MAN SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR FATALLY SHOOTING MAN IN FRONT OF SCHOOL IN 2014

Jury Convicted Defendant of Second-Degree Murder, Criminal Possession of Weapon

 Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a man has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the execution-style shooting of a man outside an elementary school. 

 District Attorney Clark said, “First the defendant shot the victim, a father of three children, in the back and then stood over the victim and shot him two more times in the head. This atrocious violence happened on the street in front of a school at 9 a.m. I hope the victim’s family will have a measure of justice with this prison sentence.” 

 District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Dwayne Reid, 48, of Larchmont, New York, was sentenced today to 25 years to life in prison by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Steven Barrett. The defendant received a sentence of 25 years to life for second-degree Murder and 10 years in prison and five years post-release supervision for second-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, sentences to run concurrently. He was convicted on December 13, 2019 after a jury trial.

 According to trial testimony, on the morning of May 21, 2014, the defendant shot Lamont Smith, 45, three times, causing his death. A day before the incident, Reid, who was acquainted with the victim, helped the victim move equipment for his business using a U-Haul van. The next morning Reid shot Smith with a .38-caliber revolver on E. 229th Street and fled in the U-Haul van. He was arrested later that morning at his mother’s home a short distance away. The murder weapon was recovered at the mother’s home.

 It is not known why the defendant shot the victim. There were a series of phone calls from the defendant to the victim, starting at about 5 a.m. on the day of the incident. The defendant declared himself a sovereign citizen and rejected the Court’s authority to conduct his trial. He was assigned five different lawyers, which caused the trial to be delayed numerous times.

 District Attorney Clark thanked Case Aide Orlanlly Castillo of Trial Bureau 40 for her assistance in the case. District Attorney Clark also thanked NYPD Detectives Kristian Flood of the 47th Precinct Squad, Robert Salerno formerly of the 47th Precinct Squad and currently with the Police Commissioner’s Detail, and Javier Aponte of the Bronx Narcotics Overdose Unit for their assistance in the investigation and the apprehension of the defendant.

DE BLASIO ADMINISTRATION RELEASES INTERNET MASTER PLAN FOR CITY’S BROADBAND FUTURE

First-in-nation plan provides roadmap to universal broadband; steps the City will take to close the digital divide

 Mayor Bill de Blasio and Chief Technology Officer John Paul Farmer today announced the New York City Internet Master Plan, a bold vision for affordable, high-speed, reliable broadband service across all five boroughs that offers seamless connectivity at home and on the go. The plan envisions a future for internet service in New York City, anchored in five principles––equity, performance, affordability, privacy and choice. With the release of the Master Plan, the de Blasio Administration charts a path for internet providers in the private sector to work in partnership with the City to address gaps in the market, close the digital divide and deliver universal broadband to all New Yorkers.

As part of the plan, the City will work with service providers that meet the City’s principles and expand its role across all broadband components by coordinating among permitting entities, optimizing City real estate like rooftops and lightpoles, and building fiber optic lines to connect City assets. The City will initiate the plan by issuing a Universal Solicitation for Broadband (USB) to steer the relationship between the City and the private sector toward universal service with a focus on covering areas of the City that currently lack connectivity. Read the plan here.

“Every New Yorker deserves easy, affordable access to the internet,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “With the Internet Master Plan, we are giving notice to corporations that the days of creating a digital divide in our city are over. Providing equitable broadband service to all New Yorkers regardless of where they live or how much they make is vital to ensuring everyone has the basic tools they need to succeed.”

“All New Yorkers should have access to affordable, reliable, high-speed internet, regardless of their zip code or the size of their paycheck,” said Deputy Mayor Laura Anglin. “We will work closely with our partners in the private sector as we endeavor to end the digital divide in New York City and ensure internet access for all.”

