Friday, January 5, 2018

Bronx Chamber of Commerce - Bronx Business Newsletter January 2018




January 2018 Newsletter - What's Inside:
  • Board of Directors December Meeting / Special thanks to Holiday Party Sponsors >Front Cover 
  • Opportunity to Showcase Your Company or Organization>Front Cover 
  • Chamber President and CEO Message>page 2
  • Officers and members of the Board of Directors>page 2
  • Chairman's Message>page 3
  • Testimonials by Elizabeth Figueroa, NYBG; Allan Kolstein, Today Media; Joseph Coleman, RiteCheck Cashing; and Gianna Dell'Olio, BronxWorks>page 3
  • Holiday Party & Toy Drive 2017 photos>pages 4-5
  • Power Lunch with Chamber President and CEO>page 6
  • Member Spotlight: Peter Martinez, Master Fire Prevention Systems>page 6
  • Recent New Members>page 6.
  • Next Meet Up Breakfast Business Card Exchange/Networking Event>page 7
  • Upcoming Calendar of Events>page 8
  • Corporate Sponsors - Chairman's Circle - President's Circle members>page 8
  • Holiday Greeting from the Bronx Chamber of Commerce Staff>page 8

   Founded 1894, The Bronx Chamber of Commerce is one of the most influential, professional and successful organizations and voice for over 30,000 businesses in Bronx County. Professionals and companies are drawn to the successful companies and active members affiliated with The Bronx Chamber of Commerce. Membership includes businesses ranging from large corporations, Cultural Institutions, Universities and Colleges, Hospitals and Medical Centers, non-profits, and mid-sized to small companies.
 
  I am very excited to be a leader in the continuing renaissance in our great borough and the Bronx Chamber of Commerce.I look forward to your active membership and meeting you at some of our upcoming networking events.For more information on the Bronx Chamber of Commerce, call (718) 828-3900 or join online at: www.BronxChamber.org.
 
Aim higher in 2018! Happy Healthy and Prosperous New Year!

Helping you grow your Bronx Business is our Goal!
 
Nunzio Del Greco
President and CEO
Bronx Chamber of Commerce
 
"You never know where your next big deal is going to come from"!

MAYOR DE BLASIO, COMMISSIONER O’NEILL HOST PRESS CONFERENCE TO DISCUSS CRIME STATISTICS


  Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill: Good afternoon, everyone. Happy New Year. Thanks for braving the cold to get down here today. Some of you didn’t have to go that far though. I think it’s – we’re actually up to 16 degree so it actually feels warm out.

Let’s get straight to it. In terms of crime reduction in New York City, 2017 will go down in history as the safest year we’ve seen in nearly seven decades. That span covers three generations of New Yorkers, some of whom believe that more 2,000 murders a year was not only a price of doing business in New York City but it might be normal and that nothing could be done about.

There were other who didn’t believe that to be the case, who refused to accept that life in our city couldn’t change for the better. Chief among these idealists were the men and women of the NYPD.

But we’re a realist too. We knew that reversing the decades-long trend of rising crime and disorder would take time. We knew that it wouldn’t happen on its own. 

What we learned is that reclaiming our neighborhoods required the coordinated efforts of the entire police department along with the full and willing partnership of all the people we serve. New Yorkers are now understanding that public safety is truly a shared responsibility and together we’re proving year after year that New York is not the violent nightmare that we once read about in the press, watched on TV, and saw in the movies.

It’s our home and we’re willing to fight for it. Back then we knew it wouldn’t be easy but no cop ever took this job because it was easy. 

Cops took this job to make a difference, to do good, and 2017 was further proof that they certainly do that every single day.

Mayor de Blasio is going to speak after me, then you’ll hear from the new Speaker of the City Council Corey Johnson. Congratulations, Corey. And of course Dermot Shea will then get into the details of the crime numbers.

It’s a lot to cover but one thing you need to remember about all of the information you’ll see and hear today is this – none of this happened by accident. I’d call it incredible were it not for the very credible reasons why it’s all happening.

For one, it’s the hard working NYPD police officers on the street right now and the thousands more who came before them over the past few decades.

It’s also because of committed community residents in every borough and on every block.

