AFFORDABLE HOMES FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES: CITY ADVANCES PLAN TO CONVERT CLUSTER UNITS TO PERMANENT HOUSING

Nearly 500 cluster units targeted for conversion will become permanent affordable housing in early 2019

  Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced that the City has made progress towards an agreement for the acquisition and conversion of nearly 500 cluster units across 17 buildings into permanent affordable housing for over 1,000 New Yorkers in need, as part of this administration’s broader initiative to address the homelessness crisis in New York City.

Over the past 18 years, New York City has used the cluster site program to provide shelter for homeless families, an ineffective stop-gap practice that the de Blasio Administration committed to ending once and for all as part of its comprehensive Turning the Tide on Homelessness in New York City plan.

“Homeless families have for decades been haphazardly sheltered in temporary accommodations that are too often poorly maintained and disconnected from services,” said Mayor de Blasio.“We’re converting these buildings into higher quality, permanent affordable housing for formerly homeless New Yorkers turning their lives around.”

“Today's unprecedented announcement means nearly five hundred families will soon wake up in homes of their own,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Herminia Palacio. “Addressing housing instability strengthens the fabric of families and communities citywide—and this initiative represents our Administration’s unwavering dedication to ensuring that our families and children thrive.”

Last year, the City announced that it would negotiate and finance the acquisition of cluster buildings by trusted locally-based not-for-profit developers, who will work with the City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development to rehabilitate the buildings and preserve them as affordable housing. The new owners will enter into regulatory agreements with HPD to ensure the long-term affordability of the apartments as housing for homeless families and other low-income New Yorkers.

The first phase of this initiative involves 17 cluster buildings with 468 units designated for conversion to permanent housing. Homeless families would receive services and support from non-profit providers that will help them get back on their feet and transition to living independently. Joint Ownership Entity (JOE) NYC and Neighborhood Restore will be acquiring these buildings and, in conjunction with local non-profit organizations including Banana Kelly, Fifth Avenue Committee, Fordham Bedford, HELP USA, MHANY, Samaritan Village, and Settlement Housing Fund, will stabilize and manage the buildings, coordinate light-touch social services, and prepare for rehabilitation of the buildings in the near future.

Prior to acquisition closing, the cluster apartments will continue to be operated as shelter for New Yorkers experiencing homelessness with funding and services provided by the City’s Department of Homeless Services. Homeless families residing at these locations, who are eligible for rental assistance and prepared for housing permanency at the point of transition to not-for-profit ownership, will be offered the opportunity to remain as tenants with a new rent-stabilized lease if they wish to remain in the building. All non-homeless tenants living in a cluster building at the time of purchase will be entitled to remain in their apartments with rent-stabilized leases and additional protections under HPD’s regulatory agreement.

  

“Transforming a haphazard shelter system decades in the making demands bold action ensuring we do right by our families in need. Today's announcement furthers our commitment to closing the 18-year-old cluster program once and for all while creating permanent affordable housing for hundreds of homeless families for the long-term,” said Department of Social Services Commissioner Steven Banks. “Working in partnership with HPD, not-for-profit developers, and service provider partners, we’re using every tool at our disposal to deliver the services, supports, and opportunities for success that hardworking New Yorkers deserve as they get back on their feet—and stay tuned for more to come.”

"Addressing the citywide challenge of homelessness requires collaborative citywide solutions. Today, with our development partners, social services partners, and City Agency partners, we’re proud to announce that our collaborative efforts are making a real difference for families in need by creating hundreds of permanent affordable apartments that will help them get back on their feet,” said Department of Homeless Services Administrator Joslyn Carter. "This announcement is a major milestone for families experiencing homelessness, who will now have the opportunity to stabilize their lives in renovated, rehabilitated homes managed by reputable not-for-profit providers—while we continue to wind down the less-effective stop-gap cluster program citywide. There's more work to be done, but our strategies are heading in the right direction, helping us raise the bar and turn the tide." 

“Creating more permanent, affordable housing for homeless New Yorkers is a key goal of the Mayor's housing plan, and a critical pillar of the City's comprehensive strategy to addressing the homeless crisis," said Department of Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Maria Torres-Springer.  "We are proud to partner with DSS to advance an ambitious strategy to end the cluster program, starting with plans to finance the acquisition of a 17 building portfolio with almost 730 apartments, including 468 homes for homeless New Yorkers.   I want to thank the team at DSS and all our non-profit partners for working with us to ensure homeless families and low-income New Yorkers have the stability and opportunity that an affordable home provides.”

