Bronx Community Board 9 - Weekly Bulletin

Bronx Community Board 9 Weekly Bulletin

Dear Residents, In response to the Governor’s state of emergency due to the COVID-19 outbreak and other information obtained by our office, we have decided to CANCEL all of the March and April Committee Meetings. March and April General Board Meetings have also been CANCELLED. This decision was made to prevent the spread of the recent corona virus outbreak and protect our vulnerable residents. Please note, many of the event flyers previously posted may have been cancelled or postponed, as a result, please operate with this assumption and confirm event status before participating. It's been confirmed the 43rd Precinct monthly community meeting in April is cancelled as well. Further, all DEP customer service borough offices are closed until further notice. Customers who have general inquiries should call 718-595-7000. Please be advised that Community Board 9 will begin teleworking to further prevent the spread of this virus. If you have any questions or concerns the best way to contact us is via office email at bx09@cb.nyc.gov. Lastly, please be aware that people are knocking on doors pretending they are testing for the COVID-19 virus. Please don't open your door as they are criminals impersonating health officials. Alert friends and family. Call 911 if they come to your door. Wishing you all a safe and healthy end to your week!

Attorney General James and Governor Cuomo Temporarily Suspend State Debt Collection in Response to Coronavirus

  New York Attorney General Letitia James and New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that — effective immediately — the state will temporarily halt the collection of medical and student debt owed to the State of New York and referred to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) for collection, for at least a 30-day period, in response to growing financial impairments resulting from the spread of 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Countless New Yorkers have been impacted — directly or indirectly — by the spread of COVID-19, forcing them to forgo income and business. In an effort to support these workers and families and ease their financial burdens, the OAG will halt the collection of medical and student debt owed to the State of New York and referred to the OAG for collection from March 17, 2020 through April 16, 2020. After this 30-day period, the OAG will reassess the needs of state residents for a possible extension. Additionally, the OAG will accept applications for suspension of all other types of debt owed to the State of New York and referred to the OAG for collection.

"In this time of crisis, my office will not add undue stress or saddle New Yorkers with unnecessary financial burden," said Attorney General James. "New Yorkers need to focus on keeping themselves safe and healthy from the coronavirus, and therefore can rest assured that state medical and student debt referred to my office will not be collected against them for at least 30 days. This is the time when New Yorkers need to rally around each other and pick each other up, which is why I am committed to doing everything in my power to support our state's residents."

"As the financial impact of this emerging crisis grows, we are doing everything we can to support the thousands of New Yorkers who are suffering as a result of the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic," said Governor Cuomo. "This new action to temporarily suspend the collection of debt owed to the state will help mitigate the financial impact of the outbreak on individuals, families, communities and businesses in New York as we continue to do everything we can to slow the spread of the virus."

The OAG collects certain debts owed to the State of New York via settlements and lawsuits brought on behalf of the State of New York and state agencies. A total of more than 165,000 matters currently fit the criteria for a suspension of state debt collection, including, but not limited to:

• Patients that owe medical debt due to the five state hospitals and the five state veterans’ home;
• Students that owe student debt due to State University of New York (SUNY) campuses; and
• Individual debtors, sole-proprietors, small business owners, and certain homeowners that owe debt relating to oil spill cleanup and removal costs, property damage, and breach of contract, as well as other fees owed to state agencies.

The temporary policy will also automatically suspend the accrual of interest and collection of fees on all outstanding state medical and student debt referred to the OAG for collection, so New Yorkers are not penalized for taking advantage of this program.

New Yorkers with non-medical or non-student debt owed to the State of New York and referred to the OAG, may also apply to temporarily halt the collection of state debt. Individuals seeking to apply for this temporary relief can fill out an application online or visit the OAG's coronavirus website to learn more about the suspension of payments. If an individual is unable to fill out the online form, they can also call the OAG hotline at 1-800-771-7755 to learn more.

Separately, in an effort to support New Yorkers in the fight against the coronavirus, Attorney General James has sent multiple cease and desist letters to individuals and companies selling and marketing certain products as treatments or cures for the coronavirus, including Alex Jones, The Silver Edge company, Dr. Sherill Sellman, and televangelist Jim Bakker.

There is currently no Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved vaccine to prevent the disease or treatment to cure it, and the World Health Organization has also said that there is no specific medicine to prevent or treat the coronavirus.

