Governor Hochul Urges President Biden to Mobilize Federal Government to Provide Shelter for Asylum Seekers Arriving in New York City

 

Governor Requests Support from FEMA, U.S. Department of Defense, and National Park Service

Governor Has Convened Members of Congress, County Executives, and Mayors to Discuss Statewide Response to Expiration of Title 42

Governor's Ongoing Response to Asylum Seeker Arrivals Includes $1 Billion in Aid in FY24 Budget, Mobilization of 1,500 National Guard Members, and Executive Order Increasing Available Resources

Governor Hochul's Letter to President Biden Can be Viewed Here

 Governor Kathy Hochul today issued a letter to President Biden, urging him to direct additional federal resources to the State of New York as it faces unprecedented numbers of asylum seekers set to arrive as Title 42 expires. Building on ongoing conversations with federal, state, and local leaders, earlier today, Governor Hochul convened meetings with New York's bipartisan Congressional delegation, the New York Association of Counties, and the New York Conference of Mayors to provide updates on the State's efforts to support asylum seekers and further aid needed to address this situation.

"New Yorkers are working together to welcome asylum seekers and provide the necessary shelter and resources for these individuals who are simply coming to our state looking for a better life," Governor Hochul said."For months, I have been urging our federal leaders to provide needed flexibility and additional support for New York as we handle unprecedented numbers of asylum seekers arriving in our state. I will continue working hand-in-hand with leaders from all levels of government to coordinate our statewide response and secure the resources we need to support these new arrivals."

Today's actions are Governor Hochul's latest efforts to address the arrival of asylum seekers in New York. Earlier this week, Governor Hochul issued an Executive Order that is providing the State with greater flexibility to procure the resources necessary for municipalities to support asylum seekers and allowing the State to increase the National Guard mobilization to 1,500 service members. Governor Hochul also worked with the Legislature to include a $1 billion funding commitment in the FY24 State Budget for New York City, including $741 million for shelter costs, $162 million to support the ongoing National Guard presence, $137 million for health care to support certain eligible asylum seekers, $26 million in public assistance, $25 million for the voluntary relocation of families to permanent housing and an additional $5 million for enhanced support through the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, and $10 million for legal assistance through the Office of New Americans.

Governor Hochul has consistently pushed for additional federal support, specifically regarding funding and shortened waiting periods before asylum seekers can legally work, in conversations with President Biden, DHS Secretary Mayorkas, Chief of Staff Zients, former Chief of Staff Klain and other federal officials. The full text of Governor Hochul's letter to the President is below:

Dear President Biden:

In anticipation of several thousand asylum seekers arriving in New York City every week, I am submitting this request for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to direct the Department of Defense (DOD) and the National Park Service (NPS) to provide New York State assistance through the immediate construction and operation of temporary shelters on federal lands and property to house individuals seeking political asylum. The use of a portion of Floyd Bennett Field within the Gateway National Recreation Area and other spaces on military installations, including naval resources, in and across the Northeast is necessary to utilize all available space to maintain critical and essential public services, specifically sheltering and housing.

As you are aware, in August 2021, the Director of the United States Center for Disease Control (CDC) issued a Public Health Reassessment and Order Suspending the Right to Introduce Certain Person from Countries Where a Quarantinable Communicable Disease Exists, also known as Title 42. This order prohibited migration into the United States by "covered noncitizens" traveling from Canada or Mexico (regardless of their country of origin) who would otherwise be introduced into a congregate setting in a port of entry or U.S. Border Patrol station at or near the U.S. land and adjacent coastal borders.

New York City (NYC) has exceeded capacity in its shelter system which includes providing temporary housing and support for over 36,700 migrants at 120 locations. NYC has opened dozens of Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers and short-term respite centers, which have occupied more than 40 percent of mid-level hotel stock in NYC.

Given the size of the of the humanitarian crisis, the State lacks the infrastructure, facilities, and resources necessary to meet the immediate demand to house and meet other basic needs of the large numbers of migrant arrivals. Federal support through FEMA, DOD and NPS assistance in constructing and operating temporary housing on military installations and at Floyd Bennett Field is necessary to maintain critical and essential public services, specifically sheltering and housing.