In January 2016, at the high point of the cluster program, the City was managing 3,650 cluster units to shelter homeless families. Since then, the City’s Department of Homeless Services has reduced citywide cluster use by more than 50 percent using multiple strategies. After this conversion is complete, there will be approximately 1,400 cluster units remaining, which the City will phase out entirely by 2021.

Assemblyman Marcos A. Crespo said, “There are no easy or simple solutions to addressing the needs of homeless families in New York City, but I am extremely grateful to the Mayor and the agencies involved for taking a major step forward in reducing temporary housing, particularly cluster units, and giving families permanency and stability via this creative approach. It is my hope that we continue to use resources towards permanent housing options.”

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz said: “The end of cluster site housing is a welcome relief for residents of the Bronx who have seen more than our fair share of cluster sites placed in our neighborhoods. These cluster site housing units are often host to some of the worst conditions we could imagine, with unscrupulous landlords taking advantage of homeless families in need who are frequently unable to stand up for their right to a decent place to live. I thank Mayor de Blasio for taking this important step towards ending cluster site housing and look forward to his continued leadership to ensure that people are able to find shelter space in their own communities.

Bronx Metro-North Station Area Study - Workshop/Open House DEC 11th

 

Please join us and help plan around coming Metro-North service in your neighborhood! REMINDER! Morris Park Public Workshop and Open House

Join us for a public workshop/open house and help plan around future Metro-North service in your neighborhood! The interactive self-paced event is an important opportunity for the community to join city agencies to plan around future Metro-North service – share your local expertise, hear from your neighbors, contribute your ideas to plan around the station area, consider what the service means for jobs, health, housing, youth and more.  Activities will be self-paced and participants can come when they wish and stay for as long as they are able to.

WHEN Tuesday, December 11, 2018 4PM–7PM (Self-paced activities. Come when you wish and stay for long as you are able to.)

WHERE 1300 Morris Park Ave Lubin Hall Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Light refreshments will be provided. For any questions or special needs, please email bmns@planning.nyc.gov or call 718 220 8500

Find Out More

BOROUGH PRESIDENT DIAZ & COUNCIL MEMBER TORRES ANNOUNCE IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW FIRE SAFETY LAWS

  In the wake of last December’s deadly Bronx fire, new laws will require safety devices on stoves in apartments with small children under six years old

 

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and City Council Member Ritchie Torres today announced the implementation of new fire safety and prevention laws designed to prevent catastrophic fires like the December 2017 tragic fire in the Belmont section of The Bronx, which saw 13 lives lost.

 

The laws will require owners of buildings with three or more units to provide and properly install approved stove knob safety covers on all stoves in units where a child or children 6 years or younger reside.

 

In December 2017, a fire in a residential building on Prospect Avenue in The Bronx led to 13 deaths, making it the deadliest fire New York City had seen in the past 25 years. Investigators found that the fire was started by a three-year-old child playing with the stove in his apartment, and quickly grew out of control.

 

“Just as we require window guards in apartments with young children, we should also require that stoves be made safer through the installation of approved safety devices,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “This tragic fire could have been prevented, had this young child been unable to tamper with the knob of the stove in his apartment. I am proud to have partnered with Council Member Torres to introduce this legislation that will undoubtedly save lives.”

 

“Stove knob covers are a simple and effective tool that prevent deadly fires and the loss of life. Through education and outreach about fire safety, residents will be better equipped to respond to fires and prevent future catastrophes,” said Council Member Ritchie Torres.

 

The law would also require that other tenants in buildings with three or more units would have the option to request approved stove safety devices for stoves, and that such requests could not be denied.

 

In addition, the New York City Fire Department and the Department of Education, will create and implement a comprehensive plan for educating both children and parents about fire safety and fire prevention. The proposed education plan will include but not be limited to teaching children the dangers of playing with burners on stoves. The legislation would also require the DOE and the FDNY to report to the City Council on efforts to educate children about fire prevention and fire safety.

Riverdale Menorah Lighting

  Rabbi Levi Shemtov welcomes everyone who came out on this rainy night before going up to light the first candle on the largest menorah in the Bronx. 

Above - Rabbi Shemtov lights the middle candle which is used to light the other candles of the traditional Jewish menorah. 

Below - Rabbi Shemtov lights the first candle for the first night of Chanukah.

Above - After saying the Chanukah prayer, Rabbi Shemtov invites everyone to dance by the menorah, and have traditional Chanukah food of Jelly Donuts and Potato Latkes. 

Below - People begin to dance in the street under watch of members of the NYPD. Over one-hundred people came out to see the Riverdale menorah lighting, even in the wet weather.

