A.G. Schneiderman Announces Compensation For New Yorkers Affected By Western Union Wire Transfer Scams

New York Victims Of Fraud May Now Seek Compensation From $586M National Fund

A.G. Schneiderman Offers Tips To Protect New Yorkers From Scams

  Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman informed New Yorkers today that they may now apply for compensation from a $586 million national fund if they were deceived into sending payments to scammers using Western Union’s wire transfer services. Administered by the Department of Justice's Victim Asset Recovery Program, this fund was created as a result of a multi-state settlement reached by Attorney General Schneiderman, 49 other states, and the District of Columbia with Western Union in January 2017.

New Yorkers may be eligible to receive compensation if they were a victim of a fraud-induced transfer using Western Union between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017. Over 30,000 New Yorkers were affected by such transfer scams and lost approximately $35 million as a result.

“I’m pleased that this fund will allow thousands of New York fraud victims to receive the compensation they deserve,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “I encourage New Yorkers to remain vigilant when receiving solicitations and report potential fraud to my office. We will continue to work with companies to improve their anti-fraud efforts and protect consumers from scam artists.”

New Yorkers who reported to Western Union or to the Attorney General's Office that they had been the victim of a scam using Western Union may receive a claim form in the mail. The claim form will be sent from the settlement administrator in the next two weeks and will contain instructions explaining how consumers may file their claim to receive compensation.

If you do not receive a claim form in the mail but believe you may have an eligible claim, please may visit http://www.westernunionremission.com or call 1-844-319-2124 for more information on how to file a claim. All completed claims forms must be mailed back to the settlement administrator by February 12, 2018.

The Attorney General encourages New Yorkers to reach out to his office’s consumer hotline if they have questions or concerns at 1-800-771-7755.

Consumers should be aware of common scams, including:

• Lottery and contest scams in which consumers are told they have won a large sum of money, but must first wire money to pay required taxes or fees before receiving their winnings;
• Grandparent scams in which a consumer is led to believe his or her loved one is in immediate danger and needs money right away;
• Romance scams in which someone poses as a love interest and then soon begins asking consumers to send money for various reasons, such as medical emergencies, car accidents, muggings, or emergency travel;
• Tax scams, including when the caller poses as an official from a government agency, such as the Internal Revenue Service, often times using an official looking phone number. The scammer will claim that a past due tax balance is owed, and tell the victim that unless the debt is paid immediately, a team of officers will come to the victim’s home that day to arrest the victim. New Yorkers should remember the IRS and legitimate government agencies never demand payment by phone;
• Telemarketing scams involving solicitations such as advance fee loans, work-at-home opportunities, magazine sales, credit card offers, business opportunities or travel deals.

Consumers who receive these types of solicitations from strangers should toss those letters in the trash, delete the e-mail, or hang up the phone. Consumers who meet someone online should also be cautious about wiring money, particularly if a meeting in person has never taken place. 

If you think you have been the victim of a scam, report it to our Consumer Frauds Bureau here.

Federal Funding Available Beginning November 13 for Seniors, Working Families and Low-and Moderate-Income Residents

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that applications for home heating assistance will be accepted beginning Monday, November 13 throughout New York State. The Home Energy Assistance Program is making $327 million in federal funding available to eligible older New Yorkers and low- and moderate-income New Yorkers to help cover heating costs.

"As cold winter nights begin to set in, this funding will ensure New Yorkers receive the assistance they need to heat their homes and keep their families safe," Governor Cuomo said. "By securing this federal funding, residents across the state will no longer be forced to choose between buying food for their loved ones or paying their heating bill. I encourage all eligible New Yorkers to apply for this assistance in order to stay warm this winter season."

Households that are eligible can receive assistance of up to $726, depending on income, household size, and how the home is heated. A family of four can earn up to $53,482 per year and still qualify for help.

The program is overseen by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. Applications are accepted at local departments of social services, which can be found by county here.

Anyone living outside of New York City can apply for a regular Home Energy Assistance benefit online at myBenefits.ny.gov, and New York City residents are encouraged to download the application and mail it in.

Additionally, households may qualify for an emergency benefit if they are at risk of getting their heat shut off or running out of fuel. Applications for emergency benefits will be accepted beginning Tuesday, January 2, 2018. Anyone in need of emergency assistance should contact their local department of social services.

