A.G. Schneiderman Launches Formal Investigation Into Equifax Breach, Issues Consumer Alert

Over 8 Million New Yorkers Affected By Equifax Data Breach

  Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today issued a consumer alert following the report that Equifax Inc., one of the nation’s three major credit reporting agencies, experienced a massive breach affecting 143 million Americans and over 8 million New Yorkers. Today, as part of a formal investigation into the incident, Attorney General Schneiderman sent a letter to Equifax seeking additional information about the breach. The breach lasted from mid-May through July, when hackers accessed names, Social Security numbers, birth dates, addresses and, in some instances, driver’s license numbers. Approximately 209,000 individuals had their credit card numbers stolen.

“The Equifax breach has potentially exposed sensitive personal information of nearly everyone with a credit report, and my office intends to get to the bottom of how and why this massive hack occurred,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “I encourage all New Yorkers to immediately call Equifax tosee if their data was compromised and to consider additional measures to protect themselves.”

Consumers can contact a dedicated call center at 866-447-7559 to determine if you have been affected by the breach. The call center is open every day (including weekends) from 7:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m. Eastern time. 

Consumers should also consider taking these additional steps:

• Check your credit reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion by visiting annualcreditreport.com. Accounts or activity that you do not recognize could indicate identity theft. This is a free service.

• Consider placing a credit freeze on your files. A credit freeze makes it harder for someone to open a new account in your name. It will not prevent a thief from using any of your existing accounts.

• Monitor your existing credit card and bank accounts closely for unauthorized charges.  Call the credit card company or bank immediately about any charges you do not recognize.

• Since Social Security numbers were affected, there is risk of tax fraud.  Tax identity theft happens when someone uses your Social Security number to get a tax refund or a job. Consider filing your taxes early and pay close attention to correspondence from the IRS.

Under New York law, businesses with New York customers are required to inform customers and the Attorney General’s Office about security breaches that have placed personal information in jeopardy. The Attorney General’s Office investigates data breaches to determine if customers were properly notified of the breach and if the entity had appropriate safeguards in place to protect customers’ data. The Attorney General has previously proposed new legislation to make consumer information more secure.

A.G. Schneiderman Announces 10-Year Prison Sentence For Heroin Distributor Who Funneled Drugs Into Dutchess County

  Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the sentencing of Jason Brewster, 36, of Poughkeepsie, a major heroin distributor who sold drugs in Dutchess County. Brewster was apprehended on May 23, 2017 after a fifteen-month manhunt conducted by the Attorney General's Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF), the NY State Police Special Investigations Unit (SIU) and the Dutchess County Drug Task Force (DCDTF).  Brewster was sentenced by the Honorable Peter M. Forman to 10 years in state prison and will face five years of post-release supervision. The sentencing follows Brewster's guilty plea in Dutchess County Court on August 8, 2017 to Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, an A-I felony.

“Violent drug rings not only harm the individuals they poison with drugs—they can inflict entire communities with crime and violence. I will continue to work side by side with our partners in law enforcement to root out those who contribute to the opioid crisis across our state,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. 

State Police Superintendent George P. Beach II said, “Today’s sentencing sends a strong message that prison is the only future for those who deal in dangerous narcotics. The State Police is committed to our partnership with the Attorney General to identify and shut down these dealers, and bring an end to the damage they inflict on our neighborhoods.”

As uncovered during the joint investigation, Brewster initially sold in excess of 260 grams of heroin to an informant, with a street value of more than $16,000. Between October 2015 and February 2016, Brewster made six such sales to the informant. Brewster sold heroin on a regular basis out of his home where children were present, and in other locations in and around Poughkeepsie, including a location right near the S.F.B. Morse Magnet School, located at 101 Mansion Street in the City of Poughkeepsie.  

The Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF) has now taken down 25 large drug trafficking gangs, made more than 580 felony narcotics arrests, and seized more than $1.5 million and more than 2,000 pounds of illegal drugs. In the past several months alone, Attorney General Schneiderman’s new Suburban and Upstate Response to the Growing Epidemic (“S.U.R.G.E.”) Initiative—a crackdown on New York’s growing heroin, opioid, and narcotics trafficking networks—has resulted in 260 alleged traffickers and dealers taken off the streets across New York, through Operation Bricktown, Operation Un-Wise, Operation Gravy Train, Operation Bloodsport, Operation Pipeline, and Operation Wrecking Ball.

