“Getting more advanced body scanners in our jails has been a top priority. These units will help us drive down violence and make our jails safer for staff and inmates. I want to thank Governor Cuomo, Assembly Speaker Heastie, Senate Leaders Flanagan and Stewart-Cousins, bill sponsors Assembly Member Weprin and Senator Hannon, and COBA President Elias Husamudeen for their role in this critical reform.”
Tuesday, October 2, 2018
Rep. Adriano Espaillat Statement on DHS Report on Separated Children
Representative Adriano Espaillat released the following statement in response to a report by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on its handling of the separation of families at the southern border under President Trump’s ‘zero tolerance’ policy.
“The Department of Homeland Security’s implementation of Donald Trump’s ‘zero tolerance’ policy separating immigrant children from their parents and detaining them has become one of the most harmful, misguided, and inhumane policies put forth by this administration to date,” said Rep. Adriano Espaillat (NY-13).
“Additionally, this new report released by the DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) highlights the Trump administration’s inability to identify, keep track of, and reunify families that it separated and further demonstrates that this administration is not up to the task of implementing policies of its own creation, which has tragically led to a humanitarian crisis that could have been prevented. There are still hundreds of families separated – many of these children are at the Cayuga Center in my district. I continue to push for their reunification even in spite of an Administration that has been slow to process fingerprints and slow to process their cases.”
Sunday, September 30, 2018
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.
Saturday, September 29, 2018
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. Invites you to The Official Bronx Celebration of Italian-American Heritage & Culture Month “Mese della Cultura Italiana”
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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.
“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.