MAYOR DE BLASIO SURPASSES OPEN STREETS TARGET, ANNOUNCES 13 MORE MILES OF STREETS TO BE OPENED BY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

New York City offers most open streets of any American city; exceeds 40-mile target by end of May

Open Streets will be visible on Google Maps

  Mayor Bill de Blasio announced today that New York City will open 13 more miles of streets to pedestrians and cyclists for the Memorial Day weekend starting tomorrow, May 23rd. The new locations bring New York City's total to 43 miles of open streets since the program was first announced in April, surpassing its original target of 40 miles by the end of May.

Google has added the previous 30 miles of Open Streets into Google Maps, allowing drivers using online navigation to steer clear of these streets; today’s new Open Streets will be added to Google Maps in the coming days.

New York City now has more miles of open streets than any other city in America.

“New Yorkers deserve space to safely enjoy the outdoors in their own neighborhoods,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Thanks to hard work from a host of City agencies, we’ve beaten our Open Streets goal for this month – and made our city a national leader in expanding public space as we fight COVID-19.”

“As we reach a pivotal milestone in our Open Streets program, it has been heartening to see the positive responses from communities and New Yorkers across the City as they enjoy these open spaces safely,” said Deputy Mayor Laura Anglin. “We will continue to work with our local partners, elected officials, BIDS, and countless City agencies, to further identify streets and neighborhoods to help New Yorkers get outside while maintaining social distancing.”

Nearly nine miles of the new Open Streets will be placed in neighborhoods across the city and managed by local precincts; 1.8 miles will be managed by local partners; and another 2.7 miles will be adjacent to parks.

Local Partner Management

Partner                     Boro  Street      From             To    Mileage

Red Hook Initiative  BK   9th St    Henry St   Hicks St      0.08  

 9a-6p Sat

Village Alliance      MN University Pl. 13th St - 4th St     0.41

8:30a-1:30p Sun

Village Alliance    MN  MacDougal     4th St - 8th St      0.15

8:30a-1:30p Sun

Hudson Sq BID   MN Greenwich St   Canal - Spring      0.08

10a-4p all days

Alliance for 

Downtown NY   MN  Pearl St         State St - Cedar St  0.46

11a-3p all days

Chinatown District MN Doyers St  Pell St - Bowery     0.05

10a-7p all days

Alliance for 

Kips Bay       MN 2nd Ave Service Rd 33rd - 30th St   0.13

8a-8p all days

Bedford Stuyvesant 

Gateway BID  BK  Arlington Pl  Macon - Fulton St   0.07

Thurs 10-2p

Times Square 

Alliance      MN   Broadway      47th St -  53rd St      0.30

8a-8p all days

Times Square 

Alliance     MN   Broadway     42nd St - 41st St        0.05

8a-8p all days

Total mileage                     1.78

Local Precinct Management

Neighborhood  Boro     Street         From          To        Mileage

Bed-Stuy	BK	Somers St	Rockaway Ave	Fulton St	0.11
Williamsburg	BK	S 9th St	Berry St	Driggs Ave	0.17
Williamsburg	BK	Grand St	Roebling St	Marcy Ave	0.16
Prospect Heights	BK	Underhill Ave	St. Johns Pl	Bergen St	0.32
Prospect Heights	BK	Carlton Ave	Park Pl	Bergen St	0.18
South  Richmond Hill	QN	120th St	94th Ave	Liberty Ave	0.53
Greenwich Village	MN	Jones St	Bleecker St	W 4th St	0.09
East Village	MN	Ave B	6th St	14th St	0.39
Manhattan Valley	MN	103rd St	Broadway	Riverside Dr	0.16
Chelsea	MN	22nd St	8th Ave	7th Ave	0.16
Gramercy	MN	Irving Place	16th St	20th St	0.18
Kensington	BK	Chester Ave	Ft. Hamilton Parkway	Church Ave	0.32
Fort Greene	BK	Willoughby Ave	Washington Park St	Hall St	0.41
Crown  Heights	BK	Park Pl	New York Ave	Kingston Ave	0.29
Crown  Heights	BK	Troy Ave	St. Johns Pl	Eastern Parkway	0.10
Rego Park	QN	99th St	Horace Harding	66th Ave	0.52
Sunnyside	QN	50th Ave	48th St	44th St	0.19
Forest Hills	QN	66th Rd	110th St	Grand Central Pkwy	0.15
Prospect  Heights	BK	Lincoln Pl	Washington St	Bedford Ave	0.41
Bed-Stuy	BK	Macon St	Arlington Pl	Tompkins Ave	0.40
Boerum Hill	BK	State St	3rd Ave	Smith St	0.50
Homecrest	BK	16th St	Ave R	Moore Pl	0.11
		Moore Pl	16th St	17th St
Brooklyn  Heights	BK	Willow St	Middagh St	Pierrepont St	0.33
Seaport	MN	Front St	Beekman St	Peck Slip	0.08
Harlem	MN	117th	Morningside Ave	5th Ave	0.70