Additionally, Attorney General James has issued cease and desist notifications to multiple businesses in New York for charging excessive prices for hand sanitizers, disinfectant sprays, and rubbing alcohol — a violation of New York’s price gouging statute. That statute prohibits the sale of goods and services necessary for the health, safety, and welfare of consumers at unconscionably excessive prices during any abnormal disruption of the market.

The OAG continues to surveil and monitor businesses across the state for potential scams and price gouging schemes designed to exploit public concern related to the spread of the coronavirus. Scammers commonly exploit real public health concerns and use heightened public fear to prey on consumers and profit from frauds related to those health fears. If a consumer believes they have been the victim of a scam or have witnessed potential price gouging, they can report these incidents to the OAG

Postponement of ALL Bronx Community Board #10 Meetings

This came in from Community Board 10.

BX10@cb.nyc.gov

This is a reminder that Bronx Community Board #10 is postponing all meetings – full Board and Committee.

The Board urges all of our partners to keep abreast of the COVID-19 information by visiting the New York City Department of Health& Mental Hygiene website at https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/index.page.

EDITOR'S NOTE: 

 All Bronx Community Boards have put up a similar posting on their websites or notified those people on their e-mail listings. Check with your local community board for more information.

14 Defendants Charged With Racketeering, Murder, Firearms, And Narcotics Offenses

Alexander Arguedas is Charged with the December 2012 Murder of Gary Rodriguez

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Darcel D. Clark, District Attorney for Bronx County, Dermot Shea, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), Ray Donovan, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in New York (“HSI”), and Cynthia Brann, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Correction (“NYCDOC”), announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging ALEXANDER ARGUEDAS, a/k/a “Reckless,” MICHAEL DELAGUILA, a/k/a “Grizz,” STEVEN JUSTO, a/k/a “Riko,” DAVONTE BROWN, a/k/a “Tae,” JACOBB PADIN, a/k/a “Chino,” EDGARDO BARANCO, a/k/a “Slime,” ABBAS OZKURT, a/k/a “AB,” JAHVONNE CHAMBERS, a/k/a “JV,” DENISE BULLOCK, a/k/a “Mocha,” SIMONE CORDERO, a/k/a “Mixy,” MATTHEW NIEVES, a/k/a “WB,” TYERANCE MICKEY, a/k/a “Hoodlum,” and MARK BROCK, a/k/a “Rover,” with racketeering, firearms, and narcotics offenses, in connection with their membership and association with the Black Stone Gorilla Gang (“BSGG”).  ARGUEDAS is also charged with the December 9, 2012, murder of Gary Rodriguez.  ANDRE CURRY, a/k/a “Flex,” is charged with narcotics and firearms offenses. 

Seven defendants were arrested today and will be presented this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron.  Three defendants were already in federal or state custody on other charges.  The case has been assigned to United States District Judge Jesse M. Furman.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “Today’s indictment charges members and associates of a violent gang that allegedly wreaked havoc in the Bronx for years, committing numerous acts of violence against rival gang members and innocent victims.  These charges are the product of a joint effort between our Office and the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, whom we thank for their outstanding partnership, not only in this case, but in our ongoing, shared commitment to keeping the people of the Bronx safe from violence.  Because of that partnership, and thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the NYPD, DEA, Department of Correction, HSI, and Special Agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the defendants now face federal charges for their alleged crimes.”           

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark said:  “This gang has allegedly brought violence, guns and illicit narcotics to Bronx streets, and my Office’s partnership with U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman, the NYPD, the DEA, the Department of Correction, and HSI has now brought them to justice. We remain unrelenting in putting such violent criminal enterprises out of business.”

NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said:  “The NYPD’s work to identify and dismantle gangs and crews, and prevent the violence so often associated with their activities, continues to be of paramount importance to the NYPD and all our law enforcement partners.  I thank the NYPD detectives involved in this case and our law enforcement partners for their hard work which resulted in these arrests.”

DEA Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan said:  “With deep rooted history of violence both in and outside of prison, the Black Stone Gorilla Gang is a fierce threat to New Yorkers.  Today’s arrests have put an alleged murderer in jail along with 13 other gang associates allegedly embedded in racketeering, fraud, firearms, narcotics trafficking and/or assaults.  I thank our law enforcement partners for their collaboration and partnership.” 

NYCDOC Commissioner Cynthia Brann said:  “Our Correction Intelligence Bureau works tirelessly to reduce violence and increase safety in our facilities, and we are proud of their hard work in this case, which involved many hours of collaboration with our fellow law enforcement partners.  Gang activity drives a disproportionate amount of violence in our city, in both the streets and the jails, and because of these efforts both communities are safer.”

