BP DIAZ KICKS-OFF BRONX WEEK 2019

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. opened Bronx Week with Bronx Hall of Fame inductee Boxing Champion Iran Barkley. The other inductees are Singer-songwriter Regina Spektor, and Planetary Scientist Carolyn Porco to the 2019 Bronx Walk of Fame.

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. was joined by proud Bronxites and Bronxites-at-heart today for the official kick-off of “Bronx Week 2019” at The Lit. Bar, a newly-opened independent bookstore in Mott Haven. 

During the celebration, Borough President Diaz announced that singer-songwriter Regina Spektor, championship boxer Iran Barkley and planetary scientist Carolyn Porco would be honored as the newest members of the Bronx Walk of Fame.

“Bronx Week is a chance for our borough to come together and celebrate what an incredible community we have here,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. “The Bronx is recognized by the whole world as a rainbow of culture, talent, and spirit and today we host our annual homecoming for some of our best and brightest stars. This year’s honorees are role models for their achievements in their respective fields and they show that, if given a chance, a child from The Bronx can become a world-renowned pianist, a champion boxer or even a planetary scientist. I am proud to welcome them back to the Boogie Down.”

 “Bronx Week is one of the most, if not the most anticipated events of the year. This is the time where the entire borough celebrates the best of the best!” says Olga Luz Tirado, executive director of The Bronx Tourism Council.

The 2019 Bronx Walk of Fame Inductees are:

REGINA SPEKTOR was born in the Soviet Union and began studying classical piano when she was six. Her family emigrated to New York City in 1989 and Spektor made her recorded debut in 2001 with the self-released 11:11, a collection of songs heavily influenced by jazz and blues.

Spektor’s commercial breakthrough came in 2006 on her fourth LP, Begin to Hope. The gold-certified album included the singles “On the Radio,” “Better” and “Fidelity.” Spektor’s fifth album, Far released in 2009, and sixth album, What We Saw From the Cheap Seats released in 2012, both debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. In September 2016 Spektor released her seventh album, Remember Us To Life. 

Spektor’s songs have appeared in TV shows and movies including Orange Is The New Black, Grey’s Anatomy, Weeds and How I Met Your Mother. 

IRAN BARKLEY was born on May 6, 1960 in The Bronx, New York. He lived with his parents, and his seven siblings in the Patterson Houses. His older sister was a professional boxer and introduced Iran to boxing thirteen years old. As an amateur boxer, Barkley won several medals between the yeas 1981 and 1982. In 1981, he participated in the New York Golden Gloves and won the Silver Medal. Later that year he won the Gold Medal in the Empire State Games. In 1982, he also won two medals: a Bronze Medal in the Copenhagen Box Cup and another Bronze Medal in the World Championships in Munich.

Barkley won the WBC Middleweight title in 1988 by knocking out Thomas Hearns in the third round; it was voted, by The Ring magazine, as the biggest upset of that year. The year after, he lost his title in the “Fight of the Year” to Roberto Durán in a split-decision. Barkley participated in more fights afterwards before he had to take a year off from boxing due to requiring surgery to reattach a retina; an injury he sustained after fighting Nigel Benn. Barkley retired in 1999.

CAROLYN PORCO is a planetary scientist who is responsible for many of the discoveries and stunning images from the Voyager and Cassini missions. While still a graduate student, Porco analyzed data on Saturn’s ring system sent by the Voyager 1 spacecraft, making several significant discoveries about the planet’s ringlets and its magnetic field. 

Over her career Porco has participated in producing some of the most iconic photos of space, such as the Pale Blue Dotimage of Earth taken by Voyager 1. She has also served as a science consultant on such productions as the 1997 movie Contact and the 2009 movie Star Trek. In 2012, she was named one the 25 most influential people in space by Time magazine. Since 2015 Porco has been a visiting distinguished scholar at the University of California, Berkeley.

The Bronx Tourism Council will also present the Annual Tourism Award to The Bronx Zoo. This award is presented to institutions that have made a significant impact in making The Bronx a tourism destination for visitors from around the world.

