The Advocate Bulletin - August 11, 2022

 

A Message from the Public Advocate

Friends and fellow New Yorkers,

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the fractures and fragilities in many of our systems, with devastating consequences for our physical health and the health of our city. It is our responsibility, as we continue to fight for recovery against waves of the virus, to learn the lessons of the pandemic’s peak rather than repeat the errors made on all levels of government. 

Now, in many areas, we are being tested on our ability to have learned those lessons. With MPV, or monkeypox, cases rising and with both information and vaccination in scarcity, it is clear that we have not fully learned our lessons on how to best protect public health, and need to act quickly to get New Yorkers informed and protected. With job vacancies in city positions at historic highs, it is clear we have not fully learned the lessons of the new economic reality, where hybrid and remote work options will be essential to adapt and compete. With rents and evictions skyrocketing, we have not fully learned the importance of securing safe, truly affordable housing. With a court battle over school funding, we have yet to learn our lesson on the need to deeply invest in, prioritize, and protect high-quality public education.

The pandemic has brought so much loss to our city – loss of life, livelihood, and ways of living. In that loss there are lessons about what has not worked for so long, and what can work moving forward. We have to learn these lessons, or we will continue to fail New Yorkers when tested. 

In Advocacy,

Jumaane

A Plan To End Homelessness

With the homelessness crisis in the city continuing to worsen, and as rents skyrocket alongside a rising tide of eviction cases, the Public Advocate and a committee of advocates and affected individuals released a plan to end homelessness as we know it in New York City by 2026.

The report reimagines the New York City budget with the aim of transforming the current housing and shelter administrative agencies into a system that provides housing for all; describes a supportive, humane, and safe shelter system for people in crisis; and details a blueprint for transitioning away from a system focused on temporary housing towards a system that offers permanent housing solutions for all New Yorkers. 

Read The Plan to End Homelessness

Protecting Maternal Health

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Today, the City Council voted to pass a key piece of legislation in the Public Advocate’s Maternal Health package. The bill will establish a maternal health bill of rights and ensure that pregnant individuals are informed of those rights through a public education campaign. Read more about the bill.

Information is essential to bodily autonomy and empowering people to seek the care they deserve, and being informed of one’s rights gives power to pregnant individuals as patients and as employees. The Public Advocate introduced this legislation in 2020, and since that time, like so many others across New York, his own family experienced a difficult maternal health journey before the birth of his daughter in February.

Even as our city faces daunting challenges, we can still celebrate our heritage and uplift our communities. Bronx Borough Advocate Socrates Solano recently helped commemorate the 33rd Annual Bronx Dominican Day Parade. Keep reading to learn how you can join us for the National Dominican Day Parade in Manhattan this Sunday.  Initiatives Round-up August 14, 10:30 AM - March with the Public Advocate at the National Dominican Day Parade! Participants will meet at 1369 Broadway, New York, NY 10018. Register to march in the National Dominican Day Parade and to celebrate Dominican heritage with our team!

MAYOR ADAMS, DCAS COMMISSIONER PINNOCK IMPLEMENT NEW TECHNOLOGY ON CITY FLEET CARS TO REDUCE SPEEDS AND SAVE LIVES

 

Intelligent Speed Assistance Pilot Program Restricts Fleet Operators From Exceeding Local Speed Limits

 

Adams Administration Continues to Take Bold Steps to Curb Speeding on City Streets, Including Redesign of More Than 1,000 Intersections, 24/7 Speed Cameras, Public Awareness Campaign

 New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) Commissioner Dawn M. Pinnock today announced the implementation of active intelligent speed assistance (ISA) technology in 50 city fleet vehicles as part of a new pilot program to reduce speed limits and save lives. ISA technology restricts a vehicle’s maximum speed, preventing it from exceeding local speed limits. The pilot program will offer an important tool to regulate and standardize safe driving among city employees and is the latest safety initiative to be implemented as part of the DCAS Safe Fleet Transition Plan (SFTP) for city fleet units.

