DE BLASIO ADMINISTRATION REACHES MILESTONE GOAL OF 9,000 CITY-CERTIFIED M/WBES

The number of City-certified M/WBEs has doubled since Mayor de Blasio created the Mayor’s Office of M/WBEs in 2016

  Mayor Bill de Blasio and Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives and Citywide M/WBE Director J. Phillip Thompson announced today that the City reached its goal of 9,000 City-certified Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs) by the end of June 2019. This represents a doubling of the certified pool in less than three years, achieving an ambitious goal set by Mayor de Blasio in 2016. The milestone achievement comes on the heels of state and city legislation that will further advance economic opportunity for City M/WBEs. 9000 City-certified M/WBEs also puts the administration on track to award 30 percent of the value of all City contracts to M/WBEs by 2021.

“If our economy isn’t inclusive, then it’s not working as it should,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “That’s why under my Administration we’ve increased M/WBE certification 145% and have awarded over $11 billion in contracts to a diverse workforce. But we’re not finished. We urge Governor Cuomo to sign the M/WBE bills to help us further build a fairer city where no one is left behind.”

“By investing in the acquisition and growth of City-certified minority and women-owned businesses, the de Blasio Administration is advancing the values of an inclusive economy in which all New Yorkers are provided with quality business and workforce opportunities,” said J. Phillip Thompson, Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives and Citywide M/WBE Director. “With 9,000 M/WBEs now city-certified, we urge the Governor to sign into a law a bill that would help address long-standing disparities and issues of access for certain communities.”

“This Administration will continue to work diligently to increase access, close the disparity gap, and deliver results for City M/WBEs,” said Jonnel Doris, Senior Advisor and Director of the Mayor’s Office of M/WBEs. “I am proud that we have more than doubled the number of City-certified M/WBE firms, reaching the Mayor’s goal to certify 9,000 firms. We will continue to implement new initiatives to lower barriers to entry, level the playing and increase opportunities for M/WBEs to successfully compete in our market.”

“Achieving Mayor de Blasio’s ambitious goal of certifying 9,000 M/WBEs is a direct result of our commitment to diversity and opening doors to opportunity for minority and women-owned businesses across NYC,” said Gregg Bishop, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services. “As we hit this target, the door is still open. I encourage all minority and women-owned businesses to get certified and take advantage of all the supportive services that the City has to offer.”

Under Mayor Bill de Blasio, New York City has made an unprecedented commitment M/WBEs to address historic disparities in City contracting by providing them with increased opportunities to do business with the City.

Between the program’s inception in 1992 and this Administration coming into office in 2014, the City certified 3,670 M/WBEs. In the five years since Mayor de Blasio took office, the Administration has more than doubled the number certified, hitting its 2016 goal of 9,000 by July 2019.

Since July 2014, Local Law 1 contract awards to M/WBEs have increased from 9,163 contracts for a total value of $491 million, to 12,189 contracts worth nearly $1.1 billion in FY2018, representing an increase of 33% and 118%, respectively.

This March, the City announced a state legislative proposal to increase discretionary spending for purchases from M/WBEs from $150,000 to $1 million, with an anticipated impact of approximately 30-50 percent or $300-$500 million annually in awards to M/WBEs in that size range.

In May, the City announced an easier path to contracting with the City for minority and women-owned businesses through an improved online certification portal, called SBS Connect. The City also offers free services to help strengthen certified M/WBEs, including access to technical assistance, bonding, financing, teaming and mentorship.

In June, the State Legislature passed S6418A/A8407 sponsored by State Senator Kevin Parker and Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte, which would give the City of New York the authority to increase economic opportunities for Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs). If signed into law, the City would be able to make discretionary awards to M/WBEs of up to $500,000. A higher discretionary threshold will increase M/WBEs’ access to more City projects that also are larger in scale. The bill would also allow the City to implement other key programs already available to M/WBEs at the State level such as a mentorship program and prequalified lists.

Firms interested in getting City-certified should visit sbsconnect.nyc.gov to complete the application.  For application assistance, visit one of the City's seven NYC Business Solutions Centers located in all five boroughs.

ENGEL on State Dept. “Unalienable Rights” Commission

  Representative Eliot L. Engel, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement regarding Secretary of State Pompeo’s proposed Commission on Unalienable Rights:

“This commission risks undermining many international human-rights norms that the United States helped establish, including LGBTQI rights and other critical human-rights protections around the world. Decades ago, Congress created an entire bureau in the State Department dedicated to defending and reporting on human rights and advising the Secretary and senior diplomats on human rights and democratic development. Now the Secretary wants to make an end run around established structures, expertise, and the law to give preference to discriminatory ideologies that would narrow protections for women, including on reproductive rights; for members of the LGBTQI community; and for other minority groups.