Above - The new commanding officer of the 50th Precinct Captain Emilio Melendez picks up from last years menorah lighting when Deputy Inspector O'Toole was in charge of the 50th precinct. 

Below - Rabbi Shemtov and Captain Melendez smile for this photo, as a great show of police and community friendship.

Special thanks goes out to the Tree Army Tree Removers and Trim Experts, and it's CEO-CFO former U.S. Army Veteran Joelle for providing the truck and lift bucket for Rabbi Shemtov to light the Riverdale menorah. 

Bronx Jewish Community Council - Have a Happy Chanukah

Happy Chanukah! Please join us this Wednesday for a  Chanukah celebration with the  Bronx Borough President!

Former New York City Human Resources Administration Employee And Two Others Charged With Stealing Hundreds Of Thousands In Hra Funds

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Lesley Brovner, Acting Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), and James D. Robnett, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”), announced today that ELIANA BAUTA, GERALDINE PEREZ, and ERIC GONZALES were charged in Manhattan federal court with six counts related to their theft of over $300,000 in funds from the New York City Human Resources Administration (“HRA”).  BAUTA perpetrated the offenses in her capacity as an HRA employee.  PEREZ is also charged with a separate fraudulent scheme involving over $90,000 of stolen or fraudulently issued Treasury checks.  BAUTA was arrested by the U.S. Marshals in Florida, and was presented in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida this afternoon.  PEREZ and GONZALEZ will appear tomorrow for presentment in the Southern District of New York before Magistrate Judge Gabriel W. Gorenstein. 

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “As an HRA employee, Eliana Bauta was supposed to help New Yorkers in need.  Instead, she and her co-defendants allegedly helped themselves, stealing hundreds of thousands in emergency benefits funds.  As today’s arrests make clear, we will not tolerate alleged abuses of trust in City agencies, and we remain committed to ensuring that federal and local funds go to the intended recipients, not the pockets of unscrupulous employees and their families and friends.”

IRS-CI Special Agent-in-Charge Robnett said:  “When stolen identities are used to file fraudulent tax returns, it robs all of us.  IRS-CI will investigate these alleged crimes and protect this country’s tax administration.”

According to the allegations in the Complaint filed today in Manhattan federal court:[[1]]                

HRA is an agency of the City of New York responsible for administering the majority of the City’s public assistance programs.  Among other things, HRA provides temporary, emergency cash assistance to individuals and families with social service and economic needs to assist them in reaching self-sufficiency.  The emergency assistance is funded by the federal government as well as by New York State and City. 

Since in or about 2015, DOI has been investigating two related schemes in which an HRA employee – ELIANA BAUTA – defrauded HRA and the City of New York by using her position to commit public assistance fraud.  BAUTA worked as a Job Opportunity Specialist for HRA from approximately January 2008 to on or about May 23, 2018.  As a Job Opportunity Specialist, BAUTA was at various points responsible for interviewing benefits applicants, compiling and submitting applicants’ paperwork, and disbursing applicants’ benefits. 

In the first of the two schemes, BAUTA is alleged to have caused the fraudulent issuance of emergency benefits funds to relatives and acquaintances, including GERALDINE PEREZ and ERIC GONZALES, among others, who in truth and in fact did not qualify for those funds.  For example, BAUTA altered a police report submitted by an actual HRA client by changing the name of the victim to a family member’s name, and then entered the doctored report into HRA systems in support of a request for benefits to be issued to that family member.  On another occasion, BAUTA submitted a request for emergency benefits to be issued to an individual after an alleged disaster, but no such disaster had occurred, and the payments were intended to repay that individual for putting a supernatural curse on BAUTA’s ex-boyfriend.  Both PEREZ and GONZALEZ were knowing recipients of such fraudulently issued funds and shared the proceeds with BAUTA.

In the second scheme, BAUTA is alleged to have obtained access to and misappropriated emergency benefits checks issued to actual HRA clients.  Instead of providing the checks to the legitimate clients in need of emergency funding, BAUTA gave them to PEREZ and GONZALES, among other of BAUTA’s relatives and associates, who deposited the checks in their own bank accounts and withdrew the funds, and then shared the proceeds with BAUTA.  In total, the two schemes resulted in losses to HRA of at least $309,000 in public funds.

In addition to obtaining stolen HRA checks into her bank account and the bank accounts of family members, PEREZ is also alleged to have deposited or caused to be deposited into these same accounts improperly obtained United States Treasury checks that were issued to other individuals as tax refunds.  In total, 23 such checks worth over $91,000 were deposited into bank accounts of PEREZ and her family members and associates.  PEREZ then split the proceeds with a tax preparer who assisted in the scheme.