Last year, nearly 1.5 million households received assistance through HEAP. A breakdown of the number of households that received assistance last winter, by region, is below:

Region	Households Served 2016-17
Capital Region	66,000
Central New York	60,134
Finger Lakes	90,863
Long Island	66,565
Mid-Hudson Valley	102,531
Mohawk Valley	46,213
New York City	824,843
North Country	35,839
Southern Tier	52,230
Western New York	134,585
Total	1,479,803

MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES ARRIVAL OF LONGEST SELECT BUS SERVICE ROUTE ALONG WOODHAVEN AND CROSS BAY BOULEVARDS IN QUEENS

Starting this week, changes will provide over 40,000 daily riders on the route with faster, more reliable connections to subways, the Long Island Rail Road, and over 20 bus routes on one of the borough’s major north-south corridors; Launch marks the fifteenth SBS route – and builds on Mayor’s commitment to SBS expansion across the five boroughs, while adding transformational safety features to one of New York City’s highest-crash streets

  Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced that the New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT), together with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), has this week launched the operation of Select Bus Service (SBS) along Woodhaven and Cross Bay Boulevards in Queens. The Q52/Q53 SBS marks the fifteenth SBS route and at more than 14 miles in length, the longest corridor with the service.  The project also brings transformational Vision Zero safety improvements to one of the widest and highest-crash streets in New York City.

“Woodhaven and Cross Bay Boulevard are critical roads in Queens -- and from the Rockaways to Elmhurst, residents deserve this first-class service,” said Mayor de Blasio. “We are committed to expanding Select Bus Service even further, as we know it not only brings increased reliability and reduced travel time for bus riders, the dramatic street improvements of SBS will also make our streets safer for pedestrians and motorists. Here in Queens, along a street that has been a Vision Zero Priority Corridor with far too many tragic crashes, we expect these changes to make a big difference.”  

“I am happy to announce the arrival of Woodhaven/Cross Bay SBS, which we know will bring faster, more convenient and more reliable bus service to so many Queens communities, most of them without subways” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg. “The new service follows a three-year process of community engagement, and we made many adjustments to our plans along the way. From planners and engineers to roadway crews and traffic signal installers, so many different DOT divisions deserve praise for their hard work here, the end result of which will not only be better bus service but significant safety benefits on one of New York City's widest and most crash-prone roadways.” 

The new SBS route covers 14.7 miles, the longest ever for the service, and the corridor serves over 30,000 daily bus riders, with connections to eight subway lines and over 20 additional bus routes in the Queens communities of Elmhurst, Rego Park, Middle Village, Woodhaven, Ozone Park, Howard Beach, Broad Channel, Rockaway Park, and Arverne.  The Q52 and Q53 have combined daily ridership of 20,000 riders, but altogether, over 45,000 daily riders of Queens bus routes, including express bus passengers, will benefit from improvements along Woodhaven and Cross Bay.  Across New York City, SBS has delivered 10-30% increases in bus speeds and resulted in a 10% increase in ridership along these lines.  The project launched this week will be followed by NYC Department of Design & Construction capital construction along the corridor.

Safety Improvements:  Between 2011 and 2015, Woodhaven and Cross Bay Boulevards  saw over 3,000 traffic-related injuries and 24 fatalities.  DOT and the MTA began outreach for Woodhaven/Cross Bay SBS in 2014, developing the design concept to address myriad concerns identified by both riders and community residents: unreliable and slow bus service; long pedestrian crossings across as many as ten lanes of traffic; varying road widths and configurations along the corridor; congestion; and the need for transit improvements for customers. The two agencies participated in over 50 community meetings, including sit-downs with stakeholders, elected officials, and the six different community boards that the route serves. DOT also conducted on-street outreach along the route, and collected feedback via online portals.

The corridor contains eight Vision Zero Priority intersections, including at Woodhaven/Union Turnpike, which were all redesigned as part of the arrival of SBS.  Altogether, more than 30 intersections are being upgraded and improved for pedestrian safety and/or traffic flow as part of DOT’s largest safety project in 2017.The Q52/53 SBS service along Woodhaven/Cross Bay brings new red-paved bus lanes, real-time bus information, improved pedestrian safety elements and other enhancements, including new median bus stops along 1.3 miles of the boulevards now with service roads. A portion of the corridor was resurfaced this past year in advance of the improvements.

