to maximize profits. Even worse, we allege, is that in this case the builder went ahead with this illicit excavation even after the Department of Buildings explicitly prohibited it. I vow to continue investigating and prosecuting these unscrupulous builders whose practices endanger their workers and anyone near their sites.” 

Commissioner Peters said, “We have seen the tragic results on construction sites too many times when contractors ignore repeated warnings of danger and put the lives of workers at risk. In this case the warnings were clear, but the defendant disregarded them at a deadly cost. The City expects construction companies and general contractors to follow the laws that protect worker safety. When they do not, DOI and its partners, like the Brooklyn District Attorney, will hold them criminally accountable.” 

Commissioner Chandler said, “Fernando Vanegaz lost his life in a tragic and completely preventable accident. Our hearts go out to this young man’s loved ones, friends and co-workers. The criminal charges against this contractor are a warning to other bad actors in the construction industry that no building is worth a life, that cutting corners on the job site has very real consequences and that if you fail to protect your workers, the city will come after you. I thank DA Gonzalez and his team and our partners at DOI for their great work on this case.”

Regional Administrator Kulick said, “Mr. Vanegaz’s death and the injuries to the other workers were needless and avoidable. All workers have a right to a safe and healthful workplace and all employers have a responsibility to provide a safe and healthful workplace for their employees. When employers abandon their responsibility the consequences can be devastating and irreversible. We remind employers and workers that implementing effective safety and health programs, including training, and adherence to OSHA standards are critical to identifying and eliminating hazards that can harm workers.” 

The District Attorney identified the defendants as Michael Weiss, 47, of Throop Avenue in Williamsburg and his companies, RSBY NY Builders Inc. and Park Ave Builders Inc., both in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. He was arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Danny Chun on a 14-count indictment in which Weiss is charged with second-degree manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, second-degree reckless endangerment, third-degree assault, third-degree grand larceny, fourth-degree criminal tax fraud, first-degree falsifying business records, offering a false instrument for filing, fraudulent practices under the workers’ compensation law, and failing to secure workers’ compensation insurance. An indicted co-conspirator is charged with two counts of second-degree reckless endangerment and will be arraigned at a later date.

Weiss was ordered held on bail of $250,000 bond or $100,000 cash and to return to court on August 9, 2017. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the top count. His co-defendant faces up to one year in prison if convicted. 

The District Attorney said that, according to the indictment, on September 3, 2015, employees of Weiss and his companies were working at a construction site at 656 Myrtle Avenue in Bedford-Stuyvesant, where they were replacing a one-story building with a five-story building. Weiss ordered several of his employees to excavate in the rear of the lot in an area not permitted by the approved Department of Buildings plans and without knowledge of other professionals involved in the project.

Furthermore, it is alleged, despite repeated requests from his workers in the months, and even just hours before the collapse, Weiss refused to provide any material for shoring or underpinning of the excavation and adjacent exposed walls – despite OSHA regulations requiring him to do so – and refused to listen to the safety concerns of his workers, insisting they continue working in an unsafe area. At approximately 11:30 a.m., the wall of the adjacent building collapsed, and masonry blocks and other debris fell on three of the workers, killing one man and severely injuring two others. 

The deceased worker, Fernando Vanegaz, 18, suffered severe head trauma, lacerations to his head, broken legs and cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at the scene. A second worker suffered a fracture of the lumbar vertebra, a fractured hip and injury to his spine. He has undergone multiple surgeries and continues to have difficulty walking or engaging in physical activity. A third worker also suffered a lumbar vertebra fracture, a fractured nose and skull and orbital area, a crushed face and scalp, a fractured rib and other facial bone fractures. He had back surgery and continues to have difficulty with physical activity and suffers constant back pain.   

The indicted co-conspirator was the owner of a construction company that had a safety registration with the DOB, with endorsements in concrete, construction and demolition, allowing his company to obtain permits from DOB to perform construction work in New York City. It is alleged that since Weiss did not have the appropriate licenses with DOB to apply for the necessary permits to perform the work he paid the co-defendant $10,000 to sign the work permit applications and insurance certificates as general contractor. 

