Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Charges Against Former U.S. Soldier For Conspiring To Kidnap And Murder As Part Of A Murder-For-Hire Scheme Overseas

In furtherance of the scheme, the defendants are alleged to have killed a woman in the Philippines by shooting her multiple times in the face

  Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Ray Donavan, Special Agent in Charge of the Special Operations Division of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), today announced that a grand jury had returned a Superseding Indictment, which charged JOSEPH MANUEL HUNTER, a U.S. citizen and former member of the U.S. Army, and two co-defendants with offenses relating to the February 2012 murder of a woman in the Philippines.  HUNTER’s co-defendants, ADAM SAMIA and CARL DAVID STILLWELL, were previously arrested in North Carolina in July 2015 and are scheduled to start trial on the offenses charged in the Superseding Indictment on April 2, 2018.  HUNTER is expected to arrive in the Southern District of New York on October 25, 2017.  The case has been assigned to the Honorable Ronnie Abrams.

According to the allegations in the Superseding Indictment against HUNTER, SAMIA, and STILLWELL returned today[1]

HUNTER served from 1983 to 2004 in the United States Army, where he attained the rank of sergeant first class.  While in the Army, HUNTER led air-assault and airborne infantry squads; served as a sniper instructor; and trained soldiers in marksmanship and tactics as a senior drill sergeant.  Since leaving the Army in 2004, HUNTER has arranged for the murders of multiple people in exchange for money, among other completed acts of violence undertaken for pay. 

SAMIA is a self-described “Personal Protection/Security Industry” professional.  According to SAMIA’s résumé, he has worked as an “Independent Contractor” for clients in the Philippines, China, Papua New Guinea, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Republic of the Congo; and has training in tactics and weapons, including handguns, shotguns, rifles, sniper rifles, and machineguns.  According to STILLWELL’s résumé, he has training and experience in the field of information technology and has worked at a firm in North Carolina that provides firearms training.

In 2011 and 2012, HUNTER, SAMIA, and STILLWELL agreed to commit murders-for-hire in overseas locations in exchange for monthly salaries and bonus payments for each victim.  In early 2012, SAMIA and STILLWELL traveled from North Carolina to the Philippines, where HUNTER provided them with, among other things, information about their intended victims and firearms to use to commit the murders. 

In January and February 2012, SAMIA and STILLWELL surveilled their intended victims in the Philippines as they formulated their plans for the murders.  On February 12, 2012, SAMIA and STILLWELL killed one of their intended victims – a Filipino woman – in the Philippines by shooting her multiple times in the face (“Victim-1”).  After killing Victim-1, SAMIA and STILLWELL disposed of her body on a pile of garbage.  HUNTER paid SAMIA and STILLWELL $35,000 each for completing the murder, and SAMIA and STILLWELL sent thousands of dollars from the payments they received to the United States using, among other methods, structured wire transfers in amounts under $10,000. 

In late February and early March 2012, SAMIA and STILLWELL returned from the Philippines to North Carolina, where they continued to reside until their arrests.  

HUNTER, 52, of Owensboro, Kentucky, SAMIA, 43, of Roxboro, North Carolina, and STILLWELL, 49, of Roxboro, North Carolina, have each been charged with one count of conspiring to commit murder-for-hire and one count of committing murder-for-hire, each of which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison and mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison; one count of conspiring to murder and kidnap in a foreign country and one count of using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, each of which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.  SAMIA and STILLWELL are also each charged with conspiring to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

The charges against the defendants were the result of the close cooperative efforts of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York; DEA’s Special Operations Division, Bilateral Investigations Unit; DEA’s Atlanta Field Division, Raleigh Resident Office; the Durham Police Department; the Raleigh Police Department; the Harnett County Sherriff’s Office; the Wake County Sherriff’s Office; the Person County Sherriff’s Office; the Cary Police Department; the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations; and the Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center.  Mr. Kim also thanked the United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina for its support and assistance.