Bus –Lane Enforcement: Woodhaven/Cross Bay SBS joins 11 other bus routes where automated camera enforcement will be in effect, and motorists driving in the new red bus lanes along the Q52/Q53 route will be issued mailed warnings starting next Sunday November 19, 2017.  The warning period extends 60 days, after which violations replace warnings. Bus lanes will be in effect curbside in residential areas from 7 A.M. to 7 P.M. Monday-Friday, and curbside along Cross Bay Boulevard from 7-10 A.M. and 4-7 P.M. Monday-Saturday. Bus lanes offset from parking lane or in the main road will be in effect 24 hours, 7 days a week, and curbside parking will be preserved.

Where they are permitted, bus-lane camera enforcement has proven to be a critical tool to deliver increases in speed and reliability of MTA bus service.  New signage along each bus route indicates the hours when bus lanes are operable, and during which the lanes are camera-enforced. Under state law, the 60-day warning period ensures that regular drivers along the route learn that cameras are in operation.  Once in full effect in January, bus-lane violations will result in a Notice of Liability, which includes a photo of the violation and a fine of $115 – $150, mailed directly to the vehicle registrant’s address.   Since violations are issued against the vehicle, not the driver, points are not deducted from motorists’ licenses.   

Transit Signal Priority: The new Woodhaven/Cross Bay SBS also includes Transit Signal Priority.  Earlier this year, DOT released a report, Green Means Go, on Transit Signal Priority (TSP; report can be viewed here).  The technology is used to speed buses, hold green lights for buses and more quickly turn red lights green.  Currently active along five other SBS bus routes, TSP has reduced bus travel times by an average of 18 percent.  With MTA moving forward with its TSP procurement, DOT announced it would quadruple its installation rate, covering over 1,000 intersections total by 2020  -- including along the Q52/Q53 SBS.

Select Bus Service began on the Bx12 route along Fordham Road in the Bronx in 2008, bringing bus rapid transit to New York City for the first time.  Select Bus Service features, such as dedicated bus lanes, signal priority, off-board fare collection, and all-door boarding have led to faster bus speeds, increased ridership, more reliable service, and safer streets.  SBS Routes are currently along the following corridors: 

·  Fordham Road/Pelham Parkway (Bx12)

·  First/Second Avenues (M15)

·  34th Street (M34/M34A)

·  Hylan Boulevard (S79)

·  Webster Avenue (Bx41)

·  Nostrand Avenue (B44)

·  125th Street-LGA (M60)

·  86th Street (M86)

·  Bronx-Flushing-Jamaica (Q44)

·  Woodside-Jackson Heights Airport Connector, 

   LaGuardia Link (Q70)

·  Utica Avenue (B46)

·  23^rd Street (M23)

·  79^th Street (M79)

·  Crosstown South Bronx (Bx6)

The launch of the Q52/Q53 SBS route is the latest step toward Mayor Bill de Blasio’s commitment to expand Select Bus Service, route creation of which has more than doubled in the last four years.  In October, Mayor de Blasio announced that New York City would dramatically expand Select Bus Service (SBS), pursuing upgrades on more than 21 new routes over the next ten years, reaching a half-million more bus riders each day.  He also announced that the City and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) will also expand bus-priority improvements to make buses faster on key non-SBS corridors in all five boroughs.

For more information about Select Bus Service, please visit www.nyc.gov/brt. 

Rep. Engel Speaks Out Against GOP Tax Plan on House Floor

  Congressman Eliot L. Engel, a top member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, took to the House to condemn House Republicans’ plan to overhaul the tax code by providing large tax breaks for millionaires, billionaires, and big corporations while eliminating critical deductions for New Yorkers like state and local income tax, mortgages, and charitable donations, among others.

“It’s a classic bait and switch,” Engel said in his remarks. “It may look like middle class people are getting a tax break, but when you add on all the deductions that they will no longer be able to take, it’s a negative for the middle class.”

The full transcript of Congressman Engel’s floor remarks can be found below, and video of the remarks can be found at this link.

“Thank you Mister Speaker, and let’s put rhetoric aside when it comes to the Republican tax bill. This is a bill that gives tremendous tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires, while it hits the middle class. It may look like middle class people are getting a tax break, but when you add on all the deductions that they will no longer be able to take, it’s a negative for the middle class.

“Government is always accused of giving you something in one hand and taking it back the other hand, a classic bait and switch. That’s what this bill is about, and in my home state of New York, which is a high tax state, people will no longer have the ability to deduct state and local taxes or deduct mortgage interest to the degree that they have now.

