Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Charges Queens Music School Teacher With Sex Trafficking Of Minors

  Joon Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Darcel D. Clark, the Bronx County District Attorney, Angel M. Melendez, Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), and James P. O’Neill, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced today the arrest of OLIVER SOHNGEN, a/k/a “Helmuth Moss,” a/k/a “Stephan Weierbach.”  SOHNGEN is charged with conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors, sex trafficking of minors, attempted sex trafficking of minors, and attempted inducement of minors to engage in sexual activity.  SOHNGEN was arrested this morning and presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel W. Gorenstein in Manhattan federal court.

Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said: “Oliver Sohngen, a music school teacher, allegedly engaged in disturbing, predatory conduct: preying on minor girls for sex. He allegedly had sexual contact with minor girls at least twice, and attempted to engage in sex trafficking of girls under the age of 14. Together with our partners at HSI, NYPD, and the Bronx District Attorney, we are committed to working to protect our most vulnerable victims, children, from sexual exploitation.”

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark said:  “This defendant came to the Bronx to allegedly engage in the dehumanizing treatment of girls ensnared in sex trafficking, even allegedly trying to arrange sexual encounters with girls as young as 8 years old.  We have a duty to protect our vulnerable youth, and with our partners in the Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s Office, we will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law anyone who supports this cruel exploitation.”

HSI Special Agent in Charge Angel M. Melendez said:  “It is unfathomable that Sohngen, who runs a music school, allegedly paid a pimp hundreds of dollars to arrange sexual encounters with underage girls. We at HSI remain committed to working together with our law enforcement partners to keep our children safe and ridding our neighborhoods of these dangerous sexual predators.”

Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill said:  “The trafficking of minors for the purpose of sex is a deeply disturbing and reprehensible crime.  We remain resolute in working along with our law enforcement partners to identify, apprehend, and prosecute those individuals who prey upon our most innocent victims. I commend the detectives and agents involved in this investigation and the US Attorney’s Office, Southern District for their efforts that resulted in these arrests.”

According to the allegations in the Complaint[1]:

Between March 2013 and November 2013, SOHNGEN exchanged text messages with a co-conspirator to arrange paid sexual encounters with minor girls ranging in age from 8 to 17.  On at least two occasions, SOHNGEN engaged in sexual contact with minor girls at the co-conspirator’s apartment in the Bronx, New York.  In addition, between November 2015 and January 2016, SOHNGEN participated in recorded telephone conversations with an undercover NYPD officer who was posing as a 15-year-old girl.  SOHNGEN proposed to meet with the purported 15-year-old girl in order to engage in sexual conduct.

OHNGEN, 52, of Queens, New York, is charged with one count of conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking of minors, which carries a maximum term of life in prison, as well as two counts of sex trafficking of minors under the age of 18, each which carries a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison; three counts of attempted sex trafficking of minors under the age of 14, each of which carries a mandatory minimum term of 15 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison; and two counts of attempted inducement of minors under the age of 18 to engage in sexual activity, each of which carries a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison.  The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Kim praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI and the NYPD, and expressed gratitude for the efforts of HSI’s New York Trafficking in Persons Unit and the NYPD’s Vice Enforcement Division Major Case Team.  Mr. Kim also expressed gratitude to the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office for its partnership in this investigation.   

This case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit.  Assistant United States Attorneys Frank Balsamello and Michael Krouse are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from Bronx County Assistant District Attorney Meagan Powers.

The charges contained in the Complaint 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 Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

INMATE INDICTED FOR ASSAULTING NYC CORRECTION OFFICER, BREAKING HIS JAW AND CAUSING LIFE-ALTERING INJURY

Officer Will Have Permanent Metal Plate in Jaw

  Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Rikers Island inmate been indicted for Assault on a Peace Officer for punching a New York City Department of Correction Officer, causing extensive injury to his jaw. 

