DE BLASIO ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES FASTER, UPDATED PLAN FOR EAST SIDE COASTAL RESILIENCY PROJECT

New plan will reduce construction time, transform East River Park and deliver flood protections for the East Side nearly a year earlier

  The de Blasio administration announced that the City will pursue an alternative design for part of the massive East Side Coastal Resiliency project in Lower Manhattan.

This updated design will enable flood protection to be implemented nearly one year earlier, and the entire project to be completed six months earlier, than the design that was previously considered. The updated design will raise the entire East River Park, with the flood wall at the water’s edge integrated with the bulkhead and esplanade that does not obstruct views to the water. The raising of the park also extends the protected area toward the waterline, greatly reducing the likelihood of the park itself being inundated during a storm.

To see how the projects compare and maps of the affected area, please see here.

Approximately 30% of the project will remain unchanged. The unchanged portions run between Montgomery and Cherry Streets and East 13th and East 25th Streets.

BENEFITS OF THE UPDATED DESIGN

Faster construction: The updated plan will shave approximately six months off the projected timeline and provide flood protections for residents nearly one full year sooner.

The adoption of the new design follows a value engineering study performed earlier this year and a review of the project by a panel of experts with experience from around the nation. Under the accelerated schedule construction will begin in spring 2020 and flood protection will be provided by summer 2023, in time for the year’s hurricane season.

Less disruptive construction: The new design shifts much of the heavy construction work away from residents who live near the FDR Drive toward the waterline, reducing construction noise in the community. It will also reduce traffic disruptions and night-time lane closures during construction. The new plan also makes it possible for construction materials to be brought to the site by barge.

Improved park access: The updated plan will allow the City to provide better connections to East River Park for community residents, with fewer walls between the park and the community.  The design of this project will now also accommodate a separate project to address the East River Greenway pinch point near the ConEd facility (known as the Flyover Bridge).  As previously planned, the project will also replace the Delancey Street and East 10th Street pedestrian bridges, and create a Houston Street entry plaza with direct connection to the water.

World-class park: The plan will lead to rebuilding Lower Manhattan’s largest park, East River Park. The new 40 acre greenspace will reflect and serve the community priorities, addressing their recreational needs by providing amenities that include eight baseball fields, three soccer fields, a running track, a multipurpose field, four and a half basketball courts, 12 tennis courts, and more; all while ensuring that this asset is not flooded from sea level rise and frequent storms.

BACKGROUND

The overall East Side Coastal Resiliency project seeks to establish flood protection on the east side of Manhattan from Montgomery Street north to East 25th Street, a distance of 2.4 miles. The City has already allocated $760 million toward East Side Coastal Resiliency. This includes funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which provided the City with $338 million in Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery funds.

The East Side Coastal Resiliency project team is led by the NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC), Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), and the Mayor's Office of Recovery and Resiliency (ORR). Other agency partners include the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the Department of City Planning (DCP), Small Business Services (SBS), and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC).

The City will present the new approach to local elected officials, the Community Board, and other neighborhood stakeholders at upcoming meetings this fall. We will continue to take into account the feedback we have gathered throughout the engagement process on ESCR and there will be many opportunities for additional input on design elements moving forward.

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. Invites you to The Official Bronx Celebration of Italian-American Heritage & Culture Month “Mese della Cultura Italiana”

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. Invites You To The Official Bronx Celebration of Italian-American Heritage & Culture Month “Mese della Cultura Italiana” Thursday, October 11, 2018 - 6:00pm Schiff Family Great Hall at The Bronx Zoo 2300 Southern Boulevard Bronx, NY 10460 Parking available at the Southern Boulevard entrance Located on Southern Boulevard at East 182nd Street  www.bronxzoo.com/plan-your-trip/directions.aspx Space is limited. RSVP is required. smalave@bronxbp.nyc.gov 718.590.3989 Sponsored by:  ‌  ‌

MAYOR DE BLASIO AND CHANCELLOR CARRANZA ANNOUNCE NYC STUDENTS CONTINUE TO OUTPERFORM NY STATE ON ENGLISH EXAMS AND CONTINUE TO CLOSE GAP ON MATH EXAMS

Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza announced that New York City students are outperforming New York State on State English exams, and are continuing to close the gap with the State on State math exams. New York City students outperformed the State on State English exams for the first time ever in 2016 and have now done so for three years in a row. 

