Sunday, May 7, 2017

BP Diaz Attends Crescent Street Cinco De Mayo Celebration


  The Annual Crescent Street Cinco De Mayo celebration run every year by the Perez family, owners of the C-Town Supermarket on Crescent Street was visited by not only many people, but also Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., and his father State Senator Reverend Ruben Diaz Sr. 

  Bronx BP Diaz mentioned that most people think that Cinco de Mayo is the celebration of Mexican Independence Day, but the BP cleared that up by saying that Mexican Independence Day falls on September 15th not of May 5th. He went on to explain that Cinco de Mayo commemorates the victory of the Mexican Militia over the French army at the Battle of Puebla on May 5th in the year 1862. Below are some photos of the event.


Above - A large stage was set up for the entertainment which included several bands and local talent.
Below - There was face painting for children, and a stilt walker among the many vendors offering free food, refreshments, and community advice.






















Above - Sets of Yankee tickets were given away on the half hour.
Below - Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. is introduced.




Above - State Senator Reverend Ruben Diaz Sr. (BP Diaz's father) speaks to the crowd about Cinco de Mayo.
Below - BP Diaz is given an honorary Mexican hat in for Cinco de Mayo.




Above - The cake made by Egidio's Bakery is guarded by Diego one of the workers there until it is time for dessert. 
Below - Bronxnet T.V. was on hand to interview people about Cinco de Mayo, including Mr. Jason Cancel candidate for the 15th City Council district.



Saturday, May 6, 2017

DOI INVESTIGATION FINDS SYSTEMIC MISUSE OF CITY-OWNED VEHICLES BY DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION EXECUTIVE STAFF


  Mark G. Peters, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), announced the findings of an investigation into the use of Department of Correction (“DOC”) assigned “take home” vehicles by high-ranking DOC staff, including the Commissioner of DOC. DOI’s Report uncovered misuse of the City-owned vehicles for unauthorized travel, including trips to Maine, the Hamptons, Cape Cod and other transportation to beaches, amusement parks and local airports. Using City-owned vehicles for these purposes is expressly prohibited by City policy, DOC’s own policy, and Conflicts of Interest laws. DOI’s investigation revealed 21 senior-level employees routinely abused take-home vehicle privileges and cost City taxpayers thousands of dollars in wasted money spent on gas and tolls to cover personal trips. As a result, DOI is referring the findings for these 21 individuals to the appropriate enforcement bodies for further review and has issued recommendations to address the vulnerabilities identified in the Report that contributed to this systemic misuse. A copy of DOI’s report can be found at the following link: http://www1.nyc.gov/site/doi/newsroom/publicreports.page. 

  Commissioner Mark Peters said, “DOC staff, including the Commissioner, routinely misused City vehicles and violated City rules. This widespread disregard of policy undercuts DOC’s ability to ensure order and discipline at an agency already struggling to control violence and crime in its jails, issues that DOI has been investigating for the past three years. Most disturbing in this report is the conduct of senior officials who must be accountable for their actions.” 

  DOI’s investigation began with an anonymous allegation that DOC Commissioner Joseph Ponte, and other high-ranking and executive staff, were misusing their take-home vehicles for personal use. DOI reviewed vehicle usage in Calendar Year 2016, mapping over 24.5 million GPS data points, analyzing dozens of vehicle usage maps, vehicle assignment records, gas card data and E-ZPass statements to determine if unauthorized trips were taken. Of the 98 take-home vehicles and corresponding maps that were reviewed, DOI determined that approximately 40% of those maps demonstrated irregular travel to locations out-of-state or outside of the five boroughs on weekends and holidays, with the most egregious examples including multiple trips to shopping malls, area airports on nights and weekends, beaches, spas, resorts and other destinations without corresponding timesheets. 
  
  DOC vehicle policies expressly prohibit unauthorized out-of-state travel, E-ZPass usage for non-official charges, and requires all DOC drivers to maintain vehicle usage logs or “trip sheets” to prove compliance with the policies. Interviews with DOC’s Transportation Division revealed that each of the subjects in DOI’s Report received copies of the City Handbook, which describes City take-home vehicle policy and DOC’s vehicle policies. 