Neighborhood policing is a game changer. It’s established in 56 of our 77 precincts as of this month and in all nine of our Housing Bureau police service areas. We’re essentially restoring the role of patrol cop to problem solver.

These officers are connecting in local neighborhoods in ways they never have before. They’re encouraging residents to share the responsibilities of maintaining the peace and protecting their streets and blocks. 

Information is flowing from neighborhood residents to the sector teams to the precinct detectives and when necessary to specialty squads like Gang and Narcotics.

These relationships are allowing us to tailor our crime reduction and prevention strategies to individual neighborhoods which makes all the difference. It’s also enhanced training, upgraded equipment, and cutting edge technology that enables the best cops in the nation to continue to improve.

It’s our focus on the real drivers of crime in our city and our unified coordinated efforts to combat that very small segment of the population responsible for most of the violence.

Again, nothing we do, do we do alone. This method of precision policing is carried out seamlessly in conjunction with our law enforcement partners especially in the FBI, the DEA, the State Police, the US Marshal Service, and the ATF.

Together, we’re building stronger cases than ever before against the individuals and groups who are driving crime. And our close collaborations with the city’s five district attorneys and the US Attorney’s Offices from the Southern and Eastern Districts enable us to pre-indict the criminals we’re targeting and to ultimately send them away with meaningful prison sentences.

These same partners are the NYPD’s critically important allies in countering the ever-changing and perpetual threat of terrorist attacks in the city that remains the nation’s principle target.

Most importantly, it’s our collective understand that public safety is the foundation for everything else in New York City. We’re proving that when the public and police work side by side we can make positive lasting change in our society. That change begins when people are safe and it’s sustained when they feel safe too.

Of course this doesn’t mean that we have time to sit back and rest because every success we had in 2017 is now in the past. Because the calendar turns over we must keep making our way forward together.

We welcome the challenge of 2018. We know that no matter how well we’re doing we can always do better. We must do better. That’s our obligation. As long as there are victims there could be no victory lap. 

So, heading into this new year, we’ll never let up and our goal as always is to set the standard for effective, efficient policing in this country again and again. That’s what this is all about – fighting crime and keeping people safe.

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Thank you very much, Commissioner. Commissioner, congratulations to you, to all the leadership of the NYPD here at the dais. I want to just thank everyone who was a part of this stunning success.

A special thank you to Eric Cumberbatch, the Executive Director of the Office to Prevent Gun Violence in the Mayor’s Office and to your good colleagues in this work from the Cure Violence movement and the Crisis Management System. Eric, thank you and all your colleagues for all you have achieved this year with us as well.

A special thank you as well to the Chair of the Public Safety Committee in the City Council, Vanessa Gibson. Thanks for your great partnership.

What the NYPD has done is nothing short of stunning. It’s been done better than ever before. This work of the NYPD is literally at the high point in the history of this department. And the close working relationship with the community is at the high point.

The partnership with the community has made all the difference. Commissioner O’Neill and I were out in the 7-5 Precinct earlier in the week and had wonderful conversations with the officers there. They’ve achieved amazing things. A precinct that was once one of our violent now had an extraordinarily good year with major, major reductions in shootings and homicides.

But one of the stories that was so important to me was hearing from the Neighborhood Coordination Officers, talking to them about what their work meant in the community, what it meant to them as officers. 

And I asked each one to give me examples of crimes that were stopped or crimes that were solved because of closer coordination and communication with the community. It was amazing how they started rattling them off.

The calls that came into their cell phone or the emails that came in from community residents who had gotten to know them, told them about a drug location where drug sales were going on that the police were able to stop, told them about weapons – illegal weapons that the police were able to seize, told them about someone they suspected was part of a robbery pattern who turned out to be the perpetrator.

This is priceless for our officers to have that kind of support and that kind of communication.

So, something very powerful is happening because of the neighborhood policing model. And meanwhile other great efforts that are happening separate respectfully different like the Cure Violence Movement that play another crucial role – all of this is happening simultaneously.

This is a new day in New York City, a different reality, and it’s working. The fact is in 2017, the safest big city in America had its safest year in modern history.

And let’s put in perspective what this means. The last time we were this safe was in the 1950s. The last time we had this few murders was 1951. In 1951, the Dodgers were playing at Ebbets Field. If you wanted to go to Ebbets Field on the subway, it cost you a dime to take the subway.

