Council Member Andy King Lien Sale Outreach Session on Thursday, May 4

   

  NYC Council Member  Andy King will host an information session about the city’s upcoming tax lien sale on Thursday, May 4, at 6-7 p.m. at the Williamsbridge NAACP Early Childhood Educational Center, 680 East 219^th St., Bronx. The workshop will be conducted by representatives of the New York City Department of Finance, Environmental Protection, and Housing Preservation and Development, who will meet with property owners faced with a lien sale. Properties appearing on the tax lien sale list may be there because of overdue property tax, water or sewer charges. After a certain time, the city sells the tax liens. There are 883 properties within the boundaries of Council Member King’s 12^th District on the 2017 lien-sale list, according to the latest information from the city Department of Finance.

The last day for property owners on the tax lien sale list to pay their debt or enter into a payment agreement is on May 11, 2017.

Anyone unable to attend the information session should call 311 and state that they have a tax lien problem. The call will be transferred directly to the Department of Finance. Bills can also be paid by visiting the Bronx Business Center, 3030 Third Ave., 2nd Floor.

PROPOSED FEDERAL BUDGET INCLUDES $61 MILLION TO LOCALITIES FOR TRUMP SECURITY REIMBURSEMENT

Mayor de Blasio and Police Commissioner O’Neill spent months lobbying congressional delegation, White House officials for reimbursement

  The national bipartisan budget agreement introduced Sunday evening includes funding to cover the cost New York City has incurred securing Trump Tower. The agreement, which will be voted on this week, includes $20 million for costs incurred between Election Day and Inauguration Day and $41 million for all costs after Inauguration Day. This funding is in addition to the $7 million that was allocated last fall.

Mayor de Blasio and Police Commissioner James O’Neill have worked closely with the New York City Congressional Delegation the past several months to secure reimbursement, including several trips to Washington, D.C. to lobby for the funding.

“We are getting what we are owed,” said Mayor de Blasio. “That's good news for our city and the hardworking police officers faced with this unprecedented security challenge. We could not have done this without our congressional delegation, including U.S. Representatives Nita Lowey, Grace Meng, Jose Serrano, Dan Donovan and Carolyn Maloney. They worked tirelessly over the past several months to make sure these costs are paid for by the federal government."

The city spent $24 million protecting Trump Tower and the First Family from Election Day through Inauguration Day. It is estimated that the city spends, on average, $127,000 to $146,000 a day for the NYPD to protect the First Family when President Trump is not in town. It is anticipated those costs will increase significantly whenever the President is in New York City, bringing NYPD’s daily average cost to $308,000.

MAYOR DE BLASIO LAUNCHES NYC FERRY

Rockaway and East River Routes Set Sail Today, 1 Month Ahead of Schedule; connecting 3 boroughs by water

  Mayor Bill de Blasio participated in a ceremonial first ride from the Rockaways to Manhattan Sunday, NYC Ferry’s first two routes, the Rockaway and East River routes, went into service today. The first of six NYC Ferry routes offer direct transit connections between Southern Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan shortening commutes for thousands of New Yorkers.

The Rockaway Route officially launched at 5:30 a.m. It offers service between Beach 108^th Street, the Brooklyn Army Terminal, and Wall Street’s Pier 11. More information about the route is available here.

The newly-integrated East River Route launches at 6:30 a.m. It offers service between East 34^th Street, Hunter’s Point South, Greenpoint, North Williamsburg, South Williamsburg, Dumbo, Governor’s Island (in the summers only) and Wall Street’s Pier 11. More information about the route is available here.

June 1, a third route, South Brooklyn Route – which links Bay Ridge, Sunset Park, Red Hook, Brooklyn Bridge Park and Wall Street – will begin. Astoria service will launch in August, with the exact date still being determined. The final routes, the Lower East Side and Soundview routes, launch in 2018. Detailed timetables, along with a map of all 2017 routes, can be viewed here.

“For the first time in generations, our amazing New York Harbor is part of our city’s critical public transportation system – and for the price of a subway ride you can get to work and also explore New York City’s beautiful coastal communities much more directly. All Aboard! Let’s take a ride!” Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

“This is a milestone two years in the making. New ferries are crisscrossing out waterways, opening up more opportunity for New Yorkers and businesses. NYC Ferry has officially launched, and we look forward to expanding the system to reach even more neighborhoods,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development, Alicia Glen.

“Starting today NYC Ferry is going to transform commutes for thousands of New Yorkers,” said New York City Economic Development Corporation President and CEO James Patchett. “With more people living and working on the waterfront, this is a fast, comfortable, and affordable way to get around the city. We can’t wait for New Yorkers to hop on and see for themselves - it's a great ride.”