“The Internet Master Plan is a brand new approach to breaking down the barriers to internet adoption in a city as large and as densely populated as New York City,” said Chief Technology Officer John Paul Farmer. “No New Yorker should be without affordable access to this critical 21^stcentury technology. Now is the time for the private sector to get serious about working with the City to bring connectivity to all New Yorkers. No other city in the nation has introduced such a clear, strategic, and partner-focused roadmap to universal broadband.”

Current broadband subscription costs can be a burden on the budgets of low-income families. For example, 46% of New York City households living in poverty do not have broadband in the home. The Bronx has the highest percentage of residents without home broadband at almost 38%.

The digital divide in New York is considered a barrier to economic opportunity for residents and small businesses and a threat to long-term economic growth in the City. While many New Yorkers use a mobile connection and a home connection, New Yorkers increasingly need both connections to make full use of the internet. 40 percent of households do not have this level of connectivity today. 18 percent of residents – more than 1.5 million New Yorkers – have neither a mobile connection nor a home broadband connection. This significant portion of the City faces barriers to education, employment, banking, healthcare, social networks and government services that other residents do not.

Universal broadband that meets the City’s principles will transform the City with widespread economic benefits. Based on the City’s analysis of the economic impact of universal broadband, getting all New Yorkers connected and establishing equitable infrastructure citywide may result in up to 165,000 new jobs, a $49 billion increase in personal income, and $142 billion in incremental Gross City Product in 2045. While all New Yorkers will benefit from universal broadband, these impacts will be most dramatic for the people who are currently excluded from full participation in the digital economy.

“Internet access is no longer optional for families to succeed,” said Department of Buildings Commissioner Melanie La Rocca. “We look forward to working with our agency partners and other stakeholders to help connect New Yorkers and build a fairer city for all as we help clarify policies for telecoms on approving the installation of wireless equipment.”

“DOT is proud to be part of the city’s new Internet Master Plan to help expand broadband and close the digital divide,” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg. “Our light poles will be crucial to the effort, as they are an electrical source found along almost every street in all five boroughs.  We look forward to having those poles play a new and creative role in bringing high-speed internet to communities that need it.”

“New York City's Internet Master Plan tackles the persistent digital divide in New York City head-on. We are excited to support this effort to ensure that all New Yorkers can take advantage of the power of high speed internet access in a safe and equitable way,” said Geoff Brown, Head, New York City Cyber Command.

“New York City continues to lead the way in building a tech-based economy that works for everyone,” said Aneesh Chopra, 1st Chief Technology Officer of the United States. “The Internet Master Plan demonstrates NYC is prepared to compete with anyone anywhere and is committed to solidifying its position as a globally recognized technology and innovation leader.”

Overall Crime in New York City Hits Record Low in 2019

NYPD Launches Youth Forum: New Cross-Agency Initiative to Prevent, Address and Curb Youth Violence

 New York City achieved record low overall index crime in 2019, improving upon last year's records for public safety and crime reduction in the modern era. In 2019, overall crime is lower than in 2018, dropping to a new benchmark of approximately 95,000 incidents – with 872 fewer victims than last year. This achievement comes as the New York City Police Department more effectively responds to an increasing volume of calls for help. Radio runs increased to 6.4 million last year, compared with 4.8 million in 2015, an increase of roughly 1.5 million radio runs citywide. Since 2015, response times for both crimes in progress and critical crimes have dropped 23 and 43 seconds, respectively.

NYPD officers' work continues amid the challenge of new criminal justice reforms whose effects are already taking hold in New York City. There is an uptick in homicides, shootings and robberies and the Department vigorously investigates every act of violence in order to bring justice for victims and ensure public safety for everyone. When there are upticks and concentrated areas of violence, the Department works to swiftly target them through deployment, partnerships with the District Attorneys and preventative measures with the public's help. The NYPD continues to focus with precision on gangs, crews and the drivers of violence, to deepen our Neighborhood Policing philosophy and to engage with the city's youth to improve people's lives, keep guns off the streets and prevent crime from occurring.