“So, when you add it all up what does it do? Higher taxes for the middle class and lower taxes for millionaires and billionaires like our President—a classic bait and switch. New York is a donor state. We give more money to the Federal Government than we get back, and this is just hitting New York in the head again. We should be protecting the middle class, and letting people who can afford to pay more – millionaires and billionaires – pay more and not the other way around. And finally, what ever happened to the fiscal responsibility of the Republican Party? This blows a hole in the deficit, $1.75 trillion over 10 years.”

ANTI IDC MEETING AT LEHMAN COLLEGE

  As you can see from the above photo that's State Senate Democratic Conference Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins next to former candidate for governor Zepher Teachout. They were part of the panel who explained and rallied the over 300 people in attendance for an anti IDC forum. Bronx resident Diana Eusebio, Amanda Matos (co-Founder of the Womanhood Project), Billy Easton (Executive Director of the Alliance for Quality Education), and Michael Mckee (Treasurer of Tenants PAC) rounded out the panel.

  Call it whatever you want #NoIDC, IDC ACTION GROUP, or NYCD16 INDIVISIBLE all the groups were there for one purpose, to end the Republican control of the State Senate. Members of the panel took turns speaking in their expert area as to what legislation is not being passed in the State Senate, why members of the IDC side with State Senate Republicans, what they receive for that support of State Senate Republicans, and why the IDC is a roadblock to a Progressive New York.

  Two candidates who have already declared that they are running against IDC members were on hand. Lewis Kaminski Esq. of Riverdale to State Senator Jeff Klein (The IDC Leader), and former Councilman Robert Jackson to new IDC member Marisol Alcantara. 

Above - State Senate Democratic Conference Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins talks about what it is like to have the majority members of a political party, but be in the minority in the State Senate because the eight member IDC works with the Republican minority to keep the control of the State Senate in Republican hands.  

Below - Former candidate for governor Zepher Teachout goes into more details of how many feel that Governor Andrew Cuomo wants, so he can say when legislation is not passed that it is the Republicans fault in the State Senate. 

Above - The room at Lehman was standing room only.

Below - Meet 34th State Senate candidate Lewis Kaminski Esq.

Veterans Day Remembrance at the Rudy Macina Peace Memorial Plaza. November 11, 2017

    Mr. Silvio Mazzella all did a wonderful job (as usual) in this years Veterans day remembrance. The national anthem and God Bless America  was professionally sung  by Ms.  Jillian  Cannata. 49th  Precinct  Council President  Joe Thompson with Morris Park Community Association President Al D'Angelo said the Pledge of Alliance  

   Elected officials on hand included State Senator Jeff Klein, Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj, and Thomas Messina (representing Congress man Joe Crowley) The photos below will tell the rest of the story.

Above - Master of Ceremonies Silvio Mazzella stands with Joe Thompson and Al D'Angelo during the Pledge of Alliance.

Below - Ms. Jillian Cannata sang the National Anthem and God Bless America.

Above - State Senator Jeff Klein.

Below - Assemblyman, and newly elected Councilman Mark Gjonaj.

Above - Captain Alps Commanding Officer of the 49th Precinct talks about the former servicemen who are at the 49th Precinct, including one who is on active duty overseas. 

Below - The laying of the reef, while the lone bugler plays (in the left of the photo).

A group photo of some of those who took part in the 2017 Veteran's Day event at the Rudy Macina Peace Plaza. Over 100 people were in attendance.

STATEMENTS FROM MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO AND COMMISSIONER LOREE SUTTON ON VETERANS DAY, 2017

  “Today is a day to honor the millions of brave men and women who have served us over generations. And today is a day to give thanks to the brave Americans who took up arms to defend freedom, and so many people who have selflessly served,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “We are so proud to be a city where over 200,000 veterans live, veterans who have answered the call of duty and have traveled to the ends of the globe to protect liberty at home and abroad. For the sacred sacrifice of all veterans across this country, the 8.5 million Americans who call New York home will forever remain in the debt of their service.”

“On this Veterans Day, we join all New Yorkers – veterans, their families, and civilian allies – in honoring those who have raised their right hand to defend our nation’s freedoms,” said New York City Department of Veterans’ Services Commissioner Loree Sutton, MD. “We affirm that veterans and their families are this City’s greatest natural renewal resource, with the capacity for service renewed as they become leaders in their communities. The Department of Veterans’ Services and I proudly commit ourselves to improving the lives the veterans, service members, and their families who call New York City home.”

