ASTOR APPOINTS JEANNINE MENDEZ AS DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT, PUBLIC AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS IN THE BRONX

   Astor Services for Children & Families in the Hudson Valley and the Bronx, a non-profit that serves more than 8,000 children with emotional and behavioral challenges, has named Jeannine Mendez as director of development, public and government relations in the Bronx.

  A Bronx native, Mendez will oversee and implement the non-profit's fundraising strategies, build brand awareness and cultivate relationships with foundations, government agencies and major donors in the region, to help advance the work of The Children's Foundation of Astor.

 

Previously, Mendez worked with the New York City Human Resources Administration's Office of Citywide Health Insurance Access, where she spearheaded education and outreach initiatives to promote access to health insurance and health programs for small businesses plus minority and low-income communities. Additionally, Mendez guided the development of health insurance outreach and enrollment efforts for numerous New York City government agencies, and developed critical data to support the work of the Commissioner and Mayor's Office.

 

Mendez also worked with the Arthritis Foundation, where she created donor events and cultivated relationships to ensure success and financial viability for the Hudson Valley branch of the New York Chapter, and served as adjunct professor at Metropolitan College of NY, Masters of Public Administration program. 

 

"Jeannine's background in strategic development, communications, New York City government, and health and education, are core strengths that will help forward Astor's work in the Bronx and beyond," said Sonia Barnes-Moorhead, executive vice president of The Children's Foundation of Astor. "Her facility in researching, analyzing and presenting information to key audiences and stakeholders is exceptional and we look forward to working with her to the benefit of the children and families served by Astor."

 

Mendez holds a Master of Science in Urban Policy and Management from New York University, Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Manhattanville College and several certifications in fundraising and event planning. She is an active member of the Parent Teacher Committee at Our Lady of Victory School where she runs the organization's fundraising restaurant nights.

 

About Astor Services for Children & Families

 

Astor Services for Children & Families, as it has since 1953, promotes the well-being of children, adolescents and their families through a range of programs that prevent and treat emotional problems and facilitate healthy development. Now serving more than 8,000 children and families annually, Astor's current range of services to families in the Mid-Hudson Valley and the Bronx include: Residential Treatment, Therapeutic Foster Family Care, Early Childhood Programs, and Community-Based Behavioral Health and Prevention Services. For additional information please visit http://astorservices.org/ or call (845) 871-1117.

Council Member Andrew Cohen and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz Oppose Homeless Shelter on Broadway

  Assemblyman Dinowitz and Council Member Cohen have expressed their opposition about a Department of Homeless Services plan to convert a recently constructed APT building on 5731 Broadway between W 234^th and W 236^th street into a homeless shelter for families.

The recently constructed building was billed by the STAGG group as market-rate housing. They even had a website where people could submit applications.

“I am outraged at the city’s plan to convert a brand new apartment building in Kingsbridge into a homeless shelter,” Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitzexplained. “The community was led to believe that 5731 Broadway was to contain market rate housing. Now, without the slightest consultation with the community board, members of the community, or my office, we find out that we were the victims of a classic bait and switch. Where will the children, possibly numbering in the hundreds, attend school? P.S. 7 as well as other schools in the area are overcrowded already. When did the STAGG group know that this site would be used as a homeless shelter? Recently? Or, did they know from day one even as they billed it as market rate housing. Furthermore, the Van Cortlandt Motel already contains homeless families. The community was lied to on more than one occasion with respect to the use of that site as a homeless shelter. Given the history of lies and deceit regarding both of these sites, as well as the severe impact this shelter could have in the Kingsbridge community I strongly oppose the use of 5731 Broadway as a homeless shelter and condemn the secretive and deceitful behavior of those involved in creating this debacle.”

“I am frustrated and angry that the Department of Homeless Services is obsessed with dumping another shelter on the Broadway corridor,” said Council Member Andrew Cohen. “We as a community have been trying to improve the business climate on the southern end of Broadway and strengthen the residential portion of the northern end—DHS seems committed to destroying that effort.  This decision by DHS will have a particularly hard impact on already overcrowded P.S. 7.  Until the Administration comes up with concrete measures to keep people in their homes before they become homeless, continuing to expand the number of shelters in our community will not solve the homeless crisis.”

Engel, House Colleagues Introduce Disaster Assistance Equity Act for Co-op and Condo Owners

Engel, Sanford, Nadler, Zeldin, King Introduce Disaster Assistance Equity Act

  Congressman Eliot L. Engel joined Congress Members Sanford, Nadler, Zeldin, and King in introducing H.R. 3238, the Disaster Assistance Equity Act, a bipartisan bill which would make common interest communities, including co-ops and condominiums, eligible for the same FEMA assistance available to other homeowners.