In furtherance of this request, I certify the following: I have determined that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State and the affected local government and that supplementary federal assistance is necessary; in response to this incident, I have taken appropriate action under State law and have directed the execution of the State Emergency Plan in accordance with the Stafford Act; and the State and local governments will reimburse FEMA for the non-Federal share of the cost of such work.

In accordance with 44 C.F.R. § 206.34, the State agrees that it will, with respect to this assistance: provide without cost to the United States all lands, easements, and rights-of-ways necessary to accomplish the approved work; hold and save the United States free from damages due to the requested work, and shall indemnify the Federal Government against any claims arising from such work; and assist the performing Federal agency in all support and local jurisdictional matters.

With Title 42 officially rescinded, and the anticipated weeks-long construction process it would take to construct temporary shelters, I ask for this request to be granted immediately.

Thank you for your consideration.

Governor Hochul's letter to President Biden can be viewed here.

United States Files Complaint Against Telecommunications Service Provider for Assisting and Facilitating Illegal Robocalls

 

 The Department of Justice, together with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), announced a civil enforcement action against XCast Labs, Inc. for allegedly violating the Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR) by assisting and facilitating illegal telemarketing campaigns.

According to a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, XCast Labs, Inc., provided voice over internet protocol (VoIP) services that transmitted billions of illegal robocalls to American consumers, including scam calls that fraudulently claimed to be from government agencies. These robocalls delivered prerecorded marketing messages, and many of them were delivered to numbers listed on the National Do Not Call Registry, failed to truthfully identify the seller of the services being marketed, falsely claimed affiliations with government entities, contained other false or misleading statements to induce purchases, or were transmitted with “spoofed” caller ID information. The complaint alleges that XCast Labs continued to allow its services to transmit these calls even after being alerted to their illegality.

The complaint seeks monetary civil penalties and a permanent injunction to prohibit the defendant from future violations.

“The Department of Justice is committed to stopping telecommunications providers from enabling unscrupulous telemarketers to bombard American consumers with illegal robocalls,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will continue to work with the FTC to enforce the Telemarketing Sales Rule.”

“XCast Labs played a key role in helping telemarketers flood homes with unlawful robocalls, including robocalls impersonating the Social Security Administration,” said Director Samuel Levine of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “VoIP providers like XCast Labs that bury their heads in the sand when their customers use their services to break the law can expect to hear from the FTC.”     

A complaint is merely a set of allegations that, if the case were to proceed to trial, the government would need to prove by a preponderance of the evidence.

The case is being handled by attorneys in the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch, including Trial Attorney Zachary A. Dietert, in conjunction with staff at the FTC’s Division of Marketing Practices. 

For more information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts, visit its website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch. For more information about the FTC, visit its website at https://www.FTC.gov.

Council Member Marjorie Velázquez - The Future of Boston Road

 

Good Afternoon Neighbors, 

 

This week, the New York City Council voted in favor of the 2560 Boston Road project rezoning. As New York City continues to navigate the growing housing crisis, we must identify opportunities that meet the needs of our communities, especially in the Bronx. 

 

One of the top concerns regarding housing surrounds the affordability of units and their compatibility with the average median income (AMI). The project at Boston Road is no different, and I’m happy to share that the applicant team is committed to pursuing a 100% affordable HPD (Department of Housing Preservation and Development) term sheet. This means incomes are capped at 90% of AMI, with most units targeting incomes below the max threshold. By utilizing HPD’s Mix and Match program, families with incomes of all ranges can reside in this new complex. 

 

To be clear - most units are below 90% of AMI, including 20% for households earning between $37-53K (which is 40% AMI), 25% for households earning between $47-67K, and 40% for households earning between $82-120K. That means that the average public school teacher in New York City, who earns $66,193 (salaries range between $55,275 to $80,721) and healthcare workers earn an average of $69,307 (salaries range between $51,193 to $76,902), and other occupations reflective of our community, would be able to afford these new units.

