120 Precinct - Police Involved Shooting Dec 10th

Remarks as delivered by Police Commissioner James P. O'Neill:

  We are reminded once again of the dangers our officers face every day as they work to keep New York City safe. Sunday night at approximately 9:50, uniform officers from the 120 precinct responded to a call at a residence for a domestic dispute with an intoxicated person. This individual was brandishing a long blade, as our officers moved in to de-escalate the situation, repeatedly ordering the individual to drop the weapon, he made a move towards them. One of the officers deployed a Taser. The Taser did not stop the threat, and the officers had no choice but to then discharge their weapons, striking the individual. He is deceased. Also struck in the exchange was one of our officers. He is currently in stable condition receiving medical treatment here. The officer's family and colleagues are with him here at the hospital. As I said, this incident is a stark reminder of the dangers and challenges our officers face in the line of duty. It's also a testament to how their training and focus is to de-escalate violence. I wish to thank first responders as well as the doctors and staff at Staten Island University Hospital. Chief of Detectives Dermot Shea will discuss the event further.

Remarks as delivered by Chief of Detectives Dermot F. Shea:

  Last night at about 2143 hours, uniformed members of the service assigned to the 120 precinct received a call for a disorderly male intox. The address of occurrence was 30 Bridge Court. A short time later two uniformed members of the 120 Precinct responded. They encountered a male at a side apartment, it’s a multi-dwelling, on the left hand side of this establishment is an alleyway. When they went down that alleyway, eventually they come to a door and they encounter a male armed with a 14-inch knife. The knife consists of a 4-inch wooden handle with a 10-inch blade. When you look at the body cameras, and both officers were equipped with body cameras, and this all very preliminary at this point, you can see the male attempting to get past who we believe is his wife and coming at the officers. You hear multiple times, "shoot me, shoot me, shoot me." During this encounter a Taser was deployed by at least one of the officers. We believe it struck the individual but unfortunately did not cause him to cease his attack. In the ensuing shots we have up to 10-to-12 shots, at this time it's preliminary, that were fired with multiple striking the victim, causing his demise. Also in this exchange of gunfire we had one officer who was struck. He is stable in serious condition.

Comptroller Stringer: New Marijuana Revenues Need to Go to Communities Most Impacted by Cannabis Enforcement

New analysis identifies neighborhoods hit hardest by enforcement policies and offers road map for building equity in adult-use marijuana industry

Data shows discriminatory cannabis enforcement targets low-income New Yorkers

  As New York moves closer to legalizing cannabis for adult use, New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer released an analysis revealing disparities in marijuana enforcement across not only racial and ethnic but also socioeconomic lines. The new report, Addressing the Harms of Prohibition: What NYC Can do to Support an Equitable Cannabis Industry, found City neighborhoods with the highest marijuana-related arrest rates have lower incomes, higher unemployment, lower credit scores, and lower rates of home ownership.

With the promise of new revenue generated by a legal market, Comptroller Stringer called for City and State leaders to develop a robust cannabis equity program, directing capital and technical assistance to impacted communities interested in participating in the adult-use industry. An analysis done by the Comptroller’s Office in May estimated the cannabis market could result in $336 million in annual tax revenue for the city, on top of $436 million for the state.

“Thousands of New Yorkers, who are overwhelmingly Black and Latinx, have endured discriminatory cannabis enforcement policies for far too long – and it must end now. This report shows that the City has long targeted communities that are among the most economically insecure, resulting in damaged credit, loss of employment, housing, and more.” said Comptroller Stringer. “As we move towards creating a legal market that will generate billions of dollars, we have to ensure that we correct historic injustices and backwards policies of the past.”

Utilizing U.S. Census Bureau data and New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services data on the number of marijuana-related arrests in New York City between 2010 and 2017, the Comptroller’s Office found Brownsville and Ocean Hill has the highest average marijuana-related arrest rate during the period, followed by East New York and Starrett City. The report also revealed that the marijuana-related arrest rate in East Harlem is 13 times higher than on the Upper East Side, further underscoring the significant disparities even among adjoining neighborhoods.