This bill would make two changes to the Stafford Act:

• Make homeowners associations eligible for the Public Assistance Program for debris clearance and repair of common infrastructure; and 
• Enable condominium associations and housing cooperatives to be eligible for the Individual Assistance Program.

“This bipartisan bill fixes an obvious flaw in current federal law as it pertains to disaster assistance for co-op and condo owners,” Congressman Engel said. “We saw after Superstorm Sandy how vital it is for FEMA funds to be accessible to all homeowners, not just some or even most. Co-op and condo owners should not be treated like second class citizens by FEMA, especially in those difficult times after a natural disaster hits. I am proud to reintroduce this bill with my colleagues Rep. Sanford, Rep. Nadler, Rep. Zeldin, and Rep. King and will work hard to ensure its swift passage.” 

“I find it strange that FEMA treats the 70 million Americans who live in common interest communities differently than it does those who live in other types of communities,” said Congressman Sanford. “In my experience, storms don’t discriminate between different kinds of communities. As such, it seems to me that FEMA should treat them all equally when it comes to the assistance available in the wake of a disaster. I want to thank my colleagues for signing on as original co-sponsors of the bill, and we will be working in the weeks ahead to build support.”

“In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, thousands of New Yorkers were shocked to learn they could not restore their condos and co-ops to livable condition because their common areas were not eligible for assistance,” said Congressman Nadler. “Millions more Americans have come to the same startling realization after natural disasters in the five years since Sandy. A storm doesn’t care what type of home you live in before destroying it, and FEMA should treat all homeowners fairly when helping them rebuild. I am proud to join Representatives Sanford, Engel, Zeldin, and King in re-introducing this critical bill, which builds on my ongoing efforts to ensure that every American can rebuild their home and their lives in the aftermath of natural disasters.”

Congressman Zeldin said, “Superstorm Sandy devastated our coastal communities and businesses in New York. Unfortunately, many New Yorkers learned the hard way that FEMA does not treat all homeowners equally. Condos, co-ops, and homeowners associations did not have the same access to federal disaster assistance as single family homeowners, which made it difficult to restore their homes and communities. Joining with Congressmen Sanford, King, Nadler, and Engel, the Disaster Assistance Equity Act would make important reforms to ensure that all homeowners are able to recover after a natural disaster.”

“As we saw in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, residents of condominiums and cooperatives should be eligible for FEMA Individual Assistance just as other home owners are,” said Congressman King. “This legislation will correct that inequity.”

Bronx Borough President - Bronx Summer Concert Series

MAYOR DE BLASIO WELCOMES FIRST DAY OF PROSPECT PARK’s CAR FREE SUMMER

East Drive from Park Circle to Grand Army Plaza, previously open to vehicles during weekday morning rush hours, is car-free 24-7 for two months from today through the weekend after Labor Day

  Today marks the first day of Prospect Park’s car-free summer, announced by Mayor de Blasio last week. Previously open to northbound traffic during the morning rush-hour, Prospect Park entire loop drive is car-free 24/7 from today until Monday, September 11^th. The New York City Department of Transportation (DOT), in coordination with NYC Parks, has been publicizing  Prospect Park East Drive’s new hours to affected drivers. 

“It’s a great day for Prospect Park. For kids and families using the park as their summer oasis, it just got quieter, healthier and safer” said Mayor de Blasio. 

“We are delighted to announce that Prospect Park for the rest of the summer will be completely car-free for the first time,” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg.  “Cyclists, joggers and pedestrians, young and old, can rejoice during these next couple warmer months in a safer and quieter park.”   

“New Yorkers look to their parks for green space and fresh air, especially in the heat of the summer,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP.  “Completely removing car traffic from Prospect Park turns one of our most historic sites back over to the kids, joggers, ball players, picnickers, and amblers who love it.  This summer, all visitors to Prospect Park will enjoy cleaner air, improved safety – and peace and quiet.”

In 2015, Mayor de Blasio announced that the West Drive of Prospect Park would be permanently car-free. Since that time, DOT has received a number of requests from the community and local officials to expand car-free hours to all of Prospect Park, which during the summer sees increased recreational use, including by several children’s day camps.  DOT is coordinating its efforts this summer with NYC Parks and the Prospect Park Alliance.

