MAYOR DE BLASIO ADDS MORE OUTDOOR DINING AND PLAY STREET LOCATIONS TO NATION-LEADING OPEN STREETS PROGRAM

 

Expanding initiatives provide street space for restaurants and recreation along select corridors and in pedestrian plazas

  Mayor de Blasio today announced 21 more locations for outdoor dining options as part of a City initiative that combines the Open Streets and Open Restaurants programs, while adding more seating in more outer-borough pedestrian plazas. The Administration is also adding four more locations in three boroughs for Play Streets, an initiative the City launched in July to provide children with safe, structured activities on Open Streets during summer weekdays. 

 Today’s announcement brings restaurant seating options to 16 more car-free streets on weekends for select corridors, with most of the new locations starting the evening of Friday, August 15th. New plaza locations with exclusive seating, collective dining, and open public seating include Westchester Square in the Bronx and Hillel Plaza in Brooklyn, along with Corona Plaza, Diversity Plaza, and the 71st Avenue Plaza in Queens. Last month the Mayor announced that the City would extend in-street dining through October instead of ending it by Labor Day, giving more than 9,500 participating restaurants two extra months to serve diners in safe, socially distant outdoor spaces. 

 

"Rebuilding a fairer and better city means using our urban landscape creatively, and I'm proud to build on the success of our Open Streets program," said Mayor Bill de Blasio. "New Yorkers have sacrificed so much during this crisis and they deserve the opportunity to safely enjoy their neighborhoods and communities."

 

"Communities from across New York City are seeing the benefits Open Restaurants has upon its businesses and the joy it brings to residents, which is why we are continuing to see more and more streets open up to outdoor dining," said Deputy Mayor Laura Anglin. "By continuing to give restaurants innovative ways to serve their customers, we are not only helping to save these jobs and businesses but also providing New Yorkers a small sense of normalcy."

 

“We are so excited to see the Open Streets: Restaurants and Play Streets initiatives continue to grow, bringing new recreation opportunities and outdoor dining locations to our Open Streets and pedestrian plazas in all five boroughs,” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg. “We thank Mayor de Blasio and our many agency and community partners for keeping up the hard work and helping New Yorkers stay prosperous, healthy and socially active in the fresh air as we emerge step by step from the COVID crisis.”  

 

"Our City continues to benefit from the ever-popular Open Streets and Open Restaurants programs,” said Jonnel Doris, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services. “As more restaurants get involved, we continue to see the great benefit these initiatives bring to our City and to the people who patronize these businesses.” 

 

New Open Streets: Restaurants Locations:

 

Organization	On Street	From Street	To Street	Borough
3rd Ave BID	Alexander Ave	Bruckner Blvd	E 134th St	BX
Park Slope 5th Ave BID	5th Ave	Sterling Pl	Berkely Pl	BK
Prospect Heights NDC	Vanderbilt Ave	Pacific St	Atlantic Ave	BK
99 Favor Taste	61st St	7th Ave	8th Ave	BK
Chinatown BID	Bayard St	Mott Street	Mulberry St	MN
Calabria Restaurant dba Il Brigante Restaurant	Front St	Peck Slip	Beekman St	MN
34th Street Partnership	32nd St	6th Ave	Broadway	MN
	Broadway	32nd St	31st St	MN
Casa Nomad restaurant and Akin Hospitality Group	Broadway	W 29th St	W 31st St	MN
Mari Makan LLC	Spring St	Mott St	Elizabeth St	MN
Peasant	Elizabeth St	Spring St	Prince St	MN
120 Marcus Meets Malcolm	W 120th St	Malcolm X Blvd	Mt Morris Park W	MN
Flatiron 23rd St Partnership	Broadway	W 28th St	W 29th St	MN
Flatiron 23rd St Partnership	Broadway	W 21st St	W 22nd St	MN
Friends of Diversity Plaza	37th Rd	75th St	74th St	QN
The Angiuli Group	Minthorne St	Bay St	Victory Blvd	SI

 

The first round of Open Streets: Restaurants locations, announced July 2^nd, focused on streets that were already participating in the Open Streets program, and on corridors represented by organizations that have worked with DOT on street closures in the past. The second tranche announced, July 17^th, added 26 new locations. A third round, announced on July 31^st, included 15 locations. Today’s announcement brings the citywide total to 76 participating streets and 9 pedestrian plazas.

 

The hours of operation for this new expanded seating option for restaurants will be from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday nights, and noon to 11 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

 

New Play Streets include locations in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Staten Island, in partnership with the Police Athletic League and the Staten Island Open and Play Streets Coalition:

 

 

Neighborhood	Boro	Street	From	To	Partner	Start Date	End Date	Days	Times
Morrisania	BX	170th St	Webster Ave	Park Ave	PAL	TBD	9/4/20	M,T, W, Th	12pm - 5pm
Red Hook	BK	Wolcott Street	Richards St	Van Brunt St	PAL	8/1/20	9/4/20	M,T, W, Th	12pm - 5pm
Port Richmond	SI	Hill St	Tompkins St	Warren St	SIOAPSC	8/27/20	8/27/20	Th	12pm - 4pm
Port Richmond	SI	Henderson Ave	Alaska St	Broadway	SIOAPSC	9/3/20	9/3/20	Th	12pm - 4pm

 

At Play Streets locations, children participate in independent crafting and art projects that include making kaleidoscopes, birdhouses, rhythm drums, and cloud climbers. Giant board games such as Connect 4 and Jenga are also available. Sports drills include basketball, frisbee, softball, wiffle ball, kickball, and laser tag. Reading corners, dance classes, cardio and yoga exercises are also be provided. All programming is creatively designed to meet social distancing guidelines.

 

Play Streets locations are launching on a rolling basis until September 4^th. Hours vary by location, but will generally be from 10 AM to 5 PM and include streets adjacent to NYCHA developments as part of the Mayor's Action Plan for Neighborhood Safety. Vehicles are not permitted to enter the streets during the hours of the full street closure. Organizing Partners will be responsible for setting up barricades and posting signage, as well as restoring the Open Street condition at the end of their programming. They will also post No Parking signage with days and times ahead of starting their activations.

 

The following Open Streets will be changed or removed from the program:

 

 

Change	Boro	Original	New
Shorten One Block	Brooklyn	Willow St (Middah to Pierrepont)	Willow St (Middah to Clarke)
Remove	Brooklyn	2nd Place (Smith St to Henry St)	None
Move & Shorten Two Blocks	Brooklyn	Livonia Ave (Mother Gaston to Powell)	Livonia Ave (Powell to Junius)
Remove	Brooklyn	Butler St (Gregory Pl to 4th Ave), Gregory Pl (Baltic St to Butler St)	None
Remove	Manhattan	Margaret Corbin Drive (Ft Washington to Cabrini Blvd)	None

 

 

Under Open Streets, pedestrians and cyclists are free to 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. Regular Open Streets operate from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, with timing varying slightly depending on staff availability.

 

If you have questions about Open Streets or would like to request an Open Street in your community, please contact your NYC DOT Borough Commissioner's office.

 

MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES ‘MEND NYC’ A CITYWIDE PROGRAM FOR HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY ESTABLISHMENTS AND THEIR NEIGHBORS TO MEDIATE QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES

 

  Mayor Bill de Blasio announced MEND NYC, a program to provide mediation to New Yorkers and hospitality businesses across the city who are in disputes over quality-of-life issues. This is a free, innovative alternative that can bring lasting solutions to longstanding local issues that have been laid bare by the COVID-19 crisis, which has caused an increase in complaints to 311.  

 

MEND (Mediating Establishment and Neighbor Disputes) NYC will serve hundreds of New York residents and businesses each year, creating opportunities to resolve disputes before they escalate to the need for formal enforcement, such as issuing summonses, which can add financial hardship to small businesses operating under new rules and guidelines. Mediation is a constructive conversation between people in conflict that is facilitated by an experienced, neutral third person. Mediation provides participants an opportunity to collaboratively design creative solutions and repair tense relationships. MEND will get businesses and New Yorkers to communicate directly and establish respectful ongoing dialogue, helping them to compromise and coexist.

 

“The success of our neighborhood establishments is central to our entire city's success,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “When complaints arise, MEND NYC will bring people together to creatively solve problems, helping us save deployment of our enforcement agencies for the most serious violations.”

 

"At the moment we live in now, we must find creative, common-sense solutions that help as many New Yorkers as possible, and that is exactly what MEND NYC aims to do," said Deputy Mayor Laura Anglin. "By starting with mediation, instead of going straight to inspections and summonses, we will be able to build lasting, healthier relationships with residents and businesses across New York City."

 

“MEND NYC will use mediation to mend strained relationships between neighbors and businesses and resolve quality of life issues before an enforcement agency is called in for inspection and summonses issued,” said Joni Kletter, Commissioner and Chief Administrative Law Judge of the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH).  “The end goal for MEND NYC is to help create an environment where New York City residents and businesses successfully coexist and our neighborhoods flourish.”

 

“After two years of piloting a mediation program to help resolve quality of life issues between venues and residents, I’m grateful that our office is launching MEND NYC in partnership with OATH,” said the Senior Executive Director of New York City's Office of Nightlife at the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, Ariel Palitz. “We can’t wait to offer this service and help New York City and its nightlife community find common ground and thrive together, again.”

 

The Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) will administer the MEND NYC program in partnership with the Office of Nightlife at the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. OATH is the City’s central independent administrative law court where summonses issued by the City’s various enforcement agencies are filed.  Also housed in OATH is the City’s central mediation center, the Center for Creative Conflict Resolution, which has traditionally been responsible for mediating City government workplace conflict.  MEND NYC will represent the first time OATH’s Center for Creative Conflict Resolution makes its services and expertise widely available to the general public, with mediations taking place outside of the OATH court system hearing process.  OATH has professional mediators and conflict resolution trainers at its Center but OATH has also worked diligently to partner with conflict resolution groups and law schools across the City to build up a roster of trained mediators who can assist the MEND NYC program.  These mediators will be working pro bono and will help ensure that the MEND NYC program is available to all who want to participate in this free option.

 

The Office of Nightlife, a non-enforcement liaison between the City and the nightlife industry and community, will be actively referring cases where there may be chronic or urgent quality of life complaints related to a restaurant, bar, or other nightlife venue. The Office of Nightlife will also provide education and support to businesses to assist with compliance and with maintaining good relationships with their neighbors. 

 

“MEND NYC will help New Yorkers and their local nightlife businesses mend relationships, forge lasting solutions and thrive together,” said the Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, Anne del Castillo. “Our hospitality sector defines our city as a global center of commerce and creativity. When we work together in this way, we can assure a strong recovery for New York City.”

 

“During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Administration has worked tirelessly to find creative solutions to help the business community recover. Education and communication are two key parts of ensuring that the recovery process continues unabated. Fines should serve as a last resort because they hinder the recovery process for small businesses. To that end, MEND NYC will serve as invaluable resource, bringing businesses and residents to the table to discuss and resolve critical issues of common concern. Commissioner Kletter and Executive Director Palitz have the passion and foresight to ensure the program’s success,” said Kapil Longani, Counsel to the Mayor.

 

“As a City, we look to provide our small businesses with a full scope of services to ensure their businesses grow and thrive and that they consistently get the resources they need. This new program, from our partners at OATH, works to ensure that business owners have the opportunities to correct their violations prior to being fined. We are working collaboratively to fairly address the challenges our small businesses face at this time,” said Department of Small Business Services Commissioner Jonnel Doris.   

Crowded Fields in Bronx 11th and 15th City Council Races Already

While Democratic candidates prepare for the November General Election, in the Bronx 11th and 15th City Council Districts the field of candidates to replace future Supreme Court Justice Andrew Cohen and future Congressman  Ritchie Torres keeps growing. Both Cohen and Torres will leave the city council one year earlier than they would have been term limited out of office. With Primary Day having been moved from September to June, the petition process beginning at the end of February, the mayor now having eighty days to declare a special election, and of course the pandemic still lingering around there should not be any need for a special election to replace either Cohen, Torres, or any other Bronx City Council member who decides to call it quits at the end of 2020.

In the 11th City Council District Eric Dinowitz and Dan Padernacht declared shortly after incumbent Councilman Andrew Cohen was reelected to his last term in office. Joining Dinowitz and Padernacht are Ms. Jessica Haller, Ms. Abigail J. Martin, Daniel Then, and Marcus Sierra who just recently announced his candidacy. One or two more candidates should be also entering this race, thus Rank Choice Voting will play a role in the selection of Judge Cohen's replacement in the city council.

In the 15th City Council District Ischia Bravo, Oswald Feliz, and Elisa Crespo were the first to declare they were running to replace term limited Ritchie Torres. John Sanchez and Julian Sepulveda have recently joined them in announcing their candidacy for the 15th city council seat with a few others expressing interest. Rank Choice Voting could be a factor in this race also.

There will be more on these and other Bronx city council races, including the Bronx Borough President's race, where the candidates are lining up, and there could be up to ten people looking to replace Ruben Diaz Jr. as the next Bronx Borough President comes January 1, 2022,

Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress During COVID-19 Pandemic

 

87,900 Test Results Reported to New York State Yesterday—New Record High

Intubations Hit New Low—56—Since Mid-March

0.84 Percent of Yesterday's COVID-19 Tests were Positive

10 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday

Confirms 737 Additional Coronavirus Cases in New York State - Bringing Statewide Total to 423,440; New Cases in 43 Counties

  Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Yesterday, 87,900 test results—a new record high—were reported to New York State. The number of new cases, percentage of tests that were positive and many other helpful data points are always available at forward.ny.gov.

"New York State continues to stay vigilant in the face of an ongoing crisis across the country as we pursue a phased reopening," Governor Cuomo said. "Yesterday we did a record-high number of tests - which is critical to our cautious, data-driven reopening strategy - and we'll keep closely monitoring the numbers we receive daily. In the meantime, New Yorkers shouldn't get complacent—wear masks, stay socially distanced and wash your hands—and local governments must continue to enforce our guidance throughout the state so we don't go back to the hell we experienced just a couple months ago."

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Patient Hospitalization - 555 (-3)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 86
• Hospital Counties - 29
• Number ICU - 124 (+1)
• Number ICU with Intubation - 56 (-6)
• Total Discharges - 73,907 (+65)
• Deaths - 10
• Total Deaths - 25,228

Of the 87,900 test results reported to New York State yesterday, 737 or 0.84 percent, were positive.

MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES COMMUNITY HIRING ECONOMIC JUSTICE PLAN

 

Using the City’s purchasing power, Community Hiring will address economic disparities exacerbated by COVID-19 by connecting low-income New Yorkers and those in economically disadvantaged communities to good jobs and apprenticeship opportunities

  Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced the Community Hiring economic justice plan, which includes new Project Labor Agreements with the building trades unions and a push for legislation in Albany to drive economic recovery in economically disadvantaged communities by utilizing the City’s purchasing power to connect New Yorkers to good jobs. This plan would provide an estimated 1,300 construction jobs for every $1 billion in construction for low-income communities leading to an estimated $1 billion in wages and benefits for target communities during the first full year of the program.

 

“During the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, we’re taking action to connect low-income New Yorkers to good jobs and even better futures,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “We’ll use the City’s purchasing power to address hiring disparities, expand opportunities and invest in our communities of color.  Working together, we can build a fair and equitable future for all New Yorkers.”

 

“As New York City recovers from the COVID-19 crisis, it is essential to address the inequities exposed by the pandemic, especially in communities deeply affected by structural racism.” said First Lady Chirlane McCray. "Our administration’s Taskforce on Racial Inclusion and Equity, which I co-chair, has taken actions that are already bringing tangible relief to these communities. We feel the urgency of this moment and praise this new collaboration. It is an important, necessary and significant step to creating more pathways to training, employment and economic opportunity.”

 

“In the midst of the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression, our City is bringing economic opportunity to working people through our new labor agreement,” said J. Phillip Thompson, Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives and Co-Chair of the Racial Inclusion and Equity Taskforce. “But now we need the State of New York to act by passing Community Hiring legislation that would require contractors and businesses working with the City to hire New Yorkers from high poverty neighborhoods. Together with our partners in the State, we can show that City dollars can do more than get work done, it can help lift people out of poverty.”

 

“This is a truly historic and transformative moment for our city. Thanks to Mayor de Blasio’s leadership, New York City is committing its resources to an unprecedented and unparalleled investment in job creation, workforce development, and community hiring,” said Gary LaBarbera, President of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York. “For years, New York’s union building trades have prioritized expanding access, equity, and opportunity in neighborhoods across the city. We look forward to building on that commitment and working directly with the administration to ensure that all New Yorkers -- especially those in underserved communities -- have access not only to our exceptional union apprenticeship and direct-entry programs, but also to the tens of thousands of middle-class careers that this agreement will create. Only through investing in our city’s greatest asset, our working men and women, will we fuel New York’s economic recovery.”

 

“We're all aware how the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted our minority communities and businesses,” said Jonnel Doris, Commissioner of the NYC Department of Small Business Services. “This new initiative will ensure that MWBEs and New Yorkers in our hardest hit communities have the opportunity to immediately connect to good jobs, in addition to gaining the valuable skills needed to ensure future opportunities. We will continue to fight for these groups to create a fairer city for all.”

 

The Project Labor Agreement

 

The City and the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York (BCTC) have negotiated new terms for the Citywide Renovation Project Labor Agreement, which covers renovation construction work on City-owned buildings, and a New Construction Project Labor Agreement which will cover selected future projects.  The Citywide Renovation PLA will serve as a template for other City PLAs. The PLA will create consistent work rules across construction projects, reduce administrative burden on construction agencies, and connect working people in neighborhoods across the city to union apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs. 

 

As part of the agreement:

·         Unions will prioritize the referral of workers from zip codes where at least 15% of the population lives below the federal poverty level and/or are NYCHA residents, aiming to reach an overall goal that at least 30 percent of all hours worked under PLA projects are logged by workers from these zip codes.

·         Unions will provide contractors with apprentices on City construction projects up to the maximum number allowed by the New York State Department of Labor when contractors request apprentices. An apprenticeship Memorandum of Understanding establishes, for the first time, specific annual goals for the number of slots provided for both apprentices and pre-apprentices for residents of disadvantaged communities and NYCHA housing.

·         This PLA increases opportunities and adds flexibility for MWBEs, allowing their workforce to gain valuable experience on city projects and build their companies, while continuing to source from within communities.

“The economic impacts of COVID-19 will be felt citywide long after a vaccine is widely available, but steps like this announcement of the new community hiring economic justice plan are exactly what we need to ensure people can get back to work. The Building Congress is proud to be a partner in this effort as the building industry is a leading economic driver in helping low-income New Yorkers reach middle-class stability to support their families. I applaud the Mayor and Building and Construction Trades Council and its President Gary LaBarbera for coming to this agreement on the new PLAs.  Today’s announcement will be felt immediately by those who have been most heavily impacted financially by the pandemic,” said Carlo A. Scissura, Esq, President & CEO, New York Building Congress.

 

“Thanks to the leadership of Mayor de Blasio and the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York, thousands of more New Yorkers will now have access to careers in the union building trades,” said Nicole Bertrán, Executive Vice President of The Edward J. Malloy Initiative for Construction Skills, Inc. “Creating pathways to the middle-class for underserved communities has remained a priority of Construction Skills, and we look forward to working with the City and the NYC Building Trades to connect residents from all five boroughs to our pre-apprenticeship programs, as we continue to build opportunity in neighborhoods across the city.”

 

“Now more than ever, it is crucial we renew our efforts to creating economic opportunity for the most vulnerable communities as we build back New York City,” said Kathleen Culhane, President of Nontraditional Employment for Women. “We’re grateful for the efforts of Mayor de Blasio and the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York in pioneering this historic commitment that invests in New York’s working people, and we look forward to working with the NYC Building Trades and our Direct Entry partners to make this commitment a success.”

 

“Helmets to Hardhats has proudly connected New York’s military veterans, reservists and men and women of the National Guard to middle-class careers in the union building trades,” said Anne Trenkle, New York State Director of Helmets to Hardhats. “As a direct result of Mayor de Blasio and the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York’s transformative agreement reached today, New York’s military community will benefit from enhanced investment in apprenticeship and Direct Entry programs and access to the tens of thousands of union construction jobs that will be created over the next four years.”

 

“The commitment made today will create opportunities for countless New Yorkers,” said Melissa Shetler, Executive Director of Pathways to Apprenticeship. “Thanks to Mayor de Blasio’s commitment to investing in working people and to the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York’s continued leadership in creating opportunity and middle-class careers in our five boroughs, Pathways to Apprenticeship looks forward to working in partnership with the City, the NYC Building Trades, and our Direct Entry partners to ensure that underserved communities have access to New York’s exceptional union apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs.”

 

Community Hiring Legislation

 

To ensure that the City can continue to prioritize its investments in hardest hit communities, the Mayor is proposing legislation in Albany that would require contractors and businesses working with the City to hire low-income New Yorkers and New Yorkers from high poverty communities.

 

Community Hiring legislation will:

 ·           Establish the Office of Community Hiring and Workforce Development: The office will establish a community hiring program to provide employment opportunities for low-income New Yorkers and New Yorkers who live in economically disadvantaged regions.

·           Expand access for economically disadvantaged communities: Expands access to middle-class construction and building service jobs by prioritizing people from these communities and NYCHA residents.

·           Authorize the City to require a minimum ratio of apprentices: Allows the City to require that entities use a minimum ratio of apprentices when performing work on procurement contracts and expands entry-level jobs as a result. 

·           Enable the City to connect contractors with workforce development programs that will help them meet their hiring goals by referring qualified talent: Such workforce development programs could potentially include ones that typically serve NYCHA residents, veterans, people with disabilities, justice-involved individuals, cash assistance recipients, immigrants, and NYCDOE and CUNY graduates.

·           Authorize emergency rulemaking: Will enable low-income communities to see an immediate impact from the dollars the City is spending in FY21 for COVID response and recovery.

·           Authorize other city-affiliated entities, including Health + Hospitals, NYCDOE, NYC SCA, NYC EDC, Build NYC, and NYC IDA, to exercise such authorities, as well.

 

“Today more than ever, the City needs to use its economic power to create good jobs for New Yorkers from our lowest income communities.  Working with Gary LaBarbera and the building and construction trades unions we have shown how to put the City’s capital dollars to work both to build our City and to provide good jobs.   Community Hiring State legislation will open the door to providing opportunities across all of the City’s spending – from technology to building services to healthcare,” said Amy A. Peterson, Director, Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development.

 

NYS DEPARTMENT OF LABOR THWARTS MORE THAN $1 BILLION IN UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FRAUD DURING PANDEMIC, STOPS MORE THAN 40,000 FRAUDULENT CLAIMS

 

As Criminals Attempt to Use Stolen Identities to Defraud Unemployment System,

DOL Commissioner Reardon and DFS Superintendent Lacewell Release New PSA Educating New Yorkers About Identity Theft — Watch Here  

DOL has Referred More Unemployment Fraud Cases to Federal Prosecutors Over the Past Five Months than in the Past Decade  

  The New York State Department of Labor today announced that it has prevented more than $1 billion from falling into fraudsters’ hands during the coronavirus pandemic, identifying and stopping more than 42,200 fraudulent unemployment benefit claims since mid-March. In the last five months, DOL has referred more unemployment fraud cases to federal prosecutors than the department did in the last ten years combined.

“Unfortunately, we have to fight unemployment fraud every day — not just during pandemics — but attempting to defraud the government during a global public health emergency when millions are filing legitimate claims for benefits is particularly shameful. These scammers have been stealing hardworking New Yorkers’ identities for years waiting to strike, but we will not let them succeed,” New York State Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said. “We have a robust and experienced team of fraud investigators and are working aggressively with partners in law enforcement to identify fraud and hold these criminals accountable.”

“Preying on the welfare of New Yorkers during a global pandemic is a new low,” said Superintendent of Financial Services Linda A. Lacewell. “We urge every New Yorker to be vigilant and take all necessary precautions to protect your identity and help put a stop to this.”

Fraudsters are using real New Yorkers’ identities — likely stolen during previous data breaches involving institutions like banks, insurance companies, and major employers — to file fraudulent claims and illegally collect benefits in the name of individuals who are not unemployed.

In response to this uptick in fraudulent claims, Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon and Department of Financial Services Superintendent Linda Lacewell released a new public service announcement educating New Yorkers about how to protect themselves against identity theft. The PSA can be viewed here.

Unemployment insurance fraud rings often target New Yorkers who are employed and not collecting unemployment benefits because those individuals are less likely to have an active claim that would prevent the criminals from filing a fraudulent claim. Employees working in healthcare, education, government, and non-profits have been particularly impacted and should remain especially vigilant. 

The DOL urges anyone who has received an official communication about unemployment benefits — like a monetary determination letter — but did not apply for unemployment benefits, to immediately report it to the DOL at on.ny.gov/uifraud.

New Yorkers impacted should also take steps to proactively protect themselves from identity theft, including those highlighted by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at IdentityTheft.gov, such as:

• Changing passwords, logins, and pins for online accounts, especially banks; 
• Placing a free fraud alert on their accounts with the three credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax); 
• Getting a free credit report from com;
• Reporting the identity theft to the FTC; 
• Filing a report with their local police department, if they wish; and
• Reporting a misused Social Security number.

The Department of Labor’s Office of Special Investigations is using modern technology — including artificial intelligence — to identify and stop fraudulent claims. In addition, the DOL uses information from other government agencies, New Yorkers, and employers to protect the integrity of the unemployment system. The DOL works closely with partners at the USDOL Office of Inspector General, the Secret Service, the FBI and local law enforcement.

MAYOR DE BLASIO AND CHANCELLOR CARRANZA GUARANTEE A NURSE IN EVERY SCHOOL BUILDING BY THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

 

Through partnership with NYC  Health + Hospitals, certified nurses in every school building and provide coverage for all early childhood programs.

  Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza today announced a guarantee of nursing coverage in every public school building and all early childhood programs across the city. Through a partnership with NYC Health + Hospitals, every student and staff member will have a qualified medical professional available every day as we reopen schools and continue to stop the spread of COVID-19.

 

“We are going above and beyond to give our children the education they deserve while putting safety and health first every step of the way,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “With our school nurses and rigorous test and trace protocols we will prevent the spread of the virus and guarantee a safe reopening.”

 

“Before anything else this fall, we are prioritizing health and safety, and this is an absolutely critical component of providing a safe place for our young people to learn during this pandemic,” said Schools Chancellor Richard A. Carranza. “Thank you to the staff and parents who advocated for more nursing supports in schools. Your voices helped make this expansion possible.”

 

Nursing coverage for schools serving Kindergarten through 12^th grade is being provided through a NYC Health + Hospitals nursing contract for 400 full-time, onsite nurses. Nurses will be hired and in-place by the first day of school.

 

The over 2,000 early childhood care programs and new Learning Bridges childcare programs require two layers of nursing coverage. 100 contract nurses will be hired to provide geographic coverage, prioritizing the zip codes hardest hit by COVID-19, for early childhood and Learning Bridges childcare programs. Additionally, the Department of Education will contract with a tele-health nursing provider to make available a hotline accessible to all programs Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM. Program leaders, Family Child Care Network staff and home-based providers could call and consult with a nurse who would be specially trained to advise program leaders on COVID-19 and other medical questions and concerns.

 

The expansion of school nurses is a critical part in preparing schools for a healthy and safe reopening of this fall. Previously, the Department announced health policies establishing strict thresholds for opening and closing schools based on COVID-19 transmission rates, standards for air flow and ventilation in all rooms used by staff and students, and the central purchasing of cleaning supplies and PPE for all schools.

 

Universal nursing coverage will provide every school with a medical professional who can respond when a student or staff member presents with symptoms at school. They are a critical component of school response protocols for isolating, caring for, and investigating suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19 in schools. They will work in close partnership with the NYC Test + Trace Corps team assigned to public schools to quickly stop the spread of COVID-19.

 

Brooklyn Residents Charged With Arson Of An NYPD Vehicle In Manhattan

   Audrey Strauss, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, John B. DeVito, Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”), Dermot Shea, Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), and Daniel A. Nigro, Commissioner of the New York City Fire Department (“FDNY”), announced today the arrest of COREY SMITH and ELAINE CARBERRY in connection with their destruction of a marked NYPD Homeless Outreach Unit van in Greenwich Village in Manhattan.  SMITH and CARBERRY were arrested this morning and will be presented in Manhattan federal court before U.S. Magistrate Ona T. Wang later today.

Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said:  “As alleged, Corey Smith and Elaine Carberry deliberately set fire to an NYPD van, then minutes later returned to the vehicle and – once again using an accelerant – ensured its complete destruction.  Thanks to the NYPD, the Fire Department, and the ATF, there was not further damage to life or property.  The defendants are now in custody.”

ATF Special Agent-in-Charge John B. DeVito said:  “These defendants, as alleged, set fire to a marked NYPD van under the cover of darkness, endangering the lives of all New Yorkers.  ATF and our partners in the Arson and Explosives Task Force remain dedicated to seeking justice against those intent on using fire as a weapon.”

Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said:  “Setting a police car on fire endangers police officers, firefighters, and nearby residents and properties.  These organized efforts are not a form of protest, they are crimes.  They cost the taxpayer and damage the cause of those engaged in legitimate protest.  I commend the hard work of our detectives in this case together with our law enforcement and city partners, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms, and the New York Fire Department.”

Fire Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro said:  “Deliberately setting fires to damage property or harm others has no place in our city, or anywhere.  The act of arson endangers the lives of New Yorkers and all first responders.  I commend the excellent teamwork of our Fire Marshals, the NYPD, and ATF to apprehend those who needlessly destroy property and risk the lives of others.”

According to the allegations in the Complaint[1]:

On July 15, 2020, at approximately 4:35 a.m., using ignitable liquid, SMITH and CARBERRY set on fire a marked NYPD Homeless Outreach Unit van on the northwest corner of 12th Street and University Place.  More specifically, as surveillance footage shows, at approximately 4:37 a.m., the NYPD van ignited in flames, and CARBERRY and SMITH walked away from the NYPD van.  As they walked away, SMITH handed CARBERRY what appeared to be a bottle, which CARBERRY put in her purse.  Minutes later, CARBERRY handed SMITH a bottle from her purse, and SMITH again walked towards the NYPD van, with CARBERRY following behind.  Shortly after SMITH approached the NYPD van the second time, a larger fire appeared to ignite.  CARBERRY and SMITH again walked away from the NYPD van, and SMITH again handed CARBERRY an object that appeared to be a bottle, which CARBERRY put in her purse. 

An analysis of the materials found in the NYPD van confirmed the presence of an accelerant.  The FDNY ultimately confirmed that the fire was deliberately set as an act of arson, resulting in the complete destruction of the NYPD van. 

SMITH, 24, of Brooklyn, New York, and CARBERRY, 36, of Brooklyn, New York, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit arson and one count of arson, each of which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants would be determined by the judge.

Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Arson and Explosion Task Force of the ATF, the NYPD, and the FDNY. 

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

 [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text 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.