In addition, the event served as the official unveiling of the official Bronx Week 2019 Spotify playlist. The playlist includes music by artists from The Bronx, including past Bronx Walk of Fame inductees Ms. Spektor, Fat Joe, Prince Royce, Willie Colon and Dion DiMucci. Sunday May 19th Bronx Week ends with the Bronx Week Parade, Bronx Week International Food Festival, and the Bronx Week Music Festival all on Mosholu Parkway. 

The Bronx Week 2019 Spotify Playlist can be found here: https://spoti.fi/2PJWadX.

The event also included samples of some of the best food, drink and swag The Bronx has to offer, including the Bronx Native, Bronx Brewery, Ceetay and Gino’s Pastry Shop.

Now in its 48th year, Bronx Week is the annual celebration of everything that makes The Bronx a great place to live, work and raise a family.

For more information about Bronx Week 2019, visit www.ilovethebronx.com.

MAYOR DE BLASIO APPOINTS MELANIE LA ROCCA AS COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS

  Mayor Bill de Blasio announced the appointment of Melanie La Rocca as Commissioner of the Department of Buildings. As Commissioner, she will intensify efforts to ensure the safety of workers by regulating the city’s real estate and construction industries, and enforce the agency’s laws to protect tenants from construction harassment. The New York City Department of Buildings regulates and promotes the safe and lawful use of nearly 1.1 million buildings and more than 45,000 active construction sites in New York City. She will begin June 3.

“Construction workers are the backbone of our growing city, and the Department of Buildings is the City’s frontline defense to ensure safety on every job site,” saidMayor de Blasio. “I am confident that Melanie La Rocca’s experience and strong ties in our community will ensure she continues strengthening the Department’s role as an agency that looks out for the safety of all New Yorkers.”

“As a life-long New Yorker, I understand how the construction industry plays a key role in ensuring New York City adapts to the changing needs of our business and local communities,” said Commissioner La Rocca. “I know first-hand what it takes to deliver a high-quality project in a fast-paced environment, and I understand the need to connect with all stakeholders, especially with members of the community. I want to thank Mayor de Blasio and Deputy Mayor Anglin for the opportunity to lead the agency and continue its mission to strengthen protections for workers while building bridges with key stakeholders in one of the City’s biggest industries.”

“The Department of Buildings plays a critical role in the development of New York City, and it is necessary to have a leader there who understands all the moving parts,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Laura Anglin. “Melanie La Rocca’s experiences managing complex projects have given her a bird’s eye view of the construction industry, which will be essential to helping her ensure the Department of Buildings continues to guard the safety of every worker on every jobsite across the city.”

La Rocca currently serves as Vice President of Development and External Affairs at the School Construction Authority (SCA), where she oversees the Real Estate Group and all site development, as well as Design and Construction Services and special projects. In this role, she works closely with key stakeholders – including the Department of Buildings and other groups within the construction industries – to identify potential school sites and develop plans to construct new facilities for New York City students. Over the last eight years, the SCA has never missed a school opening.

Through this work, she has developed a deep understanding of the construction industry and its fast-paced nature, as well as the critical role served by the Department of Buildings. As Buildings Commissioner, she will continue expanding the agency’s modernization efforts to develop systems that better reflect the needs of the industry it serves.

“I have known Melanie for many years and I have always been impressed with her intelligence, passion, and dedication to public service. I am confident that she will bring all of those qualities and more to her new role. This is an exciting new chapter for the Department of Buildings,” said New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson.

Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance May Meeting

  While the usual neighborhood news about the Van Nest area was discussed, and there were reports from the local elected officials the main topic of discussion was the mail in zip codes 10460, 10461 and 10462. Bronx Postmaster Scott Farrar, Area manager Frances Paulino and customer service representatives from the three post offices tried to answer questions from the audience. 

Questions raised about the post office varied from getting mail at 6 PM or later, getting the wrong mail, not getting ones mail, the long wait at branch offices, employee rudeness, and where to park when going to the 10460 post office. Bronx Postmaster Farrar said that there are 65 positions currently open in the Bronx, sometimes new mail carriers make mistakes because they are not as familiar with the routes as the regular mail carriers, the rudeness will be addressed, and he suggested that mail not be placed in boxes after the last pick up time. 