 According to DOT data, vehicle volumes on the East Drive are consistently lower during summer months: during a peak morning hour in the summer, fewer than 300 vehicles use the East Drive (a decline from over 400 hourly vehicles on a fall morning) while during a peak morning hour, the drive is used by nearly 1,000 pedestrians, joggers and cyclists.

The summertime car-free hours are also anticipated to have a negligible effect on travel times on alternative routes on streets around the park.  After the closure of the West Drive in June 2015, DOT studies showed that the most affected alternative southbound route saw an increased travel time of less than a minute after the West Drive went car-free, where other afternoon drivers actually saw travel times improve.  During the period of this summer’s East Drive closure, DOT will similarly collect data and conduct ongoing observations to determine the effect on alternate northbound routes during the morning rush period. 

EDITOR'S NOTE:

We can do the same thing here in Van Cortlandt Park. Just close down the Deegan Highway, but then again this is the Bronx.

MAYOR DE BLASIO, NYPD UNVEIL NEW 116TH PRECINCT STATIONHOUSE TO AID WITH RESPONSE TIME AND JURISDICTION LINES IN SOUTHEAST QUEENS

Mayor Bill de Blasio and the New York City Police Department today unveiled the site for the new 116^th Precinct located at 242-40 North Conduit Avenue in the Rosedale neighborhood of Queens. The siting of the future 116^th Precinct is a decades in the making accomplishment, born out of calls from local communities to cut down on response times and better allocate public safety resources across the 105^th Precinct’s vast geography.

“Thanks to the tireless efforts of the NYPD, New York City is the safest big city in America. Every New York City neighborhood deserves the same quality of service and safety we’ve come to expect from the NYPD. That is why we are making unprecedented investments in establishing high-quality precincts,” said Mayor de Blasio. “The future 116^th Precinct will help reduce current response times in Southeast Queens and expand coverage throughout the community.”

The 105^th Precinct is the fifth largest in the City, covering 12.43 square miles and 354 miles of roadway in Southeast Queens. The new 116^th Precinct will assume over half of the 105^th Precinct’s territory. While the citywide average emergency response time is approximately seven minutes, the 105th’s response time averages closer to nine minutes. The addition of the 116^th Precinct, which will be located at the 105^thPrecinct’s satellite building, will allow officers to respond more quickly and maintain a significant police presence in the southernmost part of the jurisdiction. Last March, the NYPD created a satellite precinct to assist with its coverage and service in the 105^th Precinct, which included 18 new officers, two new sergeants and a 24-hour operation to aid with the case loads and stretched jurisdictions.

The NYPD will conduct an analysis to determine the precinct’s eventual borders. The study will consider factors such as geography, population, 911/311 calls, crime and quality of life issues with the goal of increasing services while distributing workload as equitably as possible. In connection with this analysis, stakeholders – including residents and elected officials – will be consulted.

Staffing levels and operating costs for the 116^thPrecinct will be determined as the process moves along, boundaries are determined, designs are completed and construction gets underway.

"We are excited to be here in Queens as we announce the site of the new 116 Precinct," said NYPD Commissioner James P. O'Neill. "This new investment will reduce response times and inevitably enable us to even further reduce crime."

 

Mayor de Blasio and Police Commissioner O’Neill also announced that the City will invest $1.3 million to retrofit all 72 command vehicles following the death of Officer Miosotis Familia, who tragically lost her life while on duty in the Bronx. The retrofits will be funded by a combination of City Tax Levy funds and asset forfeiture funds. 

Following the tragic deaths of two NYPD officers in late 2014, the City allocated $6.8 million to outfit the NYPD’s 3,813 patrol cars with bullet-resistant panels to protect the doors. To date 2,100 vehicles have been installed with bullet-resistant door panels and the City is on track to have bullet-resistant door panels installed in every patrol vehicle by end of 2017. After an initial bullet-resistant window pilot program, additional funding of $10.4 million dollars was allocated for the installation of bullet-resistant window inserts for patrol vehicles. The first 500 NYPD patrol car bullet-resistant window insert installations are expected to be completed this month.

Rudolph Giuliani -vs- Preet Bharara - WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

By Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz 
District 32 Bronx County, New York 

 You should know that both Rudy Giuliani and Preet Bharara became famous and powerful during the times they served as United States Attorneys.  Both of them came in like gangbusters, indicting anyone from left to right, anyone who stood in their way, including elected officials.

Due to the fact that the press does not have much love for elected officials, the media has helped to create an aura about these two prosecutors, making Rudy Giuliani the Mayor of the City of New York, and making Preet Bharara arrogant enough to confront the President of the United States of America in what appears to be an act of insubordination, when he said that he would not return his boss’ phone call.

