Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Against - Cutting food stamps before the holidays

The Trump administration is now quite literally robbing the poor to give to the rich. Yesterday, they implemented a new rule that will force more than 700,000 Americans off of their food stamps — just weeks before the holidays.

Forcing the hungry into destitution as massive corporations like Amazon pay $0 in taxes is a violation of our common humanity. It’s cruel, plain and simple.

We’re not standing for it. This is just the first of three new rules from the Trump administration, which is why our action now is critical. Will you sign your name to condemn Trump’s food stamp sabotage?

Sign your name

In a modern, wealthy, and moral nation, no family should go without food just because someone can’t work.

People’s lives are worth more than just the labor that they provide. If we’re spending trillions of dollars on war and tax cuts for mega-billionaires, not a single person should be going without food, water, or shelter. Period.

And this is just the beginning. The next rule change could affect up to 1 in 5 families on food stamps. Time is running out, so take action today by signing your name to stand against this injustice:

Sign your name

Thanks for your time,

Team AOC 

DOI REPORT ON HRA’S SPECIAL ONE-TIME ASSISTANCE PROGRAM REVEALS FLAWS THAT LED TO HOMELESS CLIENTS BEING PLACED IN UNSAFE HOUSING OUTSIDE OF NEW YORK CITY

DOI REPORT ON HRA’S SPECIAL ONE-TIME ASSISTANCE PROGRAM REVEALS FLAWS THAT LED TO HOMELESS CLIENTS BEING PLACED IN UNSAFE HOUSING OUTSIDE OF NEW YORK CITY 

Margaret Garnett, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), released a report today examining certain aspects of the New York City Human Resources Administration (“HRA”) Special OneTime Assistance (“SOTA”) program, a rental assistance program that is designed to provide permanent, stable housing to qualified Department of Homeless Services (“DHS”) clients. The Report found several deficiencies in processes and practice related to the SOTA program’s placements outside of New York City, sometimes leading to DHS clients’ placement in units without valid occupancy certifications, without heat, and with insect and vermin infestations. DOI’s investigation also found that Housing Specialists assigned to inspect SOTA properties for habitability were not properly trained to detect health and safety hazards, and some did not conduct the required inspection despite documenting that they had. The City’s Department of Social Services (“DSS”), which includes both HRA and DHS, cooperated in DOI’s investigation and has begun implementing reforms to the SOTA program. DOI has made additional recommendations in this Report to address the vulnerabilities found in its investigation. A copy of the Report is attached and can also be found here: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doi/newsroom/publicreports.page

DOI Commissioner Margaret Garnett said, “The SOTA program was designed to help New York families break the cycle of homelessness and set them on a path to achieve stable, affordable housing. However, DOI’s investigation has found the promise of the program is not being fulfilled. Instead, because of a lack of proper oversight and poorly designed paperwork, our investigation showed some SOTA families placed in housing outside of New York City were living in squalor under the roofs of unscrupulous landlords, who collected tens of thousands of dollars in rental payments upfront from the City to provide these subpar conditions with little risk of accountability for their actions. DOI will continue to monitor DSS’ implementation of reforms to this program to ensure City funds are not wasted and homeless families are given a real chance to succeed.” 

In February 2019, DOI began its investigation into the SOTA program after receiving a referral from DSS about possible wrongdoing by a landlord who owned multiple properties in New Jersey being leased to DHS clients as part of the program. DOI found:

 Inspectors had determined the temperature inside of one of the apartments registered only 42.6 degrees Fahrenheit, far below the minimum standard of 68 degrees required by local regulations. An inspection by DOI and City of Newark officials later found a defective boiler in that same property. 

 Another property with insect and vermin infestations housed a family in an illegal attic apartment with no heat. In a subsequent inspection by DOI and City of Newark officials, a family with young children was observed using a stove and open oven as heating. A tenant of this property, also a former DHS client, told DOI that the Housing Specialist assigned to her case did not conduct a walkthrough of the property as he was supposed to, but instead, remained in his car while the client viewed the apartment alone.  

 A third property had no heat and multiple malfunctioning electrical outlets

Another property in East Orange, New Jersey, leased to DHS clients through the SOTA program, had 52 open violations in 2018, including a violation for a missing Certificate of Habitability. Despite these violations, a Housing Specialist documented the property passed each requirement in the SOTA Apartment Walk-Through checklist. East Orange Property Maintenance officials vacated the tenants because of these issues. The tenants were moved to another property owned by the same landlord, which also lacked a Certificate of Habitability. Again, the property was documented by a Housing Specialist to have passed each requirement of the SOTA checklist.