In 2018, 46.7 percent of New York City students met proficiency standards in English and 42.7 percent of students met the standards in math. By comparison, 45.2 percent of all New York State students met proficiency standards in English and 44.5 percent met proficiency standards in math.

“We came into office to shake the foundation of a system that neglected too many students, parents, teachers and schools,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “We now have a school system that is steadily improving before our eyes. We’ve seen steady gains across our students’ State math and English exams, proving that equity and excellence go hand in hand. I salute our students on their progress.”

“Our students’ performance on these exams is one measure of the strength of New York City schools – the hard work of our students, and the dedication and support of our teachers, staff, and families,” said Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza. “Along with record-high graduation and college enrollment rates and progress on our Equity & Excellence for All agenda, these scores are indicative of the sustained progress we have made in classrooms, schools and districts across all five boroughs. We have much more work to do to close opportunity gaps, and we will continue our push to deliver the equitable and excellent education that every New York City public school student deserves.”

New York City schools are the strongest they’ve ever been across multiple measures, including:

The highest-ever graduation rate – 74.3 percent of the Class of 2017.

The lowest-ever dropout rate – 7.8 percent of the Class of 2017.  

The highest-ever postsecondary enrollment rate – 57 percent of the Class of 2016.

The highest-ever number of New York City students taking and passing Advanced Placement exams and the SAT exam.

New York City students’ performance on State exams goes hand-in-hand with these gains, and reflects investments in the Mayor and Chancellor’s Equity and Excellence for All agenda.

Starting in spring 2018, the New York State Education Department reduced the number of testing days from three to two per exam. Because of this and other changes to the State exams in 2018, the New York State Education Department has advised that 2018 results should not be compared to 2017 results. Therefore, our key findings focus on overall proficiency comparisons between New York City students and their peers in the rest of the State, because all students took the same exams in 2018:

 New York City students outperformed New York State on English, with 46.7 percent of students meeting proficiency standards, compared to the State’s 45.2 percent. This is the third year in a row that New York City students have outperformed their State peers on English, with the difference increasing each time. This year, the difference increased from 0.8 percentage points to 1.5 percentage points.

 New York City students continued to close the gap with New York State on the State math exams, from 2.4 percentage points to 1.8 percentage points. 

Prior to the test revisions, New York City students’ English and math results had increased every year for four years. English results improved in each of the City’s 32 community school districts for four years in a row.

Below are 2018 results by grade and demographic:

Overall Results by Grade:

English				Math
Grade	2018 # Tested	2018 % L3+4		Grade	2018 # Tested	2018 % L3+4
3	67325	50.6		3	68732	52.2
4	67656	49.4		4	68895	46.4
5	68524	38		5	69433	41.7
6	65208	49		6	66041	39.9
7	65334	42.7		7	65783	39.8
8	63215	50.8		8	49766	33.2
All	397262	46.7		All	388650	42.7

Overall Results by Demographic:  

           

English						Math
Demographic Subgroup	2018 #       Tested	2018 %       L3+4		Demographic Subgroup	2018 # Tested	2018 %       L3+4
Asian	72910	67.2		Asian	70558	72.2
Black	87615	34		Black	85030	25.4
Hispanic	163699	36		Hispanic	162336	30.3
White	64178	66.5		White	62261	63.6
Current ELL	51739	9.9		Current ELL	58651	18
SWD	86462	15.8		SWD	84900	15.4

3.4 percent of New York City students refused to take English exams and 3.9 percent refused to take math. A total of 19,041 students, or 4.4 percent, refused either exam. Last year, 4.0 percent of students refused either exam. Statewide, 18 percent of students refused to test in 2018.