  DOI’s investigation revealed misuse of take-home vehicles by DOC top-level executives: 

  Commissioner Ponte drove his assigned vehicle out of New York State on 28 occasions, for multiple days at a time, with many of the trips to areas of Costal Maine, and used his vehicle outside of New York State on personal business for 90 calendar days in 2016 – approximately 24.6% of the calendar year.
   Chief of Staff Jeff Thamkittikasem used his City vehicle to drive to a friend’s house in Virginia for a birthday party, informing DOI that since he answered phone calls and emails while he was out of town he considered it to be the equivalent of being at work, even submitting his timesheet to reflect he had been at work during that time. 
  Acting First Deputy Commissioner Cynthia Brann told DOI that she used her City vehicle on weekends almost exclusively for shopping, including trips to Woodbury Commons Outlets and the Gallery at Westbury Plaza, among others.
  Deputy Commissioner (“DC”) Gregory Kuczinski, who oversees the Department’s internal investigations, took over 20 trips to Westchester County in his take-home vehicle on personal business, including a vacation day to go golfing and multiple trips to John F. Kennedy (“JFK”) and LaGuardia airports to transport family.  
  DC Kuczinski was previously fined $1,500 by the Conflicts of Interest Board (“COIB”) for having a subordinate transport him and his family to JFK Airport for a family vacation in 2015, in which Kuczinski admitted in a statement that he did not have authorization to use the vehicle which was, by his admission, “to be used for official business only.”
  
 All of these senior staff members informed DOI that they considered themselves to be on “24-hour call” and therefore needed to respond from wherever they went, making the use of their City-assigned vehicles permissible during these times, however, no staff member reported having ever actually responded to any departmental emergency from the locations cited by DOI in its Report and some staff admitted that personal response from long distance was not practical in any event. The City’s Department of Administrative Services (“DCAS”) also confirmed that no 24-hour, on-call allowance or exception exists. 

  Beyond misuse of vehicles, DOI’s investigation also found DOC recordkeeping and maintenance is unorganized, with staff routinely failing to submit or maintain monthly trip sheets. As a result of this systemic abuse of car privileges and additional compliance issues, DOI has issued recommendations to DOC, including:

   DOC should reissue to all staff who drive City-assigned vehicles the Citywide rules and regulations that prohibit the use of City vehicles for personal use, and each driver acknowledge receipt of the policies. 
  DOC must enforce existing policies related to vehicle usage, including the requirement that drivers maintain trip sheets, and DOC should have a centralized way of tracking these trip sheets. 
  DOC should conduct periodic audits of E-ZPass and gas card usage to ensure that unauthorized out-of state travel is not occurring. 
  DOC should conduct annual audits of vehicle usage. GPS data should be used to aid in these audits.
  DOI Commissioner Mark Peters thanked Deputy Commissioner and Chief Fleet Officer Keith Kerman of the DCAS Fleet Services Unit, and his staff, for their assistance and cooperation in this investigation.

Friday, May 5, 2017

Ben Franklin Democratic Club Dinner


  Last Night the Ben Franklin Democratic Club Dinner was held. In TRUE DEMOCRACY this reporter was told by 81st A.D. Female District Leader, and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz's Chief of Staff Randi Martos not to attend the club dinner even though other reporters were welcome to attend.

  It is the loss of those who were honored not to get the publicity they would have gotten here and in my column in the Bronx Voice. 

  As State Comptroller Tom di Napoli said at a recent Ben Franklin club meeting 'that political clubs are loosing the power they once had as has been evidenced by the past presidential election'. Come to think of it, the room that night was not as crowded as it has been in the past.

   I can only guess that this year's Ben Franklin dinner was not as good as last year's dinner, could that be the reason why I was kept away? 

Bronx Attorney Sentenced To Prison For Preparing Fraudulent Tax Returns For Clients


  Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Stewart M. Goldberg, the Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Tax Division of the Department of Justice, announced today that WILLIAM DOONAN, an attorney who operated a tax preparation business in the Bronx, New York, was sentenced today to 24 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Vernon S. Broderick for preparing and filing thousands of false and fraudulent returns that claimed more than $6 million in bogus deductions. DOONAN pled guilty on November 1, 2016, before Judge Broderick to one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return, and one count of obstructing and impeding the due administration of internal revenue laws.
Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney John H. Kim said: “William Doonan’s so-called ‘business’ didn’t prepare taxes, it manufactured lies and false tax returns that resulted in more than $1.8 million in lost revenue for the IRS. In filing thousands of federal tax returns, Doonan used his legal knowledge to circumvent the law. Thanks to the dedicated investigators of the IRS, he will be held to account for his criminal misdeeds.”
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Goldberg said: “William Doonan used his status as an attorney to attract clients to his tax preparation business. But instead of performing honest and professional work, he routinely falsified their returns, adding more than $6 million in phony deductions and causing the IRS to incur more than $1.8 million in lost taxes. Doonan’s prison sentence today makes clear that those who prepare and file fraudulent returns face significant penalties.”
According to the allegations in the Information to which DOONAN pled guilty, other documents filed in Manhattan federal court, and statements made in court proceedings:
DOONAN, a New York-licensed attorney since 1982, carried out a tax preparation business in the Bronx using the firm name “William Doonan, Esq.” Every year from 2010 through 2013, DOONAN prepared and filed between 3,000 and 5,000 federal tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) for taxpayer-clients in exchange for a fee. Several thousands of these returns were false and fraudulent in that they attached Schedules C to the clients’ returns that reported “consulting” businesses the clients did not own, operate, or materially participate in, and business losses that the relevant clients did not incur. DOONAN also prepared returns that attached Schedules A that reported false medical and dental expenses, state and local taxes, home mortgage interest, gifts to charity, job expenses, and other miscellaneous deductions. Between tax year 2009 through tax year 2012, DOONAN included in excess of $6 million in these fabricated and inflated items on his clients’ federal tax returns. As part of his plea, DOONAN agreed that he caused a tax loss of between $1.5 and $3.5 million.

In addition to the term of imprisonment, DOONAN, 69, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to one year of supervised release, ordered to pay $65,820 in restitution to the IRS, and ordered to pay a fine of $10,000.

Mr. Kim and Mr. Goldberg praised the outstanding efforts of IRS-Criminal Investigation in the investigation.

Former Minister Of Mines For The Republic Of Guinea Convicted Of Receiving And Laundering $8.5 Million In Bribes From Chinese Companies


  Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Kenneth A. Blanco, the Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, announced that MAHMOUD THIAM was convicted in Manhattan federal court yesterday of money laundering charges stemming from his scheme to launder $8.5 million in bribes that THIAM received from senior representatives of a Chinese conglomerate. THIAM was charged with using his official position as Minister of Mines for the Republic of Guinea to facilitate the award to the Chinese conglomerate of exclusive and highly valuable investment rights in various sectors of the Guinean economy. THIAM was convicted after a seven-day trial before U.S. District Judge Denise L. Cote.

Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said: “As a New York federal jury has now found, Thiam abused his official government position to enrich himself at the expense of one of Africa’s poorest countries. Thiam laundered the proceeds of his bribery scheme into the United States to fund his lavish lifestyle, buying a multi-million dollar estate in Dutchess County, and paying for private schools for his children. Thanks to the work of the FBI, Thiam’s scheme was exposed and he was swiftly convicted.”

Acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Blanco said: “As a high-level Minister in Guinea, Thiam sold out his country and then used U.S. banks and real estate to hide millions in bribes paid to him by a Chinese conglomerate. Corruption is a global disease that undermines the rule of law everywhere. The Justice Department is committed to investigating and prosecuting those who commit these crimes and use the U.S. financial system and free marketplace to conceal and benefit from their crimes.”

According to the Indictment, other filings in Manhattan federal court, and the evidence admitted at trial:

THIAM, a United States citizen who was Minister of Mines and Geology of the Republic of Guinea in 2009 and 2010, engaged in a scheme to accept bribes from senior representatives of a Chinese conglomerate and to launder that money into the United States and elsewhere. In exchange for these multimillion-dollar bribe payments, THIAM used his position as Minister of Mines to facilitate the award to the Chinese conglomerate of exclusive and highly valuable investment rights in a wide range of sectors of the Guinean economy, including near-total control of Guinea’s significant mining sector.

In order to receive the bribes covertly, THIAM opened a bank account in Hong Kong (the “Hong Kong Account”) and misreported his occupation to the Hong Kong bank to conceal his status as a public official in Guinea. Upon receiving the bribes, THIAM transferred millions of dollars in bribe proceeds from the Hong Kong Account to, among others, THIAM’s bank accounts in the United States; a Malaysian company that facilitated and concealed THIAM’s purchase of a $3,750,000 estate in Dutchess County, New York; private preparatory schools in Manhattan attended by THIAM’s children; and at least one other West African public official.