Chelsea	MN	21st St	9th Ave	10th Ave	0.16
Hells Kitchen	MN	51st St	9th Ave	10th Ave	0.16
Harlem	MN	138th	Lenox Ave	Adam Clayton Powell Blvd	0.15
Williamsburg	BK	N. 3rd St	Kent Ave	Metropolitan Ave	0.32
Brownsville	BK	Williams Ave	Liberty Ave	Atlantic Ave	0.11
Castle Hill	BX	Pugsley	Bruckner Blvd	Turnbull Ave	0.20
Maspeth	QN	60th Street	Laurel Hill Blvd	47th Ave	0.12
Forest Hills	QN	Ascan Ave	Queens Blvd	Austin St	0.07
Park Slope	BK	Butler St	Gregory Pl	4th Ave	0.14
		Gregory Pl	Baltic St	Butler St
Bay Ridge	BK	Colonial Rd	86th St	83rd St	0.16
Jamaica	QN	107th Ave	159th St	160th St	0.03
Jamaica	QN	108th Ave	159th St	160th St	0.03
Jamaica	QN	159th St	108th Ave	109th Ave	0.12
Jamaic	QN	109th Ave	159th St	160th St	0.03

Total mileage

8.76

Adjacent Park Roads Park Boro Street From To Mileage Hunters Pt QN Center Blvd 57th Ave Borden Ave 0.23 Green Central Knoll Park BK Noll St Evergreen Ave Central Ave 0.09 Plaut Triangle QN 169th St Northern Blvd 43rd Ave 0.03 Gorman Playground QN 85th Street 25th Ave 30th Ave 0.13 Nicholas Naquan Heyward Park BK Wyckoff St Bond St Hoyt St 0.12 Charles Young Playground MN 143rd St Malcolm X Blvd 5th Ave 0.16 Stuyvesant Sq Park MN Rutherford Pl 15th St 17th St 0.09 16th Street 3rd Ave Rutherford Pl 0.08 Morningside Park MN Morningside Ave Manhattan Ave 116th 0.16 Yellowstone Park QN 68th Rd 108th St Yellowstone Blvd 0.10 Painter's Playground QN Dieterle Crescent Alderton St 65th Dr 0.13 Carroll Park BK Carroll St Court St Smith St 0.10 McGolrick Park BK Russell St Nassau Ave Driggs Ave 0.17 Betsy Head Park BK Dumont Ave Thomas Boyland St Strauss St 0.14 Baisley Pond Park QN Barron St 116th Ave  Foch Blvd 0.13 Lakeview Blvd E 118th Ave 122nd Ave 0.34 155th St 119th Ave 125th Ave 0.32 Lakeview lane 122nd Ave Baisley Blvd 0.12 122nd Ave Lakeview Blvd E Lakeview Ln 0.08 Total mileage 2.72

In April, the Mayor and Council Speaker Corey Johnson announced that 40 miles of streets citywide would be opened by the end of May to allow greater social distancing, with a plan to expand to a total of 100 miles in the weeks and months ahead.

