MAYOR DE BLASIO, GOVERNOR CUOMO, SENATOR SCHUMER & CONGRESSMAN ROSE ANNOUNCE SEAWALL ON STATEN ISLAND'S EAST SHORE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH FEDERAL FUNDING GUARANTEED

Major victory clears the path for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to construct 5.3 mile seawall to protect waterfront communities in Staten Island

  Mayor Bill de Blasio, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, United States Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, and United States Congressman Max Rose today announced that they have successfully brokered a Project Partnership Agreement (PPA) with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and New York State to lock in funding for the construction of the Staten Island Levee project. This PPA also ensures that the $400 million federal contribution to this $615 million project is unlikely to be re-allocated should the federal government declare a national emergency on the southern border.

“This is a huge win for the people of Staten Island, who will be better protected from future storms,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “It is critical that we invest in the resiliency of our city in the face of climate change. I want to thank the US Army Corps of Engineers, and my colleagues in Congress, Senator Schumer and Congressman Rose, as well as Governor Cuomo, for working together to make this happen for our constituents.”

"This innovative project will protect Staten Islanders from future devastating storms, enhance access to the shore, create thriving wetlands and bring peace of mind to the diverse communities that live along the coastline," said Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. "Today's agreement will allow New York to move forward with this critical resiliency project, which will ensure vulnerable communities have the resources they need to build back stronger after the devastation of Hurricane Sandy and better prepare for the next 100-year storm."

“The signing of this PPA was the final key to locking in hundreds of millions of dollars of federal funding for the desperately needed Staten Island Seawall project. Now that the bureaucratic hurdles have all been jumped, the Army Corps can finally move forward with designing and building a more resilient shoreline that will protect our Island, homeowners and local businesses against the kind of devastating flooding we saw during Superstorm Sandy,” said United States Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer.

“Getting the seawall built as quickly as possible is a top priority, which is why it was my first piece of legislation and I’ve been pushing the Corps and the Administration on this since my first day in office. This agreement will finally allow construction so Staten Island families can get some relief before the next storm season – but until we pass the easement into law and construction is complete, there’s more work to be done,” said Congressman Max Rose.

The Staten Island Levee project is comprised of a series of interconnected levees, berms, and seawalls stretching from Fort Wadsworth to Great Kills on Staten Island's East Shore. This system, which is designed to withstand a 300-year storm, will protect against the growing threats of sea-level rise and storm surge and will dramatically strengthen the resilience of the area, which was severely damaged by Hurricane Sandy. According to a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) study, the Staten Island Levee project is projected to reduce damages to the area by $30 million annually over a 50 year timeline.

USACE, which is responsible for managing the design and construction the project, has made significant progress in recent years by completing a feasibility study, conducting geotech and groundwater monitoring, and starting final project design. USACE plans to break ground on the project in 2020 and expects full completion in 2024.

In addition to the $400 million in federal funds allocated to the project, New York State's Department of Environmental Conservation is contributing $150 and New York City is contributing $65 in City Capital funds.

Public Advocate Candidate Jumaane Williams Comes to North Central Bronx Hospital

  City Councilman and candidate for Public Advocate Jumanne Williams speaks at a meeting Monday evening at North Central Bronx Hospital. He took a few questions and photos with some of the people in attendance. When asked what does a public advocate do, he replied that the position really has been around since 1890 under different names. When the City Charter was revised in 1993 the position was created, and lately it has become a stepping stone to higher office. If he is elected he wants to have an office in every borough with local staff, but that the Public advocate other than having a Bully Pulpit really only appoints people to commissions and sits on the City Pension Board. 

When I asked him why he is in the Bronx now, but was not at the Public Advocate debate at Lehman College his answer was that he had other commitments. I also asked his feelings about candidate Dawn Smalls, to which he replied that Ms. Smalls is going to be very hard to beat since she is very knowledgeable on the responsibilities of the job of the Public Advocate. Jumaane Williams said that he would be the winner on February 26th to be the next Public Advocate. 

