DEC Reminds Property Owners to Prioritize Home Heating Safety This Winter by Inspecting Oil Fuel Tanks and Equipment for Leaks and Spills

 

Property Owners Advised to Put Safety First and Utilize Assistance Program Opportunities

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) advised property owners to prioritize safety when preparing for home heating needs this fall and winter. DEC reminded property owners that connecting occupied buildings to wells producing natural gas is dangerous and potentially deadly. DEC also encouraged property owners to inspect fuel storage tanks for potential leaks or spills prior to receiving shipments of fuel oil for the upcoming heating season. In addition, DEC urged residents to take steps now to utilize programs designed to save consumers energy and money.

 

“Planning ahead for the winter season will help save New Yorkers time, money, and potential headaches later on when it comes to home heating,” DEC Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said. “Annual inspections and other simple precautions can prevent leaks and spills and ensure people, property, and the environment are protected.”   

 

Natural Gas Safety

Natural gas produced by a gas or oil well is odorless and difficult or impossible for a person to detect. While the primary component of natural gas is methane, gases like propane and butane may also be present in addition to water, because the gas is raw and untreated. This may result in improper and erratic combustion in appliances. The risk of an explosion due to natural gas build-up in a home is substantially greater when that gas is not provided by a utility.

 

If a home-use well is connected to a house or other structure:

• Contact a plumber licensed to work on gas lines and have the fuel source switched to utility natural gas or consider another fuel or heating appliance;
• Natural gas directly from a well is odorless and colorless, meaning it may build up to explosive levels without detection. Install methane detection alarms in any closed space where methane may accumulate;
• Commercial gas suppliers always add the odorant mercaptan to natural gas before it is delivered for use. Consider adding mercaptan to natural gas from a home use well so it can be more easily detected; and
• Contact DEC if the well is not registered in DEC’s database. Owning and operating an oil or gas well comes with regulatory responsibilities to protect the environment. New York is actively plugging oil and gas wells throughout the state and home wells may be eligible for the State’s program.

 

For questions and additional information about home-use wells, contact DEC at (518) 402-8056 or oilgas@dec.ny.gov. Also, visit DEC’s website for photos and additional details at: https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/oil-gas/landowner-information-on-wells.

Fuel Oil Safety

DEC also reminds home and property owners to inspect heating fuel oil storage tanks for leaks or spills before ordering and receiving fuel oil.

 

Annual inspections can prevent leaks and spills and protect property, public health, and the environment. Homeowners are advised to look for the following concerns and contact their fuel oil service provider if they see any of the items from the lists below.

 

For above-ground heating fuel oils storage tanks, look for:

• Bent, rusty, or wobbly tank legs or tank located on an unstable foundation;
• Signs of rust, weeps, wet spots, or many dents on the tank's surface;
• Drips or any signs of leaks around the oil filter or valves;
• Fuel oil lines not covered in a protective casing - even if under concrete;
• Overhanging eaves where snow and ice could fall onto the tank;
• Stains on the ground or strong oil odor around the tank;
• Browning, dying, or loss of vegetation around the tank;
• Silent overfill whistle while tank is being filled - ask fuel delivery person;
• Fully or partially blocked tank vent from snow, ice, or insect nests;
• Signs of spills around fill pipe or vent pipe;
• Improperly sized vent pipes - ask fuel delivery person; and
• Cracked, stuck, or frozen fuel level gauges or signs of fuel around them.

 

For underground heating fuel oils storage tanks, look for:

• Water in the tank - ask fuel delivery person to check;
• Oil or oil sheen in your basement sump or French drain;
• Silent overfill whistle while tank is being filled - ask fuel delivery person;
• Fully or partially blocked tank vent from snow, ice, or insect nests;
• Signs of spills around fill pipe or vent pipe;
• Well water has strange tastes or smells;
• Complaints from neighbors of fuel oil smells; and
• Using more than normal amount of fuel.
  

DEC offers tips on environmentally friendly home heating safety and a checklist covering many issues for home heating oil tanks in this month’s Living the Green Life webpage, offering both prevention and response guidance about fuel spills. Fuel oil spills or leaks should be reported to the DEC Spills Hotline at 1-800-457-7362. For more information on home heating oil tank stewardship, visit the Underground Heating Oil Tanks: A Homeowner's Guide webpage on DEC's website. 

Help for Homeowners

New Yorkers can take the following steps in their homes to help improve safety and protect against higher energy costs, including:

• apply for the Home Energy Assistance Program, with applications starting on Nov. 1;
• be more energy efficient to lower energy usage;
• receive a customized list of energy-related assistancein the State;
• contact DEC’s regional offices to be added to an oil and gas well-plugging priority list, including eligibility for state and federal funding assistance through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL);
• sign up for Community Solar;
• get a free energy audit;
• join a Clean Heating and Cooling Campaign;
• know your rights and protectionsregarding utility services; and
• consider bill payment options, among other steps.