NYPD will be announcing a new comprehensive youth strategy in the coming weeks. One component of this effort includes the establishment of a "Youth Forum," a new initiative, based on the CompStat and RxStat models, where NYPD and City agency partners will work together to design the most effective enforcement and prevention strategies to address rising youth crime. Preliminary meetings have been underway with members of District Attorney's Offices, other City agency partners, including the Department of Probation, the New York City Law Department and the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice. The official launch of this new partnership will be in January, to be followed by monthly strategy meetings.

"Every man and woman who wears an NYPD uniform is dedicated to serving New Yorkers in every neighborhood and to working around the clock to keep families and individuals safe from the trauma of crime and violence. We will not cede an inch in our mission to vigorously fight and prevent crime while, at the same time, continuing to build trust with the residents of New York who remain our greatest partners in ensuring the highest levels of public safety for all," said Police Commissioner Dermot Shea.

"While crime is at a record low in New York City, there is more work to do to ensure that every New Yorker feels safe in their neighborhood. We will continue to use precision policing to target enforcement and deepen our work with communities to fight crime," said Mayor Bill de Blasio. "With Commissioner Shea at the helm, I have full confidence the NYPD will continue to make our city even safer."

Key highlights from this month's crime statistics:

• Lowest number of index crimes in the modern era. There were 872 fewer incidents compared to 96,393 in 2018, or -0.9%.
• Murder is up +7.8 (318 vs. 295) in 2019 vs. 2018.
• Citywide shooting incidents are up +2.9 percent (766 vs. 754) when comparing 2019 vs. 2018. There were demonstrable decreases in shootings in the last quarter of 2019, including the lowest number of shootings, 56, in any December since the start of the CompStat era. The number of shootings in the final 6 months of 2019 was the lowest number for any six-month period in the CompStat era.
• Burglaries are down -8.7 percent (10,751 vs. 11,777) and grand larcenies are down -1.2% (43,227 vs. 43,761) when comparing 2019 vs. 2018.
• Overall crime in Transit is down -3.4 percent (2,499 vs. 2,586) when comparing 2019 vs. 2018.
• For 2019, rape decreased by -2.5%. Rape continues to be underreported. If you have been a victim of sexual assault, please come forward. The NYPD's Special Victims Division's 24-hour hotline is 212-267-RAPE (7273).

Hate Crimes as of 1/1/2019 By Motivation

Motivation	2019	2018	Diff	& Change	% of Total
Asian	3	6	-3	-50%	1%
Black	37	44	-7	-16%	9%
Disability	1	0	+1	***.*	0%
Ethnic	5	6	-1	-17%	1%
Gender	13	7	+6	+86%	3%
Hispanic	8	7	+1	+14%	2%
Muslim	14	18	-4	-22%	3%
Other	15	11	+4	+36%	4%
Religion	15	9	+6	+67%	4%
Semitic	234	186	+47	+26%	55%
Sexual Orientation	54	45	+9	+20%	13%
White	29	17	+12	+71%	7%
Grand Total	428	356	+72	+20%	100%

Note: All crime statistics are preliminary and subject to further analysis, revisions, or change.

Humanitarian Relief Effort for Puerto Rico

DE BLASIO ADMINISTRATION RELEASES WHERE WE LIVE NYC, A BLUEPRINT FOR THE FUTURE OF FAIR HOUSING

New Fair Housing Litigation Unit will use “secret shoppers” to test the housing market for discrimination and hold bad actors accountable

 Today, the de Blasio Administration released the Where We Live NYC Draft Plan for public review. Where We Live NYC is the City’s comprehensive plan to promote fair housing and take action to advance opportunity for all New Yorkers. Intentional policies and practices perpetuated segregation and inequity across the country and in our city, and it will take concerted effort from all levels of government, working with our partners in the private and non-profit sectors, to undo that legacy.