To further conceal the unlawful source of the bribery proceeds that THIAM transferred from the Hong Kong Account to banks in the United States, THIAM lied to two banks based in Manhattan and on tax returns filed with the Internal Revenue Service regarding the bribe payments, his position as a foreign public official, and the source of the funds in the Hong Kong Account. In total, THIAM received approximately $8.5 million in bribes from the Chinese conglomerate.


THIAM, 50, of Manhattan, was convicted of one count of transacting in criminally derived property, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and one count of money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. THIAM is scheduled to be sentenced before Judge Cote on August 11, 2017, at 10:00 a.m.

The maximum potential sentences in this case 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. Kim praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs also provided substantial assistance in this matter. The Office is grateful to the government of Guinea for providing substantial assistance in gathering evidence during this investigation.

A.G. Schneiderman Sues Waste Handling Companies And Individuals For Brentwood Dumping, Which Closed Roberto Clemente Park To Community For Years


Illegal Dumping Of Tens Of Thousands Of Tons Of Construction Waste Containing Hazardous Substances Has Kept Park Closed Since 2014 
Suit Seeks To Hold Waste Handling Contractors, Brokers, And Haulers Liable For Making The Park Off-Limits To Community
Funds Obtained From Suit Will Fund Restoration And Improvements Of Brentwood Parks
Schneiderman: Those Responsible For Closing Roberto Clemente Park Must Repay Their Debt To The Brentwood Community
  Standing outside Roberto Clemente Park, Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced the filing of a federal lawsuit seeking to recover damages from companies and individuals for the dumping of contaminated construction waste that has deprived the Brentwood, Long Island community of their use of the park since 2014.  Attorney General Schneiderman’s suit alleges that the individuals and companies involved in the dumping of hazardous substances in the popular town park – a group of construction contractors, waste brokers, and waste haulers – are liable under federal and state law to pay damages related to the Brentwood community’s lost use of the park.   
“Parks aren’t luxuries; they are vital to the public health, economies, and social fabrics of the communities they serve,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “We believe the companies and individuals named in our suit are responsible for the dumping of hazardous substances into the heart of Brentwood and causing a much-beloved park to be closed off to the community for years. Those responsible for closing Roberto Clemente Park must repay their debt to the Brentwood community.”    
Between August 2013 and April 2014, tens of thousands of tons of urban soil and construction and demolition debris (“C&D”), transported from construction sites in the New York City metropolitan area, were illegally dumped in Roberto Clemente Park, a park owned by the Town of Islip. The Town closed the park in May 2014 when environmental testing revealed elevated levels of a wide array of toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and pesticides, as well as asbestos, in areas of the park where the dumping occurred. Since that time, the park has remained closed, as cleanup contractors have removed approximately 39,000 tons of construction waste. The Town hopes to reopen portions of the park this summer.
In the lawsuit filed today, Attorney General Schneiderman alleges that a group of contractors who arranged for the disposal of soil and C&D contaminated with hazardous substances from construction sites in the New York City metropolitan area, companies who brokered the removal and disposal of the contaminated waste, and the haulers who dumped the waste in Roberto Clemente Park are liable for damages under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (“CERCLA”) and state public nuisance and negligence laws for closing the park to the Brentwood community. Under CERCLA, states may hold those who transport, or arrange for the transport of, hazardous substances that are released to the environment liable for the injury, destruction, or loss of natural resources – including public parks and other lands held in trust by states – resulting from the release.  
The lawsuit, which was filed in the US District Court, Eastern District of New York, asks the Court to find the companies and individuals named in the suit liable under CERCLA and state law for the community’s loss of use of Roberto Clemente Park since 2014, and require them to pay related damages under state law. As compensation to Brentwood residents for their years of lost use of Roberto Clemente Park, and consistent with CERCLA, all monies obtained through this action will be directed by the State toward restoring and enhancing parks in the Brentwood community.  
Those named in the complaint include:
  • THOMAS DATRE, JR.
  • CHRISTOPHER GRABE
  • 5 BROTHERS FARMING CORP.
  • DAYTREE AT CORTLAND SQUARE INC.
  • IEV TRUCKING CORP.
  • O.D. SERVICES CORP.
  • ALL ISLAND MASONRY & CONCRETE, INC.
  • BUILDING DEV CORP.
  • DIMYON DEVELOPMENT CORP.
  • NEW EMPIRE BUILDER CORP.
  • CIPRIANO EXCAVATION CORP.
  • TOUCHSTONE HOMES, LLC
  • SAMS RENT AND CONSTRUCTION
  • SAM’S RENT, INC.
  • NEW YORK MAJOR CONSTRUCTION INC.
  • EAST COAST DRILLING NY INC.
  • TRITON CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, LLC
  • SUKRAM AND SONS LTD.
  • M & Y DEVELOPERS INC.
  • “JOHN DOE”
  • ATRIA BUILDERS, LLC
  • WOORI CONSTRUCTION INC.
  • PLUS K CONSTRUCTION INC.
  • NY FINEST ENTERPRISES INC.
  • MONACO CONSTRUCTION CORP.
  • ALEF CONSTRUCTION INC.
  • 158 FRANKLIN AVE. LLC
  • LUCIANO’S CONSTRUCTION, INC.
  • ILE CONSTRUCTION GROUP, INC.
  • EAST END MATERIALS, INC.
  • SPARROW CONSTRUCTION CORP.
  • CIANO CONCRETE CORP.
  • FREEDOM CITY CONTRACTING CORP.
  • TOTAL STRUCTURE SERVICES INC.
In March 2016, Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota obtained criminal convictions of two individuals, Thomas Datre, Jr. and Christopher Grabe, and a waste hauling company, 5 Brothers Farming Corp., for their role in the illegal dumping. In addition, the Town of Islip is currently seeking civil enforcement against parties involved in the dumping in order to recoup the cost it has incurred in cleaning up the park. 
Attorney General Schneiderman thanks the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for its assistance, especially Sharon Brooks, Principal Economist, and Patrick Foster, Chief, Natural Resource Damages Section. The Attorney General also thanks Suffolk County District Attorney Spota’s office for its assistance in the investigation of this matter.