Other findings include:

• Seven of the 10 neighborhoods in the city with the lowest median household incomes, fall among the top 10 for marijuana-related arrest rates and account for more than one-third (34.3 percent) of all such arrests. The 10 neighborhoods with the highest median household income, account for only one-tenth (11.0 percent) of all arrests;
• In four of the five highest-ranking neighborhoods by arrest rate, the unemployment rate exceeds 10 percent; citywide, the unemployment rate is half that (5.2 percent);
• Among the 10 highest-ranking neighborhoods, roughly one in 10 homes are owner-occupied (homeownership rate of 11.4 percent), compared to one in two homes among the 10 lowest-ranking neighborhoods (51.5 percent); and
• Marijuana-related arrest rate tracks closely with credit score, with Brownsville having both the highest arrest rate and lowest median credit score (598) in the city.

As the experiences of other states and New York’s own medical marijuana program show, there are a number of structural barriers to participating in the industry including accessing potential business and employment opportunities. In order to ensure the State’s cannabis industry does not follow suit and become similarly exclusionary, the Comptroller’s Office makes the following recommendations:

Invest tax revenue in impacted communities

A portion of the tax revenue generated by legalization should be awarded on a competitive basis to localities and community-based organizations working in neighborhoods with the highest proportion of marijuana-related arrests and that meet other criteria, such as having high rates of unemployment and a demonstrated need for mental health or substance use treatment. The New York State Community Grants Reinvestment Fund, as envisioned in the MRTA, offers a model for the types of services this funding should support, which include job placement, adult education, mental health treatment, substance abuse treatment, and legal assistance related to reentry.

Adopt inclusive licensee eligibility requirements

Any State legislation that seeks to create an adult-use marijuana program should include explicit equity provisions so that the adult-use market reflects the communities most impacted by prohibition. Specifically, people with prior marijuana-related convictions should be made eligible for cannabis licenses, as issued by the relevant State agencies. Applicants for licenses and permits should in turn be required to demonstrate how they will support hiring of people with prior convictions. In addition, New York State should consider waiving initial application and licensing fees for applicants from priority neighborhoods and regularly solicit feedback to ensure that fees associated with establishing an adult-use cannabis business are not prohibitive.

Establish a NYC cannabis equity program 

Given the barriers to breaking in to the market and the economic conditions in neighborhoods most impacted by prohibition, New York City should create a citywide equity program that would function as an incubator hub for local entrepreneurs interested in participating in the new adult-use marijuana industry. In addition to providing general technical assistance, this new City office would help interested parties navigate regulations and licensing procedures, as well as secure financing. Priority would be given to New Yorkers with prior marijuana-related convictions and those closely related to someone with a marijuana-related conviction. To facilitate the implementation of the program, state legislation establishing an adult-use marijuana program should allow for a statewide equity program and not preclude local jurisdictions from developing municipal-level equity initiatives.

Bay Plaza Pop Up Fashion Show

  Saturday the Bay Plaza Mall featured a Holiday Market Pop Up & Mini Fashion Show. Councilman Andy King, Ms. Flora Montes, and the Bronx Fashion Corporation in conjunction with Macy's, J. C. Penney, gave Bay Plaza shoppers a look at some of the different fashion items on sale in the mall.

Candidate for Public Advocate, Nomiki Konst, Slams Tucker Carlson on Climate Denial on Fox

Tucker Carlson: “Volume is not the same as an argument.”

Nomiki Konst: "You don't like opinionated women do you?"

Investigative journalist and candidate for New York City Public Advocate Nomiki Konst accused Fox News Host Tucker Carlson on Wednesday of disliking opinionated women during a heated climate change debate. The exchange took place during a discussion on Tucker Carlson Tonight of the Green New Deal plan being put forth by Democratic Socialists Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Nomiki Konst, Julia Salazar and others. “I want to talk about the solutions [to climate change]. A solution would be a Green New Deal. Moving to 100% renewable energy. Forcing the companies that are jacking up the price on working people to actually reduce their emissions so that working people aren’t displaced, so working people don’t have to pay for hurricane damage and have clean water. And that water isn’t being privatized,” said Konst. “Ok, but volume is not the same as an argument,” responded Carlson. “You don’t like opinionated women, do you?” shot back Konst. Video of the exchange has been viewed over one million times online across all channels and was viewed by another five millions viewers watching live on Fox News. Watch full video of the exchange here. About Nomiki Konst. Nomiki Konst is an award-winning investigative reporter who has exposed political and financial corruption from the Democratic National Committee and New York State government (including of the Independent Democratic Caucus), to Wall Street’s disaster capitalism in Puerto Rico. On the DNC Reform Commission, she led the fight for accountability, financial transparency, and to eliminate the power of superdelegates while reforming the primary and caucus structure. Nomiki got her start in politics volunteering for Hillary Clinton’s campaign in 2000. She has been a key figure in two Presidential campaigns campaigns. In 2012, she served as one of Barack Obama’s National Co-Chairs. In 2016, she was a top surrogate for Senator Bernie Sanders’ insurgent campaign. She’s running to be Public Advocate to reinforce the duty of an independent, investigative power that not just calls out the City government, but holds the special interests and political machines accountable.