DEC is interested in reaching interested landowners to participate in a voluntary oil and gas well plugging program using more than $50 million in state and federal funding.

Landowners who suspect an orphaned well may be located on their property should review the information on DEC’s website: Finding and Identifying Oil and Gas Wells. Landowners will also find contact information for DEC’s regional offices to report the well for placement on DEC’s well plugging priority list.

MAYOR ADAMS, MAYOR’S FUND, FAITH-BASED LEADERS ANNOUNCE HURRICANE HELENE AND MILTON RELIEF EFFORTS

 

In Partnership With Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City and Faith-Based Leaders, Adams Administration to Offer Relief and Support to Those Impacted by Hurricane Helene and Milton

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, and a coalition of faith-based leaders announced ongoing efforts to lend support to those impacted by Hurricane Helene and Milton in the Caribbean, Mexico, and Southeastern United States. People can donate directly to the on-the-ground organizations offering support via the Mayor’s Fund website.

 

“What makes New Yorkers special is that when our neighbors are in need a helping hand, we answer the call — no matter where they may be,” said Mayor Adams. “In recent days, two devastating hurricanes have impacted our neighbors, both domestically and abroad, and our city wants to play its part to help. Together, with our faith-based leaders and the Mayor’s Fund, our administration is asking those who can offer support and donate to on-the-ground organizations to step up and do their part. To those recovering from this tragedy, New York City stands in solidarity with you.”

 

“In times of crisis, New Yorkers come together and help those most in need,” said Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Ana J. Almanzar. “We are seeing those devastated by Hurricanes Helene and Milton in need of basic resources to help them recover. Thanks to our faith-based leaders, who are stepping up to lend support, and our Mayor’s Fund, we have identified reliable organizations with a proven track record of success to provide relief. Together, as a city and a nation, we can meet this moment head on to ensure that those impacted by these hurricanes know they are not alone.”

 

“In times of crisis, our collective strength shines brightest,” said Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City Chief Administrative Officer Loraya Harrington-Trujillo. “The Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City is dedicated to rallying resources for those impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Together, with our partners, we are united in our efforts to provide support and relief to help rebuild.” 

 

“New York City is proud to provide resources to aid the response and recovery operations after these devastating storms,” said New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM) Commissioner Zachary Iscol. “Partners from across the nation responded to our city’s times of greatest need after 9/11 and Hurricane Sandy, and we’re honored to provide our support to others. NYCEM remains committed to assisting our partners in the ongoing storm recovery efforts.”

 

NYCEM currently has a New York Task Force One team, including 81 personnel and four K9 dogs, at the Orange Convention Center in Orlando, Florida to act as an immediate response to any structural emergencies. In North Carolina, a task force composed of personnel from NYCEM, the New York City Police Department, and the Fire Department of the City of New York was deployed on September 25. The task force was trained to support with swift water rescue, technical search, canine search, and medical needs. During their time on the ground, the task force carried families to helicopters, provided medical aid, assisted the National Guard in airlifting stranded civilians, and conducted targeted searches. This team returned on October 9 and NYCEM has already sent another relief team to continue their support.

 

The Mayor’s Fund was created in 1994 to build public-private partnerships and raise private funding for critical initiatives in New York City. The Mayor’s Fund works with 50 city agencies and offices, 300 institutional funders, and 100 community-based partners to advance these initiatives across all five boroughs. For nearly 30 years, the Mayor’s Fund has helped the public and private sectors come together around initiatives that build a stronger, safer, and more just New York City.

 

Five Defendants Sentenced for Long-Running Bid-Rigging Conspiracy in Georgia Concrete Industry

Four executives and a corporation were sentenced for participating in a long-running conspiracy to fix prices, rig bids and allocate jobs for ready-mix concrete in the greater Savannah, Georgia area.

James Clayton Pedrick, Gregory Hall Melton, John David Melton, Timothy “Bo” Strickland and Evans Concrete LLC were charged in September 2020 with conspiring to fix prices, rig bids and allocate jobs for the sale of ready-mix concrete used in residential, commercial and public projects. Pedrick, Strickland and Evans Concrete later pleaded guilty for their participation in this conspiracy. Gregory Hall Melton and John David Melton were convicted by a jury in the U.S. District Court in Savannah earlier this year. Argos USA LLC separately admitted to its role in the conspiracy and entered into a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) with the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division in January 2021.

Gregory Hall Melton was sentenced to 41 months in prison, and three years of supervised release and to pay a $50,000 fine. John David Melton was sentenced to 26 months in prison, three years of supervised release and to pay a $10,000 fine. The court previously sentenced Strickland to five months in prison and to pay $150,000 fine, Pedrick to one year of probation and Evans Concrete to pay a $2.7 million fine. Argos USA LLC paid a $20 million criminal penalty as part of its DPA.