“As the Trump Administration rolls back protections against housing discrimination, we are stepping up to ensure that the doors of opportunity are open to every New Yorker and those who discriminate are held accountable,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Across the country, Americans are living with the legacy of segregation. In New York City, we’re charting a path forward to continue to make New York the fairest big city in America.”

"We live in the greatest city in the world, and that gives us a moral obligation to uplift and empower all New Yorkers and lead the nation in addressing structural racism and housing discrimination," said Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Vicki Been. "The Where We Live NYC plan is essential to building on our work to make the City fairer and more just, and I look forward to meeting with New Yorkers to ensure their stories shape the final plan, and future housing policies."

New Yorkers are increasingly living in neighborhoods that are more racially and economically diverse, and this Administration has been focused on creating a fairer city for all by expanding opportunity and strengthening neighborhoods. The de Blasio Administration has made significant progress in implementing inclusive policies and making investments that serve all New Yorkers, reduce existing inequities, and secure a sustainable future including:

·         Creating 44,380 new affordable homes and preserving the affordability of another 92,532 homes through the most ambitious affordable housing plan in the city’s history, with tens of thousands more units on the way

·         Securing one of the nation’s most demanding Mandatory Inclusionary Housing programs, ensuring that in every neighborhood, whenever housing is built through zoning changes, between 20 and 30% of that housing is permanently affordable

·         Enacting legislation to guarantee free legal assistance to every low income tenant facing eviction, and providing legal assistance to more than 100,000 households

·         Expanding neighborhood policing to every neighborhood in New York City, contributing to a historic low crime rate

·         Strengthening worker protections and benefits, from paid family and sick leave requirements to more predictable scheduling for fast food and retail workers

·         Launching Pre-K For All in all five boroughs

·         Establishing the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants to ensure New Yorkers know their rights and can access help to fight back against harassment

The share of New Yorkers living in the most segregated neighborhoods has steadily decreased, with the share of New Yorkers living in the least diverse neighborhoods in New York City – where a single racial or ethnic group is predominant –decreasing from 27% of New Yorkers in 1990 to 19% in 2000 and to 9% in 2012-2016. Additionally, the concentration of poverty across the city’s neighborhoods has also decreased. The share of census tracts with more than 40% of New Yorkers living in poverty has dropped from 13% in 1990 to 8% in 2012-2016.

The Where We Live NYC Draft Plan outlines key goals and strategies to address New York City’s fair housing challenges. The plan analyzes the state of fair housing in New York City today and lays out an action plan for the next five years. New Yorkers can now visit the Where We Live NYC website to read the plan and offer feedback to shape the final report. Both HPD and NYCHA worked with more than 30 government partners to evaluate existing policies and initiatives in order to design new, impactful policy solutions.

The Where We Live NYC Draft Plan includes the following key goals and strategies:

·         Expand resources to combat persistent housing discrimination, including a new dedicated unit to test for and pursue proactive cases agasint housing discrimination and new protections for justice-involved New Yorkers and New Yorkers who use housing vouchers.

·         Support housing development throughout the city and region, by expediting the creation of more affordable housing for low-income households and exploring zoning, land use, and other regulatory actions that will promote growth more broadly across the five boroughs.

·         Preserve affordable housing and prevent displacement of long-standing residents, through improving the quality of the city’s existing housing stock, particularly the 170,000 homes managed by NYCHA and expanding resources that protect tenants and homeowners against the threats of harassment, eviction, fraud, and scams.

·         Empower New Yorkers who use housing vouchers with more choice, by expanding the number of homes available to New Yorkers who receive rental assistance benefits and improving voucher holders’ and landlords’ experiences with the City.

·         Create more independent and integrated living options for people with disabilities, by leveraging the resources of the healthcare sector and expanding programs that assist people with disabilities obtain renovations to accommodate their physical needs.

·         Make equitable investments and change policies to support neighborhoods suffering from historic disinvestment through thoughtful decision-making and community engagement. The City will invest in increased wealth-building opportunities, improved public transit, and expanded diversity in public schools, among other initiatives.