These are the kinds of things we used to hear from our parents and grandparents but they put in perspective how far back you have to go to get to this level of safety. For years and years I heard these conversations going way back to when I served as a staffer in City Hall in the early 90s.

No one believed it was possible to get under 300 murders. I’ve been in many a room where people said that’s a beautiful goal but one we’ll never reach. But these leaders and all the men and women of the NYPD reached the goal that many had thought was impossible – under 300 murders in a city of 8.5 million people, biggest population we’ve ever had in our history, 365 days in a year.

They have done what many thought was impossible.

That’s just one piece of the puzzle. Under 800 shootings is extraordinary. The fact that the number of shootings has gone down so rapidly is its own story. I know you’ll hear more from Dermot Shea.

Under 100,000 total major crimes. Another huge milestone that had been hoped for, for years but often seemed unreachable. All of this happened in 2017.

Look, another way to think about this compared to the early 90s – 2,000 fewer murders per year. Put that in human terms – what that means for the families who haven’t lost a loved one. Two-thousand fewer per year – that’s the level we’re at right now. We’ve got more to do always but we have now a model that we know works and can go farther and that’s the exciting part.

This model will only get stronger. Neighborhood policing will get stronger. The close working relationship with the community will get stronger. The training, the technology will get better.

We will go farther and all this had been achieved by changing and making a big turn away from some of the mistakes of the past.

We know the overuse of stop-question-and-frisk was holding us back. We now have a 93 percent reduction and that has been accompanied by the lowest crime we’ve ever had. I think that’s proof positive that we used to be making a mistake in this city. We stopped making that mistake. We made ourselves safer.

Fewer arrests. There’s another huge story and it’s an important example to the nation – 30,000 fewer arrests that in 2016 and substantially lower crime at the same time particularly huge increases in the most violent crime. That speaks volumes.

Compared to 2013 – so when you compare 2017 to 2013, just four years earlier – 100,000 fewer arrests. When you compare the year 2013 to the year 2017, but again with remarkable improvement in reducing crime.

It’s all about neighborhood policing. It’s all about precision policing and it is about giving our officers the chance to do what they do best. Another thing that struck me at the 7-5 precinct was officers talking about the freedom they had now to build relationships with the community, to use their training, to go out and figure out the solutions. And they talked about what the technology allowed them to do to come up with specific solutions to problems they were facing in their own communities.

The empowerment of our officers to take their professional training and use it is another big piece of this story. So, look, we understand as much as we are so proud of this progress, we know we have huge challenges, we know we are the number one terror target in this nation and we know the threat of terrorism continues to get more complex.

We have certainly felt that pain here and we’re going to continue to innovate – while driving down crime, continue to innovate ways of protecting the people of this city from terror. 

And we look back on this year 2017. We look back at the victories. We also look back at the moments that leave us very sad and cause us to mourn – the loss of Detective Miosotis Familia and obviously the loss of one of the greatest heroes in NYPD history, Detective Steven McDonald.

These are people we will never forget and they will inspire us to go farther all the time. So, I couldn’t be happier as we close 2017 and we look to 2018 – could not be happier with the work of this leadership team and the men of the NYPD, couldn’t be more appreciative to our community partners.

Something very important is happening here in this city, and we’re going to go a lot farther with it in 2018.

Chief of Crime Control Strategies Dermot Shea, NYPD: Good afternoon, everyone. So, this year’s end-of-year crime statistics are probably the worst kept secret in New York City history. I think they’ve been well talked about and written about already. So, I’ll start with a few slides and take you back just to understand where we came from. In December of 2015, I was getting ready for an all-in conference that everyone up here on the P-D side attended at our new police academy at the time, College Point Queens. And the slide on the left – I just started it with a simple slide from Jack Maple, an inspirational slide. And then when I was putting the PowerPoint together, I said – draft copy, where do we want to be? Under 100,000 crimes; under 300 murders; and under 1,000 shootings. And then I said, this could go bad – do I really want to do this? And I can remember discussions at the time, we’re going to do it. And there’s that slide, and here you are now two years later and we did it. 

