A.G. Schneiderman Issues Alert On Potential DACA Scams

New York State Is Home To 42,000 DACA Grantees 

DACA Grantees Must Apply For Renewal By Oct 5 

All New Yorkers Can Report Potential Scams To The Attorney General's Immigration Fraud Hotline At 1-866-390-2992

   With the October 5 deadline for renewal applications approaching, Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman issued an alert today urging Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) grantees to protect themselves from scammers seeking to capitalize on the uncertainty created by President Trump’s decision to rescind the program. Scammers could seek to take advantage of DACA grantees and their family, friends, and colleagues by misrepresenting the status of DACA or other immigration policies and offering fraudulent services. Last month, Attorney General Schneiderman led a coalition of state Attorneys General in filing suit to protect DACA.

"Scammers will often capitalize on fear and anxiety to take advantage of immigrants and their families,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “DREAMers play by the rules, work hard, and pay taxes. For most, America is the only home they’ve ever known, and they deserve to stay here and keep contributing to our state and our nation. 

“While I continue to defend DACA in court, I encourage all grantees to be vigilant and protect themselves from those seeking to take advantage of this uncertainty to make a quick buck.”

If you think you've been the victim of an immigration services fraud scam, contact the Attorney General's Immigration Fraud Hotline at 1-866-390-2992 or civil.rights@ag.ny.gov. The Attorney General’s office will never inquire about your immigration status or share your information with anyone, including other government entities.

Before hiring an immigration service providers or submitting any paperwork to USCIS, DACA recipients should know that:

• The Department of Homeland Security will no longer accept new DACA applications
• DACA grantees with work permits expiring between September 5, 2017 and March 5, 2018 can apply for a renewal. Currently, all renewal applications must be submitted to DHS no later than October 5, 2017.
• DACA grantees can no longer apply for advanced parole.
• Individuals with deportation orders should seek legal advice from either a lawyer or an accredited representative as soon as possible.

To protect individuals from potential frauds, Attorney General Schneiderman issued the following tips:

• Beware of offers via social media, phone calls, flyers or other forms of unsolicited DACA/immigration legal advices services.
• Beware of phishing. Some scammers use websites that look like government or official institutions. 
• Never pay a fee for an expedited application. Individuals cannotexpedite your request in exchange for money.
• No one can guarantee you will get special treatment for deferred action. If someone makes such a guarantee, do not employ his or her services.
• Only attorneys or Office of Legal Access Programs (OLAP) accredited representatives can give you advice on which forms to submit for each application.
• Only you, an attorney, or OLAP accredited representative can represent you before USCIS and inquire about the status of your request.
• An immigration service provider that does not employ attorneys may not give you legal advice, threaten to report you to immigration authorities, promise to obtain special favors from immigration authorities, instruct you to provide false information to immigration authorities, or charge you for a referral to someone qualified to assist you with  immigration matters.
• Although Notarios Publico are attorneys in Spanish-speaking countries, Notaries Public in the United States are not attorneys. Do not hire them for legal advice.
• Remember, before you sign any immigration form, you must understand it and agree to the truth of it. If a form is not written in your language, and you don't understand it, do not sign it. Anything you sign that is not true and accurate may be considered fraudulent by USCIS, and this will have serious repercussions.
• If you do go to an immigration service provider to have your paperwork filled out, the provider must do the following: give you a contract (which may be cancelled at any time) written in English and in a language you understand describing the services they will provide and the fees they will charge, post signs clearly indicating they are not attorneys and cannot give you legal advice, give you a copy of any documents filed with the government, return any original documents belonging to you, and give you a copy of your file on demand without a fee.
• It's always safest to pay for any service you obtain by money order, check, or credit card. Do not pay with cash. Note, too, that USCIS filing fees must be paid by those methods.

For more information on the USCIS deferred action policy, including guidelines and forms, please visit: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis.

