Carmel Attorney Pleads Guilty In White Plains Federal Court To Tax Evasion And Failure To Pay Over Payroll Taxes

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Jonathan D. Larsen, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”), announced today FRANCIS J. O’REILLY, a Carmel attorney, pled guilty to failure to pay over payroll taxes and tax evasion for the calendar year 2015.  O’REILLY pled guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisa Margaret Smith. 

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “Francis O’Reilly is an attorney who has been in practice for three decades.  He certainly ought to know his obligations under the law at least as well as any non-lawyer.  And yet, today he admitted that he failed to pay over payroll taxes for years, and failed to report personal income and pay taxes due on that for years as well.  Now O’Reilly awaits sentencing for his crimes.”

IRS-CI Special Agent-in-Charge Jonathan D. Larsen said:  “Francis O’Reilly spent over two decades trying to evade his personal and business tax obligations using a multitude of schemes.  Not only did Mr. O’Reilly evade his own personal tax obligations, but he also stole payroll taxes collected from his own employees.  It is ironic that Mr. O’Reilly specialized in criminal defense, as his actions in this case are wholly criminal.  As we enter the beginning of the tax filing season, it’s important to remember the consequences associated with tax fraud and tax evasion.  Today’s guilty plea demonstrates to Mr. O’Reilly and all other criminals that these types of offenses will not be tolerated.  IRS-CI appreciates the assistance of the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York in helping to bring Mr. O’Reilly to justice.”

According to the allegations contained in the Information to which O’REILLY pled guilty and statements made in court:       

In or about 1989, O’REILLY was admitted to practice law in New York State.  At all relevant times, O’REILLY was a self-employed attorney who maintained a law practice in Putnam County, New York (the “O’Reilly Law Practice”).  The O’Reilly Law Practice specialized in, among other things, bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and criminal defense.

O’REILLY operated the O’Reilly Law Practice as a sole proprietorship.  In the calendar year 2015, O’REILLY had between approximately three and eight paid employees.  As the owner and operator of the O’Reilly Law Practice, O’REILLY exercised control over the O’Reilly Law Practice’s financial affairs and was a responsible person under federal law for collecting, truthfully accounting for, and paying over payroll taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). 

During the calendar year 2015, O’REILLY withheld payroll taxes from the salaries of some employees of the O’Reilly Law Practice and filed Forms 941, Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Returns, reporting substantial amounts of payroll taxes due and owing to the IRS.  However, O’REILLY failed to pay over the payroll taxes for employees of the O’Reilly Law Practice to the IRS as required by law.  Instead, O’REILLY spent the withheld payroll taxes, which O’REILLY was required to hold in trust for the United States Government, on personal and business expenses.

O’REILLY’s failure to pay over payroll taxes for 2015 was part of a long-running course of conduct.  Between 1997 and 2018, O’REILLY failed to pay over a total of approximately $155,771 in payroll taxes, resulting in a liability of approximately $232,283 after interest and penalties.

In addition to failing to pay over payroll taxes to the IRS, O’REILLY also committed personal tax evasion.  During the calendar year 2015, O’REILLY withdrew approximately $119,427 from his attorney trust account at KeyBank (the “Attorney Trust Account”) for personal use.  O’REILLY did not report the income he realized from the Attorney Trust Account on his 2015 Form 1040, United States Individual Income Tax Return, which O’REILLY prepared and filed with the IRS in or about April 2016.  Instead, O’REILLY’s 2015 Form 1040 declared only approximately $58,223 in business income and a corresponding tax liability in the approximate amount of $14,403, which O’REILLY did not pay. 

O’REILLY’s conduct with respect to his personal income taxes in 2015 was also part of a long-running tax evasion scheme.  During the calendar years 2013 through 2017, O’REILLY withdrew a total of approximately $481,673 from his Attorney Trust Account for personal use.  O’REILLY did not pay taxes on this income and did not report it on his federal individual tax returns.  In addition, O’REILLY failed to pay most of the taxes that O’REILLY reported on his tax returns for the calendar years 2007 through 2015 and 2018.  In total, in the calendar years 2007 through 2018, O’REILLY evaded the payment of approximately $566,027 in personal federal income taxes, including interest and penalties.

