DEC Announces Seasonal Closure of Prospect Mountain Veterans Memorial Parkway

 

Parkway in Lake George Will Remain Open with Free Access through Veterans Day, Nov. 11

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced Prospect Mountain Veterans Memorial Parkway will remain open through Veterans Day with free access. The parkway will close for the 2023 season at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11.

Please note the shuttle to the summit of Prospect Mountain is not available at this time. Admission fees to access the highway are temporarily waived.

Prospect Mountain Veterans Memorial Parkway climbs 5.5 miles from the entry gate to a parking lot just below the summit. There are three separate overlooks along the parkway—the Narrows, Lake George, and Eagle's Eye—from which to enjoy the scenery of the Adirondack Mountains and Lake George.

For more information about visiting the Prospect Mountain Veterans Memorial Highway Day Use Area, visit DEC's website.

Governor Hochul Launches Enhanced Database of Economic Incentives to Increase Transparency Around Key Economic Development Projects

New Database Builds on Governor’s State of the State Commitment to Making State Government Work Better for New Yorkers

Access Database Here

Governor Kathy Hochul today launched the enhanced Database of Economic Incentives as part of her ongoing commitment to transparency and making state government work better for New Yorkers. First launched in 2021, the Database of Economic Incentives provides detailed, up-to-date data on economic development projects throughout New York State. The data is updated quarterly, published online and complements the information available on ESD's reports page. New York State’s Database of Economic Incentives is nation-leading in terms of number of programs and projects included, frequency of updates, and the number of data fields provided for each project. The updated database is available here.

“This new database of economic incentives is the latest step my administration is taking to improve transparency and restore New Yorkers’ trust in their government,” Governor Hochul said. “With a new user-friendly interface and up-to-date data on key projects, this new tool will help to shed light on economic developments initiatives throughout the state and make data more accessible to all.”

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “We are always striving for ways to improve transparency, especially around our incentive programs and these new enhancements have made the Database of Economic Incentives not only much more comprehensive, but easier to navigate. We are proud of the continued improvements being made to the database and as a result, we now have one of the largest databases of economic development projects in the nation, with 55 fields of data that presents information in a very user-friendly format.”

The Database has expanded from 26 to 55 data fields and contains thousands of projects from 45 programs spanning multiple state agencies. The enhanced Database now contains an interactive dashboard offering high-level summary information of all projects. This includes total dollars awarded and disbursed, total public-private investment, number of projects awarded, and jobs created and retained to date. This information can be summarized by status, agency, industry, and Regional Economic Development region. Additionally, the Database contains a map, allowing users to see the location of projects alongside key project info. The Database also includes an appendix which provides specific details related to any individual project.

The new Database improves usability, allowing for easy searching, filtering, and analyzing of the data. With these additions, New York’s Database of Economic Incentives leads the nation with four times the average number of fields as compared to other states, twice the average number of programs, and is updated four times as often as other states. It is also one of the only databases that allows the data to be exported, mapped and graphed. Recently, the Good Jobs First, a trusted watchdog entity which promotes corporate and government accountability in economic development, gave New York’s Database of Economic Incentives a high score for data accessibility, meaning the site was easy to find, understand and use.

Additionally, Empire State Development has also launched new interactive project tracking dashboards to provide information on projects awarded through the Regional Economic Development Council Initiative. This interactive tool allows for summarization and analysis of project data, including top level project stats, investments and jobs metrics, a map, and an appendix of all projects awarded through the REDC initiative. Each regions' dashboard can be found on their respective page here.

The new and improved database builds on Governor Hochul’s 2023 State of the State commitment to making government work better for New Yorkers by improving access to essential government resources and services.

Permits Filed For 1119 Boston Road In Morrisania, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a seven-story mixed-use building at 1119 Boston Road in Morrisania, The Bronx. Located between East 166th Street and East 167th Street, the lot is near the Freeman Street subway station, serviced by the 2 and 5 trains. Egris Haxhari of H20 LLC is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 65-foot-tall development will yield 26,457 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 40 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 661 square feet. The steel-based structure will also have a cellar, a 49-foot-long rear yard, and 20 open parking spaces.

Fred Geremia Architects & Planners is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits will likely not be needed as the lot is vacant. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

Housing Lottery Launches For 2233 Bathgate Avenue In East Tremont, The Bronx

 

The affordable housing lottery has launched for 2233 Bathgate Avenue, a four-story residential building in East Tremont, The Bronx. Designed by L & C Associates and developed by Jagjit Hora of 2233 Bathgate Partners LLC, the structure yields eight residences. Available on NYC Housing Connect are three units for residents at 130 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $88,869 to $165,230.

Units include energy-efficient appliances, dishwashers, and outdoor space. Tenants are responsible for electricity.

At 130 percent of the AMI, there are three one-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $2,592 for incomes ranging from $88,869 to $165,230.

Prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than December 1, 2023.

Foreign National Charged with International Drug Trafficking

 

An indictment was unsealed in the District of Columbia charging a foreign national with international fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana trafficking.

According to court documents, between January 2017 and April 2021, Juan Carlos Morgan Huerta, aka Cacayo, conspired to import large quantities of fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana from Mexico into the United States. 