Citywide Overall Crime Continues to Decline in November 2018

This November, New York City experienced fewer index crimes than in any previous November during the modern Compstat era, as overall crime since January continues to fall to historic lows compared to the same time in 2017. New York City achieved a reduction of 402 index crimes or -5.0% during November 2018, compared to the same period in 2017. Murders fell -25%, while burglaries fell -15.8%, and robberies fell -11.8%. Overall crime in 2018 is still currently projected to drop beneath what would become a new record-setting low of 97,000 total index crimes by the year's end.

"In our ongoing mission to further reduce crime and keep all New Yorkers safe, the NYPD's highly-effective, targeted approach toward the real drivers of violence and disorder continues to yield positive results. Increasingly, our efforts are supported by the full and willing partnership of our communities — which not only makes our city safer, it makes the people we serve feel safer too," said Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill."

"In 2014, my administration took a new approach to policing that brings officers and community together to heal historic wounds. And, month after month of record new lows proves that neighborhood policing coupled with targeted enforcement is a winning formula," said Mayor Bill de Blasio. "We will never stop working to make New York City safer and fairer for all."

Key highlights from this month's crime statistics include:

• Lowest November on record for index crimes. Four-hundred-and-two fewer in November 2018 compared to November 2017.
• Year-to-date, overall index crimes are down -1.5% from 2017.
• Robberies, felony assaults, burglaries, grand larcenies, and grand larceny autos continue to be down year-to-date.
• Lowest number of homicides (15) ever in a November.
• First November ever with burglaries under 1,000.
• Year-to-date, shootings are down -3.3% from 2017.

Statistics on Index Crimes 2017-2018

 

	Nov. 2018	Nov. 2017	Change	+/-%	Year-to-Date 2018	Year-to-Date 2017	Change	+/- %
Murder	15	20	-5	-25.00%	266	264	2	0.08%
Rape	141	125	16	12.80%	1659	1332	327	24.50%
Robbery	1057	1199	-142	-11.80%	11821	12749	-928	-7.3%%
Felony Assault	1472	1481	-9	-0.60%	18477	18633	-156	-0.8%%
Burglary	895	1063	-168	-15.80%	10643	11115	-472	-4.2%%
Grand Larceny	3665	3733	-68	-1.80%	39608	39609	-1	0.00%
G.L.A.	447	473	-26	-5.50%	5060	5206	-146	-2.8%%
TOTAL	7692	8094	-402	-5.00%	87534	88908	-1374	-1.5%%
Additional Statistics on Crimes 2017-2018
	Nov. 2018	Nov. 2017	Change	+/-%	Year-to-Date 2018	Year-to-Date 2017	Change
Transit	257	242	15	6.20%	2292	2257	35	1.60%
Housing	364	401	-37	-9.25%	4237	4489	-252	-5.60%

Note: All crime statistics are preliminary and subject to further analysis, revisions, or change.

Luchese Crime Family Soldier Sentenced to 12 Years and Colombo Crime Family Associate Sentenced to 40 Months’ Imprisonment for Conspiring to Distribute Oxycodone

Defendants Threatened a Brooklyn Doctor and Obtained Fraudulent Prescriptions for More Than 230,000 Oxycodone Pills

  Anthony Grado, a member of the Luchese organized crime family, and Lawrence Tranese, an associate of the Colombo organized crime family, were sentenced by United States District Judge Carol B. Amon to 12 years’ and 40 months’ imprisonment respectively for conspiring to distribute oxycodone that they obtained through fraudulent prescriptions. The Court also ordered Grado to pay $70,000 in forfeiture and Tranese $12,000 in forfeiture.

Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and James P. O’Neill, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the sentence.