The Acting District Attorney said that, according to the indictment, Weiss began working on the site in June 2015 after being hired by the building owners to replace a one-story fruit store with a five-story mixed use building that would house a shoe store and residential apartments. Weiss hired seven workers with little to no training and without OSHA safety certifications to do the demolition. 

In late July 2015, the next phase of construction began in which the untrained workers dug trenches around the perimeter of the existing cellar for foundation structures in accordance with DOB-approved plans, though DOB was not notified of this excavation prior to the work beginning as required by the building code, nor was the necessary shoring, bracing or underpinning provided. Furthermore, after the work began, Weiss instructed the workers to excavate beyond the approved area and in direct contradiction to the DOB-approved plans.

Throughout the excavation, it is alleged, several of the workers complained to Weiss that the excavation was unsafe because the adjacent walls were unstable, especially the rear concrete masonry wall because it had a crack. Weiss repeatedly refused to provide any materials to shore up the wall and refused a request to hire experienced workers.

By September 2, 2015, the excavation in the rear of the lot was more than six feet below the foundation of the adjacent building to the rear. This undermined the concrete masonry wall of the adjacent building. On that day, two of the workers again asked Weiss for lumber, according to the indictment, to shore up the wall. Finally, on September 3, 2015 at 8:00 a.m., Weiss’ employees reported for work. One worker, concerned about the crack, asked Weiss and his supervisor for 2 x 4s to shore up the wall, and informed Weiss that the wall could collapse.

Weiss stated that the materials were coming, and shortly thereafter lumber arrived. However, Weiss refused to allow them to shore up the wall with it, instead saying it was for formwork for the upcoming concrete pour and that he would bring lumber to shore up the wall the following day. He also allegedly told the workers they were working too slowly and ordered three workers, including the deceased, to work in the rear excavated pit. The wall of the rear adjacent building then collapsed onto the workers.

Furthermore, according to the indictment, Weiss failed to maintain workers’ compensation insurance coverage while employing seven construction workers at the site, then applied for coverage hours after the collapse. He also allegedly committed tax fraud by failing to report $75,000 in income on his state tax returns. Based on this unreported income he owed state taxes of $4,310 and unlawfully received a refund of $3,686. He thereby stole $7,996 from the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance.

The case was investigated by Chief of Investigations with the DOI Buildings Special Investigations Unit Barry Romm and Chief Investigator James McElligott, under the supervision of Inspector General Gregory Cho, Associate Commissioner James Flaherty, Deputy Commissioner/Chief of Investigations Michael Carroll and First Deputy Commissioner Lesley Brovner.

An indictment is merely an accusation and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.

A.G. Schneiderman Announces Second Major Drug Bust In Surge Initiative, Charges 31 In 217-Count Indictment For Allegedly Operating Finger Lakes-Based Heroin Ring

Multi-Agency Crackdown Leads To Indictment Charging Defendants With Distributing Drugs In NYC And Upstate Counties

Last Month, Schneiderman Launched The SURGE Initiative To Crack Down On Violent Heroin And Opioid Traffickers In Suburban And Upstate New York

Schneiderman: Violent Drug Traffickers Who Have Terrorized Our Neighborhoods Will Be Brought To Justice

  Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the arrests and 217-count indictment of 31 members charged with distributing massive quantities of heroin, from New York City and throughout the Finger Lakes Region, including in New York, Bronx, Queens, Schuyler, Tioga, and Tompkins Counties – the second major drug bust in Attorney General Schneiderman’s S.U.R.G.E. Initiative, which targets violent heroin and opioid traffickers in suburban and upstate New York.

As part of “Operation Un-Wise,” state and local law enforcement agents, led by the New York State Attorney General's Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF), and the New York State Police, concluded a five-month investigation into a drug network that was allegedly conducting illicit activities on the streets of the Finger Lakes Region. 

“Today’s arrests should send the message to those terrorizing and dealing death in our communities: we will find you and prosecute you,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “My office has taken on the devastating heroin and opioid abuse epidemic through a multi-faceted approach, including our S.U.R.G.E Initiative – using every tool at our disposal to crack down on the complex, violent heroin and opioid distribution networks. This epidemic has shattered families and taken far too many lives already, and I am committed to doing everything in my power to hold those responsible accountable.”