  District Attorney Clark said, “This unprovoked attack has caused long-term physical damage and pain to a Correction Officer who was just doing his job. The defendant faces charges that carry a maximum sentence of 15 years, and if he is convicted we will ask that his sentence be consecutive to any other prison term he faces. We must change the violent trajectory of Rikers Island, and inmates must know they will not get away with brutality against staff.” 

  District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Tariq Hargorve, (AKA Tariq Hargrove), 20, of Brooklyn, NY was arraigned today before Bronx Supreme Court Justice George Villegas. He is due back in court on August 23, 2017. If convicted on the top charge, he could face up to 15 years in prison. 

  Hargorve was indicted on charges of Assault on a Peace Officer, three counts of second degree Assault, third-degree Assault and second-degree Obstructing Governmental Administration. 

  According to the investigation, Hargorve was speaking on an inmate phone in the George Mochan Detention Center on April 11, 2017, and when he hung up, he allegedly punched Correction Officer Richy Herrera Castillo in the face for no apparent reason. Officer Castillo stumbled backwards from the blow and Hargorve left the area, continuing to yell at the officer. The incident was captured on video.

  The officer was hospitalized and underwent extensive surgery. A metal plate was implanted in his jaw, a molar that was knocked loose by the punch had to be removed and his jaw was wired shut. He will require physical therapy and the metal plate is permanent. Officer Castillo suffered considerable pain and difficulty speaking as a result of his injuries.

  District Attorney Clark thanked Department of Correction Investigator Daniel Monaco and the Department of Correction’s Central Intelligence Bureau for their assistance in the case. 

An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.

Attorneys General Schneiderman And Becerra, Governor Cuomo Announce Motion To Intervene In Critical Affordable Care Act Case Pending In D.c. Circuit

Seeking To Protect Millions Of Americans' Access To Affordable Health Insurance

16 Attorneys General Intervene In House v. Price To Ensure Effective Defense Of Affordable Care Act (ACA)

In NY Alone, 730,000 New Yorkers Rely On $900 Million In Cost-Sharing Reduction Payments

  New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, joined by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, today took legal action to protect health care access for millions of Americans - including hundreds of thousands of low-income New Yorkers. Leading a coalition of 16 Attorneys General, Schneiderman and Becerra moved to intervene in the ongoing appeal of a lawsuit filed by House Republicans that undercuts the affordability of health insurance plans under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

The case, House of Representatives v. Price, is a legal challenge brought by the Republican-majority House of Representatives to block billions of dollars in Affordable Care Act subsidies that reduce co-payments, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket costs for low-income Americans. These payments, known as cost-sharing reductions, are specifically required by the Affordable Care Act. Experts predict that simply the threat to end this funding could destabilize the healthcare market and increase premiums by as much as 21 percent.

"Millions of families across the country - including hundreds of thousands right here in New York - rely on these subsidies for their basic health care. We're talking about people's lives – and for President Trump and the Republicans to use them as pawns in a political game is simply unconscionable," said New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. "No family should have to choose between protecting their child's health and putting a roof over their heads. That's why we're taking legal action now, and I won't stop fighting to protect New Yorkers' right to affordable, quality health care."

"No parent should worry if they can afford to take their child to a doctor or hospital,” said California Attorney General Xavier Becerra. “President Trump’s unpredictable behavior and lack of defense of the healthcare coverage of millions of Americans under the ACA threatens to resurrect those fears of every parent. Here in California, more than 5 million people now receive quality, affordable health care, many for the first time. No one wants to return to the days when a child was denied care because of a preexisting condition, when a woman was charged more than a man for the same health care plan, when you needed care the most and found you were capped at your lifetime limit. My fellow attorneys general and I seek to intervene in House v. Price to defend each of these Americans.”

“Every man, woman and child deserves access to affordable health care. As millions of Americans face the prospect of losing their health care coverage, it is critical that we stand together to protect this basic right,” New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said. “The actions of the federal government are a direct assault on New York and our values, and we will do everything in our power to stand up to the ultra-conservative agenda and ensure that all New Yorkers continue to receive the affordable, high quality care they deserve.” 

