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Friday, January 31, 2020
Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. - Black History Month Celebration
DE BLASIO ADMINISTRATION INCREASES INVESTMENTS IN WATER DELIVERY SYSTEM INFRASTRUCTURE
City now investing $800 million on new water mains over next two years, a $130 million increase
The de Blasio Administration announced the City will be constructing new water mains and increasing staffing as part of several steps in the efforts to ensure the continued reliability of the City’s water delivery system. This initiative brings the City’s capital investment in new water mains and related infrastructure to $800 million over the next two fiscal years
“New York City water is famous for its drinkability,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “We must ensure our infrastructure keeps it where it is supposed to be – en route to New Yorkers homes and not spilling out all over the sidewalk. Our investments will continue to bring down water main breaks and bring New Yorkers their water safely.”
“This new effort will further cement New York City as one of the country’s leaders in water main systems and infrastructure,” said Deputy Mayor Laura Anglin. “With more than 8.5 million people who call New York City home, infrastructure that can continue to withstand the daily and long-term stresses is essential.”
“New York City’s water delivery system is not only admired because it is an engineering marvel, but also because it reliably serves more than 8.5 million people about 1 billion gallons of high quality water every day of the year,” said DEP Commissioner Vincent Sapienza. “Mayor de Blasio’s additional capital commitments today will ensure that we can continue to build new, stronger water mains while expanding our inspection protocol so that we can continue to reliably deliver the champagne of tap water to every building across the five boroughs.”
New York City has one of the most reliable water main systems in the country, far outperforming the national average. Large cities across the United States average 25 breaks for every 100 miles of water main while the industry has set a best practices goal of 15 breaks for every 100 miles of main. With approximately 6,800 miles of water mains, New York City averages 6.6 breaks for every 100 miles of water main. There are several reasons for the strong performance of the City’s system, including the requirement that the water mains are built with the strongest material available and the maintenance of a consistent pressure grade in order to reduce the fluctuations that could lead to breaks.
To ensure New York City continues to have a leading water system in the nation, the City is taking the following new measures:
Building New Water Mains
The City is adding approximately $128 million in capital funding to ensure the replacement of approximately 1 percent of the system’s water mains annually. The regular replacement of water mains is an important component of maintaining a well-functioning water delivery system.
Expanding Staff
To expand DEP’s pro-active inspections of water mains an additional three crews will be added. Pro-active inspections help DEP identify and repair small leaks before they grow and can cause property damage and affect other services
An additional three crews will be added in order to increase the number of valves that are inspected and exercised annually. Regularly exercising and maintaining the hundreds of thousands of valves throughout the system helps to ensure crews can promptly shut off water when there is a break.
Inter-Agency Coordination
DEP and NYC Emergency Management will meet with the New York City Fire Department, Department of Transportation, Con Edison, National Grid, and the Metropolitan Transit Authority and others to review current coordination protocols in an effort to expedite water shut-off and service restoration during emergencies.
Predictive Modeling
DEP prioritizes new water main construction based on multiple factors including the age, size, material and historical performance of the current main, as well as neighborhood demand for water and proximity of other capital projects. DEP will work to develop a predictive model to forecast the likelihood of future water main breaks.
Council Member Ruben Diaz Sr. - A PROUD FATHER
You should know that my son, Bronx Borough President, Rubén Diaz, Jr.s, decision to withdrew his candidacy for NYC Mayor, has impacted no one more than me. His aspirations to become the first Hispanic mayor of the city of New York was something that I and many in the Latino community were anxiously looking forward to.
You should know that I am so grateful to God for having blessed me with three (3) children who have dedicated their lives to public service. They have dedicated their lives, and served with integrity, honesty, and devotion as public servants of this great city of New York.
Damaris, my firstborn, served as a police officer for 20 years of her life in the protection and safety of New York City’s residents, retiring with the rank of Sergeant. These twenty (20) years were filled with anguish, sleepless nights and much prayers, asking God to protect her so that she would return home safely.
Samuel, my first son, has dedicated more than 27 years working in Public Housing in the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA). He started working in maintenance, care taker mopping, sweeping, cleaning the stairways and hallways of NYCHA buildings. Samuel, now serves as a supervisor within NYCHA. Samuel like Damaris, never had an appetite for politics. They chose to live private, quiet lives with their families.
Rubencito, is my youngest son. Since the tender age of 19 he served in public office. He started out as a messenger in the City Council where his duties included delivering documents and letters from desk to desk. Then at 23 years of age he was elected as district leader then as a young New York State Assemblyman. Now for the past 10 years he has served the people with distinction as the President of the County of the Bronx.
