Unlicensed Dentist Convicted Of Healthcare Fraud, Conspiracy To Commit Healthcare Fraud

 And Conspiracy To Violate The Anti-Kickback Statute

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that LUIS OMAR VARGAS, an unlicensed dentist, was convicted last Friday, after a two-week jury trial, for defrauding health insurance companies by billing for false claims, billing for claims performed by him as an unlicensed provider, and for conspiring to pay kickbacks to his patients.  The trial was presided over by United States District Judge Ronnie Abrams.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “Luis Omar Vargas defrauded taxpayer-funded health insurance plans and his patients by posing as a dentist licensed to practice, when he was not.  Vargas billed for services he never performed and induced his patients to visit his dental clinic by providing them kickback payments.  Now, for his fraud and abuse of the system, Vargas stands convicted of three crimes and faces a substantial term in prison.” 

According to allegations in the Indictment and evidence introduced at trial:

From in or around 2012 through at least November 2017, in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, VARGAS and others conspired and participated in a scheme to defraud insurance providers of more than $2 million.  Vargas and others induced patients to be seen at a dental clinic on the Upper West Side of Manhattan by offering patients a $25 cash kickback.  Once the patients were in the door, VARGAS and his coconspirators charged insurance companies for services that were never performed and for services performed by VARGAS that he was not licensed to perform.

VARGAS, 46, of Roselle, New Jersey, was convicted of one count of health care fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and one count of conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.  VARGAS will be sentenced on April 5, 2019, by Judge Abrams.

Other members of the conspiracy, including Dr. Mehmet Dikengil, 70, and Anna Jones, 60, previously pled guilty to related offenses.

 Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Office of Inspector General in this investigation.

Richard Brega, Owner Of Rockland County Bus Companies, Sentenced To More Than Four Years In Prison For Bribery And Fraud

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that RICHARD BREGA was sentenced today to 50 months in prison for bribery, fraud, and theft from a program receiving government funds.  BREGA was found guilty of these crimes on May 2, 2018, by a jury at the conclusion of a three-week trial.  The sentence was imposed by United States District Judge Kenneth M. Karas.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “The successful prosecution of Richard Brega demonstrates the commitment of the federal government to rooting out corruption and fraud in Rockland County and throughout the Hudson Valley.  The taxpayers and the schoolchildren and their families there deserve far better than the criminal scheming Brega gave them.  The sentence imposed today serves a stern reminder that the criminal path Brega chose leads to one place: prison.”

The evidence at trial showed, among other things, the following:

BREGA defrauded a school district – Rockland BOCES – by falsely claiming to maintain the district’s buses, which BREGA knew were used to transport special-needs students, and bribing a Rockland BOCES employee to approve the false invoices for payment.  As a result, Rockland BOCES transported special-needs students on deteriorating, unmaintained buses as BREGA got paid.

In particular, BREGA owned and controlled vehicle repair and transportation companies in Rockland County, including Brega D.O.T. Maintenance Corp. (“Brega DOT”), a fleet-maintenance repair shop.  Rockland BOCES serves eight school districts in Rockland County.  Among the services that Rockland BOCES offers to its students – particularly children with special physical, intellectual, and emotional needs – is transportation, for which it has a fleet of buses and other vehicles (hereinafter collectively referred to as “Rockland BOCES buses” and “bus fleet”), some of which are specially equipped for students with physical disabilities.  Rockland BOCES receives federal funding each year, often in excess of $1 million.

From in or about 2008 or 2009, through in or about 2015, Brega DOT provided vehicle repair service and maintenance for Rockland BOCES bus fleet, including regular preventive maintenance (“Preventive Maintenance”), which is supposed to involve a thorough and detailed inspection and testing of the buses at Brega DOT’s facility, designed to ensure that the buses are defect-free and safe to operate with children aboard.  Brega DOT would fix any problems with the buses that it found during Preventive Maintenance inspections before releasing the buses back to Rockland BOCES.  Brega DOT also created invoices documenting the work done and provided those invoices to Rockland BOCES for payment.  Rockland BOCES’ director of transportation, William Popkave, would then approve the invoice as accurately stating work that was performed on Rockland BOCES buses, and Rockland BOCES would mail payment to Brega DOT.

From in or about 2012 through in or about 2014, BREGA stole money from Rockland BOCES by, among other things, billing Rockland BOCES for Preventive Maintenance inspections that were never performed.  To do so, BREGA directed his employees to prepare fraudulent invoices, as well as fraudulent supporting documentation, giving the false appearance that his company had performed regular Preventive Maintenance inspections on certain buses, when in fact those buses were not even brought to Brega DOT and Preventive Maintenance inspections were not performed.