 

There is no evidence to show that a 100% affordable housing development will impact market rents in this neighborhood. In fact, an increase in available units would more likely lessen the demand and limit the rate of increased rents in the surrounding area. 50% of the units will be set aside for residents living within Bronx Community District 11, and recent census data show that the proposed income ranges in this building will be affordable to those within our community. 

 

The growing need for housing in our community is a daily struggle for many, and I know the full board and the public are not against affordable housing. As a community, we must ensure our neighbors have access to safe, affordable housing that meets their unique needs. I look forward to working with the community as this project unfolds, bringing much-needed housing and commercial and community spaces to benefit everyone. 

 

Thank you all for your contributions to this process and I look forward to seeing you around the district. 

 

Council Member Marjorie Velázquez

MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF ASYLUM SEEKER ARRIVAL CENTER, NINTH HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND RELIEF CENTER TO CONTINUE TO RESPOND TO ASYLUM SEEKER INFLUX

New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced the launch of the city’s first asylum seeker arrival center and the placement of what will be the city’s ninth Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center as hundreds of asylum seekers continue to arrive in New York City each day. The Roosevelt Hotel in Midtown Manhattan, which has been closed for nearly three years, will host the arrival center and deliver on a key commitment in Mayor Adams’ “Blueprint to Address New York City’s Response to the Asylum Seeker Crisis” — serving as a centralized intake center for all arriving asylum seekers and providing migrants with access to a range of legal, medical, and reconnection services, as well as placement, if needed, in a shelter or humanitarian relief center. Asylum seekers currently in the city’s care will also be able to visit the arrival center to access the host of services currently available to them. Beginning later this week, The Roosevelt Hotel will open up 175 rooms for children and families, until it is scaled to approximately 850 rooms. An additional 100 to 150 rooms will be held for asylum seekers in transition to other locations. With the number of asylum seekers arriving in New York City expected to rapidly accelerate as Title 42 has now lifted, Mayor Adams also renewed calls to the state and federal government for additional support as the city faces this crisis.

 

“With the opening of yet another humanitarian relief center, we continue to ask for our federal and state partners for a real decompression strategy and hope to open and operate temporary shelters across the state and nation, as New York City has reached its capacity,” said Mayor Adams. “New York City has now cared for more than 65,000 asylum seekers — already opening up over 140 emergency shelters and eight large-scale humanitarian relief centers in addition to this one to manage this national crisis. While this new arrival center and humanitarian relief center will create hundreds of good-paying, union jobs and provide the infrastructure to help asylum seekers reach their final destination, without federal or state assistance, we will be unable to continue treating new arrivals and those already here with the dignity and care that they deserve.”

 

“With the expiration of Title 42, we know that we may face an even larger number of individuals and families seeking asylum in New York City or passing through to their final destination,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “While we are responding to the immediate need, this is a time to, once again, call upon the state and federal government to do more to support the city’s efforts and share the burden of this humanitarian crisis.”

 

“New York City’s new arrival center consolidates social, medical, financial, and legal services under one roof to greet asylum seekers with the resources they need to complete their long journeys,” said Ted Long, MD, MHS, senior vice president, Ambulatory Care and Population Health, NYC Health + Hospitals. “The streamlining of these services will help asylum seekers more readily navigate their needs so that they can take their next steps. Our ninth Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center builds upon the success of our work at other centers supporting families with children, offering medical care, nutrition, mental health support, language access, connection to schools, technology, and reunification services. I am proud to be a part of the Adams administration that has met the demands of an unprecedented crisis with an unprecedented response.”

 

“This agreement is a win-win-win. It allows an iconic hotel to reopen its doors, hundreds of union workers to return to their good-paying jobs, and thousands of asylum seekers to have a safe place to stay,” said Rich Maroko, president, New York Hotel & Gaming Trades Council. “We are proud to have negotiated an extraordinary settlement with The Roosevelt Hotel that not only restores union jobs but also provides tens of millions of dollars in compensation for workers that were without jobs since the start of the pandemic. We thank Mayor Adams for his leadership and commitment to protecting the interests of workers while continuing to address the needs of migrant families.”