Under Open Streets, pedestrians and cyclists can use the roadbed of each street. No through traffic is permitted, with remaining vehicle traffic limited to local deliveries, pick-ups/drop-offs, necessary city service, utility, and emergency vehicles only. Such drivers are alerted to be hyper-vigilant and to drive at 5 MPH along these routes. Open streets hours will be from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM but may vary slightly depending on staff availability.

The City has also begun installing 9 miles of additional temporary dedicated cycling space, building on this March's addition of lanes on a section of Manhattan's 2nd Avenue and on Smith Street in Brooklyn. This week, crews began work on lower Broadway in Manhattan, 38th and 39th Streets in Manhattan, Crescent Street in Queens and Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn. These temporary projects, which use barrels, signage, and other barriers, may be phased into permanent bike lanes as city resources come back online and as DOT gathers additional feedback from affected community boards and elected officials.

“As the beautiful spring weather arrives, we invite New Yorkers to now safely enjoy over 40 miles of Open Streets and new bike lanes in neighborhoods across the city, including Brownsville, Brooklyn, Jamaica, Queens, and Castle Hill in the Bronx,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg. “We thank the NYPD and our sister agencies, BIDs and community groups as well as elected officials who have together helped us reach this point. We have more miles to come and continue to call on other neighborhoods that want an Open Street to let us know, even if you don’t have a formal community partner.”

DOI ARRESTS HRA POLICE LIEUTENANT ON CHARGE OF CRIMINAL POSSESSION OF A FIREARM

  Margaret Garnett, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), announced the arrest today of a City Human Resources Administration (“HRA”) Police Lieutenant on a charge of illegally possessing a firearm. DOI began this investigation earlier this week after HRA reported to DOI that the defendant had been observed carrying a firearm while on duty at HRA.  

WENDELL WRIGHT, 47, of Brooklyn, N.Y., was arrested today on a charge of Criminal Possession of a Firearm, a class E Felony. Upon conviction, a class E felony is punishable by up to four years in prison. The arrest charge is pending review by prosecutors at the Office of Kings County District Attorney Eric Gonzalez.

DOI Commissioner Margaret Garnett said, “This defendant disregarded the law by carrying an unlicensed gun, conduct that endangers others and is not tolerated by the City, especially by someone charged with ensuring public safety, according to the charge. I commend HRA for reporting this serious matter to DOI.” 

According to DOI’s investigation, the defendant was seen carrying a pistol in advance of his scheduled HRA shift today, May 20, 2020. The investigation found that he was carrying an unlicensed weapon, and that the weapon was loaded. In addition, HRA Police Officers are not authorized to carry firearms while on duty. WRIGHT was arrested outside his home this morning.

WRIGHT has been an HRA employee since September 2005 and is receiving an annual salary of approximately $62,320. 

He was suspended from HRA upon arrest; the weapon and his badge were confiscated from him. Commissioner Garnett thanked New York City Department of Social Services (“DSS”) Commissioner Steven Banks and his staff, in particular the DSS Office of Legal Affairs, for their prompt action and cooperation during this investigation. HRA is part of DSS. Commissioner Garnett also thanked Kings County District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and his staff for their assistance in this matter.

An arrest charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Chinese National Arrested For $20 Million Scheme To Fraudulently Obtain Loans Intended To Help Small Businesses During COVID-19 Pandemic

MUGE MA, a/k/a “Hummer Mars,” Lied that His Phony Companies Had Hundreds of Employees and Paid Millions in Wages to Receive COVID-19 Loan Funds; MA’s Company Also Fraudulently Held Itself Out as Representing New York State in Procuring COVID-19 Supplies