Above - Candidate Jumaane Williams answers a question from the audience.

Below - He poses with the host of the event Ms. Hernandez.

Above - Candidate Williams with the girls from BTE.

Below - Candidate Williams with Ms. Nicole Watson (L), and Ms. Sharien Perez.

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo Declared Disaster in Many Counties of New York Including Bronx County

DECLARING A DISASTER IN THE COUNTIES OF ALBANY, ALLEGANY, BRONX, BROOME, CATTARAUGUS, CAYUGA, CHAUTAUQUA, CHEMUNG, CHENANGO, CLINTON, COLUMBIA, CORTLAND, DELAWARE, DUTCHESS, ERIE, ESSEX, FRANKLIN, FULTON, GENESEE, GREENE, HAMILTON, HERKIMER, JEFFERSON, KINGS, LEWIS, LIVINGSTON, MADISON, MONROE, MONTGOMERY, NASSAU, NEW YORK, NIAGARA, ONEIDA, ONONDAGA, ONTARIO, ORANGE, ORLEANS, OSWEGO, OTSEGO, PUTNAM, QUEENS, RENSSELAER, RICHMOND, ROCKLAND, SAINT LAWRENCE, SARATOGA, SCHENECTADY, SCHOHARIE, SCHUYLER, SENECA, STEUBEN, SUFFOLK, SULLIVAN, TIOGA, TOMPKINS, ULSTER, WARREN, WASHINGTON, WAYNE, WESTCHESTER, WYOMING, AND YATES.

WHEREAS, on January 19, 2019, and continuing thereafter, a severe winter storm is anticipated to impact New York State and poses an imminent danger to vital public transportation, utility service, public health, and public safety systems within the counties of Albany, Allegany, Bronx, Broome, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Chemung, Chenango, Clinton, Columbia, Cortland, Delaware, Dutchess, Erie, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Genesee, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Kings, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, Nassau, New York, Niagara, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Orange, Orleans, Oswego, Otsego, Putnam, Queens, Rensselaer, Richmond, Rockland, Saint Lawrence, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Suffolk, Sullivan, Tioga, Tompkins, Ulster, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Westchester, Wyoming, and Yates.

WHEREAS, this winter storm is forecasted to produce snowfall amounts of up to 25 inches, at a rate of one to two inches per hour, wind gusts of up to 35 miles per hour, ice and freezing rain, and artic temperatures with the potential to cause widespread power outages and road closures, travel disruptions, and damage to public and private property throughout the impacted areas, and therefore poses an immediate threat to the public health and safety.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ANDREW M. CUOMO, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution of the State of New York and Section 28 of Article 2-B of the Executive Law, do hereby find that a disaster is imminent for which the affected local governments are unable to respond adequately.  Therefore, I hereby declare a State Disaster Emergency effective January 19, 2019 within the territorial boundaries of the counties of Albany, Allegany, Bronx, Broome, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Chemung, Chenango, Clinton, Columbia, Cortland, Delaware, Dutchess, Erie, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Genesee, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Jefferson, Kings, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Montgomery, Nassau, New York, Niagara, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Orange, Orleans, Oswego, Otsego, Putnam, Queens, Rensselaer, Richmond, Rockland, Saint Lawrence, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Suffolk, Sullivan, Tioga, Tompkins, Ulster, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Westchester, Wyoming, and Yates.  This Executive Order shall be in effect until February 2, 2019; and

FURTHER, pursuant to Section 29 of Article 2-B of the Executive Law, I direct the implementation of the State Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan and authorize, effective January 19, 2019, the State Office of Emergency Management, the Department of Health, the Department of Transportation, the Division of State Police, the Division of Military and Naval Affairs, the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, the Public Service Commission, the Office of Fire Prevention and Control, the Department of Labor, the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the Office of General Services, the Thruway Authority, the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, other State agencies as necessary, and the American Red Cross to take appropriate action to protect State property and to assist affected local governments and individuals in responding to and recovering from this disaster, and to provide such other assistance as necessary to protect the public health and safety.

