A RECOVERY FOR ALL OF US: MAYOR DE BLASIO, NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF SANITATION ANNOUNCE NEW INITIATIVES FOR A CLEAN, HEALTHY NEW YORK

 

 Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced three new initiatives to maintain clean streets across New York City and help spur on the City’s recovery. These initiatives build on additional resources and programs launched last September to provide essential cleaning resources and tools in neighborhoods hardest hit by the COVID-19 crisis. 

“A recovery for all of us means a healthy city, and that requires a clean city,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “I’ve seen first-hand the work of the Department of Sanitation throughout this pandemic, and I know they’ll do whatever it takes to get the job done. "

 

"Open space, including on our streets, has become more critical than ever during the pandemic," said Deputy Mayor for Operations Laura Anglin. "With these initiatives we’re ensuring our streets are cleaner and more welcoming for all. Department of Sanitation workers have been heroes throughout this crisis and now they’ll help lead the way to recovery.”

 

“New York City is getting back on its feet, and New Yorkers deserve to place their feet on clean streets,” said Edward Grayson, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Sanitation. "Restoration of baseline funding for basket service, the community clean-up van, and PCI mean more ways for Sanitation and our neighbors across the City to work together. Use litter baskets properly, for small items like coffee cups – never for household or business trash – and call us to report an urgent issue or schedule a community clean-up.”

 

This announcement includes an increase in dedicated litter basket service by more than 100 trucks per week and restores funding for Sunday litter basket service. When added to service restorations announced in September, dedicated litter basket collection service has increased by 61 percent compared to last July at the height of the financial crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

The Department of Sanitation has also created an all-new Precision Cleaning Initiative, with borough-based teams to conduct targeted cleanings of litter conditions, illegal dumping, and overflowing litter baskets. These conditions are eyesores that affect New Yorkers’ quality of life and threaten NYC’s recovery. Teams will be dispatched based on DSNY field observations, 311 complaints and referrals from other City agencies and community groups.

 

In addition, DSNY unveiled the design for its new Community Clean-up Van in partnership with the Sanitation Foundation and NYC Service. The van, along with investments in additional tools and resources for community groups, will support neighborhood cleanups across NYC as part of a Citywide Spring Cleanup effort.

 

These announcements come as the City engages in an equity-based recovery, and will empower communities to work with DSNY to produce cleaner streets for all of us. New Yorkers interested in joining or hosting a community cleanup can call 311 for more information.

 

"New Yorkers are the experts in caring for their neighborhoods," said NYC Chief Service Officer Anusha Venkataraman. "Through the Community Clean-up Van partnership, we are powering local initiatives with the resources to ensure all of our streets are healthy and clean."

 

“The Sanitation Foundation exists in part to advance the City’s ambitious zero-waste goals. We are thrilled to help fund this new Community Clean-up Van as part of that mission, helping keep neighborhoods clean for all New Yorkers,” said Julie Raskin, Executive Director of the Sanitation Foundation.

 

"New Yorkers want and deserve cleaner streets, which is why this Council has been vocal about the need for increased trash pickup. Today's announcement is welcome news, particularly as the weather gets warmer and more New Yorkers resume pre-pandemic activities. This is a win for everyone," said Speaker Corey Johnson.

 

Attorney General James Scores Victory for Thousands of Elderly New Yorkers

 

AG James Secures Refunds for Life Alert Customers, Negotiates Early Contract Cancellations for Thousands

Life Alert Failed to Comply with New York Law Permitting Consumers for Personal Emergency Services to Cancel Contracts Within Seven Days of Signing

 New York Attorney General Letitia James today scored a victory for potentially thousands of New Yorkers locked in illegal contracts. In an agreement with Life Alert Emergency Response, Inc., Attorney General James has negotiated for more than 5,500 New York consumers to cancel their current contracts with the company before the end of the 36-month contract they signed. Additionally, Attorney General James has negotiated for Life Alert to provide refunds to more than 700 New York consumers who unsuccessfully tried to exercise certain cancellation rights in the past. The agreement resolves an investigation into Life Alert’s failure to include certain mandatory cancellation provisions — required by New York law — into the personal emergency response service contracts. 

