Renderings Revealed For 3013 Barker Avenue In Bronxwood, The Bronx

Exterior rendering of 3013 Barker Avenue - AM Architecture

CSTERN Design has revealed the first architectural renderings of a seven-story rental building at 3013 Barker Avenue in Bronxwood, The Bronx. Designed by Aharon Machlis of AM Architecture, the property will replace a two-story multifamily building and yield 29 apartments.

Chaim Stern’s CSTERN Design will serve as interior planner. SKMF Queens Management is listed as the owner behind the forthcoming development.

Total built-up area will measure 22,744 square feet, with 21,773 square feet designated for residential use. Renderings from the architect appear to reveal a roof terrace, but it is unclear whether this will be reserved for a penthouse unit or for communal use. Permits filed with the city’s Department of Buildings also do not specify plans to construct any residential amenities.

Interior rendering of 3013 Barker Avenue – AM Architecture; CSTERN Design

Interior rendering of 3013 Barker Avenue – AM Architecture; CSTERN Design

The building’s vibrant teal façade is perforated by large arched windows, a combination that some critics say resembles an Art Deco-inspired vertical submarine. Along Barker Avenue, the building’s address will be pinned or painted onto the façade from the ground floor to the roof, making it hard to miss for passersby. At this elevation, the building will also feature a series of private residential balconies.

An estimated completion date has not been revealed.

Undeveloped conditions at 3013 Barker Avenue – Google Maps

Reminder Join our Bronx Progressives March General Virtual Meeting

 

Friendly Reminder Join Fellow Progressives for our March General Virtual Meeting! Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86513083551 Meeting ID: 865 1308 3551 Greetings Bronx Progressives Members! Hope you're having a great March, and staying healthy and safe.    First, thank you to those that were able to join us on Sunday, March 21, to our Mass Phone Bank to #TaxTheRich, organized by our brothers and sisters at the Democratic Socialist of America (DSA). So many familiar faces that joined, including our very own Samelys Lopez!  We were joined by close to 50 volunteers and made so many calls we burned through the list before the end of the shift. This event was a true success! Together, we were able to spread our call to New Yorkers about the Invest in Our New York campaign, and help patch many New Yorkers to their elected officials.  Second, we also invite you to join us for our March general meeting. Mark your calendar Wednesday, March 31 at 7pm.   We will also be joined by Beverly Solow and James DiGioia both with DSA Bronx/Upper Manhattan Eco-socialists, who will give us an exiting and informative presentation on the Public Power Campaign; a movement that pushes to make our utilities publicly owned and powered by renewable energy. Agenda: Greetings and Welcomes (2 Mins.) Quick review of the agenda (3 Mins.) House Rules (3 Mins.) Introducing Beverly Solow and James DiGioia (3 Mins)  Beverly and James gives presentation (20 Mins.) Q&A (10 Mins.)   Working Group Proposes collaborating with the Public Power Campaign (10 Mins.) New Business/Announcements (20 Mins.)       Tax The Rich Campaign (Rally)                        New York Health Act (Phone Bank) BylawsReminder https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dupzQcNBbEhBbSAZBe5GF24vAIeMMBEdYHLcTwvE_gA/edit?usp=sharing    Adjourn Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86513083551 Meeting ID: 865 1308 3551 March 31 at 7pm One tap mobile +16465588656,,86513083551# US (New York) +13126266799,,86513083551# US (Chicago)

MAYOR DE BLASIO APPOINTS MARCOS GONZALEZ SOLER TO HEAD MAYOR’S OFFICE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE

  Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced that Marcos Soler will head the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice. As Director, Soler will oversee citywide criminal justice policy and develop and implement strategies across city agencies and partners to enhance public safety. Soler will play a critical role in implementing the City’s police reform plan and also serve as the Mayor’s representative to the courts, district attorneys, and state criminal justice agencies, among others. 

“Throughout my Administration we’ve seen the incredible impact of the Cure Violence Movement and Crisis Management System in neighborhoods across our city,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Now, as we build a recovery for all of us, it’s time to deepen that work. I trust that Marcos will lead the charge to bring us back, all while keeping New York City the safest big city in America.”

 

"For seven years, this administration has shown that it is possible to reduce both crime and imprisonment with fairer, more targeted enforcement and innovative community-based strategies across the entire justice system. MOCJ has played a critical role in advancing the most ambitious and successful changes to operations of the criminal justice the City has seen in decades," said Marcos Gonzalez Soler, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice. "It has been my privilege to work alongside the dedicated, hardworking, and immensely talented staff that make up our office for years as chief of staff. Now as director, it will be my honor to continue to advance the mayor’s agenda of criminal justice reform.”

 

Marcos Gonzalez Soler has served as Chief of Staff at the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice since 2015. Before that, Soler was the deputy executive director for policy and strategic initiatives at the Civilian Complaint Review Board. He worked closely with the board in conceptualizing and implementing major initiatives at the CCRB, including the implementation of the administrative prosecution unit and the drafting of several policy reports and recommendations. He served as acting executive director from February to April of 2013.