“Today’s sentence punishes the defendants for ruthlessly endangering our community through their organized crime-backed distribution of highly-addictive opioid drugs,” stated United States Attorney Donoghue.  “This Office, working together with our law enforcement partners, will continue our relentless efforts against those responsible for the opioid epidemic.” Mr. Donoghue thanked the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office for its assistance during this investigation.

“Opioid and prescription drug abuse affects communities and families in New York and across the country. Grado and Tranese’s conspiracy to distribute oxycodone contributed to this nationwide crisis, and even worse, they threatened a doctor with violence in order to coerce him into providing fraudulent prescriptions,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Sweeney.  “Today’s sentence should stand as a warning to organized crime families, their associates, and anyone else who would commit similar acts in order to further the scourge of opioid addiction for their own benefit: you will be found out and brought to justice.”

 “Dismantling criminal enterprises, in all their forms, will always be a priority for the NYPD and our law-enforcement partners at the Eastern District and the FBI,” stated NYPD Commissioner O’Neill. “Collectively, we have a very long reach and we will not tire in our mission of fighting crime and keeping people safe – which includes removing from our streets anyone who adds to our nation’s opioid crisis by dealing illegal narcotics.”

Grado and Tranese, together with their coconspirators, gave a Brooklyn-based doctor the names of people for whom the doctor should write prescriptions, and the doctor complied, usually without conducting any physical examinations.  The defendants then filled the prescriptions and sold the pills.  Alternatively, the defendants and their coconspirators used violence and threats of violence to force the doctor to write the prescriptions, or seized the doctor’s prescription pad and Grado completed the prescription.  In one recorded conversation, Grado told the doctor that he would make the doctor write “a thousand scripts a day and [expletive] feed you to the [expletive] lions” if the doctor wrote prescriptions without Grado’s approval.  In the same conversation, Grado told the doctor that if newly ordered prescription pads “go in anybody’s hands” besides Grado’s, “I’ll put a bullet right in your head.”  During the course of the conspiracy, one of Grado’s associates stabbed the doctor in a dispute over the doctor’s prescription pads.

The Defendants:

ANTHONY GRADO

Age:  54

Monroe Township, New Jersey

LAWRENCE TRANESE (also known as “Fat Larry”)

Age:  55

Brooklyn, New York

James Dolan to Pay $609,810 Civil Penalty for Violating Antitrust Premerger Notification Requirements

  The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division, at the request of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), filed a civil antitrust lawsuit today in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., against James Dolan for violating the premerger notification and waiting period requirements of the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act of 1976 when he acquired voting securities of Madison Square Garden Company in 2017.  At the same time, the department filed a proposed settlement, subject to approval by the court, under which Dolan has agreed to pay a $609,810 civil penalty to resolve the lawsuit.

The HSR Act imposes notification and waiting period requirements for transactions meeting certain size thresholds so that they can undergo premerger antitrust review.  Federal courts can assess civil penalties for premerger notification violations under the HSR Act in lawsuits brought by the department.  The maximum civil penalty for an HSR violation, which is adjusted annually, is currently $41,484 per day.

Further details about this matter are described in the FTC’s press release issued today, and in the attached complaint and competitive impact statement.

Consistent with the requirements of the Tunney Act, the proposed settlement, along with the competitive impact statement, will be published in the Federal Register.  Any person may submit written comments concerning the proposed settlement during a 60-day comment period to Roberta S. Baruch, Special Attorney, United States, c/o Federal Trade Commission, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, CC-8407, Washington, D.C. 20580.  At the conclusion of the 60-day comment period, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia may approve the proposed settlement upon finding that it is in the public interest.

News From Councilman Mark Gjonaj,

Impacting our Community

Tree Planting/Pruning Tree Sidewalk Prog Building Maintenance Con Edison Eviction

Councilman Mark Gjonaj's Weekly Survey

This week, the NYC DOT announced on Twitter that they will pursue with the Road Dieting Plan. Despite intense community opposition, the Road Dieting Plan would reduce the number of traffic lanes on Morris Park Avenue leading to many unintended consequences such as increased congestion.

Do you believe that the Road Diet will reduce the number of traffic  fatalities in Morris Park? Yes No Do you think the Road Diet plan will negatively impact local  small businesses in the area? Yes No Do you consider Morris Park Avenue a dangerous street for  pedestrians and cyclists? Yes No