MAYOR’S OFFICE OF IMMIGRANT AFFAIRS RELEASES SECOND ANNUAL REPORT, REAFFIRMING CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO MAKE NYC THE FAIREST BIG CITY IN THE COUNTRY

MOIA led Citywide efforts to respond to attacks on immigrant communities by the federal government

Report publishes latest data on uninsured immigrant New Yorkers, as City implements NYC Care

  The Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs released its second Annual Report, “State of Our Immigrant City.” As the City agency dedicated to supporting NYC’s 3.2 million immigrant New Yorkers, MOIA has continued to solidify NYC’s status as the fairest big city in the country for all residents, regardless of immigration status.

The new Annual Report describes MOIA’s 2018 activities in detail, including advocating for equitable access to City services, leading rapid response to harmful federal proposals and policies from the Trump administration, and providing timely, critical information and analysis to community members and stakeholders. The report includes new and updated data on demographic characteristics of immigrant New Yorkers. In addition, the Annual Report describes the City’s fight against the Trump Administration's family separation crisis and proposed changes to “public charge” rules.

“In New York City, we know that the contributions of immigrant communities help make this the greatest city in the world,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Commissioner Mostofi and MOIA enshrine that perspective in City government and help us hold the line and drive forward with an agenda that helps us build a fairer city for all.”

“New York is a world class city in large part because over 3.1 million creative, inventive, hard-working New Yorkers from around the world have made this city their home,” said Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives Phillip Thompson. “MOIA’s tireless work every day on behalf of and in coalition with immigrant communities makes our city even stronger. I look forward to continuing our work towards greater economic and social justice for all, regardless of immigration status or national origin.”

“Building the fairest big city in the country means expanding and protecting opportunity to all of our residents, regardless of immigration status,” said Bitta Mostofi, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. “While the federal government has focused on separating and detaining families or jeopardizing access to public services, we’ll continue to stand with our immigrant neighbors. As a child of immigrants myself, I am proud to serve this city and proud of what we’ve accomplished, working together with the rest of the Administration, the City Council, our local and national partners, and most of all our staff in this past year. Onward!”

“With the federal government shifting away from protecting vulnerable consumers and workforces, and creating anti-immigrant policies that foster an increasingly hostile environment for immigrants, we are committed to advocating on their behalf,” said Department of Consumer Affairs Commissioner Lorelei Salas. “As an immigrant myself, I am proud of our ongoing work with MOIA to protect our communities—from financial health of taxi drivers to workers’ rights to enforcement against predatory businesses that prey on immigrants. We are not just filling the gap in protections but we want all immigrants to know that the City of New York is here to support them—regardless of immigration status.”

“The Mayor’s Fund is proud to partner with MOIA on our shared goal of advancing fairness and equity for every resident of the five boroughs, including the more than three million immigrants who make New York City their home,” said Toya Williford, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City. “Together in 2018, we were able to quickly respond to the needs of immigrant children who had been separated from their families, help more immigrants understand their rights, and reach more eligible New Yorkers with resources about applying for citizenship. We look forward to continuing our partnership and congratulate MOIA on its recent achievements.”

"The Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity is a proud partner with MOIA in their mission to promote the well-being of immigrant communities and advance immigrant inclusion,” said Vicky Virgin, Research Associate at the Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity (NYC Opportunity), whose work focuses on New York City’s immigrant community. “Our recently released Economic Profile of Immigrants in New York City introduced the first in-depth analysis of the economic disparities that exist among the foreign born by legal status. We are pleased that this analysis informs MOIA’s important work to ensure the City advances policy that is effectively tailored to address the needs of all New Yorkers, irrespective of immigration status.”