DOI’s broader investigation determined that flaws in the design and implementation of the SOTA program and the application paperwork associated with the program allowed unscrupulous landlords and brokers to take advantage of the program, collecting upfront a full-year’s rental payments and a 15% broker’s fee, despite leaving tenants in dilapidated housing. On average, an annual SOTA lease costs HRA approximately $17,000 and an additional $2550 with any applicable broker’s fee. 

DOI found that defective language in several HRA forms was inapplicable to properties outside of New York City, and therefore prevented the agency from holding landlords and brokers accountable for placing or allowing DHS clients to live in unsafe housing. This language, contained in affirmations made by SOTA landlords and brokers, was specific to New York City and its regulations, however, as these properties existed outside of the jurisdiction of the City, the affirmations were rendered ineffective, all but eliminating the ability to criminally prosecute intentional misrepresentations or fraud by landlords or brokers.  

DOI also found HRA only required real estate brokers to affirm that rental units were safe and habitable, but did not require the same of landlords, even though landlords would have the ongoing responsibility of maintaining properties over the course of the lease.

The investigation further showed that DHS-employed Housing Specialists did not have adequate training or experience to conduct proper safety checks before families were placed in properties through the program and in fact, DHS is unable to conduct walkthroughs at all outside of the New York City metropolitan areas (which includes adjoining counties in New York as well as Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Passaic and Union Counties in New Jersey) relying solely on statements made by out-of-state landlords and brokers. 

DOI has made several recommendation to DSS, including modifying its SOTA payment arrangements from one year’s rent upfront to installments throughout the year, requiring landlords to affirm habitability of SOTA properties and provide copies of valid occupancy certifications and deeds for their jurisdictions, broadening language in agreements for landlords and brokers to cover jurisdictions outside of New York City, and developing a new process for SOTA property inspections to be conducted by appropriately trained staff. DSS responses to each of these recommendations are included in the Report.

You can read the full 30 page report at HERE 

Year-to-Date Index Crime Remains Down Citywide in 2019

  Year-to-date as of November 31, index crime remains down in 2019 with an overall -1.3% decrease from 2018 (87,014 vs 88,203). Additionally, for November 2019 compared to November 2018, shooting incidents, burglaries, grand larcenies, and overall crime in the transit system and housing are all down. While shooting incidents are still up year-to-date, and the NYPD continues to be focused on addressing the uptick, they are down for the month of November 2019.

As we prepare to bring 2019 to a close, the men and women of the NYPD, through precision policing, continue to focus on upticks in crime to ensure that residents in every area code can experience the same level of safety. Additionally, through Neighborhood Policing, our officers are fostering relationships with the communities they serve. These relationships have proven critical in helping us solve problems and during criminal investigations.

"As cops, we are unwavering in our commitment to keep people safe. In a time where we see overall historic crime lows, our officers are zeroing in on the small number of people causing crime to ensure this security is felt citywide," said Police Commissioner Dermot Shea. "We have a lot more work ahead to address persistent crime conditions and the men and women of the police department will continue to rise to the challenge while working closely with those we are sworn to serve."

Key highlights from this month's crime statistics:

• Year-to-date, as of November 31, 2019, index crime remains down citywide, with overall crime down -1.3% (87,014 vs. 88,203).
• For the month of November 2019, there was a -0.1% decrease in index crime in comparison to November 2018.
• Year-to-date, as of November 2019, rape, burglary, grand larceny, grand larceny auto, and overall transit crime are down.
• There were 50 shooting incidents in November 2019, compared to 55 in November 2018, resulting in a -9.1% decrease.
• For the month of November, rape decreased by -19.6% (115 vs. 143). Year-to-date, rape is down -1.1%. Rape continues to be underreported. If you have been a victim of sexual assault, please come forward. The NYPD's Special Victims Division's 24-hour hotline is 212-267-RAPE(7273).

EDITOR'S NOTE:

We hate to point out new Police Commissioner Shea's first mistake on his first Comp Stat report, but November only has 30 days not 31 as indicated.

NYPD Commissioner Shea Announces New Chief of Detectives and Chief of Patrol

The New York City Police Department announced the appointment of Chief of Detectives Rodney Harrison and Chief of Patrol Fausto Pichardo.