Morgan Huerta is charged with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, one kilogram or more of heroin, 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, five kilograms or more of cocaine, and over 1,000 kilograms of marijuana for importation into the United States. If convicted, Morgan Huerta faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and a statutory maximum penalty of life in prison.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Assistant Director Luis Quesada of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator Anne Milgram, and Executive Associate Director Katrina W. Berger of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) made the announcement.

The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) supported the case.

The FBI Tucson Field Office, OCDETF Strike Force, DEA Nogales Field Division, and HSI Tucson Field Office are investigating this case.

Trial Attorneys Kirk Handrich and Lernik Begian of the Criminal Division’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section are prosecuting the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and Criminal Division’s Office of Enforcement Operations provided significant assistance.  

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

BIG Week Ahead for KRVC & Riverdale!

 

Upcoming Events at KRVC

Join us for all these great events! Book Presentation, Book Club, Karaoke, Meditation

Join us for our next Book Club Meeting on Wednesday, December 6th, 1-3pm at 505 West 236th Street to enjoy a light lunch and a discussion of M Train by Patti Smith. See below for book description and our 2024 Book Selections.

Braiding despair with hope and consolation, illustrated with her signature Polaroids,  M Train is a meditation on travel, detective shows, literature, and coffee. It is a powerful, deeply moving book by one of the most remarkable multiplatform artists at work today.y

Look forward to seeing you! 505BX.org

THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ANNOUNCES SENTENCING OF FORMER EMPLOYEE CONVICTED OF FRAUDULENTLY OBTAINING MORE THAN $800,000 IN UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FUNDS

 

The New York State Department of Labor announced the sentencing of a former employee convicted of perpetrating an Unemployment Insurance fraud scheme to exploit the system and unlawfully obtain funds. Wendell Giles was sentenced Thursday in US District Court Northern District of New York to 36 months in federal prison followed by a two-year period of supervised release. Giles was also ordered to repay NYSDOL $826,530 in restitution. Giles’s co-conspirator, who has also plead guilty, is jointly responsible for a portion of that sum.  

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, “This betrayal of trust and exploitation of a vital safety net for hardworking New Yorkers is intolerable, and we condemn Wendell Giles's actions in the strongest terms. His sentence is a stark reminder that there are consequences for individuals who would brazenly abuse their authority and seek personal gain at the expense of the very people they were meant to serve. When this matter was brought to light, NYSDOL investigators readily assisted the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Labor in the investigation.”

Mr. Giles’s crimes occurred as NYSDOL staff was engaged in a comprehensive response to an unprecedented surge in unemployment insurance benefit claims resulting from the COVID-19 global health pandemic. The $105 billion delivered by NYSDOL during the pandemic was equivalent to more than 50 years’ worth of benefits.

“Despite the actions of this former employee, the Department’s commitment to maintaining the highest ethical standards and the integrity of our operations remains unwavering,” Commissioner Reardon said.

During the sentencing hearing, NYSDOL Associate Commissioner for Worker Protection Jacqueline Kagan Dupiche read an impact statement on behalf of Commissioner Reardon.

New Yorkers seeking to report UI benefits fraud can do so in three ways:

• Using NYSDOL’s Online Form
• Calling our hotline toll-free at (888) 598-2077. Calls can be made anonymously.
• Reporting by mail to:
  New York State Department of Labor, Office of Special Investigations
  Bldg 12 - Room 200, W. Averell Harriman Campus
  Albany, NY 12226

To report employers committing fraud, please visit the Employer UI Fraud page.

VCJC News & Notes 11/10/23

 

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center

News and Notes

Here's this week's edition of the VCJC News and Notes email. We hope you enjoy it and find it useful!

Reminders

1. Shabbos
   
   
   Shabbos information is, as always, available on our website, both in the information sidebar and the events calendar.
   Here are the times you need:  
   Shabbos Candles Friday 11/10/23 @ 4:24 pm
   Shabbos morning services at 8:40 am.  Please join the services if you can do so safely. 
   Shabbos Ends Saturday 11/11/11 @ 5:27 pm
    

2. Kristallnacht Commemoration, Sunday, 11/12/23
   Lecture and program in observance of the 85th anniversary of Kristallnacht
   ”The Nazi Eugenic Programs and Their American Origin”
   Presented by Larry Hartstein
   10:30 AM refreshments, 11:00 AM Program
   Please email if you plan to attend.

3. Rosh Chodesh Kislev is Tuesday 11/14/23
   

4. Help VCJC Support Israel as it recovers from and responds to the terrorist attack from Hamas.
   VCJC urges you to help support Israel following the terrorist attack perpetrated by Hamas. We have set up a webpage at https://vcjc-israel.brizy.site/ where you can get some more information. That page will direct you to the UJA Federation’s Israel Emergency Fund page where you can make a donation directly to the fund.

   You can go directly to the UJA page from here, if you prefer.

   There are many ways in which we can support Israel in this hour of need, as it recovers from the brutal attack and tries to remove Hamas as a player on the world stage.

   If you wish to provide support, but prefer to use another channel, you can find a list of channels here.

   If you do make a donation as a result of the VCJC, we’d love to hear about it! Please drop us a note.

Our mailing address is:

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center

3880 Sedgwick Ave

Bronx, NY 10463