To find a licensed attorney in the State of New York, visit the New York State Bar Association www.nysba.org or the American Immigration Lawyers Association: www.aila.org.

SVETLANA TRAVIS ZAKHAROVA PLEADS GUILTY TO ATTEMPTED PETIT LARCENY

Defendant Sentenced to 90 Days in Jail

  Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a woman has pleaded guilty to Attempted Petit Larceny, a misdemeanor, for attempting to steal money from a man.   

  District Attorney Clark said “We consulted with the victims in this case and they both agreed to the plea agreement reached. The defendant has already served nearly a year in jail.” 

  District Attorney Clark said that the defendant, Svetlana Travis Zakharova, 27, a Russian national, pleaded guilty to Attempted Petit Larceny today before Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Charles Solomon and was sentenced to 90 days in jail. A two-year order of protection was issued for the victim. District Attorney Clark’s office handled the case after Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. recused himself. 

  District Attorney Clark said that the defendant pleaded guilty to committing the crime of Attempted Petit Larceny, a B Misdemeanor, in that in or about June, 2014, she attempted to steal money from the victim for rent owed for a Manhattan apartment. 

  The plea covers the indictment involving this victim and Eliot Spitzer, from whom the defendant was alleged to have extorted money by threatening to reveal her personal relationship with him, and to expose intimate details to the media and Spitzer’s wife and family if he did not pay.

MAYOR DE BLASIO NAMES VINCENT SAPIENZA AS COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

   Mayor Bill de Blasio today named Vincent Sapienza as the Commissioner of the City’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).  During his 34 years with DEP, Sapienza has served in leadership posts for several of the key operating divisions, has overseen major capital improvements and managed during emergencies, including Hurricane Sandy.  Sapienza has been serving as the Acting Commissioner of the department since the retirement of former Commissioner Emily Lloyd, during the summer of 2016.    

“All 8.5 million New Yorkers rely every day on the essential services provided by DEP, including a reliable supply of the best tap water in the world, and that is one reason Vinny’s over three decades of experience at the department make him the ideal candidate to be its next leader,” said Mayor de Blasio. “Vinny has also led DEP’s wastewater treatment bureau, which is primarily responsible for the incredible rebound in the health of our waterways, and the department’s capital improvement program, one of the largest in the region.  Moving forward we will work together to ensure that we maintain reasonable water and sewer rates, while continuing to push forward critical infrastructure projects that are essential to the future of our city.”

In the coming years, Sapienza will oversee several projects critical to New York City including finalizing the Filtration Avoidance Determination for the City’s West of Hudson reservoirs, building the Delaware Aqueduct Bypass Tunnel 600 feet below the Hudson River and preparing for the shutdown of the Aqueduct in 2022.  He will also push to continue the work to improve the health of New York Harbor, including the ongoing build-out of the City’s ambitious Green Infrastructure program.

“Having spent 34 years with DEP, across several different operating divisions, I know many of my colleagues personally and we are committed to our mission to protect public health and the environment in New York City,” said DEP Commissioner Vincent Sapienza.  “I want to thank Mayor de Blasio for the opportunity to lead the department as we confront several challenges, including the repair of the Delaware Aqueduct, continued improvements to our wastewater collection and treatment system and the buildout of the most ambitious green infrastructure program in the country, expansion of the successful Bluebelt program on Staten Island and the creation of a more robust drainage system in southeast Queens.”

Since joining DEP in 1983, Sapienza has dedicated his career to protecting and improving New York City’s critical water infrastructure.  Prior to his role as Acting Commissioner, Sapienza served as Deputy Commissioner for DEP’s Bureau of Engineering Design and Construction, where he managed the water and wastewater capital improvement programs, including the construction of the $3.2 billion Croton Water Filtration Plant in the Bronx.  He has also served as Deputy Commissioner of DEP’s Bureau of Wastewater Treatment, where he oversaw the collection and treatment of wastewater and led the effort to create the NYC Wastewater Resiliency Plan. Sapienza is a New York State Licensed Professional Engineer and holds a B.S. from Columbia University and an MBA from Hofstra University’s School of Business.