“New York City has been, and always will be, a city that respects, supports and protects its diverse communities, including the 3.2 million immigrants that call New York City home,” said Carmelyn P. Malalis, Chair and Commissioner of the NYC Commission on Human Rights. “While the federal government continues its unrelenting xenophobic and racist attacks on our immigrant communities, New York City is ever more committed to being a place that welcomes immigrants from every country on the globe, a place where the diversity of cultures, languages, art, music, food and so much more contribute immeasurably to the rich fabric of New York City. No one has permission to discriminate against or harass someone because of where they come from, what language they speak, or how they dress, and the Commission on Human Rights works hard every day to protect ALL New Yorkers. We are proud to work alongside MOIA and Commissioner Mostofi in that effort.”

“New York City has always been a proud city of immigrants and ACS will continue to do everything in our power to ensure that immigrant children and families are both safe and healthy,” said David A. Hansell, Commissioner of NYC’s Administration for Children’s Services (ACS). “Immigration status should never be a barrier to obtaining assistance or services through the child welfare system, and in New York City we’ve made major strides to ensure that all families have access to our services, regardless of immigration status. I want to thank Commissioner Mostofi for her tireless leadership to strengthen and support all NYC families.”

“New York is a city of immigrants, and we’ve worked closely our partners at the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs to make sure every resident has access to our city’s wide range of cultural assets, regardless of their background or status,” said Cultural Affairs Commissioner Tom Finkelpearl. “From organizations that provide free memberships to IDNYC card holders, to artists who have worked to build bridges between immigrant communities and government, we’re thrilled to see our colleagues embrace art as a powerful tool to bring people together and explore our city’s most pressing challenges.”

“The strength of our City is firmly rooted in its diversity and we take pride on assisting the millions of immigrants who call New York City home,” said Department of Social Services Commissioner Steven Banks. “At a time when the message from the federal government is one of fear and divisiveness, we are committed more than ever to enhancing the lives of all New Yorkers regardless of their immigration status.”

New data analysis about NYC’s immigrant population is available in the Annual Report. Major new findings include:

• NYC is home to more immigrants than ever before, while NYC’s undocumented population is at a 10-year low, mirroring national trends.
• The level of uninsured immigrant New Yorkers has declined from 36.1% to 21.9% in over a five-year period.
• The poverty rate among immigrant New Yorkers is significantly higher than for New Yorkers born in the United States. The poverty rate for undocumented NYC residents is more than 50% higher than the citywide average and nearly 75% higher than the average for U.S.-born residents.
• The number of City agency approvals of U and T visa certification requests, for victims of crime or trafficking, reached a record high of 863.

The report also sets forth MOIA’s goals and recommendations for the coming year. Economic and civic inclusion, such as through strengthening worker protections and expanding poll-site interpretation services, are important to the vitality of the entire city. Advocacy on the federal and state levels is critical, as new opportunities arise for action to strengthen immigrant communities, including implementation of the New York State DREAM Act and protecting DACA and TPS recipients. While that advocacy is ongoing, MOIA will continue its work to assist launching NYC Care, so that all New Yorkers have access to quality and affordable health care.

Additional notable statistics from the report about immigrant New Yorkers include:

Population:

·        New Yorkers by Immigration Status: 62.8% U.S.-born citizens; 20.9% naturalized citizens; 11.0% green card holders or other status; 5.3% undocumented.

·         Top Ten Countries of Birth for Immigrant New Yorkers, from Highest Population to Lowest: Dominican Republic; China; Jamaica; Mexico; Guyana; Ecuador; Bangladesh; Haiti; India; Trinidad & Tobago.

·         Top Ten Languages of Immigrant New Yorkers with Limited English Proficiency (LEP), in Order: Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Bengali, Korean, Haitian, Arabic, French, Urdu, and Polish.

·         Nearly 60 percent of New Yorkers live in households with at least one immigrant.

·         Over one million New Yorkers live in mixed-status households, in which at least one person is undocumented.

·         Of these one million New Yorkers, 277,000 are children, and three-fourths of these children are U.S.-born citizens.

Economy:

·         77.4 percent of undocumented immigrants (age 16 and older) are in the labor force, compared to 64.9 percent of all New Yorkers.