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, William F. Sweeney Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Kevin Kupperbusch, Eastern Region Special Agent-in-Charge of the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Small Business Administration (“SBA”), and Jonathan D. Larsen, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”), announced today the arrest of MUGE MA, a/k/a “Hummer Mars,” a Chinese national residing in Manhattan, for a fraudulent scheme to obtain over $20 million in Government-guaranteed loans designed to provide relief to small businesses during the novel coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic.  In connection with loan applications for relief available from the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (“EIDL”) Program, MA falsely represented to the SBA and five financial institutions that his companies, New York International Capital LLC (“NYIC”) and Hurley Human Resources LLC (“Hurley”), had hundreds of employees and paid millions of dollars in wages to those employees, when, in fact, MA appears to have been the only employee of his companies.  MA’s company NYIC also fraudulently represented that it was representing New York State in procuring COVID-19 test kits and personal protective equipment to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.  MA was arrested this morning and will be presented later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kevin Nathaniel Fox.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “Muge Ma, a/k/a ‘Hummer Mars,’ allegedly attempted to secure over $20 million in Government-guaranteed loans intended for businesses devastated by the coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic.  In furtherance of the scheme, Ma allegedly falsely represented in his applications to banks and the SBA to own two companies with hundreds of employees to whom he paid millions in wages.  As alleged, Ma described one of the companies as a ‘patriotic American’ firm, and said of the other company that it would ‘help the country reduce the high unemployment rate caused by the pandemic by helping unemployed American workers and unemployed American fresh graduates find jobs as quickly as possible.’  In truth, Ma appears to be the only employee of either company and had no legitimate claim to the funds for which he applied.  Ma’s alleged attempts to secure funds earmarked for legitimate small businesses in dire financial straits are as audacious as they are callous, and now he now faces federal prosecution.  Small businesses are facing uncertainty and unprecedented challenges, the least of which should be opportunists attempting to loot the federal funds meant to assist them.  This Office, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to vigilantly protect the integrity of those critical loan programs.”

FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr said:  “There are many people in desperate need of federal money right now to get them through an unbelievably difficult time. The last thing they need to hear is that a fraudster allegedly tried to steal millions of dollars for his own selfish use. We hope this serves as a demonstration to other criminals plotting a similar scam – we are acting and investigating in real time to stop anyone using this crisis as a means to rip off the federal government and the tax payers who fund that government.”

SBA OIG Eastern Region Special Agent-in-Charge Kevin Kupperbusch said:  “Providing false statements to gain access to SBA’s programs will be aggressively investigated by our office.  SBA OIG and its law enforcement partners are poised to root out fraud in SBA’s programs and bring wrongdoers to justice.  I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their dedication and pursuit of justice.”  

IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Jonathan D. Larsen said:  “As many American businesses are struggling to survive during these difficult times, it is alleged that Mr. Ma sought to steal millions of dollars in loans intended to assist legitimate businesses. Make no mistake about it, IRS-CI is committed to investigating and bringing to justice those individuals who defraud coronavirus relief programs.”

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

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.  One source of relief provided by the CARES Act was the authorization of hundreds of billions of dollars in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the SBA’s PPP.  Pursuant to the CARES Act, the amount of PPP funds a business is eligible to receive is determined by the number of employees employed by the business and their average payroll costs.  Businesses applying for a PPP loan must provide documentation to confirm that they have previously paid employees the compensation represented in the loan application.  The CARES Act also expanded the separate EIDL Program, which provides small businesses with low-interest loans of up to $2 million that can provide vital economic support to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing due to COVID-19.  To qualify for an EIDL loan under the CARES Act, the applicant must have suffered “substantial economic injury” from COVID-19.

From at least in or about March 2020 through at least on or about May 15, 2020, MA applied to the SBA and at least five banks for a total of over $20 million in Government-guaranteed loans for the his companies NYIC and Hurley (together, the “Ma Companies”) through the SBA’s PPP and EIDL Program.  In connection with these loan applications, MA represented, among other things, that he was the sole owner and executive director of the Ma Companies, that the Ma Companies were located on the sixth floor of his luxury condominium building in New York, New York, and that NYIC and Hurley together had hundreds of employees and paid millions of dollars in wages to those employees on a monthly basis.  In fact, however, MA appears to have been the only employee of NYIC since at least in or about 2019, and Hurley does not appear to have any employees.  In order to support the false representations made by MA in the loan applications about the number of employees at, and the wages paid by, the Ma Companies, MA submitted fraudulent and doctored bank records, tax records, insurance records, payroll records, and/or audited financial statements to five different banks, and also provided links to the Ma Companies’ websites, which describe them as purportedly “global” companies.  In the course of these loan applications, MA also misrepresented that he was a United States citizen, when, in fact, he is a Chinese national with lawful permanent resident status in the United States.