A.G. Schneiderman Announces $225K Settlement With Lower East Side Landlord For Harassing Rent-Stabilized Tenants


Companies Controlled By Sami Mahfar Harassed Rent-Stabilized Tenants Through Unsafe Demolition And Renovations, Creating Unsafe Levels Of Lead
Settlement Includes $175,000 To Support NYC Lead Remediation Efforts In Rent Stabilized Housing 
Attorney General’s New Proposed Legislation Would Subject Landlords to Criminal Penalties for Tenant Harassment
  Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced a settlement agreement with several companies controlled by Sassan “Sami” Mahfar and Sina Mahfar, which own or owned four residential buildings: 22 Spring Street, 102 Norfolk Street, 113 Stanton Street, and 210 Rivington Street, on New York City’s Lower East Side.  These companies employed several illegal methods to harass rent-regulated tenants, including engaging in construction work that put dangerous amounts of lead into the air, failing to provide essential services such as heat and hot water, and hiring a “relocator” company that used illegal tactics in seeking buyouts from tenants. A number of the affected tenants were Chinese or Spanish-speaking families who had lived in the buildings for many years.
In April, the Attorney General proposed new legislation that would make it easier to criminally prosecute landlords who engage in tenant harassment, including the type of conduct covered in this settlement. Current state law demands prosecutors reach an inexplicably high bar in order to criminally charge landlords with harassment of rent-regulated tenants.
“Landlords must not use harassment or subject tenants to unsafe construction to drive rent-stabilized tenants out of their homes.  Unfortunately, across the city, unscrupulous landlords look to take advantage of New York’s real estate market at the expense of their rent-regulated tenants – and we won’t hesitate to fight back using all tools at our disposal,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “But landlords who harass and force their tenants to endure unsafe conditions should also face criminal charges – and I call on the legislature to act on my new bill, which would criminalize this type of activity.” 
Between 2013 and 2016, the Mahfars’ companies – which included SMA Equities, LLC, 22 Spring SM, LLC, 22 Spring SMSIS, LLC, 102 Norfolk Street, LLC, 102 Norfolk Street SM, LLC, SM Stanton, LLC, SMSIS Rivington, LLC, and SMBRO Rivington, LLC – undertook a deliberate campaign to coerce their rent-stabilized tenants to move out of their apartments.  The companies engaged in widespread demolition and construction work in the buildings, which failed to comply with federal, state, and local requirements for protecting the health and safety of residents. Repeated inspections found areas under construction containing unsafe lead concentrations, requiring repeated stop-work orders and immediate remediation measures.  At 102 Norfolk Street, for instance, inspectors found lead levels as high as 40,000 and 110,000 micrograms per square foot.  Under the New York City Health Code, the limit for lead concentration on floors is 40 micrograms per square foot.
The companies hired Misidor LLC, a tenant “relocator,” to negotiate buyouts at 22 Spring Street and 210 Rivington.  Misidor’s principal, Michel Pimienta, repeatedly harassed tenants and threatened that, if tenants did not accept buyouts, they would suffer through unsafe and disruptive construction. In October 2014, the Attorney General’s office reached a settlement with Misidor and Pimienta enjoining them from engaging in tenant relocation work and imposing financial penalties. 
Further, the companies failed to make certain required filings with city and state housing agencies and made false filings with the New York City Department of Buildings, including misrepresenting on permit applications for construction that the buildings were not occupied by residential tenants entitled to protections of the rent regulation laws.
Tenants complained that, while undertaking extensive renovations of vacant apartments, the companies failed to correct pending building code violations, including loss of electricity, lack of heat and hot water, and lack of janitorial services, or make needed repairs in rent-regulated apartments. 