·         Immigrant New Yorkers contributed $228 billion to the city’s GDP, over a quarter of its total.

Health:

·        22 percent of immigrant New Yorkers lack health insurance, compared to 7 percent of U.S.-born New Yorkers.

·         47.1 percent of undocumented New Yorkers lack health insurance.

·         18.6 percent of undocumented children (under age 19) in NYC lack health insurance, compared to 2.1 percent of U.S.-born children, even though universal coverage is available to all children regardless of immigration status in New York State.

The full report, which can be accessed here, has a wealth of additional information about immigrant New Yorkers, MOIA programming and advocacy, and more policy recommendations for federal and state policymakers, including enacting driver’s licenses for all New Yorkers.

The full report is available here.

The Next Public Meeting of the NYC Charter Commission 2019: March 21, 2019, 6:00 PM, Manhattan - City Hall

  New York City Charter Revision Commission 2019

Notice of Public Meeting
Thursday, March 21, 2019 at 6:00 p.m.
City Hall Council Chambers
City Hall, New York, New York 10007

The New York City Charter Revision Commission 2019 will hold an issues forum open to the public, at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 21, 2019. The meeting will be held at City Hall in Council Chambers, City Hall, New York, New York 10007. This forum will include experts discussing land use issues including comprehensive planning, the Uniform Land Use Review Procedures and franchises and concessions, and such other matters as may be necessary in the Commission's review of recommendations and proposals for potential revisions to the New York City Charter.

This meeting is open to the public. Because this is a public meeting and not a public hearing, the public will have the opportunity to observe the Commission’s discussions, but not testify before it. There will be opportunities for testimony by members of the public at future public hearings of the Commission.

If you are not able to attend, but wish to watch the meeting, all public hearings and meetings will be livestreamed at the Commission’s website found here: www.charter2019.nyc.

What if I need assistance to observe the meeting?

This location is accessible to individuals using wheelchairs or other mobility devices. With advance notice, American Sign Language interpreters will be available and members of the public may request induction loop devices and language translation services. Please make induction loop, language translation or additional accessibility requests by emailing the Commission at info@charter2019.nyc or calling 212-482-5155. All requests will be accommodated to the extent possible.

Find out more about the NYC Charter Revision Commission 2019 by visiting us at our website: www.charter2019.nyc.

MAYOR DE BLASIO STATEMENT ON NEW YORK LEGISLATURE PASSING SPEED CAMERA PROGRAM EXPANSION

  “The Assembly and Senate deserve great credit in passing a dramatic expansion of our life-saving speed camera program. We will stop at nothing to aggressively pursue tools like speed cameras that we know slow down drivers and save lives around schools across the city. Vision Zero is working and more speed cameras will only deepen that progress on our streets.”

City of New York to Comply with the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act and Prevent Contamination of the City’s Drinking Water Supply

Under the Consent Decree, New York City Will Pay the United States a $1 Million Civil Penalty for Past Violations of Federal Requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act

  Richard P. Donoghue, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Jeffrey Bossert Clark, Assistant Attorney General for the Environmental and Natural Resources Division of the United States Department of Justice, and Andrew Wheeler, Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), announced today that the United States filed suit under the Safe Drinking Water Act against the City of New York and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (the City) for failure to cover the Hillview Reservoir (the Reservoir), located in Yonkers, New York, in violation of federal regulation and federal and state administrative orders.  A Consent Decree requiring the City to cover the Reservoir and pay a civil penalty was also lodged with the Court.  Following a 30-day public comment period, the United States will review the comments and, if appropriate, move for entry of the Consent Decree by the Court.

“The United States brought this action to ensure that New York City covers the Hillview Reservoir to protect the drinking water City residents receive from the Catskill-Delaware Drinking Water Supply.  This Office will continue to monitor and enforce the Consent Decree through completion of its requirements,” said United States Attorney Richard P. Donoghue. 