 

“Speeding ruins lives, so we must take action to prevent it, and New York City is leading by example by implementing new technology to reduce speeds on city fleet vehicles,” said Mayor Adams. “Our streets must be livable for everyone, and this technology will ensure that speeding is impossible in city vehicles. We must ensure that everyone can share the street space safely, because traffic safety is public safety.”

 

“Under Mayor Adams’ leadership, the city is taking proactive steps to curb deadly speeding,” said First Deputy Mayor Lorraine Grillo. “This new pilot program by DCAS should serve as a model to other cities and states, showing how we can utilize technology to make our streets and roadways safer.”

“Speed governors can reduce fuel costs and, more importantly, save lives,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “During my time at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, I proudly supported a policy to mandate this innovative technology for 18-wheelers. I’m thrilled to see DCAS adopt this new pilot program and look forward to building on the administration’s ambitious efforts to tackle the epidemic of deadly speeding on city streets.”

“Implementing new strategies and technology to reduce driving speeds makes our fleet vehicles safer and will help protect all New Yorkers,” said DCAS Commissioner Pinnock. “As the standard bearer for driving safety, all city fleet operators have a responsibility to abide by local traffic laws, and that includes driving at or below the speed limit. The ISA pilot program will be instrumental in helping us all meet that mark and make our streets safer.”

 

“Intelligent speed assistance technology will help to ensure that the Department of Correction is doing its part to make the streets of our city safer for pedestrians and motorists alike,” said New York City Department of Corrections (DOC) Commissioner Louis Molina. “Investing in technology that will force drivers to slow down is a win for the agencies involved in the pilot, but also for residents in the communities we serve.”

 

“This administration is committed to making our streets safer and our city cleaner for New Yorkers, and we are proud to partner with DCAS on this pilot to implement ISA technology on our fleet,” said New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “Reducing speeds can help us slow down, reduce our emissions, and stay safe on the road. We are committed to exploring this technology and expanding it to more of our vehicles in the future if feasible.”

“BIC is excited to join DCAS and our other Vision Zero partners to participate in this innovative pilot program. The ISA program will explore new ways to make the operations of our city fleet safer and set a positive example for all New Yorkers on the road,” said New York City Business Integrity Commission (BIC) Commissioner and Chair Elizabeth Crotty. “BIC takes traffic safety seriously, and that includes our enforcement of safe driving in the commercial trade waste hauling industry as well as ensuring that the BIC fleet is driving safely.”

 

“Using telematics alerts, New York City has already cut excessive speeding by fleet units in more than half,” said DCAS Deputy Commissioner and New York City Chief Fleet Officer Keith Kerman. “DCAS will now implement active and passive intelligent speed assistance technology inside each pilot vehicle to further reduce illegal speeding and help keep New Yorkers safer.”

 

“Speeding is the number one cause of road fatalities in New York and similar cities, so we need to use everything in our toolbox to ensure people drive at safe speeds,” said Noah Budnick, interim executive director, Together for Safer Roads (TSR). “Technology companies and automakers are offering lifesaving solutions, like intelligent speed assist, to help drivers maintain safe speeds, and TSR applauds the City of New York for putting it to use. We have partnered with the city for over five years, and today's announcement is another example of New York's leadership in exploring new and emerging technologies to save lives.”

 

“This is a critical example of how to advance Vision Zero, and we commend New York City’s leadership,” said Leah Shahum, founder and director, Vision Zero Network. “Managing speeds is core to improving roadway safety, especially for those walking and biking, and this technology helps embed safe speeds in a fundamental, life-saving way.”

 

Unlike similar speed reduction technology, the active ISA program installed in the city fleet will not just set a maximum speed for the vehicle but will also be adaptable based on the local speed limit. There are two modalities of ISA: active and passive. With the active system, if the operator of a fleet vehicle attempts to drive over the local speed limit, the ISA technology will activate and slow the vehicle down automatically. Alternately, the passive system will alert the driver when they are driving above the speed limit. DCAS will also be expanding passive driver alerts through the city’s existing telematics system.