To root out discrimination in the housing market, the City is launching the Fair Housing Litigation Unit to bring cases against owners and brokers who discriminate based on race, disability and source of income. This unit will be comprised of researchers, lawyers, and market testers who will go into the community as “secret shoppers” and identify discriminatory practices. The Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants will closely track the work of this unit to insure it is delivering for New Yorkers. The Fair Housing Litigation Unit will:  

·         Use data analysis and targeting to identity portfolios where the owner or broker is discriminating based on race, disability or source of income.

·         Bring affirmative litigation cases to court to hold bad actors accountable

·         Build new case law to deepen efforts to further fair housing

·         Educate brokers and owners on the consequences of discrimination

This Where We Live NYC Draft Plan was created through an inclusive, collaborative, and comprehensive effort to better understand fair housing challenges. The City worked with partners to learn directly from more than 700 residents across the five boroughs through 62 focus-group-style conversations in 15 different languages. The City also worked with a Fair Housing Stakeholder Group comprising of more than 150 community-based organizations, researchers, and policy advocates. New Yorkers were also asked to participate by sharing input on the Where We Live NYC website, participating in events, and hosting a conversation in their own community.

The City will also be hosting a listening tour across the city to continue the extensive collaborative public engagement that has driven Where We Live NYC’s two-year planning process. The tour will feature 3-4 day- exhibit installations that outline the process and draft plan. Residents will have a chance to learn and discuss the history of fair housing, explore data on diversity and opportunity in New York City, and share feedback on the strategies outlined in the draft plan to address discrimination, segregation, and equity in opportunity.

To launch the draft review process, the City will host a Where We Live NYC Listening Tour Opening Reception on January 8, 2020 at the Abrons Art Center in Manhattan, where participants can meet with City representatives to ask questions, share feedback, and experience an interactive Where We Live NYC exhibit.

The City will also be holding a public hearing on February 6, 2020 where members of the public can provide formal, on-the-record comment on the draft. The hearing will be held from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. in the City Planning Commission Hearing Room, Lower Concourse, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.   

For more information on the process, visit the Where We Live NYC website.

“Where We Live NYC is a sweeping fair housing plan that will guide the City’s bold and transformative efforts to dismantle the legacy of segregation and discrimination that stand in the way of opportunity for many people in our communities.  Throughout this process we’ve worked hand in hand with New Yorkers to make sure that their voices were heard, and we’re releasing this draft to fine tune what we’ve done so far, solidifying our next steps to make this city a more fair and just place to live for everyone,” said HPD Commissioner Louise Carroll. “I thank our many partners across the City and the 150 organizations that participated in our stakeholder group that have helped us reach this milestone. We look forward to continuing the conversation and building on our work to make this city better.”

“As we fight a citywide affordability crisis and address the challenge of homelessness, decades in the making, connecting New Yorkers in need to housing they can afford is our number one priority,” said Department of Social Services Commissioner Steve Banks. “This announcement builds on our progress at DSS-DHS-HRA helping more than 133,000 New Yorkers secure permanent housing through our Social Services programs and implementing a first-of-its-kind dedicated unit at DSS to combat Source of Income discrimination. Through these proactive programs and strategies—helping New Yorkers find, secure, and afford stable housing, while holding bad landlords accountable—we are making it easier for those individuals and families experiencing homelessness to open doors of opportunity in order to get back on their feet—and these new initiatives will take that work even further.”

“Creating an inclusive housing plan that meets the needs of everyone takes extensive planning,” said Victor Calise, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities. “We have made adaptable units that can meet the requirements of people with various disabilities, provided financial planning resources to make housing more attainable and stepped up our level of enforcement to prevent housing discrimination. We are proud of the progress we have made in the Where We Live plan and look forward to continuing to include the disability community in this important conversation.” 