Rubencito, like Damaris and Samuel, have made me very happy, and proud to call them my children. As my children, regardless of their age, when they see me, whether it be in public or private they always greet me with a kiss, and they audibly ask me to bless them with a “bendición Papi”. A beautiful tradition which translated means, “Bless me Dad." That to me is quite an honor! What a privilege! To have my adult children receive me with this awesome greeting and of course it’s my pleasure to respond with a blessing “Dios te bendiga”.
As you well know, my dear reader, there are thousands of people in New York City and in Puerto Rico who had set their sights and hopes on seeing Rubencito become the first Hispanic ,Latino Mayor of this great city. I admit that I was the first among the thousands who had this great hope. Not only because he is my son, but because he is well qualified, and is of great character. He is disciplined, experienced, intelligent, has integrity, he loves this city, its diversity, and its people.
Believe me, in my many years in public life, I can honestly say that there are very few public officials who possess the qualities of Rubén Diaz, Jr. Again, I don't say this because he is my son. But because he is one of the best human beings that I know and despite all the circumstances that have surrounded him he has never changed his character as a good son, good husband, good father, good friend and excellent public servant.
Before making his decision public, he graciously invited me to Sabrosura Restaurant in Bronx County, to let me know of his decision. We spoke for approximately (2) hours. I tried to talk him out of it. Did my best to change his mind, which may have been a selfish thing to do. But he was adamant about his decision. He decided that it’s what’s best for him, his wife and children, and that decision must be respected. I wish my son the best for his future, his vision, and all those endeavors that he seeks!
As a father, Pastor of a congregation and President of the New York Hispanic Clergy Organization, I ask everyone to join me in thanking Ruben Diaz Jr., for his dedication and service. I also ask that you keep him in your prayers, that God will keep and guide his path. I ask the same for my other children Damaris and Samuel.
I am Councilman Rev. Rubén Diaz and this is what you should know.
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HEALTH CARE FOR ALL: NYC CARE LAUNCHES IN BROOKLYN AND STATEN ISLAND
NYC Care will be available in every borough by the end of 2020.
The de Blasio Administration today launched NYC Care in Brooklyn and Staten Island, building on the Administration’s commitment to guaranteeing health care for all New Yorkers. The program will seek to enroll 15,000 members in Brooklyn and Staten Island within the first six months of launching. Over 13,000 New Yorkers have enrolled in NYC Care since its initial launch in the Bronx in August 2019, surpassing the program’s original goal of 10,000 in the first six months.
“In New York City, we believe that healthcare is a human right,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Already, NYC Care has brought 13,000 people in the Bronx access to quality, affordable health care. By expanding to Staten Island and Brooklyn, we can help even more New Yorkers get the care they need.”
NYC Care is the new health care access program operated by NYC Health + Hospitals (H+H) for New Yorkers who are not eligible for insurance or who cannot afford it. Since its launch in the Bronx, NYC Care has already begun to dramatically change the way the City’s public health system connects people to primary, preventive and specialty care. To date, NYC Care’s 13,000 members have had over 27,000 provider visits, with over 20,000 prescriptions filled during new, extended pharmacy hours.
Beginning today, NYC Care membership will now be open to anyone who has lived in the city for at least six months, lives or wants to seek care in Brooklyn or Staten Island, and is currently uninsured. All new NYC Care members will be offered a primary care appointment within two weeks from enrollment. H+H patient care locations in Brooklyn and Staten have added new evening and weekend hours to accommodate members. NYC Care applicants and members also have access to a 24/7 customer assistance line where they can ask questions about NYC Care and speak to an on-call clinician for all of their needs, including prescription refills.
In an effort to reach more New Yorkers eligible for NYC Care, nine community-based organizations (CBOs) will receive seven-month contracts through a partnership between NYC H+H, the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) and the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City to conduct culturally appropriate outreach to prospective NYC Care members in Brooklyn and Staten Island.
The nine community-based organizations - African Refuge, Brighton Neighborhood Association, Arab-American Family Support Center, Council of Peoples Organization (COPO), Jewish Community Council of Greater Coney Island, Make the Road New York, Mixteca Organization, Project Hospitality, and Single Stop - were selected through a request for proposal process. A total of 23 full-time outreach workers will conduct grassroots outreach in order to identify, engage, and refer uninsured New Yorkers for screening and enrollment in NYC Care. Beginning today, these CBOS will begin outreach efforts in 20 languages, such as Spanish, Russian, Haitian Creole, Polish, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Arabic.