I begin with that for a reason. I could not be more proud of the work of the uniformed men and women of this department – uniformed and civilian – of what they have accomplished this year. And these are not numbers – these are numbers on the PowerPoint – the real important numbers are the numbers that are not up there – the victims that didn’t have to be traumatized by any individual across the city, because as I go through these numbers you’re going to hear that we did not leave anyone out – every borough of New York City, down. 

The next inevitable question that I’m going to get is, can it go lower? So, I’ll answer that right up front – I believe we can go lower. I believe we can go lower. We can do better. Crime can be pushed further down. It’s going to take a lot of cooperation and I think we’re going to get it. 

Some of the highlights for New York City in 2017 – it’s our fourth straight, fourth consecutive year of index crime going down. Preliminary numbers – and they will change slightly – this year has New York City recording 5,500, roughly, fewer complaints than last year – again, fourth straight year. Every borough of New York City saw a crime decline. When you talk index crime, six of the seven index crime categories in New York City showed a decrease. One – rape – showed an increase. That raw number was an increase of four rapes [inaudible] and I think I have a slide of the last seven years of rapes in New York City. And that’s something that we are going to continue. We will not rest until we push that further down also. But that raw number of rapes was 1,446 this year – last year, it was 1,442. And you can see there the last seven years – it is a stubborn crime and we have work to do still on that front. 

In addition to the lowest murders, overall index crime, and shootings, New York City also recorded in 2017 the lowest number of robberies, burglaries, and stolen vehicles that New York City has seen in the CompStat era. Housing crime – down eight percent – and that’s citywide. Housing homicides – I didn’t forget you, Jimmy Secreto – down eight percent this year. Last year, we recorded in New York City the lowest number of shootings occurring in housing that we had ever seen since we recorded those statistics. It was beaten again this yea by the men and women of the housing bureau. Housing shootings – down 18 percent this year, 37 fewer victims. That’s great news. Transit crime was up this year in New York City – up one-half of one percent. It comes to 12 crimes over the course of the year citywide. 

A couple of things to point out – grand larcenies – we were plus-49 in Brooklyn; and grand larcenies – we were plus-31 in the Bronx. So, that more than compensated for the overall citywide increase, and that’s something that we’re going to continue to work at the push further down. 

The average number of crimes system-wide continues to be around six crimes, and that is consistent. Domestic crime in New York City was down this year – more positive news – down six percent overall – domestic crime. And domestic violence murders – down 22 percent – 49 recorded, which is 49 too many, but down from 63 last year – a 22 percent drop. The lowest number of domestic murders by gunfire – less than 10 – that we have ever seen. So, fantastic news. 

So, what’s next? The challenges ahead are the same challenges I literally could cut and paste – what I’m saying today – from two three years ago. Recidivism, gangs, and illegal firearms continues to be the focus of what we are dealing with, and it’s going to continue to be the focus as we move forward into 2018. And we’re not going to do it alone. We’re going to do it with who we’ve been working with over the last four years to get where we are today. Our many partners, some of whom are here today – State, City, and federal partners, community groups – neighborhood policing all coming together. We are going to go lower. 

How have we done it? We’ve been focused. We’ve been efficient. And, again, we’ve done it with our partners. 

I’ll finish with some of the arrests the Mayor alluded to. We’ve recorded a little over 286,000 arrests, which is a staggering number until you look at what we’ve done in the past. And remember, this is a city of 8.5 million, there’s a lot going on. We are down from four years ago 27 percent in arrests made. Four years ago, it was 393,000 – almost 394,000 at the end of 2013. When you look from seven years ago, which was the peak in New York City arrests – we are down 32 percent. It’s 136,000 fewer arrests from the end of 2010 until the end of 2017 – 136,000 fewer arrests – more efficient. It comes out to nearly 400 fewer arrests per day by the New York City Police Department at a time where we’re going to push crime further down. 

And how are we doing it? It’s the opposite sides – the Police Commissioner mentioned, we are going to focus and we’re going to get strong sentences on those who are committing violent crime over and over, carting guns, arrested as part of patterns. We’re also at the same time going to arrest fewer people, as you have seen. But when we arrest somebody, we’re going to collect evidence, we’re going to present it to the grand jury, we’re going to get it, with Bob Boyce’s detectives, to the prosecutors to even have a greater and greater impact. 