To create the fraudulent invoices, and to obtain payment from Rockland BOCES for work that was never performed, BREGA bribed Popkave – who oversaw upkeep and maintenance of its buses – with tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of free personal vehicle repairs.  Popkave sent BREGA lists of buses and their mileages so that BREGA could create fraudulent invoices and supporting documentation, and thereafter approved payment of the fraudulent invoices at Rockland BOCES, even though Popkave and BREGA knew that the buses had not even been to Brega DOT on the days for which Brega DOT billed Rockland BOCES, and had not received Preventive Maintenance inspections.

BREGA, 51, of Rockland County, was convicted of three counts: (1) mail fraud, (2) bribery concerning a program receiving federal funds, and (3) theft from a program receiving federal funds. 

Popkave, 62, of Rockland County, New York, pled guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Judith C. McCarthy on January 24, 2017, to five counts: (1) conspiracy to commit mail fraud, which carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison; (2) mail fraud, which carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison; (3) theft concerning a program receiving federal funds, which carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison; (4) bribery concerning a program receiving federal funds, which carries a maximum potential penalty of 10 years in prison; and (5) obstruction of justice, which carries a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison.

The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as the sentencing of Popkave will be determined by the judge at a future date.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office, and the United States Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General.  Mr. Berman also thanked the United States Department of Education, Office of Inspector General, for its assistance.

Councilman Mark Gjonaj Visits BOLD at Einstein Hospital

  Councilman Mark Gjonaj stopped by Einstein Hospital to visit the Bronx Oncology Living Daily center to see how Cancer survivors are being given a little tender loving care after their ordeal with cancer. Councilman Gjonaj said that with the Albanian people they only see doctors when they have to, and that sometimes it is to late because a disease will have grown to large to save the person. He is looking to work with BOLD to spread the word that Cancer can be beat.  

Above - Councilman Gjonaj is introduced to the group, and is told what BOLD is doing to improve the lives of Cancer survivors.

Below - Councilman Gjonaj speaks to some of the people BOLD is helping.

Councilman Gjonaj and BOLD show the Albanian Eagle symbol.

MAYOR DE BLASIO AND GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO GUIDE AMAZON HEADQUARTERS PROJECT

Subcommittees will focus on project plan, neighborhood infrastructure and workforce development

   Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the formation of a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) to share information and solicit ongoing community input about Amazon’s planned headquarters project in Long Island City, Queens. Members of the CAC will work through three subcommittees to develop plans for the headquarters and onsite public amenities, investments in neighborhood infrastructure to benefit the surrounding communities, and training and hiring programs to ensure that homegrown talent fills the 25,000 to 40,000 new jobs at the headquarters. 

The CAC is comprised of community and citywide stakeholders recommended by local elected officials. Past CACs have significantly shaped development projects led by Empire State Development (ESD) helping ensure that community priorities and needs are considered throughout the process.

“Amazon's new headquarters will bring more than 25,000 jobs benefitting all New Yorkers from NYCHA residents to CUNY students,” said Mayor de Blasio. “The Community Advisory Committee will bring together stakeholders of all backgrounds to help shape this important plan. Robust community engagement is critical to ensuring that the investments and resources generated from this project serve the needs of everyone in Long Island City and beyond.”

“Amazon’s new headquarters in Long Island City is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our economy and community input will be a critical part of the development process,” Governor Cuomo said. “We look forward to working with local elected officials, community organizations and residents to ensure their voices are heard as we work to create tens of thousands of well-paying jobs, generate billions in revenue that will be reinvested in the region, strengthen our infrastructure, and expand opportunity for New Yorkers.”

“Amazon chose New York City because of its talent pool and we are dedicated to growing and developing that talent. Working with the CAC, we will build on Amazon’s existing job training and workforce development programs — ensuring they meet the needs of Long Island City residents and create pathways to the 25,000 new jobs we are bringing to the neighborhood. This joint effort will help ensure that our new neighbors benefit not only from corporate and technology jobs, but also the thousands more indirect jobs in construction, building services, hospitality and other service industry fields,” said Ardine Williams, Vice President People Operations, HR Worldwide Operations, Amazon.

The CAC’s 45 community members were appointed in consultation with local elected officials and stakeholders. The full CAC will meet quarterly starting in January, and its three subcommittees will meet approximately monthly during the course of the planning process.