According to court documents, the defendants effectuated their conspiracy by coordinating the issuance of price-increase letters to customers, allocating specific ready-mix concrete jobs in the coastal Georgia area, and submitting bids to customers at collusive and noncompetitive prices. The charged conspiracy began as early as 2010 and continued until about July 2016.

“These sentences reflect the egregious nature of rigging bids for materials like ready-mix concrete which are essential to the American economy,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Manish Kumar of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “The Antitrust Division and its law enforcement partners will hold accountable those who seek to exploit the critical need for these materials to harm consumers.”

“Concrete is an essential material in construction projects, with prices set in the free market by the forces of supply and demand,” said U.S. Attorney Jill E. Steinberg for the Southern District of Georgia. “However, the defendants in this case for several years illegally rigged the system to benefit themselves at the expense of customers and are being held accountable for their conduct.”

“Activities related to bid-rigging and collusion do not promote an environment conducive to open competition which harms the consumer,” said Executive Special Agent in Charge Kenneth Cleevely of U.S. Postal Service's Office of Inspector General (USPS OIG). “The sentencing in this case represents a win for all law enforcement agencies who investigate those who engage in this type of harmful conduct to ensure that justice is served."

“The sentences imposed send a clear message to anyone who chooses corporate greed over open and fair competition,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph Harris of the Department of Transportation's Office of Inspector General (DOT OIG), Southern Region. “Our commitment to working with our law enforcement partners and DOJ’s Antitrust Division is unwavering as we continue to pursue and uncover corrupt conduct and hold companies that intentionally engage in wrongdoing accountable.”

The FBI Washington Field Office, DOT OIG and USPS OIG investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Patrick S. Brown and former Trial Attorney Julia M. Maloney of the Antitrust Division’s Washington Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney E. Greg Gilluly Jr. for the Southern District of Georgia prosecuted the case.

Anyone with information on bid rigging, price fixing, market allocation or other anticompetitive conduct in the ready-mix concrete industry should contact the Antitrust Division’s Complaint Center at 888-647-3258 or visit www.justice.gov/atr/report-violations. 

Four Defendants Charged In Multi-Million Dollar No-Fault Insurance Fraud Scheme And Money Laundering Conspiracy

 

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging KENAN TARIVERDI, NAZIM TARIVERDI, DILSHOD ISLAMOV, and ALVARO GEOVANNI QUIJADA LEMUS.  The Indictment charges KENAN TARIVERDI, NAZIM TARIVERDI, and DILSHOD ISLAMOV with operating an extensive no-fault insurance fraud that submitted more than $11 million in fraudulent claims for psychological testing and services—and for laundering the proceeds of that fraud through a network of illicit check cashers, including ALVARO GEOVANNI QUIJADA LEMUS.  The defendants were arrested this morning and were presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sarah L. Cave in Manhattan Federal Court.  

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “No fault insurance fraud schemes raise costs for everyone and exploit a system designed to make healthcare more accessible. As alleged in the indictment, Kenan Tariverdi, Nazim Tariverdi, and Dilshod Islamov orchestrated a deceitful, complex scheme to cheat insurance providers out of millions of dollars. These defendants then allegedly worked with a network of money launderers, including Alvaro Geovanni Quijada Lemus, to profit from their crime. I commend the FBI and our dedicated team of prosecutors for their outstanding work in dismantling this massive fraud operation.” 

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

KENAN TARIVERDI, NAZIM TARIVERDI, and ISLAMOV devised a fraudulent scheme to take advantage of New York’s no fault insurance law, which enables the driver and passengers of a vehicle registered and insured in New York State to obtain benefits of up to $50,000 per person for injuries suffered in a car accident, regardless of fault. Under New York State law, medical corporations are unable to bill insurance companies for no-fault benefits if the medical facilities are controlled by non-physicians.  KENAN TARIVERDI, NAZIM TARIVERDI, and ISLAMOV defrauded insurance carriers by submitting insurance claims from medical corporations that were nominally owned by licensed medical professionals but were in fact owned and controlled by KENAN TARIVERDI, NAZIM TARIVERDI, and ISLAMOV, who were not licensed medical practitioners.  If insurance companies had known that the nominee medical corporations were actually owned and controlled by KENAN TARIVERDI, NAZIM TARIVERDI, and ISLAMOV, the insurance companies would have denied payment for claims submitted by the nominee medical corporations. 

KENAN TARIVERDI, NAZIM TARIVERDI, and ISLAMOV also carried out their fraudulent scheme by conspiring to bill insurances companies in the names of psychologists, medical professionals, and medical corporations under their nominal control for services that the psychologists and medical professionals did not actually perform.  When preparing these fraudulent bills, the conspiracy operated by KENAN TARIVERDI, NAZIM TARIVERDI, and ISLAMOV frequently used the license information and signatures of psychologists and medical professionals on fraudulent billing records submitted to insurance companies. 