Chief Rodney Harrison currently serves as Chief of Patrol, playing a central role in the creation and roll-out of Neighborhood Policing to every precinct across the City. He will now serve as Chief of Detectives, overseeing the prevention, detection and investigation of crime, bringing a decade of experience supervising investigations and crime fighting prowess to build the strongest possible cases against perpetrators of criminal activity. Assistant Chief Fausto Pichardo currently serves as Executive Officer in the Patrol Services Bureau under Chief Harrison. He has worked closely with Chief Harrison, serving as a key leader in the roll-out of Neighborhood Policing and overseeing the deployment of patrol resources to address crime conditions.

"Rodney and Fausto bring tremendous leadership experience to their new positions, having served in critical executive roles, and leveraging Neighborhood Policing and precision policing to bring crime down to levels not seen since the 1950's," said Police Commissioner Dermot F. Shea. "However, our work is far from done, and with Rodney’s investigative experience and Fausto’s role in bringing Neighborhood Policing to fruition, we will continue to work closely with the people we are sworn to serve to make New York City even safer."

"Serving as Chief of Patrol has been a tremendous privilege. Through Neighborhood Policing, we have transformed how the NYPD works with community members, grounded in building strong relationships of mutual respect, toward our shared mission of safety," said

"Since I came on the job in 1999, I wake up each day working to make the streets of New York City safer for police officers and the people we take the sacred oath and are sworn to serve," said Incoming Chief of Patrol Fausto Pichardo. "I'm grateful for this opportunity to continue supporting the thousands of patrol officers who, through Neighborhood Policing, both work to prevent crime from ever happening while also getting to the root of New Yorkers problems, solving them, and keeping people safe."

News From Congressman Eliot Engel

Engel Statement on House Passage of Anti-Robocall Legislation

“In these hyper-partisan times there is one thing everyone seems to agree on: robocalls are a terrible nuisance. The TRACED Act is designed to combat unwanted robocalls that pester Americans every day and expose the most vulnerable among us to schemes, scams, and deceptions. If we can get this bill through the Senate and signed into law, this legislation will put a serious dent in the robocall problem as we know it. I am hopeful the Senate will take this up quickly, and once its passed we should turn our focus to some of the other bills aimed at ending abusive phone practices, like my Anti-Swatting Act.”

BACKGROUND:

The TRACED Act:

• Requires carriers to offer call-authentication technology to consumers and small businesses—in rural and urban America—at no additional charge;
• Requires opt-in or opt-out robocall blocking be offered at no additional charge to consumers;
• Gives the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) the ability to step up enforcement actions against unlawful robocalls with a longer statute of limitations and increased fines in certain cases;
• Pushes the Department of Justice to bring more criminal prosecutions against criminal robocallers;
• Requires the FCC to work to stop one-ring scams;
• Helps the FCC and responsible carriers traceback and cutoff suspect phone companies that are responsible for sending vast numbers of unlawful robocalls; and
• Protects patients, doctors and hospitals from unlawful robocalls.

Americans reportedly received an astounding 48 billion robocalls last year, and this number is expected to increase to as high as 75 billion this year. Robocalls are one of the most complained-about issues in the United States. The FCC receives roughly 200,000 complaints each year about robocalls.

Engel has worked for years to stop abusive phone practices. He has introduced legislation to combat swatting—the act of falsifying caller ID information to mislead law enforcement—and is an original cosponsor of the Stopping Bad Robocalls Act (H.R. 946), the Repeated Objectionable Bothering of Consumers on Phones (ROBOCOP) Act (H.R. 2298), and is a cosponsor of the Regulatory Oversight Barring Obnoxious (ROBO) Calls and Texts Act (H.R. 2355). Engel is a top member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

Engel Statement on Reforming FDA Oversight of Cosmetics and Personal Care Products

“It is unacceptable that our nation’s children are exposed to chemicals that have a well-documented history of causing adverse health events”

On December 4, 2019 the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee held a hearing on modernizing federal oversight of cosmetics and personal care products. Congressman Engel, a top Member of the committee, submitted a statement for the record underscoring the public health need for updated regulations:

“Chairman Pallone and Chairwoman Eshoo thank you for holding today’s hearing on modernizing FDA regulations for cosmetics and personal care products.

“Every day, millions of Americans use these products. According to the Environmental Working Group, women on a daily basis use 12 products containing 168 unique ingredients while men use six products with 85 different ingredients. Even with the widespread use of these products, FDA has been given limited tools and resources to oversee this nearly $80 billion industry.

“The absence of FDA regulation has led to egregious cases of consumer harm. In June of this year, a retailer specializing in cosmetics and personal care products for young women recalled three makeup products because they contained asbestos fibers. Similarly, a large manufacturer recently recalled its baby powder after the FDA found asbestos in it. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, asbestos exposure can lead to lung diseases and pulmonary cancers.