“Today we take the necessary steps to fix a serious public-health problem,” said Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Bossert Clark for the Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division.  “Congress enacted the Safe Drinking Water Act to ensure that every American has access to safe water to drink.  And we vindicate that Act by ensuring in our enforcement action that the City of New York will comply this federal law by protecting against contaminants aerially deposited into the Hillview Reservoir, which millions of New Yorkers depend for their everyday drinking water needs.”          

“New York City failed to comply with Safe Drinking Water Act requirements that keep drinking water safe from harmful bacteria and viruses, even when it was under an order to do so,” said EPA Administrator Wheeler. “EPA will ensure the City complies with the decree and takes the necessary steps to prevent its drinking water from harming the health of its residents.”

The Reservoir is part of New York City’s public water system.  It is an open storage facility and is the last stop for drinking water before it enters the City Water Tunnels for distribution to City residents.  The 90-acre Reservoir receives nearly a billion gallons of water each day through the Catskill and Delaware Aqueducts, and serves as a holding tank that allows the City to meet daily peak water demand.  It is divided into two segments, the East and West Basins.  Prior to the water entering the Reservoir, it receives a first treatment of chlorine and ultraviolet treatment.  Since the Reservoir is downstream of these treatments and is an open storage facility, the finished water[1] in the Reservoir is subject to recontamination with microbial pathogens, such as viruses, Giardia and Cryptosporidium, from birds, animals and other sources.  Giardia and Cryptosporidium are protozoa that can cause potentially fatal gastrointestinal illness in humans.  If the water in the Reservoir were to be re-contaminated, public health would be threatened, since sufficient microbial treatment is not available downstream of the Reservoir.  A cover is necessary to prevent recontamination by such pathogens.  Until the cover is in operation, the City is required to take active measures to control wildlife in and around the Reservoir and monitor the Reservoir to ensure that the water is safe for drinking.

The City has been required to cover the Reservoir since it first executed an Administrative Order with the State of New York on January 26, 1999.  On March 6, 2006, the City also became obligated to cover the Reservoir under federal regulation, specifically the Safe Drinking Water Act.  The regulation required uncovered finished water storage facilities, such as the Reservoir, to be covered by April 1, 2009, or for the discharge from the uncovered finished water storage facilities to be treated to achieve inactivation and/or removal of microbial contaminants.  In May 2010, EPA entered into an Administrative Order requiring the City to meet a series of milestones leading to the completion of a cover for the Reservoir.  The first milestone date was January 31, 2017.  The City failed to meet that date, and this lawsuit followed. 

The Consent Decree contains requirements for construction of two projects in addition to the cover, the Kensico Eastview Connection (KEC) and the Hillview Reservoir Improvements (HRI).  The KEC entails the construction of a new underground aqueduct segment between Kensico and Eastview that replaces the previously planned Catskill Aqueduct Pressurization Project.  The HRI requires extensive repairs to the Hillview Reservoir, including replacing the sluice gates that control water flow and building a new connection between the reservoir and water distribution tunnels.  The completion of the KEC is expected to take until 2035.  The City estimates the construction cost of the KEC to be approximately $1 billion.  The HRI project will be conducted concurrently with the KEC and is anticipated to be completed by 2033.  The City estimates the construction cost of the HRI to be approximately $375 million.  While the KEC and HRI construction and repair work are underway, the City will conduct facilities planning and design work for the Hillview cover.  Following the completion of the KEC and the HRI, the East Basin cover will be constructed, with expected commencement of full operation in 2042, and then the West Basin cover will be constructed, with expected commencement of full operation in 2049.  The City’s estimate in 2009 for the cost of its then planned concrete cover for the 90-acre Reservoir was $1.6 billion.  The actual cost of the cover may be lower, should the City choose a different type of cover.