The five representatives of the United States Postal Service with the executive board of the Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance.

“Rev. Ruben Diaz Democratic Club” Will Open Its Doors - Thursday, May 9th

  You should know that a new Democratic Club named “Rev. Ruben Diaz Democratic Club” will open its doors this Thursday, May 9^th at twelve noon. The club will be located at 1748 E 172^nd St Bronx, NY 10472 (Corner of Rosedale Ave & E 172^nd St).

“Rev. Ruben Diaz Democratic Club” has been organized with a purpose to register new voters, recruit, train, and educate those individuals interested in running for public office.

It it important for you to know that we have many people in our community full of desire and aspirations to get involved in government. Many of them would love to run for public office one day. However, they need to be oriented and learn the different facets and obstacles that a candidate may face. Such as: requirements, how to design and collect petitions, how to pack petitions appropriately for the Board of the Elections, how to register his/her candidacy, how to file periodical reports, and many other technicalities that could decide if a person will be a candidate or not.

We are inviting all those who are interested in becoming volunteer members of the “Rev. Ruben Diaz Democratic Club” to attend the opening ceremony this Thursday, May 9^th at twelve noon where more information will be provided.

For more information, please call Mr. George Alvarez-President or General Coordinator Lic. Pedro Aguiar at 917-342-2926.

NYC Public Advocate WILLIAMS' FIVE BOROUGH HOUSING TOUR: THE BRONX

  Public Advocate Jumaane Williams enters 214 East 164th Street. The 129-unit building has more than 100 violations, according to the Department of Buildings. After years of watching building maintenance services diminish and conditions deteriorate, tenants are taking action and have filed a case in Bronx Housing Court. 

"I was extremely troubled to see the issues so many residents at Concourse Village face," Williams said. "One tenant has lived with a rodent problem for nearly a decade, yet the landlord has been completely unresponsive. Others have also experienced egregious rent hikes because the landlord's abuse of preferential rents. Albany can and must address these issues by strengthening our rent laws before they expire next month." The building was recently sold, and the new owner is fixing apartments that become empty and raising rents. 

Above - The area where rats dig their way through the wall is covered up by toys.

Below - Public Advocate is with tenant Ann Marchena who says her daughter is afraid to go to sleep because she fears a rat coming into her room. 

Above - The compactor chute is sealed, and a basket with a plastic bag is used for tenants to throw their garbage on each floor.

Bekow - Public Advocate Williams decries the conditions of this and many other buildings that need new tougher rent laws that are set to expire June 30th in Albany.

Bronx Man Sentenced To 39 Months In Prison For Participating In Scheme To Take Over Ride-Sharing Driver Accounts

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that LOUIS PINA was sentenced to 39 months in prison for participating in a scheme to defraud drivers of two ride-sharing companies (“Company-1” and “Company-2”) by accessing those drivers’ accounts without authorization in order to divert driver funds to bank accounts controlled by PINA and other members of the scheme (the “Scheme”).  PINA previously pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft before U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff, who imposed today’s sentence.  PINA is the eighth defendant to have pled guilty in this case.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “Louis Pina was a leader of a criminal consortium that deceived the drivers of two ride-sharing companies, enabling the criminals to access drivers’ accounts and steal millions of dollars.  Hard-working men and women who worked long hours to make a living had their accounts hacked into and their hard-earned money stolen.  Now Louis Pina is going to prison for his crimes.”

According to the Complaint, the Indictment to which PINA pled guilty, court filings, and statements made in public court proceedings:

PINA and his co-defendants defrauded livery drivers and ride-sharing companies using mobile ride-sharing applications.  The Scheme targeted drivers associated with Company-1 and Company-2.  Scheme members called Company-1 and Company-2 drivers posing as Company-1 and Company-2 representatives, and deceived the drivers into providing unique personal identifiers and other information that was then used to obtain unauthorized access into the online Company-1 and Company-2 driver accounts.  Once members of the Scheme logged into Company-1 and Company-2 driver accounts without authorization, they altered information in those compromised accounts and diverted driver funds to bank accounts they controlled.  PINA personally called Company-1 and Company-2 drivers to obtain their login credentials, hacked the accounts of Company-1 and Company-2 drivers, and recruited others into the Scheme. Scheme members compromised hundreds of Company-1 and Company-2 driver accounts and stole millions of dollars from Company-1 and Company-2 driver accounts.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Rakoff ordered PINA, 24, of the Bronx, New York, to make court-ordered restitution in the amount of $198,663 to Company-1 and $243,112 to Company-2.