Families are now able to view their students’ scores online via the NYC Schools Account (NYCSA). For information on NYCSA registration, families can visit the NYC Schools Account page. Families can reach out to their parent coordinator for additional support in accessing their students’ scores.

Today’s results demonstrate the City’s progress on the Mayor and Chancellor’s Equity and Excellence for All agenda. Together, the Equity and Excellence for All initiatives are building a pathway to success in college and careers for all students. Our schools are starting earlier – free, full-day, high-quality education for three-year-olds and four-year-olds through 3-K for All and Pre-K for All. They are strengthening foundational skills and instruction earlier – Universal Literacy so that every student is reading on grade level by the end of 2nd grade; and Algebra for All to improve elementary- and middle-school math instruction and ensure that all 8th graders have access to algebra. They are offering students more challenging, hands-on, college and career-aligned coursework – Computer Science for All brings 21st-century computer science instruction to every school, and AP for All will give all high school students access to at least five Advanced Placement courses. Along the way, they are giving students and families additional support through College Access for All, Single Shepherd, and investment in Community Schools. Efforts to create more diverse and inclusive classrooms, including Equity & Excellence for All: Diversity in New York City Public Schools are central to this pathway.

More information on State exam results is available online.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

These test score results prove that Mayor Control is a failure. The United Federation of Teachers said when Mayor Bloomberg came out with similar increases during the first few years of Mayoral Control that students were making normal progressive increases in student Performance. 

These same words can and should have been used each and every year test scores have come out by the UFT, but they received a big fat contract when Mayor Bill de Blasio came into office which former Mayor Bloomberg refused to give to the UFT. 

It is crazy to thing that because graduation rates have increased or dropout rates have dropped, or more students are taking the SAT exams that education is any better than it would have been without Mayoral Control. 

The statistics speak for themselves. In no grades are students performing near where the New York State Department of Education goals were set before Mayoral Control came in. In fact when looking at the Demographic breakdowns, Black and Hispanic students are no better off than they were before Mayoral Control. 

The New York State legislature must come to the reality that Mayoral Control has been one big failure to the students of New York City. 

   

DOI INVESTIGATION LEADS TO ARREST OF OWNER OF SECURITY SERVICES COMPANY FOR MORE THAN $100,000 IN OVERBILLING OF THE SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION AUTHORITY

  Mark G. Peters, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), in partnership with Queens County District Attorney Richard A. Brown, today issued the following statement on the arrest of the owner and president of First Alert Security Services, a corporation that provided security guards at School Construction Authority (“SCA”) construction sites, on charges of grand larceny and falsifying paperwork for allegedly overbilling SCA more than $100,000 for security guard services over nearly two and a half years. The Queens County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.

 DOI Commissioner Mark G. Peters said, “This defendant stole over one hundred thousand dollars from SCA. He used his role as owner of his own company to falsely certify and submit payroll records and other documents, according to the charges. DOI thanks the Queens District Attorney’s Office for their prosecution of this case.”

 Queens County District Attorney Richard A. Brown said, “The defendant in this case was entrusted to safeguard the properties of the School Construction Authority. Instead, he is alleged to have used his access and position to con the system in order to line his pockets. This kind of criminality will not be tolerated in Queens County. I would like to thank Commissioner Peters and his office for their hard work on this case. My office will continue to partner with other law enforcement agencies to put a stop to these kinds of schemes.”

 ABDULLATEEF SANNI, 45, of Brooklyn, N.Y. was arrested today and charged with Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony; Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, a class E felony; and Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, a class E felony. Upon conviction, a class C felony is punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a class E felony is punishable by up to four years in prison.

