Attorney General James Delivers $627,000 for Brentwood Community Marred by Waste Dumping at Roberto Clemente Park

 

Disposal of Contaminated Construction Waste by Companies and Individuals Closed Major Park to Community for Years  

$627,000 Obtained in Eight Agreements Will Be Used for Brentwood Park Improvements; Additional Funds Expected as AG James’ Legal Action Continues 

  New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced that her office has delivered $627,000 from eight companies involved in the illegal dumping of contaminated construction waste in Roberto Clemente Park in Brentwood, Long Island. These agreements — which will be sent to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York for final approval — are the first resolutions reached in a federal lawsuit the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) brought in 2017 against 33 construction contractors, waste brokers, and waste haulers that illegally dumped waste in the park for years. The agreements seek to hold these companies and individuals financially liable for the Brentwood community’s lost use of the popular park during the three years it was closed for cleanup.  

The funds will be used to improve public park facilities in the Brentwood community, including Roberto Clemente Park. The OAG will work with local community groups, elected officials, and the Town of Islip to engage residents in identifying community priorities for restoring and enhancing Brentwood parks.

“The threats of environmental injustice are real and have unfairly plagued communities like Brentwood for too long,” said Attorney General James. “For over three years, Roberto Clemente Park was used as an illegal dumping ground, robbing residents of a centerpiece of this community and putting our children in harm’s way. Today, we begin to give back what’s long been due, and hold accountable those responsible for polluting this park with dangerous chemicals. My office will continue to crack down on those who put our communities in jeopardy and stand up for the right of all New Yorkers to live in safe, healthy neighborhoods.”

Between August 2013 and April 2014, tens of thousands of tons of urban soil and construction and demolition (C&D) debris were transported from construction sites in the New York City metropolitan area and were illegally dumped in Roberto Clemente Park, a park owned by the Town of Islip. The Town closed the park in May 2014 when environmental testing revealed the presence of asbestos, and, later, a wide array of toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and pesticides, in areas of the park where the dumping occurred. The park remained closed until July 2017, as cleanup contractors removed approximately 39,000 tons of hazardous construction waste.  

In May 2017, OAG sued the companies and individuals related to the dumping — contractors that arranged for the disposal of soil and C&D contaminated with hazardous substances from construction sites in the New York City metropolitan area, companies that brokered the removal and disposal of the contaminated waste, and the haulers that transported waste to Roberto Clemente Park and dumped it there. That lawsuit sought damages under the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) and state public nuisance and negligence laws for the Brentwood community’s lost use of the park during its cleanup. 

The agreements and related payments announced today resolve the lawsuit brought by OAG against the following companies: 

• Atria Builders, LLC (construction contractor) will pay $90,000;
• Monaco Construction Corp., Alef Construction Inc., and 158 Franklin Ave. LLC (construction contractors) will collectively pay $58,439; 
• Triton Construction Company, LLC (construction contractor) will pay $108,505;
• IEV Trucking Corp. (waste broker) will pay $175,000;
• Touchstone Homes LLC (construction contractor) will pay $175,000; and 
• COD Services Corp. (waste broker) will pay $20,000.  

The legal actions against the 25 other companies and individuals named in the federal lawsuit remain ongoing. Funds obtained through the continuing litigation will also be directed towards the enhancement of parks in the Brentwood community. 

In 2016, the Town of Islip initiated a separate legal action against a number of companies and individuals involved in the dumping. The Town has reached agreements for $145,000 for the park’s cleanup with two of the same companies that the state has now settled with. 

Attorney General James thanks the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for its assistance in this matter. 

“Today’s announcement marks an important milestone in New York’s efforts to help make the Brentwood community whole after illegal dumping closed Roberto Clemente Park,” said New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos. “The discovery of dumping of construction and demolition debris in this park by DEC Law Enforcement Officers and staff and the subsequent cleanup served as the spark for the State’s overhaul of rules for C&D disposal. We are proud to work with partners in the Attorney General’s Office and the town of Islip to ensure the safe clean-up of contamination, hold the dumpers accountable for the harm they caused, and restore this park for the community.”   

Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on State Vaccination Program

 

99,554 Doses Administered in the Last 24 Hours

776,101 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. 99,554 doses have been administered across the state's vast distribution network in the last 24 hours, and 776,101 doses have been administered statewide over the past seven days.