FURTHER, I have designated Roger Parrino, Commissioner of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, as the State Coordinating Officer for this event.

IN ADDITION, this declaration satisfies the requirements of 49 C.F.R. 390.23(a)(l)(A), which provides relief from Parts 390 through 399 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR). Such relief from the FMCSR is necessary to ensure that snow removal crews can clear vital roadways and hasten the movement of utility power restoration crews into New York State.

FURTHER, I, ANDREW M. CUOMO, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Section 29-a of Article 2-B of the Executive Law to temporarily suspend specific provisions of any statute, local law, ordinance, orders, rules or regulations, or parts thereof, of any agency during a State disaster emergency, if compliance with such provisions would prevent, hinder or delay action necessary to cope with the disaster, hereby temporarily suspend, for the period from the date of  thisExecutive Order through February 2, 2019, the following laws:

Section 38(1), (2) and (3) of the Highway Law and Article 4-C of the Economic Development Law, to the extent that the Commissioner of Transportation determines it necessary to authorize the award of emergency contracts and/or to combine design and construction services in contracts and to use such services when needed;

Section 97-G of the State Finance Law, to the extent that the Commissioner of General Services or the Commissioner of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services determines it necessary to purchase food, supplies, services, and equipment or furnish or provide various centralized services, including but not limited to, building design and construction services to assist affected local governments, individuals, and other non-State entities in responding to and recovering from the disaster emergency;

Section 112 of the State Finance Law, to the extent consistent with Article V, Section I of the State Constitution, and to the extent that the Commissioner of Transportation, the Commissioner of General Services, or the Commissioner of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services determines it necessary to add additional work, sites, and time to State contracts, to award emergency contracts or award leases for relocation and support of State operations under Public Buildings Law Section 3, to award emergency contracts under Public Buildings Law Section 9, to award emergency contracts for professional services under Section 136-a of the State Finance Law, and to award emergency contracts for commodities, services, technology and materials pursuant to Section 163 of the State Finance Law;

Section 136-a of the State Finance Law, to the extent that the Commissioner of Transportation or the Commissioner of General Services determines it necessary to combine design and construction services in one contract and/or to obtain design and construction inspection services;

Section 163 of the State Finance Law and Article 4-C of the Economic Development Law, to the extent of allowing the Commissioner of Transportation, the Commissioner of General Services, or the Commissioner of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services to purchase necessary commodities, services, technology and materials without following the standard notice and procurement processes;

Section 359-a and Section 2879 of the Public Authorities Law to the extent of allowing the New York State Thruway Authority to purchase necessary goods and services without following the standard procurement processes;

Sections 375, 385 and 401 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law, to the extent that exemption for vehicles validly registered in other jurisdictions from the vehicle registration, equipment, and dimension requirements is necessary to assist in disaster preparedness and recovery efforts; and

Part F of Chapter 60 of the Laws of 2015, and Chapter 59 of 2017 to the extent of allowing the Commissioner of Transportation or the Commissioner of General Services to award design-build and best value contracts without following the proscribed procurement process.

FURTHER, actions pursuant to this emergency necessary for the replacement, rehabilitation, or reconstruction of structures are Type II actions not subject to further review under Article 8 of the Environmental Conservation Law pursuant to 6 NYCRR Part 617.5(c)(33).

FURTHER, I hereby temporarily modify, for the period from the date of this Executive Order through February 2, 2019, the following laws:

Section 24 of the Executive Law; Sections 104 and 346 of the Highway Law; Sections 1602, 1630, 1640, 1650, and 1660 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law; Section 14(16) of the Transportation Law; Sections 6-602 and 17-1706 of the Village Law; Section 20(32) of the General City Law; Section 91 of Second Class Cities Law; Section 19-107(ii) of the New York City Administrative Code; and Section 107.1 of Title 21 of the New York Codes, Rules and Regulations, to the extent necessary to provide the Governor with the authority to regulate traffic and the movement of vehicles on roads, highways, and streets.