ELIANA BAUTA, 35, GERALDINE PEREZ, 60, and ERIC GONZALES, 26, all of the Bronx, New York, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit federal program theft, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; two counts of federal program theft, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.  BAUTA is also charged with one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years in prison.  PEREZ is also charged with one count of receiving stolen government money or property, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.  The statutory maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencings of the defendants would be determined by the judge.

Mr. Berman praised the investigative work of DOI and the IRS, and noted that the investigation is continuing.  

The charges contained in the Complaint 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 Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

A.G. Underwood Announces Settlements With 7 New York Hospitals To Stop Illegal Billing Of Rape Survivors For Forensic Rape Examinations

Hospitals Will Pay Restitution to Survivors Plus Costs and Revise Billing Procedures; At Least 200 Rape Kits were Illegally Billed to Rape Victims

Settlements are Part of AG’s Ongoing Statewide Investigation

  Attorney General Barbara D. Underwood announced settlements with seven New York hospitals that illegally billed rape survivors for forensic rape examinations (“FREs”).

The hospitals include Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center, Columbia University, Montefiore Nyack Hospital, New York Presbyterian/Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, Richmond University Medical Center, and St. Barnabas Hospital. Under the terms of the agreements, the hospitals will implement written policies to ensure that sexual assault survivors do not receive bills for their rape examinations, provide full restitution to any improperly billed sexual assault survivors, and pay costs.

“Survivors of sexual assault have already gone through unfathomable trauma; to then subject them to illegal bills and collection calls is unconscionable,” said Attorney General Underwood. “Hospitals have a fundamental responsibility to comply with New York law. My office will continue to do everything in our power to protect survivors and their rights.”

The investigation into the hospitals follows last year’s benchmark settlement with The Brooklyn Hospital Medical Center (“Brooklyn Hospital”), which was initiated after the Attorney General’s Office received a complaint that a survivor of sexual assault was billed seven separate times for a forensic rape examination administered in Brooklyn Hospital’s emergency room. The investigation into Brooklyn Hospital prompted the Attorney General to launch a statewide investigation of billing practices for FREs at other hospitals. The investigation found pervasive failures to advise patients of their payment options, and widespread unlawful billing of sexual assault survivors.  The ongoing investigation has already revealed at least 200 unlawfully billed FREs at the seven settling hospitals; the bills ranged from approximately $46 to $3,000 each.

New York State Executive Law Section 631(13) provides that when a hospital furnishes services – including a forensic rape examination – to any sexual assault survivor, it shall provide such services to the patient without charge and shall bill the Office of Victim Services (“OVS”) directly, or alternatively, the sexual assault survivor may voluntarily opt to assign the costs to private insurance. The purpose of Executive Law 631(13) is to ease payment of FREs by providing for submission of bills to OVS; provide quality exams; and give survivors of sexual assault the ability to choose a means of payment for their FREs, either through the OVS program or their own insurance. Allowing sexual assault survivors to choose to have OVS directly pay for services helps ensure privacy and confidentiality. This increased privacy increases the likelihood that a survivor will submit to the FRE, which in turn increases the ability of law enforcement agencies to identify offenders.

New Yorkers with complaints regarding hospital billing or other health-care related issues may contact the Attorney General’s Health Care Helpline at 1-800-428-9071.

“We commend Attorney General Underwood for taking this critical step in ending the unlawful practice of billing rape survivors for their Forensic Rape Examinations,” said Sonia Ossorio, President, National Organization for Women – New York. “It is of the utmost importance that survivors are given every tool and support possible to come forward, report the crime if that is what they wish to do, and to lower any barriers to reporting.”

“When the Alliance spoke to Attorney General’s office about a survivor who had been wrongly charged for a forensic exam, we believed it was an isolated case. A lot of credit must go to the New State Attorney General for investigating this issue and unearthing numerous violations of this law,” said Mary Haviland, Esq., Executive Director, NYC Alliance Against Sexual Assault. “The law is clear. It directs hospitals to charge the New York State Office of Victim Services for all sexual assault forensic exams. No survivor of sexual assault should be charged for a forensic exam in a hospital Emergency Room.”

“We are grateful to the Attorney General's Office for its ongoing commitment to ensuring that survivors of sexual assault in New York State receive the full range of medical services to which they are entitled under New York State law, regardless of which emergency department they visit,” said Christopher E. Bromson, Executive Director, Crime Victims Treatment Center. “We are grateful that institutions that violate those laws are being held accountable. As the state's oldest rape crisis program, CVTC shares the office's commitment to ensuring the provision of free and comprehensive care to every sexual assault survivor who seeks it.”

