MAYOR ADAMS MAKES PUBLIC SAFETY-RELATED ANNOUNCEMENT

 

Mayor Eric Adams: Thank you. Thank you so much, Justin. And I think that one of the concerning things for me is when Deputy Mayor Banks gave me analysis of the population of men and women in law enforcement— and really, in criminal justice— how those numbers are decreasing substantially across the country. And what we must do is look at existing technology and see how do we continue to be innovative in its use. 

  

And I think that's what we're doing today. You're going to hear me say it over and over again, public safety and justice are the prerequisite to our prosperity, particularly in our subway system. When people feel unsafe to use our trains and buses, it impacts our economic stability as well; and so, we must use every available method to continue to see our city be the safest big city in America. 

  

And that's what we're doing. We're taking existing technology, cameras being able to communicate with people, and we're placing it on wheels and ensuring that it could be use 24 hours, seven days a week if needed, but it will be there for proper use all the time. 

  

Recently, we used a tethered drone on Randall's Island to provide real time information that helped disperse a concert crowd safely at Randall's Island. It was a very successful initiative, and it saved thousands of dollars in manpower. We cannot tell you how properly using technology saved money. We're saying it over and over again in the deployment of manpower, being able to a view from the ground or in the air really allows the proper deployment of manpower and police resources. I'm seeing it every day at these different scenes of emergencies: when you are able to use this technology properly, you could properly deploy your personnel. 

  

Today we're launching a pilot program to test the Knightscope K5 Security Robot. The NYPD must be on the forefront of technology and be two steps ahead of those utilizing technology to hurt New Yorkers— and trust me, they are. Don't think we're the only ones that are being innovative, bad guys are being innovative all the time. That is part of the GLA problem we're having, they're using technology to steal cars and they're staying ahead of other agencies. They won't stay ahead of us. 

  

Devices like the K5 have the possibility to serve as a deterrent to crime or at least learn best practices while using technology going forward. Here's what New Yorkers can expect from this new mindset that I have of by using preexisting technology, and this is what you could expect with this mindset that we are going to have. 

  

The K5 will operate between midnight and six a.m. at the Times Square Subway Station for two months. With the duration of the trial, it will be accompanied by a police officer at all times, and for the first two weeks, it will be trained to map out the station, will move around the main station area and not on the platform. We want to be clear on that. 

  

It will record video that can be viewed in case of an emergency or a crime. It will not record audio, and it will not use facial recognition. However, the K5 does have a button that connects you immediately to a live person that New Yorkers can utilize 24/7 with questions, concerns or to report an incident if needed. At the end of the two months, we'll assess the robot's effectiveness and decide whether and how we'll continue to use it moving forward. 

  

New Yorkers have strong opinions on technology. I like to say 8.3 million New Yorkers, 35 million opinions, so you're going to hear them all, but they are going to feel the presence of technology that will continue to keep them safe. And while I believe it is our duty to utilize state of the art technology advancements to help keep New Yorkers safe, I believe we must do it wisely and not intrusively. 

  

We're committed to exploring innovative tools to continue to make this city the safest big city in America, and this robot K5, it has the potential to serve as an important tool in our toolbox. It is only by constantly adapting, testing and innovating will continue to stay ahead of those who want to harm everyday New Yorkers. It is our goal to look at these preexisting forms of technology and allow them to continue to keep New Yorkers safe in a very real way in real time. 

  

So again, I want to thank the entire MTA team for really partnering with us to make sure that we can effectively deploy this new robot we have here to be part of our overall advancement in keeping our subway riders safe. I've gone a long way from being a transit cop to being next to a robot. We're going to keep us safe no matter which way we do it. Thank you. 

