A New Place For Speed Bumps

 

With all the ways Mayor Bill de Blasio and his Department of Transportation have come up with to slow or try to eradicate vehicle traffic, another new idea was found today.  It appears that the latest brainchild of the current mayor is to put speed bumps around crosswalks. Five feet before and about two feet after the ten foot wide crosswalk, rubber speed bumps are being screwed into the street sideways in the yellow line. 

I asked one of the workers what he was doing. His reply was that at selected intersections the mayor wants speed bumps before and after crosswalks so drivers won't turn into the crosswalks. My first thought was when the city has no money the mayor will cut help, but have crews go around the city to put new speed bumps in the middle of the street before and after crosswalks sideways. If one walks outside the crosswalk it is quite possible to trip over these new crosswalk speed bumps. This location is Riverdale Avenue and West 236th Street. More have been put in at selected intersections since this post went up.

Above - A side view of the new speed bumps being put in the yellow line before and after crosswalks so drivers won't drive into a crosswalk. 

Below - A head on view of what the new speed bumps in the yellow line look like, and a car that just made a turn through the crosswalk. The intersection is Riverdale Avenue and West 236th Street.

AssemblumanJeffrey Dinowitz/Councilman Andrew Cohen Free Flu Shots

 

 With Flu season one month away Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz and Councilman Andrew Cohen continued with their free flu shots for their constituents. Both elected officials said it is very important to keep out residents healthy, especially in this era of COVID-19. 

Walgreens/Duane Reade drug stores supplied the medical personal and flu shots, as all one had to do was just fill out a few quick simple questions. 11th City Council candidate (and son of the assemblyman) Eric Dinowitz came to get his free flu shot. Being a public school teacher with young twins at home, he is more subjected to catching the flu then most are being in a school where many things like the flu can be spread. Approximately one-hundred people received the free flu shot at the Riverdale Y. 

Above - Councilman Andrew Cohen, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, and the assemblyman's Chief of Staff Randi Martos in the backyard of the Riverdale Y where the free flu shots were being given out.

Below - A group photo of the elected officials, the medical workers from Walgreens/Duane Reade, and a few helpers. 

Two Individuals Charged With Fraudulently Filing For Unemployment Insurance

 

  Audrey Strauss, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Michael C. Mikulka, Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Regional Office of the Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General (“DOL-OIG”), Patrick J. Freaney, Deputy Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the United States Secret Service (“Secret Service”), and Roberta Reardon, Commissioner of the New York Department of Labor, announced today the unsealing of a Complaint charging CHRISTOPHER FERRERA and ASHLEY BOURDIER with operating a scheme to fraudulently file for unemployment insurance under the names of other people.  FERRERA and BOURDIER were arrested this morning and will be presented and arraigned later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker.

Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said:  “As alleged, Christopher Ferrera and Ashley Bourdier fraudulently applied for and received unemployment benefits by using the identities of other people.  Thanks to the work of our law enforcement partners, the defendants are now facing prosecution for their alleged crimes.”

DOL-OIG Special Agent-in-Charge Michael C. Mikulka said:  “Investigating fraud involving the Unemployment Insurance Program is an important part of the mission of the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, particularly now when our nation is providing billions of dollars in unemployment benefits to American workers in need due to the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to vigorously investigate unemployment insurance fraud.”

Secret Service Deputy Special Agent in Charge Patrick J. Freaney said:  “The U.S. Secret Service remains dedicated to working with our partners in combatting identity theft and financial fraud.  These alleged criminal actions have a lasting effect on the victims by undermining their most basic sense of security by stealing their identities to perpetrate financial crimes.  I would like to commend the investigative efforts of the New York Department of Labor and the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Labor in working with the U.S. Secret Service in bringing today’s charges.”

New York Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said:  “Unemployment Insurance fraud is something that we fight every day. However, for these criminals to use a pandemic for their personal gain while millions of New Yorkers legitimately need this assistance is even more despicable.  I applaud the work of all of our law enforcement partners including the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Secret Service for helping to keep money out of the hands of these thieves. We will continue to work with them to combat unemployment insurance fraud and hold these criminals accountable.”

As alleged in the Complaint unsealed today in Manhattan federal court[1]:

From March 2020 through August 2020, CHRISTOPHER FERRERA and ASHLEY BOURDIER engaged in a scheme to obtain unemployment insurance by fraudulently filing for benefits using the names and social security numbers of more than 25 other people.  As a result of their scheme, FERRERA and BOURDIER received over $200,000 of unemployment insurance benefits from at least three different states.

FERRERA, 25, of the Bronx, New York, and BOURDIER, 27, of New York, New York, are each charged with conspiring to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  FERRERA is also charged with aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory two-year consecutive sentence.  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.

Ms. Strauss praised the work of DOL-OIG, the Secret Service, and the New York Department of Labor.

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 below constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

Attorney General James Gets Dunkin’ to Fill Holes in Security, Reimburse Hacked Customers

 

Lawsuit Alleged Dunkin’ Failed to Investigate Ongoing Attacks,

Protect Impacted Customers, and Implement Appropriate Safeguards

Dunkin’ Agrees to Notify and Refund Customers, Protect Against Future

Attacks, and Pay an Additional $650,000 in Penalties and Costs

  

  New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced a settlement with Dunkin’ Brands, Inc. (Dunkin’) — franchisor of Dunkin’ Donuts — resolving a lawsuit over the company’s failure to respond to successful cyberattacks that compromised tens of thousands of customers’ online accounts. The settlement requires the company to notify customers impacted in the attacks, reset those customers’ passwords, and provide refunds for unauthorized use of customers’ stored value cards. Dunkin’ will also be required to maintain safeguards to protect against similar attacks in the future, follow incident response procedures when an attack occurs, and pay $650,000 in penalties and costs to the state of New York.

“For years, Dunkin’ hid the truth and failed to protect the security of its customers, who were left paying the bill,” said Attorney General James. “It’s time to make amends and finally fill the holes in Dunkin’s’ cybersecurity. Not only will customers be reimbursed for lost funds, but we are ensuring the company’s dangerous brew of lax security and negligence comes to an end. My office is committed to protecting consumer data and holding all businesses accountable for implementing safe security practices.”

Attacks on Thousands of Consumers’ Accounts

Beginning in early 2015, Dunkin’ customers’ online accounts were targeted in a series of “credential stuffing attacks” — repeated, automated attempts to gain access to accounts using usernames and passwords stolen through security breaches of other unrelated websites or online services. In a matter of months, tens of thousands of customer accounts were compromised. Many of these accounts held Dunkin’-branded stored value cards — known as “DD cards” — which could be used to make purchases at Dunkin’ stores. An attacker that gained access to one of these accounts would have been able to use the DD card to make purchases, or remove the card from the account and sell it online. As a result of these attacks, tens of thousands of dollars on customers’ DD cards were stolen.

Dunkin’ was repeatedly alerted to attackers’ ongoing attempts to log in to customer accounts by a third-party app developer. The app developer even provided Dunkin’ with a list of nearly 20,000 accounts that had been compromised by attackers over just a sample five-day period. Yet, Dunkin’ failed to conduct an investigation into the attacks to identify other customer accounts that had been compromised, determine what customer information had been acquired, or whether customer funds had been stolen. Moreover, Dunkin’ did nothing to protect the nearly 20,000 customers that it knew had been impacted in the attacks or the potentially thousands more they did not know about. Among other missteps, Dunkin’ failed to notify these customers of unauthorized access to their accounts, reset their account passwords to prevent further unauthorized access, or freeze their DD cards.

Additionally, after learning of the attacks, Dunkin’ failed to implement appropriate safeguards to protect customers against future attacks through the Dunkin’ mobile app. The attacks continued for years.

Attorney General James filed a complaint last September, alleging that Dunkin’ violated New York’s data breach notification statute — General Business Law § 899-aa — by failing to notify consumers and New York state authorities of the data breach. The lawsuit also alleged that Dunkin’ violated New York’s consumer protection laws — including Executive Law § 63(12), and General Business Laws §§ 349 and 350 — by misrepresenting to consumers that it used reasonable safeguards to protect customers’ personal information.

Over the course of this past year’s litigation, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) discovered thousands of additional customer accounts that appeared to have been compromised through credential stuffing attacks between 2015 and 2018.

Settlement Requires Notice, Refund to Impacted Customers, and Enhanced Data Security Practices

Under the terms of the settlement, Dunkin’ is required to take the following steps to notify, protect, and refund New York customers impacted in credential stuffing attacks:

• Customers who had a registered DD card: To the extent it has not already done so, Dunkin’ will reset the password of each New York customer impacted in an attack who had a DD card registered to their account at the time and notify these customers that their accounts were, or may have been, accessed. Dunkin’ will also notify these customers that they are eligible for a refund for any fraudulent activity that resulted from an attack. 
  Customers will have 90 days to contact Dunkin’ by calling (800) 447-0013 or by emailing customerservice@dunkinbrands.com to request copies of their account records and report fraudulent activity.
  
  
• Customers who did not have a registered DD card: To the extent it has not already done so, Dunkin’ will reset the password of each New York customer impacted in an attack who did not have a DD card registered to their account at the time and inform the customer that their account was, or may have been, accessed.

Dunkin’ will also be required to maintain reasonable safeguards to protect against future credential stuffing attacks. Additionally, in the future, Dunkin’ must follow incident response procedures when an attack occurs, which would include conducting a reasonable investigation to identify customer accounts that may have been compromised, and — in situations where customers have been impacted in an attack — resetting their passwords, providing notice, and transferring their account balances to new stored value card accounts.

Finally, Dunkin’ will pay $650,000 in penalties and costs to the state of New York.

Today’s settlement and all provisions of it are subject to court approval.

New York’s Data Security Laws Require Appropriate Safeguards, Incident Response Policies to Address Credential Stuffing Attacks

Credential stuffing has quickly become one of the most common forms of online attack. To comply with New York’s data security laws, businesses that maintain New Yorkers’ private information must take steps to address this growing threat.

• Implement reasonable safeguards to address credential stuffing attacks: New York’s safeguards law — General Business Law § 899-bb — requires that businesses maintain reasonable safeguards to protect New York residents’ private information. These safeguards should include appropriate measures to mitigate well-known attack vectors, including credential stuffing.

• Develop appropriate incident response procedures for credential stuffing attacks: New York’s safeguards law also requires that businesses develop and implement appropriate incident response procedures. These procedures may include conducting a reasonable investigation to identify customers impacted in a credential stuffing attack and taking appropriate action to protect those impacted customers, such as resetting customers’ passwords, freezing customers’ accounts, or alerting customers to a compromised account. New York’s data breach notification law — General Business Law § 899-aa — may also require notifying customers whose private information has been accessed or acquired in a credential stuffing attack.

SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE MASSIVE GRANT – $11.5 MILLION IN FEMA FUNDING FOR YONKERS FIRE DEPARTMENT TO HIRE 30 ADDITIONAL FIREFIGHTERS

 

Funding Will Be Used To Hire 30 Yonkers Firefighters Saving the City & Department Millions in Overtime Costs

Senators Say Yonkers Firefighters Have Worked Tirelessly Throughout The COVID-19 Pandemic, Clocking Over 6.5M In Overtime

Schumer, Gillibrand: Federal Funding Will Help Put Out Budget Fire Facing Yonkers Fire Department

 U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $11,580,930 in federal funding for the City of Yonkers Fire Department to hire 30 additional firefighters. The funding was allocated through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Program.

Specifically, the Senators explained, Yonkers Fire Department will fill 20 currently vacant positions and staff an additional 10 positions left open due to long term medical leave. This federal funding will help to relieve some of the financial stress that Yonkers has experienced due to additional overtime costs resulting from staffing shortages, vacant positions, and long term medical leaves.   

“From the peak of the pandemic to normal times, our brave Yonkers firefighters are always on the front lines, risking their lives to protect their community,” said Senator Schumer. “These courageous first responders deserve all the federal support possible to help them do their jobs. I’ve fought my whole career to bring more federal resources to support our heroic firefighters, and I’m proud to deliver this funding so Yonkers Fire Department can hire 30 new desperately needed firefighters without bearing the financial stress.”

“New York’s first responders have worked tirelessly to keep our communities safe throughout the COVID-19 outbreak,” said Senator Gillibrand. “As we enter fire season amidst a global pandemic, we must ensure our fire departments in Westchester have the resources needed to hire and retain firefighters. I will always fight to secure the funding our fire departments need to stay safe as they enter the line of duty.”

“Many thanks to Senator Charles Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and the Department of Homeland Security for their commitment and advocacy of our Yonkers Fire Department,” said Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano. “This SAFER grant will support the hiring of 30 new firefighters over the next three years, saving Yonkers taxpayers $3 million a year. Now more than ever, we need to invest in our essential workers who are on the frontlines and this funding assures our City can support them as well as our current firefighters,” said Mike Spano, Mayor of the City of Yonkers.

“We are grateful that Senate Majority Leader Schumer and Senator Gillibrand were able to secure this critical funding for the Yonkers Firefighters. These federal dollars will help keep the Yonkers Fire Department whole and allow us to continue to provide the citizens of Yonkers with the premier fire and emergency response they deserve,” said Barry McGoey, President Yonkers Firefighters IAFF Local 628.

The funding comes as Yonkers Fire Department faces staffing vacancies from attrition, long term sick or injury leave, and absences due to COVID-19 collectively creating additional unexpected overtime costs over $6,500,000.00. The senators said that the federal funding announced today will be used to offset the need for additional overtime funding by expanding the Department to better serve the City of Yonkers.

After hearing from the city and the department in June, both senators asked DHS Secretary Chad Wolf and FEMA Acting Administrator Peter Gaynor to fully fund Yonkers' $11.5M proposal to hire 30 additional firefighters. The senators emphasized the devastating financial impacts of COVID-19 in Yonkers, New York's fourth-largest city and one of the nation's first hot spots for the virus.

Senator Schumer’s letter to Secretary Wolf appears below:

Dear Acting Secretary Wolf:

I am pleased to write in support of the application submitted by Yonkers Fire Department (YFD) for funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grants program.

Located in Westchester County, New York, Yonkers is the fourth largest city in New York State with 210,000 residents across 21 square miles. The YFD has faced several major impacts to their budget recently, from a 20% reduction in state aid to lost hotel and sales tax revenues, combined with increased overtime from staffing vacancies.

With new developments, an increase in population and the recent COVID-19 pandemic, YFD has seen a dramatic increase in call volume, along with new risks. Without SAFER Grant funding, YFD will be unable to maintain a modern, adequately trained and equipped fire department.

I applaud the Yonkers Fire Department for its foresight, and sincerely hope the application meets with your approval.

Thank you for your consideration. Please do not hesitate to contact me or my Grants Coordinator in my Washington, DC office at 202-224-6542.

MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES NEW CLEANLINESS INITIATIVES FOR STREETS AND PARKS

 

“New Yorkers deserve clean, safe communities and with this announcement today we are continuing to deliver on that promise,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “Our sanitation professionals have been heroes throughout this crisis. They deserve all the support they can get in their fight to keep New York City clean.”

 

The City will take three response actions to supplement current sanitation efforts.

• The City will reallocate a portion of the NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) budget to support the restoration of approximately 65 litter basket trucks weekly in areas across the city, a 24 percent increase from current levels. These additional litter basket trucks will focus on the 27 neighborhoods citywide that have been especially impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, as well as other areas across the City that will see increased pedestrian traffic as employees return to the workplace.
• The New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) will restart CleaNYC with the Doe Fund to provide supplemental cleaning services in neighborhoods and parks across the City through the end of the calendar year. This supplemental cleaning will support efforts by DSNY and the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, as well as Business Improvement Districts and other community partners. The Doe Fund provides employment, career training and social services to homeless and formerly incarcerated individuals.
• The City will partner with community-based organizations, elected officials and the private sector to sponsor community cleanups and mobilize volunteers to collect litter on streets and in parks. The City will provide tools and logistics support to groups who host cleanups.

Litter basket service will be restored in the 27 COVID-impacted areas listed here.

Senator Luis Sepulveda - Join Us For a Grocery and Backpack Distribution

 

NYC Public Advocate - WILLIAMS OPPOSES INDUSTRY CITY REZONING IN CITY COUNCIL HEARING TESTIMONY

 

New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams opposed the Industry City rezoning application today in testimony for a hearing held by the New York City Council Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises. The controversial proposed rezoning has been met with opposition from community members, environmental organizations, and the local Council Member, among others. In his opposition, Public Advocate Williams cited their concerns and stressed that the potential risks of the project could outweigh the possibility of reward.

The Public Advocate discussed the failures of the rezoning process and necessary reforms, arguing that "For far too long, rezonings have not taken into consideration the views of communities of more color. Developers push through projects despite local community members' opposition and concerns. We need to change the process of rezonings, and ensure that residents have ample opportunities to be engaged, especially during the pandemic." He pointed to the need to pass his legislation mandating a racial impact study of any potential rezoning.

He also acknowledged the current financial situation facing the city, but argued that this project would not be a solution, saying "I am not convinced that rezoning will lead to these neighborhoods getting the assistance they need. The promised 20,000 jobs from the proposal, is just that, a promise-- it may not benefit everyone in the community. That worries me." He cited the Hudson Yards project as an example, noting that in that instance "the intended effect of stimulating our economy is yet to occur," and warning of a similar outcome with Industry City. 

Public Advocate Williams' full statement can be downloaded here.