Speaker Corey Johnson and Sanitation Committee Chair Antonio Reynoso Demand $4.2 Million for Extra Litter Basket Collection in Fiscal Year 2020 Budget

  New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson and Sanitation & Solid Waste Management Committee Chair Antonio Reynoso gathered at Maria Hernandez Park in Brooklyn on Saturday to demand Mayor Bill de Blasio restore $4.2 million in funding for extra litter basket collection in the Fiscal Year 2020 Budget.

New Yorkers deserve a cleaner city. That’s why the New York City Council fought to fund 14,000 additional trash pick-ups per week by the Sanitation Department in the last fiscal budget. The results have been outstanding. Nearly 96 percent of streets are rated acceptably clean this fiscal year, up from about 95 percent the previous year, according to the Department of Sanitation’s (DSN) testimony from the Council’s preliminary budget hearings.

Now Mayor de Blasio wants to reverse this citywide improvement, and the Administration did not include this funding in the Fiscal Year 2020 budget.

“No one wants to go back to the days when overflowing trash baskets on every corner was the norm. We need those baskets emptied more often, not less. Cutting this funding won’t balance the city’s budget, it will hurt the city’s quality of life. Services like this are critical for our communities,” said Speaker Corey Johnson.

“Our committee is constantly fielding complaints from New Yorkers that there is too much trash on the streets. The solution is simple: More litter basket collection. Yet Mayor de Blasio says the city can’t afford to empty them as often as they do. The City Council knows the city can’t afford not to. We will fight to have this $4.2 million restored to the budget,” said Council Member Antonio Reynoso, Chair of the Council’s Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste Management.

Lowest street cleaning rating per scorecard monthly ratings by Borough and Community Board – 2019 (Average as of April of the current fiscal year)

1. Community Board 3 in Brooklyn at 88.1 percent
   (CMs Levin, Ampry-Samuel, Cumbo)
2. Community Board 12 in Brooklyn at 88.8 percent
   (CMs Eugene, Lander, Menchaca, Yeger)
3. Community Board 1 in Brooklyn at 89.4 percent
   (CMs Levin, Reynoso)
4. Community Board 3  in the Bronx at 90
   percent (CMs Salamanca, Gibson)
5. Community Board  9 in Brooklyn at 91.7
   percent (CMs Cumbo, Eugene, Ampry-Samuel)
6. Community Board 1 in the Bronx at 91.9 percent
   (CMs Salamanca, Ayala)
7. Community Board 16 in Brooklyn at 91.8 percent
   (CMs Barron, Samuel, Espinal)
8. Community Board 12 in Manhattan at 92 percent
   (CMs Rodriguez, Levine)
9. Community Board 4 in the Bronx at 92.1 percent
   (CMs Gibson, Ayala, Salamanca, Torres)
10. Community Board 5 in Brooklyn at 92.3 percent
    (CM Espinal, Barron)

SUPERVISING PHARMACIST AND PHARMACY TECHNICIAN ARRESTED IN DIVERSION OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN OXYCODONE PILLS FROM QUEENS PHARMACY

  Bridget G. Brennan, New York City’s Special Narcotics Prosecutor, Ray Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New York Division and Acting Queens District Attorney Jack Ryan announced today the arrests of a supervising pharmacist and a pharmacy technician, who allegedly abused their positions at a Richmond Hill, Queens pharmacy by knowingly filling forged prescriptions for opioid painkillers and illegally selling additional pills in exchange for cash.

As a result of an investigation by the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s (SNP) Prescription Drug Investigation Unit (PDIU) and DEA Diversion Group D-22, supervising pharmacist VICTOR LAPERLA and pharmacy technician BIANCA MARTINEZ were arrested this morning on charges contained in a 35-count indictment, including Conspiracy, Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance, Criminal Sale of a Prescription for a Controlled Substance and Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument. The Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York assisted in the investigation. The defendants are scheduled for arraignment today before Judge Ann E. Scherzer in Manhattan Supreme Court, Part 93, 100 Centre Street.

In carrying out the alleged scheme, LAPERLA and MARTINEZ conspired to fill hundreds of illegitimate prescriptions for oxycodone 30 mg at the pharmacy where they worked, Dale Pharmacy & Surgical, Inc., and sold additional oxycodone pills in unlabeled bottles for which no official prescription had been presented. An unindicted coconspirator and others made cash payments for the pills for the purposes of reselling them on the black market. MARTINEZ assisted LAPERLA and brokered illicit transactions. Charges in the indictment stem from 15 such transactions between LAPERLA, MARTINEZ and the unindicted coconspirator between April 21, 2015 and February 7, 2018. Each of the forged prescriptions was written for 180 pills of oxycodone 30 mg for a total of 2,700 pills.