In or about late 2016, in an effort to settle his outstanding tax liabilities, including his personal tax liabilities for the calendar years 2002 through 2015 and payroll tax liabilities for the period 2006 through 2015, O’REILLY submitted an offer in compromise to the IRS proposing to settle at least approximately $691,561 in outstanding tax liabilities for merely $12,400.  In the 2016 offer in compromise, which O’REILLY signed under penalty of perjury, O’REILLY made several material misstatements and omissions regarding his income and assets.  Among other things, O’REILLY’s offer in compromise: (a) failed to disclose the existence of O’REILLY’s Attorney Trust Account, from which, as described above, O’REILLY drew substantial income; (b) failed to disclose real property and land that O’REILLY owned in Socorro County, New Mexico; and (c) failed to disclose a 2010 Lincoln vehicle that O’REILLY had recently purchased for approximately $16,000.

O’REILLY, 61, of Danbury, Connecticut, pled guilty to one count of failing to pay over payroll taxes and one count of tax evasion for the calendar year 2015, each of which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.  As part of the plea agreement, O’REILLY has agreed to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of at least $801,969.  Sentencing is scheduled for April 22, 2020, at 2:00 p.m., before U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas.

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.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding work of IRS Criminal Investigation in this case.

This case is being prosecuted by the Office’s White Plains Division. Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Jonathan D. Larsen, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”), announced today FRANCIS J. O’REILLY, a Carmel attorney, pled guilty to failure to pay over payroll taxes and tax evasion for the calendar year 2015.  O’REILLY pled guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisa Margaret Smith. 

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “Francis O’Reilly is an attorney who has been in practice for three decades.  He certainly ought to know his obligations under the law at least as well as any non-lawyer.  And yet, today he admitted that he failed to pay over payroll taxes for years, and failed to report personal income and pay taxes due on that for years as well.  Now O’Reilly awaits sentencing for his crimes.”

IRS-CI Special Agent-in-Charge Jonathan D. Larsen said:  “Francis O’Reilly spent over two decades trying to evade his personal and business tax obligations using a multitude of schemes.  Not only did Mr. O’Reilly evade his own personal tax obligations, but he also stole payroll taxes collected from his own employees.  It is ironic that Mr. O’Reilly specialized in criminal defense, as his actions in this case are wholly criminal.  As we enter the beginning of the tax filing season, it’s important to remember the consequences associated with tax fraud and tax evasion.  Today’s guilty plea demonstrates to Mr. O’Reilly and all other criminals that these types of offenses will not be tolerated.  IRS-CI appreciates the assistance of the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York in helping to bring Mr. O’Reilly to justice.”

According to the allegations contained in the Information to which O’REILLY pled guilty and statements made in court:       

In or about 1989, O’REILLY was admitted to practice law in New York State.  At all relevant times, O’REILLY was a self-employed attorney who maintained a law practice in Putnam County, New York (the “O’Reilly Law Practice”).  The O’Reilly Law Practice specialized in, among other things, bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and criminal defense.

O’REILLY operated the O’Reilly Law Practice as a sole proprietorship.  In the calendar year 2015, O’REILLY had between approximately three and eight paid employees.  As the owner and operator of the O’Reilly Law Practice, O’REILLY exercised control over the O’Reilly Law Practice’s financial affairs and was a responsible person under federal law for collecting, truthfully accounting for, and paying over payroll taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). 

During the calendar year 2015, O’REILLY withheld payroll taxes from the salaries of some employees of the O’Reilly Law Practice and filed Forms 941, Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Returns, reporting substantial amounts of payroll taxes due and owing to the IRS.  However, O’REILLY failed to pay over the payroll taxes for employees of the O’Reilly Law Practice to the IRS as required by law.  Instead, O’REILLY spent the withheld payroll taxes, which O’REILLY was required to hold in trust for the United States Government, on personal and business expenses.

O’REILLY’s failure to pay over payroll taxes for 2015 was part of a long-running course of conduct.  Between 1997 and 2018, O’REILLY failed to pay over a total of approximately $155,771 in payroll taxes, resulting in a liability of approximately $232,283 after interest and penalties.

In addition to failing to pay over payroll taxes to the IRS, O’REILLY also committed personal tax evasion.  During the calendar year 2015, O’REILLY withdrew approximately $119,427 from his attorney trust account at KeyBank (the “Attorney Trust Account”) for personal use.  O’REILLY did not report the income he realized from the Attorney Trust Account on his 2015 Form 1040, United States Individual Income Tax Return, which O’REILLY prepared and filed with the IRS in or about April 2016.  Instead, O’REILLY’s 2015 Form 1040 declared only approximately $58,223 in business income and a corresponding tax liability in the approximate amount of $14,403, which O’REILLY did not pay. 