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

 [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Superseding Indictment and the description of the Superseding Indictment set forth below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

Three New Jersey Men Charged In Manhattan Federal Court In Telemarketing Fraud Scheme Targeting The Elderly

  Joon H. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the unsealing of a Superseding Indictment charging CHRISTOPHER WILSON, a/k/a “Eric Fields,” JACK KAVNER, a/k/a “Bob Wiley,” a/k/a “Phil Powers,” and DANIEL QUIRK, a/k/a “Lou Epstein,” a/k/a “Bill Huckabee,” a/k/a “Josh Newman,” with conspiring to commit wire fraud and money laundering.  WILSON also is charged with destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in a federal investigation.  WILSON, KAVNER, and QUIRK were arrested this morning and will be presented and arraigned this afternoon before U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein in Manhattan federal court.

Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim said:  “These three defendants, together with their previously charged co-defendants, allegedly targeted the elderly in a callous telemarketing scheme.  They allegedly lured their victims into making ‘investments’ in businesses, then just stole their money.  Together with HSI and the NYPD, we will continue to investigate and prosecute all those who target victims who are vulnerable because of their age.”

According to the allegations in the Superseding Indictment[1], a Complaint filed against co-defendants, and other statements in the public record:

Beginning in at least October 2013 through at least September 2016, WILSON, KAVNER, and QUIRK operated telemarketing companies (the “Telemarketing Companies”) that engaged in a fraudulent scheme (the “Telemarketing Scheme”), by which they promised to earn victims’ (the “Victims”) money in exchange for particular Victims making an initial cash “investment” in business development, website design, grant applications, or tax preparation services.  Many Victims, the majority of whom are over 70 years old, “invested” thousands of dollars with the Telemarketing Companies, but did not earn any of the promised returns.  When Victims of the Telemarketing Scheme sought refunds, or fought credit card charges, the Telemarketing Companies provided explanations and documentation to the credit card companies falsely representing that the Victims had received the promised services. 

WILSON, KAVNER, and QUIRK participated in the Telemarketing Scheme by, among other things, operating the interrelated Telemarketing Companies as set forth in the below chart:

Telemarketing Company		Defendants
Olive Branch Marketing   CTO Consulting		CHRISTOPHER WILSON, a/k/a “Eric Fields”
Carlyle Management Group   Vanguard Business Solutions		JACK KAVNER, a/k/a “Bob Wiley,” a/k/a “Phil Powers”   DANIEL QUIRK, a/k/a “Lou Epstein,” a/k/a “Bill Huckabee,” a/k/a “Josh Newman”

Six other individuals were previously indicted in this case, which is scheduled for trial on April 16, 2018.

WILSON, 32, of Teaneck, New Jersey, KAVNER, 31, of West New York, New Jersey, and QUIRK, 33, of Little Ferry, New Jersey, are each charged with one count of conspiring to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiring to commit money laundering, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  WILSON also is charged with one count of destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in a federal investigation, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years 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 defendants will be determined by the judge.  

Mr. Kim praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI and the NYPD.  He added that the investigation is ongoing.

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

If you have any information regarding WILSON, KAVNER, QUIRK, or victims of the Telemarketing Companies, please report it by phone at (917) 480-7167 or by email at christopher.bastos@nypd.org

            

[1]   As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Superseding Indictment, and the description of the Superseding Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

A.G. Schneiderman Announces Guilty Plea Of Ringleader Of Criminal Network That Stole High-End Motorcycles

Juan Galarza Led Crime Ring That Stole Over $100,000 In High-End Motorbikes And Distributed Heroin

Defendant Will Be Sentenced To Seven Years In Prison

  Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced today the guilty plea of Juan Galarza, who led a criminal network out of New York, Queens, and Bronx counties. Today’s guilty plea in Bronx Supreme Court follows a two-year investigation conducted by the Attorney General’s Organized Crime Task Force and the New York Police Department’s Auto Crime Division, involving the dismantling of high-end motorcycles for shipment to the Dominican Republic. 