Because the schedule in the Consent Decree is lengthy, and there is a possibility that the schedule could be accelerated under certain circumstances, the Consent Decree provides for potential acceleration.  The Consent Decree also requires the City to implement Interim Measures to protect the water until the Hillview Reservoir cover is in full operation including: (1) enhanced wildlife management at the Reservoir; (2) weekly sampling of source water for Cryptosporidium and Giardia at the Kensico Reservoir effluent(s), and Cryptosporidium and Giardia sampling at the Reservoir effluent; (3) quality control sampling of the Reservoir effluent; and (4) implementation of a Cryptosporidium and Giardia Action Plan for response procedures for elevated Cryptosporidium and Giardia at the Reservoir.

In addition, under the Consent Decree, the City will pay the United States a civil penalty of $1 million for its past violations of federal requirements.  The Consent Decree also provides that the City will pay New York State $50,000, and implement a state Water Quality Benefit Project in the amount of $200,000 to settle the State’s claim for penalties for violations of a State administrative order.

The civil negotiations and settlement were handled by the Office’s Civil Division.  Assistant United States Attorney Deborah B. Zwany is in charge of this matter, working together with  Elizabeth Yu, U.S. Department of Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division, Phyllis Kaplan Feinmark, Regional Counsel’s Office, EPA Region 2, Doughlas McKenna, Chief of the Water Compliance Branch, EPA Region 2 and Nicole Kraft, Chief of the Ground Water Compliance Section, EPA Region 2, Gavin McCabe from the New York State Attorney General’s Office, and Roger Sokol from the New York State Department of Health’s Bureau of Water Supply Protection.

[1] Finished water is water that has been introduced into the distribution system of a public water system and is intended for distribution and consumption without further treatment, except as necessary to maintain water quality in the distribution system.

Bronx Council for Environmental Quality - Greening the Bronx Conference 4.10.19 6-9 PM

SAVE the DATE
Join us at our Annual Meeting

April 10, 2019 6 pm to 9 pm  

Manhattan College’s
Leo Engineering Building

3825 Corlear Ave. at 238 St, Bronx, NY 10463.

rsvp@bceq.org

Greening the Bronx: Clean, Capture and Soak-In Rain

Greening the Bronx with Green Infrastructure is a simple way to clean our water, capture it before it wears out our streets, from flooding or freezing, and help any rainfall/snow to soak into the land, lawns, and flowering rain gardens.   Protecting Land and Shores with Green Infrastructure, is an approved nature-based management practice.  Kindly respond that you will attend (especially if you plan on eating the light meal) to rsvp@bceq.org your name, phone#, and affiliation.  Check our web page for more detailed information and changes to the program.

HELP TURN FORT INDEPENDENCE PARK INTO A SPONGE

Help turn Fort Independence Park into a sponge! Enter the Park into Sponge Contest by sending an email to parkintosponge@bceq.org with your name, phone, & affiliation or if it is school project, your professor/teacher. Provide a short description of your ideas and the method of your presentation.  You will be expected to give a 5-minute talk on the design. Be the City’s imagination and prepare Green Infrastructure drawings based on the photos of runoff damage supplied in the registration packet. Or use your own park and take your own photos and prepare GI to turn your Park into a Sponge. Bring your final exhibit, on either a poster, power point, or storyboard to the meeting (set up is 5 pm on April 10). Winners will be announced in at our Environmental Education Awards Board Meeting on June 8, 2019.

Participate in Government - Send Comments and/or Attend Meetings

Save Wetlands - follow the Riverkeeper's letter writing campaign  https://secure3.convio.net/river/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=567   The BIG WALL is coming. Come to the meeting that the Army Corps of Engineerings are holding - NYNJHAT.  https://www.nan.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Projects-in-New-York/New-York-New-Jersey-Harbor-Tributaries-Focus-Area-Feasibility-Study/ Check our web page for updates and sample comments.

CITY ANNOUNCES $2.8 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR OVER 175 CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS FROM METROPOLITAN MUSEUM ADMISSIONS REVENUE AGREEMENT

   Today, the de Blasio Administration announced that $2.8 million in additional funding will be allocated to over 175 cultural organizations in underserved communities in all five boroughs. The new funding is being made available thanks to an agreement allowing the Metropolitan Museum of Art to charge mandatory admission to visitors from outside of New York State in exchange for sharing a portion of the new revenue with the City. DCLA committed to use this revenue to support the goals from the CreateNYC cultural plan, which identified cultural funding equity as one of its top priorities.