  According to the criminal complaint and DOI’s investigation, from January 2015 through May 2017, SANNI submitted certified payroll records for security guards working on SCA construction sites, stating the workers were paid an hourly wage of $12.85 plus an hourly supplemental benefit of $4.56, totaling $17.41 paid to each worker. SANNI also confirmed to investigators in December 2017 that he in fact paid the hourly wages and benefits indicated in the certified payroll records filed with SCA. The investigation found that Employee Earnings Records for all security guards employed by SANNI indicated that most of the employees actually received total compensation of between $8.00 and $13.00 per hour. As a result of this underpayment of wages to workers, SANNI received $100,954 from SCA to which he was not entitled.

 In addition, according to the criminal complaint, SANNI also allegedly submitted documentation for hundreds of hours of security work that was supposedly performed by certain individuals at school construction sites, including certified payroll records and sign out logs. The investigation found that the signatures on those logs were fraudulent. SANNI’s company, First Alert, has since been disqualified from work with SCA.

 A criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty

“BMB” Street Gang Member Sentenced For Murder Of Bronx Teenager And Other Racketeering Offenses

 Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that DONQUE TYRELL, a/k/a “Polo Rell,” a member of a violent street gang in the Bronx called the “Big Money Bosses” (“BMB”), was sentenced today on racketeering, murder, and other charges.  TYRELL was sentenced to the mandatory minimum sentence of life plus 55 years in prison for, among other crimes, aiding and abetting the June 22, 2014, murder of 17-year-old Keshon Potterfield.  TYRELL was sentenced by United States District Judge Jed S. Rakoff.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “As a result of the BMB gang’s wave of violence, Keshon Potterfield – a teenager, just beginning his life – was senselessly killed.  The defendant has been sentenced for his role in this terrible murder.  We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to prevent gang violence and keep our streets safe.”

TYRELL was convicted of murder in aid of racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, and other offenses in connection with his membership in BMB after a six-day jury trial.

According to court documents, as well the evidence at trial and statements made during other public proceedings in this case:

BMB is a subset of the “Young Bosses,” or “YBz” street gang, which operates throughout New York City.  Between 2007 and 2016, members and associates of BMB committed numerous acts of violence against rival gang members in the Bronx – including murders, attempted murders, and armed robberies – and sold crack cocaine, marijuana, and oxycodone.   

TYRELL was a member of BMB.  On June 22, 2014, TYRELL and other members of BMB attended a birthday party in the backyard of a residence on East 232nd Street in the Bronx.  TYRELL obtained a gun from an associate at the party, pointed it in Keshon Potterfield’s direction, and then passed it to another BMB member who shot and killed Potterfield in connection with a gang rivalry.  TYRELL celebrated Potterfield’s murder in public Facebook postings and in rap music videos posted on YouTube in which he taunted rival gang members and threatened future violence.  

In addition to the murder in aid of racketeering conviction, TYRELL was convicted of conspiring to commit racketeering as a result of his membership in BMB, conspiring to sell narcotics, selling narcotics within 1000 feet of schools and playgrounds, using firearms in connection with the gang and drug offenses, an attempted assault with a firearm in connection with his BMB membership, and attempting to rob a livery cab driver in the Bronx by hitting him in the head with a firearm. 

TYRELL was arrested in this case as a result of a multi-year investigation by the New York City Police Department’s (“NYPD”) Bronx Gang Squad, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations Violent Gang Unit (“HSI”), the New York Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), and the Joint Firearms Task Force of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”) into gang violence in the Northern Bronx. 

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding work of the NYPD’s Bronx Homicide Task Force, the NYPD’s 47th Precinct Detective Squad, the NYPD’s Bronx Gang Squad, HSI, DEA, and ATF. 

  

Owner Of Medical Technology Company Pleads Guilty To Evading Over $6.3 Million In Income Taxes

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that LEWIS STAHL, the owner of a Manhattan medical technology company, pled guilty to tax evasion based on his failure to report over $21 million in business income to the IRS, and his evasion of over $6.3 million in income taxes.  STAHL pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “Lewis Stahl, the owner of a successful medical technology company, earned over $21 million in profit.  However, despite amassing personal wealth in the tens of millions, Stahl grossly underreported his income to the IRS, reporting income as low as less than $10,000 for the 2011 tax year.  Stahl has now pled guilty to tax evasion and faces serious time in federal prison.  This case is a prime example that attempting to conceal earned income is far costlier than paying your fare share like honest taxpayers.”