The motion to intervene is supported by the affidavits of the New York State Department of Health, which administers the State's Affordable Care Act Exchanges, and the Department of Financial Services, which regulates state insurance markets. Taken together, the affidavits establish the many ways the Trump Administration's failure to pay the cost-sharing reductions will damage insurance markets, disrupt insurance coverage across the state, and negatively impact New York State's ability to offer affordable healthcare to its residents.

Since the inception of the ACA, the number of New Yorkers without health insurance has fallen from 10% of the population in 2013 to 5% in 2016, a historic low.  In New York alone, the state offered roughly 730,000 residents $900 million in cost-sharing reduction payments in 2017, principally through the Essential Plan, which is administered by the State with the assistance of private insurers. 

Over the last several months, the Trump Administration (including President Trump himself) has threatened to stop cost-sharing payments and – along with the Republican-majority House of Representatives – has put the federal government’s appeal of the legal challenge on hold. 

The resulting uncertainty in the insurance markets necessitated action by the States, which issue health plans, administer health insurance markets, and approve insurance rates. The Attorneys General are seeking to intervene in this case to protect low-income residents in their states, as well as the States themselves. 

The motion to intervene, filed today, was brought on behalf of individual States and was signed by a total of 16 Attorneys General: New York, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington and the District of Columbia.

The motion to intervene argues that the States have a concrete interest in the litigation and that circumstances required action to intervene on appeal. Specifically, the States’ motion argues that the District Court’s ruling, if it stays in place, will result in direct financial loss to some of the States, harm consumers, increase the number of uninsured, create additional uncertainty in the health insurance markets, and cause difficulty for State rate approval processes. The States’ motion further argues that the Administration’s various threats about whether this funding will continue and the President’s own comments show that the States cannot rely on the Administration to defend this funding.

Click here to read the motion to intervene.

In House of Representatives v. Price, the House of Representatives, controlled by a Republican majority, challenged billions of dollars in legally-required payments under the Affordable Care Act.  These payments, which total $9 billion in 2017 and are expected to rise to $16 billion by 2026, are required by the Affordable Care Act to reduce low-income consumers’ co-payments, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket costs.

A District Court Judge ruled that the Republican-majority House of Representatives has standing to bring this lawsuit, a ruling that the Obama Administration contested and that the States filing today intend to contest as well. That Court’s ruling allowed an appeal in the D.C. Circuit to occur before the ruling would take effect. That appeal has not yet concluded. The Obama Administration filed its appellate brief in October 2016, but subsequently the Trump Administration and Republican-majority House of Representatives have held the case in abeyance, subject only to status reports to be provided to the Court. The next status report is due later this month. 

COUNCIL TRANSPORTATION CHAIR YDANIS RODRIGUEZ ISSUES SUPPORT FOR PROPOSAL TO BRING CITI BIKE TO ALL FIVE BOROUGHS

  Following recent reports outlining a proposal to bring Citi Bike to all five boroughs, including the Bronx and Staten Island for the first time, Council Transportation Chair Ydanis Rodriguez issued this statement in support:

"Having long advocated for the expansion of Citi Bike into more communities, I am strongly supportive of any effort that achieves this goal. This is a system that has proven beneficial to so many New Yorkers, offering an affordable, efficient and healthy option to areas fortunate enough to have it. Ensuring equity in any future expansion, which operators Motivate have pledged to do, can be transformative for many communities lacking quality transit options. 

The reported proposal, which continues the original financing model using no public funds, while adding another 6,000 bikes--50% of the current total today--seems a quality deal for the city. While I have called for public funding to be included to ensure expansion continues, I appreciate the willingness for Motivate to be creative so long as the financial health of the system can be maintained. At the same time, the devil is in the details and I am fully confident that NYC DOT and the de Blasio Administration will work out a plan that benefits the most New Yorkers, after years of successful partnership in making Citi Bike successful. This is a network that offers quality union jobs, has an excellent safety record, and is getting New Yorkers around without street-clogging cars. I encourage the two sides in this conversation to come to a deal soon so there is no hitch in Citi Bike's expansion. My uptown community wants it, the Bronx wants it and Staten Island wants it; now let's get it done."