Additionally, KENAN TARIVERDI, NAZIM TARIVERDI, and ISLAMOV conspired to bill insurance companies for expensive procedures, including psychological testing and treatment, regardless of medical necessity.  These unnecessary medical procedures were carried out pursuant to billing protocols that the defendants and their coconspirators designed and implemented at various clinics in and around New York City to maximize the dollar amounts on insurance claims, rather than to provide necessary medical and psychological treatment.

As a result of their fraudulent scheme, KENAN TARIVERDI, NAZIM TARIVERDI, and ISLAMOV caused insurance providers to be billed over approximately $10 million in fraudulent claims for psychological testing and services. 

KENAN TARIVERDI, NAZIM TARIVERDI, and ISLAMOV also carried out a scheme to launder the proceeds of their conspiracy.  Their money laundering scheme operated by taking control over various bank accounts that received payments derived from the fraudulent claims that the conspiracy operated by KENAN TARIVERDI, NAZIM TARIVERDI, and ISLAMOV submitted to insurance companies.  Such bank accounts were nominally held by psychologists or medical professionals, but KENAN TARIVERDI, NAZIM TARIVERDI, and ISLAMOV gained control over them through various means, including by directing the psychologists and medical professionals to sign stacks of blank checks drawn on their accounts.  KENAN TARIVERDI, NAZIM TARIVERDI, and ISLAMOV then used those checks to transfer funds into a network of shell companies that were controlled by the money laundering conspiracy. 

KENAN TARIVERDI, NAZIM TARIVERDI, and ISLAMOV used a network of money launderers to cash checks from their shell companies.  ALVARO GEOVANNI QUIJADA-LEMUS was one unlicensed check casher who, in exchange for a fee, provided cash in exchange for checks the shell companies.  QUIJADA-LEMUS, in turn, sold approximately 50 checks from the shell companies for approximately $200,000 to an individual cooperating with law enforcement.      

KENAN TARIVERDI, 55, of Staten Island, New York; NAZIM TARIVERDI, 32, of Staten Island, New York; and DILSHOD ISLAMOV, 43, of Brooklyn, New York are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory two-year consecutive sentence, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  ALVARO GEOVANNI QUIJADA-LEMUS, 38, of Holmdel, New Jersey, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carried a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison one count of money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of operation of an unlicensed money transmitting business, which carries a maximum of five years in prison.  The maximum potential sentences in this case 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 work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

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

MAYOR ADAMS, FUTURE OF FIFTH PARTNERSHIP UNVEIL TRANSFORMATION OF FIFTH AVENUE INTO WORLD-CLASS, PEDESTRIAN-CENTERED BOULEVARD

 

Plan Includes Widened, Greened Sidewalks, Prioritizing Pedestrians, and Public Realm

 

Investment Will Strengthen Historic Corridor’s Economic Engine and Job Creation

 

Since 2022 Project Launch, Corridor Has Seen Nearly $4 Billion in Real Estate Sales, Showing Significant Enthusiasm in Future of Fifth

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and the Future of Fifth Partnership today unveiled their plans to transform Fifth Avenue between Bryant Park and Central Park into a world-class, pedestrian-centered boulevard, bolstering the iconic corridor’s status as an economic engine and job creator for New York City. The proposed design, revealed today, expands sidewalks by 46 percent, shortens crosswalks making for safer crossings, reduces the number of traffic lanes from five to three, and adds plantings and lighting for aesthetics and safety. Once complete, this project — the first major redesign in the avenue’s 200-year history — is projected to pay for itself in less than five years through increased property and sales tax revenue.

 

“New Yorkers deserve an iconic boulevard that will rival the rest of the world — and together with the Future of Fifth Partnership, we’re going to deliver just that,” said Mayor Adams. “Right now, 70 percent of the people on Fifth Avenue are pedestrians, but they can only utilize less than half the space. On the holidays, that’s 23,000 people every hour — 4,000 more than a packed MSG — cramming like sardines into constrained sidewalks. That makes no sense — so we’re going to flip the script. We’re nearly doubling walkable sidewalk space, adding hundreds of new trees and planters, installing new seating and activation space, and so much more. And best of all, once completed, the project will pay for itself in less than five years through increased tax revenues. This is a huge win for New York City, and I’m grateful to the Fifth Avenue Association, Grand Central Partnership, Central Park Conservancy, and Bryant Park Corporation, as well as our local elected officials, for their partnership throughout this generational project.”

