Pharmacist Sentenced To 4 Years For Illegally Distributing Approximately 100,000 Oxycodone Tablets, Medicare Fraud, And Money Laundering

  Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that LILIAN JAKACKI, a/k/a/ “Lilian Wieckowski,” was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff to four years in prison for illegally distributing 100,000 tablets of oxycodone, Medicare fraud, and money laundering.  JAKACKI pled guilty on July 28, 2016, before Judge Rakoff.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said:  “Through her pharmacies in Queens and Brooklyn, Lilian Jakacki dumped 100,000 illegally diverted oxycodone pills into the City’s streets.  Driven by greed, Jakacki abused her pharmacy license, helping to fuel the opioid abuse epidemic that is ravaging too many of our communities.  For her crimes, Jakacki will spend four years in prison and forfeit her ill-gotten gains.”           

According to the allegations in the Indictment and the civil Complaint, and other information in the public record:

Between in or about March 2010 and October 2015, JACKACKI owned and operated two pharmacies in Queens and Brooklyn doing business as “Chopin Chemists.”  During that time period, at these pharmacies, JACKACKI knowingly distributed approximately 100,000 tablets of oxycodone based on fraudulent prescriptions, including prescriptions made out in the names of famous luxury brands, such as Coach and Chanel.  In addition, JACKACKI used the proceeds of that illegal narcotics trade to help finance the purchase of a multimillion-dollar home.  Finally, JACKACKI deliberately overbilled Medicare by more than $500,000, submitting reimbursement claims for medication that she never actually distributed to patients. 

In addition to the prison term, JACKACKI was also directed to forfeit $800,000 and to pay restitution of $520,000.   

Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding investigative work of the DEA’s Tactical Diversion Squad, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  The DEA’s Tactical Diversion Group includes agents and officers of the DEA, the New York City Police Department, the New York State Police, the Town of Orangetown Police Department, and the Westchester County Police Department.

Bronx Man Pleads Guilty To Producing Child Pornography Relating To His Sexual Exploitation Of Minors

  Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that DAVID KEITH, a/k/a “David Wright,” a/k/a “David Lee Keith,” a/k/a “David Lee,” a/k/a “Lee David,” pled guilty this afternoon before U.S. District Judge Alison J. Nathan in Manhattan federal court to five counts stemming from his sexual exploitation of minors, related child pornography offenses, and making false statements to a federal agent concerning his abuse of children.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said:  “Through lies and trickery, David Keith lured a minor girl into his vehicle and then sexually abused her, videotaping his sick assault and exploitation.  Protecting children from predators like Keith remains a critical priority for law enforcement, and we hope the victims here will take some measure of comfort in knowing that Keith has admitted to and been convicted of his abominable crimes.”   

According to the Indictment, publicly filed documents, and statements made in court:

On at least one occasion in 2013, KEITH produced child pornography during his sexual abuse of a child.  On October 13, 2013, KEITH approached three girls, approximately 12 to 14 years old, on the street, presented himself as part of the entertainment industry, and encouraged the girls to model for him.  KEITH induced one of the girls to enter his vehicle, where he video recorded, among other things, himself engaging in forcible sexual conduct with her.  KEITH threatened the victim not to tell anyone and told her that he had been watching her.

Just one day earlier, on or about October 12, 2013, KEITH, lured a young girl, approximately 8 to 9 years old, into his vehicle where he tricked her into removing some of her clothing and video recorded her exposed genitals. 

In addition, for a period of at least two years, KEITH downloaded and possessed images and videos of child pornography.

During the investigation, KEITH made statements to federal agents, claiming he had an alibi for October 12 and 13.  Those statements were proven false. 

KEITH, 39, of the Bronx, New York, was arrested on November 17, 2015, in the Bronx, New York, and has been in federal custody since.  KEITH pled guilty today to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, each of which carries a maximum penalty of 50 years in prison, one count of receipt of child pornography, which carries a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison, one count of possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and one count of making false statements involving sexual abuse of children, which carries a maximum penalty of eight years in prison. 