O’REILLY’s conduct with respect to his personal income taxes in 2015 was also part of a long-running tax evasion scheme.  During the calendar years 2013 through 2017, O’REILLY withdrew a total of approximately $481,673 from his Attorney Trust Account for personal use.  O’REILLY did not pay taxes on this income and did not report it on his federal individual tax returns.  In addition, O’REILLY failed to pay most of the taxes that O’REILLY reported on his tax returns for the calendar years 2007 through 2015 and 2018.  In total, in the calendar years 2007 through 2018, O’REILLY evaded the payment of approximately $566,027 in personal federal income taxes, including interest and penalties.

In or about late 2016, in an effort to settle his outstanding tax liabilities, including his personal tax liabilities for the calendar years 2002 through 2015 and payroll tax liabilities for the period 2006 through 2015, O’REILLY submitted an offer in compromise to the IRS proposing to settle at least approximately $691,561 in outstanding tax liabilities for merely $12,400.  In the 2016 offer in compromise, which O’REILLY signed under penalty of perjury, O’REILLY made several material misstatements and omissions regarding his income and assets.  Among other things, O’REILLY’s offer in compromise: (a) failed to disclose the existence of O’REILLY’s Attorney Trust Account, from which, as described above, O’REILLY drew substantial income; (b) failed to disclose real property and land that O’REILLY owned in Socorro County, New Mexico; and (c) failed to disclose a 2010 Lincoln vehicle that O’REILLY had recently purchased for approximately $16,000.

*                *                *

O’REILLY, 61, of Danbury, Connecticut, pled guilty to one count of failing to pay over payroll taxes and one count of tax evasion for the calendar year 2015, each of which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.  As part of the plea agreement, O’REILLY has agreed to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of at least $801,969.  Sentencing is scheduled for April 22, 2020, at 2:00 p.m., before U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas.

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.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding work of IRS Criminal Investigation in this case.

This case is being prosecuted by the Office’s White Plains Division. Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Jonathan D. Larsen, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”), announced today FRANCIS J. O’REILLY, a Carmel attorney, pled guilty to failure to pay over payroll taxes and tax evasion for the calendar year 2015.  O’REILLY pled guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lisa Margaret Smith. 

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “Francis O’Reilly is an attorney who has been in practice for three decades.  He certainly ought to know his obligations under the law at least as well as any non-lawyer.  And yet, today he admitted that he failed to pay over payroll taxes for years, and failed to report personal income and pay taxes due on that for years as well.  Now O’Reilly awaits sentencing for his crimes.”

IRS-CI Special Agent-in-Charge Jonathan D. Larsen said:  “Francis O’Reilly spent over two decades trying to evade his personal and business tax obligations using a multitude of schemes.  Not only did Mr. O’Reilly evade his own personal tax obligations, but he also stole payroll taxes collected from his own employees.  It is ironic that Mr. O’Reilly specialized in criminal defense, as his actions in this case are wholly criminal.  As we enter the beginning of the tax filing season, it’s important to remember the consequences associated with tax fraud and tax evasion.  Today’s guilty plea demonstrates to Mr. O’Reilly and all other criminals that these types of offenses will not be tolerated.  IRS-CI appreciates the assistance of the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York in helping to bring Mr. O’Reilly to justice.”

According to the allegations contained in the Information to which O’REILLY pled guilty and statements made in court:       

In or about 1989, O’REILLY was admitted to practice law in New York State.  At all relevant times, O’REILLY was a self-employed attorney who maintained a law practice in Putnam County, New York (the “O’Reilly Law Practice”).  The O’Reilly Law Practice specialized in, among other things, bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and criminal defense.

O’REILLY operated the O’Reilly Law Practice as a sole proprietorship.  In the calendar year 2015, O’REILLY had between approximately three and eight paid employees.  As the owner and operator of the O’Reilly Law Practice, O’REILLY exercised control over the O’Reilly Law Practice’s financial affairs and was a responsible person under federal law for collecting, truthfully accounting for, and paying over payroll taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). 