G I V E N   under my hand and the Privy Seal of the State in the City of Albany this nineteenth day of January in the year two thousand nineteen.

BY THE GOVERNOR         

Secretary to the Governor

EDITOR'S NOTE: 

This State of Disaster was declared on January 19, 2019 for a period of time ending on February 2, 2019.

This Executive Order by the governor is dated February 15, 2019 at 10:30 AM EST.

We will be informing you of items such as this as they come in.

Attorney General James Files Brief In Lawsuit Against Federal Bureau Of Prisons Over Conditions At Metropolitan Detention Center

Files Amicus Brief in Lawsuit Over Emergency Procedure Failures, Inhumane Conditions, and Lack of Access to Counsel at MDC  

  Attorney General Letitia James filed an amicus brief in a lawsuit filed by the Federal Defenders of New York over the federal government’s failed response to the power and heating outages that occurred at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. The lawsuit alleges that the federal government’s response to the loss of maintenance services and failure to institute and execute emergency proceedings resulted in days of inhumane conditions for individuals detained at the facility. 

The amicus brief, filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, cites New York State’s extensive experience and preparedness handling emergencies (including heat and power outages) in correctional and other secured facilities and highlights the utility of appointing a special master to monitor conditions at the MDC. 

“The reported conditions at MDC were unacceptable and inhumane,” said Attorney General Letitia James. “Being incarcerated should not result in being denied basic human rights. Our facilities must have proper protocols and procedures in place in the event of emergencies. I will continue to support the call for stronger policies and practices at the federal level to ensure the safety and well-being of all New Yorkers."

Federal Defenders of New York, a public defender organization, recently sued the Bureau of Prisons and MDC Warden Herman Quay, on the grounds that they violated the constitutional rights of inmates at MDC by denying legal visits during the outage. The lawsuit called for the appointment of a special master to inspect the MDC and assess current conditions at the facility to ensure the rights of detainees are not being denied.  

New York State’s extensive experience maintaining secured facilities and developing emergency procedures makes the State well-positioned to advocate and advise the court on protocols and oversight. New York State maintains a criminal correctional system that houses close to 47,000 individuals across 54 state-operated facilities, has extensive procedures in place to respond effectively to natural disasters, weather-related emergencies, maintenance and service failures, fires, and other major disruptions in the facilities that it operates and oversees.  

House Dems Reintroduce Assault Weapons Ban

  Congressman Eliot Engel, a member of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, and a record 190 House Democrats have reintroduced H.R. 1296, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2019, legislation that would ban the sale, manufacture, or possession of new military-style assault weapons. The bill, authored by Rep. David Cicilline and originally cosponsored by Engel, would reinstate the ban on assault weapons that was allowed to lapse 15 years ago under Republican leadership.

“Last week marked the one year anniversary since 17 lives were taken by a weapon of war at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Nearly 40,000 Americans have been killed by guns since then. The American people, our children, our communities—we’ve all endured enough horror from gun violence,” Rep. Engel said. “Mass shootings have become so common in this country that most of the time they don’t even make the news cycle. This should give us all pause. What’s more, the prevalence and wide availability of assault weapons has increased fatalities during mass shootings substantially. This madness has to end. We banned assault weapons in 1994 because we recognized that weapons of war don’t belong on our streets. I proudly voted for that bill then, and I’m proud to support a reinstitution of it now. The NRA doesn’t run the U.S. House of Representatives anymore. House Democrats do.”   

Assault weapons have been the weapon of choice in many of country’s worst mass shootings. In the ten years after the previous assault weapons ban expired, mass shootings where six or more people were killed increased by 183%.