DEP is the largest municipal water and wastewater utility in the nation.  This critical work includes providing approximately 1 billion gallons of high quality drinking water each day to more than 9 million residents.  The watershed extends more than 125 miles from the city, comprising 19 reservoirs and three controlled lakes.  Approximately 7,000 miles of water mains, tunnels and aqueducts deliver water throughout the five boroughs, and 7,500 miles of sewer lines and 96 pump stations take wastewater to 14 treatment plants.  DEP has nearly 6,000 employees.  In addition, DEP has one of the largest capital programs in the region that will help to create up to 3,000 construction-related jobs per year.  DEP also regulates air quality, hazardous waste, and critical quality of life issues, including noise.

NYC DELIVERS FIRST-EVER CITY PLAN TO MEET THE GOALS OF THE PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT

Plan identifies actions NYC will take in the next three years to accelerate emissions reductions in support of the global l.5° Celsius warming target

  In fulfillment of Mayor de Blasio’s June executive order to adopt and commit the City to the principles of the Paris Agreement, the Mayor today, in coordination with MOS and City agencies, released 1.5°C: Aligning New York City With the Paris Climate Agreement. The plan lists actions the City will take in the next three years to accelerate greenhouse gas (GHG)  reductions and put the city on a path to deep de-carbonization. This is the first Paris Agreement-compliant plan from any city in the world. You can read the full plan online here.

“Big problems require big solutions – and New Yorkers are already hard at work to meet the most ambitious goals of the Paris Agreement,” said Mayor de Blasio. “In the Trump era, cities have to lead the way when it comes to fighting climate change. Hotter summers and powerful storms made worse by climate change are an existential threat to a coastal city like ours, which is why we need to act now.”

The 1.5°C plan aligns local climate actions with a goal to limit global warming to 1.5°C degrees. A 1.5°C degree outcome was agreed to in the Paris Agreement in order to limit the worst impacts of climate change. By implementing the identified prioritized set of actions across energy, transportation, building, and waste sectors by 2020, NYC will enable faster reductions of GHG over the following 30 years than even the already aggressive goals in the City’s 80 x 50 plan – a plan to reduce GHG emissions 80% by 2050. The potential for GHG reduction of all the quantified actions in the report is 10 million metric tons of C02e – or the equivalent of taking more than 2 million cars off the road by 2030.

The release of the citywide action plan, builds on announcements made earlier this month to mandate cuts in greenhouse gas emissions from large buildings, and expands access to electric vehicle fast chargers in all five boroughs.  Both of these actions are included in the 1.5°C plan.

Other key actions detailed in the plan include: 

RECYCLING: Roll out city-wide single stream recycling by 2020; New Yorkers will no longer need to sort their recyclables, dramatically increasing the City’s recycling rate.

WASTE: Accelerate the diversion of tons of organics from landfills by expanding the organics program to serve all New Yorkers with curbside or a convenient drop off location by 2018.

BUILDINGS: In addition to creating new fossil-fuel targets for existing buildings to meet in 2030, NYC will work to implement advanced energy codes for new buildings in 2019, and very low energy design targets in all new buildings in subsequent energy code cycles.

ENERGY: NYC will use its purchasing power to procure 100% renewable electricity for municipal operations as soon as sufficient supply can be brought online. This Fall, the City will be breaking ground on 50 new solar projects on public buildings, which will put the city a quarter of the way to the goal of 100MW of solar on public property by 2025.

TRANSPORTATION: NYC will continue the accelerated pace of Select Bus Service implementation, fight for a tax on millionaires to modernize the subway system, and double the number of active cyclists by 2020 through the annual development of at least 50 new miles of bike network (including 10 miles of protected bike lanes). By expanding electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, the City will meet a goal for 20% of new car registrations to be EVs by 2025.