During the calendar year 2015, O’REILLY withheld payroll taxes from the salaries of some employees of the O’Reilly Law Practice and filed Forms 941, Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Returns, reporting substantial amounts of payroll taxes due and owing to the IRS.  However, O’REILLY failed to pay over the payroll taxes for employees of the O’Reilly Law Practice to the IRS as required by law.  Instead, O’REILLY spent the withheld payroll taxes, which O’REILLY was required to hold in trust for the United States Government, on personal and business expenses.

O’REILLY’s failure to pay over payroll taxes for 2015 was part of a long-running course of conduct.  Between 1997 and 2018, O’REILLY failed to pay over a total of approximately $155,771 in payroll taxes, resulting in a liability of approximately $232,283 after interest and penalties.

In addition to failing to pay over payroll taxes to the IRS, O’REILLY also committed personal tax evasion.  During the calendar year 2015, O’REILLY withdrew approximately $119,427 from his attorney trust account at KeyBank (the “Attorney Trust Account”) for personal use.  O’REILLY did not report the income he realized from the Attorney Trust Account on his 2015 Form 1040, United States Individual Income Tax Return, which O’REILLY prepared and filed with the IRS in or about April 2016.  Instead, O’REILLY’s 2015 Form 1040 declared only approximately $58,223 in business income and a corresponding tax liability in the approximate amount of $14,403, which O’REILLY did not pay. 

O’REILLY’s conduct with respect to his personal income taxes in 2015 was also part of a long-running tax evasion scheme.  During the calendar years 2013 through 2017, O’REILLY withdrew a total of approximately $481,673 from his Attorney Trust Account for personal use.  O’REILLY did not pay taxes on this income and did not report it on his federal individual tax returns.  In addition, O’REILLY failed to pay most of the taxes that O’REILLY reported on his tax returns for the calendar years 2007 through 2015 and 2018.  In total, in the calendar years 2007 through 2018, O’REILLY evaded the payment of approximately $566,027 in personal federal income taxes, including interest and penalties.

In or about late 2016, in an effort to settle his outstanding tax liabilities, including his personal tax liabilities for the calendar years 2002 through 2015 and payroll tax liabilities for the period 2006 through 2015, O’REILLY submitted an offer in compromise to the IRS proposing to settle at least approximately $691,561 in outstanding tax liabilities for merely $12,400.  In the 2016 offer in compromise, which O’REILLY signed under penalty of perjury, O’REILLY made several material misstatements and omissions regarding his income and assets.  Among other things, O’REILLY’s offer in compromise: (a) failed to disclose the existence of O’REILLY’s Attorney Trust Account, from which, as described above, O’REILLY drew substantial income; (b) failed to disclose real property and land that O’REILLY owned in Socorro County, New Mexico; and (c) failed to disclose a 2010 Lincoln vehicle that O’REILLY had recently purchased for approximately $16,000.

*                *                *

O’REILLY, 61, of Danbury, Connecticut, pled guilty to one count of failing to pay over payroll taxes and one count of tax evasion for the calendar year 2015, each of which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.  As part of the plea agreement, O’REILLY has agreed to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of at least $801,969.  Sentencing is scheduled for April 22, 2020, at 2:00 p.m., before U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Karas.

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.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding work of IRS Criminal Investigation in this case.

MAYOR DE BLASIO AND CITY COUNCIL SPEAKER JOHNSON ANNOUNCE APPOINTEES TO CLIMATE ADVISORY BOARD AHEAD OF FIRST MEETING

The Climate Advisory Board was enacted by Local Law 97, one of the most ambitious plans for reducing emissions in New York City.]

  Mayor Bill de Blasio and Speaker Corey Johnson announced today the appointment of fifteen individuals to the New York City Climate Advisory Board ahead of the board’s first meeting today.

Mayor de Blasio and City Council Speaker Corey Johnson are committed to making NYC a global leader in the fight against climate change – and the Department of Buildings is taking a lead role in this effort. Buildings currently account for approximately two-thirds of greenhouse gas emissions in NYC, and the Mayor has pledged that the city will be carbon neutral by 2050.

Local Law 97 is one of the most ambitious plans for reducing emissions in New York City, enacting the Climate Advisory Board to provide advice and recommendations in order to optimize implementation and realize reductions in emissions from buildings. Local Law 97 was included in the Climate Mobilization Act (CMA), passed by the City Council in April 2019, and part of the Mayor’s New York City Green New Deal.