Wave Hill Events Jun 2–Jun 9

  Already centuries old by the time the Magna Carta was signed in mid-June,1215, the word “summer” hearkens back to Old English, Old Norse and Old Irish and is even akin to a word in Sanskrit. Such is the precious relationship we have with Mother Nature, particularly when she offers us an all-embracing season of warmth and new life! Come see for yourself on this early June weekend.

Sat, June 3    Family Art Project: Rainbow Passage

Explore the colors of the rainbow! Look at light refracted through water. Collect transparent materials and create a spectrum to glue and frame into bright window hangings. Or add your piece to a stained glass–like temporary group installation vivifying the glass doors of the Sally and Gilbert Kerlin Learning Center.

Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon. 

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

Sat, June 3    Garden Highlights Walk

Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11AM

Sat, June 3    Family Garden Walk

Visit favorite, family-friendly locations in the gardens on a walk with a Wave Hill Garden Guide. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.

MEET AT WAVE HILL HOUSE, NOON

Sat, June 3    Gallery Tour

Wave Hill’s Curatorial Fellow leads a tour of current exhibitions in Glyndor Gallery. The group show,Outcasts: Women in the Wilderness, explores how women have been treated and portrayed as outcasts in history, myth and biblical legend. In the Sunroom Project Space, Sonya Blesofsky’s sculptural installation is inspired by the history of Glyndor House, while Sindy Butz’s life-sized replica of a fireplace in one of Wave Hill’s buildings includes enlarged photographs and videos of her performing with Wave Hill fireplaces. Free with admission to the grounds.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM

Sun, June 4    Family Art Project: Rainbow Passage

Explore the colors of the rainbow! Look at light refracted through water. Collect transparent materials and create a spectrum to glue and frame into bright window hangings. Or add your piece to a stained glass–like temporary group installation vivifying the glass doors of the Sally and Gilbert Kerlin Learning Center. Free with admission to the grounds.

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

Sun, June 4    Yoga in the Garden

Enjoy a morning yoga class on the lawn. Participants should bring a mat, dress appropriately and expect to be outside, unless precipitation or excessive humidity occurs. Classes are offered in partnership withYoga Haven. All levels welcome. Continues Sundays through June and July 9. $25/$15 Wave Hill Member. Pre-registration recommended, online at wavehill.org or onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center.

ON THE GROUNDS, 10AM–11AM

Sun, June 4    Garden Highlights Walk

Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 2PM

Sun, June 4    Meet the Artists: Sonya Blesofsky and Sindy Butz

Join us at this artist talk in the Sunroom Project Space. Sonya Blesofsky’s sculptural installation is inspired by the history of Glyndor House, home of Glyndor Gallery. Sindy Butz’s life-sized replica of a fireplace in one of Wave Hill’s buildings includes enlarged photographs and videos of Butz performing with Wave Hill fireplaces. Free with admission to the grounds.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM

Mon, June 5    

Closed to the public.

Tue, June 6    Garden Highlights Walk

Join us for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 11AM

Tue, June 6    Gallery Tour

Wave Hill’s Curatorial Fellow leads a tour of current exhibitions in Glyndor Gallery. The group show,Outcasts: Women in the Wilderness, explores how women have been treated and portrayed as outcasts in history, myth and biblical legend. In the Sunroom Project Space, Sonya Blesofsky’s sculptural installation is inspired by the history of Glyndor House, while Sindy Butz’s life-sized replica of a fireplace in one of Wave Hill’s buildings includes enlarged photographs and videos of her performing with Wave Hill fireplaces. Free with admission to the grounds.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 2PM

A 28-acre public garden and cultural center overlooking the Hudson River  and Palisades, Wave Hill’s mission is to celebrate the artistry and legacy of its gardens and landscape, to preserve its magnificent views, and to explore human connections to the natural world through programs in horticulture, education and the arts.

HOURS  Open all year, Tuesday through Sunday and many major holidays: 9AM–5:30PM, starting March 15.  Closes 4:30PM, November 1–March 14.