The investigation was dubbed “Operation Steal Horses” after police were tipped off to the stolen motorcycle thefts being committed by a group of individuals referred to as a “Steal Crew” by investigators. During the investigation, law enforcement officials outfitted a storage unit with covert cameras to capture the defendants’ illicit activities. The resulting indictments charged 11 defendants for their involvement in heroin sales and with possessing over $100,000 worth of stolen motor vehicles.

Galarza, 36, of Bronx County was the ringleader of this conspiracy. Galarza is scheduled to be sentenced to 7 years in prison with 5 years of post-release supervision on November 28, 2017, by the Honorable Steven L. Barrett of Bronx County Supreme Court.

“We have zero tolerance for crime – whether it’s stealing motorcycles or selling drugs – and won’t hesitate to act to protect New Yorkers. We’ll continue to work with our partners in law enforcement to bring these criminals to justice,” said Attorney General Schneiderman.

Galarza pleaded guilty to the A-II felony, Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Second Degree, for his role in selling heroin to an undercover police officer. Galarza also pleaded guilty to the D felony, Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Third Degree. 

Members of the “Steal Crew” allegedly worked by canvassing the city for in demand motorcycles, such as Ducatis, which they would break the steering columns off and then lift them off of the street and into a van for transport. Defendants would dismantle the motorcycles into parts and package them for shipment.

BRONX MAN WHO SLAMMED PUPPY TO FLOOR, INJURING HER LEG SO BADLY IT NEEDED TO BE AMPUTATED, WILL GET A YEAR IN JAIL

Defendant Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Cruelty to an Animal; “Sally” Recovered from the Ordeal and Found a New Home

  Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx man has pleaded guilty and will be sentenced to a year in jail for abusing a puppy, including slamming her to the floor resulting in rendering one of her legs useless and causing it to be amputated. 

  District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant’s abuse of an eight-month old dog culminated in a leg injury leading to amputation of the limb. Such inhumane actions warrant a jail sentence. We will not tolerate cruelty to defenseless animals.” 

  Howard Lawrence, Vice President, ASPCA Humane Law Enforcement, said, “The ASPCA continues to be thankful for partners like the NYPD and Bronx District Attorney’s Office in the fight against animal cruelty in New York City. Sassy – now named Sally – was rescued from a life of cruelty and pain, provided desperately needed medical care at the ASPCA Animal Hospital, and now has a new home thanks to this collaboration. We’re grateful to the NYPD and Bronx District Attorney for bringing Sally’s abuser to justice.”

  District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Roberto Martinez, 25, of 946 Leggett Avenue, pleaded guilty today before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Robert Neary to Aggravated Cruelty to an Animal, a felony. As part of the plea agreement, Martinez will be sentenced on November 15, 2017 to one year in jail, must register as an animal abuser in the state registry and is not permitted to own an animal for five years. He was remanded pending sentencing.

   According to the investigation, on or about September 10, 2016, the defendant was observed via video surveillance lifting an approximately eight-month old, mixed breed dog then-named “Sassy” by her harness to defendant’s shoulder height. Defendant then slammed Sassy to the floor, causing Sassy to land on the backside of her body. Sassy attempted to run away from the defendant, however, her right-hind leg was unresponsive. Defendant then lifted Sassy by the neck area of her body and pushed her upwards on the staircase before entering an apartment. The defendant’s girlfriend, who owned the dog, brought her to the ASPCA, telling veterinarians the dog had fallen down stairs. Evidence of prior abuse including broken ribs was detected. The NYPD was notified and retrieved the video of the assault.

  The dog’s right hind limb was amputated on September 16, 2016.

District Attorney Clark thanked the ASPCA, specifically Dr. Alison Liu, Forensic Veterinarian, and Dr. Robert Reisman, Supervisor, Forensic Sciences; as well as NYPD Detective John Glynn of the Animal Cruelty Investigation Squad for his work on the case.

Wave Hill Events Nov 3–Nov 10

  After an action-packed October, starting with Wings over Wave Hill Day and ending with Spider Day, November opens on a wonderfully quiet note.