Mayor de Blasio Throws out First Pitch at Castle Hill Little League

  It may not have been Yankee Stadium, but at the Castle Hill Little League field on Zerega Avenue Mayor Bill de Blasio took part in the opening ceremonies and threw out the first pitch. The Little Leaguers marched to the Zerega Avenue field all the way from Lafayette Avenue, with a police escort and led by State Senator Reverend Ruben Diaz Sr. Many people including Congressman Jose Serrano, State Senator Jeff Klein (who came with a surprise gift), were on the field waiting for the players and the mayor. The photos below should tell the rest of the story.

Above - State Senator Reverend Ruben Diaz Sr. who lead the parade awaits to meet all the marchers.

Below - It is the 60th Anniversary of the Castle Hill Little League.

Above and Below State Senator Reverend Ruben Diaz Sr. greets each team, and asks 'Who is going to win'?

Above and Below - You can see the marchers were not only baseball players.

Above - The EXIT Reality team brought its team mascot.

Below - Mayor Bill de Blasio arrived at the perfect time.

Above - The mayor make the rounds shaking hands, like that of Commissioner Joe Ramos.

Below - Everyone is seated as the ceremony begins. 

Above - The mayor congratulates Brendan Hernandez on a fine job of singing the National Anthem.

Below - Congressman Jose Serrano says that he told his fellow house members to finish work Friday so that he could attend this event.

Above - Michelle Dolgow of State Senator Jeff Klein's off ice holds a check for $172,000 for maintenance of the Castle Hill Little League field, which Below Senator Klein gives to Ms. Christina Martinez the President of the league.

Above - While he said he did not have a check like Senator Klein that he has supported the little league all the years he has been in office.

Below - The mayor gives Ms. Martinez a proclamation as he proclaims Saturday April 27th Castle Hill Little League Day.

Above - The mayor speaks of the importance of programs such as little league to growing children.

Below - The mayor points to Congressman Serrano, and speaks of the important work that has to be done in Washington to help New York City. 

Above - The mayor throws out the first pitch, which would of been called a strike.

Below - The mayor congratulates Catcher Thomas Velazquez on the fine catch, and later signs the ball for this college bound catcher.

Why Are These Two Con Edison Workers Digging on West 238th Street?

  It appears that our story begins with the building in the background known as 640 West 238th Street. I have covered the demolition of a one story building on the site to make way for the current eight story fifteen unit apartment building now for over one year in this blog. I have put up photo after photo of items that I thought were wrong by the contractor or his workers. It started with drawings of the street with the one fire hydrant placed on the wrong side of the street. 

  Well the building has gone up, and like I said I have placed photos like this here on this blog. So let's answer the question - Why are these two Con Ed workers digging in the middle of the street?

  With 640 West 238th Street almost finished the building has to be hooked up to the water, sewer, gas, and power lies all of which are underground. The generator in the background in front of the building belongs to a contractor who was trying to hook the building up to the water and or sewer lines. Apparently said building contractor did not know or care about the old cast iron gas line which was compromised (according to a Con Edison supervisor) while trying to hook up 640 West 238th Street to the water and or sewer line. Con Edison had to dig up the street to find the gas main so it could be shut off until a new gas line is put in. Apparently only the four small buildings and the mini apartment building East of 640 West 238th Street (the Blackstone Avenue side) will be without gas until the matter is taken care of by Con Ed, which I was told should be no more than a few days, hopefully. 

  Below are some more photos taken today by me of the condition of West 238th Street.

Above - Is West 238th Street with street cuts at the Independence Avenue side, and many street cuts in front of 640 West 238th Street, not to mention the metal plates left by the building contractor and his generator.

Below - The supervisor from Con Edison said that this cut in West 238th Street was not done by Con Edison, so one would wonder just who cut the street?

Above - You can see part of the covering of a Con Edison electric grate cover sticking out on the right side of the photo covered over by several metal plates. As I have shown the electric grating sinking due to the heavy weight of the construction vehicles, it apparently has to be fixed. 

Below - The work permit for 640 West 238th Street issued to Asher Neuman, CIPCO Developers of N Y IN.

The Bronx Democratic Party - Annual Gala Dinner - Thursday July 20

Join the Bronx Democrats for an evening of dining, networking, and celebrating the contributions and achievements of remarkable past and present.

Seven Members Of Bronx Drug Trafficking Organization Charged In Federal Court With Narcotics Trafficking

  Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, James G. Hunt, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), and James P. O’Neill, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging seven members of the “MMOB” drug trafficking organization with participating in a narcotics trafficking conspiracy.  The case has been assigned to United States District Judge Paul G. Gardephe.  Six of the defendants are currently in custody, and were presented before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin Nathaniel Fox later this afternoon. 

Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said:  “With today’s indictment of seven alleged members of a drug trafficking organization, we seek to stem the flow of drugs and the havoc they wrought on the Norwood neighborhood of the Bronx. As the Indictment alleges, these defendants trafficked in all types of drugs, including crack cocaine, cocaine, oxycodone and marijuana, and peddled them on the streets, by delivery, and out of apartment buildings in the area. I thank our partners at the NYPD and DEA for their continued commitment to combatting drug trafficking and making our city safer.”  

Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt said:  “Law enforcement’s collaboration since last summer has led to the indictments of members of the MMOB crew on narcotics conspiracy charges. The Norwood section of the Bronx has been plagued by these individuals for some time and today’s efforts are a step in reclaiming this neighborhood for the community. These gang members allegedly trafficked a myriad of drugs to include strong prescription narcotics, which is a focus of our current investigative efforts, as these drugs are causing serious issues for our citizens.”        

Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill said:  “This indictment is another example of the NYPD’s commitment to hold responsible those who distribute narcotics into our communities. I commend the work of the NYPD investigators involved and our federal partners who continue to work tirelessly to protect our communities.”

As alleged in the Indictment and in other court papers[1]: 

The MMOB crew (“Mosholu Money Over Bitches”) is a group of individuals who are engaged in narcotics trafficking in the vicinity of Gates Place, Knox Place, and Mosholu Parkway, in the Norwood neighborhood of the Bronx (the “MMOB DTO”).  From July 2016 up to April 2017, in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, JOSHUA PEREZ a/k/a “Link,” JAVIER COLLAZO, HIRAM COLLAZO, a/k/a “Alex, NATALIE JUSINO, KEVIN MIESES, AMAURY MODESTO, and ANDREW PEREZ conspired to distribute significant amounts of narcotics, including crack cocaine, cocaine, oxycodone, and marijuana, in and around the Norwood neighborhood of the Bronx, on a daily basis.  The MMOB DTO controlled narcotics sales between Gates Place and Knox Place, primarily between Mosholu Parkway and West Gun Hill Road, including by selling on the streets and in and around apartment buildings in that area. 

Each defendant is charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute narcotics, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.  The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.  A chart with the defendants’ ages and residences is below.

All of the defendants except for JOSHUA PEREZ, who remains at large, are in custody.    

Mr. Kim thanked the DEA and the NYPD for their work on the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Narcotics Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eli J. Mark and Jilan J. Kamal are in charge of the prosecution. 

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

DEFENDANT		AGE		RESIDENCE
JOSHUA PEREZ a/k/a “Link”		30		Bronx, New York
JAVIER COLLAZO		20		Bronx, New York
HIRAM COLLAZO, a/k/a “Alex”		19		Bronx, New York
NATALIE JUSINO, a/k/a “Papo”		34		Bronx, New York
KEVIN MIESES		25		Bronx, New York
AMAURY MODESTO		37		Bronx, New York
ANDREW PEREZ		24		Bronx, New York

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment constitutes only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

Former New York Resident Pleads Guilty To Preparing False Tax Returns

  Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Stuart M. Goldberg, Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Tax Division, and James D. Robnett, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (“IRS-CI”), announced that DAMYON SHULER pled guilty today to charges relating to his preparation and filing of federal income tax returns that sought refunds based on the fraudulent claim that the taxpayers were entitled to slave-reparations payments.

Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said: “Damyon Shuler stole from the U.S. Treasury by preparing and filing false tax returns. We thank our partners at the Justice Department’s Tax Division and IRS Criminal Investigations for their work in bringing Shuler’s crimes to light.”

Tax Division Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg said: “Just about a week ago, many Americans did their civic duty and sent off their returns to the IRS, enclosing checks for taxes duly owed. They have the right to expect that those like Damyon Shuler who threaten the integrity of the tax system by preparing fraudulent returns and submitting false refund claims will be fully prosecuted.”

IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge James D. Robnett said: “People who create and promote fraudulent tax schemes against the United States will be held accountable. Today’s guilty plea by Mr. Shuler again emphasizes that IRS-Criminal Investigation will continue their aggressive pursuit of those who would attempt to defraud America’s tax system.”

According to the Indictment and other documents filed in the case, as well as statements made during the plea proceedings:

In January 2011, SHULER prepared a 2010 federal income tax return for a client claiming a bogus refund of $61,300. To generate the fraudulent refund, SHULER reported a fake capital gain of $60,575 and a tax paid on that income in the exact same amount. He also attached to the return a form falsely reporting that a Treasury Department office or program identified as “Overpayment of Taxes Black Investme (sic)” had paid the taxes to the IRS. To conceal that he prepared this return, SHULER did not list himself as the preparer.

In February 2010, SHULER also prepared a 2009 federal income tax return for himself that included a false Form 2439 claiming that taxes had been paid to the IRS on his behalf in the amount of $50,575 and fraudulently claiming a refund of $46,685.

SHULER has agreed to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $1,233,130 for this tax scheme.

SHULER, 47, pled guilty to the filing of his own false income tax return and the preparation and filing of a return on behalf of one of his clients. SHULER faces a statutory maximum sentence of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine on each of the two counts to which he pled guilty, and will be sentenced before United States District Judge Nelson S. Román on September 14, 2017, at 9:30 a.m.

Mr. Kim praised the outstanding work of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division. He also thanked the U.S. Department of Justice’s Tax Division for its significant assistance in the prosecution.