The settlement agreement requires that the companies pay $175,000 to the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development for lead remediation and/or enforcement and $50,000 in penalties, fees, and costs to the State, comply with all laws and regulations applicable to any residential buildings owned or controlled by the companies or by Sami Mahfar or Sina Mahfar, follow additional procedures designed to protect tenants from harm caused by any future renovations, and hire an independent management company approved by the Attorney General’s office to manage the buildings which they still own.  A number of tenants have already secured substantial rent abatements and other concessions, including the waiver of major capital investment-based rent increases, through their own lawsuits in housing court.  The vast majority of the housing code violations in the buildings have now been cleared.
Attorney General Schneiderman has continued his efforts to protect tenants who are being harassed by their landlords.  Last month, the office indicted Dean Galasso for mortgage fraud,as part of his work with the Tenant Harassment Prevention Task Force, a collaboration between city and state agencies. Attorney General Schneiderman also recently issued a “Know Your Rights” guidance for tenants who are being threatened based on immigration status.
The $175,000 in settlement money to HPD will be used to purchase 15 new X-Ray Florescence (XRF) Equipment. During apartment inspections, HPD’s Code Enforcement team uses XRF Technology to analyze the composition of paint in New York City apartments to identify whether or not lead-based paint is present and determine if it is a threat. The new devices are lighter, faster, more efficient, and will allow for more comprehensive inspection results. Building owners are required by law to remediate any threat of lead-based paint which can be extremely hazardous to children 6 years of age and under. For more information on building owner responsibilities with regard to lead-based paint, visit HPD’s Lead-Based Paint webpage. Rent-regulated tenants should be aware that they do not need to tolerate harassing tactics designed to force them to vacate their apartments. Under the law, landlords who seek to buy out tenants must not use threats, intimidation, frequent and persistent communication or any false information or misrepresentations in the course of making a buyout offer; refrain from offering any additional buyouts to tenants for 180 days if asked to do so in writing; provide all tenant buyout offers in writing; and accompany buyout offers with a full disclosure of tenants’ rights, including the right to refuse the buyout.  Rent-regulated tenants who believe they are being harassed by their landlord should visit the Tenant Harassment Prevention Task Force website at http://www1.nyc.gov/site/hpd/renters/thpt.page.  
"We cannot and will not stand idly by when unscrupulous building owners put their residents’ lives at risk by failing to correct hazardous conditions," said HPD Commissioner Maria Torres-Springer. "Thanks to the dedication of the NYS Attorney General’s office, this settlement money will allow for the purchase of state-of-the-art tools to better serve residents across the city. These devices will help HPD’s lead unit more effectively and efficiently protect the city’s families and children from the hazardous effects of lead exposure."

Statement By A.G. Schneiderman On House Passage Of The American Health Care Act


  “The healthcare bill passed today by House Republicans is a threat to the health and wellbeing of all New Yorkers. In addition to the devastating impact this bill would have on every New Yorker’s access to affordable healthcare, the legislation that passed the House today is unconstitutional in several critical respects—and I stand ready to challenge it in court.

First, House Republicans’ attempt to effectively deny women access to reproductive healthcare services is a cruel and unconstitutional attack on women’s rights - especially the most vulnerable.
Further, the Collins-Faso Amendment is a cynical ploy by House Republican leadership and President Trump that exceeds Congress’s authority by interfering with how New York has long elected to fund its Medicaid program.
This bill threatens to slash essential healthcare services for millions of New Yorkers who need them the most.
For these reasons, if this disastrous and unconstitutional healthcare bill is ultimately signed into law, I will challenge it in court.”