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 the United States Secret Service.  Mr. Berman further thanked the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance and cooperation throughout this case, and also thanked the FBI’s Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force for their assistance. 

Attorney General James Files Suit Against Trump Treasury Department And Internal Revenue Service Over Failure To Provide Legally-Required Information

Agency Fails to Provide Information and Records Regarding the Elimination of Donor Information from Federal Non-Profit Filings 

   New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of the Treasury and its subsidiary bureau, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), for failing to respond as required by law to records requests. The requests concern the elimination of established donor disclosure requirements for non-501(c)(3) tax-exempt groups. The revised reporting standard, released in July 2018 as Revenue Procedure 2018-38, permits non-(c)(3) organizations to withhold the names and addresses of their substantial contributors from their Form 990 or Form 990-EZ federal information return. Today’s suit, filed jointly with the State of New Jersey, asks the court to compel the Treasury Department and IRS to respond as required by law to requests for information regarding agency actions that directly impact the New York Attorney General’s ability to effectively regulate affected organizations operating in New York. 

“My office depends on these critical donor disclosure forms to be able to adequately oversee non-profit organizations in New York,” said Attorney General Letitia James. “Not only was this policy change made without notice, the Treasury and the IRS are now refusing to comply with the law to release information about the rationale for these changes. No one is above the law – not even the federal government – and we will use every tool to ensure they comply with these regulations to provide transparency and accountability."

The Form 990 represents a major component of the annual filing required for independent registration in New York, the Revenue Procedure significantly reduces the information that the New York Attorney General’s office will collect from registered non-profits operating or soliciting in the State. This change deprives the New York Attorney General’s Charities Bureau of information necessary to perform its statutory oversight function for thousands of 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations, labor organizations, and business leagues that operate and solicit in New York.  

Revenue Procedure 2018-38 was released without public notice or comment in July 2018 and eliminates from federal and state filings an entire category of information that the Attorney General relies on to identify potential control risks, self-dealing transactions, private inurement, and criminal conduct within the New York non-profit sector. Together with Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, the Attorney General submitted separate requests to the Treasury Department and the IRS on October 22, 2018, pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), for documents regarding the Revenue Procedure’s origin and adoption. The requests sought agency records concerning the development, implementation, consideration, and evaluation of the Revenue Procedure, including records discussing the donor reporting requirements in effect prior to the Revenue Procedure’s adoption, historical agency review of donor information, and external inquires or other communications regarding consideration and development of the change. To date, the IRS has provided only a partial production from one of seven categories of requested material and the Treasury Department has failed to respond entirely. 

The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York today, alleges that the Treasury Department and IRS have failed to meet their obligation under FOIA to provide required information within the statutorily prescribed time limit. Under FOIA, a federal agency must respond within 20 business days after receipt of a request with a determination that informs the requester of the agency’s intent to respond and the scope of the documents that the agency will produce. As alleged in the complaint, the Treasury Department and IRS have constructively denied the Attorney General’s requests by failing to respond for more than six months and have improperly withheld material that the Attorney General is entitled to review. 

Attorney General James Announces Arrest Of Two Physicians On Charges Of Health Care Fraud At Opioid Mill

Physicians Allegedly Wrote Suboxone Prescriptions Without Medical Necessity to Lure Patients to Clinic and to Bill Medicaid for Unnecessary Services  

  Attorney General Letitia James announced the arrest and arraignment of Ilya Smuglin, M.D., 50, of Rego Park, New York and Clarisse Clemons, M.D., 63, of Rockville Centre, New York for allegedly conspiring to operate an opioid mill and fraudulently billing Medicaid. Smuglin and Clemons are charged with Criminal Sale of a Prescription for a Controlled Substance or of a Controlled Substance by a Practitioner or Pharmacist, Health Care Fraud in the First Degree, and Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree.     