Together with ESD, Elizabeth Lusskin of the Long Island City Partnership and Denise Keehan-Smith of Queens Community Board 2 will lead the Project Plan Subcommittee, which will advise on development of the General Project Plan and issues related to the construction of the new headquarters.

Together with NYCEDC, Melva Miller of the Association for a Better New York and Rob Basch of the Hunters Point Park Conservancy will lead the Neighborhood Infrastructure Subcommittee, which will advise the City and State on infrastructure priorities in the broader Long Island City neighborhood and build upon the $180 million investment plan the City recently announced in the Long Island City Investment Strategy. 

Together with Amazon, Bishop Mitchell G. Taylor of Urban Upbound, Gail Mellow of LaGuardia Community College and Jean Woods-Powell of Information Technology High School will lead the Workforce Development Subcommittee, which will develop an education-to-career workforce strategy to ensure that New Yorkers of all backgrounds have the skills and training to access the 25,000 to 40,000 jobs Amazon is bringing to New York City. The company, State and City are committing $15 million - $5 million each - to create new workforce development programs focused on technology training and recruitment specific to New York City and targeted toward underrepresented segments of the workforce. Programs supported by this initiative may include community-based accelerated technology training programs, internships, and work-based learning opportunities for high school students.

The project is subject to the State's minority and women-owned business enterprise laws and utilization goals. New York State has set the nation's highest goal - 30 percent - for utilization of MWBEs.

The CAC will be led by a Steering Committee comprising the co-chairs of each subcommittee and will be staffed jointly by ESD and NYCEDC. All elected officials representing Long Island City have been invited to join as ex-officio members. Recognizing the citywide workforce opportunities associated with this project, all five Borough Presidents will serve on the workforce development subcommittee in an ex-officio role.  

President and CEO of Empire State Development and Commissioner of the Department of Economic Development Howard Zemsky, “We are just beginning our environmental review and development process for the Amazon project, and we are fully committed to robust community engagement and transparency throughout. We look forward to engaging with members of the Long Island City and broader Queens community that know this neighborhood best, as well as with citywide partners, to ensure that this historic opportunity benefits all New Yorkers while integrating into the community as seamlessly as possible.”

New York City Economic Development Corporation President and CEO James Patchett said, “The Community Advisory Committee will guarantee that City residents have a role in shaping Amazon’s new headquarters in Long Island City. Community-based planning is critical to guiding strategic investments in Long Island City. We look forward to working with elected officials, local residents, community organizations, and business leaders to use this opportunity to create a blueprint that will strengthen Western Queens for generations to come.”

"It is imperative for stakeholders to seize an active role in this process and directly shape how the community will benefit from this historic deal," said Queens Borough President Melinda Katz. "The process should include infrastructure investments to enhance capacity, support for existing housing developments and, in a union town like New York, agreements with labor. The Community Advisory Committee is designed to ensure community insights and concerns are incorporated into the ultimate outcome."

“My goal is to work assiduously so that the CAC builds a robust workforce development process that creates the human infrastructure necessary to maintain a vital and equitable workforce for our community,” said Dr. Gail Mellow, President, LaGuardia Community College.

"The Community Advisory Committee will bring thoughtful insight and feedback from stakeholders into the Amazon development process, and I look forward to helping the Long Island City community and economy succeed and thrive alongside our partners in the nonprofit sector,” said Denise Keehan-Smith, Chair, Queens Community Board 2.

"This is a historic time for our city and an even more historic time for Northwestern Queens. The arrival of Amazon will revitalize neighborhood businesses and jumpstart young entrepreneurial minds in our communities,” said Bishop Mitchell G. Taylor, co-founder and CEO, Urban Upbound. “This is an opportunity to create real careers for the public housing residents of Queensbridge, Ravenswood, Astoria, and Woodside. Co-chairing this subcommittee, we will lay the groundwork for a future where these residents are leading the Silicon Valley of the East Coast."

“The Long Island City Partnership is honored to be included on the Community Advisory Committee, as I personally am to be appointed a Co-Chair.  Long Island City is a highly diverse, mixed-use community and we look forward to working with the members of the CAC and the entire community to ensure that the voices of that mix – including commercial, tech, industrial, retail, cultural, small and large businesses, as well as residential and student – inform this project,” said Elizabeth Lusskin, President, Long Island City Partnership. “Only in that way can it fulfill its promise to strengthen the balance of those uses, while benefitting the larger community as well.  This is the largest economic development opportunity ever for NYS and NYC, and if done right, will have a lasting positive impact on both, as well as LIC, for generations to come.”