“When the elderly and disabled fall and hurt themselves, they trust Life Alert to come to the rescue, but Life Alert violated that trust when they refused to honor consumers’ rights,” said Attorney General James. “Today’s agreement holds Life Alert accountable and ensures they not only protect seniors’ physical well-being, but their rights as consumers going forward as well. New York’s seniors can trust that I will always fight for their best interests.”

The California-based personal emergency response system company — best known for its advertising slogan, “Help! I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up!” — offers personal emergency response systems to consumers. Emergency response systems allow consumers to notify a response center in the case of an emergency, typically through activating a pendant or bracelet worn by the consumer.

Consumers signing up for Life Alert’s service are required to sign a 36-month monitoring service agreement and pay a monthly service monitoring fee, plus upfront programming and installation fees. Depending on the specific service they choose, consumers pay between $49.95 and $89.95 per month for 36 months of service, in addition to upfront fees and a shipping charge (typically $198.00) — for a total payment ranging from $1,996.20 to $3,436.20 over the 36-month term.

In order to protect consumers who want such services from rushing into agreements, New York state adopted a law that specifically deals with these type of contracts — General Business Law § 391-l. The law requires for consumers to be verbally told, as well be notified in their written agreement, at the time they sign the contract or purchase a service, that they have seven days after signing the agreement to cancel it. Moreover, the seven-day cancellation period does not begin to run until such disclosures are made.

Attorney General James’ investigation found that — from at least January 2014 through February 2020 — Life Alert did not make these oral and written disclosures, affecting over 16,000 New York consumers who contracted with Life Alert (some continue to utilize the service on a month-to-month basis, while others cancelled the service after their contract terminated). Further, when consumers tried to cancel their service, Life Alert refused. The company instead told consumers that they had signed a 36-month agreement and that the best it could do was either lower the consumer’s monthly payments or allow them to cancel only if the consumer agreed to keep their service for six additional months. Because Life Alert never gave the oral and written disclosures explaining the seven-day cancellation right required by New York law, consumers were, in fact, entitled to cancel their contracts immediately, upon request.

Under the terms of today’s agreement, Life Alert will send notices to all of its current New York customers who are in the first 36 months of their contracts and who have never requested cancellation, notifying them of their right to cancel their Life Alert contracts immediately, if so desired. Additionally, for those consumers who had unsuccessfully requested cancellation during the 36-month term of their contracts, Life Alert will offer refunds of the amounts they paid to the company 30 days after they made the cancellation request, up to 24 months of payments or the number of payments they actually made, whichever is less. Life Alert will also pay the state of New York $750,000 in penalties, costs, and fees for the violations of state law.

Governor Cuomo Directs Hate Crimes Task Force to Offer Assistance in Investigation into Violent Attack on Asian American Man on New York City Subway

 

  "I am appalled and horrified to learn that an Asian American man who was riding on the New York City subway was brutally beaten and injured. These hateful acts of violence have no place in New York - period.

"The misguided rhetoric which has vilified Asian Americans throughout this pandemic is highly dangerous, and now we are seeing more and more painful real-life consequences. It is sickening and I want every New Yorker who identifies as part of the Asian American community to know this: in this state we not only condemn the hateful rhetoric, but we stand with you because we are all one family, united against hate.

"I am directing the New York State Police Hate Crimes Task Force to offer their assistance in the investigation of this violent attack.""I am appalled and horrified to learn that an Asian American man who was riding on the New York City subway was brutally beaten and injured. These hateful acts of violence have no place in New York - period.

"The misguided rhetoric which has vilified Asian Americans throughout this pandemic is highly dangerous, and now we are seeing more and more painful real-life consequences. It is sickening and I want every New Yorker who identifies as part of the Asian American community to know this: in this state we not only condemn the hateful rhetoric, but we stand with you because we are all one family, united against hate.

"I am directing the New York State Police Hate Crimes Task Force to offer their assistance in the investigation of this violent attack."

