Brooklyn Man Arrested for Arson of Yeshiva and Synagogue

 

 A criminal complaint has been filed in federal court in Brooklyn charging Ali Alaheri with setting fire to a yeshiva and synagogue in Brooklyn on May 19, 2021.  Alaheri was arrested in Dobbs Ferry, New York, yesterday and will make his initial appearance this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Vera M. Scanlon. 

Mark J. Lesko, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; John B. DeVito, Special Agent-in-Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF); Dermot Shea, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD); and Daniel A. Nigro, Commissioner, New York City Fire Department (FDNY), announced the arrest and charge.

“As alleged in the complaint and detention letter, Alaheri deliberately set fire to the sacred home of a yeshiva and synagogue, and viciously attacked a man wearing traditional Hasidic garb, demonstrating a violent hatred that cannot be tolerated,” stated Acting U.S. Attorney Lesko.  “This Office strongly condemns these sorts of intentional acts of violence and we will go to every length possible to prosecute this type of conduct to the fullest extent possible.”  Mr. Lesko praised the special agents, detectives and fire marshals of the Strategic Explosive and Arson Response Task Force for their outstanding investigative work on the case.

“The defendant’s alleged actions endangered the lives of numerous individuals, from the congregants and students at the synagogue and yeshiva, to the first responders who arrived to extinguish the flames, to the neighboring members of the community,” stated ATF Special Agent-in-Charge DeVito.  “The members of ATF’s Arson and Explosives Task Force, in partnership with NYPD’s Hate Crime Unit, worked diligently to quickly identify the defendant and bring him to justice.   I thank them for their efforts, as well as those of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in sending a clear message that crimes such as this will not be tolerated.”

“Ali Alaheri, as alleged in today’s federal complaint, set fire to a school and religious institution and threatened public safety for all. I commend our NYPD investigators, our government partners and the prosecutors in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York for their work in bringing swift justice in this case,” stated NYPD Commissioner Shea.

“Arson is a callous and senseless crime that endangers the lives of innocent residents and our firefighters who bravely respond to protect life and property,” stated FDNY Commissioner Nigro. “I commend our Fire Marshals and their partners in law enforcement for their outstanding efforts to investigate this incident and apprehend the suspect.”

As set forth in the complaint and detention letter, in the pre-dawn hours of May 19, 2021, Alaheri was captured on surveillance video piling garbage bags against the side of a building on 36th Street in Brooklyn that housed a yeshiva (a Jewish school) and a synagogue.  Alaheri was recorded igniting the garbage bags.  Firefighters responded to a fire alarm at the location and extinguished the blaze.  Several hours later, Alaheri was again captured on surveillance video, this time repeatedly punching a man wearing traditional Hasidic garb.  There was no interaction between Alaheri and the victim prior to the assault.  When Alaheri was arrested on May 21, 2021, he appeared to be wearing the same clothing he was wearing in the video footage of the assault.

The charge in the complaint is an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.  If convicted, Alaheri faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years’ imprisonment, and a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment.

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Civil Rights Section.  Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Shanies is in charge of the prosecution. 

Governor Cuomo Announces Lowest Single-Day COVID-19 Positivity Rate Since August 29, 2020

 

Statewide Positivity Rate Drops to 0.77%

Statewide 7-Day Average Positivity Rate Drops to 0.92%—Lowest Since September 23; 48 Straight Days of Decline

Hospitalizations Drop to 1,335—Lowest Since November 5

ICU Patients Drop to 315—Lowest Since November 11

Intubations Drop to 194—Lowest Since November 17

12 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the statewide COVID-19 positivity rate dropped to 0.77 percent yesterday, the lowest since August 29, 2020.

"New Yorkers are fighting COVID-19 on all fronts across this great state, and as more people get vaccinated, our numbers continue to come down," Governor Cuomo said. "New Yorkers are ready for the new normal, and we've relaxed many restrictions that were put into place to protect the public health and adopted new CDC guidelines. Continuing to successfully get more New Yorkers vaccinated is going to make or break the state's COVID-19 response, and we need everyone who has not yet taken the shot to make an appointment or simply walk into a site today."

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Test Results Reported - 138,927
• Total Positive - 1,073
• Percent Positive - 0.77%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 0.92%
• Patient Hospitalization - 1,335 (-26)
• Net Change Patient Hospitalization Past Week - -248
• Patients Newly Admitted - 174
• Number ICU - 315 (-11)
• Number ICU with Intubation - 194 (-4)
• Total Discharges - 181,091 (179)
• Deaths - 12
• Total Deaths - 42,594

Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer Statement regarding Samsung’s announcement today confirming plans to build a new chip manufacturing plant in the United States:

 

Senator Schumer said, “As I’ve said before, there’s no better home for Samsung’s $17 billion U.S. semiconductor fab announced today than Western New York’s STAMP campus. STAMP is a cut above the rest with its low-cost utilities on a redundant reliable power grid, world-class WNY workforce, location within New York’s semiconductor supply chain ecosystem, and more. I am fighting to secure $52 billion in federal incentives to ensure new semiconductor fabs like this are built in New York.”