“I am excited to work with our community leaders to advocate for money to make essential upgrades to our infrastructure, including transportation,” said Rob Basch, President, Hunters Point South Parks Conservancy. “Additionally, with more people living and working in our community it is essential that we provide more access to the waterfront and add parks and green spaces. I love living in Long Island City and I want to do my part to make sure our community remains a welcoming and vibrant community for everyone.”

"I am grateful to be chosen for this opportunity to serve on the Workforce Development Subcommittee, and to advocate for children and youth in our communities.  It is vital that New Yorkers, of all backgrounds, be given exposure, strategic support, and resources from Amazon that will positively impact generations to come,” said Jean Woods-Powell, Principal, Information Technology High School. “As a native New Yorker and as an educator, I will use my platform to work creatively, collaboratively, and constructively with Amazon as they begin their transitional phase in working with our great city."

A full list of the CAC members is below:

Project Plan Co-Chairs:      

Denise Keehan-Smith, Chair, Queens Community Board 2

Elizabeth Lusskin, President, the Long Island City Partnership

           

Neighborhood Infrastructure Co-Chairs:

Robert Basch, President, Hunters Point Park Conservancy  

Melva Miller, Executive Vice President, Association for a Better New York

Workforce Co-Chairs:

Gail Mellow, President, LaGuardia Community College      

Bishop Mitchell G. Taylor, CEO and President, Urban Upbound

Jean Woods-Powell, Principal, Information Technology High School

CAC Members:

Plinio Ayala, President and CEO, Per Scholas          

Antonios Benetatos, President-elect, Dutch Kills Civic Association            

Kyle Bragg, Secretary-Treasurer, 32BJ SEIU           

Paul Camilierri, LIC Resident

Gianna Cerbone, Owner, Manducatis Restaurant     

Meghan Cirrito, Board Chair, Gantry Parents Association

Claudia Coger, President, Astoria Houses Tenant Association         

Lisa Ann Deller, Land Use Chair, Queens Community Board 2

Paul Finnegan, Executive Director, New York Irish Center 

Angie Kamath, University Dean for Continuing Education and Workforce Development, CUNY

Sister Tesa Fitzgerald, Executive Director, Hour Children   

Debra-Ellen Glickstein, Executive Director, NYC Kids RISE         

Tom Grech, President and CEO, Queens Chamber of Commerce    

Kenny Greenberg, Neon Artist and CB2 Member

Chris Hanway, Executive Director,    Jacob A. Riis Settlement House        

Jukay Hsu, Founder and CEO, Pursuit         

Richard Khuzami, President, Old Astoria Neighborhood Association         

Debby King, Former Director, 1199 Training Fund Director and LIC resident       

Sheila Lewandowski, Executive Director, The Chocolate Factory Theater  

Reverend Corwin Mason, Community Church of Astoria

Annie Cotton Morris, President, Woodside Houses Tenant Association                  

Joey Ortiz, Executive Director, NYC Employment and Training Coalition 

Tom Paino, Chair, Hunters Point Community Coalition       

Santos Rodriguez, Director of Community Affairs & Strategic Initiatives, NYC Building Trades Council           

Julie Samuels, Executive Director, TechNYC           

Carlo Scissura, President and CEO of New York Building Congress          

Seema Shah, Director of Technology and Innovation Initiatives, LaGuardia Community College 

April Simpson, President, Queensbridge Houses Tenant Association          

Alvarez Symonette, Chief of Staff, Lady M Confections    

Marie Torniali, Chair, Queens Community Board 1  

Matthew Troy, Executive Director of Variety Boys & Girls Club, Queens

Andre Ward, Associate Vice President of Employment Services and Education, The Fortune Society

Carol Wilkins, President, Ravenswood Houses Tenant Association 

Tom Wright, President and CEO, Regional Plan Association          

Frank Wu, Transportation and Safety Committee Chair, Court Square Civic Association  

Kathryn S. Wylde, President and CEO, Partnership for New York City     

Judith Zangwill, Executive Director, Sunnyside Community Services         

A CUNY student representative

EDITOR'S NOTE:

Last night this reporter asked Mayor de Blasio if there was going to be a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) for the community around the new Amazon home. Mayor de Blasio did not stop to say anything, and his staff got very mad that I asked that question about a CBA. 

Having served on a Citizens Advisory Committee for the Jerome Park Reservoir Water Filtration Plant, the above Amazon CAC appears to me to be a scam on the community. 

Why are there no local elected officials listed as members of this CAC, and how was this CAC put together?

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.