Assemblymember Michael A. Blake - Women's History Month Event on March 26th

Dear Members of New York's 79th Assembly District,

 

You are cordially invited to attend Assemblymember Michael Blake's Women's History Month event highlighting the contributions of women who actively work to help realize our vision of the 3 Es: Economic development, Education, and Equality for all.  Assemblymember Marcos Crespo, Councilmember Vanessa Gibson, and Senator Gustavo Rivera are also sponsoring the festivities.

Assemblymember Michael Blake will be honoring several distinguished members of our community with citations that recognize their important contributions to empowering women.

 

Women in our district continue to strive to break through the glass ceiling and pave the way for the next generation of female leaders. Through determination and hard work, women are making history and giving other women a seat at the table. Today, we look up to and applaud the first female District Attorney in the Bronx, first female African American NYC Public Advocate, first Latina Speaker of New York City Council, and the first Latina to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court, all of whom are setting a grand precedence for our girls and young women just beginning their careers.  It is important that we celebrate women and promote this strength through a unified voice. This event helps empower women's successes to motivate others to reach their full potential.

The event is scheduled to take place at Harriet Tubman Charter School at 1176 Franklin Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10456 on Saturday, March 26, 2016 and will start promptly at 10:00am. We hope that you are able to join us!

Please send your RSVP HERE by Wednesday, March 23, 2016.

We look forward to celebrating Women's History Month with you on March 26th!

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Conviction Of Local Doctor For Unlawfully Dispensing More Than 1.2 Million Oxycodone Pills

 New York Doctor Collected More Than $2.4 Million In Fees For “Doctor Visits”

Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York announced today the conviction of MOSHE MIRILASVHILI, a board-certified, state-licensed doctor, for conspiracy to distribute oxycodone.  During the period of the charged conspiracy, MIRILASHVILI wrote more than 13,000 medically unnecessary prescriptions for oxycodone, typically in return for cash payments.  MIRILASHVILI was convicted after a three-week jury trial before Judge Colleen McMahon.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said:  “In just a matter of two years, Dr. Moshe Mirilashvili flooded the streets of New York City with more than a million pills of highly addictive oxycodone, a drug involved in the overdose deaths of thousands of Americans each year.  As the jury unanimously found today, Dr. Mirilashvili, blinded by greed, cast away his Hippocratic Oath and instead aligned himself with street-level drug dealers.  Thanks to the collaborative efforts of the federal and local law enforcement partners, Dr. Mirilashvili is no longer in the business of fueling for profit the opioid addiction that plagues too many people in our communities.”

Oxycodone is a highly addictive, prescription-strength narcotic used to treat severe and chronic pain conditions.  Every year more than 13 million Americans abuse oxycodone, with the misuse of prescriptions painkillers such as oxycodone, leading to as many as 500,000 annual emergency room visits.  Oxycodone prescriptions have enormous cash value to street level drug dealers, who can fill the prescriptions at most pharmacies and resell the pills at vastly inflated rates.  Indeed, a single prescription for 90 30-milligram oxycodone pills has an average resale value in New York City of $2,700 or more.

From October 2012 until December 2014, MIRILASHVILI, a board-certified, state-licensed doctor, wrote thousands of medically unnecessary prescriptions for large quantities of oxycodone in exchange for cash payments.  MIRILASHVILI did so out of a sham medical office located on West 162nd Street in Manhattan where MIRILASHVILI typically charged $200 in cash for “patient visits” that typically involved little, if any, actual examination and almost always resulted in the issuance of a prescription for a large quantity of oxycodone, typically 90 30-milligram tablets.

Virtually none of these “patients” had any medical need for oxycodone, nor any legitimate medical records documenting an ailment for which oxycodone would be prescribed. Instead, most of these individuals were members of “crews” – that is, they were recruited and paid by drug traffickers (the “Crew Chiefs”), to pose as “patients” in order to receive medically unnecessary prescriptions.  The Crew Chiefs then obtained these prescriptions and arranged for them to be filled at various pharmacies so that the oxycodone pills thereby obtained could be resold on the streets of New York.  