 

The pilot program — totaling more than $80,000 in retrofits and installations — is starting with vehicles from DCAS, DOC, BIC, NYC Parks, the New York City Department of Transportation, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, and the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission. DCAS will also work with NYC Parks to test similar ISA functionality that will come with 14 new, all-electric Ford Mach Es that rolled out this past spring. The program will be closely monitored over the next six months. Upon the pilot’s completion, DCAS will partner with the U.S. Department of Transportation Volpe Center to prepare a report on the initial implementation. Next steps will be determined based on a full assessment of the pilot program.

 

Through the SFTP, DCAS is specifying the highest level of safety available on new cars and trucks and implementing safety retrofits. DCAS has already installed over 65,000 safety improvements to city fleet units, including driver alert systems, telematics, truck side-guards, automatic braking, back-up alerts, dash cams, and heated mirrors.

 

In addition to the SFTP, DCAS has implemented a wide variety of safety measures as part of Vision Zero. Other measures include the city’s fleet first CRASH management system, the nation’s largest rollout of live vehicle tracking devices managed through the city’s Fleet Office of Real-Time Tracking, the nation’s leading program of truck safety guards, barring hands-free phone use by fleet operators and providing safety training to over 76,000 city employees.

 

Defendant Sentenced to 11 Years' Imprisonment for Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS and Al Nusra Front

 

Dilshod Khusanov Funded Travel of Brooklyn Resident to Wage Jihad in Syria

 Dilshod Khusanov, a citizen of Uzbekistan and a resident of Chicago, Illinois, was sentenced by United States District Judge William F. Kuntz II to 11 years’ imprisonment for attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) and Al-Nusra Front (ANF).   Khusanov pleaded guilty to the charge in October 2021.  When Khusanov completes his sentence, he will be deported to his native Uzbekistan.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Matthew G. Olsen, Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); and Keechant Sewell, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the sentence.

“With this sentence, Khusanov has been punished for providing blood money to support violent jihad in Syria and Iraq,” stated United States Attorney Peace.  “The significant punishment will deter those who are considering aiding foreign fighters determined to join terrorist organizations like ISIS and Al-Nusra Front.  Prosecuting those who assist terrorist organizations, here and abroad, will always be a priority of this Office.”

“This sentencing further exemplifies the need to remain vigilant in our ongoing fight against international terrorism,” said NYPD Commissioner Sewell. “Our nation’s security begins with the dedicated local, state, and federal law-enforcement officers who are committed to keeping us safe, and we will hold anyone who funds violence against the American people fully accountable. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, the Justice Department’s National Security Division, the FBI’s New York Field Office, and everyone else involved in this critical case for their outstanding work.”

According to court filings, in 2014 and 2015, Khusanov was a member of a financial support network that raised money for financing travel to Syria by individuals wishing to join and fight on behalf of ISIS and ANF. That network’s participants referred to it as “chayxona,” an Uzbek word which translates to the “tea house” or “tea party.”

Khusanov encouraged individuals to travel to Syria to wage violent jihad, or holy war.  For example, on September 28, 2014, he urged co-conspirator Akmal Zakirov to engage in jihad: “I hope that the only [reason] that is preventing you from jihad is some mistakes and flaws that are occurring among the mujahedeen [freedom fighters] you witness or hear about.”  Khusanov explained that it would be better to help those fighters, rather than criticize them.

Later in 2014, two Brooklyn residents, Abdurasul Juraboev and Akhror Saidakhmetov, began planning to travel to Syria to fight for ISIS.  A group of individuals in a domestic network based in New York and elsewhere, including Khusanov, worked together to raise and contribute money to help fund that trip to Syria.  In February 2015, Abror Habibov, Zakirov, Azizjon Rakhmatov, and Dilkhayot Kasimov discussed providing money to support Saidakhmetov’s travel and expenses in Syria.  Rakhmatov and Zakirov also agreed to solicit money from others to fund Saidakhmetov’s travel.  Zakirov contacted the defendant, then-based in Illinois, and asked him to contribute money for Saidakhmetov’s travel and to ask another individual to contribute money as well.  Khusanov agreed and arranged for money to be deposited in Zakirov’s bank account before Saidakhmetov’s scheduled departure.  Saidakhmetov was arrested in February 2015 at John F. Kennedy International Airport, as he boarded a plane bound for Istanbul, Turkey, a common transit point for foreign fighters bound for Syria.