It is important for you to know that after Rudy Giuliani and Preet Bharara left their offices at the US Attorney, some of their overcharged indictments that were fueled by the media to make them famous and powerful, were eventually thrown out of court.

In 1988, former US Attorney Rudy Giuliani indicted Congressman Robert Garcia, along with his wife, Jane Lee Garcia, and attorney Ralph Vallone, Jr. on the charges of corruption in a bribery-extortion scheme involving the WedTech Corporation. During the arraignment, former US Attorney Giuliani went so far as to accuse Congressman Garcia of “the sale of his office.”

You should know that Congressman Robert Garcia spent 3 months in prison awaiting decision on appeal, which was then overturned.  Even after his case was retried, that second conviction was overturned. The case was never re-tried a third time.

In other words, the charges against Congressman Robert Garcia by former US Attorney Rudy Giuliani, in his grand role as crime-buster against political corruption, and with all of the hype and media any publicity hound could ever want, were eventually thrown out of court.

Additionally, two of former US Attorney Giuliani’s other convictions, also related to the WedTech case, were overturned. John Marriotta, the former president of the company, had had two out of four convictions overturned; and E. Robert Wallach's conviction for receiving illegal payments was also reversed.

Now, Preet Bharara, who has left the US Attorney’s office only months ago, is already finding that his so-called great achievements “cleaning-house” in Albany, especially his highly-touted prosecution of former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, is also getting thrown out of court.

A string of reversals of former US Attorney Giuliani’s convictions (and his staff of 150 attorneys) that were high profile, white collar cases and were partially or completely overturned include:

The various WedTech-related convictions of Richard Biaggi, son of former Congressman Mario Biaggi; Peter Neglia, former Administrtor of the US Small Business Administration; and California Attorney E. Robert Wallach, friend of former Attorney General Edwin Meese III;

The conviction of James T. Sherwin, President of the GAF Corporation;

The security fraud conviction of Wall Street trader Ivan Boesky's stock speculator John Mulheren;

The tax fraud conviction of Princeton/Newport Partners were overturned on appeal, and the IRS found the investment firm had actually overpaid its taxes.

The Federal judge ruling that threw out accusations that the Genovese crime family controlled the main union at the Fulton Fish Market; 

  

The Federal judge ruling that threw out the charges against seven of 14 defendants in the Pizza Connection involving heroin-trafficking case.

This makes me think that the power of the US Attorney, especially those high profile prosecutors who crave media attention, are the ones the media is afraid to go against to see the realities and expose the truth to the public.

Ladies and gentlemen, Preet Bharara has only been out of office a few months, so who knows how long it will take for his cases to be overturned. It’s too early to say, so stay tuned.

I am Senator Reverend Rubén Díaz and this is what you should know.

Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Settles Civil Fraud Lawsuit Against Narco Freedom, Joining Hands Management, And Devorah Haigler For Engaging In Schemes To Defraud Medicaid

Settlements Bar Narco Freedom from Federal Healthcare Programs, Obtain a $50.5 Million Claim in Narco Freedom Bankruptcy, and Require Joining Hands and Haigler to Pay $300,000

   Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Scott Lampert, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General’s (“HHS-OIG”) New York Region, announced today that the United States has settled its claims brought under the False Claims Act against NARCO FREEDOM, INC. (“NARCO FREEDOM”), a former operator of outpatient chemical dependency clinics, and separately has settled its claims against JOINING HANDS MANAGEMENT INC. (“JOINING HANDS”), an operator of short-term residences known as “three-quarter houses,” and DEVORAH HAIGLER, co-owner of JOINING HANDS. The consent orders were approved yesterday by U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl. Pursuant to the settlement, the three defendants admit and accept responsibility for conduct alleged in the Government’s complaint-in-intervention, the United States will receive a $50.5 million allowed claim in the Narco Freedom bankruptcy proceeding, and Joining Hands and Haigler will pay $300,000 to the United States and the State of New York, the federal portion of which is $141,180.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said: “Narco Freedom not only defrauded Medicaid, it also victimized vulnerable low-income patients who were attempting to recover from drug and alcohol addictions. Particularly in light of the opioid epidemic ravaging our communities, we will act aggressively to stop such abusive conduct.”

HHS-OIG Special Agent in Charge Scott J. Lampert said: “This settlement puts an end to a greed-fueled scheme that callously compromised patient care and took advantage of an extremely vulnerable population. Health providers engaging in such behaviors should contemplate facing Narco Freedom’s fate – exclusion from all government health programs.”