Comptroller Stringer Audit Reveals Department of Education Flouted Rules in Travel Spending

Audit showed 93 percent of sampled payments violated agency policy or Comptroller’s Directives

Hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on flights, hotels, and travel without proper approval, justification, or support

  New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer released a new audit that found the City Department of Education (DOE) failed to comply with its own rules and City guidelines for the approval and payment of travel and conference expenses. In Fiscal Year 2017 DOE paid 42,508 travel expense vouchers, totaling over $20 million. The Comptroller’s office audited $1,060,056 worth of those payments and found that 93 percent failed to comply with DOE’s own rules, directives of the City Comptroller’s office, or both.

Among the noncompliant payments were:

• $14,023 in overcharges that DOE paid to two vendors, including an $11,913 overpayment to a Brooklyn hotel for a meeting space;
• $233,167 in payments to hotels and other venues for DOE meetings with no effort—as required by the rules—to find free and low-cost space in DOE buildings or other institutions, including $12,883 DOE spent on an overnight staff retreat at the Tarrytown House Estate on the Hudson in violation of DOE guidelines;
• $269,684 for 11 purchases that required, but lacked, written bids, such as a $17,847 catering bill, and a $99,716 payment to a Brooklyn hotel for a conference on the core curriculum; and,
• $14,956 in credit card charges with no supporting documentation, including $2,821 in charges at a resort in Nashville, Tennessee.

The Comptroller’s office also identified $60,422 in wasted public funds resulting from DOE’s prepayment of nonrefundable charges for a proposed trip to Cuba for 16 students and 6 staff members. When the Chancellor canceled the trip, DOE lost the $60,422 and then spent an additional $97,000 for a replacement trip to Brazil for most of the same group.  The audit found an inconsistency in DOE’s policies for the preapproval of international travel that allowed the wasteful spending to occur without Chancellor-level approval.

“When it comes to our schools, every single dollar counts. We can’t afford to waste dollars that should go to our kids and classrooms,” said Comptroller Stringer. “As a public school parent, my top priority is making sure that all New York City students have opportunity and the tools and resources they need to learn and excel. As Comptroller, rooting out waste and fraud is one our office’s most important responsibilities. DOE’s failure to follow its own policy and keep close track of spending shows a disregard for taxpayers and ends up costing our students most.”

DOE is expected to comply with a set of requirements for travel expenses and fund-administration established by City Comptroller’s directives, which are binding guidelines for spending. The agency’s established policy for payment of employees’ travel expenses requires all travel to be approved ahead of time. Requests are processed in DOE’s electronic Travel Reimbursement and Approval Certification (TRAC) system, which also tracks travel and conference expenditures, including those charged to its agency credit card.

However, the Comptroller’s audit revealed DOE failed to follow its policy, approving 14 payments worth $221,638 without evidence that the expenditures had been authorized by the appropriate DOE officials. The agency also failed to maintain one or more required items of supporting documentation for 43 travel expense payments, totaling $246,799.

Other instances of noncompliance found that DOE:

• Paid $42,743 for employees to attend out-of-town conferences and training programs without the written justification required by DOE policy to show that the expenses were necessary for the employees’ professional and educational enhancement;
• Approved payment of $12,245 for out-of-town lodging and meals, which exceeded the maximum allowable rate of $9,315 by $2,930 (a 31 percent increase) without the required justification and approvals;
• The audit also found that DOE incorrectly reported travel expenses in its accounting system and consequently overstated its travel expenditures by more than $3 million in Fiscal Year 2017.

To address these issues, the Comptroller’s Office made the following recommendations:

• Recoup the overcharges of $14,023 that DOE paid to vendors as identified in this audit.
• Ensure proper justification for staff’s out-of-town travel was obtained and documented in the appropriate records relating to the travel expense before approving payment.
• Obtain proper approval from DOE’s Division of Financial Operations (DFO) before approving or paying a lodging charge for an employee at a rate that exceeds the applicable United States General Services Administration (GSA) rate.
• Ensure that all required approvals are obtained before travel commences and before the agency incurs expenses for lodging, meals, and conference attendance.
• Ensure that supporting documentation for travel and related expenses is properly maintained and available for audit and other authorized purposes.
• Consider requiring approval by the Chancellor or his or her designee for student trips that involve international or overnight travel and any trip for which a concern about security or safety is identified.

Read the audit and a full list of recommendations here.