CARBON NEUTRALITY: NYC will lead in the development of a global protocol for cities to attain carbon neutrality by 2050 in collaboration with other vanguard cities and partners.

The plan comes less than four months after Mayor de Blasio signed Executive Order 26 committing NYC to the principles of the Paris Agreement, in the face of the Trump Administration’s decision to withdraw from the international accord. The order directed city agencies to work with the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability (MOS) to identify the necessary citywide actions each agency needed to take to align NYC with a 1.5°C trajectory. These actions are included in the plan.  To date, the NYC 2016 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventory, included in the plan shows a reduction of 15 percent relative to the 2005 baseline.

“In the face of federal inaction on climate change, it is now more important than ever for cities like New York to step up to fulfill the Paris Agreement,” said Daniel Zarrilli, Senior Director for Climate Policy & Programs and the Chief Resilience Officer in the NYC Mayor’s Office. “This new plan accelerates New York City’s deep decarbonization efforts locally in order to align with the global effort to limit warming to only 1.5°C as outlined in the Paris Agreement, and is the first such city plan in the world to do so.  Thanks to C40 for their support and partnership in achieving this milestone on the path to a more sustainable and resilient city and planet.”

“Reducing the city’s greenhouse gas emissions is critical to keep the worst impacts of climate change at bay,” said Mark Chambers, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability. “We know this is possible, and we know we have to work faster. The plan released today builds on the ambitious work we’ve already started, and demonstrates how New York City will continue to work aggressively to act locally, even as we think globally to create a healthy and thriving NYC.”

"Mayor de Blasio is leading the way towards a more sustainable future. Today’s commitment builds on the City's continuous work to mitigate the impact of climate change, while investing in innovative technologies and policies that strengthens New York City’s position as a global citizen and as a great place to live,” said NYCEDC President James Patchett.

Engel Statement on Worst Mass Shooting in United States History

  Congressman Eliot L. Engel issued the following statement:

“This morning, America awoke to the deadliest mass shooting in its history.

“The carnage seems almost impossible. More than 400 people injured, 50 dead, and police currently estimate that number will go up. The gunman opened fire from a hotel room window on a concert below, and reports indicate he had a stockpile of weapons, clearly some capable of firing off multiple rounds in seconds. Whatever his evil intentions were, they will not break our spirit as Americans. His terror will not win.

“We’ve long ago run out of the right words to say in these terrible moments. We pray for the dead, the wounded, and their families. We thank the brave first-responders who put their lives on the line to deal with this act of domestic terrorism. But clearly, all of that is not enough. Clearly, we as a country need to do more.

“So, while my thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families, my voice, my focus, my energy and my vote as a Member of Congress is with the type of legislation that will curtail the proliferation of gun violence on our streets. We are a civilized country, the greatest country on earth. This should not be happening here, period. We cannot allow ourselves to ever become numb to these moments of horrific violence, and we certainly cannot stand idly by while our fellow citizens are gunned down in cold blood.

“I know my constituents, as most Americans, are shocked, saddened, and angry to know a person can legally buy a military grade automatic rifle in the United States. This is beyond belief and must be outlawed.”

Bronx Chamber of Commerce - BRONX Business Referrals - Update your contact information before October 31, 2017

 

BRONX Business Referrals

Update your contact information

 Before October 31, 2017

Current and new members must confirm their contact information for the 2018 Bronx Business Directory & Resource Guide before October 31, 2017 to be listed for Bronx business referrals. Email your updated and complete contact information today to Sashee Rivera at: sashee@bronxChamber.org.

Even one business referral more than pays

For the annual Chamber membership dues!

Publishing the 2018 Bronx Business Directory & Resource Guide fulfills an important service for the membership and the Bronx business community. There was tremendous excitement and enthusiasm from current and new members regarding the 2017 Edition. Over 175 new companies have joined the Bronx Chamber since I took charge as President and CEO in November 2016. Professionals see and appreciate the value and importance of the printed directory in addition to the many benefits of membership.