224 Days and Counting Quack Quack

 

It's Sunday, but do to what went on in Times Square I had to go to a meeting today in Borough Park. Remember all you mayoral candidates who are running to replace me, unless you can jet off to your private island in the Bahamas (like my predecessor) you are going to have to work on your days off, and sometimes at all hours of the day. It's a good thing I'm a Lame Duck Mayor so I can make it fit into my schedule so I can enjoy the Shack Shack free French fries. What's that it only works once?

Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on State Vaccination Program

 

63% of Adults New Yorkers Have Received at Least One Dose; 54% Completed Vaccine Series 

52% of All New Yorkers Have Received at Least One Dose; 44% Completed Series 

109,615 Doses Administered in the Last 24 Hours        

829,697 Doses Administered Over Past Seven Days      

Vaccine Dashboard Updated Daily on the State's Vaccine Program Here 

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today updated New Yorkers on the state's vaccination program. 109,615 doses have been administered across the state's vast distribution network in the last 24 hours, and 829,697 doses have been administered statewide over the past seven days.        

"We continue to work with community leaders and our partner organizations to make sure the vaccine is accessible to all New Yorkers, and thinking outside the box to give more people incentives to get vaccinated," Governor Cuomo said. "This vaccine is safe, effective and necessary — and can only do its job if we all take it. If you still need to get your shot, I urge you to come in to one of our many sites and roll up your sleeve so we can finally defeat this beast."    

All New York State mass vaccination sites are now open to eligible New Yorkers for walk-in vaccination on a first come first serve basis. The walk-in appointments are reserved for first doses only with second doses to be scheduled automatically after administration of the initial shot. In addition, all vaccine providers are encouraged to allow walk-in appointments for eligible New Yorkers. People who would prefer to schedule an appointment at a state-run mass vaccination site can do so on the Am I Eligible App or by calling 1-833-NYS-4-VAX. People may also contact their local health department, pharmacy, doctor or hospital to schedule appointments where vaccines are available, or visit vaccines.gov to find information on vaccine appointments near them.                                           

STATEWIDE BREAKDOWN

Total doses administered - 18,280,021

Total doses administered over past 24 hours - 109,615

Total doses administered over past 7 days - 829,697

Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 63.3%

Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 54.4%

Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 51.6%

Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 43.6%

Comptroller DiNapoli Calls for Racial Equity Audit at Amazon

 

When companies act in ways that put their reputation and long-term value at risk, investors often step up and seek out improvements that will help them get back on track.

Amazon is a company facing significant pitfalls when it comes to issues of racial diversity, equity and inclusion. Despite its public statements supporting the fight against systemic racism, there have been numerous complaints and lawsuits suggesting Amazon’s actions are inconsistent with its pledges, alleging that it has paid discriminatory wages, sold products that foster racial biases, and failed to create an inclusive workplace.

At the company’s annual meeting on May 26, fellow investors will vote on the New York state pension fund’s request that Amazon conduct an independent review of the company’s impacts on civil rights, equity, diversity and inclusion, and the impacts of those issues on its business, so it can begin to root out the biases and discrimination plaguing its business.

In the long run, companies that develop a corporate culture that embraces equity and inclusion throughout the workplace outperform those that do not. The pension fund is a long-term investor in Amazon and wants the company to succeed. If Amazon can ensure it is doing what it can to promote racial diversity, equity, and inclusion, it will help secure its continued success.

Governor Cuomo Announces Lowest Single-Day Covid-19 Positivity Rate Since September 4

 

Statewide Positivity Rate Drops to 0.80%

Statewide 7-Day Positivity Rate Drops to 0.95%—Lowest Since September 25

Patient Hospitalizations Drop to 1,361—Lowest Since November 5

ICU Patients Drop to 326—Lowest Since November 11

Intubations Drop to 198; First Time Below 200 Since November 17

24 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the statewide single-day COVID-19 positivity rate dropped to 0.80 percent yesterday, the lowest since September 4.

Staten Island's 7-day average positivity rate dropped to 0.93 percent yesterday, bringing the individual 7-day average positivity rate of all five New York City boroughs below 1 percent for the first time since September 8, 2020.