“New York is the cultural capital of the world not only because of our hallmark institutions, but because of the smaller museums, shows, and organizations throughout the five boroughs,” said Mayor de Blasio “They deserve meaningful investment too. This agreement has allowed the Met to thrive while giving us a unique opportunity to increase cultural investment in our underserved communities - allowing us to support the diversity that makes our city great at no additional cost to taxpayers.”

·         Cultural Development Fund increase: $1.4 million of the funding was earmarked for Cultural Development Fund recipients. More than 160 groups received increases in their FY19 grants. Groups that received increases either are located in or provide services to high-need neighborhoods identified by the Social Impact of the Arts Project’s report “Culture and Social Wellbeing in New York City.” Groups receiving increases ranging from $1K to $40K include Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center in the Bronx; Weeksville Heritage Center in Brooklyn; Harlem Stage in Manhattan; Louis Armstrong House Museum in Queens; and St. George Theater in Staten Island.

·         Cultural Institutions Group increase: The remaining $1.4 million will be distributed to members of theCultural Institutions Group (CIG) located in underserved communities. The goal is to build on the City’s long term relationship with the members of the CIG and provide greater equity among its members. The funding increases range from $25K to $175K. The 16 members of the CIG receiving increased funding include the Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning, El Museo del Barrio, Studio Museum in Harlem, Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Staten Island Children’s Museum, and Bronx Museum of the Arts.

The funding comes from an agreement between the City’s Department of Cultural Affairs and the Metropolitan Museum of Art implemented in 2018. Under the terms of the agreement, the Met was be permitted to charge mandatory admission to visitors who are not residents of New York State. In turn, the Met would share a portion of its admissions revenue in the first year of its implementation.

After that, DCLA will permanently lower the Met’s annual subsidy proportionally based on the admissions revenue and direct this funding to other cultural organizations based on the priorities and recommendations in the CreateNYC cultural plan, namely to increase cultural funding for historically underserved organizations and communities.  These increases were targeted to communities identified by the Social Impact of the Arts Project, which mapped cultural assets across the city.

This marks another step toward fostering a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive cultural sector that serves all New Yorkers. Related efforts include the Department of Cultural Affairs’ initiative to promote a more diverse cultural workforce. DCLA has also created a number of new programs aimed at engaging historically underserved populations, including people with disabilities and non-English speakers. To learn more about CreateNYC, visit DCLA’s website.

“New York invests more in its cultural institutions than any other city in America,” said Cultural Affairs Commissioner Tom Finkelpearl. “While the returns on this investment are nothing short of transformative for communities across the city, we’ve looked for ways to address historical lack of cultural assets and investments in underserved communities. This agreement with the Met has paid dividends for NYC’s cultural community: stabilizing one of our City’s major institutions with increased admissions revenue, while providing a much needed boost to organizations that anchor communities across the City.”

“The admissions policy is performing precisely as we hoped it would – our Museum is welcoming record levels of visitors, the increased revenue is supporting our always ambitious exhibition and education programming, and New Yorkers are continuing to enjoy pay-as-you-wish pricing.  It is wonderful to see how the partnership that New York City and The Met began 149 years ago is bringing to our City even more support of arts and culture,” said Daniel Weiss, President and CEO, The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Friends Of Pelham Parkway Clean Up and Mulch For Spring

  The Friends of Pelham Parkway led by Roxanne Delgado, students from the Collegian Academy of the Columbus Campus, Councilman Mark Gjonaj, and even a couple of Bronx Park workers converged on the Pelham Parkway area by Wallace Avenue for a spring cleaning and mulching of the area. 