Another reminder that with shorter days, the grounds close earlier, too, at 4:30, instead of 5:30PM.

Sat, November 4    Family Art Project: Autumn Color Papermaking

Join visiting artist and papermaking expert Randy Brozen to create richly colored paper using red, orange and yellow pulp. Use a simple process to fashion your handmade paper into a leaf shape, or add a found leaf for fancy decoration. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon. 

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

Sat, November 4    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, November 4    Family Garden Walk

Visit favorite, family-friendly locations in the gardens on a walk with a Wave Hill Garden Guide. 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, November 4    Gallery Tour

Wave Hill’s Curatorial Fellow leads a tour of the current exhibition in Glyndor Gallery. This fall, the entire gallery is given over to new site-responsive projects honoring the tenth anniversary of Wave Hill’s Sunroom Project Space. Call & Response showcases the work of 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

Sat, November 4    Call & Response Performance: Lauren Carly Shaw, Impression

On select Saturdays, Call & Response artists present talks, readings, live music, performance art and workshops in and around Glyndor Gallery. Through a durational performance, Lauren Carly Shawunderlines the role of the body in creating her site-specific work. Integrating into the architecture of the gallery, she enters and inhabits her work, a negative impression of her body made of foam and resin and set into a built-in cabinet. Free with admission to the grounds.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 2PM

Sat, November 4    Fall Foliage Walk

Enjoy colorful foliage at its seasonal peak. Horticultural Interpreter Charles Day shares some of his favorite trees and shrubs in their vibrant fall finery. Free with admission to the grounds.

MEET AT PERKINS VISITOR CENTER, 2PM

Sun, November 5    Family Art Project: Autumn Color Papermaking

Join visiting artist and papermaking expert Randy Brozen to create richly colored paper using red, orange and yellow pulp. Use a simple process to fashion your handmade paper into a leaf shape, or add a found leaf for fancy decoration. Free with admission to the grounds. 

WAVE HILL HOUSE, 10AM‒1PM

Sun, November 5    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, November 6    

Closed to the public.

Tue, November 7    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, November 7    Gallery Tour

Wave Hill’s Curatorial Fellow leads a tour of the current exhibition in Glyndor Gallery. This fall, the entire gallery is given over to new site-responsive projects honoring the tenth anniversary of Wave Hill’s Sunroom Project Space. Call & Response showcases the work of 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–4:30PM, November 1–March 14. Closes 5:30PM, starting March 15.

ADMISSION  $8 adults, $4 students and seniors 65+, $2 children 6–18. Free Saturday and Tuesdaymornings 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.

Upcoming holiday cultural events and health activities at JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center

Health & Relaxation w/Kathleen continues on Thurs. Nov. 2^nd, 9^th & 30th at 11 AM. Kathleen, a certified Yoga instructor, integrates Tai Chi and chair Yoga moves and stretches. 

Make-Up Sunday on November 5^th: enjoy a delicious meal of rosemary chicken legs or salmon salad will be served at 1:00 PM.  Soprano Sigal Chen and Jonathan Dzik, accompanist, will perform classical, Broadway and Hebrew favorites at 2 PM. Recommended senior meal contribution: $2.50 and $2.00 for the event.Call the center office 718-549-4700 for advance meal reservations by Thurs. Nov. 2nd.

Emblem Health will provide a brief health talk followed by chair zumba on Tues. Nov. 7^th and musical bingo on Tues. Nov. 14^that 12:45 PM.

Movement class with Judy Farnum, certified fitness instructor, will meet on Mon. Nov. 13^th, 20^th (*Tai Chi/Yoga) and 27th at 3:00 PM. This class combines low impact aerobics with easy-to-follow exercise routines as a fun way to 'get moving' to a wide variety of music including Classic Retro Pop, Latin Rhythms, Global Beats and more! * New more gentle movement class.