ADMISSION  $8 adults, $4 students and seniors 65+, $2 children 6–18. Free Saturday and Tuesday mornings until noon. Free to Wave Hill Members and children under 6.

PROGRAM FEES  Programs are free with admission to the grounds unless otherwise noted.

Visitors to Wave Hill can take advantage of Metro-North’s one-day getaway offer. Purchase a discount round-trip rail far and discount admission to the gardens. More at http://mta.info/mnr/html/getaways/outbound_wavehill.htm

DIRECTIONS – Getting here is easy! Located only 30 minutes from midtown Manhattan, Wave Hill’s free shuttle van transports you to and from our front gate and Metro-North’s Riverdale station, as well as the W. 242nd Street stop on the #1 subway line. Limited onsite parking is available for $8 per vehicle. Free offsite parking is available nearby with continuous, complimentary shuttle service to and from the offsite lot and our front gate. Complete directions and shuttle bus schedule at www.wavehill.org/visit/.

Information at 718.549.3200. On the web at www.wavehill.org.

Office of Chief Medical Examiner to Host New York City Missing Persons Day on Saturday, May 20, 2017

  - Event credited with eight identifications of missing persons nationwide since 2014 -

  The Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) announced that it will host the third New York City Missing Persons Day on Saturday, May 20, 2017. This support event for the families and friends of missing persons has led to eight identifications of missing persons in New York City, Long Island, New Jersey, and Texas since its launch in 2014.

New York City Missing Persons Day offers free services and resources for those coping with the experience of a long-term missing loved one (missing for 60 or more days). Attendees may voluntarily provide information, such as photos, personal histories and DNA reference samples, in confidential interviews with scientists and other professionals trained in family assistance. The information that is collected can be used to help find and identify missing persons in New York City and elsewhere. 

“Families and friends of missing persons struggle every day with unresolved questions about their absent loved ones,” said Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Barbara Sampson. “On New York City Missing Persons Day, the Office of Chief Medical Examiner convenes specialized resources to help those affected by the uniquely challenging experience of a missing loved one. As this effort grows, and with the generous assistance of our partners, we hope to continue making a difference for families seeking answers.”

Hundreds of families attended two previous New York City Missing Persons Day events in November 2014 and April 2016. To date, the events have led to the identification of eight missing and unidentified persons recovered in New York City; Nassau and Suffolk counties; Warren County, New Jersey; and Brooks County, Texas, primarily through DNA matches.

In the most recent identification, family members from Ossining, New York, attended New York City Missing Persons Day in search of their brother from Ecuador. The family provided DNA reference samples that subsequently matched through national databanks to the remains of a man recovered in the border regions of Texas.  OCME, which is home to one of the country’s few DNA missing persons units, worked with the Webb County Medical Examiner’s Office and the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification to confirm the identity of the man and notify his family. 

More than 13,000 people were reported missing in New York City last year, with some, including at least 200 children, missing long term. Nationwide, there are more than 87,000 active missing persons cases, and thousands of unidentified persons in the custody of medical examiners’ offices. The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) has called the numbers of missing and unidentified persons in the United States “the nation’s silent mass disaster.”

While advances in identification technologies such as fingerprinting and DNA allow medical examiners to collect more information from unidentified persons, these unknown samples must be compared to known reference samples in order to confirm identifications. Missing persons day events have taken place in jurisdictions throughout the United States in recent years for the purpose of collecting this information from families and friends.

In addition to support services, New York City Missing Persons Day will also display forensic artwork created through an ongoing collaboration between OCME and the New York Academy of Art. The approximately 30 facial reconstructions of some of the coldest missing persons cases were made possible by a 3-D printer obtained with NIJ grant funding. 

New York City Missing Persons Day is hosted by OCME, in partnership with the NYPD Missing Persons Unit, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, American Red Cross, Disaster Chaplaincy Services, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), and the Center for HOPE, with support from NIJ. 