In addition, H+H is conducting a borough-wide multilingual public awareness campaign, including public transportation, the Staten Island Ferry and train, in-store posters, radio and street outreach in top targeted communities. There will also be significant multilingual digital advertisements and ethnic and community media engagement to reach those eligible for NYC Care. As part of the campaign, New Yorkers can also learn more about the program by calling 646-NYC-CARE as well as through a dedicated website at nyccare.nyc where they can download brochures and other materials available in multiples languages.
“NYC Care is a pillar of the de Blasio administration’s commitment to health care for all New Yorkers, and today, we are unlocking access to health care for thousands of people in Brooklyn and Staten Island,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Raul Perea-Henze. “With more than 13,000 members enrolled in the Bronx, NYC Care is making an impact for New Yorkers who need high-quality and affordable care, especially our immigrant communities. Everyone eligible in Brooklyn and Staten Island is urged to enroll today, and to tell their families, friends and neighbors about NYC Care. I thank NYC Health + Hospitals, the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, and all our community partners for the ongoing success of NYC Care as we work to bring the program to every borough by the end of this year.”
“Starting today, New Yorkers in both Brooklyn and Staten Island will have much-needed access to high-quality, affordable, preventive care,” said Mitchell Katz, MD, President and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals. “This furthers our vision to fundamentally change the way our health care system connects those who are not eligible for health insurance to the high-quality health care we deliver to thousands of New Yorkers every day.”
“The launch of NYC Care in Brooklyn and Staten Island invites members regardless of their immigration status or ability to pay to use our system in a different way. All New Yorkers are entitled to receive primary and preventive and specialty care before it is too late and they must use the emergency department,” said NYC Care Executive Director Marielle Kress. “I am excited to continue our work with trusted organizations to reach thousands of New Yorkers who need access to care in Brooklyn and Staten Island.”
Wave Hill events February 13-February 20
Fri, February 14
Valentine’s Day High Tea & Conservatory Tour
Invite a loved one to share a specially curated high tea in elegant Mark Twain Room, an intimate tour of the Conservatory and a lively talk about the language of flowers. All participants receive the special gift of 10% off in The Shop at Wave Hill and a stunning selection of gifts to choose from. Space is limited. $170 per couple; Wave Hill Members save 10%. Advance registration required online at wavehill.org. Start a new tradition this Valentine’s Day that will go on for many years to come!
Wave Hill House and On the Grounds, 1–4PM
Sat, February 15
Family Art Project: Biomimicry Boutique
Slip on those scales, tailor your tails, and design your perfect creature couture. Then get in vogue and hop, crawl, or slither your way down the catwalk. Free, and admission to the grounds is free until noon.
Wave Hill House, 10AM–1PM
Sat, February 15
Winter Workspace Session 1 Open Studios
This winter, Glyndor Gallery is transformed again into studio spaces for artists to develop new work and offer opportunities for public interaction in the context of the garden. Individual artists share their studio practice with the public on this open studio day. This year’s session 1 artists are Stephanie Alvarado, Ezra Benus, Environmental Performance Agency, LoVid, Linda Lauro-Lazin and Kymia Nawabi. Free with admission to the grounds.
Glyndor Gallery, NOON–3:30PM
Sat, February 15
Valentine’s Day High Tea & Conservatory Tour
Invite a loved one to share a specially curated high tea in elegant Mark Twain Room, an intimate tour of the Conservatory and a lively talk about the language of flowers. All participants receive the special gift of 10% off in The Shop at Wave Hill and a stunning selection of gifts to choose from. Space is limited. $170 per couple; Wave Hill Members save 10%. Advance registration required online at wavehill.org. Start a new tradition this Valentine’s Day that will go on for many years to come!
Wave Hill House and On the Grounds, 1–4PM
Sun, February 16
Family Art Project: Biomimicry Boutique
Slip on those scales, tailor your tails, and design your perfect creature couture. Then get in vogue and hop, crawl, or slither your way down the catwalk. Free with admission to the grounds.
Wave Hill House, 10AM–1PM
Sun, February 16
Valentine’s Day High Tea & Conservatory Tour
Invite a loved one to share a specially curated high tea in elegant Mark Twain Room, an intimate tour of the Conservatory and a lively talk about the language of flowers. All participants receive the special gift of 10% off in The Shop at Wave Hill and a stunning selection of gifts to choose from. Space is limited. $170 per couple; Wave Hill Members save 10%. Advance registration required online at wavehill.org. Start a new tradition this Valentine’s Day that will go on for many years to come!
Wave Hill House and On the Grounds, 1–4PM
Sun, February 16
Garden and Conservatory Highlights Walk
Join a Wave Hill Garden Guide for a public tour of seasonal garden highlights. Free with admission to the grounds.