 

“The administration and Future of Fifth Partnership’s plans for a redesigned Fifth Avenue will profoundly improve quality of life while increasing economic activity,” said First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer. “Thank you to all of our partners for advancing these innovative plans, which will help fulfill the ‘New’ New York Action Plan’s recommendations for revitalized public spaces and boost our city’s continued recovery.”

 

“People across the globe identify Fifth Avenue as a premier destination for strolling and shopping. But its larger-than-life reputation means that its sidewalks have reached their capacity, hosting more people per hour in peak seasons than Madison Square Garden,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “By expanding sidewalks, we can turn this avenue into an iconic boulevard, a place for all, for all hours and especially for pedestrians — who can now safely stay on sidewalks rather than navigate cars to get by and through. But this isn’t only for today — it’s for tomorrow, a verdant, sustainable boulevard to grow with our city.”

 

“New Yorkers and visitors deserve public spaces that are accessible and inviting. It’s proven time and time again that local businesses thrive when pedestrians are prioritized,” said New York City Chief Public Realm Officer Ya-Ting Liu. “This exciting new design will transform Fifth Avenue into a tree and plant filled green boulevard where pedestrians have the space they need and feel welcomed. I look forward to advancing this design and revitalizing this iconic New York boulevard.”

 

“As we celebrate the 200^th anniversary of one of the most famous streets in the world, New Yorkers can look forward to a brand-new Fifth Avenue that will return the street to its former glory as a pedestrian boulevard,” said Madelyn Wils, interim president, Fifth Avenue Association, and co-chair, Future of Fifth Steering Committee. “Reversing the century-old trend of putting cars first, this visionary design will transform our overcrowded avenue into a spacious and green corridor for shoppers and workers, visitors and New Yorkers, and everyone on Fifth. We are grateful to this administration, our partners in government, and the businesses that help power the city’s economy as we work to turn this vision into a reality.”

 

“By dramatically widening the sidewalks of Fifth Avenue, we’ll be creating a much more welcoming and comfortable pedestrian experience along this iconic corridor,” said New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez. “This design proposal will better serve the vast majority of people on Fifth Avenue, those who are traveling by foot, create a greener and calmer corridor, and we look forward to future development with the community.”

 

“This type of bold thinking and unique public-private partnership is truly transforming one of New York City’s iconic corridors into a vibrant destination, building off the principles laid out in the ‘New’ New York action plan,” said New York City Economic Development President and CEO Andrew Kimball. “We have seen the economic benefits — from creating jobs to increased real estate sales — when we prioritize pedestrians in our commercial corridors and reimagine our neighborhoods into 24/7 live, work, and play communities.”

 

“By upgrading Fifth Avenue, we are creating a world-class public space that reflects the iconic and vibrant heart of New York City,” said New York City Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “This transformation will help Fifth Avenue between Bryant Park and Central Park reach its full potential, prioritizing pedestrian safety, enhancing green spaces throughout the corridor, and adding other essential upgrades to the public realm. Together, we’re taking a bold step towards a greener, more accessible, and more inviting city for everyone.”

 

“The continuing transformation of our public spaces by the Adams administration is creating safer, quieter, and more welcoming streets for people to enjoy as opposed to vehicles,” said New York City Department of Design and Construction Commissioner Thomas Foley. “We have consistently seen better neighborhoods and happier residents near our plaza projects and in areas like Grand Concourse in the Bronx and Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn where we’re doing traffic calming and other safety enhancements. Fifth Avenue is a worldwide center of tourism and commerce and a perfect candidate for these pedestrian improvements.”

 

“The redesign of Fifth Avenue gives this iconic boulevard the transformation it deserves, dramatically enhancing the experience of pedestrians and creating a safer, greener, more inviting commercial corridor,” said “New” New York Executive Director B.J. Jones. “This new milestone reflects more progress in the implementation of the ‘New’ New York Panel’s recommendations to invest in a world-class public realm to make our business districts global destinations.”

Renderings of the Future of Fifth Avenue. Credit: City Hall

Fifth Avenue is currently 100 feet wide, comprised of five lanes of vehicular traffic and two 23-foot sidewalks. Even though pedestrians make up 70 percent of all traffic on the corridor, sidewalks account for only 46 percent of the space. Each block serves approximately 5,500 pedestrians an hour on an average day and up to 23,000 people an hour during the holidays — the equivalent of a full Madison Square Garden (MSG) plus 4,000 additional people. The current configuration can no longer accommodate this volume of foot traffic, especially given that only 15 feet on either side is unobstructed for walking; the rest is occupied by street infrastructure like signage, bus stops, lighting, and trash cans.