As established at trial, MIRILASHVILI worked directly with some of these Crew Chiefs who paid MIRILASHVILI’s cash fees in return for the oxycodone prescriptions MIRILASHVILI guaranteed for their “patients.”  As part of the scheme, MIRILASHVILI frequently accepted and even created fraudulent and fake documents – such as MRI and urinalysis reports – ostensibly documenting the medical need for the oxycodone prescriptions MIRILASHVILI was writing.  For example, among documents recovered from MIRILASHVILI’s home at the time of his arrest, were lab reports in which the name of the “patient” had been cut and pasted onto the document, as well as similar reports in which the name of the patient or other relevant information had been whited out.  More than $1.75 million in cash earned from writing these medically unnecessary prescriptions was also recovered from the defendant’s home at the time of his arrest.

In total, between October 2012 and December 2014, MIRILASHVILI wrote more than 13,000 medically unnecessary prescriptions for oxycodone, comprising nearly 1.2 million oxycodone tablets with a street value of $36,000,000 or more.  MIRILISHIVILI collected more than $2.4 million in fees for “doctor visits” during this time period.  

Ten other participants in the conspiracy – including the drug traffickers who oversaw crews of “patients” sent into the clinics to obtain medically unnecessary oxycodone prescriptions and clinic staff, who profited by selling access to MIRILASHVILI and the fraudulent prescriptions he wrote – have previously pled guilty.

MIRILASHVILI, 67, of Great Neck, New York, was convicted of one count of conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and two counts of unlawful distribution of oxycodone, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison each.  MIRILASHVILI will be sentenced July 20, 2016,. before the Judge Colleen McMahon.

#NOT 62; A HEALTHIER BRONX - Wednesday March 23rd

COUNCIL MEMBER WILLIAMS EXPLAINS "NO" VOTE ON MIH

STATEMENT FROM COUNCIL MEMBER JUMAANE D. WILLIAMS, 

CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE ON HOUSING & BUILDINGS

For the past year, the City Council and the Administration have been debating Mandatory Inclusionary Housing (MIH). In that time, significant and tangible progress was made and the council, under the leadership of Speaker Mark-Viverito, deserves credit for improving MIH.

Unfortunately, the current plan still does not require enough of a mandatory minimum amount of low-income units, and so today, I have no choice but to vote "no."  

I believe firmly - and have said from the start - that working families, seniors and low income New Yorkers are depending on us to pass a plan that includes a mandatory minimum amount of affordable homes in each option. The plan, as it stands today, can allow entire neighborhoods to be rezoned without including any low income housing; that was, and still is, a nonstarter for me.

The Mayor and the Administration must be applauded for tackling the affordable housing crisis and we shouldn't understate the difficulty in creating a housing plan that meets the needs of our very diverse city. The City Council should also be celebrated for pushing even further and to a plan that, plausibly at least,touches 30% AMI.

I am proud to have been a part of a coalition of Council Members and advocates who fought hard to get the plan this far, with deeper affordability and real commitments around preservation. Given that, I understand why many will vote in favor of this plan, as we will hear many times,  it is the strongest inclusionary housing policy in the entire country. Communities who choose the deep affordability option will benefit tremendously.  

Still, there is an unaddressed problem. While the plan now provides real options for elected officials and communities who welcome low-income units, it ignores a fundamental issue about mandating affordability in neighborhoods that have historically resisted economic integration and are unlikely to choose deep affordability.

Without addressing that question, I cannot in good conscious vote "yes."

To be clear - I'm not saying we shouldn't also include higher income bands within the same options and the exact same neighborhoods. Rather, we should not pass a plan which allows communities to avoid including any low-income options, further segregating this city.

Nearly a third of New Yorkers earn less than $30,000 and would be unable to rent even the most "affordable" apartments built in communities who choose MIH options without deep affordability. The average single mother in NYC makes $25,000 - too little to qualify for housing above 30% AMI. The vast majority of our single person senior households also have incomes too low to qualify for the other two MIH options.

Affordability should not be an opt-in policy. We need a Mandatory Inclusionary Housing plan that works for all New Yorkers, in all neighborhoods, especially our most vulnerable.

It is also true that MIH was not meant to solve all of our cities housing problems and look forward to continuing to work with the administration who has proven dedication to the issues as we move forward in creating additional tools.

SAVINO ANNOUNCES NEW PACKAGE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILLS

Four new bills would expand patient access and increase the number of trained physicians across the state

State Senator Diane Savino announced a new package of bills today, aimed at expanding patient access and increasing the number of trained and available treating physicians.

The package would increase patient access hindered by access to dispensaries, as well as address concerns about an insufficient number of available doctors by encouraging more doctors to sign up for the program. The bills would also double the number of available dispensaries, expand the list of qualifying conditions, direct the Department of Health to add nurses and physician assistants, and establish an advisory committee on the program’s  regulatory development.

“I made history by passing the first medical marijuana program in New York - and have been proud to lead on this issue as we implement the program throughout the state. However, it is not enough to make this medicine theoretically available, it must also be pragmatically accessible. Now is the time to take this program further - and that’s exactly what this package will do. With my new legislation, we will be able to help patients in need become certified more easily, ensure that more of those suffering are eligible to become certified, allow each doctor to treat their patients as they see fit, and make this necessary medicine accessible to more people throughout the state,” said Senator Diane Savino.

The first bill would double the number of dispensaries throughout the state and allow direct education and marketing from companies to physician, in order to engage more doctors. Current law allows each organization licensed to distribute medical marijuana to maintain only four dispensaries each, leaving many geographic areas of the state without practical access to the medicine. Senator Savino’s legislation would double this, allowing each licensed organization to have eight dispensaries. It would also allow these organizations to approach physicians directly, in order to provide education about medical marijuana to encourage more doctors to become trained in the program.

The current list of eligible diseases and conditions leaves patients in critical need of this medicine out in the cold. However, many of these conditions are already eligible for this treatment in other states. The second bill (S.6999) in the package would expand the current list to help more of those in need. The new list would include PTSD, in response to calls from veterans and veteran advocacy organizations, muscular dystrophy, Alzheimer’s disease, traumatic brain injury, wasting syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

The legislation would also eliminate the ten milligram limit on THC per dose of medical marijuana, in order to allow doctors to treat their patients with the dosage they think is best, as well as address physician concerns that the dosage language of the law may be in conflict with existing federal law.

In an effort to expand access and available providers, the third bill (S.6998) would direct the Department of Health to add nurses and physician assistants to the list of professionals qualified to certify patients for medical marijuana use. These professionals are already able to prescribe other controlled substances under the law, however, currently only physicians are able to certify patients for medical marijuana. This legislation would allow physician assistants and nurses to undergo the same training as physicians, and thereafter certify patients, eliminating some of the difficulties in finding a cooperating physician for patients.

Implementation of the medical marijuana program has been a complex process, involving experts and professionals from a variety of industries, as well as patients and advocates. Providing an opportunity for all stakeholders to have a voice is critical to its success. The fourth piece of legislation (S.7000) would create an advisory committee of 15 members to assist in the program’s regulatory development by the Department of Health.

The committee would advise the Commissioner, as well as establish a subcommittee specializing in clinical matters. The bill would also assure that regulations remain consistent with the current law and it’s intent, as well as recognize patients certified in other states. By establishing an advisory committee, ensuring that regulations remain consistent with the intent of the law, and recognizing patients from other states, this legislation would increase the overall efficiency of the program.

New York State Continues to Lose Billions in Federal Funding Due to the Undercount of the 2010 Census

The 2010 Census undercount cost New York two congressional districts and hundreds of millions of dollars annually in federal aid, Assemblyman Crespo introduces legislation to create the 2020 Complete Count Commission

    Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, Chair of the Assembly Task Force on Demographics and Reapportionment, was joined by good government groups, anti-poverty advocates and other legislators to unveil legislation (A.9554) which will begin the process to prepare New York State for a proper count during the 2020 Census.  Undercounts during the 2000 and 2010 Census have cost New York two congressional seats and a loss of tens of billions in federal aid for a range of programs from education to housing to transportation.  The legislation begins a multi-year planning process to ensure that state, local and nonprofit sectors are better prepared to ensure a proper count and will prevent future funding losses, including the now projected loss of one more congressional member due to a combination of slow population growth and chronic undercounting of New York State residents.

“With rampant growth in child poverty rates and among our elderly and families, New York can ill afford another census undercount.  It has already cost us tens of billions in lost federal aid which could have been used to strengthen our communities and economy.  It has also cost us political clout in Washington as we continue to lose members of Congress as other states gain members. My legislation begins the process to ensure a proper count and bring billions in needed aid to communities across New York,” stated Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo.

“Each person not counted by the U.S Census costs New York State $3,054 dollars in lost federal funding.  Now multiply this by the more than 700,000 New Yorkers not counted and what we find is that annually our State loses $1.5 billion in federal aid for a range of programs which help our children, our families, our senior citizens with their education, their housing needs, their medical needs and more,” added Crespo. “And this figure could be much higher because New York State has done little to ensure state and local level participation in ensuring a complete count.”

At a conservative estimate, the loss of $1.5 billion each year for a decade between 2010 and 2020, New York will have lost $15 billion dollars in federal aid provided through 75 programs which are apportioned and distribute to states and localities using statistics gathered by the decennial census. An undercount guarantees not only lose in federal aid but with population shifts in the 50 states New York has lost and will continue to lose seats in Congress.

The proposed legislation creates a 61 member planning body called the 2020 Complete Count Commission.  It is responsible for putting together an action plan for state, local and nonprofit agencies to ensure a complete count.  The commission must produce three reports to document the plan and progress on implementing it prior to the 2020 Census. The commission is also required to recommend state funding levels to implement their proposed action plans prior to the enactment of budgets for FY 2017-18 through FY 2019-20.

Crespo remarked, “In 2009, NYS appropriated $2 million dollars to help with public awareness on the importance of the 2010 Census.  That amount translated into roughly a ten cents investment in every New Yorker.  That low level of investment and attention given to the important functions of the Census led to the documented undercount.   This mistake cannot be repeated.”

The undercount of the 2010 Census was very evident in New York City. There, over 8 million people living in only about 305 square miles were told that the City had only grown by about 100,000 residents even though over the previous 10 years over 1.25 million births had been recorded by the Bureau of Vital Statistics.  Simultaneously, there had been only about 500,000 deaths during that period.   The U.S. Census told New York State that it had only grown by 164,000 residents. Upstate New York covers almost 47,000 square miles and has over 9 million of the State’s 19.4 million residents.  “It is obvious that if an undercount has occurred in a smaller and highly dense populated area that Upstate New York has probably been subject to a worse undercount,” declared Crespo.

Prior to the beginning of the 2010 Census, the NYC population was estimated to be at 8.1 million residents and City officials had estimated it had grown to 8.4 million.  However the US Census enumerated only 8,175,133 residents.  Parts of Upstate and Long Island had seen growth as well but the Census count enumerated NYS residents at 19,378,102, a probable under count of some half a million residents.                                                                 

“To compound this problem, the US Census announced late last year that New York was in line to lose another congressional district based on slow population growth and rapid growth in other parts of the country.  The need for a complete and accurate count and the need for New York State to begin the planning process now for the 2020 Census is very clear,” Stated Crespo.

According to Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda, member of the Assembly Standing Committee on Housing, “In the last Census, undercounting of New York’s population, especially in New York City, cost the state and city millions of dollars in aid and almost certainly — and unfairly — weakened New York’s representation in Congress,” said Assemblyman Luis Sepúlveda (D, Bronx). “This cannot be allowed to happen again. Consequently, it is imperative that we plan ahead to ensure that the 2020 Census accurately counts all New Yorkers.”

Bronx BP Ruben O'Diaz Jr. Hosts Irish Heritage Celebration

On Wednesday the day before St. Patrick's Day Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. held his Annual Irish Heritage Celebration in the heart of Woodlawn at the Rambling House. Mary Murphy of WPIX television was the Mistress of ceremonies As you will see in the photos below it was a great time that was had by all. The Honorees were Keith Klain Ceo of Doran Jones, and James P. Quent of Partner Statewide Public Affairs Inc. There was also a Proclamation Presented to the Honorable Shane Cahill the Vice-Consul General of Ireland in New York.

Above - The New York State Courts Pipes & Drums played as the procession led by Bronx BP Ruben Diaz Jr. entered the room.

Below - Mistress of Ceremonies Mary Murphy (of WPIX TV) enters, followed by 80th A.D. State Committeeman Joe McManus (background left).

Above - Mistress of Ceremony Mary Murphy speaks to the audience.

Below - Amara Valerio Yonkers Junior Idol of 2014 sings the United States National Anthem.

Above - Michael Fogarty sang the Ireland National Anthem.

Below - BP Diaz Jr. congratulates Mr. Fogarty on his excellent performance.

On hand was former Councilwoman June Eisland who also congrated Mr. Fogarty after his singing of the Ireland National Anthem. 

Comptroller Scott M. Stringer Cordially Invites You to a Bronx Town Hall on March 31 @ 6:30PM

The Town Hall meeting is being held at Bronx House located at 999 Pelham Parkway South/

State Senator Jeff Klein, Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj, and Councilman Jimmy Vacca are expected to be in attendance.