HSI Special Agent in Charge Peter C. Fitzhugh said:  “HSI is always willing to assist our law enforcement partners in any criminal investigation where our resources, capabilities and personnel can be of value.  Bringing these dangerous individuals to face justice is why we invest in the specialized training and equipment we keep at the ready.  HSI and our law enforcement partners will continue to thrive in arresting those most dangerous because of the dedication and teamwork we put forward.”

According to the allegations in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court[1]:

ALEXANDER ARGUEDAS, a/k/a “Reckless,” MICHAEL DELAGUILA, a/k/a “Grizz,” STEVEN JUSTO, a/k/a “Riko,” DAVONTE BROWN, a/k/a “Tae,” JACOBB PADIN, a/k/a “Chino,” EDGARDO BARANCO, a/k/a “Slime,” ABBAS OZKURT, a/k/a “AB,” JAHVONNE CHAMBERS, a/k/a “JV,” DENISE BULLOCK, a/k/a “Mocha,” SIMONE CORDERO, a/k/a “Mixy,” MATTHEW NIEVES, a/k/a “WB,” TYERANCE MICKEY, a/k/a “Hoodlum,” and MARK BROCK, a/k/a “Rover,” are members and associates of the Black Stone Gorilla Gang, a racketeering enterprise that operates principally in the New York City metropolitan area and in the jails and prisons of New York City and the State of New York.  In order to enrich the enterprise, preserve and protect the power of the enterprise, and enhance its criminal operations, BSGG members and associates committed, conspired, attempted, and threatened to commit acts of violence, including murder and assaults; distributed and possessed with intent to distribute narcotics; committed robberies; engaged in bank fraud and wire fraud; and obtained, possessed, and used firearms.  BSGG members also evaded prosecution by law enforcement authorities through acts of intimidation and violence against potential witnesses to crimes committed by the gang.

On or about December 9, 2012, ARGUEDAS shot and killed Gary Rodriguez in the vicinity of 3089 Decatur Avenue in the Bronx, New York.

In or around 2018, ARGUEDAS and others conspired to murder a fellow BSGG member who had fallen out of ARGUEDAS’s favor.  At ARGUEDAS’s direction, another gang member shot at that individual.

On or about August 27, 2018, at ARGUEDAS’s direction, CHAMBERS attempted to slash a rival gang member with a scalpel in the Bronx, New York.

On or about November 12, 2019, ARGUEDAS and MICKEY assaulted a fellow BSGG member with a chair in the vicinity of 3063 Hull Avenue in the Bronx, New York.

On or about November 12, 2019, BROCK slashed an individual across the face in Manhattan, New York.

The defendants are also charged with participating in a conspiracy to distribute heroin, cocaine, cocaine base, oxycodone, and marijuana from in or about 2011 through in or about March 2020.                

A chart containing the names, charges, and maximum and minimum penalties for the defendants is set forth below.  The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the NYPD’s Gun Violence Suppression Division and Financial Crimes Task Force, the DEA, the NYCDOC Correction Intelligence Bureau, HSI, and the Special Agents of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