 

The new design nearly doubles the width of the sidewalks to 33.5 feet each, expanding unobstructed walking space to 25 feet on each side and adding another 8.5-foot-wide section for trees. These changes will reduce crossing lengths by more than a third, increasing pedestrian safety. Beyond rebalancing Fifth Avenue’s space to reflect its usage, the new design also greens the corridor with more than 230 new trees and 20,000 square feet of planters, new seating and activation space, better lighting, and more. Greening Fifth Avenue will create additional shade cover to protect against heat and innovative stormwater infrastructure to prevent flooding. The design draws inspiration from Fifth Avenue’s historic landmarks and art deco influences, heightening the iconic architectural features integral to the avenue’s visual identity. It is also inspired by other iconic shopping street redesigns, including the Champs Elysees in Paris; Calle Serrano in Madrid; Bond, Oxford and Regent Streets in London; and Ginza in Tokyo. The effort builds on the core tenets of the “New” New York panel’s action plan, which identified public space as a key force for the city’s economic recovery.

 

Fifth Avenue has long been an economic powerhouse for New York City. The avenue is responsible for 313,000 direct and indirect jobs, which in turn generate $44.1 billion in total wages and $111.5 billion in total economic output each year. Moreover, since Mayor Adams announced this project in December 2022, Fifth Avenue has experienced an unprecedented wave of investment in commercial renovations, record-breaking sales, and leasing activity. Since 2023, there have been more than 10 commercial real estate sales on Fifth Avenue, totaling $3.9 billion.

 

This investment has been fueled by the project and its anticipated economic impact. The Adams administration’s 2022 Holiday Open Streets initiative on Fifth Avenue, which made 11 blocks of Fifth Avenue vehicle-free for the first time in a half-century and brought back popular pedestrian-focused areas around Rockefeller Center, drove an estimated $3 million in additional spending at businesses along pedestrianized streets — with merchants on Open Streets seeing a 6.6 percent increase in spending over similar blocks that were not opened to pedestrians.

 

Last year, the Adams administration launched the Future of Fifth public-private partnership, which brings city agencies together with the Fifth Avenue Association, Grand Central Partnership, Central Park Conservancy, and Bryant Park Corporation to further this project. The group selected firms Arcadis, Sam Schwartz Engineering, and Field Operations to lead the design and study, and schematic design is slated for completion by summer 2025.

Statement from Comptroller Lander on DOI Investigation on Lack of Shelter Contract Oversight

 

In response to Department of Investigation’s (DOI) latest report, Examination of Compliance Risks at City-Funded Homeless Shelter Providers and the City’s Oversight of Shelter Providers, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander issued the following statement:

“For years, my office has echoed DOI’s urgent drumbeat to fight against lax procurement oversight and safeguards against corruption that City Hall neglects to address. DOI’s latest 100-page investigation underlines the Adams Administration’s failure to implement any of the anti-corruption recommendations from DOI’s 2021 report. If the Mayor continues to fail to implement these common-sense recommendations, further eroding public trust in our local government, then the City Council must take action.”

DOI EXAMINATION FINDS COMPLIANCE AND GOVERNANCE RISKS AT 51 CITY-FUNDED NONPROFITS THAT OPERATE NYC HOMELESS SHELTERS AND FLAWED CITY OVERSIGHT OF DHS-FUNDED PROVIDERS

 

DOI issued 32 reforms to address system-wide vulnerabilities

Jocelyn E. Strauber, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), issued a Report today memorializing the key findings from DOI’s extensive examination of compliance risks at 51 nonprofit human service providers that operate many of the homeless shelters in New York City and of the City’s oversight of the shelter system. The Report includes DOI’s 32 recommendations for reform, intended to protect the billions of dollars that the City spends annually on shelter services from corruption, waste, fraud, and abuse. A copy of the Report follows this release and can be found here: https://www.nyc.gov/site/doi/newsroom/public-reports.page.

DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber said, “When it comes to protecting the vast taxpayer resources that City-funded nonprofits receive, prevention is key. City-funded nonprofit service providers pose unique compliance and governance risks, and comprehensive City oversight is the best way to stop corruption, fraud, and waste before it starts. This deep dive into the City-funded homeless service provider system builds on DOI’s extensive experience investigating nonprofit fraud, and our 2021 Report concerning City-funded nonprofits. Today’s Report provides ample evidence of the risks specific to nonprofits and shortcomings in City oversight and makes 32 recommendations to strengthen controls around this essential network. I thank the DOI team that has worked tirelessly on this investigation and the many City entities that provided assistance, including the staff from the City Department of Social Services who worked closely with DOI to support this examination.”

The City, through the City Department of Social Services (“DSS”) and the City Department of Homeless Services (“DHS”), operates the largest homeless shelter system of any municipality in the United States. DHS-funded shelters currently support an average of over 86,000 people per night at a cost of approximately $4 billion annually in FY 2024, up from $2.7 billion annually in FY 2022, due in large part to the influx of asylum seekers over the past two years. (DOI did not review City-funded contracts involving services to the asylum seekers that were procured under emergency procedures for this Report. DOI has oversight of these expenditures through an integrity monitor that is supervised by and reports to DOI.) 