In response to these continuing tragedies, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2019 would ban the sale of:

• Semi-automatic rifles and pistols with a military-style feature that can accept a detachable magazine;
• Semi-automatic rifles with a fixed magazine that can hold more than 10 rounds;
• Semi-automatic shotguns with a military-style feature;
• Any ammunition feeding device that can hold more than 10 rounds;
• And 205 specifically-named and listed firearms.

Speaker Corey Johnson and Council Members Chin, Holden, Powers, and Torres Announce Legislative Crackdown On Placard Abuse

  New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson and Council Members Margaret S. Chin, Robert Holden, Keith Powers, and Ritchie Torres announced a new package of bills to be introduced on Wednesday, February 13, intended to crack down on the abuse of City-issued parking permits known as placards, as well as unofficial and counterfeit permits and placards also used to skirt the law. This package also addresses dangerous parking practices often associated with placards, including blocking bike and bus lanes, crosswalks, sidewalks, and fire hydrants. This new slate of Council bills is designed to supplement a legislative package introduced in 2018 that similarly attempted to rein in placard abuse, which included bills sponsored by Council Members Chin, Peter Koo, Ydanis Rodriguez, and Jumaane Williams.

“Placard abuse is corruption, plain and simple, and New York City cannot tolerate it any longer,” said City Council Speaker Corey Johnson. “We are in a transportation crisis and the question of how we allocate our street space is of paramount importance. As we try to fight congestion and encourage modes of transportation like buses and cycling, it is clear that cracking down on placard abuse has to be part of any serious attempt to make navigating our City easier and more efficient for all New Yorkers.”

“Placard abuse has become the norm throughout many neighborhoods, including on the already heavily congested streets of Lower Manhattan, particularly in Chinatown and Battery Park City,” said Council Member Margaret S. Chin. “We cannot allow the status quo to continue if we are to ensure the safety of our streets for pedestrians and the general public. I proudly join Speaker Johnson and my fellow Council Members to introduce a new package of bills which will address this problem and serve to ease the transportation crisis facing our City. These new bills will urge City Hall to take placard abuse seriously and invest in strong and smart enforcement measures to hold serial placard abusers accountable.” 

“As a civic leader for over 30 years, I have fought against drivers who skirt our parking laws, create more congestion and put others in danger,” said Council Member Robert F. Holden. “I am proud to partner with Speaker Corey Johnson and my colleagues in the New York City Council in combatting placard abuse and individuals who believe they are above the law and can park wherever they please. Parking in crosswalks and blocking sidewalks and hydrants will no longer be tolerated, and should be dealt with immediately.”

“Placard misuse and abuse has gotten out of hand in New York City, contributing to congested streets and adding to public mistrust. The legislation being introduced will help bring much-need clarity to parking in New York City, including my bill to standardize the application process. Thank you to Speaker Johnson and my colleagues for working together to crackdown on placard abuse,” said Council Member Keith Powers.

“Placard abuse and associated corruptive practices, such as blocking sidewalks and bus and bike lanes, is inexcusable. It’s the City of New York’s responsibility to hold whomever is at fault, accountable. I’ve worked on this issue for many years and I hope this bill package is approved swiftly by the Council,” said Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, Chair of the Transportation Committee. 

“The misuse of placards and parking permits has gotten out of control and threatens street safety. This comprehensive package will rein in placard abuse and ensure they are properly used and distributed. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass these bills and curb placard abuse,” said Council Member Ritchie Torres.

This new legislative package includes five separate bills that together represent the strongest and most comprehensive attempt to rein in placard abuse in City history. The bills would:

Create a standardized application process for City-issued parking permits and collect information on why placards are requested and how their use supports a City agency. (Sponsored by Council Member Powers and Speaker Johnson).