Meet at Perkins Visitor Center, 2PM
Mon, February 17
Wave Hill is closed.
Wed, February 19
To Look at Things in Bloom—Photographing Gardens: A Horticultural Lecture by Ngoc Minh Ngo
A self-taught photographer whose work explores the intrinsic beauty of plants and nature, Ngoc Minh Ngo is especially interested in the ways flowers have been used in different cultures and times in history. Her lecture explores the various meanings of gardens, illustrated by some of her favorite images of private and public gardens in England, America and Morocco. Her photographs of interiors and gardens have been published in Vogue, T Magazine, Architectural Digest, House & Garden UK and Cabana. She has published three books, Bringing Nature Home, In Bloom and, this year, Eden Revisited. Wave Hill’s annual horticultural lecture series is held at the New York School of Interior Design. Individual tickets: $30, with a 10% discount for Wave Hill Members and students. Seating is limited, and advance reservations are recommended, online at wavehill.org, starting November 13. Student tickets available lecture evening only, at the door, space permitting and with a valid student ID. The final lecture of the series takes place on March 25, when Uziel Crescenzi speaks of “Chance Encounters of a Young Gardener.”
New York School of Interior Design, 6–7:30PM
A 28-acre public garden and cultural center overlooking the Hudson River and Palisades, Wave Hill’s mission is to celebrate the artistry and legacy of its gardens and landscape, to preserve its magnificent views, and to explore human connections to the natural world through programs in horticulture, education and the arts.
HOURS – Open all year, Tuesday through Sunday and many major holidays: 9AM–4:30PM, November 1–March 14. Closes 5:30PM, starting March 15.
ADMISSION – $10 adults, $6 students and seniors 65+, $4 children 6–18. Free Saturday and Tuesday mornings until noon. Free to Wave Hill Members and children under 6.
PROGRAM FEES – Programs are free with admission to the grounds unless otherwise noted.
Visitors to Wave Hill can take advantage of Metro-North’s one-day getaway offer. Purchase a discount round-trip rail far and discount admission to the gardens. More at http://mta.info/mnr/html/
DIRECTIONS – Getting here is easy! Located only 30 minutes from midtown Manhattan, Wave Hill’s free shuttle van transports you to and from our front gate and Metro-North’s Riverdale station, as well as the W. 242nd Street stop on the #1 subway line. Free offsite parking is available nearby with continuous, complimentary shuttle service to and from the offsite lot and our front gate. Complete directions and shuttle bus schedule at www.wavehill.org/visit/.
Thursday, January 30, 2020
$7 MILLION WORTH OF “FIRE” BRANDED HEROIN/FENTANYL SEIZED IN BRONX PACKAGING MILL: SIX INDIVIDUALS CHARGED
Narcotics destined for distribution in New York City and New England
Bridget G. Brennan, New York City’s Special Narcotics Prosecutor, Ray Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) New York Division, New York City Police Commissioner Dermot F. Shea, New York State Police Superintendent Keith M. Corlett and Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced the arrests of six individuals in connection with a large-scale alleged narcotics packaging and distribution network operating in the Kingsbridge neighborhood of the Bronx.
A long-term investigation into narcotics trafficking in New York City and Massachusetts culminated in the seizure of approximately 750,000 glassine envelopes of suspected heroin/fentanyl from an apartment at 2559 Sedgwick Avenue during a court authorized search. As a result of intelligence developed during a long-term investigation, members of the DEA’s New York Drug Enforcement Task Force (NYDETF), Group T-12, and investigators with the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor (SNP) conducted several days of intensive physical and video surveillance at the seven-story residential building. Over the course of the weekend, agents and investigators observed a total of eight individuals coming to and from 2559 Sedgwick Avenue, Apt. 6A, the suspected narcotics packaging mill. Agents and officers recognized multiple suspects from prior surveillance operations entering Apt. 6A.
Beginning on Friday, January 24, 2020, agents and investigators observed these eight individuals enter 2559 Sedgwick Ave., Apt. 6A carrying furnishings and equipment that are typically used in packaging heroin and fentanyl, including a glass table, plastic containers, desk lamps and folding chairs. On Saturday, January, 25, 2020, individuals were observed carrying weighted black plastic garbage bags into Apt. 6A. A female carried 15 bags of groceries into the building and into the apartment.
On Monday, January 27, 2020, members of NYDETF and the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor obtained a court authorized search warrant for 2559 Sedgwick Avenue, Apt. 6A. When agents and officers entered the apartment at approximately 7:25 p.m., they discovered six individuals in the midst of packaging powder-filled glassine envelopes stamped with the brand “Fire” into bundles. Hundreds of thousands of glassine envelopes covered two table tops and overflowed from plastic bins and cardboard boxes on the floor and a bed. Equipment and paraphernalia typical of a heroin/fentanyl mill were present in the room, including a glass table, desk lamps, a scale, grinders, empty glassine envelopes, small spoons, an ink bottle, ink pads and stamps.