COUNT	CHARGE	DEFENDANTS	MAX. PENALTY
Count One	Racketeering Conspiracy 18 U.S.C. § 1962(d)	ALEXANDER ARGUEDAS MICHAEL DELAGUILA STEVEN JUSTO DAVONTE BROWN JACOBB PADIN EDGARDO BARANCO ABBAS OZKURT DENISE BULLOCK SIMONE CORDERO MATTHEW NIEVES	Life imprisonment
		JAHVONNE CHAMBERS	20 years’ imprisonment
Count Two	Murder in Aid of Racketeering 18 U.S.C. §§ 1959 and 2	ALEXANDER ARGUEDAS	Death or life Imprisonment; Mandatory minimum of life imprisonment
Count Three	Murder through the Use of a Firearm 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(j) and 2	ALEXANDER ARGUEDAS	Death or life imprisonment; Mandatory minimum of five years’ imprisonment
Count Four	Conspiracy to Commit Murder in Aid of Racketeering and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering	ALEXANDER ARGUEDAS	10 years’ imprisonment
Court Five	Attempted Murder and Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering 18 U.S.C. §§ 1959 and 2	ALEXANDER ARGUEDAS	20 years’ imprisonment
Count Six	Firearms offense 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c) and 2	ALEXANDER ARGUEDAS	Life imprisonment Mandatory minimum of ten years’ imprisonment
Count Seven	Attempted Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering 18 U.S.C. §§ 1959 and 2	ALEXANDER ARGUEDAS JAHVONNE CHAMBERS	3 years’ imprisonment
Count Eight	Assault with a Dangerous Weapon in Aid of Racketeering 18 U.S.C. §§ 1959 and 2	ALEXANDER ARGUEDAS TYERANCE MICKEY	20 years’ imprisonment
Count Nine	Maiming, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury in Aid of Racketeering 18 U.S.C. §§ 1959 and 2	MARK BROCK	20 years’ imprisonment
Count Ten	Narcotics Conspiracy 21 U.S.C. § 846	ALEXANDER ARGUEDAS MICHAEL DELAGUILA STEVEN JUSTO DAVONTE BROWN JACOBB PADIN EDGARDO BARANCO ABBAS OZKURT DENISE BULLOCK SIMONE CORDERO MATTHEW NIEVES ANDRE CURRY	Life Mandatory minimum of 10 years’ imprisonment
Count Eleven	Firearms Offense 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c) and 2	ALEXANDER ARGUEDAS MICHAEL DELAGUILA STEVEN JUSTO JACOBB PADIN EDGARDO BARANCO ABBAS OZKURT MATTHEW NIEVES ANDRE CURRY	Life Mandatory minimum of 5 years’ imprisonment

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

At Partnerships for Parks, the well-being of our community is our top priority. In alignment with City, State, and Federal recommendations; we have made the decision to cancel, postpone, or move to webinar all Partnerships for Parks programming through at least April 12. Here are the latest updates:   It's My Park projects are cancelled until April 12. As this timeline may change, we will not be rescheduling projects at this time.  All public workshops through April 12 will be canceled, postponed, or moved to webinar. Manhattan Parks Connections 2020: Envisioning the Future is postponed.  Introduction to the 2020 Partnerships Academy Fellowship will be postponed or moved to webinar. Please check our website regularly for updates on the above programs and additional PfP programs. You can also check Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Check NYC Parks and City Parks Foundation for other cancellations and postponements. For health-related updates, please check NYC Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Partnerships for Parks is a joint program of City Parks Foundation and NYC Parks that supports and champions a growing network of leaders caring and advocating for neighborhood parks and green spaces. We equip people and organizations with the skills and tools needed to transform these spaces into dynamic community assets. Our mailing address is: City Parks Foundation 830 5th Avenue New York, NY 10065

VAN NEST NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE — APRIL 6, 2020 MONTHLY MEETING CANCELLED

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. - LGBTQ Career Fair - POSTPONED

Our LGBTQ Career Fair scheduled for Friday, March 20 has been postponed because of COVID-19. Additionally, please note that the Out Bronx event that had been scheduled for tonight has been cancelled.

Gustavo Rivera on Coronavirus and Cuomo, the Orange Sociopath in the White House or the Nincompoop in the Frickin’ City Hall,”

Gustavo Rivera on coronavirus and Cuomo, from City & State Afternoon update:

The federal coronavirus stimulus bill could scramble Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s plans to partially close the budget deficit through changes to the state’s Medicaid program. But state lawmakers might pass a budget in the coming days. Whether it is bail reform, marijuana legalization, funding for health care and education, it is all on the line.

A key factor in all of this is how Cuomo will wield his political power on a wide variety of legislative fronts in a session increasingly defined by the coronavirus outbreak. Any governor of New York has formidable budgetary powers. But Cuomo has been particularly deft in achieving his objectives, most recently in getting the state Legislature to grant him sweeping emergency powers – with just a few hours’ notice. 

Among the handful of legislators who voted against the emergency powers bill was state Senate Health Committee Chairman Gustavo Rivera, an outspoken critic of the governor. City & State caught up with Rivera on Tuesday to hear his thoughts on the budget, Medicaid and how the state could do more to reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus in jails and prisons across the state.

“I will laud the governor for being far more responsible an executive than probably everybody else, whether it’s the orange sociopath in the White House or the nincompoop in the frickin’ City Hall,” Rivera said. “But we need to watch him particularly this time. You have to pay attention to the details because the governor is always about the details.”

Read the interview here.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

We are amused by the last paragraph, but we said days ago that President Trump dropped the ball and that Mayor de Blasio does not know what is going on, and that Governor Cuomo is the one who knows anything. 

Senator Gustavo Rivera only agreed with us in much different words. Right Gus.