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

KEITH is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Nathan on March 10, 2017, at 1:00 p.m.

Mr. Bharara praised the extraordinary efforts of the FBI, and thanked the New York City Police Department Special Victims Unit and the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department for invaluable assistance in the investigation. 

Bronx Jewish Community Council - Breakfast of Champions

   This morning was the Bronx Jewish Community Council Breakfast of Champions. Former Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion Jr. received the Bronx Business Leader Award presented by noted Riverdalian Howard Johans. Mr Sam Shalem received the Bronx Realty Leader award presented by Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. Drs. Molham and Lori Solomon received the Guardians of Chesed Awards presented by New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer. Hon. John Barone received the Public Safety Award presented by State Senator Jeff Klein, and Lynn Levine and Fred Levine received the Larance Hockert Labor of Love Award presented by BJCC Executive Director Brad Silver. 

  In all over 200 people were in attendance at the Riverdale Jewish Center on Independence Avenue including other elected officials and community leaders. Rabbi Israel Greenberg gave the closing invocation and comments. it is the Bronx Jewish Community Council that does the work for many by so few. Photos of the event are below.

Above - BJCC Executive  Director Brad Silver opens the Breakfast of Champions.

Below - The National Anthem is sung by SAR student Keren Benillovch.

Above - Hatikva the National Anthem of Israel is sung.

Below - Former Bronx BP Adolfo Carrion Jr. speaks after receiving his award.

Above - Bronx BP Ruben Diaz presents Mr Sam Shalem with his award.

Below - State Senator Jeff Klein tells of his Jewish upbringing in the Bronx.

Above - Senator Klein presents the Hon. John Barone with his award.

Below - Rabbi Israel Greenberg gives the Invocation, and a few words despite having a fever and having a fever temperature. 

Dual Iranian-American Citizen Convicted In Manhattan Federal Court Of Conspiring And Attempting To Acquire Surface-To-Air Missiles And Other Items For The Government Of Iran

Reza Olangian Worked With Iranian Officials to Obtain Large Quantities of Missiles and Military Aircraft Parts for the Government of Iran, in Violation of U.S. Sanctions

   Preet Bharara, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that REZA OLANGIAN, a dual citizen of the United States and Iran, was found guilty of conspiring and attempting to send surface-to-air missiles (“SAMs”) and military aircraft parts to the Government of Iran.  OLANGIAN was arrested in Estonia on October 10, 2012, pursuant to a U.S. request for his provisional arrest, and he was extradited to the United States on March 26, 2013.  OLANGIAN was convicted after a two-week jury trial before U.S. District Judge Loretta A. Preska.

According to the evidence presented during the trial:

In 2008, OLANGIAN worked with Iranian officials to obtain approximately 375 SAMs for use by the Iranian government.  Ultimately, that missile deal was unsuccessful.

Beginning in early 2012, OLANGIAN worked to negotiate another, separate missile deal, this time with a confidential source (the “CS”), who was working with the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) and who purported to be a weapons and aircraft broker.  From his base of operations in Tehran, and from approximately May 2012 through October 2012, OLANGIAN arranged for the purchase of “IGLA-S” SAMs and various aircraft components.  During covertly recorded meetings in May 2012, and in subsequent recorded conversations and e-mails with the CS, OLANGIAN described in detail his plans for procuring the SAMs and aircraft parts and then smuggling them over land into Iran, from Afghanistan or from another neighboring country.  OLANGIAN also expressed his interest in purchasing numerous other types of weapons and military parts for the Iranian government, including the so-called “S-300” missile defense system and Russian-made naval vessels.

OLANGIAN’s 2012 negotiations included his participation in a videoconference with the CS, during which OLANGIAN remotely inspected a missile that the CS presented as a sample of the larger quantity of the SAMs that OLANGIAN sought to purchase.  After inspecting the sample missile and inquiring about its specifications, OLANGIAN stated that he would want “at least 200 . . . minimum 200” of such SAMs.  In his communications with the CS, OLANGIAN also indicated that he was arranging for a missile expert to inspect and test the SAMs.