Khusanov is the sixth of seven defendants convicted and sentenced in two prosecutions related to the plot.  Juraboev, Saidakhmetov, and Kasimov each were sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment; Rakhmatov was sentenced to 12 1/2 years’ imprisonment; and Zakirov was sentenced to time served after approximately seven-and-a-half years’ imprisonment.  Habibov is awaiting sentencing.

Governor Hochul Announces Approval of Major Upstate Transmission Line

 

New York Power Authority and National Grid's Smart Path Connect Project to Increase Delivery of Clean Energy and Advance New York's Climate Action Goals

 Governor Kathy Hochul announced today that the New York State Public Service Commission approved rebuilding a critically important 100-mile transmission line in the North Country that is needed to meet the requirements of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. The project, known as Smart Path Connect, represents an upgrade to the transmission backbone system of New York that will improve reliability throughout the State. It will complement the previously approved Smart Path and AC Transmission projects and it will reduce congestion and curtailments currently impacting renewable generation and reduce the costs of delivered power for customers. The Smart Path Connect project will eliminate existing curtailments and provide congestion cost savings of more than $447 million.

"New York is proud to be leading the clean energy revolution, using projects like Smart Path Connect to power communities across the state," Governor Hochul said. "As we work to advance our climate goals and create the jobs of the future, these projects are a critical component of our efforts to build out New York State's transmission system to deliver clean energy to all New Yorkers."

The North Country transmission line is owned and operated by the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and National Grid. The project consists of rebuilding approximately 100 miles of existing 230 kilovolt (kV) transmission lines to either 230 kV or 345 kV along with associated substation construction and upgrades along the existing right-of-way in Clinton, Franklin, St. Lawrence, Lewis and Oneida counties.

The project includes rebuilding all or parts of: NYPA's Moses-Willis 1 & 2 lines, NYPA's Willis-Patnode and Willis-Ryan lines; and National Grid's Adirondack to Porter line, the extension of the existing 230 kV Rector Road to Chases Lake Line 10, as well as connecting to NYPA's Smart Path (also known as Moses-Adirondack 1 & 2 or MA 1 & 2) right-of-way. The project is needed to realize the potential for renewable energy development in Northern New York.

Rory M. Christian, Chair of the PSC, said, "Once the Smart Path Connect project and the other projects like it are in service, they would provide a continuous 345 kV transmission system significantly improving the deliverability of renewable generation from northern and western New York. For its part, Smart Path will provide economic benefits through reduced curtailments. It will improve reliability, serve the interests of electric system economy and reliability, and provide increased transmission capability for renewable resources required to meet the State's obligations under the Climate Act."

New York is making significant upgrades and additions to the State's existing transmission and distribution systems to integrate new large-scale renewable energy projects into the State's energy supply. The projects approved today provide an important opportunity to achieve significant Climate Act benefits for the State as a whole.

In addition to approving the Smart Path Connect project, the PSC in separate, but related, actions decided the following:

• Canisteo Wind Transmission: Approved construction of a 14.6-mile, transmission line the towns of Canisteo, Jasper and Hornellsville, Steuben County, that will connect the 290.7-megawatt (MW) Canisteo Wind Farm to the electric grid. Canisteo is one of the largest wind farms in New York State. The transmission project is needed to connect the Canisteo Wind Farm to the State's electric grid and thereby provide renewable energy to the electric system in furtherance of the greenhouse gas emission reduction objectives set forth in the Climate Act.
• Central Hudson: Approved construction of Central Hudson Gas and Electric Corporation's transmission line known as the H&SB project, which calls for rebuilding 23.6-miles of transmission lines in the City of Kingston, and Towns of Ulster and Saugerties in Ulster County, and the Town of Catskill and Village of Catskill, Greene County. The rebuild will help meet the energy needs of local communities, address aging infrastructure and to enhance electric service reliability.
• Sound Cable: Approved NYPA's request to amend its plans for its Sound Cable transmission line, an existing 26-mile submarine transmission cable connecting the Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. 345 kV Sprain Brook substation, located in Westchester County, to the Long Island Power Authority East Garden City substation, located in Nassau County. This approval would enhance the reliability of the Sound Cable Project. Additionally, NYPA will install eight new underground utility vaults in Nassau County and replace fiber optic communication cables on the upland portions of the Sound Cable Project in Nassau and Westchester counties.