Wed. Nov. 15^th: start the day with a sumptuous breakfast followed by a shopping trip to Fairway. Thea Reznik, RN, will provide healthy shopping tips before the trip. Fee for the trip is $3.00 includes lunch. Call Cindy at the senior center office for advance registration: 718-549-4700.

Celebrate Nov. birthdays on Thurs. Nov. 16^th with Willa Bassen, guitar/vocals at 1:00 PM. Festive lunch of sole fillet or turkey salad will be served at 12:15 PM. Recommended senior meal contribution: $2.00 and $1.00 for the event. Call the center office 718-549-4700 for advance meal reservations by Tues. Nov. 14th.

On Tues. Nov. 21^st, celebrate Thanksgiving with a Mexican lunch of beef tacos or sole fillet, garden salad, rice & beans, fruit.  Acapulco 90 mariachi band (authentic & dynamic) will entertain at 1:15 PM. Recommended senior meal contribution is $3.00 and $2.00 for the event (includes refreshments). Please call in your meal reservations to the office 718-549-4700 by: Thurs.  Nov. 16^th.  

Enjoy a sumptuous Thanksgiving lunch on Wed. Nov. 22^nd at 12:15 PM followed by international entertainment by Igor, keyboard and Eva, vocals at 1:15 PM. Recommended senior meal contribution is $3.00 and $2.00 for the event including refreshments. Please call in your meal reservations to the office 718-549-4700 by: Fri. Nov. 17^th.

On Wed. Nov. 29^th, Bill Ronayne, lecturer, will present on “Mario Lanza” at 1 PM. Lunch of sole francaise or salisbury steak served at 12:15 PM. Recommended senior meal contribution: $2.00 and $1.00 for the event.Call the center office 718-549-4700for advance meal reservations by Fri. Nov. 24^th.

Doriana Castro, Senior Fitness instructor, will continue a new evidence-based Stay Active and Independent for Life (S.A.I.L.)course on Monday mornings at 10:30 AM and Friday mornings at 10 AM through November except for Fri.11/24. S.A.I.L. incorporates strength, balance, flexibility and endurance training. 

Save the Date: Make-Up Sunday on Dec. 3^rd with the East Side Trio. Lunch of turkey wings or fillet of sole served at 1 PM. Entertainment at 2 PM.

All meals at JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center are catered by Mauzone(kosher) Meal Service. We offer a daily alternate choice of main  entree. Menu is subject to change. Please call the senior center office to request the alternative meal choice between 9:30 and 10:30 AM. Refreshments are served at all special events.

         

Note: Continuing and new Health Classes & Activities:  Movement plus Tai Chi Yoga Dance, Health & Relaxation Healthy Cooking demonstrations and Healing mbira Music are funded by a Health Initiative grant from CM Andrew Cohen.

We will also be offering occasional shopping trips to Fairway along with a sumptuous breakfast and healthy tips by Thea in future.

 We are located on the first floor of the Van Cortlandt Jewish Center at 3880 Sedgwick Ave. Take the Bronx #1, 2 or 10 bus to the intersection of Sedgwick Ave. and Van Cortlandt Ave. West. For more information, please call the center office at 718-549-4700. JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center is funded by NYC Dept. for the Aging, UJA- Federation of NY and by special legislative grants from Council Member Andrew Cohen and Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr.

NO TENANT STANDS ALONE: MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES $1M FUNDING BOOST FOR DOOR-TO-DOOR OUTREACH CONNECTING TENANTS TO FREE LEGAL REPRESENTATION

Mayor’s Tenant Support Unit has already helped 14,000 New Yorkers fight harassment and eviction, secure repairs

  Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced that his Tenant Support Unit has resolved 4,500 cases, helping more than 14,000 tenants in fast changing neighborhoods stay in their homes by getting health and safety code violations corrected and connecting tenants facing eviction and harassment to legal services groups.

TSU specialists proactively go door-to-door informing tenants of their rights, documenting and case managing tenant issues related to harassment, repairs, and eviction, and making referrals to legal support whenever necessary. 