  

U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, His Wife, And Three New Jersey Businessmen Charged With Bribery Offenses

 

Robert Menendez Allegedly Agreed to Use His Official Position to Benefit Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, Fred Daibes, and the Government of Egypt in Exchange for Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars of Bribes to Menendez and His Wife Nadine Menendez, Which Included Gold Bars, Cash, and a Luxury Convertible  

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and James Smith, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced that an Indictment was unsealed this morning charging U.S. Senator ROBERT MENENDEZ, his wife NADINE MENENDEZ, a/k/a “Nadine Arslanian,” and three New Jersey businessmen, WAEL HANA, a/k/a “Will Hana,” JOSE URIBE, and FRED DAIBES, with participating in a years-long bribery scheme.  The Indictment alleges that MENENDEZ and his wife, NADINE MENENDEZ, accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars of bribes from HANA, URIBE, and DAIBES in exchange for MENENDEZ’s agreement to use his official position to protect and enrich them and to benefit the Government of Egypt.  Among other things, MENENDEZ agreed and sought to pressure a senior official at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in an effort to protect a business monopoly granted to HANA by Egypt, disrupt a criminal case undertaken by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office related to associates of URIBE, and disrupt a federal criminal prosecution brought by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey against DAIBES.  MENENDEZ, NADINE MENENDEZ, HANA, URIBE, and DAIBES are expected to appear in federal court in Manhattan on Wednesday, September 27, 2023, at 10:30 a.m.  The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein. 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As the grand jury charged, between 2018 and 2022, Senator Menendez and his wife engaged in a corrupt relationship with Wael Hana, Jose Uribe, and Fred Daibes – three New Jersey businessmen who collectively paid hundreds of thousands of dollars of bribes, including cash, gold, a Mercedes Benz, and other things of value – in exchange for Senator Menendez agreeing to use his power and influence to protect and enrich those businessmen and to benefit the Government of Egypt.  My Office is firmly committed to rooting out corruption, without fear or favor, and without any regard to partisan politics.  We will continue to do so.”

FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith said: “The FBI has made investigating public corruption a top priority since our founding — nothing has changed.  The alleged conduct in this conspiracy damages the public’s faith in our system of government and brings undue scorn to the honest and dedicated public servants who carry out their duties on a daily basis.  To those inclined to use the status of their public office for personal benefit, or those willing to provide bribes in an attempt to gain influence from a public official, the FBI will ensure that you face the consequences in the criminal justice system for your underhanded dealings.”

According to the allegations in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:[1]

ROBERT MENENDEZ is the senior U.S. Senator from New Jersey and currently the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (“SFRC”).  NADINE MENENDEZ began dating MENENDEZ in February 2018, they became engaged in October 2019, and they married in October 2020.  Shortly after they began dating in 2018, NADINE MENENDEZ introduced MENENDEZ to her long-time friend WAEL HANA, who is originally from Egypt, lived in New Jersey, and maintained close connections with Egyptian officials.  HANA was also business associates with FRED DAIBES, a New Jersey real estate developer and long-time donor to MENENDEZ, and JOSE URIBE, who worked in the New Jersey insurance and trucking business.

Between 2018 and 2022, MENENDEZ and NADINE MENENDEZ agreed to and did accept hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of bribes from HANA, DAIBES, and URIBE.  These bribes included gold, cash, a luxury convertible, payments toward NADINE MENENDEZ’s home mortgage, compensation for a low-or-no-show job for NADINE MENENDEZ, home furnishings, and other things of value.  In June 2022, the FBI executed a search warrant at the New Jersey home of MENENDEZ and NADINE MENENDEZ.  During that search, the FBI found many of the fruits of this bribery scheme, including cash, gold, the luxury convertible, and home furnishings.  Over $480,000 in cash — much of it stuffed into envelopes and hidden in clothing, closets, and a safe — was discovered in the home, as well as over $70,000 in cash in NADINE MENENDEZ’s safe deposit box, which was also searched pursuant to a separate search warrant.  Some of the envelopes contained the fingerprints and/or DNA of DAIBES or his driver.  Other of the envelopes were found inside jackets bearing MENENDEZ’s name and hanging in his closet, as depicted below.   

During this same search, agents also found home furnishings provided by HANA and DAIBES, the luxury vehicle paid for by URIBE parked in the garage, as well as over one hundred thousand dollars’ worth of gold bars in the home, which were provided by either HANA or DAIBES.  Two of the gold bars DAIBES provided are depicted in the photographs below.