This Report identifies a variety of compliance and governance risks at these providers, as well as in the City’s overall management of the shelter system. These risks vary in their severity and include: 

• Conflicts of interest affecting City money. DOI identified cases where insiders at the shelter provider had personal business interests involving the shelter through which they received payments outside their regular compensation. In some cases, shelter executives simultaneously held employment at a private entity, such as a security company, that was hired to provide services at City-funded shelters. 

• Poor Citywide controls over how City money is used for executive compensation. DOI identified multiple shelter executives who received more than $500,000 per year, and in some cases, more than $700,000 per year, from providers and related organizations. Executive compensation in these cases is funded either largely or in part through City funds. The City lacks sufficient rules concerning how much City money can be allocated to nonprofit executives’ salaries. 

• Nepotism, in violation of City contracts. DOI found shelter providers that have employed immediate family members of senior executives and board members, in apparent violation of their City contracts. For instance, one provider that is largely funded by the City employed its CEO’s children since at least 2007. This provider subsequently entered into a DOI-managed monitorship agreement.

• Shelter providers failing to follow competitive bidding rules when procuring goods and services with public money. DOI found numerous cases where shelter providers did not comply with the City’s competitive bidding requirements or where it was unclear whether shelter providers conducted true competitive bidding processes. For example, this review identified multiple instances where shelter providers awarded multimillion-dollar building maintenance service contracts to companies affiliated with the buildings’ landlords.

DOI issued 32 recommendations to address the system-wide vulnerabilities noted in this Report. Included among the key recommendations are: 

➢ DSS should appoint a Chief Vendor Compliance Officer to provide overall leadership for DSS and DHS’s compliance strategy with respect to nonprofit human service contracts, including contracts with shelter providers. 

➢ Shelter providers should be required to regularly disclose additional information relevant to identifying compliance risks, including potential conflicts of interest for key persons. 

➢ DSS and DHS should take steps to improve their oversight of shelter operators’ expenditures, including by immediately stopping payments for costs that are not accompanied by a proper description and ensuring that relevant agency staff receive regular financial compliance training. 

➢ The City should update its electronic procurement and invoicing systems to better enable thirdparty oversight and centralize key documentation. 

This Report also reiterates many of the 23 recommendations that DOI issued in its November 2021 Report on Corruption Vulnerabilities in the City’s Oversight and Administration of Not-for-Profit Human Services. While the City has implemented some reforms since the 2021 Report and is also undertaking some work that closely tracks DOI’s recommendations, many of the recommendations from 2021 have not been implemented at any substantial level. The 2021 Report recommended, among other things, that the City:

 Reform its conflict-of-interest disclosure system for the City’s human service providers. 

 Develop more specific guidance to agencies on executive compensation and consider setting a cap or other parameters on City-funded executive compensation. 

 Conduct more robust reviews of expenses that human service providers invoice to the City, including by reviewing larger samples of supporting documentation.  

Governor Hochul Announces Gun Violence in New York Has Declined to Lowest on Record

 

Shootings Down 26% in 2024 to Date, Lowest Number of Shooting Incidents With Injury Since 2006

Significant Decreases Reported Across Long Island, Syracuse, Rochester, Niagara Falls and Utica

Since Taking Office, Governor Has Increased Funding for Local Police Departments and District Attorneys’ Offices by 1,200%; Increased Funding by 30% for State Police

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced new data that shows reported gun violence in New York State is at its lowest point since the state started tracking this data in 2006. Shooting incidents with injury declined 26 percent through September 2024 compared to the same nine-month period last year, as reported by the 28 police departments outside of New York City that participate in New York State’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination initiative. A total of 170 fewer individuals were injured by gun violence in Gun Involved Violence Elimination initiative communities, with significant decreases in shooting incidents with injury reported in Niagara Falls, Rochester, Syracuse, Troy, Utica and on Long Island. Since taking office, Governor Hochul has secured record-level funding for local law enforcement and district attorneys’ offices, from $30 million during State Fiscal Year 2022 to $392 million in the current fiscal year. At the same time, the New York State Police budget has increased by 30 percent, allowing the agency to hire and train additional troopers, and significantly expand its support to local law enforcement agencies to address major crimes, gun violence and retail theft. Additionally, Governor Hochul directed state landmarks to be lit purple in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

“Public safety is my number one priority, and New York is leading the nation with proven initiatives that are making communities safer,” Governor Hochul said. “Our record investments in law enforcement and in critical programs like the GIVE initiative are making a real difference in every corner of our state, and my administration will continue fighting to keep New Yorkers safe.”