A central figure in the alleged heroin distribution network was Arthur “Wise” Erskine. According to the criminal charges, Erskine was an Ithaca-based heroin dealer who purchased heroin from a source in New York City for $56 per gram. Erskine also touted himself as a music promoter for his production company Bandyard Entertainment, and even personally appeared in some of the music videos. Erskine maintained one residence in the Bronx and two houses in the Cayuga Heights neighborhood of Ithaca, which were allegedly utilized for trafficking heroin.  

Also alleged to be central to the heroin distribution network was the mother of Erskine’s children, Aylah “Boogz” Stewart-Boda. Prosecutors allege that Stewart involved her entire family in her heroin trafficking, having her mother, Lynn Boda distribute heroin in Ithaca; her older sister, Myia Boda, sell heroin; and her younger sister, Destiny Boda, mule drugs to other re-sellers.

In early March, Erskine allegedly purchased hundreds of grams of heroin from defendant Jose Polanco, an alleged trafficker, which were then smuggled to Tompkins County. That heroin was laced with Fentanyl and, between March 2, 2017 and March 7, 2017, Tompkins County and Tioga County experienced eight overdose calls for service, including one for the death of Stephanie Dvorak. Ms. Dvorak was allegedly a heroin customer of defendant Zachary Kelly and arranged to meet Kelly during that time period.

On March 12, 2017, members of nine different law enforcement agencies executed search warrants on eight different residences throughout New York State: two locations in Manhattan, one in Queens, four in Tompkins County, and one in Tioga County. Among the items seized during the execution of those search warrants were more than one kilogram of heroin, dozens of grams of cocaine, 14 handguns, one MAC-11 machine pistol, and narcotics-related paraphernalia.  

The indictments, which were unsealed today in Tioga County Court, contain 217 counts, charging 31 people with various Criminal Sale and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance (class A, B, C, D felonies) and Conspiracy in the second degree (class B felony) in relation to their involvement in the narcotics trafficking network. Those charged today include:

• Joseph Besemer, 34 years old, of Newfield, NY
• Shaylee Bisgrove, 24 years old, of Ithaca, NY
• Destiny Boda, 25 years old, of Ithaca, NY
• Lynn Boda, 50 years old, of Ithaca, NY
• Myia Boda, 31 years old, of Ithaca, NY
• Corey Bond, 31 years old, of Ithaca, NY
• Stormie Coyne, 39 years old, of Ithaca, NY
• Katie Crapo, 28 years old, of Odessa, NY
• Michael Dawson, 26 years old, of Willseyville, NY
• Arthur Erskine, 40 years old, of Ithaca, NY
• Erica Farrell, 32 years old, of Candor, NY
• Dioremi Feliz, 36 years old, of New York, New York
• Brittany Ford, 28 years old, of Bronx, NY
• Shanakia Gray, 34 years old, of Newfield, NY
• Zachary Kelly, 32 years old, of Bronx, NY
• Yvette King, 40 years old, of Lansing, NY
• Zavierus King, 22 years old, of Lansing, NY
• Johnny Lee, 37 years old, of Ithaca, NY
• Angelo LeGrande, 42 years old, of Ithaca, NY
• Jerica Luoma, 28 years old, of Ithaca, NY
• Eric MacDonald, 32 years old, of Candor, NY
• Dustin Myers, 29 years old, of Ithaca, NY
• Jose Polanco, 38 years old, of New York, NY
• Devon Rose, 19 years old, of Willseyville, NY
• Branden Schmeltz, 22 years old, of Spencer, NY
• Nicole Spence, 43 years old, of Ithaca, NY
• Aylah Stewart-Boda, 25 years old, of Ithaca, NY
• Brandon Stone, 26 years old, of Candor, NY
• Savanna Washington, 26 years old, of Candor, NY
• Justin Westbrook, 25 years old, of Spencer, NY
• Joseph White, 26 years old, of Cortland, NY

This massive takedown and indictment is the culmination of a major investigation, part of Attorney General Schneiderman's ongoing efforts to combat narcotics trafficking and other crimes through his Suburban And Upstate Response To The Growing Epidemic –  known as the S.U.R.G.E Initiative. S.U.R.G.E. is the Attorney General’s new law enforcement effort that brings together the AG’s Organized Crime Task Force and local and state law enforcement to disrupt New York’s widening heroin and opioid distribution networks. Last month, Attorney General Schneiderman announced Operation Bricktown, the first major drug bust as part of the initiative.