In exchange for these and other things of value, MENENDEZ agreed to use his power and influence as a Senator to seek to protect HANA, URIBE, and DAIBES’s interests and to benefit the Government of Egypt.  Through this corrupt relationship, MENENDEZ agreed to take a series of official acts and breaches of his official duty.  First, MENENDEZ took actions to benefit the Government of Egypt and HANA, including by improperly pressuring an official at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) to seek to protect a business monopoly granted to HANA by Egypt.  Second, MENENDEZ took actions seeking to disrupt a criminal investigation undertaken by the Office of the New Jersey Attorney General (“NJAG”) related to URIBE and his associates.  Third, MENENDEZ recommended that the President nominate a U.S. Attorney who MENENDEZ believed he could influence with respect to DAIBES and sought to disrupt a federal criminal prosecution undertaken by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey (“USAO-DNJ”) of DAIBES.

Promised Actions to Benefit Egypt and Pressure the USDA

Shortly after she began dating MENENDEZ in 2018, NADINE MENENDEZ worked with HANA to introduce Egyptian intelligence and military officials to MENENDEZ.  Those introductions helped establish a corrupt agreement in which HANA, with assistance from DAIBES and URIBE, provided bribes to MENENDEZ and NADINE MENENDEZ in exchange for MENENDEZ’s actions to benefit Egypt and HANA, among others. 

As part of the scheme, MENENDEZ provided sensitive, non-public U.S. government information to Egyptian officials and otherwise took steps to secretly aid the Government of Egypt.  For example, in or about May 2018, MENENDEZ provided Egyptian officials with non-public information regarding the number and nationality of persons serving at the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Egypt.  Although this information was not classified, it was deemed highly sensitive because it could pose significant operational security concerns if disclosed to a foreign government or made public.  Without telling his professional staff or the State Department that he was doing so, on or about May 7, 2018, MENENDEZ texted that sensitive, non-public embassy information to his then-girlfriend NADINE MENENDEZ, who forwarded the message to HANA, who forwarded it to an Egyptian government official.  Later that same month, MENENDEZ ghost-wrote a letter on behalf of Egypt to other U.S. Senators advocating for them to release a hold on $300 million in aid to Egypt.  MENENDEZ sent this ghost-written letter to NADINE MENENDEZ, who forwarded it to HANA, who sent it to Egyptian officials. 

At various times between 2018 and 2022, MENENDEZ also conveyed to Egyptian officials, through NADINE MENENDEZ, HANA, and/or DAIBES, that he would approve or remove holds on foreign military financing and sales of military equipment to Egypt in connection with his leadership role on the SFRC.  For example, in or about July 2018, following meetings between MENENDEZ and Egyptian officials, which were arranged and attended by NADINE MENENDEZ and HANA, MENENDEZ texted NADINE MENENDEZ that she should tell HANA that MENENDEZ was going to sign off on a multimillion-dollar weapons sale to Egypt.  NADINE MENENDEZ forwarded this text to HANA, who forwarded it to two Egyptian officials, one of whom replied with a “thumbs up” emoji.  MENENDEZ made similar communications over the ensuing years.  For example, in January 2022, MENENDEZ sent NADINE MENENDEZ a link to a news article reporting on two pending foreign military sales to Egypt totaling approximately $2.5 billion.  NADINE MENENDEZ forwarded this link to HANA, writing, “Bob had to sign off on this.”

In exchange for MENENDEZ’s agreement to take these and other actions, HANA promised NADINE MENENDEZ payments, including from IS EG Halal Certified, Inc. (“IS EG Halal”), a New Jersey company that HANA operated with financial support and backing from DAIBES.  However, IS EG Halal had little to no revenue until the spring of 2019, when the Government of Egypt granted IS EG Halal a monopoly on the certification of U.S. food exports to Egypt as compliant with halal standards, despite the fact that neither HANA nor his company had experience with halal certification.  The monopoly generated revenue for HANA, through which he paid NADINE MENENDEZ as promised.   