Before the discovery of the fraudulent conduct by MA, the SBA approved a $500,000 EIDL Program loan for NYIC and a $150,000 EIDL Program loan for Hurley, and at least a $10,000 loan advance was provided to NYIC.  In addition, a bank approved and disbursed over approximately $800,000 in PPP loan funds for Hurley, which were frozen in connection with this investigation.  As a result, MA sought to withdraw his loan applications from the banks and return the funds.

MA and individuals purporting to work for NYIC have also fraudulently represented to a COVID-19 test kit manufacturer and a medical equipment supplier that NYIC is representing the New York State Government and the Governor of New York in procuring COVID-19 test kits and personal protective equipment (“PPE”) to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Among other incidents, in a recorded call that took place on or about May 18, 2020, MA represented, in substance and in part, that his company NYIC was a registered vendor for New York State, among other state governments, and that NYIC had a big team working on a deal for the State.  NYIC is not, however, an authorized vendor of New York State, nor has NYIC been authorized to represent New York State in connection with the procurement of COVID-19 supplies.

MA, 36 of New York, New York, is charged with one count of bank fraud, one count of wire fraud, and one count of making false statements to a bank, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, one count of major fraud against the United States, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, one count of making false statements, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, and one count of making false statements to the SBA, which carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison.  The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Any businesses or individuals who believe they may have been a victim in this investigation or have information regarding this investigation should call the FBI’s 24/7 Cyber Complaint Center at (855) 292-3937.

Mr. Berman praised the investigative work of the FBI’s Financial Cybercrimes Task Force, SBA-OIG, and IRS-CI, and noted that the investigation remains ongoing.  Mr. Berman also thanked the New York City Police Department, the Office of the New York State Comptroller, and the New York State Department of Labor for their assistance with the investigation.

The prosecution of this case is being handled by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit.  Assistant United States Attorney Sagar K. Ravi is in charge of the prosecution.

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

 [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

No. 202.32: Continuing Temporary Suspension and Modification of Laws Relating to the Disaster Emergency

No. 202.32

E X E C U T I V E  O R D E R

Continuing Temporary Suspension and Modification of Laws

Relating to the Disaster Emergency  

WHEREAS, on March 7, 2020, I issued Executive Order Number 202, declaring a State disaster emergency for the entire State of New York; and

WHEREAS, both travel-related cases and community contact transmission of COVID-19 have been documented in New York State and are expected to continue; 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Section 29-a of Article 2-B of the Executive Law, do hereby continue the suspensions and modifications of law, and any directives, not superseded by a subsequent directive, made by Executive Order 202.23 and each successor Executive Order up to and including Executive Order 202.27, for thirty days until June 20, 2020.

IN ADDITION, I hereby temporarily suspend or modify the following for the period from the date of this Executive Order through June 20, 2020, the following:

• Subdivision (1) of section 576-b of the Public Health Law and section 58-1.7 and 58-1.8 of Title 10 of the NYCRR, to the extent necessary to, in furtherance of Executive Order 202.30 and any extensions thereof, allow clinical laboratories to accept and examine specimens for COVID-19 testing, from personnel of nursing homes and adult care facilities, as such personnel are defined in Executive Order 202.30, without a prescription or order from an authorized ordering source, and to report the results of such tests to the appropriate operators and administrators of the nursing home or adult care facility for which the person for whom the test was performed provides services; provided that, to ensure appropriate follow-up with patients who test positive for COVID-19, the facility administrator shall contact the local health department to ensure all facility personnel who test positive are provided appropriate clinical guidance as well as appropriate isolation orders; and

• Section 6530 of the Education Law, to the extent necessary to allow physicians to order COVID-19 tests, authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for self-collection, without otherwise having an initial physician-patient relationship with the patient.
• 
  