"New Yorkers have shown incredible resilience and discipline throughout this pandemic, and we need them to take the next step and get vaccinated to defeat this virus once and for all. Our ability to rebuild New York, reinvigorate the economy and put people back to work depends on it," Governor Cuomo said. "We're taking action to increase the number of shots in arms across the state by offering numerous incentives, while continuing to open pop-up sites to ensure access for all. The vaccine is the weapon that will win this war and I urge everyone to get vaccinated not just for themselves, but for their fellow New Yorkers. That is the only way we can finally put this pandemic behind us." 

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 - 18,628,178

Total doses administered over past 24 hours - 99,554

Total doses administered over past 7 days - 776,101

Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 64.2%

Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 55.5%

Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 52.5%

Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 44.6%

DEC REMINDS WATER RECREATIONISTS TO CLEAN, DRAIN, AND DRY WATERCRAFT AND EQUIPMENT TO PROTECT NEW YORK’S WATERS FROM INVASIVE SPECIES

Boat Stewards to Conduct Boat Inspections and Educate Recreating Public at Boat Launches Statewide

As this year’s boating season officially kicks off, Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today reminded water recreationists to do their part in protecting New York’s waters from aquatic invasive species (AIS) by remembering to clean, drain, and dry watercraft and equipment. Last year, boater traffic increased by nearly 20 percent at some launches and boat stewards counted more than 390,000 boats at launches across the state, a significant increase from the 276,515 watercraft counted in 2019. DEC anticipates more boaters will hit the water this season and with them an increased risk of introducing AIS to New York’s waters. Taking proactive steps such as cleaning off fishing tackle, removing aquatic vegetation from rudders, disinfecting boat hulls and water compartments, and properly disposing of bait, significantly reduces that risk.  “Aquatic invasive species like zebra mussels, spiny waterflea, hydrilla, and others can be easily transported from one waterbody to another on boats, trailers, and fishing equipment,” said Commissioner Seggos. “Protecting New York’s waters is a high priority for DEC. Our lakes and ponds are invaluable in providing wildlife habitat, sustaining our state’s fisheries and fishing industry, and offering opportunities for recreation.”  Over the last few years, DEC has expanded its boat steward coverage through the Watercraft Inspection Stewardship Program, reaching additional recreationists with the Clean, Drain, Dry message. Boat stewards demonstrate how to conduct boat and trailer inspections prior to launching into a new waterbody and provide basic facts about AIS. In 2020, DEC’s boat stewards talked with more than 30,000 boaters who were unfamiliar with the boat steward program. These stewards also intercepted more than 19,000 AIS on boats and equipment, including hydrilla, which was removed from boats headed into Lake Champlain and Lake Ontario. Existing hydrilla infestations in Cayuga, Erie, Tioga, Tompkins, and Westchester counties are currently costing New Yorkers more than one million dollars a year in control and mitigation.  “Last fall we opened the new boat launch at Otisco Lake. We are thrilled that this will be one of more than 200 locations participating in the New York State Watercraft Inspection Steward Program,” said Matthew Marko, DEC Region 7 Director. “We ask that all recreationists clean, drain, and dry their watercraft and equipment to help protect New York’s waters.”  “The Finger Lakes Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) is looking forward to providing education and outreach at the new Otisco Lake launch and hopes to reach more new boaters,” said Hilary Mosher, Coordinator, Finger Lakes PRISM.  To help protect New York’s lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams, visit DEC’s website for more information on AIS and a step by step guide for ridding boats and equipment of AIS. Today, DEC also released a newly developed public service announcement (PSA) to air across the state reminding boaters to clean, drain, and dry their watercrafts in order to protect state waters. The PSA is now available on DEC’s YouTube page at  https://youtu.be/MHdyB5SpnR8.

 

MAYOR DE BLASIO DELIVERS REMARKS AT THE NEW YORK STATE COUNTY EXECUTIVES’ ASSOCIATION MEETING

 

 Mayor Bill de Blasio: Well, I want to thank County Executive Marc Molinaro for his leadership. And this organization, thank you for hosting us. We're all gratified to be together. Just the fact that we're together says progress is happening, that things are changing, and it’s because everyone worked so hard to make it that way. This is a story that needs to be told. The fact is, something extraordinary happened in this last year and more because people work together. And all those notions that we get told all the time that we can't work together across regional lines or party lines, we've been disproving that through our actions, everyone in this room.