“As New Yorkers, we pride ourselves on the diversity of our city – but also know that unacceptable levels of inequity remain. This Administration has made great strides in righting the wrongs of the past, including the adoption of Mandatory Inclusionary Housing. Where We Live promotes this momentum, and I look forward to continuing to use zoning to help us build inclusion and equity for all New Yorkers,” said Marisa Lago, Director the Department of City Planning and Chair of the City Planning Commission.

Marcos A. Crespo - Governor Cuomo Signs My Bill Into Law

On Thursday, January 2nd my bill requiring all Individuals engaged in the design, construction, operation, inspection, maintenance and repair of elevators to be licensed by New York State was signed by Governor Cuomo. The law also creates the New York State Elevator Safety and Standards Advisory Board, which is meant to establish recommendations for elevator inspections, examinations to satisfy licensing requirements, and enforcement to ensure compliance and promote public safety. "By creating a statewide license, a uniform standard, and increasing the accountability for the installation and repair of elevators across our state we will not only improve the safety conditions for this workforce, but also ensure a safer and more reliable service for all New Yorker's who rely daily on elevators to go about their lives and work. There is no doubt that this legislation will help prevent serious injury and loss of life for elevator installers and repair personnel and users alike. I'm grateful to have worked with Governor Cuomo, Senator Diane Savino, labor leaders, advocates and our labor committee staff to finally see this bill become law.

Our Bronx Revolution - Petitioning for Bernie

OUR BRONX REVOLUTION (OBR)

Our Bronx Revolution and Bronx 4 Bernie Sanders 2020 are actively supporting these events and we ask volunteers to join the campaign at these activities.  Come together with fellow Bernie supporters and join this historic movement to defeat Trump and transform America. We’ll collect petition signatures from our neighbors, friends, and families to ensure that we have a real champion to vote for this April.
Below is the calendar of events, up to January 15, 2020:

 Jan 6^th, 2020
From 8-10 AM and 4-7 PM will be at the intersection of River Ave & 161th St (in front of McDonald's), Bronx, NY 10451; Contact: C. Suarez, 347-353-6495

At 1:00 PM will be at 1385 Metropolitan Ave, Bronx, NY 10451. Contact: Susan, 347-9070694-

At 4;00 PM will be at East Fordham Rd & Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10468: Julian, 202-909-3424

Jan 7^th, 2020
8-10 AM and 4-7 PM will be at the intersection of River Ave & 161th St (in front of McDonald's), Bronx, NY 10451. Contact: C. Suarez, 347-353-6495

Jan 8^th, 2020
At 8:00 PM will be at East Fordham Road & Grand Concourse The Bronx, NY 10468. Contact: C. Suarez, 347-353-6495

At Noon will be at1 E Kingsbridge Rd The Bronx, NY 10468. Contact: Javier, 914-648-0482

At 4:00 PM will be at Castle Hill and Westchester Avenue The Bronx, NY 10462. Contact: Elizabeth, 917-335-4803

Jan 9^th
At 8:00 AM will be at East Fordham Road & Grand Concourse The Bronx, NY 10468. Contact: C. Suarez, 347-353-6495

East Fordham Road & Grand Concourse The Bronx, NY 10468. Contact:C. Suarez, 347353-6495

Jan 10^th
At 8:00 AM will be at East Fordham Road & Webster Avenue The Bronx, NY 10458. Contact: C. Suarez, 347353-6495
At 4:00 PM will be at East Fordham Road & Webster Avenue The Bronx, NY 10458. Contact: C. Suarez, 347353-6495

Jan 11^th, 2020
At 11:00 AM will be at 923 Hunts Point Ave, Bronx, NY 10450
At 9:30 AM will be at 3702 Riverdale Ave The Bronx, NY 10463. Contact: C. Suarez, 347353-6495

At 12:00 Noon will be at 592 E. 183rd St, Bronx, NY 10458. Contact: C. Suarez, 347353-6495

At 1:00 PM will be at Hugh J. Grant Cir The Bronx, NY 10472. Contact: C. Suarez, 347353-6495