This landmark package of new and aggressive mandates reflects the urgent nature of the issue they aim to address. Other provisions of the CMA aimed at reducing emissions from buildings include establishing an Office of Sustainability within the Department, requiring most new building projects to have solar panels or a green roof covering 100% of unoccupied roof space, and requiring all buildings over 25,000 square feet to post energy efficiency grade signs by mid-2020.

“With New York City’s Green New Deal, we are leading in the fight against global warming. These appointees to the Climate Advisory Board will ensure we are realizing our goal of reducing building emissions and making New York City carbon neutral by 2050” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“Progressive cities like ours must lead the way on climate change, and that’s exactly what this Council did with Local Law 97. The Council is proud of its appointees to the Climate Advisory Board and looks forward to working with them and with the administration’s appointees to continue the fight against climate change” said City Council Speaker Corey Johnson.

The Local Law 97 Advisory Board is chaired by DOB’s Chief Sustainability Officer, and comprised of 16 appointees, with eight appointments made by Mayor de Blasio, and eight appointments made by City Council Speaker Corey Johnson. The Board members are architects, engineers, property owners, representatives from the business sector and public utilities, environmental justice advocates, and tenant advocates. In addition to providing guidance, the Advisory Board is also required to prepare and submit periodic reports on the results of implementation once the law is fully in effect.

The appointees are:

Jill Lerner

Jill Lerner is Managing Principal at Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, where she leads award-winning projects in both the public and private sectors in New York City, across the United States and around the world. With a background of over 40 years of practice, Jill focuses, in particular, on complex infrastructure and institutional work, for which she is responsible for all aspects of project management and design, and serves the primary client contact during all phases, from initial programming, planning, and conceptual design through construction and project close-out.

Fiona Cousins

Fiona Cousins is an Arup Fellow and a member of Arup’s Americas Region Board. She helps lead the sustainability, building engineering and data strategies teams in Arup’s New York office, and directs technical and research investments for the Americas Region. She is a mechanical engineer by profession and has spent much of her career engaged in HVAC design, with an area of specialization in thermal comfort and energy efficiency. She has extensive project experience, including the design of museums, archives, trading floors, laboratories, libraries and performing art centers.

Tony Malkin

Anthony E. Malkin is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. He joined its predecessor entities in 1989. Mr. Malkin has been a leader in existing building energy efficiency retrofits through coordinating the team of Clinton Climate Initiative, Johnson Controls, JLL, and Rocky Mountain Institute in a groundbreaking project at the Empire State Building. Mr. Malkin led the development of standards for energy efficient office tenant installations which is now known as the Tenant Energy Optimization Program at the Urban Land Institute.

Kyle Kimball

Kyle Kimball is vice president of Government, Regional & Community Affairs for Consolidated Edison of New York. He directs the company’s government and community relations activities in New York City, Albany, and Washington, D.C. He manages the company’s relationships with policy makers at all levels of government, guides political and policy issues, and oversees lobbying efforts. Mr. Kimball joined Con Edison in June 2015.

Peggy Shepard

Peggy Shepard is co-founder and executive director of WE ACT for Environmental Justice and has a long history of organizing and engaging Northern Manhattan residents in community-based planning and campaigns to address environmental protection and environmental health policy locally and nationally. She has successfully combined grassroots organizing, environmental advocacy, and environmental health community-based participatory research to become a national leader in advancing environmental policy and the perspective of environmental justice in urban communities — to ensure that the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment extends to all.

Angela Pinsky

Angela Pinsky currently serves as Executive Director of ABNY. Angela is dedicated to promotion of New York City and civic dialogue through the expansion and evolution of ABNY's membership, as well as ABNY's signature power breakfasts. Prior to joining ABNY, Angela served as Senior Vice President for Management Services and Government Affairs at the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) where she was responsible for REBNY’s commercial and residential Management Divisions and the lead on building code, sustainability and energy, and federal issues that impact New York City real estate.

Donna Chiu

Donna Chiu is a Supervising Attorney in MFJ’s housing unit. Ms. Chiu recently returned to MFJ where she started her legal career as a housing attorney. Prior to returning to MFJ, she was the Director of Housing and Community Services at Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE), a non-profit, community-based organization. At AAFE, Ms. Chiu led a team comprised of attorney, organizer and housing advocate to provide legal representation, organize and empower non-English speaking immigrants in Queens and Chinatown to stand up to their predatory equity landlords and fight back against tenant harassment. 