New York State's Nation-Leading Climate Plan

New York State's nation-leading climate agenda is the most aggressive climate and clean energy initiative in the nation, calling for an orderly and just transition to clean energy that creates jobs and continues fostering a green economy as New York State recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Enshrined into law through the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, New York is on a path to achieve its mandated goal of a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and to reach economy wide carbon neutrality. It builds on New York's unprecedented investments to ramp-up clean energy including over $35 billion in 120 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce buildings emissions, $1.8 billion to scale up solar, more than $1 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $1.6 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. Combined, these investments are supporting nearly 158,000 jobs in New York's clean energy sector in 2020, a 2,100 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011 and a commitment to develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035. Under the Climate Act, New York will build on this progress and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, while ensuring that at least 35 percent with a goal of 40 percent of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities, and advance progress towards the state's 2025 energy efficiency target of reducing on-site energy consumption by 185 trillion BTUs of end-use energy savings.

CEO Of Security Company Pleads Guilty To International Boiler Room Fraud Scheme

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that ROGER RALSTON, the CEO of DirectView Holdings, Inc. (“DirectView”), a Florida-based video surveillance and security company, pled guilty today to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud for defrauding elderly victims in connection with the fraudulent sale of stock and fake carbon credits as part of an international telemarketing scheme that caused nearly $16 million in losses.  RALSTON pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff.  Co-defendants Christopher Wright and Steven Hooper previously pled guilty and were sentenced to 52 months in prison and 42 months in prison, respectively, for their roles in the fraud.

According to the allegations in the Indictment, court filings, and statements made in Court:

From in or about 2009 up to and including in or about 2015, RALSTON and other co-conspirators engaged in a scheme to defraud victims in the United Kingdom of nearly $16 million through the sale of false, fraudulent, and materially misleading investments, and to launder the proceeds of the fraud through bank accounts in the United States and foreign countries.  RALSTON and his co-conspirators used the services of telemarketing call centers to identify and cold-call potential victims, who were primarily elderly or retired individuals residing in the United Kingdom.  Over a series of telephone calls, the telemarketers persuaded victims to invest money under various false and misleading pretenses, including the promise of short-term, high-yield, no-risk returns, when in fact the investments were high-risk, illiquid, and in some instances, entirely fictitious.  Many victims were persuaded to make additional investments under the false pretense that they would not be permitted to sell their holdings until they purchased more.  In reliance on the false representations and promises, the victims wired funds to various bank accounts in the United States, including in the Southern District of New York, in the names of corporate entities controlled by RALSTON.  RALSTON then mailed and emailed documents related to the fraudulent investments, including purchase contracts and investment certificates, to the victims.  Victims who tried to sell their investments found they were unable to do so.  The victims never received a refund on their principal or any return on their investments.  

In order to conceal the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the proceeds of the fraudulent scheme, RALSTON regularly transferred a substantial portion of the fraud proceeds from bank accounts in the United States, including in the Southern District of New York, to overseas bank accounts, including accounts in Cyprus, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, in the names of various shell companies controlled by RALSTON’s co-conspirators.

The nature of the particular fraudulent investment vehicles being marketed to the victims changed over time.  From in or about 2009 until in or about 2011, RALSTON and his co-conspirators sold DirectView stock to the victims based on telemarketers’ false representations and promises that the shares were a no-risk, short-term investment in a debt-free company, and that the shares were likely to increase over 100 percent in value in a short period of time.  In contrast to what RALSTON represented to victims, DirectView’s annual report filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission for the year ending December 31, 2010, contained dire warnings about the poor fiscal health of DirectView and the risk attendant in purchasing stock, including that the company “may be forced to cease operations” due to losses and cash flow problems, and purchasers “may find it extremely difficult or impossible to resell our shares.”

From in or about 2011 until in or about 2015, RALSTON and his co-conspirators engaged in the sale of fraudulent “carbon credits.”  The boiler room callers appealed to victims by claiming that the investments would be environmentally friendly and help address the climate crisis.  “Carbon credits,” which are issued as part of governmental and voluntary regulatory regimes, are permits representing the right to emit a certain number of tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. “Carbon offsets,” which are tied to particular carbon-dioxide emissions reducing projects, represent a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions, and can be purchased by individuals and companies to “offset” their or third parties’ “carbon-footprints.”  The victims were falsely promised that the carbon-related investments they purchased could be easily sold, carried no risk, and would yield a significant, short-term return.  In fact, the carbon credits and offsets that were sold to the victims were fake, and did not represent any actual carbon credits or offsets.  Ralston caused fraudulent carbon certificates to be created and sent to the victims.   

RALSTON, 53, of Florida, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.  As part of his guilty plea, RALSTON also agreed to forfeit $15,713,621.20 and to pay restitution in the same amount to victims of the scheme.  RALSTON is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Rakoff on December 13, 2022, at 4 p.m.

The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as RALSTON’s sentence will be determined by the judge.

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

FOUR MEN INDICTED IN SLAYING OF LA-BASED RAPPER

 

Defendants Allegedly Robbed, Shot Victim in Crotona Pharmacy

 Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that four men have been indicted for Murder and additional charges in the fatal shooting of an LA-based rapper who was in town for a performance as he left a pharmacy in Crotona.

 District Attorney Clark said, “The defendants allegedly attacked two men, robbing them of money, their phones, and jewelry. One of the men, Avanti Frowner, “Moneygang Vontae,” was in New York to perform, and needed medication at a pharmacy. He was shot and killed in this senseless crime.”

 District Attorney Clark said that defendant Isiah Garrett, 24, of 1721 Grand Avenue, has been charged with first-degree Murder, and he and defendants Allan Algarin, 23, of 2865 University Avenue, Nayshon White, 25, of 2235 Bathgate Avenue, and River Jones, 18, of 380 Main Street in New Rochelle have been charged with two counts of second-degree Murder, firstdegree Manslaughter, four counts of first-degree Robbery, two counts of second-degree Robbery, first-degree Gang Assault, two-counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon, and two counts of fifth-degree Criminal Possession of Stolen Property. Garrett and Jones were arraigned on August 9, 2022 before Bronx Supreme Court Justice George Villegas, and the other defendants were previously arraigned. All four defendants were remanded and are due back in court on October 26, 2022.

 According to the investigation, on June 9, 2022, at approximately 1:40 p.m. outside the Amazing Pharmacy at 595 East Tremont Avenue in the Crotona section of the Bronx, the defendants, excluding Jones, and a fifth man not yet apprehended allegedly approached Avanti Frowner, 27, who was a Los Angeles-based drill rapper, along with his friend outside of the pharmacy where Frowner had just purchased eye drops, and allegedly robbed the two of jewelry and cell phones. Frowner was beaten to the ground as all four defendants allegedly tried to rob him of his watch and money.

 During the robbery, Frowner was allegedly forced into the pharmacy at gunpoint and shot multiple times in the torso allegedly by Isiah Garrett. The attack was captured on surveillance video. Frowner was transported to Saint Barnabas hospital and died.

 River Jones was arrested in Westchester County, Isiah Garrett, Allan Algarin, and Nayshon White fled to Georgia and were apprehended together. Police are still searching for the fifth suspect.

 District Attorney Clark thanked Detective Miguel Alvarez of the 48 Precinct Squad, and Detective Patrick Sullivan of the Bronx Homicide Task Force, for their work in the investigation.

An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.