Jan 12
At 8:00 AM will be at Grand Concourse & East 149th Street The Bronx, NY 10451. Contact: C. Suarez, 347353-6495

At 2:00 PM will be at 3828 Dyre Avenue The Bronx, NY 10466. Contact: C. Suarez, 347353-6495

At 4:00 PM will be at Grand Concourse & East 149th Street The Bronx, NY 10451. Contact: C. Suarez, 347353-6495

Jan 14^th
At 8:00 AM will be at Southern Boulevard & Westchester Avenue The Bronx, NY 10459. Contact: C. Suarez, 347353-6495

At 4:00 PM will be at Southern Boulevard & Westchester Avenue The Bronx, NY 10459. Contact: C. Suarez, 347353-6495

Jan 15^th
At 8:00 AM will be at Southern Boulevard & Westchester Avenue The Bronx, NY 10459. Contact: C. Suarez, 347353-6495

Southern Boulevard & Westchester Avenue The Bronx, NY 10459. Contact: C. Suarez, 347353-6495

You can signup for these events at: map.berniesanders.com

STATEMENT FROM DOI COMMISSIONER MARGARET GARNETT ISSUED ON DECEMBER 31, 2019 IN RESPONSE TO REPORTERS’ INQUIRIES REGARDING DOI’S BACKGROUND BACKLOG

The City of New York Department of Investigation MARGARET GARNETT COMMISSIONER

  In January 2019, shortly after taking office as DOI Commissioner, I recognized the serious issue I inherited involving a significant backlog in DOI's Background Investigation Unit of approximately 6,000 applicant files, some dating back to 2015. Thousands of background investigations had not even begun and City hiring agencies were not receiving crucial background information expeditiously, despite the fact that most City employees subject to a background investigation begin working before their background investigation is cleared. It was clear to me that this situation was urgent and we began to take immediate steps to assess and address it. We devoted additional resources to background investigations through a rotation of incoming staff, and requested additional new resources to address the existing backlog. With additional staffing provided by City Council in the most recent budget process, we completely reorganized the Background Investigation Unit, creating two teams, effective July 1 of 2019. One team is dedicated to ensuring that, going forward, we are meeting our obligations to City agencies in a timely way and not adding to the existing backlog. That team operates with the goal of completing all background investigations in less than six months. I am proud to say that to date we are on track with those goals. A second team is dedicated to clearing the backlog. In the past six months alone, this talented team has cleared over 1,000 applicant files. 

 Mr. Hay was part of the inherited set of approximately 6,000 backlogged background files. Although it is not clear whether a completed background investigation would have revealed information relevant to the current charge against Mr. Hay, the risks presented by this example are exactly why I took immediate steps to assess and then reorganize the Background Investigation Unit. However, reducing a 6,000 file backlog takes time. We are continuously evaluating the process to see if there are additional improvements that can be made, and will assess the Hay situation to see if it illuminates any broadlyapplicable issues. Finally, DOI background investigations gather the facts regarding issues like tax compliance, previous arrests, and the truthfulness of a candidate’s claimed work history and educational background. Our investigations enhance a hiring agency's internal hiring process but do not supplant it, meaning the hiring agency can and should be conducting its own standard review that may include reference checks and requiring other information from a candidate.

 We are addressing the existing backlog as aggressively as possible with the resources we have and will continue to do so. Moreover, we have made significant reforms to ensure new background investigations are completed in a timely manner. Background investigations are confidential; therefore, DOI will not comment on specifics regarding Mr. Hay's background.

 DOI is one of the oldest law-enforcement agencies in the country and New York City’s corruption watchdog. Investigations may involve any agency, officer, elected official or employee of the City, as well as those who do business with or receive benefits from the City. DOI’s strategy attacks corruption comprehensively through systemic investigations that lead to high-impact arrests, preventive internal controls and operational reforms that improve the way the City runs.