“This investigation and the charges brought today against these 31 individuals are evidence of the commitment we share with our law enforcement partners in keeping dangerous drugs off of our streets,” Superintendent George P. Beach II said. “Each day our State Police members see the harmful effects of heroin on individuals, families and our neighborhoods. A drug like heroin destroys communities and puts lives at risk. I applaud our members and our partners for their strong police work. We will continue to work together to make our communities safer and keep harmful narcotics off our streets.”  

“Opioid use is a major problem in Ithaca and Tompkins County, with overdoses an almost daily occurrence, and unnecessary deaths all too frequent. I am pleased that we were able to work with Attorney General Schneiderman’s Organized Crime Task Force to break up this heroin ring,” said Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick. “I am hopeful that this will slow the flow of drugs and save lives in the immediate term. We are committed to a four-pillar strategy that includes, as we saw today, law enforcement. In the coming months and years we must continue our focus on all four pillars, especially prevention, treatment, and harm reduction.”

The charges contained in the indictment are the result of a five-month joint investigation by the OCTF, the New York State Police and the City of Ithaca Police Department, with the assistance of the Tioga County Sheriff’s Office, the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office, the NY National Guard Counterdrug Task Force, the United States Marshals Service, Village of Cayuga Heights Police, Dryden Police Department, the Groton Police Department, the Tioga County District Attorney’s Office, the Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office, the Spencer Police Department, the Waverly Police Department, the Broome County Sheriff’s Office, and the Schuyler County Sheriff’s Office.

Attorney General Schneiderman’s Organized Crime Task Force has partnered with state and local law enforcement to bring over 800 accused drug and gun dealers to justice, since 2010. In addition to prosecuting major drug trafficking rings, the Attorney General has taken numerous steps to combat the opioid crisis in New York including but not limited to:

• Creating the Internet System for Tracking Over-Prescribing Act (“I-STOP), an online Prescription Monitoring Program (“PMP”) that enables doctors and pharmacists to report and track controlled narcotics in real time.
• Aggressively enforcing laws that require parity in health plan coverage of mental health and addiction treatment and reaching agreements with five companies: Cigna, MVP Health Care, EmblemHealth, Excellus, and ValueOptions.
• Obtaining settlements with Cigna, Anthem, and BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS), who all agreed to remove prior authorization requirements for medication-assisted treatment (“MAT”) nationwide.
• Reaching agreements with Purdue Pharma and Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc. to ensure that these opioid manufacturers engage in responsible and legal marketing.

The charges against the defendants are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. 

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ENGEL STATEMENT ON COMEY FIRING & TRUMP-RUSSIA SCANDAL

  Congressman Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, this evening made the following statement:

“The President’s abrupt firing of the official responsible for investigating the Trump-Russia Scandal is one of the most astounding and troubling actions I’ve seen from an American President since Watergate. I had my share of concerns over Mr. Comey’s recent actions as FBI Director, but firing Mr. Comey at the very moment a grand jury was summoning witnesses on the Trump-Russia scandal suggests an agenda of obstruction and obfuscation from the highest levels of the Trump Administration. The White House’s explanation for this firing doesn’t pass the laugh test.

“This action only underscores the need for a special prosecutor and an independent commission to get to the bottom of this scandal. Congress should act quickly to pass the Swalwell-Cummings Protecting Our Democracy Act to establish that commission.”

Senator Klein Honors Community Leader Antonia Figueroa at Annual New York State Women of Distinction Celebration

Senator Jeff Klein honored Antonia Figueroa, Female Democratic District Leader in the 85th Assembly District, at the annual Women of Distinction ceremony in Albany last night.

Since retiring from her 35-year career at Sony Music, Mrs. Figueroa has been actively involved in the local community. She currently serves as Female Democratic District Leader in the 85th Assembly District, but her leadership skills do not stop there. Mrs. Figueroa also sits on the executive committee of the Bronx Democratic County Committee, serves on both the 43rd Precinct and PSA 8 Community Council and is a member of the Neighborhood Advisory Board #9. In the latter position, Mrs. Figueroa helps to identify Community Service Block Grant priorities, which aid in the reduction of poverty and revitalize low income neighborhoods.  