GUSTAVO RIVERA FOR STATE SENATE SLAMS INFLUX OF REAL ESTATE, CHARTER SCHOOL PAC MONEY PEDDLING LIES ABOUT CAMPAIGN, CALLS ON MIGUELINA CAMILO, ELECTED

 

“ENOUGH—LYING FOR VOTES IS DISQUALIFYING:” GUSTAVO RIVERA FOR STATE SENATE SLAMS INFLUX OF REAL ESTATE, CHARTER SCHOOL PAC MONEY PEDDLING LIES ABOUT CAMPAIGN, CALLS ON MIGUELINA CAMILO, ELECTED OFFICIALS TO DENOUNCE ADS, REJECT OUTSIDE SPENDING

 David Guirgis, spokesperson for the re-election campaign of Sen. Gustavo Rivera, released the following statement after an influx of false, negative ads about the Senator—paid for by real estate developers, charter school interests, and other dark money PACS—ran in newspaper ads, mailers, and digital media:  

“For years, Sen. Gustavo Rivera has been a steadfast champion for working Bronxites—fighting against anti-Semitism and working to keep our schools open, our healthcare funded, and our housing affordable. And for years, the corporate interests profiting off our backs have put a target on his: After refusing to sell out the Bronx, they want him out, period. Now, we’re seeing the depths they’ll go to do it. 

"Over the last few weeks, as it became clear that the Senator has momentum leading into the election, corporate and lobbyist money has poured into this race to prop up his opponent. It’s clear their right-wing tactics will stop at nothing in the final weeks to the primary, as they spread false information about the Senator’s record and relationships to communities within the district, and attack him with ridiculous, baseless accusations and policies he doesn't support. Enough is enough: lying for votes is dangerous, desperate and disqualifying. Miguelina Camilo, the Bronx Democratic Party, and elected officials across the state should immediately denounce these right-wing tactics and reject the hundreds of thousands of dollars propping up these lies to her benefit. 

"Leading into August 23, Senator Gustavo Rivera has a record he can stand on and a wide coalition of long-standing support, from elected officials like Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez and labor unions like 1199SEIU to progressive organizations and community leaders like the Working Families Party, Jewish Vote and Planned Parenthood. Instead of relying on real estate and charter school money to spread lies, Ms. Camilo should simply stand on her own record. If she can’t, that says everything you need to know about who to vote for.”

Statement from NYC Comptroller on MTA’s Congestion Pricing Plan and Environmental Review

 

City Comptroller Brad Lander issued the following statement on the new Congestion Pricing Plan and Environmental New York, NY – City Comptroller Brad Lander issued the following statement on the new Congestion Pricing Plan and Environmental Review released this morning by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority:

“This step towards the implementation of congestion pricing advances an urgently needed plan to address the traffic on our streets and the financial needs of our transit system.

“I’ve long called for New York City to join other forward-looking, world-class municipalities and implement a congestion pricing plan that will help fund improvements to our public transit system while cutting back on one of the greatest sources of greenhouse gas emissions.

“In the decade since congestion pricing was initially proposed, average traffic speeds in the Manhattan Central Business District plummeted 22% from an already crawling 9.1 mph to just 7.1 mph, and buses slowed even faster. The long-awaited implementation of congestion pricing will help speed up our snarled streets and improve commutes.

“Congestion pricing is also necessary to support the long-term financing the MTA must have to modernize our outdated signal system, make all our subway stations accessible, and expand and improve service.

“Environmental justice and equity are critical to designing the implementation of the congestion pricing program, and we look forward to digging into the details released today.

“While congestion pricing will be a necessary boon to our cash-strapped transit agency, mass transit ridership is still at roughly two-thirds of pre-pandemic levels and it’s long been true that farebox revenues are not enough to maintain and upgrade the nation’s largest transit system. We will need to look more ambitiously at state and regional approaches for revenue and investments to put the NYC metro transit system and our economy on solid footing for the long-term.

“Bringing New York City’s economy back strongly and inclusively demands swift implementation of congestion pricing to enable cleaner, faster, safer, and more affordable commutes for riders and drivers across the metropolitan area.”