According to the Information to which STAHL pled guilty, and statements made during the proceedings today:

Since at least in or about 2010, STAHL has owned and operated a medical technology company located in New York, New York (the “Medical Technology Company”), a limited liability company that develops and sells medical software applications.  The Medical Technology Company holds itself out as a provider of “computer ready” and “fully mobile” applications, which allow physicians to prescribe medications and to order and view diagnostic information, lab results, and cardiology/radiology images.

Between in or about 2010 and in or about 2014, the Medical Technology Company earned over $32 million in gross income.  These earnings resulted in over $21 million in business income to STAHL, which he accessed by using business bank accounts and business credit cards.  STAHL used this money to fund the purchase of personal items for himself such as clothing, jewelry, watches, real estate rentals, country club benefits, and a firearms collection.  Prior to 2015, despite earning this business income from the Medical Technology Company, STAHL failed to file individual tax returns reporting any of the income to the IRS.  The Medical Technology Company, likewise, failed to file partnership or corporate tax returns reporting any of the income to the IRS.

In or around March of 2015, an IRS revenue agent (the “IRS Revenue Agent”) contacted STAHL regarding his failure to file for the tax years 2010 through 2014, and asked STAHL to address the situation by filing delinquent Form 1040s for those years (the “Delinquent Returns”).  Shortly thereafter, STAHL retained a certified public accountant (the “Accountant”) to file the Delinquent Returns for STAHL.  STAHL, however, falsely stated to his Accountant, in sum and substance, and in part, that he was a “W-2” employee only of the Medical Technology Company, that his W-2 income was his only income, and that he had no ownership interest in the Medical Technology Company.  In truth and in fact, STAHL had an ownership interest in the Medical Technology Company, and had earned over $21 million in business income from the company, well beyond the income reported on his W-2s.

The Accountant subsequently filed the Delinquent Returns for STAHL, which, as a result of the lies that STAHL told the Accountant, were false and fraudulent.  Specifically, the Delinquent Returns falsely claimed that STAHL’s total income was $38,652 in 2010; $7,115 in 2011; $84,615 in 2012; $100,000 in 2013; and $100,000 in 2014.  The Delinquent Returns further falsely reported that STAHL did not receive any business income in any of these years, and failed to include a Schedule C detailing the significant amount of business income that STAHL earned from the Medical Technology Company.  STAHL’s failure to report over $21 million in business income to the IRS – first by failing to file returns, and then by causing the false Delinquent Returns to be filed by the Accountant – resulted in a loss to the IRS of over $6.3 million in taxes due and owing.        

STAHL, 62, of Florida, pled guilty to one count of attempt to evade or defeat tax, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.  STAHL has agreed to pay restitution to the IRS, representing the additional tax due and owing as a result of STAHL’s conduct, in the amount of at least $6,349,689.  Sentencing before Judge Abrams is scheduled for January 25, 2019, at 2:30.

The statutory maximum sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for information purposes only, as any sentence imposed on the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of IRS-CI in this case.

NJ MAN INDICTED FOR DEFRAUDING SMALL BRONX BUSINESSES; STOLE $21,645 THEY GAVE HIM FOR INSURANCE PREMIUM PAYMENTS

Proprietors Believed They Were Covered

  Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a New Jersey man has been indicted on 51 counts of Grand Larceny, Insurance Fraud and other charges for stealing more than $21,000 from small business owners who thought they were paying for insurance coverage. 

 District Attorney Clark said, “While running an insurance brokerage in the Bronx for his employer, the defendant allegedly took money from a barber shop, window cleaning company, a caterer and other small businesses and provided insurance certificates, but did not process the policies or submit the money to the insurance company. Thus, these businesses had no insurance. Fortunately, no claims were submitted before the scheme unraveled, but this defendant’s alleged actions jeopardized the livelihoods of hardworking people.” 