“Antonia Figueroa is one of the hardest working women I know,” said Senator Klein. “Her civic engagement, leadership skills and community devotion are second to none. The Bronx is lucky to have such a brilliant role model and I’m thrilled to present Mrs. Figueroa with this year’s Women of Distinction award.”

“I am humbled and tremendously grateful to have been recognized as a Woman of Distinction,” said Antonia Figueroa. “It is such an honor to be acknowledged by Senator Klein. I could not do what I do without the help of so many women who came before me, stand beside me and learn with me. Behind every successful woman is a tribe of other successful women who have her back.”

Mrs. Figueroa will be featured alongside other honorees in a “Women of Distinction” showcase that will be in place in the Well of the Legislative Office Building in Albany.

ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN’S SERVICES COMMISSIONER DAVID HANSELL JOINED BY NYPD AT FIRST ENHANCED CHILDSTAT HEARING

Restructured CHILD-STAT model emphasizes weekly, rigorous review and deep analysis of critical performance data; focus on accountability at all levels

  Today, the New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) Commissioner David Hansell led the first session of the re-launched CHILD-STAT model at ACS’ headquarters in Lower Manhattan.

Upon being appointed in February, Commissioner Hansell announced his reform vision for ACS, which included an in-depth review of ACS's protective functions and identification of opportunities for closer collaboration with the NYPD, including a deep review of CHILD-STAT to assess its effectiveness. At CHILD-STAT’s re-launch, Commissioner Hansell was joined by Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, Dr. Herminia Palacio and NYPD.

“The CHILD-STAT model is vital to improving the functioning of ACS, and fine-tuning our policies and practices. As we re-launch CHILD-STAT, we will continue to modify and improve it as needed to ensure accountability and high-performance throughout our system,” said ACS Commissioner David Hansell. “We will be rigorous and thorough in using data to improve our performance, with the goal of substantive reform.”

“I commend Commissioner Hansell and ACS for launching this enhanced CHILD-STAT model, a critical management tool to support the agency’s mission of protecting New York’s children,” said Dr. Herminia Palacio, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services. “I thank Chief Boyce for lending his expertise to this effort and look forward to ACS’s continued collaboration with NYPD as we work to keep children and families safe.”

CHILD-STAT, modeled after the NYPD’s COMP-STAT, is an important tool in strengthening the agency’s focus on performance accountability around child protection, and building a more unified culture of excellence across the agency. Chief Boyce met with Commissioner Hansell in February, and was subsequently appointed to advise CHILD-STAT, bringing with him vast operational experience on the ‘STAT’ model. Similarly, Commissioner Hansell has built a reputation as a proven manager with a data-driven focus on improving outcomes for vulnerable populations on the national, state and local levels.

Data presented during the CHILD-STAT meetings focuses on decreasing repeat maltreatment, with a specific focus on the highest-risk ACS families. Cases presented are randomly selected from a pool of high-risk active cases.

The newly restructured ACS CHILD-STAT launched today features the following major components: 

 ·   An emphasis on weekly, rigorous review of randomly selected high risk cases, including ongoing investigations, and a deep analysis of critical performance data;

· Elevation of CHILD-STAT to include regular participation of executive leadership—Commissioner and senior ACS staff to demonstrate the priority placed on the process;

·    A focus on accountability at all levels of the agency;

·  Continuity from session to session to ensure that change results from each meeting; and

·  Building a more unified culture of excellence in practice that reaches across the five boroughs;

The ACS Commissioner, First Deputy Commissioner, additional Deputy Commissioners, and the Senior Advisor for investigations will serve as panel members, posing questions for presenters.

CHILD-STAT meetings will broadcast to Borough Offices via closed-circuit video for Borough Commissioners and frontline staff to hear from their peers and facilitate a discussion regarding each meeting.

All members of the Commissioner’s Executive Cabinet – both program and administrative – are expected to attend in person.  At the conclusion of each ChildStat meeting, a summary of derived actions will be announced.