The Mayor is also announcing that TSU is allocating $1 million to build a dedicated 15-person TSU team to conduct outreach in nine more neighborhoods to low-income tenants facing eviction in housing court, to notify them of their right to free legal representation under a new City law that provides universal access to legal representation. Click here for more information about the law. The funds will also go to launch a multilingual paid ad campaign in these neighborhoods to ensure tenants are aware of their new right.

The neighborhoods, which cover 10 zip codes, are Bushwick, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Crown Heights, Harlem, Jamaica, Tremont, Williamsbridge, Mariners Harbor, and Port Richmond.

The TSU team will work directly with the City’s Human Resource Administration’s Office of Civil Justice to direct data-driven outreach to tenants who are facing eviction cases in court to notify them of their access to free legal services in court.

“We want to keep tenants in their homes. Rather than waiting for New Yorkers to reach a crisis or call 311, the Tenant Support Unit is knocking on doors in New York’s most rapidly changing neighborhoods to make sure tenants are aware of their legal rights and get the services they need. Make no mistake about it, as we build and protect 200,000 affordable homes across this city, we are also confronting landlords who ignore their duty to provide safe homes,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

 “No tenant should lose their home because they didn’t know their rights or didn’t have legal assistance. With the enactment of the universal access to counsel law, New York City has set a new standard as the national leader in access to justice for tenants in need,” said Department of Social Services Commissioner Steven Banks.  

“The Office of Civil Justice is proud to work with our legal service providers and with the TSU to ensure that tenants facing eviction know their rights and do not stand alone in Housing Court,” said Jordan Dressler, HRA’s Civil Justice Coordinator.

“The Tenant Support Unit is the City making house calls,” said Regina Schwartz, Director of the Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit. “Bringing the City to the door of hundreds of thousands of tenants ensures New Yorkers are directly connected to resources that help them stay in their homes and thrive in the communities they love. We are thrilled to continue our partnerships with the HRA and legal service providers to expand this effort to additional neighborhoods.”

State Senator Gustavo Rivera said “No tenant in New York City should lose their home because they cannot access affordable and adequate legal representation,” said State Senator Gustavo Rivera. “The comprehensive services that the Tenant Support Unit has offered at my office have helped many of my constituents avoid unnecessary evictions and get the repairs they need. I look forward to continue working with the Tenant Support Unit as they expand their services and thank Mayor de Blasio for proactively working to raise awareness of the critical legal services our City continues to offer in an effort to keep more New Yorkers in their homes.”

The Tenant Support Unit is part of a multi-pronged approach Mayor de Blasio has implemented to fight displacement. It includes a ten-fold increase in free legal services for tenants ­– totaling $62 million – that will be fully implemented this year. In addition, since 2014, the administration has locked in more than 52,000 apartments into long-term affordability agreements that help low-income families stay in their homes for decades to come and has financed the construction of more than 25,000 new affordable homes. 

Prior to this administration, very few tenants had legal representation in Housing Court, estimated at just 1% in 2013 by state court officials. This resulted in high incidences of evictions and unchecked tenant harassment. To help close the gap, the Administration dramatically increased the availability of City-funded legal services for low-income tenants, increasing funding for legal assistance for tenants facing eviction and harassment from $6 million in 2013.

The program successfully increased tenant representation in Housing Court to 27% in 2016, and has provided more than 50,000 households with legal services since 2014. At the same time, residential evictions by marshals declined by 24 percent, allowing 40,000 people to remain in their homes during 2015 and 2016.

Last February and to compliment the bill that was eventually signed into law, the Administration agreed to more than double this financial support, dedicating an additional $93 million at full implementation for a program to provide access to legal representation to all low-income tenants facing eviction proceedings in Housing Court earning up to 200% of the federal poverty line and brief legal assistance for all tenants facing eviction in court whose income is above that level.  In total and once the program is fully implemented, the City will spend $155 million annually to cover the costs of the initiative. Beginning this month, the program also started providing legal services to NYCHA tenants in administrative proceedings to terminate their tenancy. There are approximately 3,200 cases that go through NYCHA administrative hearings annually.