Since last year on Veterans Day, the Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS) has doubled in size to reach functional operational capacity -- from 18 to 32 staff members. DVS continues to build its foundation as a stand-alone agency and moves into its second year in operations with increased focus on its three lines of action: Housing and Support Services; Whole Health and Community Resilience; and City Employment, Education, Entrepreneurship, Engagement & Events.

Housing & Support Services (HSS): The HSS Unit leads and supports initiatives to expand and improve housing and social service resources available to NYC veterans and their families, and provides assistance to veterans navigating existing resources. Our top priority is working with homeless veterans, developing and sustaining a system that rapidly rehouses all those that become homeless, and working with our public and private partners to prevent homelessness in the first place. Since 2016:

-     Our Veteran Peer Coordinators provided one-on-one assistance in order to place over 250 veterans into safe, permanent housing

-   DVS’s Aftercare Coordinator provided assistance for 182 veterans, directly assisting in successfully preventing eviction for 17 veterans

Whole Health and Community Resilience (WHCR): The WHCR team at DVS matches veterans and their families with opportunities to connect, to heal, to grow, and to thrive. We adopt a holistic approach to veteran wellbeing with the VetsThriveNYC Whole Health program. Since 2016:

-  WHCR far exceeded our original outreach goal to reach 2,000 veterans & family members with mental health services to increase help-seeking behavior and increase social engagement, with actual outreach to over 7,000 veterans & family members

-  Our Veteran Outreach Team regularly provides veteran-specific Mental Health First Aid Training across New York City and conducts weekly outreach in satellite offices at the VA veteran centers

City Employment, Education, Entrepreneurship, Engagement & Events (CE5): DVS is dedicated to helping veterans gain access to educational programs, find fulfilling and sustainable jobs, and create their own business opportunities. DVS recognizes that it's not enough to ensure veterans have a place to live. They need the means to live. And just as important, they need to do work that fulfills them. Also, veterans and often their families are eligible for special benefits specifically geared toward education, employment and entrepreneurship. Yet navigating these resources can be challenging. To address this, DVS’s CE5 team provides vetted resources, one-on-one assistance, and information about various events assisting and honoring veterans. Since 2016: 

- CE5 expanded our City-wide presence from 3 satellite sites to 6, now open in all 5 boroughs, enabling veterans and their families to access DVS staff without ever having to leave their home borough

-    Our Veteran Outreach Specialists represented DVS at over 300 community events and provided in-borough, one-on-one assistance to over 2,300 veterans and family members

Agency-wide achievements

-  For first time ever, NYC has an accurate count of the number of veterans living here. This was achieved through advanced data science work that earned CIO Venkat Motupalli the “Best of New York City Award in Data Analytics”

-  DVS has had a significant impact on improving the lives of New York City’s veterans and family members: since 2016, DVS has engaged with over 10,000 veterans and family members – with a staff of just 32 

-   DVS’s Public Artist in Residence Bryan Doerries has reached over 1,500 veterans and civilian New Yorkers in all 5 boroughs with over 20Theater of War performances thus far. Theater of War includes staged readings of Greek tragedies that spark community conversations addressing critical public health and social issues. All events are free and, over the course of the 2-year residency, will take place in a total of 60 venues across New York City. Prior venues have ranged from public libraries and cultural institutions to homeless shelters and City parks, enabling access to theater for the widest community possible

-  DVS is working on “hacking transition” to turn what used to be called a “break in service” from military to civilian life into a “bridge for continued service,” with veterans and their families as leaders in their communities. DVS is pursuing this through two major programs:

1. Veterans on Campus: a consortium of colleges, universities and private entities dedicated to sharing best practices to better support student veterans and their families. Starting with a kick-off event in September that brought together representatives from 32 colleges and universities, DVS continues to learn from student veterans and academic administrators on a listening tour, with the aim to connect with the 40 colleges and universities with the largest student veteran populations

2.  Mentor a Vet – NYC: a consortium of over 25 mentoring organizations dedicated to aiding veterans and family members connect with peers, mentors. DVS acts as central hub where, on our website, veterans and family members can find the right mentoring organization for their needs, whether looking for career advice, training in specific skills, or just connection to other veterans in NYC