“It is unacceptable that our nation’s children are exposed to chemicals that have a well-documented history of causing adverse health events. Furthermore, these cases underscore the dire need for modernizing federal oversight of cosmetic and personal care products.

“I commend Chairman Pallone and Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky for their work on legislation to reform our nation’s broken regulatory system.” 

Bronx Democratic Party - Join Us For Our Next DEMS TALK

Happy Thursday,

Don't miss our next DEMS TALK and the chance to learn about how you can get involved. Join us Monday, December 16 at 7:00 PM:

Bronx Dems Headquarters

1534 Boone Avenue

The Bronx, NY 10460

Sincerely,

The Bronx Democratic Party

Assemblyman Marcos Crespo Chair.

Attorney General James Report Finds That Professional Fundraisers Retain Nearly One-Third Of Charitable Campaign Donations; Some Retain More Than Half

New “Pennies for Charity” Report Details Costs of Fundraising Campaigns Conducted by Professional Fundraisers; In 2018, Professional Fundraisers Pocketed Nearly $370 Million

Report Also Offers Key Tips for Donors: Be Careful with Charitable Giving;

Not All Fundraisers Are Created Equal

 Attorney General James today released the annual “Pennies for Charity: Where Your Money Goes; Fundraising by Professional Fundraisers” report, which found that nearly one-third of charitable donations ended up in the pockets of professional fundraisers. This year’s report looks at fundraising trends such as the rise of online giving as well as the percentage of funds raised that went to charities.

“New Yorkers are generous in their charitable giving, but unfortunately not all the money they donate reaches the charities that they intend to help,” said Attorney General James. “Too often, charitable dollars are pocketed by outside fundraisers rather than reaching the charity and furthering its mission. I urge all New Yorkers to be careful, and to report suspicious entities to my office.”

New York has a robust charitable sector, supported by generous giving by New Yorkers. In 2018, more than $1.3 billion was raised in New York State through 891 fundraising campaigns conducted by professional fundraisers on behalf of charities. These campaigns, which are the focus of the report, used a range of methods including special events, direct mail, and telemarketing. The report and the searchable Pennies for Charity database containing the underlying data is posted at www.CharitiesNYS.com.

Of the more than $1.3 billion raised through campaigns conducted by professional fundraisers, charities netted over $984 million, or 73% of the proceeds, while professional fundraisers’ fees and expenses totaled $369 million, or 27%. This is a 4% improvement in amounts retained by charities over the previous year, which the report attributes to a variety of factors including enforcement and donor education efforts by the Charities Bureau.

This year’s report also analyzed current fundraising trends, such as the rise in online giving. Telemarketing, while continuing to decline as a fundraising method, remained among the costliest mechanisms, with 230 telemarketing campaigns by fundraisers retaining more than 50% of funds raised for charities.

“Pennies for Charity” aggregates information from fundraising reports filed with the Attorney General’s Charities Bureau for campaigns conducted by professional fundraisers on behalf of charities in the previous year. Professional fundraisers must register with the Office of the Attorney General and provide financial reports that break down the revenue raised and the expenses generated by the campaign. 

Other significant findings from analyzing the 891 fundraising campaigns covered by this report include:

• In 273 campaigns, or approximately 30% of the campaigns covered in the report, fundraisers retained more than 50% of the funds raised.
• Charities retained $984 million overall of the funds solicited from the campaigns; fundraisers retained $369 million.
• In 161 campaigns (18%), fundraising expenses exceeded charitable revenue. In 2018, this loss to charities totaled more than $13 million.

The Office of the Attorney General actively investigates suspect fundraising practices. To assist charities in navigating the world of professional fundraisers, the report includes tips for charities hiring fundraisers.

The report also includes tips for donors, including specific guidance for responding to phone, direct mail, or online solicitations. Key tips include:

• Take Time to Research the Organization. Make sure you are familiar with the organization, its mission, and its effectiveness before giving. Always ask for information in writing – and be wary if an organization will not provide information about its charitable programs and finances upon request. Any legitimate organization will be happy to send you information. 
  
  
  o  Consult charitiesnys.com to make sure that the organization is registered, and to learn more about its mission and finances.
  
  
  o  Online platforms that host groups and individuals soliciting for causes do not vet those who use their service. Donors should find out whether a charity has authorized the campaign and if their contribution is tax deductible.
  
  
  o  Search the charity’s name on the internet for reports of possible scams or law enforcement actions and check the charity’s rating on watchdog sites like Charity Navigator (www.charitynavigator.org).
  
  
• Know Where Your Money Will Go. Find out how the charity plans to use your donation, including the services and programs your donation will support. Avoid charities that make emotional appeals but are vague in answering your questions. If you have been contacted by a telemarketer, review the Pennies for Charity database to see how much is spent on fundraising costs and how much is kept by the charity.
  
  
• Don’t Be Pressured by Telemarketers. If you receive a telephone call from someone asking you to contribute to a charity, you have the right to hang up. Often the caller is a professional fundraiser who is being paid to call you. 
  
  
  o  If you choose to consider the caller’s request, ask how much of your donation will go to charity and if the telemarketer is being paid. Many telemarketing companies receive most of the money they raise. Be wary of claims such as “all proceeds will go to charity.” Telemarketers are required to identify themselves and their employer and tell you they are being paid to call you. They also must respond truthfully to your questions. Don’t fall for pressure tactics, such as repeated phone calls or threats. These are signs that the organization may not be legitimate. Always remember you have the right to say no to any charitable request.
  
  
  o  You can ask to receive information about the cause and a solicitation by mail.
  
  
  o  Consider making a plan for your charitable giving so you are not vulnerable to sudden pressure.
  
  
• Ask to Be Put On a “Do Not Call” List. You have the right to request to be placed on the telemarketer’s “Do Not Call” list. It is not illegal for telemarketers for charities to call telephone numbers on the FTC’s Do Not Call Registry, but consumers can stop such calls by telling telemarketers not to call them on behalf of specific charities. Telemarketers are required to honor such requests. You may also ask a charity to take you off its solicitation list.
  
  
• Be Wary of Deceptive Tactics and Emotional Appeals. Watch out for charities with names that resemble those of prominent or established organizations—especially on days designated to charitable giving. Some charities do this in order to confuse donors. Be wary of emotional appeals that talk about problems, but are vague on how donations will be spent.
  
  
• Don’t Disclose Personal Information. Never give your social security number or other personal information in response to a charitable solicitation. Never give out credit card information over the phone or to an organization you are not familiar with.
  
  
• If Donating Online or Via Text, Donate Securely. Always make sure that you are using secure methods of payment. When donating online, make sure the website is secure and includes “https://” in the web address. Before hitting send on a text donation, check the charity’s website or call the charity to make sure contributions by text message are authorized. Some text solicitations are scams. Also, remember that donating by text means the organization may not receive the funds until after your phone bill is paid; contributions made directly to a charity can reach them faster.
  
  
• Never Give Cash. Give your contribution by check made payable to the charity. 
  
  
• To Help in a Disaster, Give to Organizations You Know or That Have Experience in This Work. Ask if the charity has already worked in the affected area or has relationships with local relief organizations.
  
  
• Report Suspicious Organizations. If you believe an organization is misrepresenting its work, or that a scam is taking place, please contact the Attorney General’s Charities Bureau at charities.bureau@ag.ny.gov or (212) 416-8401.

Hanna Rubin, Director of Registrations and Fundraising Sections for the Attorney General’s Charities Bureau, authored this report, with the assistance of Charities Bureau Fundraising supervisor Siobhan Blank, Legal Department Document Specialist Rebecca Groves, and Assistant Attorney General William Wang. Data analysis was provided by Deputy Research Director Megan Thorsfeldt. James Sheehan is the Charities Bureau Chief and Karin Kunstler Goldman is the Deputy Bureau Chief. The Charities Bureau is part of the Social Justice Division, which is supervised by Chief Deputy Attorney General for Social Justice Meghan Faux and First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy. 

More information about the Attorney General’s Charities Bureau and organizations regulated by the Bureau may be found at www.CharitiesNYS.com.

Congressman Eliot L. Engel issued the following statement on the Trump Administration’s new rule which will slash SNAP benefits for nearly 700,000 people:

“Slashing SNAP benefits for nearly 700,000 people during the holiday season is beyond heartless. This is not something to be trivialized. In making this move, the Trump Administration demonstrates once again they are perfectly willing to hurt the most vulnerable among us without a moment’s hesitation. We saw it in their gross crusade to repeal health care coverage, their terrible treatment of immigrant families across the country, and now again with this SNAP cut. People will have difficulty feeding themselves and their families because of this decision—just another disgrace to add to the Trump list.

“House Democrats will continue to oppose this Administration’s cruel approach to governance. The fight to protect the American people is one we are always ready to wage.”

BACKGROUND: Engel has opposed all previous attempts by the GOP to cut SNAP benefits. As a conferee on the last Farm Bill, he was an outspoken critic of the GOP’s failed attempts to cut SNAP.