“Despite repeated requests to the Department, the Secretary and his staff provided little information on the proposed Commission for more than a month, responding vaguely only at the 11th hour. That’s why I cosponsored a measure that recently passed the House to prohibit funding for this bizarre effort. There is no place for this at our State Department, which should be a leading voice around the world in protecting and promoting human rights for all.”

FOLLOWING ARREST OF INDUSTRY PREDATOR, MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES FULL FINDINGS OF 45-DAY REVIEW OF TAXI MEDALLION BROKERS

New regulations will be implemented to strengthen oversight of medallion brokers & provide drivers information on violations by brokers

  Mayor de Blasio today announced the findings of his 45-day investigation into the practices and policies of taxicab medallion brokers. The joint Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC), Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) and Department of Finance (DOF) investigation into brokers licensed by the City to assist clients in the buying or selling of taxicab medallions was ordered by the Mayor following allegations of broker misconduct. The TLC will soon publish its proposed rules to enact these and other recommendations detailed in the report.

Full report can be found here.

“We will never stop fighting for hardworking New Yorkers’ right to put food on their table and support their families,” said Mayor de Blasio. “This report shines a light on many of the predatory practices of  the broker industry and with this new insight, we’ll be able to do even more to help taxi drivers too long taken advantage of by those they trusted for guidance and help. If you’re a cab driver in New York City, know we’re in your corner and that this is just a start. We will never stop looking for ways to help."

Findings of the 45-Day Review

During this 45-day investigation, TLC, DCWP and DOF staff reviewed 5,513 pages of records, conducted and analyzed a survey of drivers who own their medallions, and held outreach events in each of the five boroughs. The investigation provided valuable insight into the City’s 20 licensed taxi brokers’ business practices, including the following:

·         TLC rules require brokers prepare documents summarizing loan and purchase agreement terms, as well as disclose any interests they may have in medallion transfers.  The investigation revealed that in many cases the required documentation and disclosures brokers provide their clients were often confusing and were not easily understandable to potential purchasers.  Documents were not provided in any language other than English, in an industry where over 95% of taxi drivers are immigrants.

·         Although brokers frequently help drivers negotiate a loan for the medallion purchase, brokers fail to adequately explain the terms of these loans to their clients.  The investigation found a majority of surveyed drivers who used a broker reported they did not have a clear understanding of their loan agreements.

·         Brokers did not consistently use written broker agreements. Less than half the records provided included these agreements. Following the recommendations of the report, written agreements will now be required.

The investigation uncovered violations of current rules, and more importantly it generated a number of recommendations that TLC will act on quickly to ensure that brokers are held to an appropriately higher standard going forward.

Driver Assistance Center

As announced in June, the City is creating a new Driver Assistance center within one year that will have on-site staff to screen drivers for various issues and then connect to relevant services including advocacy, financial counseling and debt restructuring assistance, referrals to health services and screening for HRA benefits. Advocates will be on hand to help drivers navigate loan terms and refinancing.

Loan Transparency & Advocacy

The investigation found potential conflicts of interest in all parts of loans transactions involving brokers. In response, the City will mandate disclosure of broker-provided purchase and loan agreements, as recommended by the report. This will enable the TLC to closely monitor lending facilitated by brokers to ensure brokers work in their clients’ best interests in these negotiations.

Similar to tenant legal services, drivers will now have an advocate by their side when they refinance, to fight for the most favorable loan term possible and help prevent predatory practices like all-interest payments. Additionally, TLC will launch a new Business Practices Accountability Unit (BPAU) that will monitor and routinely audit the practices of TLC-licensed businesses, including brokers. The new BPAU’s work will inform and complement the Driver Assistance Center’s mission of fighting for loans and refinancing that are as favorable as possible for drivers.

Broker Watchlist

For the first time ever, drivers will have access to a website that lists every licensed broker in the city, with a list of the violations issued to each. This new list will offer drivers better transparency into the broker market, encouraging good behavior and helping prevent brokers from taking advantage of drivers. It will help potential purchasers and sellers make informed decisions. The website, which will launch within 30 days, will be found on TLC’s website and will be consistently updated.

Report Recommendations

Other highlights of the report’s recommendations include:

·         The formation of a new Business Practices Accountability Unit (BPAU) within the TLC that will monitor and routinely audit the practices of TLC-licensed businesses;

·         Broker documents must make clear to both clients and TLC any Broker interests in TLC licenses and TLC-related businesses;

·         Amend TLC Rules to require Brokers to make annual disclosure to TLC of all interests they have in any TLC license or TLC-associated business;

·         Increase outreach and education to drivers who own medallions on their rights when working with brokers; and

·         TLC and its agency partners, such as the DCWP, will establish a Driver’s Assistance Center, offering access to financial advocacy and mental health resources that will expand on the services currently offered through the NYC Department Consumer Affairs’ Office of Financial Empowerment.  Credit/finance professionals would be available to analyze individuals’ financial needs and then advocate for them with lenders including banks and credit unions to modify outstanding loans to make them more affordable, including reduced loan amounts and reduced monthly payments.

Ongoing Investigations

Last week, the de Blasio Administration announced it arrested a Staten Island man accused of impersonating a City Marshal in order to repossess taxi cabs and medallions from unsuspecting taxi owners. The arrest of Anthony Medina is part of the actions taken by this Administration to protect medallion owners and was investigated as part of a 45-day review of taxi medallion brokers.

Further investigations stemming from this review are ongoing. These could lead to further action.

“This report is a comprehensive look at all the brokers licensed and active in the New York taxi medallion market, and details a broad investigation into allegations of abuses published in the media,” said Acting TLC Commissioner Bill Heinzen.  “We will continue to find ways to serve our drivers and other licensees, including passing new rules to ensure greater transparency in the medallion purchasing process and creating a Driver Assistance Center to help drivers and potential medallion owners better understand their options and rights and helping existing owners try to right-size their debt.  TLC will ensure that brokers are serving their clients’ interests and hold them fully accountable for violations of City law and the TLC’s rules.”

“We must hold accountable all the people responsible for this crisis, that has impacted hundreds of medallion owners,” said Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez, Chairman of the Transportation Committee. “When it comes to delivering justice to taxi medallion owners, I will continue working with my colleagues at the Council, Speaker Corey Johnson, and the Mayor to ensure we not only bring justice to the people that were wronged, but that we also help them out of this financial crisis that has bankrupted over 900 medallion owners.”

MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES TICKER TAPE PARADE TO HONOR RECORD BREAKING, WORLD CUP CHAMPIONSHIP WINNING U.S. WOMEN’S SOCCER TEAM

  To celebrate the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team’s World Cup victory, Mayor de Blasio announced the City will host a ticker tape parade in their honor and present them with the keys to the City on Wednesday, July 10th.  

“On and off the field, this team represents what’s best about New York City and our Nation. The confidence, grit, and perseverance of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team serve as an inspiration to all who watch them,” said Mayor de Blasio.

"New York is incredibly proud to join the rest of the country in celebrating this exhilarating World Cup Victory," said First Lady Chirlane McCray. "We applaud the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team’s athletic prowess, their advocacy in fighting for equal pay, and their use of their international platform to speak out against injustice."

“We are incredibly excited and honored to celebrate the U.S. Women’s National Team’s World Cup victory with the amazing people of New York City,” said U.S. Soccer President Carlos Cordeiro. “This team is truly special, and so is the level of support that our fans have shown every step of the way along the quest to a fourth star. I’d like to sincerely thank Mayor de Blasio and the City of New York for providing us the opportunity to share this victory with everyone.”

In the final game of the tournament, the USWNT prevailed over the Netherlands 2 to 0. This is the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team’s fourth World Cup victory, breaking the record they set in 2015 for most Women’s World Cup victories. The United States is the only country to reach the semifinals of all eight FIFA Women's World Cups that have been held since the inaugural tournament in 1991.

The USWNT’s first match of the 2019 tournament against Thailand was the biggest win in the history of the Women's World Cup, surpassing Germany 's 11-0 result against Argentina in 2007. At 13-0, it’s also the largest margin of victory in the history of the World Cup.

New York City has hosted 206 parades along the Canyon of Heroes since the first one in 1886 celebrating the dedication of the Statue of Liberty. The last ticker tape parade held in New York City honored the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team’s 2015 World Cup victory. That parade was the first time a women’s athletic team was honored.

A limited number of tickets will be available to the general public to attend a ceremony at City Hall celebrating the U.S. Women’s National Team which will take place on Wednesday, July 10 at 10:30 AM following the parade. Registration will open at 2:00 PM on Monday, July 8 at nyc.gov/USWNT19.

Details about parade access and press logistics will be released on Monday.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

Let's hope Presidential Candidate Bill de Blasio dons his alter-ego Mayor Bill de Blasio, and stays home in New York City for this event. 

2019 LEGISLATIVE UPDATE FROM SENATOR ALESSANDRA BIAGGI

Albany Office: 188 State Street, Legislative Office Bldg Room 905 Albany, NY 12247 518-455-3595 District Office: 1250 Waters Place, Tower 1 Suite 1202 Bronx, NY 10461 718-822-2049

EDITOR'S NOTE:

We congratulate the entire New York State Legislature on the historic amount of legislation that was passed this year so far. 

Tuesday June 16th State Senator Alessandra Biaggi and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz will host a state legislative Town Hall meeting at the Riverdale YMHA located at 5625 Arlington Avenue (West 256th Street) from 7 PM - 8:30 PM.  