Scott Frank

Scott Frank serves as a Managing Partner at Jaros, Baum & Bolles. Since joining the firm in 1987, Mr. Frank has led the firm’s team of experienced professionals in the areas of HVAC design. Mr. Frank also leads the Sustainable Design practice area at JB&B, including conducting rigorous feasibility studies to maximize energy conservation in buildings. He has also been actively involved with supporting the Mayor’s One City Built to Last plan for reducing city-wide carbon emissions by 80% before the year 2050. Specifically, Mr. Frank served on the Mayor’s Task Force in 2017 focused on developing a framework for managing carbon emissions for the city’s more than 1 million buildings, including developing specific recommendations for incremental policy changes as well as technical recommendations for retrofitting existing buildings to improve energy performance.

Donna De Costanzo

Donna De Costanzo advocates for the implementation of policies that increase energy efficiency and renewable energy deployment as well as promote sustainable communities and smart growth, with a primary focus on New York State and New York City. Prior to NRDC, De Costanzo was counsel to the New York City Council’s Committee on Environmental Protection, where she advised the speaker and council members on environmental policy and crafted legislation on various issues, including sustainability planning, climate change, clean energy, air and water quality, endangered species, and green procurement.

David Pollock

David Pollock is the associate executive director and director, public policy and Jewish security of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC), the central coordinating and resource body for over 60 major Jewish organizations in the metropolitan New York area. He has authored multiple books and is a Research Investigator at John Jay College for Criminal Justice.

Pete Sikora

Pete Sikora is the Climate and Inequality Campaigns Director for New York Communities for Change, where he creates and implements policy and corporate campaigns against climate change and inequality, including leading a campaign to win fossil fuel divestment commitment by New York City.

Howard Styles

As the Training Director for Local 94, Howard implements, promotes and oversees various courses for the training program. Howard is constantly reshaping the program to meet the needs of the membership and their employers. Howard is a member of the I.U.O.E. training advisory committee. Howard is currently on BOMA’s preparedness and sustainability committees. He is a member of ASHRAE, the USGBC and the ICC and serves on Murphy Institute’s (CUNY) Labor Advisory Committee. Howard has also volunteered with organizations such as DOB and CWE and the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability.

Candis Tolliver

Candis Tolliver is the Political Director for Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ, focused on developing and overseeing the union’s multi-state political programs. She has previously worked as the Assistant Advocacy Director for Organizing for the New York Civil Liberties Union and as the Public Affairs Coordinator for Planned Parenthood of Nassau County.

Stas Zakrzewski

As a design partner, Mr. Zakrzewski is involved in projects from schematic design through construction administration and is responsible for determining with his clients the programmatic, budgetary and aesthetic goals of each project. He is responsible for hiring and coordinating the required consultants, performing as a project liaison that integrates their knowledge into the design process. He is responsible for the design team allocated to his projects and manages them through both technical and design tasks with the end goal being a cohesive construction set. Mr. Zakrzewski is involved through the bidding and negotiation of each of his projects, procuring contractor’s bids, review and analysis of all bids and final selection of the contractor.

Michael Yee

Michael Yee is the Associate Director for the Joint Industry Board of the Electrical Industry’s Education and Cultural Trust Fund. He is also President of JIB Catering and a member of the JIB Green Committee. Yee acts as the Treasurer for Local Union No. 3 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. 

NYC Parks wishes you an ever-green  New Year!

Wave Hill events January 2‒January 9

Sat, January 4

No Family Art Project

The Family Art Project resumes on January 11.

Sun, January 5

No Family Art Project

The Family Art Project resumes on January 11.

Sun, January 5

Garden and Conservatory Highlights Walk

Join a Wave Hill Garden Guide for a public tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds.

Meet at Perkins Visitor Center, 2PM

Mon, January 6

Wave Hill is closed.

Tue, January 7

Wave Hill House closed for Renovations

Historic Wave Hill House is closed through Friday, January 10, for renovations.

Wave Hill House

Wed, January 8

Wave Hill House closed for Renovations

Historic Wave Hill House is closed through Friday, January 10, for renovations.