Between March of 2013 and May of 2018, LAPERLA and MARTINEZ allegedly filled over 855 oxycodone 30 mg prescriptions pills purportedly issued by two physicians. These prescriptions were all paid for in cash, as were approximately 90% of all oxycodone 30 mg prescriptions filled by the pharmacy during that timeframe. The two doctors reported to authorities that prescriptions in their names had been forged and the investigation revealed that their prescription pads had been stolen. The approximately 158,000 oxycodone 30 mg pills dispensed as a result of these fraudulent prescriptions would have carried a black market street value of between $2 million and $4 million.

On May 23, 2018, DEA agents and SNP investigators conducted a court authorized search of the pharmacy, located at 108-13 Jamaica Avenue, and recovered hard-copies of the forged prescriptions, as well as records and inventories, a DVR machine and LAPERLA’s cellphone. A court authorized search of LAPERLA’s residence at 6 Netto Lane, Plainview, Long Island, yielded approximately $186,500 cash from a safe and bedside table.

An examination of LAPERLA’s phone revealed that the pharmacist recorded the illegal cash payments and prescription counts in a “note” application. In 2017 alone, LAPERLA allegedly received approximately $303,900 in exchange for filling forged prescriptions and oxycodone 30 mg sales. The prescription count information LAPERLA entered into his notes corresponds with prescription records.

LAPERLA purported to act within the scope of the power and authority of a pharmacist when he recorded the forged prescriptions in a database maintained by the New York State Health Department’s Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement. A comparative review of BNE records and DEA controlled substance inventories for Dale Pharmacy & Surgical revealed a disparity in the numbers of oxycodone 30 mg pills ordered versus those dispensed. A significant quantity of oxycodone 30 mg pills were unaccounted for on a monthly basis, at least partially attributable to illegal sales of oxycodone 30 mg in unlabeled bottles.

Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan commended the work of her office’s Prescription Drug Investigation Unit and DEA Division Group D-22, and thanked the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and Acting Queens District Attorney Jack Ryan.

“Flooding the black market with millions of dollars’ worth of highly addictive substance is something we have come to expect of international drug cartels, but today’s indictment charges that a pharmacist, working in collaboration with an assistant, can inflict the same damage,” Special Narcotics Prosecutor Brennan said. “I thank our law enforcement partners for their commitment to performing a thorough investigation leading to the charges announced today.”

“When these two pharmacy employees came to work, they became drug dealers; diverting over one hundred thousand oxycodone pills into New York City streets,” stated Ray Donovan, DEA Special Agent in Charge. “Opioid addiction and overdoses have become an all-too-common issue, which has led to zero-tolerance for those who profit off the pain and suffering of victims and their families. I commend our partners at the New York City Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor and DEA Group D-22 for their diligence in this investigation and work in combatting drug abuse.”

Acting Queens District Attorney Jack Ryan said, “The scourge of this on-going opioid epidemic has affected all of us in innumerable ways. We must do everything possible to eradicate access and hold those accountable that would peddle this extremely addictive drug in our communities.”

	Indicted Defendants	Charges
1	Victor LaPerla; Plainview, NY; 12/18/1954	Conspiracy 2nd – 1 ct; Conspiracy 4th – 1 ct; Conspiracy 5th – 1 ct; CSCS 2nd – 1 ct; Criminal Sale of a Prescription for a Controlled Substance by a Practitioner or Pharmacist – 15 cts; Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument 2nd – 15 cts
2	Bianca Martinez; Brooklyn, NY; 2/20/1986	Conspiracy 2nd – 1 ct; Conspiracy 4th – 1 ct; Conspiracy 5th – 1 ct; CSCS 2nd – 1 ct; Criminal Sale of a Prescription for a Controlled Substance by a Practitioner or Pharmacist – 15 cts; Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument 2nd – 15 cts

The charges and allegations are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Comptroller Stringer Releases First Quarter 2019 Economic Update

New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer today released an economic update for the first quarter of 2019, showing that the city’s economy grew 3.0 percent in the first three months of the year. Unemployment remains at historically low levels, even as job growth in the city cooled off slightly. The city’s private sector added 18,000 jobs – an increase of 1.8 percent on a seasonally adjusted annualized basis. While real estate markets remain soft, leading economic indicators point to continued growth.

To read Comptroller Stringer’s Q1 2019 economic update, click here.

Statement from New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer on Proposed Bus Service Cuts

“This is a terrible mistake. Right now, weekday ridership is on the upswing, we’re redesigning our bus network, and we’ve set a goal as a City and State of reducing congestion on our streets. Rolling back service now on eleven routes is the exact wrong way to go. For years, we’ve called for more frequent bus service, particularly during the off-peak and weekend hours, and we’ve long said that the bus network redesign process should not rely on any cutbacks to service. My office has advocated common sense steps to turn our bus system around for the hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers who are already being deprived of reliable service every day, and we’re going to keep speaking out for the modern – and frequent service – all New Yorkers deserve. New York is a world class city, and it is time we have a world class bus system to match it.”

Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark - Cases of Interest for the Week of May 20, 2019

Tuesday, May 21, 2019
Reynolds, O.  TRP  McCarty  Sentencing	Erin Hall	Defendant was found guilty of second-degree Murder and second-degree Criminal Possession of Weapon. The defendant shot and killed a man in 2015.
McHale, S. --  FA  Appearance	Roberto Marcucci	Charged with first-degree Sexual Abuse and additional charges. The defendant allegedly sexually abused a woman who was in a coma.
Schordine, M.  Michael  77  Appearance	Taha Mahran	Charged with second-degree Murder and additional charges in the death of Zakir Khan. The defendant allegedly stabbed the victim in his torso and neck.
Wednesday, May 22, 2019
Newell, S.  --  SCA  Appearance	Alberto Hernandez	Charged with first-degree Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. The defendant allegedly sexually abused a child between June 2011 and June 2016.
Horton, M.  Carter  T19  Sentencing	Davon Stallings	Convicted of Attempted Murder in the second degree, first-degree Assault and second-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon on April 10, 2019. The defendant shot a man one time in the chest from inches away.
Williams, C. Michael 70 Possible Disposition	Malik Quick	Charged with Assault and additional charges. The defendant, in concert with others, allegedly assaulted and slashed a New York City Department of Correction officer on Rikers Island.
McMahon, H.  Greenberg  IDV  Appearance	Oscar Alvarez	Charged with Attempted Murder in the second degree, first and second-degree Abortion, first and second-degree Assault, and Unlawful Imprisonment. The defendant allegedly stabbed his pregnant fiancée which resulted in the death of their unborn child.
Thursday, May 23, 2019
Villaverde, M.  McCarty  TRP  Sentencing	Joshua Cruz	Charged with first-degree Gang Assault and additional charges. The defendant, with others, beat a street vendor on May 2, 2017. The beating left the victim in a coma.
Smith, J.  McCarty  TRP  Appearance	Dennis Castellar	Charged with Attempted Murder first degree for allegedly dragging an NYPD officer for several blocks at high speed with his ATV.
Friday, May 24, 2019
Villaverde, M.  McCarty  TRP  Sentencing	Octavious Profit	Charged with first-degree Gang Assault and additional charges. The defendant, with others, beat a street vendor on May 2, 2017. The beating left the victim in a coma.

Please note: All court proceedings are scheduled for after 9:30 a.m. at 265 East 161st Street, the Hall of Justice, Bronx Supreme Court unless otherwise specified.

Michael A. Blake - Congressional Campaign Launch

On Sunday, michael Blake launched his campaign for Congress with a block party that featured talented artists, performers, local business owners, and leaders from both the Puerto Rican and Dominican communities. Joined by his Mama Hilary and close friends, he laid out my vision for the 15th District: “Born and raised right here in The Bronx, I have personally witnessed the decades of neglect our neighborhoods have sustained. But make no mistake, together we endured, we have persevered, and we still BELIEVE in better and brighter times ahead, which is why I am running for Congress” He said.

Haile Rivera, a Dominican community leader and former President Obama campaign staffer greeting Mama Hilary.

Bronx Week Parade 2019

  Mosholu Parkway was closed to traffic both ways from Southern Boulevard to where it meets the Grand Concourse. The Bronx Week Parade was marching the north side on Mosholu Parkway, while the International Food and Music Festival had the south side of the parkway.  Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. was joined by his co-host Roxy Digital (L), and Deputy Borough President Marika Scott-McFadden (R). Others would join the three on stage as the day and parade went on.

Bronx Hall of Fame inductee Champion Boxer Iran Barkley would dash from his car to the stage to join BP Diaz Jr., Co-Host Roxy Digital and Deputy BP Scott-McFadden.

Below are photos of the parade and performances by students.

  Fat Joe would arrive for the Music Festival. BP Diaz Jr. greets him, goes on stage to introduce him, and Assemblyman Jose Rivera was in the audience with his video camera.

Bufano Park Family Skate Day

  Saturday, Bufano Park located at Bradford and La Salle Avenues in the Schuylerville section of the East Bronx was host to its first family skate day. While the park has a regulation skate park complete with a scoreboard (above), it has been used for league skating only. Bufano Park has many amenities found in parks such as basketball courts, a sprinkler, and seating areas, but this day set up were other activities not found everyday in a park. There was a child play area with Hula Hoops, Chalk to draw on the asphalt, a chess area, and even a small knock-hockey game. There was a skate company brought in with one-hundred different sized skates for use in the rink. Parents liked the idea that they could skate in the rink with their smaller children, many who were on roller skates for the very first time.  

Above - A table with three chess boards was set up. 

Below - The children's area where there were many different activities.

Above - One had to sign a release and leave your shoes before getting a pair of skates to go roller skating.

Below - One of the one hundred pairs of roller skates that were brought to Bufano Park for Family Skate Day.