The complaint-in-intervention filed by the United States alleged three separate fraud schemes. First, the complaint alleged that NARCO FREEDOM, JOINING HANDS, HAIGLER, and others were engaged in a kickback scheme, whereby NARCO FREEDOM made monthly cash payments to JOINING HANDS in exchange for HAIGLER and others referring residents of JOINING HANDS’ three-quarter houses, almost all of whom were Medicaid recipients, to NARCO FREEDOM outpatient programs and enforcing attendance at those programs, for which NARCO FREEDOM billed Medicaid. Second, the complaint alleged that NARCO FREEDOM and others were engaged in a kickback scheme whereby NARCO FREEDOM provided below-cost housing in its own three-quarter houses, known as “Freedom Houses,” to induce residents of those houses to enroll in and attend NARCO FREEDOM’s outpatient programs, and then evicted the residents as soon as NARCO FREEDOM had collected the maximum available Medicaid funds. Both schemes exploited vulnerable individuals who were forced to comply with NARCO FREEDOM’s rules because they lacked stable housing options. Third, the complaint alleged that NARCO FREEDOM and others directed and paid employees of its outpatient program in Red Hook, Brooklyn, to create false treatment records for certain patients and to backdate records.

As part of the NARCO FREEDOM settlement, NARCO FREEDOM, which is currently in Chapter 7 bankruptcy, has agreed (through the Chapter 7 Trustee) that the United States has a general unsecured claim for damages in the amount of $50,509,440, which will be paid through the bankruptcy proceeding on a pro rata basis with other general unsecured creditors. As additional terms of the settlement, NARCO FREEDOM will be excluded from all federal health care programs for 50 years, and the Chapter 7 Trustee will take steps to dissolve NARCO FREEDOM. NARCO FREEDOM, through the Chapter 7 Trustee, also has admitted, acknowledged, and accepted responsibility for the following conduct:

• Between 2006 and 2014, NARCO FREEDOM operated short-term residences known as “Freedom Houses.” As a condition of residence at the Freedom Houses, NARCO FREEDOM required residents to enroll in and attend a NARCO FREEDOM outpatient program. One purpose of the Freedom Houses was to induce Medicaid recipients to use NARCO FREEDOM’s outpatient programs by providing those individuals with subsidized housing.
• Between 2008 and 2011, NARCO FREEDOM made monthly payments to operators of three-quarter houses pursuant to purported “lease agreements” executed by NARCO FREEDOM, but these payments were not actually part of a legitimate lease arrangement, and instead were paid to incentivize the operators to require the residents of their houses to attend NARCO FREEDOM outpatient programs.
• In 2010, NARCO FREEDOM directed and paid counselors employed in its outpatient treatment programs in Red Hook, Brooklyn, to perform “corrective action and maintenance” on patient records, which included creating records reflecting that counselors had treated certain patients that the counselors had not in fact treated; claims based upon these false records were submitted to and paid by Medicaid.

NARCO FREEDOM’s conduct also was the subject of a lawsuit brought by this Office in October of 2014, United States v. Narco Freedom, Inc., 14 Civ. 8593 (JGK), in which the United States obtained a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction enjoining NARCO FREEDOM from using the Freedom Houses to induce people to enroll in outpatient treatment programs. That suit ultimately resulted in the Court appointing a temporary receiver who oversaw the transition of NARCO FREEDOM’s clinics and Freedom Houses to other health care providers.

As part of the JOINING HANDS and HAIGLER settlement, they must pay a total of $300,000 to resolve the United States’ claims along with related claims asserted by the State of New York, of which the federal portion is $141,180. JOINING HANDS and HAIGLER also are enjoined from making or receiving payments of any kind in exchange for referrals or recommendations for any medical care or service, and from requiring residents to provide information relating to enrollment or attendance at an outpatient program. 

JOINING HANDS and HAIGLER also admitted, acknowledged, and accepted responsibility for conduct alleged in the Government’s complaint, including the following: 

• In 2008, JOINING HANDS and NARCO FREEDOM reached an agreement whereby NARCO FREEDOM would make monthly payments to JOINING HANDS and in exchange, JOINING HANDS would refer individuals residing in its three-quarter houses to NARCO FREEDOM outpatient programs.
• HAIGLER was aware of, and consented to, this agreement.
• Between 2008 and 2011, pursuant to this agreement and subsequent agreements, NARCO FREEDOM made monthly payments to JOINING HANDS, in amounts ranging from $4,000 to $15,000 per month, per house. 
  This case arose, in part, from a complaint filed under seal by whistleblowers under the False Claims Act.