"We are working night and day to stop COVID-19 in its tracks, and the key is getting as many New Yorkers vaccinated as possible — as quickly as possible," Governor Cuomo said. "The numbers are trending in the right direction, and we've taken action to reopen the state's economy and relax restrictions, particularly for vaccinated people. We're going to reach the end at the light of the tunnel and defeat this virus, and the faster we can get New Yorkers vaccinated, the faster that dream will become a reality."

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Test Results Reported - 167,918
• Total Positive - 1,347
• Percent Positive - 0.80%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 0.95%
• Patient Hospitalization - 1,361 (-83)
• Net Change Patient Hospitalization Past Week - -327
• Patients Newly Admitted - 169
• Number ICU - 326 (-4)
• Number ICU with Intubation - 198 (-6)
• Total Discharges - 180,912 (209)
• Deaths - 24
• Total Deaths - 42,582

Attorney General James Announces Robust Reforms to Police Use of Force Laws

 

Police Accountability Act Will Increase Police Officer Accountability by Amending New York’s Law Justifying Police Use of Force

Legislation Also Establishes Criminal Penalties for Officers Who Use Excessive Force

 New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced legislation to change New York state's laws governing police violence to strengthen prosecutors’ ability to hold police officers accountable for unjustified and excessive use of force. The Police Accountability Act — the most far-reaching use of force reform in the nation — seeks to amend New York’s law that justifies police use of force, which currently sets an exceedingly high standard for prosecuting police officers who have improperly used deadly or excessive force. The centerpiece of the legislation seeks to amend the use of force law from one of simple necessity to one of absolute last resort, mandating that police officers only use force after all other alternatives have been exhausted. The legislation will also establish new criminal penalties for police officers who employ force that is grossly in excess of what is warranted in an interaction with civilians.

“For far too long, police officers in this country have been able to evade accountability for the unjustified use of excessive and lethal force,” said Attorney General James. “In New York, our laws have essentially given police blanket defense to use force in interactions with the public, making it exceedingly difficult for prosecutors to go after officers who have abused this power. Not only is that gravely unjust, but it has also proven to be incredibly dangerous. The Police Accountability Act will make critical and necessary changes to the law, providing clear and legitimate standards for when the use of force is acceptable and enacting real consequences for when an officer crosses that line. While this is an important step in addressing the shortfalls of our criminal justice system, it is not a cure all for the ills that have impacted too many families and claimed too many lives. We must continue to do everything in our power to protect our communities and ensure that no one is beyond the reach of justice.”

Overview of the Police Accountability Act

The Police Accountability Act (S.6615) includes a series of reforms aimed at improving protocols and strengthening accountability measures when police officers use force, especially lethal force. These legislative reforms are intended to reduce deaths at the hands of police by ensuring that police officers adhere to practices and tactics that aim to preserve life and only use lethal force as a last resort, while providing prosecutors with appropriate tools to potentially hold officers accountable when an individual dies after an interaction with police.

1) Use of Force Must Be A Last Resort

Current law: New York’s current law does not require officers to exhaust other options, such as de-escalation, verbal warnings, or lower level uses of force, before using force, including lethal force.

Police Accountability Act reform: The Police Accountability Act seeks to amend this law by establishing a “last resort” standard, whereby use of force must be a last resort that officers can only employ when there are no reasonable alternatives to avoiding force or reducing the force used. Officers must instead exhaust alternatives, including de-escalation, lower levels of force, verbal warnings, and other methods.

2) Simple Suspicion of Criminal Conduct Cannot Justify Lethal Force

Current law: New York’s current use of force law authorizes police to use lethal force based simply on an officer’s reasonable belief that an individual committed a particular crime — a certain category of felony or attempt to commit a felony — and irrespective of whether the individual presents a danger to the officer or another person at the time.

Police Accountability Act reform: The Police Accountability Act seeks to eliminate justification for lethal force when an officer simply suspects an individual has engaged in particular criminal conduct. Lethal force should only be used in the most exigent of circumstances and demands higher standards of proof before an officer may use lethal force.

3) Allow Prosecutors to Evaluate if Police Conduct Led to Need for Use of Force

Current law: New York’s current law justifying police use of force does not provide a mechanism for prosecutors to consider an officer’s own responsibility for creating the need for force in the first place.

Police Accountability Act reform: The Police Accountability Act seeks to explicitly allow prosecutors to consider whether an officer’s conduct created a substantial and unjustifiable risk that force would become necessary. Where that is the case, an officer may not avail themselves of the justification defense.

4) Establish Standards and Criminal Penalties to Prevent Excessive Use

The Police Accountability Act — sponsored by State Senator Kevin Parker in the Senate and to be sponsored by Assemblymember N. Nick Perry in the Assembly — seeks to establish criminal penalties for police officers who employ force that is grossly in excess of what is warranted under the circumstances and where that force causes physical injury or death. The level of charge would depend on the severity of the injuries caused.