“We will not tolerate attempts to fraudulently use the Medicaid program to take advantage of those suffering from addiction,” said Attorney General Letitia James. “New York is experiencing a serious opioid epidemic, and doctors that prescribe narcotics without proper screening procedures only deepen this crisis. We will continue to take on this crisis from every angle and that includes prosecuting doctors who abuse their duties and our trust.”   

The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (“MFCU”) filed papers alleging that Smuglin, Clemons, and other staff of the Miromedical P.C. and Ferrara Medical Care, P.C. clinics, conspired to create, enable, and foster an environment that encouraged and resulted in the excessive prescribing and sale of prescriptions for Suboxone. The prescribing and sale of prescriptions for Suboxone, a narcotic drug used to treat pain and opioid addiction, resulted in an influx of patients who were the means for the defendants and others to file and cause to be filed false Medicaid claims. These clinics, located at 903 Sheridan Avenue in the Bronx, and at 2738 Frederick Douglass Boulevard in Manhattan, operated as unauthorized, uncertified providers of substance abuse treatment services.   

State law mandates that substance abuse treatment programs be certified by the Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Treatment Services in order to treat those suffering from addiction. State and Federal Law further regulates how such treatment is to be conducted in order to heighten the chances of a successful recovery. 

"Anyone who takes advantage of vulnerable New Yorkers for their own benefit must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Department of Social Service Commissioner Steven Banks. “The conduct alleged in this case demonstrates a clear and unconscionable intent to defraud our social safety net as well as an absolute disregard for human dignity – and those who commit such crimes must be held accountable. We remain committed to collaborating with the Attorney General’s Office whenever necessary to prevent, identify, and report suspected fraud and abuse that amount to theft of public benefits.” 

The Attorney General’s office alleges that the physicians and their co-conspirators participated in a scheme to lure Medicaid patients to the clinics by paying kickbacks and offering prescriptions for Suboxone, an opioid that has potential for abuse. Once recruited, prosecutors allege that patients encountered the façade of a substance abuse treatment program. Appropriate and necessary medical histories were not always obtained, physicals and urine toxicology were not regularly performed, and patients were consistently provided with prescriptions for Suboxone at the maximum dose, without any effort to taper or wean the patient off the narcotic in violation of applicable treatment guidelines.   

As part of this scheme, prosecutors allege that Smuglin and Clemons regularly gave pre-signed and otherwise blank prescription pads to medical and non-medical staff within the clinics, which enabled them to hand out prescriptions, including ones for controlled substances, to patients without medical need. Once the Suboxone prescriptions were obtained, prosecutors allege that patients were regularly offered money from drug dealers inside and outside of the clinic, often in plain view of physicians and employees.   

Prosecutors further allege that relying on the accuracy of claims submitted for these Suboxone prescriptions, Medicaid and MetroPlus, a Medicaid managed care organization, paid pharmacies filling the prescriptions over $3 million in 2015 and over $2 million in 2016.   

Defendants Smuglin and Clemons were arraigned in New York City Criminal Court in Bronx County before Judge Wanda Licitra on Friday, May 3, 2019. The Defendants were ordered to surrender their passports and were released on their own recognizance. The case was adjourned to June 12, 2019. If convicted on the top charge, each defendant faces a maximum penalty of eight and a third to twenty-five years in state prison.      

The charges filed in this case are accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 

These arrests are the latest example of Attorney General James’ commitment to tackling the opioid crisis from every angle. In March 2019, Attorney General James filed the nation’s most extensive lawsuit against the manufacturers and distributors of opioids and over the past two weeks, the Attorney General’s office has taken down two major drug trafficking rings responsible for flooding our communities with these dangerous drugs. 

The Attorney General thanks the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, and the New York City Human Resources Administration (“HRA”) for their valuable assistance throughout the investigation. In addition, the Attorney General thanks the New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, and the New York State Office of the Medicaid Inspector General.    

New Yorkers can report suspected fraud to the Attorney General’s toll-free Medicaid Fraud Hotline, at (800) 771-7755 or online at ag.ny.gov/medicaid-fraud/contact.