 

Soler also served as deputy federal monitor in the agreement for the sustainable reform of the Puerto Rico Police Department, the largest reform agreement in the United States. Between 2009 and 2011, he was a board member and treasurer of the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (NACOLE).

 

Soler serves as an adjunct faculty member in the political science department at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. At John Jay, Soler developed the first of its kind graduate level course in public oversight of law enforcement in coordination with National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement. He had also taught in the NYPD executive master program in criminal justice at John Jay.

 

Soler holds a Master’s in public policy and management and a Ph.D. in politics from The New School University, where he was the recipient of the Hannah Arendt Award for the best dissertation in politics. He was a doctoral research fellow in jurisprudence at the University of Valencia School of Law and a research fellow at the Spanish Center for Constitutional Studies. He holds several graduate and law degrees from several European universities, including University of Valencia Law School & University of Valencia, the European Academy of Legal theory, the International Institute for the Sociology of Law, and the Spanish National Center for Constitutional Studies. Additionally, he is a graduate of the New York City Leadership Institute and a recipient of the Mayor’s Graduate Scholarship program. A native of Spain, Soler moved to New York City in 1998. He lives with his wife, a public-school teacher, and children on Staten Island.

 

“Over the last seven years the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice has played a critical role conceptualizing, implementing, and coordinating significant change in our justice system—from developing the historic plan to close Rikers to creative gun violence prevention and community-led safety initiatives,” Susan Herman, Director of ThriveNYC, said. “We have seen dramatic changes in every part of the criminal justice system largely due to MOCJ's efforts and Marcos Soler has been a valuable member of the leadership team that has made it happen. As he takes the helm, I congratulate him and look forward to continuing to work together to make New York a safer, fairer, and healthier city.”

 

“Marcos’ expertise on the issues is matched by his commitment to making New York City a more just and equitable place. He is absolutely the right person to lead the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice,” said CCRB Executive Director Jonathan Darche. “The CCRB looks forward to working with Marcos and MOCJ on implementing police reforms and empowering civilian oversight in our City.”

 

"I look forward to working with Marcos in building a fairer criminal justice system," said Community Affairs Unit Commissioner Roberto Perez. "I am confident that Marcos will successfully advance this administration's community-focused policies like the Mayor's Action Plan for Neighborhood Safety, borough-based jails, and NYPD reform." 

 

Attorney General James and Tax Commissioner Schmidt Announce Convictions of Long Island Auto Repair Shops for Tax Evasion

 

Broadway Towing and Broadway Auto & Towing Failed to Pay Over $700,000 in Sales Tax

Businesses Underreported More Than $8 Million in Taxable Sales Over a Decade

  New York Attorney General Letitia James and New York Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Michael Schmidt today announced the guilty pleas of two Long Island auto repair shops and their owner for tax evasion. Broadway Towing, Inc. and Broadway Auto & Towing, Inc. pleaded guilty to Criminal Tax Fraud for underreporting more than $8 million in taxable sales over a 10-year period. The owner of both shops — Luis Crespo, 53 of Freeport —  additionally pleaded guilty to Petit Larceny. As part of their pleas, the defendants agreed to repay the state of New York more than $900,000 in restitution, interest, and penalties.

“There’s no award presented to those who partake in tax evasion, but Broadway Towing’s performance has ensured the company finally pays New York state more than $900,000 in restitution, interest, and penalties,” said Attorney General James. “Today’s convictions should serve as a clear reminder that we will never tolerate those who seek to defraud our state out of its owed tax revenue, especially as we continue to face budget shortfalls. The lights have finally dimmed on Broadway Towing’s fraud. I thank Commissioner Schmidt and the Department of Taxation and Finance for their partnership in bringing accountability and justice to our communities.”

“Business owners who tilt the playing field for their own personal gain not only violate the trust of their community, they rob it of critical funding for public programs and services,” said Commissioner Schmidt. “This is hundreds of thousands of dollars that would have helped improve lives in local neighborhoods, but instead they were siphoned off for personal profit. We’ll continue to work with the attorney general and all levels of law enforcement to ensure those committing tax fraud are held accountable.”

A joint investigation by the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) Auto Insurance Fraud Unit and the New York state Department of Taxation and Finance’s (Tax Department) Criminal Investigations Division revealed that — between 2009 and 2018 — Crespo collectively underreported a total of more than $8 million in taxable sales, and failed to remit more than $700,000 in sales tax collected from his two auto body repair shops — both located at 25 Broadway in Freeport. 

According to complaints filed in Nassau County Court and a Tax Department audit of sales tax returns, for the period between December 1, 2009 and February 28, 2018, Broadway Towing underreported its taxable sales by $5,414,789 — resulting in a failure to remit $467,025 in sales tax due to New York state. The Tax Department’s audit further revealed that, between December 1, 2009 and November 30, 2016, Broadway Auto & Towing underreported its taxable sales by $3,150,930 — resulting in a failure to remit $271,767 in sales tax due to New York state.

This morning — before the Honorable Terence P. Murphy in Nassau County First District Court — Broadway Towing and Broadway Auto & Towing each pleaded guilty to one count of Criminal Tax Fraud in the Third Degree (a Class D felony). Crespo — who has already paid $160,000 in restitution to the Tax Department to date — pleaded guilty to Petit Larceny (a Class A misdemeanor), and was sentenced to a three-year conditional discharge. As part of his sentence, Crespo must pay an additional $750,000 in restitution to the Tax Department. 

The OAG wishes to thank the Tax Department’s Criminal Investigations Division, as well as the New York state Department of Financial Services and the National Insurance Crime Bureau, for their valuable assistance in this investigation.

This case was investigated by Detective John Roman and Senior Auditor Dmitry Temis of the Auto Insurance Fraud Unit, under the direction of Supervising Detectives Edward Keegan and Natalie Shifrin and Deputy Chief Leonard D'Alessandro. The Investigations Bureau is led by Chief Oliver Pu-Folkes.

281 Days and Counting

 

Any time now Dr. Choskhi, you can give me the COVID-19 vaccination. I gave it to you last week Mayor de Blasio. I am just checking the injection site.

CEO Of NYC Non-Profit Charged In Bribery And Kickbacks Scheme Involving Publicly Funded Housing And Social Services

 

 Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Margaret Garnett, the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), announced today the arrest of VICTOR RIVERA on charges of honest services fraud and money laundering. As alleged in an Information filed today in Manhattan federal court, RIVERA, while leading a non-profit organization (“Organization-1”) that operated soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and affordable-housing facilities in New York City, schemed to enrich himself through bribes and kickbacks from Organization-1’s contractors. RIVERA will be presented and arraigned later today before United States District Judge Sidney H. Stein. 

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said:  “Many of the over 8.4 million residents of New York City rely on government-assisted non-profits to provide food, affordable housing, and other essential services for their well-being. As alleged in today’s charges, by accepting bribes and kickbacks, Victor Rivera sought to leverage his position as the CEO of a non-profit into a very much for-profit situation for himself.  The vast majority of organizations in New York City’s non-profit networks honorably provide assistance to those in need, but when any individual selfishly exploits one of those organizations for their own personal gain, they will find themselves facing criminal charges for corruption.”

DOI Commissioner Margaret Garnett said:  “As CEO of a City-funded nonprofit, this defendant should have been serving the underprivileged, including the homeless;  instead, according to the criminal information, he schemed to enrich himself and his relatives, taking bribes and kickbacks from those doing business with his organization. New York City provides billions of dollars to support nonprofits, many of which run organizations with integrity and provide valuable, essential services. But corruption at nonprofit social services contractors remains an investigative priority for DOI, and today's arrest should serve as notice to any individual who sees the City's coffers as a path to personal profit. DOI thanks the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York for its partnership and commitment to this important corruption investigation.”

As alleged in the Information:[1]

RIVERA was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Organization-1, which annually spent millions of dollars in public funds on real estate, security, cleaning, construction, and food expenses, among other costs related to the housing and social services Organization-1 provided. From at least in or about 2013 until in or about 2020, RIVERA engaged in a scheme to enrich himself and his relatives by soliciting and accepting bribes and kickbacks from contractors doing work related to or for Organization-1. The scheme yielded RIVERA at least hundreds of thousands of dollars in illicit gains. RIVERA laundered some of the corrupt payments through intermediary entities he controlled, including through a purported consulting company nominally owned by one of RIVERA’s relatives. 

RIVERA, 61, of Stony Point, New York, is charged with one count of honest services wire fraud conspiracy, one count of honest services wire fraud, and one count of money laundering. Each count carries a maximum potential prison sentence of 20 years. The maximum potential penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only; any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of Special Agents of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and of DOI, and thanked the Internal Revenue Service for its participation in the investigation.

The allegations contained in the Information are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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

RAY McGUIRE CAMPAIGN FILES 18K PETITION SIGNATURES TO QUALIFY FOR THE DEMOCRATIC MAYORAL PRIMARY

Democrat Ray McGuire today filed more than 18,000 petition signatures to the Board of Elections to qualify for the June primary election ballot.

“We are now really at the start of this campaign and today's filing shows that New Yorkers are beginning to be engaged,” said Ray McGuire. “People from every borough and every neighborhood are responding to our message for the most inclusive comeback in New York City history. New Yorkers want a change from politics as usual and deserve a mayor who can truly lead our economic recovery; I will be that mayor.”

The campaign's 18,000+ signatures were collected from neighborhoods across all five boroughs without institutional support from clubs, unions or elected officials. Powered by a robust volunteer network with over 1000 volunteers and growing, #TeamRay petitioned from the South Bronx to South Jamaica, Queens and everywhere in between.

 

"Our team has been working diligently and safely to not only qualify for the ballot, but also to share Ray's message with New Yorkers, and it is resonating. We are building a true grassroots apparatus with New Yorkers who are eager for change. We're proud of what we've accomplished so far and look forward to moving into the next phase of our campaign," said Rasheida Smith, field director for Ray McGuire for Mayor.