 

Asylum seekers arriving in New York City will be directed to the arrival center. In the coming weeks, services offered at the arrival center will include New York City Department of Education school enrollment, Fair Fares enrollment, IDNYC, health insurance enrollment, mental health counseling, reticketing, and various services offered by community-based organizations.

 

Since this humanitarian crisis began, New York City has — largely on its own — taken fast and urgent action, managing the arrival of a rapidly increasing number of buses across New York City with virtually no coordination from states sending them — opening 140 sites as emergency shelters and eight currently operating large-scale humanitarian relief centers already to shelter the 65,000+ asylum seekers who have arrived in New York City, standing up a navigation center to connect asylum seekers with critical resources, enrolling thousands of children in public schools through Project Open Arms, and more. 

NYPD Uniformed and Civilian Leaders Attend Day Long “In-Know-vation” Symposium

 

A Day of Collaboration and Ideas for the Police Commissioner’s Vision to “Step Forward” Together

New York City Police Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell announced that she gathered the NYPD’s entire leadership team together to attend an all-day “In-Know-vation Symposium” at the department’s training academy in College Point, Queens. The summit is a key element in the ongoing work to fulfill the Commissioner’s 2023 Strategic Plan, a detailed guide for charting the brightest possible future for the NYPD and the people it serves.

The symposium offers the department’s civilian and executive leaders, from across all five boroughs, an important chance to meet face-to-face to share ideas and take stock of their collective, significant achievements and to focus on improving public safety in New York City, enhancing partnerships, building a stronger workforce, policing through innovation, and the continued delivery of critical services for the public.

The summit featured presentations by law enforcement professionals, academics, and business leaders on topics such as the recent breakthroughs in policing, leadership and resilience, expanding partnership opportunities, and further supporting the NYPD’s most vital resource: the police officers and civilians who serve the public and protect the city.

The approximately 650 attendees, including uniformed commanders in the rank of Captain and above, and civilian executives in the rank of Director and above, heard from Department leadership including Police Commissioner Sewell, First Deputy Commissioner Edward A. Caban, and other members of the executive staff. Participants then attended various break-out sessions held throughout the day to share information and insights about their lived experience in public service. Presenters at these sessions included officials from the U.S. and United Kingdom; members of the National Guard; professionals from LinkedIn, the Target Corporation, and Marvel Entertainment, as well as the women and men of the NYPD.

“It is crucial for our entire leadership team to take time to connect in person -- to think, to discuss, and to share ideas on how we further fulfill our daily public safety mission,” Police Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell said.

The Commissioner continued: “Our civilian and uniformed leaders are among the hardest working and talented law enforcement professionals in the country – a group whose collective drive to never stop innovating is a tremendous benefit to the department and the city. This symposium was an opportunity to sharpen our focus on improving this great organization and continuing to strive for excellence in all we do.”

Construction Company Principal Sentenced To Three Months In Prison In Connection With Worker Death On Construction Site In Poughkeepsie

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that ONEKEY, LLC, a New Jersey construction company, was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay a $218,417 fine and its principal, FINBAR O’NEILL, was sentenced to three months in prison by U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul E. Davison, following their guilty plea to willfully violating Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) regulations, resulting in the death of a construction worker (“Victim-1”) in Poughkeepsie, New York, on or about August 3, 2017. 

According to statements and filings in federal court:

In 2017, ONEKEY and O’NEILL implemented a soil compaction plan at a construction site at 1 Dutchess Avenue in Poughkeepsie.  The soil compaction plan involved piling large quantities of dirt, called “surcharges,” on top of the sites of three future buildings.  An engineering firm designed a plan for the use of the surcharges.  ONEKEY and O’NEILL did not follow this plan.  Instead, they built a wall to hold back one of the surcharges, so workers could get started on the buildings next to it.  ONEKEY and O’NEILL did not consult with any qualified person to see if the wall could withstand the weight to be placed on it by the surcharge. 