MAYOR DE BLASIO SIGNS LEGISLATION TO BETTER PROMOTE TRANSPARENCY, EQUITY AND SAFETY FOR ALL NEW YORKERS

Signs legislation to disclose bedbug infestations, study how to bring increased transit to less well-served communities, and allow the City to begin to modernize the VENDEX procurement process

  Mayor Bill de Blasio today held public hearings for, and signed, fourteen pieces of legislation into law. Intro. 648-A requires landlords to post a record of bedbug infestations in their buildings and provide any tenant signing a lease with bedbug history; Intro. 891-A gives businesses the option to be informed by text or email if they receive a 3-1-1 complaint; Intro. 1311-A requires DOT to notify NYPD and FDNY about resurfacing; Intro. 965-A requires DOT to create a citywide transit study. In particular, focusing on how to bring increased transit to less well served communities; Intro. 1254-A requires that information about college savings plans be sent home with Pre-K students and requires DOHMH to send this information to families within 3 months of a birth; Intro. 1224-A increases the types of contracts that require vendors to fill out questionnaires; Intro. 1271-A requires vendors to submit information to VENDEX digitally; Intro. 1324-A requires MOCS to post information about City of New York contracts and contractors online; Intro. 81-A requires DOB to notify OSHA about Construction Code violations that may endanger workers; Intro. 1433-A requires DOB to list online incidents that have occurred on a construction site; Intro. 1448-A, requires construction superintendents for all major projects at buildings over three stories; Intro. 1421-A requires certain types of complex cranes to have GPS or other locating devices or for DOB to be notified when these cranes are moved on or off a work site; Intro. 1435-A requires certain cranes to be equipped with data-logging equipment to record operations & work conditions; Intro. 1446-A requires Class-B hoisting machine operators to get a license rating to use cranes with a long boom or jib configuration.

“Today we have a mix of bills that improve transparency and public access to information, help create a more equitable and accessible city, increase construction safety, as well as bills involving the web portal used by vendors who do business with the City of New York,” said Mayor de Blasio. "I would like to thank Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and the sponsors of these bills for continuing the fight for transparency, equity, accessibility and safety for all New Yorkers."

The first bill, Intro. 648-A requires landlords to disclose bedbug infestations in their buildings and provide any tenant signing a lease with bedbug history. 

The second bill, Intro. 891-A gives businesses the option to be informed by text or email if a 311 complaint is issued for the address of their building.

The third bill, Intro. 1311-A requires DOT to notify NYPD and FDNY about resurfacing.

The fourth bill, Intro. 965-A requires DOT to create a citywide transit study. In particular, focusing on how to bring increased transit to less well served communities.

The fifth bill, Intro. 1254-A requires that information about college savings plans be sent home with Pre-K students and requires DOHMH to send this information to families within 3 months of a birth.

The sixth bill, Intro. 1224-A increases the types of contracts that require vendors to fill out questionnaires.

The seventh bill, Intro. 1271-A requires vendors to submit information to VENDEX digitally.

The eighth bill, Intro. 1324-A requires MOCS to post information about City of New York contracts and contractors online.

  "Today's bills will help vendors shift time from managing paper submissions to delivering services to New Yorkers. We look forward to our partnerships with the City Council, especially Chair Rosenthal, creating many more opportunities to introduce procurement innovations." said Director Michael Owh, Mayor’s Office of Contract Services.

The ninth bill,  Intro. 81-A requires DOB to notify OSHA about Construction Code violations that may endanger workers.

The tenth bill, Intro. 1433-A requires DOB to list online incidents that have occurred on a construction site.

The eleventh bill, Intro. 1448-A, requires that contractors retain construction superintendents for all major projects at buildings over three stories.

“We’re grateful for the Council’s partnership on construction safety. The law requiring construction superintendents for all major projects at buildings over three stories will expand safety supervision to an additional 2,300 higher-risk sites citywide. This measure, along with the crane-safety bills signed today, will enshrine in law safety enhancements that DOB has been implementing through regulation. We look forward to working with the Council on additional legislation to improve construction safety and hold accountable bad actors in the construction industry,” said Buildings Commissioner Rick D. Chandler, PE.

The twelfth bill, Intro. 1446-A requires Class-B hoisting machine operators to get a license rating to use certain cranes.

The thirteenth bill, Intro. 1421-A requires certain cranes to have GPS or other locating devices or for DOB to be notified when these cranes are moved on or off a work site.