 District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Julio Carballo, 41, of Dumont, NJ, was indicted on third and fourth-degree Grand Larceny, Petit Larceny, first-degree Scheme to Defraud, third and fourth-degree Insurance Fraud, and first-degree Falsifying Business Records. He was arraigned today before Bronx Supreme Court Justice George Villegas and released. He is due back in court on November 14, 2018.

 According to the investigation, the defendant convinced Allison Tirozzi, a Connecticut insurance broker for whom he worked, to purchase an insurance brokerage in the Bronx and let him run it. The defendant had complete control and many of the customers thought he was the owner of the brokerage. Defendant took checks, cash and credit card payments from numerous small businesses based in the Bronx presumably for payments to Nationwide Insurance. Nationwide has reimbursed a total of $28,753 to the customers and Tirozzi reimbursed Nationwide.

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

A.G. Underwood Announces Guilty Plea Of G. Steven Pigeon

Attorney and Political Consultant G. Steven Pigeon Pleads Guilty to Bribery

  Attorney General Barbara D. Underwood announced the guilty plea of G. Steven Pigeon, 58, an attorney and political consultant, for bribing former State Supreme Court Justice John A. Michalek. Pigeon entered the guilty plea today before Hon. Donald F. Cerio, Jr., in Erie County Supreme Court to Bribery in the Third Degree in violation of Penal Law section 200.00, a class D felony. 

“As we detailed, Steve Pigeon orchestrated a brazen, multiyear scheme to bribe a sitting judge – demonstrating flagrant contempt for the rule of law and the interests of New Yorkers. Now, he’s being brought to justice,” said Attorney General Underwood. “We have zero tolerance for public corruption. New Yorkers deserve to be able to trust the integrity of their officials – and my office will continue to do everything in our power to hold accountable those who violate that trust.”

From February 2012 through April 2015, Pigeon and Michalek exchanged emails and text messages, which reflected that Pigeon offered, conferred, or agreed to confer benefits to Michalek upon an agreement or understanding that Michalek’s official actions would be influenced. The communication between them shows that Pigeon offered Michalek assistance in obtaining employment and appointments to positions for two of his family members and in helping Michalek obtain a judicial appointment to the Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Judicial Department. Pigeon also gave Michalek and his family member two free tickets to box seats for two separate Buffalo Sabres hockey games and gave one of Michalek’s family members a free ticket to a $1,000 political fundraiser. 

During the same time, Pigeon engaged in ex parte communications with Michalek concerning multiple lawsuits pending before Michalek in which Pigeon had an interest. At times, those communications involved Pigeon receiving from Michalek non-public information about the matters. Pigeon was able to provide ex parte input and advice to Michalek on these cases. Michalek selected an attorney of Pigeon’s choosing to serve as a Receiver, when that person was not on a court issued list of qualified Receivers. In order to appoint that person, Michalek filed a document with the Office of Court Administration where he falsely claimed that he required that attorney’s expertise in handling that receivership. 

On June 29, 2016, Michalek pleaded guilty in connection with the same scheme, for receiving bribes from Pigeon and filing a false document with the New York State Office of Court Administration. He is awaiting sentencing. Following his conviction, Michalek resigned from the judiciary and was disbarred.

Today's plea is also in satisfaction of the December 2017 indictment against Pigeon for crimes under the New York State Election Law relating to illegal campaign coordination during the 2013 Democratic primary races of two candidates for the Erie County Legislature. The Attorney General's prosecution of Kristy Mazurek and David Pfaff remains ongoing.

Judge Cerio set December 21, 2018 for sentencing for Pigeon, who was allowed to remain free on $10,000 bail. His passport was confiscated at his arraignment. Pigeon faces up to one year in jail; he will also lose his law license.

The Attorney General’s Office thanks the United States Attorney’s Office of the Western District of New York, New York State Police, and Federal Bureau of Investigation for their work on the case. The Attorney General’s Office would also like to thank the New York State Board of Elections for their assistance.