And I want to tell the story very quickly in three parts – past, present, and future. The county executives of this state were heroic fighting COVID. We all came together, and shared, and thought together, and struggled together. But it was not only COVID that brought us together. This is the past that needs to be understood – we were already engaged. Sometimes it was to stop things that were not fair to our people. When the State of New York tried to foist Medicaid costs on us in a way that was unsupportable. We all banded together. It didn't matter if you were Democrat or Republican, upstate, downstate – we banded together. When the MTA tried to take away our local land-use rights, we banded together. This was well before COVID. When COVID struck, we found a deeper kind of common cause. We needed each other. We needed to hear each other, think together, innovate together. Sometimes we cried on each shoulder – each other's shoulders a little bit because we were all going through so much.

 

What we saw over this last year is a model of what should be in this state and beyond – people actually can sit in a room in a true sense of fellowship. That's what we experienced and it helped to save lives. Present – the present to me is very clear, and I send this message respectfully to all our colleagues and all the – to our friends in the Legislature. We need to restore democracy in the State of New York. We need to restore local control. It's time. It's time. We, rightfully, all of us are celebrating the progress against COVID. Well, that progress also sends a signal – restore to localities our ability to do our job fully and navigate what we have to do now for our people. We are closest to our people. We hear our people. We meet them in the supermarket on the corner. We understand and we need to be able to do our jobs again fully.

 

Future – the future’s recovery. There's such an incredible spirit here in this room in Rhinebeck. We are all talking about what's next with energy and with hope. There's an incredible sense that we're going to go someplace together. And recovery is happening, but it requires all of us to have a different mindset. We have to put COVID behind us. We have to stop thinking through COVID, because we're defeating COVID. We’ve got to start envisioning what we're all going to do together in a new and better situation. That's our future. Our future is not to be mired. We all talked about things like opening up our schools and all the other things that are going to bring people back to a better, a more normal life. We, as leaders, have to show that that path can and will be done.

 

So, I just want to say thank you to everyone here in this room. I feel truly honored to be with you – seriously honored, because you fought through this war, and you won, and you were there for your people when it mattered most no matter what was thrown at you. And we are going to take this partnership forward for the good of all. Thank you.

Bronx Metro-North Station Area Study - We want to hear from you! And so does the MTA!

 

The MTA wants to hear from you!  The Bronx Metro-North Station Area Study (BMNS) brings together different agencies and communities to plan for new rail service for the East Bronx! While the City team via the Bronx Metro-North Station Area Study (BMNS) is focused on ensuring that the stations are thoughtfully integrated into the surrounding communities, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is responsible for the complementary work of designing and building the stations and providing service.     Help the MTA by submitting comments to their Environmental Assessment today! Voice your concerns and give feedback for the Penn Station Access Project! The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has released its Environmental Assessment (EA) and Draft Section 4(f) Evaluation for the MTA Metro-North Railroad Penn Station Access Project. The public review period is available for a period of 45-days and there are several ways in which you can provide comments either by mail, email or through the public website. Comments must be received by July 3, 2021. Penn Station Access Project We also want to hear from you! If you haven't already, make sure to complete our surveys for the Parkchester/Van Nest and Morris Park station areas, by choosing a station below to let us know what your vision is for the neighborhoods around these new planned stations!    And the next stop is...

Parkchester/Van Nest Station Area: click here to take our survey Morris Park Station Area: click here to take our survey

Be sure to also visit our Remote Open House to watch our station-area overview videos and to read our draft recommendations and more by clicking below.   Remote Open House

Governor Cuomo Announces Statewide Positivity Rate Is .70%, Lowest since August 30

 

Statewide 7-Day Average Positivity Rate is 0.85% - Lowest Since September 2; 51 Straight Days of Decline

1,274 Patient Hospitalizations Statewide - Lowest Since November 3

297 Patients in the ICU - Lowest Since November 9

177 Patients Intubated - Lowest Since November 16

17 COVID-19 Deaths in New York State Yesterday

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

"New Yorkers are continuing to do a terrific job at beating back COVID and thanks to their hard work, we are getting closer and closer to the light at the end of the tunnel," Governor Cuomo said. "While we should be proud of the work we have accomplished thus far, we cannot take our foot off the gas. The key now is to ensure as many New Yorkers are vaccinated as possible. It's never been easier to access and better yet, numerous programs are in place to further incentivize getting shots in arms. There are no longer any excuses - the time is now to get vaccinated."

Today's data is summarized briefly below: 

• Test Results Reported - 133,208
• Total Positive - 936
• Percent Positive - 0.70%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 0.85%
• Patient Hospitalization - 1,274 (-83)
• Net Change Patient Hospitalization Past Week - -247
• Patients Newly Admitted - 159
• Number ICU - 297 (-10)
• Number ICU with Intubation - 177 (-4)
• Total Discharges - 181,499 (+180)
• Deaths - 17
• Total Deaths - 42,642

221 Days and Counting - Stay Upstate Mayor de Blasio

 

You can have you no hitter up there in the Bronx, our Brooklyn Nets beat the Celtics (notice I didn't say Boston Celtics) to go ahead 2 - 0 in the NBA Finals. Go Brooklyn. 

I am going upstate to talk about the COVID - 19 with those hick legislators who think they know about the virus. Let's see if my driver gets caught in one of those speed traps up there. That gives me an idea, I have to set up more speed cameras on streets that have a downward slope. Did you hear that DOT?

Bronx Democratic Party Applauds the Historic Appoint ment of Three Bronx Judges to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court

Three Bronx judges were simultaneously appointed to the appellate division of the Supreme Court in a first for New York State

The Bronx Democratic Party applauded the appointment of three Bronx Supreme Court Justices Julio Rodriguez, Bahaati Pitt, and John Higgitt to fill vacancies on the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in the First Department of New York State yesterday. The First Department covers Manhattan and The Bronx. This marks the first time that three Bronx judges have been nominated to the Appellate Division simultaneously.

“We are proud to congratulate Justices Julio Rodriguez, Bahaati Pitt, and John Higgitt on their historic appointment,” said Chair Jamaal T. Bailey. “They are committed public servants with a record of service and dedication to The Bronx and New York State. These appointments reflect the broad diversity of background, experience, and legal ability our great borough has to offer and will contribute to a more representative judiciary. They are talented and highly qualified jurists who will make The Bronx proud as they make history in these new roles.”

Honorable Julio Rodriguez

Julio Rodriguez is a Judge of the New York State Supreme Court in the Twelfth Judicial District when he ran for election in 2018. Prior to his service on the bench, he was a Judge of the New York City Civil Court in New York when he was appointed to this position by May Michael Bloomberg in 2013. Judge Rodriguez also served in New York City's Criminal Court. His legal career expands to his employment in the New York County District Attorney's office. Judge Rodriguez also held executive positions with the New York City Department of Investigation and the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings. He received his B.A. from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and his J.D. from Temple School of Law.

 

Honorable Bahaati Pitt

Bahaati Pitt is a Judge for the Criminal Court of the City of New York in Bronx County. Prior to her appointment on the bench, Judge Pitt served as a principal law clerk in the Civil Division of the Bronx County Supreme Court. She also served as a court attorney for the Bronx Family Court and the Bronx Civil Court. Judge Pitt worked as an attorney with the Criminal Defense Division of the Legal Aid Society. Judge Pitt earned her B.A. from Morgan State University and her J.D. at the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School. 

 

Honorable John Higgitt

John Higgitt is an Acting Justice of the Bronx County Supreme Court, Civil Term in the Twelfth Judicial District of New York. Justice Higgitt was elevated to the Supreme Court bench in 2018 by the Honorable Lawrence Marks, Chief Administrative Judge of the State of New York, and then to the Court of Claims by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. Prior to joining the bench, Justice Higgitt's legal career has been with the New York State Unified Court System since 2002. He served one year as an appellate attorney for the New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department, and then became principal law clerk to the Honorable Joan B. Carey, Justice of the New York County Supreme Court and Deputy Chief Administrative Judge for the courts of New York City. In 2005, Justice Higgitt returned to the New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division as principal law clerk for Honorable James M. McGuire, an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Judicial Department. In 2009, he was appointed to Honorable Douglas E. McKeon's chambers in Bronx County Supreme Court as a court referee. He remained in this capacity until his appointment to the New York State Court of Claims. Justice Higgitt graduated with his B.A. in Sociology from the State University of New York College at Cortland and his J.D. from Albany Law School.