Require at least 50 targeted enforcement sweeps each week with monitoring by the Department of Investigation. Sweep locations would be determined by 311 complaints regarding placard abuse and would be documented with photographs and details on all enforcement action taken. (Sponsored by Speaker Johnson and Council Members Torres and Chin)

Require enforcement officers to call for towing of any vehicle blocking a sidewalk, crosswalk, fire hydrant, bike lane, or bus lane (Sponsored by Council Member Holden and Speaker Johnson)

Prohibit official City vehicles from blocking a bike lane, bus lane, crosswalk, sidewalk, or fire hydrant unless it is an emergency. (Sponsored by Speaker Johnson and Council Members Torres and Chin)

Require 311 to accept complaints and photographs related to illegal parking and placard abuse. The City would be required to respond to complaints about blocking a bike lane, bus lane, crosswalk, sidewalk, or fire hydrant and explain why an emergency existed. (Sponsored by Speaker Johnson and Council Members Torres and Chin)

These bills are designed to supplement an existing package of legislation introduced in 2018 that also deals with the problem of placard abuse. The bills that were introduced in 2018 are:

Int. 596 (Sponsored by Council Member Williams): Increasing the penalty for a fake placard from $250 to $500.

Int. 314 (Sponsored by Council Member Rodriguez): Requiring reporting on placard misuse by the New York Police Department.

Int. 942 (Sponsored by Council Member Koo): Requiring a plan on distribution of placards.

Int. 932 (Sponsored by Council Member Chin): Providing for the revocation of placards for misuse.

Int. 927 (Sponsored by Speaker Johnson): Creates a system to track misuse of placards. 

BRONX MAN SENTENCED TO 5-10 YEARS IN PRISON FOR SEX TRAFFICKING

Defendant Forced 14-Year-Old Girl Into Prostitution; Advertised Victim On Internet

 Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced that a Bronx man has been sentenced to five to 10 years in prison for the sex trafficking of a 14-year-old girl whom he forced into prostitution by assaulting her. 

 District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant sexually advertised the teenage girl on the website Backpage and made money by having the victim engage in prostitution. Today’s sentence will keep a predator of children off the streets.” 

 District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Santos Rodriguez, 26, of 612 East 180 Street, was sentenced to five to 10 years in prison today by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Denis Boyle. The defendant will be required to register as a sex offender upon his release. The defendant pleaded guilty to Sex Trafficking on November 7, 2018.

 According to the investigation, on or about April 28, 2017 and June 6, 2017 at different times and at several locations in the Bronx, the defendant intentionally advanced and profited from the prostitution of a teenage girl. Rodriguez used force and intimidation against the victim to instill fear and to induce her to engage in prostitution, including slapping and strangling her. Rodriguez also engaged in sexual acts with the victim.

 District Attorney Clark thanked Assistant District Attorney Jason Birriel of the Criminal Enterprise Bureau for his assistance in the case. District Attorney Clark also thanked Detective John Zerafa of the NYPD/FBI Human Trafficking Task Force.

Manhattan Man Pleads Guilty To 2018 Murder Of 17-Year-Old

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that GARY TURNER pled guilty in Manhattan federal court to the murder of Samuel Ozuna, 17, outside the George Washington Carver Houses in New York, New York on April 24, 2018.  United States District Judge Jesse M. Furman presided over the defendant’s guilty plea.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “Last April, Gary Turner murdered 17-year-old Samuel Ozuna. Turner admitted in open court to committing that terrible act of violence.  We will continue our daily work with the NYPD to keep the streets safe and vigorously to investigate and prosecute those who bring murder and mayhem to our communities.”

As alleged in the Indictment and statements made in open court:

On April 24, 2018, GARY TURNER shot and killed Samuel Ozuna in the vicinity of 60 East 104th Street in Manhattan.  TURNER committed this killing in order to maintain his position in a violent gang that was operating in the residential neighborhood surrounding the George Washington Carver Houses. 

TURNER, 24, of Manhattan, pled guilty to using a firearm to commit murder in aid of racketeering, which carries a maximum sentence of death or life in prison, and a mandatory minimum term of five years in prison.  The statutory maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Police Department.