Defendants LIVO VALDEZ, JASLIN BALDERA, FREDERICK BALDERA, FRANDI LEDEMA DIEGO TEJADA and PAFRAIMY ANTONIO are charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First and Third Degrees and Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree. The defendants are scheduled for arraignment this evening in Manhattan Criminal Court.
The DEA estimates the black market value of the suspected heroin/fentanyl at approximately $7million. Results of laboratory analysis of the seized narcotics are pending. The narcotics are believed to have been destined for New York City and Massachusetts.
Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan thanked Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark and commended SNP’s Special Investigations Bureau and Investigators Unit and the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, including members of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the New York City Police Department and the New York State Police, for their work on the case. The DEA’s New England Division assisted in the investigation.
“The sheer volume of heroin and fentanyl packages assembled in a small apartment just off the Major Deegan Expressway in the Bronx is shocking. Even veteran narcotics investigators were surprised by the output of this packaging operation, which was run out of a nondescript apartment in the borough afflicted by the city’s highest rate of overdose death,” said Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan. “The arrests of six individuals, and seizure of 750,000 drug filled envelopes destined for distribution here and in New England, underscore New York City’s role as a hub for mass distribution of deadly drugs. I thank the Drug Enforcement Task Force and the investigators and prosecutors from the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for their dedication and commitment to preventing lethal drugs from ever reaching our communities.”
“This enforcement operation shows that heroin is still the neighborhood stalker bringing danger and death to our doorsteps,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan. “This seizure is incredibly significant because it has saved hundreds of thousands of people from starting a cycle of opioid addiction by removing three quarters of a million heroin filled glassines from a one-bedroom apartment in the Bronx. Great police work and a common goal go a long way in keeping our city safe from the dangers of illegal drugs.”
“I want to commend our NYPD officers and partners in the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for their dedicated work together to make these arrests and take these dangerous drugs off the streets,” said Police Commissioner Dermot Shea.
New York State Police Superintendent Keith M. Corlett said, “The hard work of our members and partners on the Drug Enforcement Task Force has led to the arrests of six subjects and the seizure of a significant amount of heroin and fentanyl, which would have ended up on our streets. There is zero tolerance for those who sell these deadly, illegal drugs, and we will continue to aggressively target and disrupt these trafficking organizations, and put those responsible behind bars.”
The charges and allegations are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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Former Partner Of Manhattan Accounting Firm Sentenced For Two Fraud Schemes
Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that STEVEN L. HENNING, a certified public accountant (“CPA”) who was a partner at a Manhattan accounting firm, was sentenced today to 51 months in prison for participating in two wire fraud schemes. In the first, he falsely claimed to have entered into multimillion-dollar intellectual property deals and defrauded investors out of $2 million. In the second, he falsely claimed to have entered into client engagements and defrauded an employer out of over $240,000. HENNING was sentenced by United States District Judge Cathy Seibel.
U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said: “Over several years, Steven Henning committed brazen frauds, exploiting his stature and career accomplishments to defraud people who trusted and relied on him. Today he has received a significant prison sentence for his crimes.”
At the sentencing hearing, Judge Seibel said that HENNING is a “thief,” he committed “blatant fraud,” and his conduct was “extremely serious.”
According to the allegations in the Information to which HENNING pled guilty, as well as other public information:
HENNING, a CPA at a Manhattan accounting firm, established his own firm called OpportunIP, which he allegedly told victims was a company specializing in assisting other entities in taking intellectual property to the market. HENNING induced victims to invest in OpportunIP by providing them with fraudulent documents showing OpportunIP’s involvement in multimillion-dollar transactions that would reap millions of dollars in future profits. Ultimately, the victims learned that the deals did not exist, the documents were false and forged, and they were victims of an alleged scheme to defraud them out of millions of dollars.
As further alleged in the information, after leaving the Manhattan accounting firm, HENNING sought employment with a firm in Chicago, Illinois (the “Chicago Firm”). He induced the Chicago Firm to hire him and provide him with $240,000 in draw payments based on false and fraudulent statements about business he would bring to the Chicago Firm, including by sending the Chicago Firm fraudulent contracts.
In addition to his prison term, HENNING was ordered to serve three years of supervised release, pay $938,246 in restitution and forfeit $938,246.
Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the U. S. Postal Inspection Service and the SEC Office of Inspector General.