  Rakes, shovels, gloves, and even a truckload of mulch was brought by Partnership for Parks and the Parks Department. Mulch was brought over to trees to be placed around as many as possible by the group. Dead leaves were picked up, and rose bushes were trimmed for the upcoming spring warm weather. 

Above - Councilman Mark Gjonaj picked up a shovel and with one of his staffers were filling up wheelbarrows with mulch to be placed around the trees in the area.

Below - Once the mulch was placed around the trees students from the Collegian Academy of the Columbus Campus raked it down and around the trees. 

Above - This trio of intrepid workers took time out to pose for this photo as the started to clean up.

Below - As the day went on many bags were filled with dead leaves and mulch was placed around the rose bush area area. The rose bushes was later trimmed down by the Parks Department.

Fraudulent Political Action Committee Operator Sentenced To Two Years In Prison

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that WILLIAM TIERNEY was sentenced to two years in prison for conspiring to defraud tens of thousands of victims of more than $1 million in connection with political action committees falsely purporting to support causes including autism awareness, law enforcement support, and the pro-life movement.  TIERNEY was also ordered to pay more than $1.5 million in forfeiture and restitution to victims, as well as an additional $50,000 fine.  TIERNEY pled guilty on November 2, 2018, before United States District Judge Jesse M. Furman, who also imposed the sentence.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “The successful prosecution of William Tierney demonstrates the commitment of the federal government to rooting out fraud and corruption in political action committees.  Today’s sentence sends a clear warning to anyone engaged in fraudulent political fundraising:  Scam PACs are a crime and those perpetrating them will go to prison.”

According to the Information, other filings in Manhattan federal court, and evidence presented in court at sentencing:

TIERNEY defrauded tens of thousands of donors to six political action committees that he established, controlled, and operated.  These scam PACs were fraudulent entities operated to enrich the defendant, targeting victims across the country to raise funds on the basis of false and misleading representations.  The scam PACs purported to support voter education regarding – and the political campaigns of those who supported – various causes, including autism awareness, law enforcement, and pro-life causes, including through purported “coast to coast” education and advocacy campaigns, working with local groups and organizations, and “investing every penny . . . in the big races to come.”  In truth, virtually all of the money raised was either paid to TIERNEY or used to perpetuate the fraud through additional telemarketing, fundraising, and overhead expenditures.  Less than 1 percent of the money obtained by the scam PACs was contributed to candidates for office.

TIERNEY carried out the fraud through a web of shell pass-through entities utilized to conceal and disguise the scheme.  Donated funds were transferred to these shell entities, which were given names that suggested activities related to marketing, consulting, and communications efforts, including for issue-specific causes.  As a result, payments to the shell entities appeared to be for legitimate expenditures, including when publicly disclosed in Federal Election Commission (“FEC”) filings.  In at least one instance, a website was created for one of the shell entities, falsely stating that the entity provided direct marketing and political consulting services to trade associations, candidate campaigns, political action committees, and nonprofit organizations.  In fact, these and the other shell entities TIERNEY created had no active operations or employees, were retained by no outside “clients,” and served only to funnel and disguise financial transactions involving money donated to certain scam PACs.

To facilitate the fraud, TIERNEY used the false identity “Bill Johnson” when meeting and corresponding with certain vendors.  Another fake identity, “Emma Smith,” was used in fundraising solicitations, and was described as a “Volunteer Coordinator” for one of the PACs.  In fact, neither Emma Smith nor the position of “Volunteer Coordinator” actually existed.  TIERNEY also undertook efforts to avoid press coverage of the scam PACs more generally, despite the scam PACs’ claims in solicitation materials of national advocacy and awareness campaigns. 

In addition to the prison term, Judge Furman ordered TIERNEY, 47, to pay restitution in the amount of $1,175,417.23, forfeiture in the amount of $410,649.18, and a fine in the amount of $50,000.  TIERNEY was also sentenced to one year of supervised release.

TIERNEY pled guilty on November 2, 2018, to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the Special Agents of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, and thanked the Federal Bureau of Investigation for its contributions to the investigation.