What: New York City Missing Persons Day

When:	Saturday, May 20, 2017 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Where:	Office of Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) – Hirsch Center for Forensic Sciences 421 East 26th Street (at 1st Avenue)  New York, NY 10016 Subway: 6 train to 23rd Street or 28th Street; Bus: M15, M23 Accessible facility. Accommodation requests appreciated in advance.

Who:     All families and friends of long-term missing persons are welcome. RSVPs encouraged 

              by calling (212) 323-1201. Interpretation services are available. Visit 

              nyc.gov/missingpersonsday for more information. 

About OCME: 

Established in 1918, OCME is the first governmental agency of its type in the United States and provides expert services across the range of forensic science disciplines. OCME operates the largest public crime DNA laboratory in the world, in addition to laboratories in toxicology and histology, and the nation’s only public molecular genetics laboratory. The agency is home to the country’s largest forensic pathology training program, having trained over 100 board-certified forensic pathologists since 1990. OCME also houses a department of forensic anthropology, and maintains a division of specially trained experts prepared to respond to any and all fatality events, no matter what hazards may be encountered during recovery.

MAYOR DE BLASIO HOSTS MEETING WITH CITY DESIGNATED BANKS TO ADVANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR M/WBEs

  Mayor Bill de Blasio and Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives Richard Buery met with eight of the City’s designated banks at City Hall – Bank of America, Flushing Bank, HAB Bank, JP Morgan Chase Bank, MUFG union Bank, Popular Community Bank, TD Bank, Bank of NY Mellon and Wells Fargo. The 2-hour meeting focused on ways in which these banks can further their partnerships with the City to create accessible capital for the city’s minority and women-owned businesses (M/WBEs). The Mayor highlighted the fact that, historically, M/WBEs lack equitable access to capital due to institutional and structural impediments that have hampered their ability to compete with non-M/WBEs for City contracts. He mentioned how the City is currently addressing the issue with its recently launchedContract Financing Loan Fund that M/WBEs and small contractors can apply to and receive loans of up to $500,000 at a low 3% interest as well as the Emerging Developer Loan Fund that provides $500,000 to $2.5 million for pre-development acquisition and NYC-based real estate projects. The meeting was an opportunity for these banks to continue breaking down barriers to capital by creating new loan programs, direct lending opportunities or contributing to existing City loan programs. Additionally, the Mayor encouraged the banks to participate in a task force solely dedicated to identifying and creating additional sources of easily accessible capital for M/WBEs. The banks were receptive to furthering their partnerships and have agreed to continue meeting to advance opportunities for the city’s M/WBEs. The Mayor ended the meeting by noting that the city’s marketplace was one tool to create a more inclusive city and continue lifting people out of poverty, highlighting that by the end of this year, 281,000 New Yorkers will be lifted out of poverty or near-poverty.

Senate Passes Bill Sponsored by Senator Savino to Bring Major Property Tax Savings On The Way for Seniors & Disabled New Yorkers

New Independent Democratic Conference Report Illustrates Benefits of SCHE/DHE Program Expansion in New York City

The New York State Senate passed legislation sponsored by Senator Diane Savino paving the way for major property tax savings for more senior and disabled homeowners on Wednesday.

This year, members of the Independent Democratic Conference pushed to increase the income eligibility for the Senior Citizen Homeowners’ Exemption (SCHE) and the Disabled Homeowners’ Exemption (DHE), programs which provide major property tax exemptions to residents living on fixed incomes through this legislation. The proposal recently received support from the city.

The IDC also released, “Keeping Housing Affordable for Seniors and Disabled New Yorkers,” illustrating how Senator Savino’s bill impacts homeowners across New York City.

The legislation would raise the income cap for SCHE/DHE to $50,000 for a full 50% property tax exemption and to $58,400 for a partial exemption, which will provide much-needed relief to New York City homeowners. The eligibility levels have not been raised since 2006.

“No senior or disabled homeowner should ever face the hard choice between paying an astronomical property tax bill or buying prescription drugs or other necessities. I’m proud that my legislation will bring real savings to our seniors and disabled homeowners living on fixed incomes in this city. With on average of over $1,750 saved, and in many cases more, this represents the best way to create affordability for these homeowners,” said Senator Savino.