IN ADDITION, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Section 925-a of the Real Property Tax Law to extend during a State disaster emergency the period for paying property taxes without interest or penalties upon request of the chief executive officer of an affected county, city, town, village or school district, I do hereby extend by twenty-one days the period for paying, without interest or penalty, property taxes that are due in the following localities that have requested such an extension: Village of Antwerp, Jefferson County; Village of Asharoken, Suffolk County; Village of Bainbridge, Chenango County; Village of Bayville, Nassau County; Village of Bronxville, Westchester County; Village of Canastota, Madison County; Village of Cedarhurst, Nassau County; Village of Chester, Orange County; Village of Chittenango, Madison County; City of Corning, Steuben County; Village of Coxsackie, Greene County; Village of Croton-on-Hudson, Westchester County; Village of Delhi, Delaware County; Village of Deposit, Broom-Delaware County; Village of Dexter, Jefferson County; Village of Dryden, Tompkins County; Town/Village of East Rochester, Monroe County; Village of East Rockaway, Nassau County; Village of Flower Hill, Nassau County; Grand-View-on-Hudson, Rockland County; Village of Granville, Washington County; Village of Great Neck, Nassau County; Village of Great Neck Estates, Nassau County; Village of Haverstraw, Rockland County; Village of Herkimer, Herkimer County; Village of Holland Patent, Oneida County; Village of Holley, Orleans County; Village of Huntington Bay, Suffolk County; Village of Kings Point, Nassau County; Village of Irvington, Westchester County; Village of Lynbrook, Nassau County; Village of Massapequa Park, Nassau County; Village of Massena, St. Lawrence County; Village of Menands, Albany County; Village of Mexico, Oswego County; Village of Mill Neck, Nassau County; Village of Millport, Chemung County; Village of Naples, Ontario County; Village of Nassau, Rensselaer County; Village of New Hartford, Oneida County; Village of New York Mills, Oneida County; Village of Old Westbury, Nassau County; Village of Orchard Park, Erie County; Village of Oyster Bay Cove, Nassau County; Village of Pawling, Dutchess County; Village of Poland, Herkimer County; Village of Pulaski, Oswego County; Village of Quogue, Suffolk County; Village of Roslyn, Nassau County; Village of Roslyn Harbor, Nassau County; Village of Saranac Lake, Franklin-Essex Counties; Village of Saugerties, Ulster County; Village of Scottsville, Monroe County; Village of Sea Cliff, Nassau County; Village of Sidney, Delaware County; Village of Spencerport, Monroe County; Village of Sodus, Wayne County; Village of South Glens Falls, Saratoga County; Village of Trumansburg, Tompkins County; Village of Tuckahoe, Westchester County; Village of Upper Nyack, Rockland County; Village of Warwick, Orange County; Village of Wesley Hills, Rockland County; Village of West Haverstraw, Rockland County; Village of Westbury, Nassau County; Village of Whitehall, Washington County; Village of Whitesboro, Oneida County; Village of Williston Park, Nassau County; Village of Valley Stream, Nassau County; Village of Floral Park, Nassau County; Village of Schoharie, Schoharie County; and the County of Suffolk.. 

IN ADDITION, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Section 925-a of the Real Property Tax Law, I do hereby retroactively extend by twenty-one days the period for paying without interest or penalty the property taxes that were due by April 1, 2020, in the Village of Head of the Harbor, Suffolk County, and the Village of Russell Gardens, Nassau County. 

IN ADDITION, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Section 29-a of Article 2-B of the Executive Law to issue any directive during a disaster emergency necessary to cope with the disaster, I do hereby issue the following directives for the period from the date of this Executive Order through June 20, 2020:

• Any licensee or franchisee of a racetrack in the State is hereby permitted to operate such racetrack as of June 1, 2020, provided such racetrack does not permit any visitor or fan into the facility, and allows on site only essential personnel; and provided further that such licensee or franchisee of a racetrack, and all essential personnel adhere to any directive or guidance issued by the Department of Health and/or by the Gaming Commission.

• Executive Order 202.10 (as later extended by Executive Order 202.18 and Executive Order 202.29) which prohibited all non-essential gatherings of any size for any reason, is hereby modified to permit a gathering of ten or fewer individuals for any religious service or ceremony, or for the purposes of any Memorial Day service or commemoration, provided that social distancing protocols and cleaning and disinfection protocols required by the Department of Health are adhered to, and provided further, that any drive-in or remote religious service may continue in excess of the ten person limit so long as there is no in-person contact between participants. Vehicle caravans are permitted. 

• The authority of the Commissioner of Taxation and Finance to abate late filing and payment penalties pursuant to section 1145 of the Tax Law is hereby expanded to authorize abatement of interest and penalties for a period of up to 100 days for taxpayers who were required to file returns and remit sales and use taxes by March 20, 2020, for the sales tax quarterly period that ended February 29, 2020.
• 
  

IN ADDITION, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Section 29-a of Article 2-B of the Executive Law, I hereby suspend or modify the following provisions included in Executive Order 202.22,  for the period from the date of this Executive Order through June 20, 2020, unless an earlier date is specified below:

• Article 5 of the Real Property Tax Law, and analogous provisions of any other general or special laws that require a tentative assessment roll to be filed on or before June 1, 2020, to allow the tentative and final assessment rolls to be filed, at local option, up to 30 days later than otherwise allowable, to allow an assessing unit to set a date for hearing assessment complaints that is at least 21 days after the filing of the tentative roll, to allow notice of the filing of the tentative roll to be published solely online so long as the date for hearing complaints is prominently displayed, to suspend in-person inspection of the tentative roll, and to allow local Boards of Assessment Review to hear complaints remotely by conference call or similar service, provided that complainants can present their complaints through such service and the public has the ability to view or listen to such proceeding;

• Section 1212 of the Real Property Tax Law, to the extent necessary to allow the commissioner of taxation and finance to certify final state equalization rate, class ratios, and class equalization rates, if required, no later than ten days prior to the last date set by law for levy of taxes of any municipal corporation to which such equalization rate, class ratios, and class equalization rates are applicable;

• Section 1512(1) of the Real Property Tax Law and Sections 283.291 and 283.221 of the Laws of Westchester County, are suspended to allow the County Executive to negotiate with any town supervisor or mayor of any city, to accept a lesser percentage of taxes, special ad valorem levies or special assessments which are otherwise due on May 25, provided that in no event shall any town or city be required to pay more than sixty percent. The County Executive is empowered to determine whether or not penalties for late payment or interest are able to be waived dependent on whether or not such town or city applies the County Executive’s criteria for determining hardship due to COVID-19;

• Section 283.221 of the Laws of Westchester County is further suspended to the extent necessary to require the supervisor of a town, to waive payment of penalties for late payment of county and county district taxes under section 283.221 up to July 15, 2020, and waive payment of penalties for late payment of town and town district taxes and assessments in the same manner, provided such town applies the County Executive’s criteria for the determination of hardship due to COVID-19;

• Section 1512(1) of the Real Property Tax Law and any penalty provision of the tax code of a city within Westchester County is further suspended to the extent necessary to allow the mayor of that City to waive the payment of penalties for late payment of county and county district taxes and to further waive payment of penalties for late payment of city and city district taxes and assessments in the same manner, provided such city applies the County Executive’s criteria for the determination of hardship due to COVID-19;

• Section 5-18.0(2) of the Nassau County Administrative Code, to the extent necessary to allow the Nassau County Executive to extend until June 1, 2020, the deadline to pay without interest or penalty the final one-half of school taxes upon real estate in such county.
• 
  

G I V E N   under my hand and the Privy Seal of the State in the City of Albany this twenty-first day of May in the year two thousand twenty.

BY THE GOVERNOR         

Secretary to the Governor

Governor Cuomo Announces Summer School Will Be Conducted Through Distance Learning This Year

 Extends Sales Tax Filing Deadline to June 22, 2020

State is Investigating 157 Reported Cases & 3 Deaths Related to COVID Illness in Children with Symptoms Similar to an Atypical Kawasaki Disease and Toxic Shock-Like Syndrome

Rockland County is Now Eligible to Resume Elective Surgeries and Ambulatory Care

New Yorkers Should Call the Coronavirus Hotline at 1-888-364-3065 if They Believe Their Employer is Not Following PPE, Hygiene or Social Distancing Guidelines

Reminds New Yorkers to Look Out for Calls from "NYS Contact Tracing"

Confirms 2,088 Additional Coronavirus Cases in New York State - Bringing Statewide Total to 356,458; New Cases in 44 Counties

Governor Cuomo: "We will issue guidelines in the beginning of June on what schools would need to do to come up with a plan to prepare to open. ... we don't want to make that decision until we have more facts. As the facts keep changing, prudence dictates that you don't make a decision until it's timely so you have the most recent facts to make a decision."

  Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo earlier today announced summer school will be conducted through distance learning this year to help reduce the risk of spread. Meal programs and child care services for essential employees will continue. School districts must also develop a plan for students with disabilities who participate in extended summer school year programs over the summer to ensure they receive instruction. The state will make a determination on the fall semester and issue guidelines in June so schools and colleges can start to plan for a number of scenarios. K-12 schools and colleges will submit plans for approval to the state in July.

Governor Cuomo also announced the state is extending sales tax interest and penalty relief through June 22, 2020. The state previously provided relief through May 19th for returns due March 20th. This extension could provide interest and penalty relief for up to 89,000 vendors who had returns due in March. These small businesses file their taxes quarterly and annually, and have taxable receipts of less than $300,000 in the previous quarter.

The Governor also announced the state is currently investigating 157 reported cases in New York where children - predominantly school-aged - are experiencing symptoms similar to an atypical Kawasaki disease and toxic shock-like syndrome possibly due to COVID-19. The illness has taken the lives of three young New Yorkers, including a 5-year old in New York City, a 7-year old in Westchester County and a teenager in Suffolk County. To date, 13 countries and 25 other states have reported cases of this COVID-related illness in children.

Governor Cuomo also announced that Rockland County is now eligible to resume elective surgeries and ambulatory care. The Governor previously announced that the state will allow elective outpatient treatments to resume in counties and hospitals without significant risk of COVID-19 surge in the near term, and a total of 51 counties can now resume elective surgeries (4 counties do not have hospitals).

The Governor also encouraged New Yorkers to call the Coronavirus Hotline at 1-888-364-3065 if they believe their employer is not following PPE, hygiene or social distancing guidelines as more businesses begin to reopen.

The Governor also reminded New Yorkers to look out for calls from "NYS Contact Tracing" and to answer those calls as the state begins to implement its contact tracing program.

Attorney General James Announces Arraignment of NYPD Officer on Murder Charge

Errick Allen was off-duty when he allegedly shot Christopher Curro

  New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced the arrest and arraignment of Errick Allen, 27, of North Massapequa, on the charge of murder in the second degree in connection with the shooting death of Christopher Curro, 25, of West Babylon. The Attorney General’s Office serves as a special prosecutor in matters relating to the death of unarmed civilians caused by law enforcement officers, pursuant to New York Executive Order 147. Errick Allen is an officer with the New York City Police Department (NYPD).

Allen was arraigned today before Judge Anthony Paradiso of the Nassau County District Court. The Attorney General’s Office requested that the defendant be remanded into custody, and the judge granted that application. Allen is due back in court on May 26, 2020. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison.

“We trust our police officers to protect the safety of New Yorkers, but instead, this individual allegedly betrayed that duty and used his service weapon to end another man’s life,” said Attorney General James. “My office is committed to ensuring justice is served and that no individual is above the law.”

Allen and Curro were longtime, childhood acquaintances. On Tuesday, May 12, 2020, shortly after 8:00 pm, during an encounter on a residential street in Farmingdale, Allen is alleged to have shot Curro five times, including twice in the head, at close range with his NYPD service weapon, causing Curro’s death. Allen initially fled the scene, but returned some time later in the evening. Allen was off-duty at the time of the shooting.

The charges are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless found guilty.