MAYOR DE BLASIO STATEMENT ON U.S. DOT ADVANCING CONGESTION PRICING

 

 Mayor Bill de Blasio today released the following statement on the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) advancing congestion pricing in New York City:

“Mass transit is the present and future of this city, and this day is long overdue. I thank President Biden, Secretary Buttigieg, my fellow elected officials, and every advocate who called for a smarter approach to congestion and more reliable funding for our city’s subways and buses. New York City stands ready to get this program started and build a recovery for all of us.

Former Honduran Congressman Tony Hernández Sentenced To Life In Prison And Ordered To Forfeit $138.5 Million For Distributing 185 Tons Of Cocaine And Related Firearms And False Statements Offenses

 

Hernández Participated in the Importation of At Least 185,000 Kilograms of Cocaine; Secured Millions of Dollars in Bribes to Honduran Officials; Used Heavily Armed Security Including Members of the Honduran Military and National Police; and Coordinated Tw

 Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Wendy C. Woolcock, the Special Agent in Charge of the Special Operations Division of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), announced today that JUAN ANTONIO HERNÁNDEZ ALVARADO, a/k/a “Tony Hernández” (“HERNÁNDEZ”) was sentenced to life in prison for cocaine-importation, weapons, and false-statements offenses.  HERNÁNDEZ is a former Honduran congressman and the brother of Juan Orlando Hernández, the current president of Honduras.  HERNÁNDEZ was convicted on October 18, 2019, following a jury trial before U.S. District Judge P. Kevin Castel, who also imposed today’s sentence. 

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said:  “Former Honduran congressman Juan Antonio Hernández Alvarado was involved in all stages of the trafficking through Honduras of multi-ton loads of cocaine destined for the U.S.  Hernández bribed law enforcement officials to protect drug shipments, arranged for heavily armed security for cocaine shipments, and brokered large bribes from major drug traffickers to powerful political figures, including the former and current presidents of Honduras.  Hernández was complicit in at least two murders.  Today, Tony Hernández was rightly sentenced to life in prison.”

Special Agent in Charge Wendy C. Woolcock said:  “Exploiting a high-ranking position in government to wield the power of the state to support drug trafficking is as nefarious as it comes.  The conviction and sentencing of Tony Hernandez is a reminder there is no position powerful enough to shield you from facing justice when you violate U.S. drug laws by sending tons of cocaine to our country.  As important as this conviction is to the people of the United States, it is also important to the citizens of Honduras who Hernandez purposely put in harm’s way for his own personal gain.  Today’s sentencing is a victory for the rule of law and we are grateful to our federal and international partners who made this possible.”

As reflected in the Superseding Indictment, other filings in Manhattan federal court, evidence at trial, and statements made in court proceedings:

HERNÁNDEZ played a leadership role in a violent, state-sponsored drug trafficking conspiracy.  Over a 15-year period, HERNÁNDEZ manufactured and distributed at least 185,000 kilograms of cocaine that was imported into the United States.  HERNÁNDEZ commanded heavily armed members of the Honduran military and Honduran National Police; he sold machineguns and ammunition to drug traffickers, some of which he obtained from the Honduran military; he controlled cocaine laboratories in Colombia and Honduras; he secured millions of dollars of drug proceeds for Honduras’s National Party campaigns in connection with presidential elections in 2009, 2013, and 2017; and he helped cause at least two murders.  HERNÁNDEZ made at least $138.5 million through his drug trafficking activities, money he was ordered to forfeit in connection with today’s sentencing. 

Hernández’s Drug Trafficking Conduct

HERNÁNDEZ’s drug trafficking career started in about 2004 when he began providing sensitive law enforcement and military information to major Honduran drug traffickers Victor Hugo Diaz Morales, a/k/a “El Rojo,” and Hector Emilio Fernandez Rosa, a/k/a “Don H.”  HERNÁNDEZ provided Diaz Morales with information about, among other things, operations of the Honduran Navy; efforts by the United States to train Honduran Air Force pilots to fly at night to conduct anti-narcotics operations; military radar capabilities so that cocaine plane shipments could avoid detection; and interdiction efforts by certain Honduran National Police officials.  Over the course of their relationship, HERNÁNDEZ helped Fernandez Rosa and Diaz Morales distribute approximately 140,000 kilograms of cocaine. 

By 2008, HERNÁNDEZ’s narcotics trafficking had expanded, and he was also manufacturing his own cocaine in a laboratory he controlled near El Aceitico, Colombia.  HERNÁNDEZ told his co-conspirators that some of the cocaine manufactured at his laboratory was stamped with his initials “TH,” and a photograph of a kilogram of “TH” stamped cocaine was intercepted during the course of the investigation.  HERNÁNDEZ supplied his co-conspirators with tons of cocaine that was produced at his laboratory.    

Beginning in about 2008, HERNÁNDEZ partnered with Amilcar Alexander Ardon Soriano, a former Honduran drug trafficker and mayor, under the protection of members of the  National Party leadership.  Testimony at trial established that HERNÁNDEZ and Ardon Soriano secured protection from investigation, arrest, and extradition through massive bribes paid to high-ranking politicians, including, among others, Porfirio “Pepe” Lobo Sosa and Juan Orlando Hernández.  In connection with the 2009 national elections, drug proceed bribes paid in exchange for protection included:  (i) Ardon Soriano paying $2 million to support Lobo Sosa’s campaign for presidency and Juan Orlando Hernández’s reelection campaign for a position in the Honduran congress; (ii) Diaz Morales paying $100,000 to HERNÁNDEZ to support National Party campaigns; and (iii) Ardon Soriano bribing three congressmen at the direction of Juan Orlando Hernández so that the congressmen would support Juan Orlando Hernández’s efforts to become president of the congress.    

Juan Orlando Hernandez was named president of the congress in early 2010.  HERNÁNDEZ, Ardon Soriano, and their co-conspirators, including co-defendant Mario Jose Calix Hernández, a Honduran deputy mayor, and codefendant Mauricio Hernández Pineda, a then-member of the Honduran National Police and HERNÁNDEZ’s cousin, took advantage of National Party protection to continue transporting huge quantities of cocaine.  Once or twice a month in 2010, HERNÁNDEZ sent Ardon Soriano cocaine shipments consisting of approximately 300 kilograms; and once a month in 2011 and 2012, HERNÁNDEZ sent Ardon Soriano maritime cocaine shipments ranging in size from 700 to 1,600 kilograms.    

   In 2013, HERNÁNDEZ was campaigning to become a congressman and Juan Orlando Hernández was campaigning to become president.  Around this time, according to testimony at trial, Juan Orlando Hernández solicited $1.6 million in drug proceeds from Ardon Soriano to support himself and National Party campaigns.  Also during the 2013 campaign, HERNÁNDEZ accepted $1 million from former Sinaloa Cartel leader Joaquín Archivaldo Guzmán Loera, a/k/a “Chapo,” to support Juan Orlando Hernández’s presidential campaign.  During meetings with Chapo in Honduras, HERNÁNDEZ promised to provide protection for members of their conspiracy and their cocaine shipments through Honduran territory if Juan Orlando Hernández was elected president. 

In November 2013, HERNÁNDEZ was elected to the Honduran congress and Juan Orlando Hernández was elected president.  Between 2015 and 2017, per trial testimony, HERNÁNDEZ and Juan Orlando Hernández continued to secure large sums of drug proceeds for National Party campaigns in exchange for protecting drug traffickers.  For example, there was testimony at trial that approximately six months before the November 2017 national elections, HERNÁNDEZ and Juan Orlando Hernández met with Ardon Soriano in Copán, Honduras.  During that meeting, HERNÁNDEZ and Juan Orlando Hernández solicited $500,000 and 1.6 million Lempira in drug proceeds from Ardon Soriano to “finance” the National Party’s campaign in the Copán and Lempira Departments.    

In 2018, HERNÁNDEZ continued to engage in large cocaine shipments with Nery López Sanabria, another significant Honduran drug trafficker.  Honduran authorities arrested and detained López Sanabria in connection with a traffic incident and recovered, among other things, several drug ledgers in a secret compartment of his car.  One of the ledgers was labeled “Hard Work” 2018, and reflected a 650-kilogram cocaine shipment with HERNÁNDEZ.  At least one of the other ledgers seized by Honduran law enforcement in 2018 contained references to “JOH,” initials used by Juan Orlando Hernández.  López Sanabria was murdered in a Honduran prison, as described below, shortly after his drug ledgers were introduced at HERNÁNDEZ’s trial. 

Hernández’s Weapons Possession and Acts of Violence

HERNÁNDEZ used firearms throughout his drug trafficking.  HERNÁNDEZ’s personal weapons included a modified AR-15, an Uzi inscribed with the name of Juan Orlando Hernández, “Presidente de la República,” and an M60 belt-fed machinegun.  HERNÁNDEZ also sold machineguns and ammunition to drug traffickers.  In 2010, Diaz Morales obtained between 4,000 and 6,000 rounds of assault rifle ammunition from a member of the Honduran National Police who told Diaz Morales he obtained the ammunition from HERNÁNDEZ.  In 2012, HERNÁNDEZ supplied 40 M16s to another drug trafficker.   

HERNÁNDEZ also coordinated at least two drug-related murders.  In 2011, HERNÁNDEZ and Ardon Soriano caused the murder of a rival drug trafficker named Franklin Arita in the Copán Department.  HERNÁNDEZ directed Juan Carlos “Tigre” Bonilla Valladares, the regional Honduran National Police chief responsible for the Copán Department at the time, to arrange for Arita’s murder, which was executed by assassins using two 40-millimeter grenade launchers, M16s, and Israeli-made Galil assault rifles.  In 2013, HERNÁNDEZ worked with other drug traffickers, including Ardon Soriano, to murder a drug trafficker named Chino because HERNÁNDEZ was concerned that Chino might cooperate with law enforcement.    

   Hernández’s Obstruction and Other Efforts to Influence the Investigation

HERNÁNDEZ made false statements to law enforcement and the Court during the course of this investigation and prosecution, and he obstructed justice.  HERNÁNDEZ (i) traveled to the United States in 2016 and made false statements to law enforcement about his drug trafficking activities; (ii) made false statements about his assets during a January 2019 bail hearing; (iii) caused sensitive witness information to be disclosed in Honduras in violation of a protective order in October 2019; and (iv) made false statements about his assets during an application for appointed counsel in February 2020.

Eight days after the jury found HERNÁNDEZ guilty, on October 26, 2019, López Sanabria – the drug trafficker from whom were seized the ledgers bearing HERNÁNDEZ’s name and Juan Orlando Hernández’s initials – was murdered at a maximum security prison in Honduras.  López Sanabria’s attorneys confirmed to the media that: one of HERNÁNDEZ’s family members and an investigator hired by HERNÁNDEZ’s family had made unauthorized visits to López Sanabria prior to HERNÁNDEZ’s trial; López Sanabria had rejected their efforts to obtain information about whether he was cooperating with the DEA; and López Sanabria had planned to cooperate with the DEA against Juan Orlando Hernández and HERNÁNDEZ.  Leaked surveillance video of the murder shows López Sanabria talking to the warden of the facility, Pedro Ildefonso Armas, while a masked man walks past and unlocks a nearby door.  Several individuals who are believed to be prisoners then storm through the door and shoot and stab López Sanabria to death.  On December 9, 2019, a group of unknown assailants murdered Jose Luis Pinto, a lawyer who represented López Sanabria.  Three days later, on December 12, 2019, a group of unknown gunmen on motorcycles murdered Ildefenso Armas, the warden of the facility in which López Sanabria was murdered, in Tegucigalpa.    

Hernández’s Co-Conspirators

On August 8, 2019, Fernandez Rosa was sentenced in this District to life in prison for, among other things, his participation in HERNÁNDEZ’s cocaine importation conspiracy and for committing 18 murders.  Several of HERNÁNDEZ’s other co-conspirators, including, among others, Hernández Pineda, Calix Hernández, Bonilla Valladares, Arnaldo Urbina Soto, Carlos Fernando Urbina Soto, and Miguel Angel Urbina Soto, are also charged in this District with firearms and drug trafficking offenses based on, among other things, their participation in HERNÁNDEZ’s cocaine importation conspiracy.  On February 12, 2020, Hernández Pineda surrendered in this District and he is awaiting trial.  On March 22, 2021, HERNÁNDEZ’s co defendant and co-conspirator Geovanny Fuentes Ramirez was convicted at trial in this District of drug trafficking and weapons offenses.  Fuentes Ramirez’s sentencing is scheduled for June 22, 2021.     

In addition to the prison term, HERNÁNDEZ, 42, was sentenced to five years of supervised release.

Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding efforts of the DEA’s Special Operations Division Bilateral Investigations Unit, OCDETF New York Strike Force, and Tegucigalpa Country Office, as well as the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs.

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

Governor Cuomo Announces 2021 Trout Season Opens April 1

  

April 1 Kicks Off Trout Season and Implementation of New York State Trout Stream Management Plan

1.8 Million Catchable-Size Trout to be Stocked in New York Waters

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that trout fishing season in New York State opens on Thursday, April 1. In preparation for opening day, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is stocking 1.8 million catchable trout in waters across the state. In addition to larger size fish being stocked this year, some stream reaches will receive four stockings of trout. 

"Every year, thousands of New Yorkers head outside on the opening day of trout season, and 2021 should be no exception, especially with a new trout management plan in place to improve access for anglers of all ages," Governor Cuomo said. "This is a longstanding and much-beloved tradition for generations of families, and I encourage New Yorkers to get outside, continue practicing safe behaviors like social distancing, and experience all the great fishing the Empire State has to offer."

New York State offers a diverse set of fishing opportunities for wild and stocked trout. Under the State's new Trout Stream Management Plan, DEC has grouped stream fishing opportunities into five distinct categories for improved management and easy-to-understand regulations to help make fishing more accessible and enjoyable for all anglers, from novice to expert.

"This year opening day represents the beginning of a new era in trout stream management for New York," DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said. "After more than two years of committed work with our angling public, DEC will begin implementing the new Trout Stream Management Plan. In addition to new and fewer types of special regulations, we have made significant progress toward achieving our fish production objectives to stock larger yearling fish and seed all stockings with some fish 12 inches or larger. Best of all, anglers can continue to enjoy our trout stream resources through the fall and winter months thanks to the creation of a new catch and release season." 

This fall, anglers will be able to fish for trout throughout the state due to the creation of a statewide catch and release season that will run from October 16 through March 31. While year-round trout fishing has been enjoyed in many areas of the state, the season will provide an opportunity for anglers who have otherwise had to wait for spring. DEC will select a suite of streams and conduct a three-year study to evaluate the new regulation to ensure that the new season has no negative impact on natural trout production.

To prepare anglers for the 2021 trout season with the new management plan in place, DEC will host virtual outreach events in the coming weeks, including "how to" Facebook Live segments where viewers can learn about beginner trout fishing techniques. To access additional information about how and where anglers can find their preferred type of trout angling opportunities, DEC launched an interactive Trout Stream Fishing Map to provide a one-stop-shop for information about stocking, fishing access, season dates, and regulations on the DECinfo Locator. Links to the Trout Stream Fishing Map and a User Guide are available here: https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/122444.html.  

New York State is reminding anglers to stay smart when fishing:

• Socially distance;
• Mask up when you cannot maintain social distancing, especially in parking lots and along footpaths;
• Avoid sharing gear when possible;
• Respect your fellow anglers and the resource by providing space and practicing ethical angling; and
• Take out what you bring in or place trash in receptacles. 

New York State's PLAY SMART * PLAY SAFE * PLAY LOCAL campaign encourages residents to engage in responsible recreation during the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis. The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and DEC recommendations for getting outside safely incorporate guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the New York State Department of Health for reducing the spread of infectious diseases. PLAY SMART * PLAY SAFE * PLAY LOCAL encourages New Yorkers to recreate locally, practice physical distancing, show respect for all outdoor adventurers, and use common sense to protect themselves and others. Wear a mask, even when visiting the outdoors. For more information about how to PLAY SMART * PLAY SAFE * PLAY LOCAL, visit DEC's website.

DEC's streamlined fishing regulations guide, which includes a summary of the laws and regulations anglers need to know before hitting the water, will soon be available at License Issuing Agents statewide and is available at https://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7917.html to download and print.

VACCINE FOR ALL: NYC OPENING NEW VACCINE SITE WITH GOOGLE AND HUDSON GUILD

 

Hudson Guild site at NYCHA’s Fulton Senior Center will prioritize NYCHA residents

 

 Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced that the City will open a new vaccination site at the Fulton Community Center in Chelsea, Manhattan. The new vaccination site located at 119 Ninth Avenue, hosted by Hudson Guild and operated by Daybreak Health, will offer more than 200 appointments per day – over 1,000 per week – and will be open 5 days a week, from Tuesday through Saturday.

 

"Technology is going to help fuel New York City’s recovery, including getting more New Yorkers vaccinated. I thank Google and Hudson Guild for their partnership to open this new site, and I encourage all eligible New Yorkers, especially NYCHA residents, to get vaccinated as soon as possible," said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

 

The site, which opens on Wednesday, April 7, will prioritize vaccination appointments for nearby NYCHA residents, including residents at the Fulton Houses and Chelsea-Elliott Houses, with a particular focus on reaching seniors. In partnership with Hudson Guild and NYCHA, the City will conduct outreach to eligible NYCHA residents to help them get the facts about the vaccine, answer questions, and sign them up for appointments.

 

Starting April 12, eligible New Yorkers will also be able to make an appointment at this location by visiting nyc.gov/vaccinefinder or by calling 877-VAX-4NYC. Additional days and appointments will be available as supply increases citywide.

 

Google, whose NYC headquarters is located down the block from the Fulton Houses, is providing the City with support worth over $1 million to help vaccinate vulnerable communities in NYC. This includes $750,000 in advertising grants, to help ensure New Yorkers can easily find where, when and how to get a vaccine. Google is also providing a $330,000 Google.org grant to Hudson Guild to set up a community vaccination center located in the Fulton Houses NYCHA campus serving the Fulton Houses, Chelsea Elliot Houses, and the NYCHA community citywide.

 

"Google recognizes that equitable population vaccination is a complex problem to solve, and we’re committed to doing our part. We are pleased to partner with the Mayor and Hudson Guild to announce a $1M Google commitment to help vaccinate vulnerable communities in New York. This includes ad grants, to help ensure New Yorkers can easily find where, when and how to get a vaccine and a Google.org grant to set up a community vaccination center in the Fulton Houses NYCHA campus," said Dr. Karen DeSalvo, Chief Health Officer at Google Health.

 

"Since its inception, Hudson Guild has always worked to bridge the gap, reconnecting our neighbors to available resources in the community. The collaboration with Google and the City of New York is no different. We are proud to be able to work alongside these partners to help more people receive their vaccinations," said Ken Jockers, Executive Director of Hudson Guild.

 

“Vaccination for residents is my biggest concern at the moment,” said Miguel Acevedo, Resident Association President, Fulton Houses. “I am grateful that residents will have an opportunity to receive the vaccine in their community through this partnership with the City, Hudson Guild and Google.”

 

“I worked really close with Ken Jockers and Chelsea elected officials to help bring vaccines to the residents,” said Darlene Waters, Resident Association President, Chelsea Elliott Houses. “Google helps out a lot and we are so happy that we can all work together to bring vaccines to our community”

 

“I am happy to see the new vaccination site open at the Fulton Senior Center to make it easier for residents of the Fulton Houses and Chelsea-Elliot Houses get vaccinated. All New Yorkers deserve easy access to the vaccine and the Council will keep pushing for more locations to open to help stop the spread of this virus and make sure our city recovers as quickly as possible,” said Speaker Corey Johnson. 

 

Attorney General James Warns New Yorkers to Remain Alert Against COVID-19 Vaccine and Stimulus Scams

 

Fraudulent Actors May Send Malicious Messages and Phishing Emails While Attempting to Access Consumers’ Personal Information

  New York Attorney General Letitia James today issued an alert to New Yorkers to remain vigilant against potential scams related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health crisis. As more New Yorkers become eligible for the vaccine that will help prevent the spread of the disease and a new round of stimulus payments are sent out to combat the economic fallout of the pandemic, scammers are seeking to take advantage of innocent New Yorkers by making fraudulent promises. The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 was passed by Congress and signed into law earlier this month in an effort to help speed the nation’s health and economic recovery. The law increased access to vaccines and authorized the U.S. Department of Treasury to issue emergency stimulus payments to Americans to help offset the costs of essentials, in addition to providing a multitude of other vital provisions to aid Americans. However, fraudsters are now imitating the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and other federal agencies in an effort to access consumers’ personal information by promising access to additional stimulus payments, the ability to skip lines for vaccines, and provide other needed services.

“Scammers are out there, and they are continuing to find a slew of new and shameful tactics to exploit this pandemic,” said Attorney General James. “These cyberattacks are just the latest example of unscrupulous individuals capitalizing on health and economic suffering, and it is crucial that New Yorkers remain vigilant to ensure they do not fall victim to these illegal activities. Promises to skip the vaccine line or receive additional stimulus payments are lies, plain and simple, and New Yorkers need to remain alert. I encourage all New Yorkers to follows these safety tips and report suspected scams to my office. We remain committed to protecting consumers’ health and wallets and rooting out fraud.” 

There have been recent reports of scammers posing as the “IRS Rescue Plan Dept” and attempting to steal people’s personal and financial information through malicious messages, known as phishing emails. To make these scams even more deceiving, the emails may include the IRS logo to establish credibility, and often could have an official sounding subject line, like “IRS Rescue Plan Act.” In other instances, the subject lines have read: “Joe Biden Rescue Plan Act,” “IRS Rescue Plan Form,” or “President’s Rescue Plan Act,” among others.

Many individuals seeking to defraud Americans are doing so by promising stimulus payments in addition to the up to $1,400 eligible adults may qualify for and up to $1,400 eligible children could receive, as well as other financial aid while New Yorkers and Americans nationwide continue to suffer through the economic recession. At this time, no additional payments have been authorized by Congress. Bad actors are also preying on New Yorkers’ desire to get vaccinated quickly. Earlier today, all New Yorkers 30 and older became eligible for the vaccine and, in one week, all New Yorkers 16 and older will become eligible. However, lines still remain long to get a vaccine, therefore anyone promising New Yorkers the ability to skip the line is doing so fraudulently.

Attorney General James today highlighted the following tips for New Yorkers to follow in an effort to protect themselves from these scams:

• Don’t be fooled by familiar logos and branding. It’s easy for attackers to design emails that look safe and legitimate at first glance. If someone claims to be from the government with a check or a vaccine, it may be a phishing scam that is illegally trying to obtain a consumer’s bank account or other personal information.

• Look for misspellings and poor grammar. While not always present, emails that contain multiple spelling and grammatical mistakes offer a clear indication that the email is malicious.

• Never open attachments or click links from those claiming to be from the government unless you have specifically signed up for a notification or an email. Clicking on buttons, such as “Apply Now,” or downloading attachments may enable scammers to download malicious software onto computers that will steal consumers’ personal information, including email addresses, passwords, and other vitally important, yet confidential information. If a consumer is unsure about a message, they should delete it right away.

• Verify the legitimacy of any unsolicited/unexpected email before interacting with it, especially if the IRS or COVID-19 is mentioned in any way. Consumers need to proactively sign up for a COVID-19 vaccine. If a consumer is eligible for a stimulus payment, they will receive a payment directly from the IRS.

New Yorkers who believe they have been a victim of a scam should contact the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to file a complaint. New Yorkers can learn more about COVID-19 scams on the OAG website.