Affordable Advertising Rates in the 

2018 Bronx Business Directory

For more information, contact Senior Account Executive Allan Kolstein (914) 345-0601, ext. 162, or email; akolstein@todaymediainc.com.

 

The 2018 Bronx Business Directory & Resource Guide will be distributed to more than 2,500 member businesses, new businesses, and select governmental offices. It will also be distributed at Bronx Chamber of Commerce events throughout the year. Membership in 2018 will significantly increase as more and more businesses see and understand the value of membership in the Bronx Chamber of Commerce. As a courtesy to new companies that join during 2018, an addendum will be updated each month and included with the Directory as they are distributed.

In addition to the excellent programs and services highlighted, it is important to also mention that membership dues, event ticket cost, advertising in the publications, and event sponsorship are legitimate business deductions for tax purposes to the fullest extent of the law. For more information on membership contact Sashee Rivera, Membership Director at (718) 828-3900 or email: Sashee@BronxChamber.org.

To assist in recruiting new members to join, click on the following link bronx chamber brochure 2017 which includes a membership application. There are many excellent benefits of membership listed in the Bronx Chamber Brochure. Membership dues, event ticket cost, advertising in the publications, and event sponsorship are legitimate business deductions for tax purposes to the fullest extent of the law. 

The Bronx Chamber of Commerce is one of the most influential, professional and successful organizations and voice for businesses in Bronx County. Professionals and companies are drawn to the successful companies and active members affiliated with The Bronx Chamber of Commerce. Membership includes businesses ranging from large corporations, Cultural Institutions, Universities and Colleges, Hospitals and Medical Centers, non-profits, and mid-sized to small companies. Visit: www.BronxChamber.org.

Helping you grow your Bronx Business is our Goal!

 

Sincerely,

 

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"!

THE BRONX HOSTS DONATION DRIVE FOR PUERTO RICO & MEXICO What You Should Know By Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz

  You should know that on Saturday, September 30, 2017, the New York Hispanic Clergy Organization together with Radio Vision Cristiana International and The Christian Community Benevolent Association hosted a donation drive to help the victims of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico and earthquake in Mexico City.

Throughout the day, hundreds of volunteers helped to move and pack hundreds of thousands of pounds of goods to support relief efforts for Puerto Rico and Mexico, filling six (6) shipping containers and more than two (2) dozen trucks.  So much material was donated at the event that it took two days to completely pack and move all supplies, and the National Guard was called in to help move donation off the street and transported them.

It is important for you to know that this is not the first time that we have done this kind of humanitarian relief.  In the past, we have done the same for Venezuela, Ecuador, Honduras, Haiti, Dominican Republic and for Puerto Rico years ago during the devastation done by Hurricane Hugo.

This time the Bronx Borough President Rubén Díaz, Jr., came to the rescue and with his staff, friends and resources help make this relief effort one of the biggest ever in the City of New York.

Elected official such as Councilmember Rafael Salamanca, Assembly Members Marcos Crespo, and Luis Sepúlveda also joined with their staff and resources.

The response of the community and volunteers was so immense that an event that was supposed to be from 12:00 -5:00 pm on Saturday became so huge that by 10:00 am Aldus Street was full of donations and the activity had to be extended until 12:00 noon Sunday.

Besides the Bronx Borough President Rubén Díaz, Jr., our staff and the elected officials, I have to confess and admit that the response had a magnitude that it became almost impossible for us to handle, but thanks to the immense generosity of wonderful people who came and helped us the job was well done.

The volunteer's hundreds of them were there all the time helping us pack and load the truck.

After we had packed six (6) containers (paid in full by the American Rapper Fat Joe), there were still more donations with no means to be transported. Then came Mr. Frank (Frankie) Hernandez from La Flor de Mayo Moving Co., he donated not only his staff and five (5) trucks but also he was personally helping us pack.