“Our seniors deserve to live out their golden years without worrying that they can no longer afford their homes, the places where they raised their children and hold cherished memories. It is important that for seniors and disabled homeowners living on tight budgets we create an affordable New York by bringing real property tax relief by raising the income eligibility for SCHE and DHE to 2017 levels. I’m proud that the IDC has been the driving force behind this policy and I thank the city for their support,” said Senator Klein.

“Property taxes represent an affordability challenge particularly important to New York City seniors and those living with disabilities. Implementing these measures on the Senior Citizen Homeowners’ Exemption and the Disabled Homeowners’ Exemption takes a step forward in meeting that challenge. We need to recognize the unique circumstances these households face and accommodate their needs. That’s why I welcome these measures to raise the SCHE/DHE income thresholds and take meaningful action to make our communities more affordable,” said Senator Hamilton.

“With living costs always going up, more and more New Yorkers are having a difficult time keeping their homes, especially Senior Citizens and New Yorkers with disabilities. It is time we increase the income eligibility for SCHE and DHE. If this legislation is approved, I am sure we will be helping some of our most vulnerable homeowners stay where they belong: in their homes. I am proud that Senator Savino’s bill passed, and I applaud our Conference's efforts, as well as the efforts by all of those involved, to get property tax relief for seniors and people with disabilities,” said Senator Peralta.

“Seniors and disabled people face multiple economic and social burdens that make it difficult to make ends meet, and rising land values are bringing property taxes to new heights. New York needs to remain a city for everyone, and by expanding SCHE and DHE, homeowners and co-op residents will be better able to afford to live in the city. Housing cooperatives such as HDFC's are an integral part of New York City's affordable housing supply, and by exempting seniors and the disabled from the burden of rising property taxes, the security of owning your own apartment will be made available to more New Yorkers and be preserved for longtime residents,” said Senator Alcantara.

“Giving property tax breaks to more seniors and people with disabilities who own their homes is another big step forward in our ongoing efforts to ensure that our communities remain affordable for the people who have made New York the great city that it is,” said Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh, who sponsors the Assembly bill.  “I thank Senator Savino, my colleagues in the legislature and all the advocates, seniors and people with disabilities who are working with us to get this done.”

The SCHE and DHE programs are currently capped at $29,000, but under the legislation passed today that eligibility level will raise to $50,000 for the full exemption capturing tens of thousands more senior and disabled homeowners who need relief.

SCHE Expansion	DHE Expansion
·         Expand the income threshold for the full 50% exemption from $29,000 to $50,000 ·         Raise the maximum income threshold for a partial exemption from $37,399 to $58,400 ·         Allow 29,000 additional seniors to qualify for SCHE ·         Save the average senior $1,750 per year on their tax bill	·         Expand the income threshold for the full 50% exemption from $29,000 to $50,000 ·         Raise the maximum income threshold for a partial exemption from $37,399 to $58,400 ·         Allow 3,400 additional New Yorkers living with a disability to qualify for DHE ·         Save the average New Yorker living with a disability $1,750 per year on their tax bill

This bill also increases the cap for partial exemptions to $58,400, with property tax exemptions provided to qualified senior and disabled homeowners on a sliding scale.

SCHE/DHE at $50,000 (Proposed)
Income Range	Abatement
$57,500 - $58,400	5%
$56,600 - $57,499	10.0%
$55,700 - $56,599	15.0%
$54,800 - $55,699	20.0%
$53,900 - $54,799	25.0%
$53,000 - $53,899	30.0%
$52,000 - $52,999	35.0%
$50,100 - $51,999	40.0%
$50,001 - $50,999	45.0%
$0 - $50,000	50.0%

This translates to major savings in neighborhoods across the city depending on property type, property value and household income. In many cases, a senior or disabled homeowner could save significantly more than the projected average of $1,750.

For example, in Whitestone a senior could save $3,320: