Attorney General James Secures More Than $215,000 For Consumers After Car Dealerships Illegally Overcharged For Bogus Anti-Theft Product

Victory Mitsubishi of Larchmont and Victory Suzuki of The Bronx Pay More Than $305,000 in Penalties and Restitution to Consumers for Engaging in Deceptive Business Practices

  Attorney General Letitia James announced that restitution payments were mailed to over 400 consumers who were sold a bogus anti-theft window etch product for their automobile without their knowledge or consent. Consumers were charged as much as $4,000 extra for these fraudulent anti-theft products. The award is the result of a Stipulation of Settlement and Order of Damages, stemming from a lawsuit won by the Attorney General’s Office against Victory Motors, LLC (d/b/a/ Victory Mitsubishi of Larchmont) and Victory Auto Group, LLC (d/b/a Victory Suzuki of The Bronx) for engaging in persistent fraudulent, deceptive, and illegal business practices in the sale of a passive security system.

“We are returning money to New Yorkers that was stolen from them,” said Attorney General Letitia James. “These car dealerships ripped off consumers by charging for unwanted, secretive, last-minute add-ons. My office will continue to protect New York’s consumers and ensure that all car dealerships throughout the state comply with the law.” 

The Attorney General’s Office filed a lawsuit in December 2017, alleging that Victory Motors, LLC, which closed in 2018, and Victory Auto Group, LLC, charged many consumers for an unwanted and fraudulent anti-theft product that cost up to $4,000 per vehicle. Known as an “after-sale” product, this item was often added onto the final cost of the vehicle without the consumer’s knowledge or consent – after the consumer had agreed upon the purchase price of a vehicle but before the sale transaction was finalized. The court, finding the above-named dealerships liable of engaging in deceptive business practices and repeated and persistent fraud, permanently enjoined Victory Motors, LLC, and Victory Auto Group, LLC, from engaging in persistent fraudulent, deceptive, and illegal business practices in the sale of a passive security system. The court ordered a Stipulation of Settlement directing the dealerships to pay a total of $305,850 in damages, which includes restitution to the victims of the fraud. Consumers were charged amounts ranging from $129 to $3,998 for the bogus anti-theft product. In many instances, the two Victory dealerships added this fee onto the final sales price without the knowledge or consent of the consumers. As a result, the final price paid by the consumers was inflated by the amount charged for the after-sale product.

The two Victory dealerships also failed to clearly disclose the nature of the after-sale product to their customers. The “Vehicle Replacement Discount Allowance,” also known as the “Etch Guarantee,” is supposed to include a permanent etch or engraving of the vehicle’s VIN on the windows of the vehicle – supposedly to deter theft. However, in many instances, the Victory dealerships did not actually etch the VIN onto the windows of the vehicles.

Since 2015, the Attorney General's Office has obtained approximately $19 million in restitution and penalties from auto dealers; nearly 29,000 consumers have been eligible for restitution under these settlements. This case is part of the Attorney General’s wider initiative to end the auto dealer practice of “jamming,” or unlawfully charging consumers for products and services without their knowledge or consent. 

The case was handled by Assistant Attorney General Sandra Giorno-Tocco, with the assistance of Investigators Peter Schottenfeld, Michael Christian, and Ralph Dorismond, and Senior Consumer Frauds Representative John Katzenstein, under the supervision of Gary Brown, Assistant Attorney General-in-Charge of the Westchester Regional Office and Jill Faber, Deputy Attorney General for Regional Affairs.

Attorney General James Takes Action Against Chelsea Kennel Club For Selling Sick And Injured Puppies To New Yorkers

Pet Store Lied to Consumers About Dogs’ Conditions; Withheld Pet Medical Files 

  Attorney General Letitia James announced a lawsuit against the pet store Chelsea Kennel Club, its manager Yardena Derraugh (a/k/a Yardena Rich, Dana Rich) and William Derraugh, the president of Future Enterprises NYC, Inc. for allegedly selling sick, injured, and abused animals to consumers; withholding pertinent medical information about the puppies; and illegally selling animals obtained through unauthorized breeders. They are also accused of false advertising, engaging in veterinary practice without a license, failing to abide by New York City’s Pet Lemon Law, and treating animals inhumanely.

“It is not only shameful, but illegal to sell sick and injured pets, let alone abuse these animals,” said Attorney General Letitia James. “My office will continue to investigate and prosecute businesses and individuals that mistreat animals and swindle New Yorkers.”

Attorney General James’ office collaborated with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) in conducting the investigation. An HSUS staff member secured employment at Chelsea Kennel Club and, as part of an undercover investigation, obtained evidence of unacceptable conditions and routine withholding of medical information concerning the sick animals, details that supported the Attorney General’s allegations.

“When we filed a complaint with the New York Attorney General’s office based on our undercover investigation of Chelsea Kennel Club, we were confident that it would be taken seriously,” said Kitty Block, president and CEO, HSUS. “No puppy should be forced to endure the type of treatment we documented at Chelsea Kennel Club. We appreciate the effort of the Attorney General’s office in securing justice for these animals and New York consumers.”

The Attorney General’s lawsuit seeks a court order forbidding Future Enterprises NYC, Inc., Chelsea Kennel Club, Yardena Derraugh and William Derraugh from engaging in fraudulent and deceptive conducts, restitution for consumers, and over $70,000 in fines and penalties.

On its website, Chelsea Kennel Club described its business as a “progressive, caring, and ethical pet store.” Meanwhile, their actions were deceptive, illegal, and inhumane.  A veterinarian usually examined the puppies after they arrived at Chelsea Kennel Club. However, the store withheld veterinarians’ preliminary examination reports that in some cases documented serious health issues with the animals. As a result, consumers were either unaware of illnesses, or were misled regarding the health condition of their pets. Many never discovered their animal’s medical issues until after they took their pets home. In one instance, a consumer had his puppy just six days before it died in an animal hospital. 

When consumers demanded their money back, Chelsea Kennel Club denied their requests—violating the terms of the Chelsea Kennel Club Consumer Protection Plan, as well as New York’s Pet Lemon Law, which ensures the good health of cats and dogs sold in the state. Under this law, pet dealers must issue a refund, reimburse veterinary expenses, or replace the animal. To qualify for a refund or a replacement animal, a consumer must obtain a veterinary certification showing that the animal was unfit for sale within fourteen business days of the purchase. Yet, in many of these cases, Chelsea Kennel Club simply refused to comply with this law.

The pet store proprietors’ fraudulent and illegal conduct resulted in consumers unknowingly purchasing sick puppies that required subsequent veterinarian treatment or hospitalization at significant cost. Staff members also provided prescription drugs to puppies without consulting with a veterinarian. Yardena Derraugh regularly instructed her employees to administer unhealthy doses of prescription medications to puppies at the store. In some cases, the medicines used were expired, making the animals even sicker.  

Chelsea Kennel Club staff also treated the puppies in inhumane manners, putting dogs that barked in a submissive position until they began to whimper or whipping them when they refused to keep quiet.  

According to some evidence, some of the puppies came from Class B dealers, violating Section 17-702(b) of the New York City Administrative Code. This prohibits pet stores from selling, offering for sale, or even displaying dogs purchased from Class B dealers.   

Attorney General James Announces Equifax Breach Website Now Accepting Consumer Claims

Attorney General James Announces Equifax Breach Website

Now Accepting Consumer Claims

Consumers Can Check if Personal Information Was Breached,

Sign Up for Credit Monitoring and Restoration,

and Apply for Restitution Directly on Site 

Third Party Administrator — Not Equifax — is Operating Website

  Attorney General Letitia James announced that consumers can now visit a new website — www.EquifaxBreachSettlement.com — and input limited information to see if their personal information was compromised in Equifax’s massive breach of 2017 that ultimately affected more than 147 million consumers. The site not only has information about the breach and the settlement reached, but also allows consumers to check if they were victims of the breach, file claims for financial restitution, set up credit monitoring and restoration services, and check on the status of all these services.

“For two years, nearly half the U.S. population has wondered if their personal information was compromised because of Equifax’s irresponsible and negligent behavior,” said Attorney General James. “Today, we can finally provide every American with clarity and undoubtedly tell them whether their information was stolen or not. I urge all to visit www.EquifaxBreachSettlement.com and check to see if their data was illegally breached, and if so, file a claim for restitution. Consumers will need to deal with the fallout of this breach for years to come, and this website is just the first step in helping provide consumers with the tools to recover.”

On July 22, Attorney General James announced a multistate settlement with Equifax following their 2017 breach that compromised Social Security numbers, names, dates of birth, addresses, credit card numbers, and, in some cases, driver’s license numbers of nearly half the U.S. population. While the company created a website, in 2017, for Americans to check and see if their personal information was breached, that website was riddled with vague and inaccurate information that only provided consumers with more uncertainty and no clear answer as to whether they were impacted by the breach or not.

Now that the settlement has been provisionally approved by the court, www.EquifaxBreachSettlement.com has been updated so that consumers can easily input their last name and the last six digits of their Social Security Number to find out if their information was breached. A third party administrator — not Equifax — is overseeing this new website.

If consumers find out they were victims of the breach, restitution can be provided in a multitude of ways.

Consumer Restitution Fund

A single Consumer Restitution Fund of up to $425 million — $300 million of which will initially be dedicated to compensation, with an additional $125 million available if initial funds are depleted — will be provided to victims.

Consumers can claim up to $20,000 to compensate for money lost due to identity theft or fraud. Consumers who are eligible for redress will be required to submit claims showing they have been a victim of fraud or have taken proactive steps to set up credit monitoring services by submitting documents online or by mail. 

Consumers, however, do not have to prove direct causality from the breach to identity theft. As long as an individual was a victim of the breach and a victim of identity theft in the two years since the breach, they can apply for restitution. Consumers can also be compensated for the time spent dealing with identity theft — at the rate of $25 per hour, for up to 20 hours.

In addition to filing claims online, consumers can also call 1-833-759-2982 to request a paper application be sent to them by postal mail.

Credit Monitoring and Restoration

Equifax has agreed to offer consumers, who had their data exposed, with free credit-monitoring services for up to 10 years. Consumers that take part in the service will have up to $1 million of identity theft insurance available — at no deductible — to cover identity recovery expenses and legal costs. The first four years of credit-monitoring service will include monitoring by all three of the big three credit reporting agencies, while years five through 10 will be made available through Equifax.

Additionally, Equifax has agreed to take several steps to assist consumers who are either facing identity theft issues or who have already had their identities stolen. These steps include making it easier for consumers to freeze and thaw their credit, and dispute inaccurate information in credit reports, as well as maintain sufficient staff to assist consumers who may be victims of identity theft.

Additional Pieces of the Settlement

Under the settlement, Equifax has also agreed to pay $175 million in fines to the Attorneys General of 48 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; $100 million in fines to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB); and $10 million in fines to New York State’s Department of Financial Services.

Equifax has also had to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to strengthen its security practices as part of the settlement, and will continue to do so going forward. The company has agreed to regular third-party assessments to evaluate whether it’s administrative, technical, and physical safeguards meet the requirements provided in the agreement. 

More information on the settlement can be found in the initial settlement announcement made on July 22, 2019.

BROOKLYN MAN INDICTED FOR ASSAULT & OTHER CHARGES FOR TOSSING URINE AT SUBWAY CONDUCTOR, BUS DRIVER IN SEPARATE INCIDENTS IN BRONX

Defendant Also Punched the Conductor

 Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Brooklyn man has been indicted in assaults on Metropolitan Transportation Authority workers in two separate incidents in the Bronx. 

 District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant allegedly splashed two female MTA employees with urine, and punched one of them. These victims are a subway conductor and a bus operator who were performing their jobs transporting passengers.” 

 District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Brandon Jobson, 22, of Rockaway Parkway, Brooklyn, was arraigned today on second-degree Assault, Attempted Assault second degree, second-degree Aggravated Harassment, Attempted Aggravated Harassment second degree, thirddegree Assault, Attempted Assault third degree, two counts of second-degree Reckless Endangerment, two counts of second-degree Harassment and two counts of Disorderly Conduct before Bronx Supreme Court Justice George Villegas. Bail was set at $10,000 cash/$10,000 bond and the defendant is due back in court on October 3, 2019.

 According to the investigation, on April 12, 2019 at 10:30 AM, at East 138th Street and Brook Avenue station of the No. 6 train, an MTA Conductor operating a train observed the defendant on the platform from the conductor window. The defendant allegedly approached the conductor window and struck the victim with a closed fist once on her head and threw a liquid substance contained in a bottle at her person. The victim believes the liquid is urine based on the odor and color of substance. The defendant fled on foot.

 According to the investigation, on April 12, 2019, at 11:25 AM, an MTA Bus Operator was driving a bus on the BX1/BX2 line and upon turning the corner of East 138th Street and Grand Concourse, she observed defendant standing across the street holding what appeared to be a cup in his hand. The bus operator pulled up to the bus stop in front of 250 Grand Concourse to let passengers off and on the bus, and while stopped, she saw the defendant standing right outside her window throw a cup with a liquid substance which landed on her face, clothing and in her eyes. The victim believes the liquid is urine based on the odor and color of substance. The defendant fled on foot

 District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detective Francis Flynn of Bronx Transit Robbery Squad for his assistance in the investigation. 

 An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.

News From District Attorney Darcel Clark

Bronx Man Indicted In Strangling Death Of Mother-In-Law

Victim Was Killed While Her Grandchildren Were In Her Apartment

  Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx man has been indicted on Murder and Manslaughter charges in the strangulation of his mother-in-law. 

 District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Angel Montanez, 39, of 1269 Sheridan Avenue, was arraigned today on second-degree Murder, first-degree Manslaughter, first and seconddegree Strangulation, three counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child and second-degree Criminal Contempt before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Lester Adler. Remand was continued and the defendant is due back in court on October 16, 2019 

 District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant allegedly killed the grandmother of his children in her home while the children were in the apartment. He ignored the Order of Protection placed against him at the time, as well as the trauma that two of the young children would experience after witnessing parts of the incident.”

 According to the investigation, on July 3, 2019, the defendant allegedly went to the apartment of the victim, Lidia Herrera, 65, while having an Order of Protection issued against him regarding his 4-year-old daughter, 6-year-old son and 10-year-old son. Montanez started arguing with Herrera and punched her in the head. In the victim’s bedroom, the defendant allegedly strangled Herrera by wrapping an HDMI cord around her neck. Two of the children witnessed parts of the incident. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

 District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detective Justin Prieto of the 44th Precinct and NYPD Detective Sasha Brugal of the Bronx Homicide Squad for their assistance in the investigation. 

An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.

TWO BRONX MEN INDICTED FOR FIRING SHOTS ON A CROWDED STREET; ONE DEFENDANT CHARGED FOR WOUNDING 7-YEAR-OLD BOY

Shooting Happened in Broad Daylight in Mott Haven

  Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that two Bronx men have been indicted for firing shots in a crowded area in broad daylight—an incident that left a seven-yearold boy injured.  

 District Attorney Clark said, “The defendants’ alleged actions left an innocent child wounded and endangered the lives of people who were outside in the busy Mott Haven area on that afternoon. The gunfire in our neighborhoods must stop.” 

 District Attorney Clark said one of the defendants, Keyshawn Williams, 21, of 600 East 137th Street, was arraigned today on Attempted Assault in the first degree, two counts of seconddegree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, two counts of second-degree Criminal Use of a Firearm, first-degree Reckless Endangerment, Criminal Possession of a Firearm, two counts of Attempted Assault in the second degree and two counts of fourth-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon before Bronx Supreme Court Justice George Villegas.

 Manuel Colon, 31, of 637 East 138 Street, was arraigned on July 15, 2019 on first-degree Assault, two counts of second-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, two counts of seconddegree Criminal Use of a Firearm, first-degree Reckless Endangerment, two counts of seconddegree Assault, Criminal Possession of a Firearm and two counts of fourth-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon before Bronx Supreme Court Justice George Villegas.

 Bail was set for $25,000 cash/$50,000 bond for both defendants. Colon is due back in court on October 8, 2019 and Williams is due back on October 24, 2019.

 According to the investigation, on the afternoon of June 5, 2019 in front of 600 East 137th Street, Colon allegedly fired multiple shots at Williams, whose 7-year-old cousin and the boy’s grandmother were walking nearby. One of the bullets fragmented and struck the boy. Williams then allegedly pursued Colon and the man he was with, and fired multiple rounds at them outside the Mill Brook Houses, endangering passersby. The child was taken to Lincoln Hospital where he was treated for injuries to his leg and hand.

  District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detective Fabio Checo of the 40th Precinct.

 An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.

VISION ZERO: MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES “GREEN WAVE” BICYCLE PLAN TO ADDRESS CYCLING FATALITIES -- WITH CITYWIDE PROTECTED BIKE LANE NETWORK AND INCREASED ENFORCEMENT

Robust safety plan includes accelerated build-out of a citywide network of protected bike lanes, NYPD enforcement of crash-prone intersections, legislation & other innovations

  Mayor Bill de Blasio released “Green Wave: A Plan for Cycling in New York City” to confront the rise in cycling fatalities in 2019. As cycling continues to grow dramatically, the $58.4 million plan combines design, enforcement, legislation, policy and education to make the City’s streets safer for cyclists -- and all street users. With fatalities heavily concentrated this year in Brooklyn, the Mayor unveiled the plan in Bay Ridge, a neighborhood that this year will receive its first on-street protected lanes along 7th Avenue.  The Mayor separately announced that as part of the accelerated expansion of the protected bike lane network, DOT would this year install a two-way protected bicycle lane along Dyckman Street in Washington Heights.

“When we came into office we promised New Yorkers we’d do everything we could to end traffic fatalities,” said Mayor de Blasio. “No loss of life on our streets is acceptable. With a dangerous surge in cyclist fatalities, we have to keep pushing the envelope and increasing our efforts. That’s what this plan is about. It’s a continuation of our promise. This time, specifically to bikers. We are here to protect you and we take that job seriously. We will not stop until we have finally reached Vision Zero.”

“Thanks to the Mayor’s leadership and the effective work of so many in the advocacy community, we are proud to present the “Green Wave” plan today,” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg. “We have assembled a long and aggressive to-do list that we think that can change this year’s tragic increase in cyclist fatalities – and encourage even more New Yorkers to get on bicycles.” 

“The Green Wave plan is a critical step forward in addressing the tragic surge in bicyclist fatalities,” said NYPD Transportation Chief Thomas Chan. “We are ramping up enforcement at crash-prone intersections, and targeting enforcement on high risk activities such as speeding, failing to yield and blocking bike lanes which directly affects bicyclist safety.”

The seventeen bicyclist fatalities so far this year represent the highest number through July of any year since the launch of Vision Zero in 2014, after a record-low 10 fatalities in all of 2018.  This year, 12 (or 71%) of this year’s cyclist fatalities have been in Brooklyn, and eight fatalities involved cyclist interactions with trucks.

The Green Wave Plan is a multi-prong, multi-agency approach to curtail bike injuries and fatalities at a time when cycling popularity is on the rise, the City continues to expand its bike network and Citi Bike is expanding into new neighborhoods and boroughs. According to DOT’sCycling in the City report 24% of adult New Yorkers ride a bike, with a half-million cycling trips made on a typical day. Citi Bike, the nation’s largest bike share system continues to grow and recently announced plans to double its footprint and triple its fleet by 2023. In the past three years the City has added an average of 62 bike lane miles per year, including over 20 protected bike lane miles.

The new plan includes the following major elements:

Create Citywide Protected Bike Lane Vision

·         To implement the Green Wave plan, the City has committed $58.4 million in new funding over the next five years, with 80 additional new staff. 

·         Build 30 miles of protected bicycle lane annually, guided by a PBL vision document. By the end of 2021, DOT will install over 80 miles of protected lanes.  These projects are currently in various stages of planning and design.

·         DOT has identified 10 Brooklyn and Queens community boards as Bike Priority Districts, which together represent 16% of community boards and 14% of the bike lane network – yet have 23% percent of all NYC’s  bicycle fatalities. DOT has committed to build 75 miles of bicycle infrastructure in these districts by 2022.

·         Spur increase in cycling mode share for safety and emissions reduction, furthering OneNYC 2050 goal that 1 out of every 10 trips in NYC be taken by bicycle.

Improve and Update Design

·         DOT will build upon innovative intersection designs with a focus on areas where the majority of fatalities occur.

·         Fifty (50) intersections will receive turn calming treatments in 2019 and where possible, protected intersection designs will be added for new projects after streets are resurfaced or reconstructed.

·         Among innovations, DOT will in 2019 pilot so-called “Green Wave,” progressive signal-timing that discourages speeding and encourages steady cycling speeds -- and it will identify other corridors for implementation in 2020.

·         Install Green Skip Bars at key intersections to increase cyclist visibility.

Expand NYPD Enforcement

·         Under the plan, the NYPD will ramp up enforcement at the 100 most crash-prone intersections and target enforcement on highest risk activities: speeding, failing to yield, blocking bike lanes, oversized trucks/trucks off route.

·         Maintain continuous citywide implementation of “Operation Bicycle Safe Passage” initiative – extending elevated enforcement of blocked bike lanes and hazardous driving violations. Since implementation of Operation Bicycle Safe Passage, NYPD has doubled enforcement of cars parked in bicycle lanes and issued more than 8,600 summons in the first three weeks of July.

·         Specialized units and precincts will increase enforcement against oversized and off-route trucks.

·         The NYPD also announced that supervisors would respond to collision sites to determine if the right-of-way laws should be applied -- and that it would also discontinue its practice of ticketing cyclists at the site of fatal cyclist crashes.

·         NYPD supports new and emerging technology for automated enforcement.

Promote Legislation and Implement Policy

·         DOT will both make new rules and work with the City Council and State Legislature in support of legislation increasing safety for cyclists and all road users. The agency will partner with various local and state agencies to advance cyclist safety.

·         Among the specifics, DOT will implement local legislation that passed the Council this week that allows cyclists to proceed on the pedestrians signal and will work with the Speaker and Council Members to pass additional legislation requiring a three-foot passing distance between car and cyclist and enhanced requirements for trucks sideguards.

·         DOT will also explore and evaluate the capabilities of existing and emerging technology for automated enforcement technologies to keep bike lanes clear, as well as enforce overweight truck restrictions, and determine the feasibility of obtaining State legislative approval for use of these technologies.

·         DOT will institute new requirements to protect cyclists around work zones, under legislation recently passed by the Council, and increase maintenance and markings inspection capacity.

·         DOT will install 2,000 bike parking spaces annually through bike corrals and issue an RFEI to evaluate the possibility of a new high-capacity bicycle parking system.

Target Trucks in Major Safety Initiative

·         DOT will work with its partners in the trucking industry to address fatalities involving trucks, which have constituted over 50% of recent cyclist fatalities.

·         DOT will convene a Vision Zero Truck Safety Task Force.

·         DOT will develop instructional videos and materials for large fleets, private sanitation companies and freight industry partners.  DOT will also expand the “Trucks Eye View” educational program.

·         DOT will implement loading zones in residential areas and evaluate curb management in commercial areas, with the expansion of the Off-Hour Deliveries program.

·         DOT will also pursue an expedited timeline for installation of side guards for all Business Integrity Commission-licensed and registered private garbage-collection vehicles.

Continued Expansion of Outreach/Helmet Safety

·         DOT will continue its use of successful media campaign to promote safety, including a focus on the “Get There” bike encouragement and safety campaign messaging through weekly events and education programming.

·         DOT will expand a companion education portion to the defensive driving and training programs at local driving schools as well as expand the citywide 7th Grade Bike Safety Program in collaboration with DOE and Bike New York.

·         DOT will also work with Citi Bike to provide free helmets to NYCHA residents who become Citi Bike members.

Record 2019 Protected Bike Lane Production, including along 7th Avenue in Bay Ridge and along Dyckman Street in Washington Heights:  The Mayor also announced that after an average of over 20 protected bike lane miles per year for the last three years, a record amount of protected bike lanes – over 25 lane miles -- would be completed in 2019, with a commitment to even more protected lane miles in 2021 and 2022.  Among this year’s projects, the Mayor today watched crews preparing new 2 miles of new bike lanes in Bay Ridge along 7th Avenue, the first-ever protected lanes in this neighborhood.

Also among those projects will be over one-half mile of protected bike lanes along Dyckman Street in Washington Heights.  After several years of community consultation and the construction of two one-way lanes, the street will be redesigned this summer with a two-way lane on the north side of Dyckman Street, a critical connector that will help complete the Manhattan Greenway.   

“The need for our licensees to share the road safely with bicyclists has never been more urgent,” said Acting TLC Commissioner Bill Heinzen. “The Taxi & Limousine Commission is updating training, outreach, and enforcement on bicycle safety to over 200,000 drivers, as well as working with our business licensees and advocates to push the safety message. It’s critical that all for-hire drivers and passengers remember to turn and look before they open their car doors, and keep the city’s bike lanes clear for their fellow New Yorkers.”

“Bicycling is a healthy and environmentally-friendly way to get around the city and the Administration’s efforts to make the streets safer for cyclists is critical to the wellbeing of every resident,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot. “Safer streets means healthier New Yorkers.”

News From Congressman Espaillat

Representative Adriano Espaillat Introduces the Federal Death Penalty Abolition Act of 2019

Rep. Adriano Espaillat, joined by seven of his colleagues, introduced comprehensive legislation repealing the death penalty for a range of criminal offenses under United States Federal Criminal Code, the Immigration and Nationality Act, the Controlled Substances Act, and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. In addition, the bill converts the sentences of those currently on death row into a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole and it further prohibits the sentencing of death as a penalty for any pending or future violations of Federal law.

“The Death Penalty is an immoral practice and it should be abolished,” said Rep. Adriano Espaillat. “I strongly believe that decisions of whether a person should live or not are not to be made by a government, let alone one such as ours that is founded on the inalienable rights of individuals.

“There are myriad reasons to oppose the death penalty. One of the most crucial is the heavy racial bias of those on death row, and the fact that death sentences are disproportionately handed out if the victim is white, but the alleged perpetrator is not. No instance better demonstrates this than the story of the Central Park Five. People on death row can be found innocent and exonerated. But if executed, there is no turning back. This uncomfortable truth has been a stain on America’s justice system for too long, and it must come to an end.

“The list of reasons to oppose the death penalty could go on, from its cost to the taxpayers to its improper use on those with mental illness. But when it comes down to it, there need only be one reason: it is morally wrong. It is wrong for a government to decide to take the life of another person as recompense for a crime committed, no matter how heinous.

“The death penalty forgets a core tenet of humanity – human beings change. Humans have an immense capacity to learn, to heal, and to grow. Executing someone denies this principle and gives no course for a human being to change. A person is not defined by the worst choice they made, but the death penalty only views someone’s life through this narrow lens. And what’s more – it undermines the core vision upon which this nation was founded.

Representative Adriano Espaillat Reiterates His Call for the Impeachment of President Donald Trump Following Mueller Testimony

President Trump Lied to the American People and He Must Be Held Accountable

Representative Adriano Espaillat  reiterated his call to impeach President Donald Trump. In light of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s testimony before Congress, Rep. Espaillat released the following statement:

“As an original cosponsor of the first resolution calling for the impeachment of Donald J. Trump, I reiterate my support for holding him accountable as he has obstructed justice, violated the Constitution, and undermined the independence of our nation’s judicial system,” said Rep. Espaillat. “I have long believed that Donald Trump was unfit for the highest office in our land for a number of reasons, and I believe the evidence laid out in Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report, followed by his testimony to Congress, has bolstered this belief and the next steps we must take in order to hold President Trump accountable.

“During his testimony, former Special Counsel Mueller presented the American people an opportunity to hear from him firsthand about his investigation into Russia’s interference in our election and President Trump’s efforts to obstruct justice. Mr. Mueller stated clearly that his report does not exonerate President Trump, and that his investigation did find evidence that the President obstructed justice, it was not a witch hunt. 

“Mr. Mueller’s report uncovered the truth behind one of the most serious attacks on our democracy in our history and revealed that Russia waged an all-out, systematic assault on the 2016 elections to benefit Donald Trump.  Trump and his campaign team eagerly welcomed and even encouraged this attack and took calculated steps to obstruct the investigation and cover up the truth about their involvement with Russia.

“I continue my calls for impeachment because it is without a doubt that the Trump Administration has engaged in unparalleled abuses of power and corruption while hiding the truth from the American public.  President Trump said he would again accept campaign help from the Russian government to win the 2020 election, and he equates working with Russia as a form of diplomacy. The fact that the President would undermine our democracy, betray our country, and jeopardize our national security to accept assistance from a foreign adversary to disrupt our elections should alarm all Americans.

“Donald Trump, aided by Attorney General Barr and his Republican allies, has become increasingly defiant in the face of legitimate oversight authority vested in Congress.  No individual is above the law, not even the president of the United States, and if the only way to hold Donald Trump accountable is through impeachment, then that is what we are obligated to do.”

AUGUST 8TH, SOUTH BRONX TOWN HALL WITH STATE SENATOR ALESSANDRA BIAGGI

YOU MUST RSVP AT bit.ly/TownHall8-9 TO RESERVE A SEAT. PREFERENCE FOR RSVPs WILL BE GIVEN TO RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT 34 AND THE SOUTH BRONX.

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