Wave Hill House

Thu, January 9

Wave Hill House closed for Renovations

Historic Wave Hill House is closed through Friday, January 10, for renovations.

Wave Hill House

                         

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

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

ADMISSION – $10 adults, $6 students and seniors 65+, $4 children 6–18. Free Saturday and Tuesday mornings until noon. Free to Wave Hill Members and children under 6.

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

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

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

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

MAYOR DE BLASIO, UNIFORMED OFFICERS COALITION ANNOUNCE TENTATIVE CONTRACT AGREEMENT

City establishes uniformed pattern for 2017-2021 round of bargaining; almost 80 percent of workforce now under contract

  Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the City of New York has reached a tentative contract agreement with the Uniformed Officers Coalition (UOC). Today’s agreement means that the Administration has now reached agreements with nearly 80 percent of the City workforce. The UOC represents eight unions representing over 16,200 employees combined: the Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association, Correction Captains Association, Assistant Deputy Wardens/Deputy Wardens Association, Lieutenants Benevolent Association, Captains Endowment Association, Uniformed Fire Officers Association, Sanitation Officers Association, and the Uniformed Sanitation Chiefs Association.

This 36-month contract contains annual raises of 2.25%, 2.50% and 3.00%. This represents compounded wage increases of 7.95% over 3 years, a term seven months shorter than the pattern agreements reached with civilian unions representing nearly 75 percent of the workforce.

“The work of these uniformed officers is crucial to the safety and security of our city,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “These employees put their safety on the line every single day, and we are tremendously grateful for their service and proud to pay them a fair wage.”

“After an extensive negotiations process, I’m pleased to report that COBA has reached the best possible economic deal for our over 10,000 members, who will be seeing close to an 8% raise over a 36 month term,” said Elias Husamudeen, President of the Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association. “New York City Correction Officers are the unsung heroes of law enforcement and ensuring they receive the wages and benefits they deserve is paramount to the COBA. We now look forward to negotiating the non-economic components of this contract in the weeks ahead. I thank the leaders of the other uniformed unions who stood shoulder to shoulder with us throughout this process and I thank Mayor Bill de Blasio and OLR Commissioner Renee Campion for their efforts to negotiate this deal as well.”

“This core economic agreement acknowledges the special contribution of our uniformed members and provides a roadmap to resolve open items left over from the last round of bargaining.  I want to commend Commissioner Campion and her entire team on their openness and resourcefulness in creating an overall economic agreement that I can rely upon and I look forward to full resolution in the coming days so I can deliver a contract that meets the approval of my members,” said Roy T. Richter, President of the NYPD Captains Endowment Association.

“Today the UFOA was one of eight uniformed unions that agreed to a fair and appropriate collective bargaining agreement for 36 months.  This agreement recognizes the important contribution of the members of the UFOA and other uniformed unions to the City. We look forward to further individual unit bargaining to address issues unique to the UFOA membership,” said Jake Lemonda, President of the Uniformed Fire Officers Association.

“The Sanitation Officers Association is proud to have signed this three-year economic agreement. We appreciate the efforts of Commissioner Campion and her team in reaching this fair deal, and also appreciate the leadership of Elias Husamudeen and Roy Richter in leading this coalition of 8 unions," said Joseph Mannion, President of the Sanitation Officers Association, Local 444.

“The agreement we reached today is a fair economic package. I believe working with the Coalition allowed us to reach the best deal we could have achieved," said Patrick Ferraiuolo, President  of the Correction Captains Association.

Fair Wages

Because the UOC covers eight separate unions whose contracts will expire at different intervals between 2021 and 2023, each contract will extend a period of three years from the end of the previous contract. Wage increases will constitute 7.95% over three years, on the following pattern:

2.25% on the first day of Year 1

2.50% on the first day of Year 2

3.00% on the first day of Year 3

As was the case in 2014, each individual union within the coalition will have an opportunity to bargain on issues specific to their bargaining unit, within the same overall economic framework.

The net cost of this settlement in the financial plan is approximately $152 million through Fiscal Year 2024. This settlement incorporates health savings from the agreement reached with the Municipal Labor Committee (MLC).

The terms of the agreement must be approved by each unions’ membership.