The day was saved by Governor Andrew Cuomo who after a personal call to him by Bronx Borough President Rubén Díaz, Jr. and Ms. Rose Rodriguez he sent more than twenty National Guard trucks and personnel to help us clean Aldus Street.

The coordination of Ms. Marlene Cintron President of the Bronx Economic Overall Development Corporation Office, Rose Rodriguez from Gov. Andrew Cuomo office, the 41st Police Precinct, the Southern Boulevard (BID), Community Planning Board #2 and many others that were part of this magnificent outpouring of benevolence to help Puerto Rico and Mexico. All these efforts must be praise and acknowledge during the Bronx hosted Donation drive for Puerto Rico and Mexico.

This is Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz and this is what you should know.  

Former Executive Director Of New York City Non-Profit Organization Sentenced To Four Years In Prison For Corruption Offenses

  Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that KWAME INSAIDOO, the former executive director of United Block Association (“UBA”), a New York-based non-profit organization, was sentenced to 48 months in prison and his wife ROXANNA INSAIDOO was sentenced to 30 months in prison, in connection with their embezzlement of over $580,000 from UBA, defrauding their mortgage lender of approximately $200,000, and related crimes.  They were convicted on May 2, 2017, following a one-week jury trial before United States District Judge Valerie E. Caproni, who also imposed today’s sentence.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said:  “As a Manhattan jury found, Kwame Insaidoo and Roxanna Insaidoo stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from a government-funded non-profit organization dedicated to serving senior citizens.  The Insaidoos enriched themselves and their family with taxpayer money that was supposed to support four senior centers in Upper Manhattan.  Now this husband-and-wife crime duo will serve time in prison for those crimes.”  

In imposing sentence, Judge Caproni stated that the “message has to be sent” that “it is not acceptable to steal money from the City that is designed for charitable goals to line your own pockets.”

According to the Indictment, other filings in Manhattan federal court, and the evidence admitted at trial:

UBA was a non-profit organization headquartered in New York, New York, that was controlled by KWAME INSAIDOO, its former Executive Director.  UBA had contracts with New York City through which it received taxpayer funds, including federal funds, to operate and provide healthy meals and programming to the elderly at four senior centers in Upper Manhattan.

As the jury found, KWAME INSAIDOO abused his authority as UBA’s Executive Director to embezzle, with the assistance of his wife, ROXANNA INSAIDOO, over $580,000 of UBA’s funds for his own benefit and that of his wife and son.  KWAME INSAIDOO and ROXANNA INSAIDOO concealed their embezzlement by laundering the money, in part, through a shell company that they had created.  KWAME INSAIDOO and ROXANNA INSAIDOO used the embezzled funds to pay for personal expenses, including the mortgage for their Long Island residence and the purchase of a Mercedes Benz and a Cadillac.  They also wired more than $300,000 to family members living abroad.    

In an effort to evade scrutiny regarding the embezzled funds, KWAME INSAIDOO repeatedly lied to the City, including to its auditors, in order to maintain UBA’s funding and to conceal the funds he and his wife had diverted to their shell company. 

In 2011, KWAME INSAIDOO and ROXANNA INSAIDOO also engaged in a scheme to defraud their mortgage lender in connection with a modification of their mortgage under the federally-sponsored Home Affordable Modification Program, by underreporting their income and assets, including the hundreds of thousands of dollars they had embezzled from UBA.  This scheme led to a write-off of almost $200,000 from KWAME INSAIDOO and ROXANNA INSAIDOO’s home mortgage.

In addition to the prison terms imposed today by Judge Caproni, KWAME INSAIDOO, 61, and ROXANNA INSAIDOO, 63, both of Bay Shore, Long Island, were ordered to forfeit a sum of $779,039.62.  

Mr. Kim praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Department of Investigation and the Criminal Investigators of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.