The program will serve 400,000 tenants when it is fully implemented in five years.

Modeled after the outreach program for Pre-K for All that successfully enrolled tens of thousands of children in free, full-day Pre-K, the Tenant Support Unit reaches New Yorkers directly. Since it launched in July 2015, specialists from the unit have knocked on more than 180,000 doors and made more than 72,000 phone calls to tenants, identifying 6,828 cases that needed help. Of the total 4,500 cases have been resolved so far, and agencies and legal service providers are addressing the remainder. 

Key efforts of the Tenant Support Unit:

·         Know Your Rights: Specialists are trained to educate tenants about their fundamental rights in multiple languages, ensuring tenants are not intimidated or deceived into accepting a buyout offer or illegal surcharges on their legal rent.

·         Securing Repairs: Specialists help tenants document complaints about inadequate heat or hot water, infestations and mold, and work directly with HPD's Division of Code Enforcement to secure necessary repairs.

BP DIAZ & THE BRONX TOURISM COUNCIL ENCOURAGE RIDERS TO TAKE PART IN TOUR DE BRONX 2017!

  Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. hosted a press conference at Woodlawn Cemetery to encourage cyclists to participate in the upcoming Tour de Bronx, the largest free cycling event in New York State, which will take place on Sunday, October 22, 2017.

The Tour de Bronx was established in 1994 by the office of the Bronx Borough President and The Bronx Tourism Council as a means to promote a healthier lifestyle, encourage alternate modes of transportation and as a way to see the borough and its attractions.

“This is one of my favorite events of the year,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., who plans on participating in the event as he has done in the past. “The Tour De Bronx not only emphasizes maintaining a healthy lifestyle, complementing our ‘#Not62’ initiative to improve the overall health of our borough, but it also highlights our historical sites, beautiful waterfronts and vibrant neighborhoods, showcasing the best we have to offer to both our residents and visitors from around the world. We welcome riders from across the region and around the globe to see The Bronx as they have never seen it before.”

Participants come from all over the country and choose from two possible routes; a 25-mile ride or a 40-mile route; taking riders through different areas of The Bronx, including Clason Point along the East River, Castle Hill, Morrisania, Pelham Bay Park, historic Fort Schuyler on the Throggs Neck peninsula, the nautical community of City Island, and more. Both routes culminate at the iconic New York Botanical Garden, where riders receive a complimentary souvenir T-shirt and enjoy a live musical performance and refreshments as they relax from the day’s event.

The Tour De Bronx has grown exponentially since its inception. In 2016 the event saw a record-breaking 8,000+ registrants. This year, The Bronx Tourism Council has partnered with Ride with GPS, a route-mapping tool designed for cycling and walking. This app will, not only, alert riders where to turn using voice navigation, it will also indicate neighborhoods and give a brief history of various parts of the borough as riders make their way to the end point.  

“We’re thrilled to partner with The Bronx Tourism Council to help promote the longest-running free cycling event in New York. With easy-to-use maps and voice navigation, riders will stay on course to appreciate the rich culture and history of the Bronx,” said Kevin Prentice, director of support & business development at Ride with GPS.

“This is a highly-anticipated event for many cycling enthusiasts and casual riders alike. Utilizing the GPS technology Bronxites and visitors will experience the borough in a more fun and unique way,” said Olga Luz Tirado, executive director of The Bronx Tourism Council.

The Tour de Bronx is made possible by Montefiore Medical Center; Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center; St. Barnabas Health System; and Mercy College. Additional support is provided by The Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation; The Business Initiatives Corporation of New York; The Coca Cola Company; Domino’s Pizza; The Nature’s Bounty Co.; the Castle Hill Y; Woodlawn Cemetery; the New York Botanical Garden; and Fordham University.

The event is also supported by the New York City Department of Transportation; the New York City Fire Department; the New York City Police Department; The New York Department of Sanitation and Transportation Alternatives.

Log onto www.tourdebronx.com to register or for more information.