The S.U.R.G.E. Initiative targets gangs and individuals who deal heroin and opioids and commit acts of violence in suburban and upstate communities across New York State. The Attorney General's Organized Crime Task Force works closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement to investigate, arrest, and prosecute those criminals.

BP DIAZ HOSTs MUSLIM SCHOOL HOLIDAY EVENT WITH SENATOR KLEIN AND ASSEMBLYMAN MARK GJONAJ

  Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. along with Senator Jeff Klein, and Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj hosted the BP's annual Muslim School Holiday event, designed to bring fun and activities for all in celebration of the addition of Muslim holidays to the public school calendar.

“Islam is one of the largest religions in the world, and, as I have said in the past, by recognizing these important holidays, we show that not only are we welcoming to everyone’s religious beliefs but that we respect everyone’s right to freedom of religion,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “We are very happy to have a fun filled day for the children to enjoy.” 

Above - Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. speaks to the large crowd inside the PS 83 school yard on Rhinelander Avenue

Below - Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj addresses the large crowd as the Imam looks on.

Senator Klein, Assemblymen Benedetto & Gjonaj call on the city to remove sex offenders from family shelters

  New analysis found nine sex offenders residing in Bronx family shelters, endangering the welfare of vulnerable children

New analysis found nine sex offenders residing in Bronx family shelters, endangering the welfare of vulnerable children

Senator Jeff Klein, Assemblymen Michael Benedetto and Mark Gjonaj joined community leaders outside Crystal’s Place family shelter on Saturday, calling on the city to immediately remove sex offenders from all family shelters.

“To ensure the safety of our children, I’ve passed legislation that restricts high-level sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet from a school. It’s unthinkable that the same sexual predators are able to coexist with the vulnerable children living inside the city’s family shelters. The city should immediately remove all sex offenders from these shelters, and when I get back to Albany I will continue to fight to prevent this from happening in the first place,” said Senator Jeff Klein.

“It is hard to believe that the city still hasn't got their act together on this matter. Children are being placed at risk. January can't come fast enough so we can begin to address this problem legislatively,” said Assemblyman Michael Benedetto.

“It’s unfathomable that sex offenders continue to find their way inside family shelters across our city. This practice needs to end now to ensure our city’s most vulnerable children have a safe living environment,” said Assemblyman Gjonaj.

A recent analysis completed by Senator Klein’s office revealed a total of nine high-level sex offenders living at separate Bronx family shelters, up from three sex offenders found in a 2015 study. One of the nine was removed from Crystal’s Place shelter late Thursday.

The Level 2 and 3 offenders committed offenses including sexual abuse, sodomoy and rape. Their victims ranged in age from 6 to 15-years-old. Senator Klein’s office is actively working on a citywide study to determine the amount of sex offenders residing in family shelters across all five boroughs. Those finding will be released shortly.

Senator Klein carries legislation that would ban Level 2 or 3 sex offenders from living  in any temporary emergency housing or homeless shelters used to house families with children. This legislation would require municipalities to place homeless Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders in adult-only shelters or emergency housing where they will not be in close contact with children.

Above - Senator Klein's office has charted the course of nine Level 2 and 3 Sex Offenders that are said to be living along side children in city eun homeless shelters.

Below - State Senator Jeff Klein talks about how his office found one of the nine level 2 or 3 sex offenders living in the family homeless shelter in the background along side vulnerable children.

Above - Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj seeking the Democratic nod for the term-limited 13th City Council seat tells that with him in the city council together with State Senator Jeff Klein and Assemblyman Michael Benedetto the community will have three active partners looking out for them.

Below - Candidate Mark Gjonaj's Republican opponent can only look on as this attempt to be in the picture with Democratic candidate Mark Gjonaj does not work. This only shows what Democrat Mark Gjonaj's Republican opponent will do to try to steal Democrat Mark Gjonaj's glory.

Final Debate/Forum for 13th Council District Before Primary Day

  It was billed as the last Democratic debate before the September 12th Primary, so why was Republican John Cerini included?

You can see that the candidates begin with the five Democratic candidates and there is the lone Republican candidate on the far right. This debate/forum was held at the Samuel Young V.F.W. post located on the Hutchinson Parkway one block north of East Tremont Avenue.

Above - Members of the VFW Post look through possible questions to ask the candidates pertaining  to issues facing Veterans. 

Below - Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj is answering one question 

Above - Candidate Victor Ortiz is answering a question put to him.

Below - Candidate Egidio Sementilli gives his answer to the same question.

This last debate/forum lasted only one hour since the topic of questions had to be from the veterans in the audience, and about matters pertaining to Veterans only.

Tuesday September 12th is the date where one of the five Democrats will be chosen to face Republican/Conservative candidate John Cerini in the General Election. So what was Republican/Conservative party candidate doing at this debate/ forum? 

Reserve your Table Now at Early Bird Prices for The Bronx Chamber of Commerce 2017 Bronx Biz & Information Expo

Wave Hill Events Sep 22–Sep 29

It’s autumn equinox time, and we’re celebrating with the first concert in the 2017–2018 concert season—the vibrant Manhattan Chamber Players--and a morning session of sun salutations, both on Sunday. In between, enjoy afternoon tea in the Mark Twain Room―but reserve by the Thursday before.

The annual plant sale continues, of course, as does the next in our series of programs keyed to the anniversary exhibition in Glyndor Gallery this fall.

Fri, September 22    Annual Plant Sale in The Shop at Wave Hill

Don’t miss this once-a-year opportunity to acquire some spectacular cultivars and top-notch performers for your home garden! Sale continues through September 24th or while supplies last.

PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10AM‒4PM

Sat, September 23    Family Art Project: Wave Hill Ecology in a Bowl

Be inspired by the local hilly landscape that makes up the waves of Wave Hill. Use small items found on the grounds and sculpt with air-dry clay, rocks, sticks and moss, plus other up-cycled materials. You may even add water to create mini pools and invent your own mini ecological landscape system. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon. 

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

Sat, September 23    Annual Plant Sale in The Shop at Wave Hill

Don’t miss this once-a-year opportunity to acquire some spectacular cultivars and top-notch performers for your home garden! Sale continues through September 24th or while supplies last.

PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10AM‒4PM

Sat, September 23    Garden Highlights Walk

Join a Wave Hill Garden Guide 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, September 23    Family Gallery Tour

Explore artwork on view in Glyndor Gallery on a family-friendly tour with a Curatorial Fellow. Children ages six and older welcome with an adult.  Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.

MEET AT WAVE HILL HOUSE, NOON

Sat, September 23    Call & Response Printing Demo: An Artist’s Rock Garden, with Hilary Lorenz

On select Saturdays, Call & Response artists will be presenting talks, readings, live music, performance art and workshops in and around Glyndor Gallery. This Saturday, join Call & Response artist Hilary Lorenz in a drop-in printing demonstration. Inspired by the planters in the Alpine Garden, Lorenz created a rock garden with paper-pulp sculptures and printed plants. She is sharing her block-printing techniques with visitors. Free with admission to the grounds.

GLYNDOR GALLERY, 1–4PM

Sun, September 24    Family Art Project: Wave Hill Ecology in a Bowl

Be inspired by the local hilly landscape that makes up the waves of Wave Hill. Use small items found on the grounds and sculpt with air-dry clay, rocks, sticks and moss, plus other up-cycled materials. You may even add water to create mini pools and invent your own mini ecological landscape system. Free with admission to the grounds. 

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

Sun, September 24    Annual Plant Sale in The Shop at Wave Hill

Don’t miss this once-a-year opportunity to acquire some spectacular cultivars and top-notch performers for your home garden! The sale ends today.

PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10AM‒4PM

Sun, September 24    Wellness Workshop: Sun Salutations―Celebrating the Autumnal Equinox

Celebrate the beautiful sun that feeds us and guides our seasons with Sara Hartfrom iHart Lens. This energizing outdoor class consists of 108 salutes, a sacred number and symbolic tradition. Class moves indoors if it is raining. Bring your own yoga mat and water bottle and please be on time. Registration not required. Free with admission to the grounds. 

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10AM–NOON

Sun, September 24   In The Shop: 20% off all Solar Lanterns

In honor of the autumnal equinox, stop by The Shop to browse our collection of lanterns, perfect for a cool fall evening. The proceeds of your purchases in The Shop support Wave Hill’s gardens and programming.

PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 10AM–4PM

Sun, September 24    Pre-Concert Tea

Enjoy Afternoon Tea in the Mark Twain Room prior to today’s concert in Armor Hall. The Café at Wave Hill pairs a classic menu with an assortment of green, black and herbal teas. This traditional tea service includes the four classic elements of savory, scones, sweets and tea. The menu, presented by Great Performances, includes an array of tea sandwiches, scones and bite-sized desserts. Afternoon Tea also includes a glass of sparkling wine. Afternoon Tea Service is $36. Wave Hill Members receive a 10% discount. Advanced registration is required online. We will take reservations until 5PM, Thursday, September 21.

WAVE HILL HOUSE, NOON–2PM

Sun, September 24    Concert: Manhattan Chamber Players

The Manhattan Chamber Players is a vibrant ensemble comprised of rising stars on the music scene, many top prizewinners of prestigious competitions including Banff, Naumburg and Queen Elisabeth. Strad Magazine describes their performance as “intensely wrought and burnished.” In addition to opening the 2017–18 concert series at Wave Hill, the group opens the season for Bethel Woods, the Red Bank Chamber Music Society and returns for a second engagement at the Kaufman Music Center. The Armor Hall program, a concert with one intermission, will include chamber works by Strauss, Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky’s sentimental Souvenir de Florence, imbued with glorious and fiery Russian folk-like melodies. Tickets for this concert are $36 plus admission to the grounds/$28 Wave Hill Member. Order tickets online at wavehill.org or onsite at the Perkins Visitor Center. For additional information, please call 718.549.3200 x251.

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 2PM

Sun, September 24    Garden Highlights Walk

Join a Wave Hill Garden Guide for an hour-long tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 2PM

Mon, September 25    

Closed to the public.

Tue, September 26    Garden Highlights Walk

Join a Wave Hill Garden Guide 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, September 26    Gallery Tour

Wave Hill’s Curatorial Fellow leads a tour of the current exhibition in Glyndor Gallery. This fall, the entire gallery will be given over to new site-responsive projects honoring the tenth anniversary of Wave Hill’s Sunroom Project Space. Call & Response showcases the work of more than 50 artists who have exhibited in this unique venue, in projects ranging from art objects created from natural materials gathered onsite, to sound pieces, outdoor installations and performance works. 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.

Van Nest Democratic Debate for the 13th Council District

  Last night the Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance held a Democratic debate for the 13th city council district. It seems that the Van Nest neighborhood is split on one side by the 15th council district, and on the other side by the 13th council district. There can be advantages in having two council members representing your district, but there are also disadvantages in that the elected officials have to take care of where the most votes may come from first. Sometime after the primary the Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance will be having another debate, that one between all candidates on the ballot for the November general election. 

  As you will see in the photos below that this debate featured five Democratic candidates only, but there was never more than four candidates in the room at any time, with only three candidates for most of the debate. Candidates Egidio Sementilli, John Doyle, and Victor Ortiz were up front through the entire Democratic debate. Candidate Mark Gjonaj said that he would be leaving early to attend a previously scheduled fund raiser, and candidate Marjorie Velazquez arrived shortly before the Democratic debate was over.

Above - The four candidates who were up front at the beginning are (l - r) Egidio Sementelli, John Doyle, Victor Ortiz, and Mark Gjonaj

Below - The empty chair next to Egidio Sementilli is for Marjorie Velazquez who showed up with just two questions left, and the closing statements.

Above - Candidate Victor Ortiz tells of him and another hispanic candidate being thrown off the ballot by the third hispanic candidate Marjorie Velazquez, which he called fraud. He added that during the time he fought and won to be reinstated to the ballot that he exposed challenger Rebecca Chant as an agent of candidate Velazquez. Ortiz said that Chant was a college student from OHIO who had registered in June to gather signatures for Velazquez and Ms. Chant admitted under oath that she had no intention of staying in the 13th council district to vote and was leaving to go back to Ohio where she was registered to vote.

Below - Candidate John Doyle giving his opening statement.

Above - Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj tells why he is seeking to become the councilman building on his work and five year experience as a state legislator. 

Below - Ms. Bernadette Ferrara President of the Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance models the organizations T-Shirt which was on sale to guests. The two police officers from the 49th Precinct were not on hand to protect the two moderators, but to give a community report.

Above - You can see as candidate Ortiz answers a question midway Assemblyman Gjonaj has left.

Below - Candidate Egidio Sememtilli gets comfortable knowing that Assemblyman Gjonaj has left, and does not expect candidate Marjorie Velazquez to attend.

Above - However candidate Velazquez was to arrive with just two questions left to answer, and closing statements by the candidates.

Below Candidate Velazquez giving her closing statement. 

Above - Candidate Egidio Sementilli giving his closing statement shows his campaign material he has, only a small palm card which candidate Velazquez seems to be very interested in reading.

Below - Now that candidate Velazquez is seated at the table, candidate Victor Ortiz has no problem pointing to her and calling her a fraud for the way she was exposed in challenging him and fellow hispanic Alex Gomez.