At the same time that he was negotiating with the CS, OLANGIAN was also working with other individuals, both inside and outside Iran, to acquire numerous other items for the Iranian government and Iran-based entities.  For example, OLANGIAN worked with individuals and entities in China, Russia, and Europe to acquire commercial aircraft for use by Iranian airlines.  In one of these commercial aircraft deals, OLANGIAN and his coconspirators planned to purchase aircraft for $80 million and sell them to an Iranian company for $110 million.

During October 2012, OLANGIAN traveled to Estonia in connection with the SAMs deal and in anticipation of later traveling to Russia in connection with one of the aircraft deals.  He was arrested in Estonia, and following his arrest, he was interviewed by U.S. law enforcement agents.  OLANGIAN stated, among other things, that he had been working with Iranian government officials, that the SAMs he had arranged to purchase were being obtained for the Iranian government, and that the aircraft parts he attempted to acquire were to be used in Iranian military aircraft.

OLANGIAN was extradited to the United States on March 26, 2013.

OLANGIAN, 56, was found guilty of all four counts of the Indictment.  Counts One and Two charged him with conspiring to acquire and transfer surface-to-air missile systems and attempting to acquire and transfer surface-to-air missile systems.  Counts Three and Four charged him with conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (“IEEPA”) and attempting to violate IEEPA. 

OLANGIAN faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison on each of Counts One and Two, and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on each of Counts Three and Four.  The statutory minimum and maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for information purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.  Sentencing is scheduled for March 13, 2017, at 4:30 p.m., before Judge Preska.

Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding investigative work of the DEA’s Special Operations Division, Bilateral Investigations Unit.  Mr. Bharara also thanked the DEA’s Copenhagen Country Office, as well as the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and its National Security Division.

DCAS ANNOUNCES NYC FLEET CONTRACT WITH GENERAL MOTORS (GM) FOR THE ELECTRIC BOLT

New contract will help City achieve its goal of acquiring 1,000 EVs by the end of 2017

   The Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) today announced that the City has completed a contract with General Motors (GM) to procure the new, all-electric GM Chevrolet Bolt for use in the City’s fleet. The new contract with GM will help the City reach its goal of acquiring 1,000 electric vehicles by the end of 2017, creating the largest municipal electric vehicle fleet in the nation. This is part of the City’s goal to cut municipal vehicle emissions in half by 2025 and 80 percent by 2035, an aspect of Mayor de Blasio’s OneNYC plan, which aims to create a more equitable, resilient and sustainable city.

The all-electric Bolt is larger than a traditional sedan and can operate for 238 miles on a single charge, providing the longest range to date of any electric vehicle in the City’s fleet.

“As part of our OneNYC plan we are implementing 2,000 electric cars and reducing emissions in our City fleet,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “We reached over 500 EVs after just one year and the GM Bolt will now play a pivotal role as we make a push for 1,000 by the end of 2017.”

“A cleaner City fleet is an important step toward our ambitious and necessary goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050,” said Daniel Zarrilli, NYC’s Senior Director for Climate Policy and Programs and Chief Resilience Officer. “By expanding the City’s fleet of electric vehicles in partnership with GM, New York City is continuing to lead by example as we deliver on our OneNYC goals of delivering a more sustainable, more equitable, and more resilient city.”

“NYC already operates the nation’s largest EV fleet with over 530 units,” said DCAS Commissioner Lisette Camilo. “The Bolt will be an exciting addition to our growing zero emissions fleet.”

“NYC was one of the first users of the GM plug in Volt and we’ve been following developments with the Bolt closely”, said NYC Chief Fleet Officer and DCAS Deputy Commissioner Keith T. Kerman. “We are thrilled that the Bolt is here and proud to be one of the largest and earliest adopters.”

NYC Clean Fleet is part of the Administration’s goal to cut municipal vehicle emissions in half by 2025 – and 80 percent by 2035 – the largest such commitment of any U.S. city, making NYC Clean Fleet the most comprehensive and ambitious blueprint for municipal fleet sustainability in the nation. In addition, the City Council passed legislation sponsored by Council Member Costa Constantinides and Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez that would require the City to install at least 25 new electric vehicle charging stations in publicly accessible locations by March 1, 2018 as part of a pilot program.

The City also announced that it is placing its first order of 50 Bolts to be used as part of a new shared fleet initiative to be managed by the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS). The new units are expected to arrive in spring 2017 and will incorporate fleet sharing technology to enable use by multiple agencies. The Chevrolet Bolt EV includes advanced safety features with forward collision alert, low-speed forward automatic braking, and side blind zone alert with lane change alert. The vehicle is manufactured in the US at Lake Orion, Michigan.

Today’s announcement coincides with the City’s third annual Vision Zero Fleet Safety Forum at Queens Theatre in Flushing Meadows Corona Parks. As part of the forum, over 400 representatives of private and public fleets, non-profit advocacy groups, and fleet technology vendors come together to discuss ways to improve fleet safety and reduce collisions. The forum has helped launch a number of critical safety initiatives including the truck side-guard program and the fleet ban on use of hands-free devices while driving.

The Bolt joins the Nissan EV Leaf, Toyota Prius EV Prime, and Ford Fusion EV Energi in the NYC Fleet.

MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES NEW ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM FOR APARTMENT BUILDINGS

City offering no-cost, 30-hour training program for building maintenance crews with the potential to reduce energy costs up to 20 percent

   Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced the launch of the NYC Building Operator Training Program to help residential buildings cut energy costs up to 20 percent. The new program offers a no-cost, 30-hour training program for small, multifamily building maintenance staff on ways to reduce energy consumption. Participants will learn about energy and resource conservation techniques related to a building’s heating, electrical and water systems. This training model is designed to reduce energy costs between 5 percent and 20 percent without any major capital expenditures. The first group of participants will begin training on December 6 and the program will fully launch early next year.

Residential buildings are responsible for roughly three-quarters of New York City’s greenhouse gas emissions. As part of Mayor de Blasio’s One NYC plan to create a more equitable, resilient and sustainable city, the City has set a bold goal of achieving an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 levels by 2050. The Mayor also has recently signed a package of legislation spurring retrofits to help buildings become more energy efficient.

“New York City is showing what cities around the world can do to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat the effects climate change head-on,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “We have set a bold but achievable goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050, and this new program will help us get there by making apartment buildings more energy efficient.”

“The NYC Building Operator Training Program will provide residential building operators with the tools they need to reduce energy consumption and help fulfill Mayor de Blasio’s vision for a greener and more sustainable New York,” said Gregg Bishop, Commissioner of the Department of Small Business Services. “This partnership brings together government, academic, and private sector partners to help address an important challenge with little to no cost to participants.”

"Improving the way we operate our buildings is vital to controlling our greenhouse gas emissions," said Daniel Zarrilli, Senior Director of Climate Policy and Programs and Chief Resilience Officer for the Office of the Mayor. “We are pleased to work with our partners to provide the necessary tools and training to building operators and staff to improve the energy efficiency of our buildings in support of our ambitious OneNYC 80x50 goal. By holding our buildings to the highest standards for energy performance, we are building a more resilient, equitable and sustainable New York City."

The program is available to multifamily buildings with 5 to 50 apartment units or that have between 5,000 to 50,000 gross square feet. The training curriculum is designed to upgrade the skills of building operators to realize building energy savings and lower greenhouse gas emissions. Building owners and management companies may apply to have their maintenance personnel trained through this program.

Training curriculum will include the following:

• Recognizing and correcting common flaws in a building’s structure that can result in wasted energy consumption;
• Identifying and correcting ventilation problems;
• Instruction on understanding the various components of a boiler, their functions and proper maintenance techniques;
• Understanding heat distribution and control throughout a building;
• Techniques for conserving water; and
• Learning how electric system and fixture maintenance can result in greater energy efficiency.

All applicants for the program will be considered, but employers that agree to provide a wage gain for their operators and maintenance staff will be prioritized. Along with no-cost training, employers and their staff will also receive other incentives to support the operational efficiency of their building when the program fully launches in 2017.

The training course will be offered in locations throughout the city and will also provide flexible options for scheduling on-site training. Building owners and management companies that are interested in participating in this program may visit http://www.cunybpl.org/opstraining/. New participants for trainings will be accepted on a rolling basis.

About NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) 

SBS helps unlock economic potential and create economic security for all New Yorkers by connecting New Yorkers to good jobs, creating stronger businesses and building thriving neighborhoods across the five boroughs. For more information, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, or visit our website.

About the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability

The Mayor's Office of Sustainability is a key piece of the City’s OneNYC climate policy and programs team and provides daily support to City Hall on sustainability issues, policy and research. In addition, the Office also oversees overall citywide sustainability policy development, oversight and implementation in coordination with relevant City agencies. The Office of Sustainability also works with City agencies to coordinate relevant policy with federal, state and local environmental stakeholders.

VISION ZERO: DUSK & DARKNESS SAFETY INITIATIVE REMINDS NEW YORKERS THAT “YOUR CHOICES MATTER

NYPD and DOT will redouble season-specific efforts to deter reckless driving during the year’s most dangerous period on city streets; greater enforcement combined with a media campaign and street redesign efforts have contributed to a nearly 50 percent overall decrease in traffic fatalities over the last month

  Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced that New York City was redoubling its efforts around Vision Zero as the City enters the darkest days of the year – traditionally the deadliest time for pedestrians on New York City streets. The Mayor was joined today at One Police Plaza by Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill, Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg and NYPD Chief Thomas M. Chan to announce that the Vision Zero Dusk and Darkness initiative would continue. They noted the progress of education and enforcement efforts unveiled by the Mayor on October 27 in helping turn around the traditional strong fall upturn in fatalities involving pedestrians – especially seniors. Over the last month, traffic fatalities have declined by nearly 50 percent.

“With Vision Zero, we have said our agencies would work creatively to see what works – and a month into the current Dusk and Darkness Initiative, we have strong evidence that we can deter dangerous driving with targeted seasonal enforcement and education,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “We are urging New Yorkers to keep up their vigilance during December – particularly during the evening rush – remembering that a wonderful season for shopping and being with family unfortunately coincides with the most dangerous time of the year for pedestrians. Drivers especially need to remember the danger of driving under the influence, as well as to slow down and turn slowly. As we have always underscored with Vision Zero, ‘your choices matter.’”

Mayor de Blasio announced the Dusk and Darkness safety initiative on October 27, and DOT has conducted a close analysis of year-over-year crash trends – observing the following:

• In the one-month period following the initiative’s launch on October 27, 13 New Yorkers have been lost in traffic crashes. The five-year average for that same one-month period between 2010-2014 was 24 deaths – a nearly 50 percent decline. In 2015, the overall safest year in New York City’s history, New York City experienced 30 fatalities during that same period.
• In October, DOT presented a “heat map” (below) that illustrated how the earlier onset of darkness in the fall and winter is highly correlated to a 40 percent seasonal increase in pedestrian traffic injuries and fatalities. On the map, weeknight evening hours between 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM over the next three weeks are the “hottest” – or most dangerous – of the entire year.
• In 2015, the year-to-date number of traffic fatalities as of November 28 was 209 fatalities, including 120 pedestrians. This year, as of November 28, the preliminary data show 204 fatalities, a decline of five overall. Pedestrian fatalities as of yesterday are at 126, an increase of six.

"The NYPD has issued more than 50,000 summonses for hazardous moving violations during the Dusk and Darkness initiative, and traffic fatalities have decreased significantly during that same period," said Police Commissioner James P. O'Neill. "But December has historically experienced significant increases in pedestrian injuries. That's why the NYPD and its Vision Zero partners are reminding New Yorkers, especially motorists, to slow down, make safe turns and to never drink and drive. The NYPD will be out in force this December ensuring the safety of all New Yorkers."

“We are grateful that fewer New Yorkers have been lost to crashes in November – and will be around to enjoy the holidays with their families,” said DOT Commissioner Trottenberg. “But as the Mayor said, even though we have accomplished so much this year, we need to stay focused these last few weeks of the year. In December, with the reduced visibility at evening rush-hour happening at the same time as peak holiday shopping, New Yorkers who are behind the wheel need to expect pedestrians in the crosswalk every time.”

"You may be a highly-experienced driver with many years on the road, but you are not immune from the challenges of seasonal driving," said Taxi and Limousine Commissioner Meera Joshi. "Our message to our licensees is that the combination of busy pedestrians and the earlier dusk pose a greater danger for both drivers and pedestrians than at other times, and it is absolutely essential for drivers to actively consider this every time they get behind the wheel. To reinforce this message, we've added enforcement resources to bolster the already considerable efforts we bring to bear for safety during this concentrated period."

Since the start of the Dusk and Darkness initiative, DOT, NYPD and other agencies have aggressively pursued the following Vision Zero initiatives:

 

Enforcement

• Increased Evening/ Nighttime Enforcement: NYPD has focused additional enforcement resources on hazardous violations, including for distracted driving and failure-to-yield to pedestrians, with precincts increasing their on-street presence between 4:00 PM and 9:00 PM, when data show serious pedestrian crashes increase. Mostly focused on evening hours from October 27 through last week, NYPD officers have issued more than 50,000 summonses for hazardous moving violations, including:ü  12,151 summonses for disobeying a traffic sign

ü  5,253 summonses for improper turn

ü  4,880 summonses for illegal cell phone use

ü  4,268 summonses for failure to yield to pedestrians

ü  3,942 summonses for failure to obey red light

ü  3,893 summonses for failure to wear seat belts

ü  3,818 summonses for speeding

ü  3,066 summonses for texting

• Focus on Priority Locations: NYPD has deployed additional Traffic Safety personnel to provide coverage at intersections and corridors with high rates of pedestrian injuries and fatal crashes during key dusk and darkness hours.
• Drunk or Impaired Driving: During the holiday season, the NYPD will also focus resources on drunk-driving efforts, as the evening and nighttime hours in the fall and winter have historically been when the incidence of DWI also increases.
• Taxis and For-Hire Vehicles: TLC inspectors have been conducting speed enforcement to deter speeding among for-hire vehicle operators.

Transparency

• Traffic Stat: NYPD today launched a beta of Traffic Stat - an upgrade in the reporting of traffic and collision data throughout the city to improve targeted enforcement, step up internal accountability and increase public transparency. Traffic Stat, accessible at https://trafficstat.nypdonline.org/ will be updated alongside CompStat 2.0 every Tuesday. Traffic Stat will provide the rawest feed of collision report data in a updated, user-friendly and accessible format. Previously, such data was only made available to the public via published PDF. This portal will give the NYPD and New Yorkers a clear glimpse into collision and crash data from around the city.

Education

• “Day of Awareness:” On October 28, NYPD and DOT street teams kicked off the Dusk and Darkness initiative, and have continued in the weeks since by educating and engaging drivers and other New Yorkers at different Vision Zero priority areas in all five boroughs. Hundreds of thousands of palm cards have been distributed that have underscored a pre-enforcement message about lower speeds, slower turns and the dangers of dusk to pedestrians.
• Targeted Messaging to Drivers to Obey Speed Limit and Yield to Pedestrians: The award-winning Vision Zero “Your Choices Matter” campaign expanded this fall with fresh content, including new television ads. New radio advertisements were also timed to air specifically around sunset hours. In this new campaign, listeners have been educated to the correlation between darkness and crashes – and reminded to lower their speeds and to take all turns at 5 MPH.

• Daylight Saving Awareness: DOT and the Mayor’s Office led a public-awareness campaign on November 4 around the end of Daylight Saving Time. In 2015, eight pedestrians in New York City were lost in the week after the time change. This year, Daylight Saving Time ended on Sunday, November 6 – and in the following week, New York City saw four traffic fatalities.
• Taxi Driver Outreach: TLC continues to educate its for-hire drivers to the need to be cautious through text messages, the distribution of more than 20,000 palm cards and other channels. In addition, Vision Zero ads now run on Taxi TV, providing another opportunity to reach the broader public.

Street Design

• Safety Improvement Projects and Protected Bike Lanes: DOT has completed the redesign of a record 90 projects this year, and added 18 miles of new protected bike lanes, including on major New York City thoroughfares including Queens Boulevard, Jay Street, Amsterdam and 6th Avenue.
• Improved Lighting at Intersections: DOT will in the next month complete lighting upgrades at 1,000 priority intersections throughout the City, adding additional lamps to increase visibility over crosswalks. In addition, the agency is converting older sodium street lights to higher-intensity LED, which makes pedestrians and cyclists more conspicuous, and reduces the capacity for nighttime crashes. LED bulbs also offer the benefits of longer life at an overall lower cost.

“With nights getting longer and darkness settling in sooner, the chances for pedestrians and cyclists to go unseen by drivers gets higher,” said Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, Chair of the Committee on Transportation. “The DOT and NYPD have been out promoting the Dusk and Darkness campaign, increasing enforcement and providing information to drivers. These efforts have lowered traffic crashes in November but we have to finish this year strong. Vision Zero remains a top priority of mine and I appreciate the focus it is receiving as we come to the end of the year, with more shoppers out on the streets. I applaud the mayor for encouraging stepped up enforcement during the holiday season, when families are celebrating together, and I hope we can continue these efforts into the new year.”

For more information about the de Blasio Administration’s Vision Zero initiative, please see www.nyc.gov/visionzero.

Bronx Chamber of Commerce - Finalizing 2017 Bronx Business Directory & Resource Guide

We are finalizing the 2017 Bronx Business Directory & Resource Guide. The printer's deadline is December 8, 2016 for company contact information and/or to advertise in this important Bronx Business Directory for the entire 2017 calendar year. Over 100 new companies have joined the Bronx Chamber of Commerce in the past 12 months!   Some of the confirmed advertisers include: Active Staffing Services; American Maintenance; Apple Bank; Berkeley College; Bronx Lebanon Hospital; Castle Hill Recycling; Certified Alarm Tech Systems Inc.; Children's Corner learning Center; Cottam Heating & Air Conditioning; Country Bank; F & F Insurance Services; Flushing Bank; Fordham University; Hutchinson Metro Center; ISE Office Plus; Law Offices of Joseph A. Romano PC; Manhattan College; Marriott Residence Inn; Metro Optics Eyewear; MetroPlus Health Plan; Monroe College; Mosholu Montefiore Community Center; New York Yankees; Pisacano Eye Surgery & Laser Specialists; Premier Facility Management; Rand Commercial; Ridgewood Savings Bank; Rite Check Cashing; Rooter Plus Plumbing & Heating; Stop & Stor New York's Self Storage; The Woodlawn Cemetery; and Tompkins Mahopac Bank.   The 2017 Bronx Business Directory & Resource Guide will list all members alphabetically and by category for referrals and new business contacts. The Directory will also feature important resource information. The Directory will be distributed to more than 2,000 member businesses, new businesses, and select governmental offices. It will also be distributed at Bronx Chamber of Commerce events throughout the year.   For more information on membership, contact Sashee Rivera (718) 828-3900 or email:Sashee@BronxChamber.org. Multiple representatives are recommended to be listed as members from larger companies or institutions.  For more information on Affordable Advertising Opportunities, contact Senior Account Executive Allan Kolstein at (914) 345-0601, ext. 162, or email; akolstein@todaymediainc.com.   Helping you grow your Bronx Business is our Goal!   Nunzio Del Greco President and CEO Bronx Chamber of Commerce "The Network For Business Success" 1200 Waters Place, Suite 106 Bronx, NY 10461 718-828-3900 Nunzio@bronxchamber.org   "You never know where your next big deal is going to come from"!