Because the monopoly resulted in increased costs for U.S. meat suppliers, in or about April and May 2019, the USDA contacted the Government of Egypt and sought reconsideration of its grant of monopoly rights to IS EG Halal.  After being briefed on the USDA’s objections to IS EG Halal’s monopoly by HANA and NADINE MENENDEZ, on May 23, 2019, MENENDEZ called a high-level USDA official (“Official-1”) and insisted that the USDA stop opposing IS EG Halal’s status as sole halal certifier.  When Official-1 attempted to explain why the monopoly was detrimental to U.S. interests, MENENDEZ reiterated his demand that the USDA stop interfering with IS EG Halal’s monopoly.  Official-1 did not accede to MENENDEZ’s demand, but IS EG Halal nevertheless kept its monopoly.

After financially benefitting from IS EG Halal’s monopoly, HANA, at times with the assistance of DAIBES and URIBE, provided payments and other things of value in furtherance of the scheme.  For example, in or about July 2019, after the mortgage company for the residence of NADINE MENENDEZ initiated foreclosure proceedings, HANA caused IS EG Halal to pay approximately $23,000 to bring the mortgage current.  HANA did so after a series of discussions with NADINE MENENDEZ, as well as URIBE and DAIBES, about various options for bringing the mortgage current.  Later in 2019, HANA and DAIBES caused IS EG Halal to issue three $10,000 checks to NADINE MENENDEZ for a low-or-no-show job.  As the scheme continued, including through the additional actions described below, MENENDEZ and NADINE MENENDEZ received additional bribes, including gold and cash.

Promised Actions Seeking to Disrupt the NJAG Criminal Case

Also in 2019, HANA and URIBE offered to help buy a new Mercedes-Benz C-300 convertible worth more than $60,000 for MENENDEZ and NADINE MENENDEZ.  In exchange, MENENDEZ agreed and sought to interfere in the NJAG’s criminal insurance fraud prosecution of an associate of URIBE and a related investigation involving an employee of URIBE.  On multiple occasions in 2019, URIBE, HANA, and/or NADINE MENENDEZ briefed MENENDEZ regarding the NJAG’s insurance fraud prosecution and investigation.  Following those briefings, and in exchange for the promise of the luxury convertible, MENENDEZ contacted a senior state prosecutor at the NJAG’s Office who supervised the prosecution and investigation (“Official-2”) at least twice.  During those communications, MENENDEZ attempted to pressure Official-2 to resolve the prosecution more favorably to the defendant.  Official-2 considered MENENDEZ’s actions inappropriate and did not agree to intervene.  Nevertheless, the prosecution was ultimately resolved with a plea allowing for no jail time and the investigation never resulted in any charges against URIBE’s employee. 

In exchange for MENENDEZ’s actions, URIBE provided NADINE MENENDEZ with $15,000 cash for the down payment on the luxury convertible in April 2019.  After the purchase was complete, NADINE MENENDEZ messaged MENENDEZ, “Congratulations mon amour de la vie, we are the proud owners of a 2019 Mercedes.❤️” and texted MENENDEZ the below photograph of the convertible:

Thereafter, URIBE made monthly payments to Mercedes-Benz for the convertible between 2019 and June 2022.  URIBE only stopped making those monthly payments after the FBI approached MENENDEZ, NADINE MENENDEZ, and URIBE in connection with this investigation.

Promised Actions Seeking to Disrupt the USAO-DNJ Criminal Case

In October 2018, the USAO-DNJ charged DAIBES with federal criminal charges for obtaining loans under false pretenses from a New Jersey-based bank he founded.  Between December 2020 and 2022, MENENDEZ agreed to attempt to influence the pending federal prosecution of DAIBES in exchange for cash, furniture, and gold bars that DAIBES provided to MENENDEZ and NADINE MENDENDEZ.  In furtherance of this aspect of the scheme, MENENDEZ recommended that the President nominate an individual (“Official-3”) as U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey who MENENDEZ believed he could influence with respect to DAIBES’s case.  MENENDEZ also had direct and indirect contact with both Official-3 and another high-ranking official at the USAO-DNJ (“Official-4”) in an attempt to influence the outcome of DAIBES’s case.

Official-3 and Official-4 did not pass on to the USAO-DNJ prosecution team handling the DAIBES prosecution the fact that MENENDEZ had contacted them, and they did not treat the case any differently as a result of MENENDEZ’s actions.  DAIBES’s case was ultimately resolved with a plea agreement that provided for a probationary sentence.  In exchange for MENENDEZ’s participation in the bribery scheme, DAIBES provided MENENDEZ and NADINE MENENDEZ with multiple things of value, including the two one-kilogram gold bars pictured below.

ROBERT MENENDEZ, 69, of Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; one count of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

NADINE MENENDEZ, 56, of Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; one count of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

WAEL HANA, 40, formerly of Edgewater, New Jersey, and originally of Egypt, JOSE URIBE, 56, of Clifton, New Jersey, and FRED DAIBES, 66, of Edgewater, New Jersey, are all charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and one count of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants would be determined by a judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI.  Mr. Williams thanked the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation for its invaluable assistance on the investigation.

This case is being handled by the Office’s Public Corruption Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eli J. Mark, Paul Monteleoni, Lara Pomerantz, and Daniel C. Richenthal are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

This investigation remains ongoing.  If you have information regarding the charges or defendants in the Indictment, please contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI and reference this case.

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the description of the Indictment set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

Governor Hochul Urges New Yorkers to Prepare for Potentially Heavy Rainfall and Tropical Storm Conditions This Weekend

Potential Tropical Cyclone Moving Up East Coast, Expected to Impact New York City, Long Island and Mid-Hudson Regions with Up to Two Inches or More of Rain and High Winds, Primarily on Saturday

New Yorkers Should Monitor Local Forecast, Prepare Households and Vehicles for Heavy Rain Impacts, Use Extra Caution When Traveling Especially Near Flooded Roadways and Infrastructure

 Governor Kathy Hochul today urged New Yorkers to prepare for heavy rainfall beginning as early as Friday evening and continuing into Saturday as a potential tropical cyclone makes its way up the east coast of the Atlantic. Up to two inches of rain or more, with locally higher amounts, are expected to arrive in New York on Saturday, along with gusty winds of 30-40 miles per hour and high surf, which may cause coastal flooding, beach erosion and dangerous rip currents. The low-pressure system has the potential to impact communities as far north as the Capital Region as well. Out of an abundance of caution, Governor Hochul directed her administration to prepare for weather impacts and stand ready to support local officials with emergency response.

“A weather system is expected to bring moderate to heavy rainfall and high winds, especially in New York City and Long Island, beginning on Saturday,” Governor Hochul said. “My administration is fully prepared to respond to any weather-related emergencies and assist our local government partners. I urge all New Yorkers to monitor the weather forecast closely and prepare to act, if necessary, to protect yourself and others.”

For a complete listing of weather alerts and forecasts, visit the National Weather Service website at alerts.weather.gov. New Yorkers are encouraged to sign up for NY Alert, the State's free emergency alert system, at alert.ny.gov. County-by-county emergency information can be pushed by text or email.

New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, “We are closely tracking this system. It appears more than a wet, windy weekend is in store across the tri-state area. Now is the time to prepare for potential flooding and secure outdoor items that could be affected by strong winds. If you are traveling and encounter flooded roadways this weekend, do not walk or drive through them.”

Tropical Storm Safety Tips for New Yorkers

All New Yorkers should know how to track tropical storms and receive timely alerts that let them know what they need to do to stay safe, including evacuation. The best way to receive timely weather alerts is by signing up for NY-Alert, a free service that provides weather and other emergency-related alerts.

Take the following steps to ensure you and your loved ones are protected:

• Develop a household disaster plan and know how to contact family members at all times. Identify an out-of-town friend or family member to be the "emergency family contact" and make certain all family members have the contact info.
• Designate an emergency meeting spot - a familiar location where family can meet if the residence cannot be accessed.
• Know hurricane and storm risks in your community.
• If you live near coastal areas, learn about your area's storm surge history and your community's warning signals and evacuation plans, including safe routes inland and the location of official shelters.
• Know where to relocate pets during a storm - most shelters will not allow pets.
• Keep the following supplies on-hand:
• Enough non-perishable food and water supplies for 10 days.
• Battery-operated radios and flashlights and an ample supply of batteries.
• A first aid with supply of medicines.
• Important documents: Insurance policies, medical records, bank account numbers, Social Security card, etc. in a waterproof container.
• Cash, checkbook, credit cards and ATM cards.
• An emergency contact list of people and organizations who may need to be called: schools, doctors, providers, and insurance contacts.
• Take the following preventative measures:
• Obtain and store materials, such as plywood, necessary to properly secure your home.
• Repair loose and clear clogged rain gutters and down spouts.
• Secure or bring inside lawn furniture and other loose, lightweight objects such as garbage cans and garden tools that could become projectiles in high winds. Also keep trees and shrubbery trimmed of dead wood.
• Review insurance policies to determine extent of coverage before a storm strikes.
• Determine where to move boats in an emergency.
• Be aware of local weather conditions by listening to National Weather Service broadcasts on NOAA Weather Radio and reports from local television and radio stations.
• Know how to turn off the power, heat and water at home.

 

Climate Week NYC celebrates the numerous ways communities are engaging to advance resiliency and sustainability – showcasing the countless ways government, industries, and advocates are working locally and worldwide to slow and potentially reverse the many devastating impacts of climate change.  New York City has taken significant steps toward its climate goals, tackling building emissions through Local Law 97, advancing a universal curbside composting program, and soon enacting the nation's first congestion pricing plan.  But we can't stop here – it's time to supercharge our city’s focus on making NYC a climate leader nationwide and globally.

Lower Manhattan Seaport Revitalized This week, I called for city, state, and federal officials to work together to tear down the FDR viaduct and replace it with a beautiful boulevard.  The FDR below Brooklyn Bridge remains an important link to the city’s regional travel system.  But it’s far bigger than we need - and we should use this chance to grow our public realm, with more space for people, for bike lanes, more light, urban tree canopy, and connection to our water.  NYC Waterfront Protection Agency New York has 500+ miles of coastline, and climate change is putting all our coastal areas at risk of destruction from climate events. The time to act for climate-ready New York City coastlines is now.  That’s why my office has been steering efforts to establish a New York City Waterfront Protection Agency - a single, unified agency that can spearhead the design, construction, management, and governance of coastal resiliency projects to protect our waterfronts and keep our communities healthy and safe. Bringing Circularity to NYC This past March, I partnered with Barnard College and the Columbia Climate School to announce our City’s first “Circularity Day” – a celebration of powerful sustainability practice and the New Yorkers who exercise it. We continue our push to change how we view products, ensuring they last longer and create less waste. Instead of just tossing items after we're done with them, let's repair, reuse, and recycle across industries like food, fashion, electronics, and more.  That's why I'm working with the City Council to explore policies devoted to circularity and sustainability like:  Food Rescue: Reduce food waste by educating businesses on safe food donation practices, piloting a food rescue program in NYC public school cafeterias, and requiring large food surplus generators to report their excess food production to the city.  Textile Recycling: Slash textile waste by launching a curbside collection program for residential textile waste, pushing for mandatory textile recycling in all eligible buildings through the Refashion NYC program, and improving DSNY's textile collection locator. Reuse and Repair: Support local small businesses by granting them a tax incentive for implementing reuse and repair practices, such as selling refurbished goods. Through circular economy policies like these, we can reduce emissions and waste while investing back into our communities – transforming our economy while making New York more sustainable, equitable, and resilient overall. A Million More Trees for NYC  Last week as part of my office's Million More Tree Initiative, I rallied with City Council members and environmental leaders to fight for and celebrate the passage of legislation to protect, maintain, and expand the city’s tree canopy.  Our parks, green spaces, and tree canopy play a huge role in our urban environment and in fostering public health and well-being. We must keep pushing to increase our park funding to 1% of the annual city budget, to plant one million more trees, and grow a greener New York City. As Climate Week NYC underscores New York City’s relentless pursuit of sustainability and resilience, I want to reaffirm my office’s commitment to prioritizing climate justice in all our work right here in Manhattan. However, the journey towards a more sustainable future requires collective effort. Together, let’s continue to propel New York City forward in this global fight against climate change, fostering a healthier, safer, and more sustainable future for all. Best, Mark