While people were working next to the wall, ONEKEY kept using construction machinery to add dirt to the surcharge pressing up against the wall.  The people working near the wall were not warned about the dangers it created.  ONEKEY and O’NEILL heard from people working at the site that the wall was not safe.  They did not fix the wall.

On August 3, 2017, workers complained that construction machines were driving on top of the surcharge, adding dirt to it.  Later that day, the wall collapsed.  As it fell, Victim-1 ran away from the wall, but he could not get away in time and was killed.

In addition to the prison term, O’NEILL, 57, of Paramus, New Jersey, was sentenced to one year of supervised release.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of OSHA and the Department of Labor, Office of the Inspector General.

Governor Hochul Removes 36 Line Items from the FY 2024 Enacted Budget

 

Governor Kathy Hochul today removed 36 line items from the FY 2024 Enacted Budget in accordance with Article VII of the State Constitution. The rejected additions are duplicative and redundant items that were fully expended or had been inactive for more than seven years.

The full list of the 36 vetoes with a description of what they were for is available here

THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR REMINDS NEW YORKERS OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR WORKING MOTHERS

 

This Mother’s Day, the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) is reminding New Yorkers there are a variety of resources available to help working mothers. NYSDOL found in the 2023 Gender Wage Gap Report that mothers face significant challenges in the workplace that contribute to the wage gap. The report also found the pivot to remote learning and pandemic-driven closures of childcare facilities elevated the severe impact of childcare access, which has long been a major problem for working women.

“We know that the pandemic hit mothers especially hard, and that many have still not fully recovered from the challenges they faced over the past three years,” said New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon. “I thank Governor Hochul for supporting working mothers by making outstanding strides in affordable childcare in this year’s budget, and I encourage all mothers to use the resources NYSDOL has available to them.”

With mothers bearing the brunt of care responsibilities, labor force participation for women in New York dropped from 59.3 percent to 58.9 percent from 2019 to 2021, while the unemployment rate nearly doubled from 4.2 percent to 8.2 percent. In 2021, over 405,000 women were unemployed, a significant increase from 207,000 in 2019. The report notes that even a temporary exit from the workforce can have significant long-term financial implications. Women also face salary challenges when they become mothers. It was found in the 2018 Gender Wage Gap Report that working moms were paid just 58 cents for every dollar paid to working dads.

To ease the burden of childcare on parents, especially mothers who often bear the brunt of care duties, Governor Hochul is increasing the State's investment to an unprecedented $7.6 billion over four years to make the child care system more accessible and affordable as part of the FY 2024 New York State Budget. The Budget expands the Empire State Child Tax Credit to children under the age of four; grows the Workforce Retention Grant Program with a $500 million investment to support an estimated 250,000 caregivers; creates New York's new Employer Sponsored Care Pilot Program to help workers find affordable childcare through their employers; and raises caps and eligibility limits on childcare costs to help more New York families access childcare assistance.

The Budget also raises the minimum wage to $17 by 2026 in New York City, Westchester, and Long Island, and to $16 by 2026 in all other parts of the state. After 2026, minimum wage would increase at a rate determined by the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for the Northeast Region — the best regional measure of inflation. Raising New York's minimum wage to keep pace with inflation will benefit hundreds of thousands of minimum wage workers across the state, many of whom are mothers.

NYSDOL also has a variety of programs available that can help working mothers re-enter the workforce or elevate their careers. NYSDOL’s Career Centers provide counseling to help workers find a fulfilling and family sustaining career. NYSDOL’s Salary Negotiation Guide is also available and can help workers and job seekers advocate for themselves in the workplace.

For those looking to change or advance their careers, apprenticeships are an opportunity to earn while they learn. NYSDOL has also partnered with Coursera to allow those who are unemployed to take courses for free.

New York State law protects workers’ rights to paid sick leave -- which can be used for parents to care for sick children – and nursing mothers’ rights to accommodations in the workplace.

For more information and NYSDOL’s recommended solutions to achieve pay equity, visit NYSDOL’s Gender Wage Gap Hub.