Thursday, January 4, 2018

Turkish Banker Convicted Of Conspiring To Evade U.S. Sanctions Against Iran And Other Offenses


Unanimous Manhattan Jury Finds That the Defendant Also Used His Position at Turkish Bank to Facilitate Access to the U.S. Financial System and to Conceal International Financial Transactions for Iranian Entities in Violation of U.S. Sanctions

  Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Dana J. Boente, Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security, announced that MEHMET HAKAN ATILLA was found guilty today of conspiring with others, including Reza Zarrab, a/k/a “Riza Sarraf,” who previously pled guilty to evading U.S. sanctions among other offenses, to use the U.S. financial system to conduct transactions on behalf of the Government of Iran and other Iranian entities, which were barred by U.S. sanctions, and to defraud U.S. financial institutions by concealing these transactions’ true nature.  The jury convicted ATILLA on five of six charges in the controlling indictment following a four-week trial before U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim stated:  “Today, after a full, fair, and open trial, a unanimous jury convicted Hakan Atilla, a senior banker at Halk Bank.  Along with the prior guilty plea of Reza Zarrab, two men at the heart of this massive and brazen scheme that blew a billion-dollar hole in the Iran sanctions regime now stand convicted of serious federal crimes.  Foreign banks and bankers have a choice:  You can choose willfully to help Iran and other sanctioned nations evade U.S. law, or you can choose to be part of the international banking community transacting in U.S. dollars.  But you can’t do both.  If you lie repeatedly to U.S. Treasury officials and fabricate documents – all as part of a secret scheme to smuggle billions of dollars in Iranian oil money past the U.S. sanctions net – as Atilla did, then you should be prepared for the consequences.  The consequence of Atilla’s choice is now a felony conviction in an American court of law.”   

Acting Assistant Attorney General Dana J. Boente stated:  “For years, Mehmet Hakan Atilla conspired to use the American financial system to conduct millions of dollars’ worth of illegal transactions on behalf of the Government of Iran.  He used his high rank at a Turkish bank to disguise the transactions as humanitarian food payments and deceive American officials, but now, after receiving due process of law, he has been held accountable in court, by an impartial jury.  This successful prosecution is another example of our resolve to pursue and bring to justice those who violate our sanctions and other laws that protect our national security.”

According to the evidence introduced at trial, other proceedings in this case, and documents previously filed in Manhattan federal court:

Beginning in or about 1979, the President, pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (the IEEPA), has repeatedly found that the actions and policies of the government of Iran constitute  an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States and declared a national emergency to deal with the threat.  In accordance with these presidential declarations, the United States has instituted a host of economic sanctions against Iran and Iranian entities.  This sanctions regime prohibits, among other things, financial transactions involving the United States or United States persons that were intended for the Government of Iran or Iranian entities. 

Specifically, ATILLA, Zarrab, and others used deceptive measures to provide access to international financial networks, including U.S. financial institutions, to the Government of Iran, Iranian entities, and entities identified by the Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control as Specially Designated Nationals (“SDNs“).  They did so by, among other things, using Halk Bank, at which ATILLA acted as Deputy General Manager of International Banking, to engage in transactions that violated U.S. sanctions against Iran.  In particular, they took steps to protect and hide Zarrab’s supply of currency and gold to the Government of Iran, Iranian entities, and SDNs using Halk Bank, and in doing so, shielded the bank from U.S. sanctions.  ATILLA, Zarrab, and others conspired to create and use false and fraudulent documents to disguise prohibited transactions for Iran and make those transactions falsely appear as transactions involving food, thus falling within humanitarian exceptions to the sanctions regime.  As a result of this scheme, the co-conspirators induced U.S. banks to unknowingly process international financial transactions in violation of the IEEPA. 


Mehmet Hakan Atilla, 47, is a resident and citizen of Turkey.  Atilla was convicted of conspiracies to defraud the United States, to violate the IEEPA, to commit bank fraud and to commit money laundering, as well as a substantive count of bank fraud.  The conspiracy to defraud the United States count carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.  The conspiracy to violate the IEEPA and money laundering conspiracy counts each carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.  The bank fraud counts each carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years.  The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.  ATILLA is scheduled to be sentenced on April 11, 2018, before Judge Berman.

Zarrab, 34, also a resident and citizen of Turkey, pled guilty October 26, 2017, to one count of conspiring to defraud the United States, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; one count of conspiracy to violate the IEEPA, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of bank fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison; one count of conspiring to commit bank fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison; one count of money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of conspiring to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of conspiring to bribe a U.S. public official and possessing contraband in a federal detention center, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.  Zarrab’s sentencing date has not been scheduled. 

Mr. Kim and Mr. Boente praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and its New York Field Office, Counterintelligence Division. 

Attorney General Jeff Sessions Appoints Geoffrey S. Berman As Interim United States Attorney


  Attorney General Jeff Sessions today announced the appointment of Geoffrey S. Berman as Interim United States Attorney pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 546, which provides that “the Attorney General may appoint a United States Attorney for the district in which the office of United States Attorney is vacant.”  This appointment will take effect on January 5, 2018.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions said:  “Geoffrey Berman brings three decades of invaluable experience to the role of Interim United States Attorney.  He was part of the prosecution team charged with investigating the Iran-Contra matter and served as a federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York.  As Interim U.S. Attorney for this same district, he will lead an incredible team of attorneys and investigators and help provide New Yorkers with safety, security, and peace of mind.  I am pleased to appoint him to this important role.”

Biographical information for Interim U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman:

Mr. Berman is currently a principal shareholder in the New York and New Jersey offices of Greenberg Traurig.

From 1990 to 1994, Mr. Berman was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York, where he handled complex criminal prosecutions, including tax, securities and computer hacking violations.

Prior to that Mr. Berman was an Associate Counsel in the Office of Independent Counsel Iran-Contra, where he successfully prosecuted a former CIA employee for tax fraud.

Mr. Berman clerked for Judge Leonard Garth of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Mr. Berman received his B.A., magna cum laude, from University of Pennsylvania and his B.A., beta gamma sigma, from the Wharton School.  Mr. Berman received his J.D. from Stanford Law School, where he was Note Editor of the Stanford Law Review.

A.G. Schneiderman Warns Against Price Gouging During Winter Storm In New York State


Schneiderman Urges New Yorkers To Report Potential Fraud To His Office, Offers Tips To Protect Consumers

  Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today issued a consumer alert warning both consumers and businesses about price gouging ahead of this week’s winter storm that is impacting parts of New York State. A state of emergency has been in effect since Thursday morning for New York City, Long Island, and Westchester.

General Business Law prohibits excessive increases in prices of essential goods and services like food, water, gas, generators, batteries, and flashlights, hotel lodging, and transportation, during natural disasters or other events that disrupt the market. During and after severe winter weather events, these goods and services might also include snow plowing, snow removal from roofs, shovels and other snow removal equipment, salt, and contract services for storm-related damage.
“Unfortunately, dishonest fraudsters will use severe winter weather as an excuse to illegally line their pockets,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “We will not tolerate those who seek to exploit weather emergencies storms at the expense of New Yorkers. I urge anyone who believes they have been a victim of price gouging scams to immediately contact my office.”
New York State’s Price Gouging Law (General Business Law § 396-r) prohibits merchants from taking unfair advantage of consumers by selling goods or services for an “unconscionably excessive price” during an “abnormal disruption of the market.” The price gouging law covers New York State vendors, retailers and suppliers, including but not limited to supermarkets, gas stations, hardware stores, bodegas, delis, and taxi and livery cab drivers.
The aftermath of winter storms may also necessitate the hiring of contractors to assist with additional snow removal and home repairs. Reports of roof collapses and the possibility of flooding from warming temperatures are two areas of significant concern.
Consumers should protect themselves when hiring contractors to perform storm-related services by considering the following:
  • Shop around. Get at least three estimates from reputable contractors that include specific information about the materials and services to be provided for the job.
  • Get it in writing. Insist on a written contract that includes the price and description of the work needed.
  • Don't pay unreasonable advance sums. Negotiate a payment schedule tied to the completion of specific stages of the job. Never pay the full price up front.
  • Get references. Check with the Better Business Bureau, banks, suppliers, and neighbors. Always contact references provided to you.
  • Know your rights. You have three days to cancel after signing a contract for home improvements. All cancellations must be in writing.
New York's price gouging law takes effect upon the occurrence of triggering events that cause an “abnormal disruption of the market.” An “abnormal disruption of the market” is defined as “any change in the market, whether actual or imminently threatened,” that results from triggering events such as “weather events, power failures, strikes, civil disorder, war, military action, national or local emergency, or other causes.” During an abnormal disruption of the market like a major weather event, all parties within the chain of distribution for any essential consumer goods or services are prohibited from charging unconscionably excessive prices. “Consumer goods” are defined by the statute as “those used, bought or rendered primarily for personal, family or household purposes.” For example, gasoline, which is vital to the health, safety, and welfare of consumers, is a “consumer good” under the terms of the statute. Therefore, retailers may not charge unconscionably excessive prices for gasoline during an abnormal disruption of the market.
New York's price gouging law does not specifically define what constitutes an “unconscionably excessive price.” However, the statute provides that a price may be unconscionably excessive if: the amount charged represents a gross disparity between the price of the goods or services which were the subject of the transaction and their value measured by the price at which such consumer goods or services were sold or offered for sale by the defendant in the usual course of business immediately prior to the onset of the abnormal disruption of the market.
Any New Yorkers who believe they have been the victim of price gouging should call the Attorney General's office at 800-771-7755 or visit www.ag.ny.gov/price-gouging-complaint-form to file a complaint.

A.G. Schneiderman Announces $45 Million Multi-State Settlement With PHH Mortgage Corporation


Agreement with 49 States, D.C., and 45 State Mortgage Regulators Holds PHH Accountable for Improper Mortgage Servicing Between 2009 and 2012; 1,600 New Yorkers Eligible for Payment

  Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced that 49 states, the District of Columbia and 45 state mortgage regulators reached a $45 million settlement with New Jersey-based mortgage lender and servicer PHH Mortgage Corporation. 

The settlement resolves allegations that PHH, the nation’s ninth largest non-bank residential mortgage servicer, improperly serviced mortgage loans from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2012. The agreement requires PHH to adhere to comprehensive mortgage servicing standards, conduct audits, and provide audit results to a committee of states. The settlement does not release PHH from liability for conduct that occurred beginning in 2013.
“The foreclosure crisis continues to devastate communities across New York. We have zero tolerance for the types of practices that helped create the crisis – and will hold mortgage companies to account,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “This settlement requires new mortgage servicing standards and ensures financial relief for homeowners harmed by PHH’s practices.”
The $45 million settlement includes $30.4 million in payments to borrowers, plus additional payments to states and mortgage regulators for costs and fees related to the investigation.
Borrowers who were subjected to PHH foreclosures during the eligible period will qualify for a minimum $840 payment, and borrowers who faced foreclosures that PHH initiated during the eligible period, but did not lose their home, will receive a minimum $285 payment. Approximately 1,600 New Yorkers are eligible for a payment. A settlement administrator will contact eligible payment recipients at a later date.

STATEMENT FROM BOROUGH PRESIDENT DIAZ RE: Gov. Cuomo’s ‘State of the State’ Address


  “In his speech today, Governor Cuomo outlined a clear progressive vision for protecting our most vulnerable citizens, continued economic development and job creation, a fairer criminal justice system, a more equitable educational system, greater infrastructure investment and a plan for addressing sexual harassment in New York State.

“In the face of a hostile Washington, it is up to state and local governments to develop plans to keep our city and state moving in a positive direction. Today, Governor Cuomo did just that.

“I have been proud to partner with Governor Cuomo on a variety of projects and issues during my tenure as borough president, and I look forward to continuing to work with him to make our city and state work for everyone,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.

News from Councilman Mark Gjonaj : Swearing In




Dear Friends,
Yesterday, I officially swore in to be the NYC Councilman representing the13th District in the Bronx, I am once again thankful to the people of the  District for entrusting me to be their representative in NYC Council. I pledge  to continue fighting for a better Bronx and I am eager to get to work representing all of the unique and diverse neighborhoods. As we begin this New Year I would like to remind you that our District Office will be temporarily located at 3040 E. Tremont Ave. Room 104 , Bronx, NY 10461.  Please stop by or call the district office at 718-931-1721. If you would like to receive updates and stay informed, please ask our office staff to be added to my email list. Wishing you a happy a prosperous New Year and looking forward to working together.

Councilman Mark Gjonaj