BRONX PARKS CONNECTIONS AUGUST 24

Mix and mingle with Bronx community leaders, hear from NYC Parks staff, and get the latest resources from community organizations. At this workshop, learn how your group can care for your park while celebrating your local neighborhood. Meet your outreach coordinator, enjoy networking over a free lunch, and get plugged into the community of dedicated volunteers in the Bronx. Date: Saturday, August 24 from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm Location: Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture, 450 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10451 Link: More Info/Register For questions or concerns, contact your borough outreach coordinator: Leenda Bonilla | Bronx Senior Outreach Coordinator Community Districts:  2, 7, 8, 9  718.430.1861 | Leenda.Bonilla@parks.nyc.gov Carlos Acosta | Bronx Outreach Coordinator Community Districts: 1, 4, 5, 6 718.430.1815 | Carlos.Acosta@parks.nyc.gov Ismael Guzmán | Bronx Outreach Coordinator Community Districts: 3, 10, 11, 12 718.430.4667 | Ismael.Guzman@parks.nyc.gov Partnerships for Parks A joint program of City Parks Foundation and NYC Parks Facebook | Instagram | Twitter www.partnershipsforparks.org

WFP Election Alert - Tiffany Cabán's Democratic race headed to recount

Last night, right at the start of a long holiday weekend, the Queens County Board of Elections finished counting the remaining absentee and some of the affidavit ballots from last week's election for District Attorney. The election now appears headed to a full manual recount.¹

We need to fight to make sure every valid vote is counted and every voter has a voice.

Can you contribute X or more right now to support Tiffany Cabán's recount fight and help us make sure that every vote is counted?

The Board of Elections invalidated over 2,000 affidavit ballots yesterday — ballots cast by people who, for various reasons, were told they could not vote on Election Day. When all the votes are counted, we are confident Tiffany Cabán will be the next Queens District Attorney. But recounts are expensive, and this one could take weeks.

In a recount like this, the establishment has the full force of the machine on their side, including many of the judges and commissioners who are supposed to be fair arbiters of the law. Tiffany has YOU.

Contribute now to help WFP and Tiffany Cabán make sure every vote is counted.

Let's make sure democracy — and justice — prevail in Queens.

More soon,

Working Families Party

Source:

1. Katz-Cabán Queens DA Primary Race Heads to Recount, The City, July 4, 2019

Become a Working Families Party Sustainer! Other political groups have corporate donors. We have you. 

This is a message from New York Working Families Party.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

This was a Democratic Primary. 

Why was the Working Families Party involved in a Democratic Primary?

Why is the Working Families Party seeking donations to be involved in the Democratic Party process?

The New York State Attorney General should investigate the Working Families Party role in the Queens Democratic Party Primary for Queens District Attorney.

Crips Gang Member Charged With Racketeering

The Defendant’s Racketeering Acts Include the September 2016 Murder of Yunior Manion, 21, An Innocent Bystander

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, William F. Sweeney Jr., the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and James P. O’Neill, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the unsealing of a superseding federal indictment charging JAHSON FEVERIE, a/k/a “Jah,” with racketeering conspiracy, including the September 27, 2016, murder of Yunior Manion, 21, in the Bronx, New York.

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman said:  “As alleged, the defendant was a member of a violent gang who killed an innocent young man in a pointless, gang-related dispute.  We thank the FBI and the NYPD for their outstanding work investigating this terrible murder.  We will continue our efforts with our law enforcement partners to prevent such senseless acts of violence.”

FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said:  “No one deserves to be killed at the hands of someone else, but Yunior Manion was innocently standing on the street and got caught in a gang war crossfire.  He lost his life over drugs and guns.  The FBI New York Metro Safe Streets Task Force won’t let the violence and crime these gangs thrive on go unchecked.  We will use every method necessary to stop these criminals and restore safety in the communities they have terrorized.”

NYPD Commissioner James P. O’Neill said:  “The individual arrested in this case allegedly took the life of an innocent bystander while recklessly discharging a firearm at a rival gang member.  The NYPD and our partners in law enforcement will continue to target gun violence and street gangs by dismantling their networks and taking dangerous criminals off our streets.”

According to the Indictment[1]: 

FEVERIE is a member of the “Wild Card” set of the Crips gang.  Members of the gang sold drugs and used guns to further the aims of the Wild Cards.  On September 27, 2016, FEVERIE fired a gun at rival gang members.  FEVERIE instead hit and killed Yunior Manion, an innocent bystander.

FEVERIE, 18, of the Bronx, New York, was arrested in the Bronx, New York, and presented and arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara C. Moses.  This case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Loretta A. Preska.

FEVERIE is charged with conspiring to commit racketeering through the commission of various criminal acts, including murder, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1962(d), which carries a maximum term of life in prison.  The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and the NYPD.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment and the descriptions of the Indictment constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.