2019: 30 YEARS OF TRANSFORMING PARKS As we close out our 30th anniversary, we celebrate another year of momentous work in communities across New York City. This year we helped 11,500 kids and over 1,000 seniors stay active through free sports programs; offered science-based environmental education programs to over 5,000 elementary and middle school students; reached 213,000 audiences through SummerStage, the PuppetMobile and the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre; and supported more than 24,000 neighborhood volunteers advocating for their local parks. If you are inspired by our work, or are still looking for that perfect gift on your holiday shopping list, please consider donating today.  There are so many ways to support us! Join today or give the gift of a SummerStage membership. Get the VIP experience to nearly 90 performances in our newly-renovated SummerStage venue in Central Par and in neighborhood parks across the city.  Through Amazon Smile, you can select City Parks Foundation as your charity when shopping. Amazon will donate a portion of your purchase directly to us. Patagonia will match all donations through the end of the year their Action Works Program. Just donate directly on our Action Works page to double your impact.  Visit our online SummerShop to pick up a gift for that music fan in your life. At our store, you can purchase commemorative SummerStage 2019 season merchandise - tote bags, hats, shirts & more- while helping to support our free arts programs. Looking to splurge on a unique gift this season? Become a part of SummerStage by naming a seat after the special SummerStage fan on your list. Pay tribute to a loved one or a major life event at our Central Park flagship venue. Be recognized by the festival you love with a custom plaque in our Stage Right Terrace seating area - the best seats in the house! Ask friends to give back in lieu of gifts and create a fundraiser on Facebook benefiting City Parks Foundation. You can also have donations made in your name directly on our website. Follow our 30 reasons to give social media campaign this holiday season to learn more about the work we do in local communities across New York City. DONATE NOW CATCH YETI, SET, SNOW! AT THE SWEDISH COTTAGE, FEATURING PUPPET MAKING WORKSHOPS  Yeti, Set, Snow! – an original story and marionette show produced by City Parks Foundation – has been captivating audiences this winter at the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre in Central Park. Bring family and friends together for the magical winter adventure of Yeti, Set, Snow! and join our puppet making workshops before select shows, too! Yeti, Set, Snow! tells the story of a young girl named Widget, and her friend, Twig, who encounter a yeti named Pascetti and a cat, Tinsel Kitty, on the first snow day. Pascetti, who lives on a mountaintop nearby, dislikes the snow. Through songs and outdoor activities, Pascetti learns not only that snow can be fun, but also that friendship is important. After select shows, kids can build felt hand and finger puppets of beloved characters from the show – Pascetti the Yeti and Tinsel Kitty. The workshop is $10 per participating child and includes instruction and materials to build one felt hand puppet and one felt finger puppet.  Upcoming workshop dates include 12/20, 1/4/20, 1/18, 2/1 and 2/15. BUY TICKETS IT'S MY PARK PHOTO CONTEST As we gear up for Partnerships for Parks' 25th anniversary celebration in 2020, we're expanding our annual It’s My Park photo contest to highlight the transformation that occurs when communities care for their local parks. There are three categories to enter: Throwback, Beginnings, and Then & Now. One winner will be selected per category. Review the guidelines and enter to win here or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Winning photos will be displayed at the It’s My Park Awards Reception in February 2020, and winners will receive a special prize. The deadline has been extended to December 20. Enter today! Generous support provided by ENTER CONTEST

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR DE BLASIO ON THE IMPEACHMENT OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

THE CITY OF NEW YORK

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR

NEW YORK, NY 10007 

   

“Donald Trump has time and time again put his personal interests above the needs of our country, sacrificing the integrity of our democracy, putting us at risk and damaging our relationships abroad. With today’s vote, the United States House of Representatives is performing their constitutional duty to ensure that no one, not even the President of the United States, is above the law. I especially want to thank Congressman Jerrold Nadler and other leaders from New York’s congressional delegation who have been unrelenting in seeking the truth and ensuring that justice prevails. Today is a solemn day in the history of the United States, but we can be proud that our democracy has prevailed.”

EDITOR'S NOTE:

 It is to bad the New York City Council can not Impeach Mayor Bill de Blasio. 

The Mayor may be removed from office by the Governor upon charges and after service upon him of a copy of the charges and an opportunity to be heard in his defense. Pending the preparation and disposition of charges, the governor may suspend the mayor for a period not exceeding thirty days. 

New York City Charter page 2- Chapter One -The Mayor S 9. Removal of Mayor.