The 26 percent decline reflects 476 shooting incidents with injury from January 1 through September 30, 2024, compared to 646 incidents from January 1, through September 30, 2023, and represents the fewest reported since the state began tracking this data in 2006. At that time, only 17 police departments reported this data and received state funding to reduce gun and violent crime. The Gun Involved Violence Elimination initiative (GIVE) provides nearly $36 million to 28 police departments, as well as district attorneys’ offices, probation departments and sheriffs’ offices, in 21 counties outside of New York City. The following police departments reported particularly significant declines:

• Utica: 52 percent
• Troy: 48 percent
• Niagara Falls: 40 percent
• Rochester: 38 percent
• Nassau County, Hempstead, Suffolk County (Long Island): 36 percent
• Syracuse: 29 percent

Shooting incidents with injury, shooting victims and shooting homicide data for each of the 28 police departments participating in GIVE are available on the State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) website. In addition, the 476 shooting incidents with injury reported by these 28 police departments are the fewest reported since 2006.

In addition to the collective decrease in gun violence in GIVE communities, the New York City Police Department reported a nearly 9 percent (723 v. 791) decrease in shooting incidents through Oct. 13, 2024.

Overall crime outside of New York City also has declined. The 57 counties outside of the five boroughs collectively reported a 9 percent decrease in index crime during the first five months of 2024, the most recent data available, when compared to the same time in 2023. There are seven index crime categories that are used to gauge overall crime trends: murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft. The most significant declines were reported in motor vehicle theft (-27 percent), followed by rape (-14 percent), and murder (-12 percent) when comparing January 1, through May 31, 2024, to that five-month period last year. The NYPD also reported a 2 percent decrease in crime complaints through Oct. 13, 2024.

Earlier this month, Gove rnor Hochul also announced another record-level state investment to further improve public safety: $35 million to strengthen the law enforcement response to intimate partner abuse and domestic violence and better address the needs of survivors. DCJS will administer $5 million to the five New York City District Attorneys’ Offices, and $23 million to law enforcement agencies and service providers in 20 counties outside of the five boroughs to implement the Statewide Targeted Reduction in Intimate Partner Violence (STRIVE) initiative. Up to $7 million will allow the State to provide training and technical assistance, risk assessment tools, and investigative support to participating agencies and improve the domestic violence reduction efforts of state agencies.

STRIVE is modeled after GIVE and plans developed by participating counties must use evidence-based strategies and ensure that community members and programs that serve victims and survivors are actively involved in strategy selection and implementation. One or more of the following strategies must be used: domestic violence high-risk team model, lethality assessment program or intimate partner violence intervention.

Since Governor Hochul took office, funding for the State Police has increased by $264 million (30 percent) to support additional staffing and an increase in police services. The agency’s budget for FY 2025 is $1.14 billion. This funding supports the hiring and training of nearly 1,000 new Troopers and allows the State Police to address major crime and support local police agencies. This includes $25 million to target and retail theft, and expansion of Community Stabilization Units, which use a multi-pronged approach to interdicting illegal firearms and provide local police agencies with resources to proactively address surges in crime. Other programs that are part of the Governor’s comprehensive plan to improve public safety include:

• $21 million for the SNUG Street Outreach program, which uses a public health approach to address gun violence by identifying the source, interrupting transmission, and treating individuals, families and communities affected by violence. Community-based organizations and hospitals operate the program in 14 communities and employ nearly 200 outreach workers, social workers and case managers. Outreach workers are credible messengers who have lost loved ones to violence or have prior justice system involvement. They respond to shootings to prevent retaliation, detect conflicts and resolve them peacefully before they lead to additional violence. Social workers and case managers work with individuals affected by community violence, including friends and family. DCJS also supports New York City’s violence interruption efforts, providing $5 million for its Crisis Management System (CMS) so it can bring those programs to scale.
• $18 million for the state’s unique network of Crime Analysis Centers, which analyze, compile and distribute information, intelligence and data to local law enforcement agencies statewide. No other state has anything similar and the centers — operated in partnership with local law enforcement agencies in 10 counties and New York City — are hubs of state and local efforts to deter, investigate and solve crimes. Last year alone, staff handled more than 90,000 requests for assistance, helping agencies solve everything from retail theft to murders.
• Up to $20 million for Project RISE, a unique funding model that convenes community stakeholders to respond to gun violence, invest in solutions, sustain positive programs and empower communities. In its first year, the initiative supported 99 organizations, including 74 small, grassroots programs, many of which had never received state support for their work. Programs and services funded by RISE include academic support, employment services, mentoring and delinquency/violence prevention.
• $10.4 million for the Supervision Against Violent Engagement (SAVE) program, overseen by the State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. The program uses enhanced supervision, including active GPS monitoring; intelligence and data gathering; and cross-jurisdictional cooperation to prevent gun violence, violent crime and domestic violence among the most high-risk individuals returning to Albany, Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse.