First Phase Of Fordham University’s $100+ Million Renovations To Open This Fall

 

All photo renderings of renovations at Fordham University, courtesy of HLW International

Fordham University is undergoing renovations at its Bronx Rose Hill campus to the tune of $100 million. With HLW International LLP leading the design, components include sustainability upgrades and new student amenities.

When the student center opens for the fall 2021 semester, it will meet Passive House standards as well as feature a 9,500-square-foot lounge designed to encourage commuter and resident student interactions, and a 20,000-square-foot fitness center. Student lounges will feature custom-built furniture with various kinds of spaces to cater toward different kinds of clubs and students’ studying habits, including high-top tables, living room lounge areas, and conference tables for larger meetings.

Attorney General James Sues Rensselaer County Board of Elections for Denying Communities of Color Access to Early Voting Sites

 

BOE’s Repeated Failure to Select Early Voting Site for Troy Voters a Violation of State Law

AG James Seeks Court Order for Accessible Site for June 2021 Primary   

  New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced a lawsuit against the Rensselaer County Board of Elections (BOE) and its commissioners, Jason Schofield and Edward McDonough, for failing to provide voters in Rensselaer County with adequate and equitable access to early voting poll sites, as required by the New York’s Early Voting law. The lawsuit — filed in the Rensselaer County Supreme Court — alleges that when BOE and its commissioners selected early voting sites, they ignored criteria that was required by law to take into account when determining poll sites. Despite the availability of potential early voting sites in Troy — the most densely populated area of the county — BOE and its commissioners repeatedly refused to select an early voting site that was easily accessible to Troy residents, where the majority of the county’s Black, Hispanic, and lower-income communities reside. As part of the lawsuit, Attorney General James is seeking a court order to force BOE to select a site that would provide Troy voters with fair access to early voting poll sites in advance of the June 2021 primary election. 

The lawsuit follows multiple attempts by the Office of the Attorney General, as well as various advocacy, community, and faith-based organizations in and around Rensselaer County, to urge BOE to select additional or alternative early voting sites, but BOE has continuously declined to do so.  

“Our vote is one of the most powerful tools we have in our democracy, and it is the responsibility of government to ensure that every person with the right to vote is able to do so without hardship,” said Attorney General James. “The Rensselaer County BOE has repeatedly refused to make early voting sites widely accessible to residents, unlawfully denying low-income and communities of color fair and equal opportunity to vote. We will continue to do everything in our power to ensure every New Yorker has fair access to the polls.”   

Under New York election law, BOE and its commissioners are required to select early voting poll sites in a way that ensures “adequate and equitable access” to all Rensselaer County voters. To determine whether they have provided such access, the law requires that population density, travel time to the polling place, proximity to other early voting poll sites, public transportation routes, and commuter traffic patterns be taken into account. Troy comprises almost a third of Rensselaer County’s population, and many Troy voters, including Black, Hispanic, and low-income residents, rely on public transportation to exercise their right to vote. However, BOE has consistently selected early voting sites that provide only minimal access by public transportation, particularly for voters commuting from Troy’s northern neighborhoods.    

These decisions were made despite the availability of centrally located sites in Troy that are preferable based on almost every factor BOE was required to consider.  

The lawsuit seeks an order from the court declaring that BOE’s current early voting locations, and its decision not to place a site in a centrally located area within Troy, is arbitrary and capricious and must be annulled. Attorney General James is also requesting that the court order BOE to select a site that affords all Troy voters adequate and equitable early voting access based on the required statutory factors. 

“The filing of Attorney General James’ lawsuit against the Rensselaer County Board of Elections is timely and needed,” said Renée Powell, president, NAACP Troy Branch. “For more than three years, members of the community have communicated with BOE to explain the hardship caused by their selected early voting sites. A collaborative of Troy leaders did the work to present facts of the need for a site in Troy that provided equitable access to the majority of the community members that included the Black, brown, and low-income neighborhoods. In addition, the collaborative did the work to identify facilities to host early voting that met the BOE's stated site criteria. Senator Neil Breslin put forth legislation to address and mandate early voting sites in densely populated areas. Numerous earnest attempts were made to get the BOE to correct the problem of placing early voting sites in remote regions in Rensselaer County. My hope for this suit is to get equitable vote sites so that Rensselaer County residents can freely exercise their right to vote. It is time for a change.”  

Governor Cuomo Announces New $25 Million Legacy Cities Initiative to Eliminate Blight in Upstate New York

 

New Initiative Will Transform Vacant and Underutilized Properties into Opportunities for First-Time Home Buyers 

Program Will Boost State's Efforts to Increase Minority Homeownership Rates

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the new $25 million Legacy Cities initiative, a targeted effort to eradicate vacant properties in concentrated neighborhoods across Upstate New York and transform blighted structures into newly renovated, move-in ready homes. The renovated homes will help expand affordable homeownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income residents, specifically first-time buyers and households of color.  

"By working to eliminate vacant properties in cities throughout the State, we can facilitate and expand the revitalization efforts currently underway in many underserved neighborhoods, especially those previously impacted by the foreclosure crisis," Governor Cuomo said. "This new program will help increase property values for current homeowners, improve the quality of life in neighborhoods, and reduce the strain on municipal resources, including fire and police, by decreasing the health and safety risks associated with blighted buildings. As we emerge from the pandemic, it is critical that we continue to make targeted investments like these in order to stabilize our communities and increase affordable housing for New Yorkers." 

Under the new initiative, New York State Homes and Community Renewal will allocate up to $25 million in state subsidies through an application process open to land banks that are active in upstate cities and are working in partnership with small, local developers. The program will also leverage millions of dollars in private construction financing. Initially, the program will target projects that are located in an upstate community served by a New York State Land Bank in several regions, including the Capital Region, Central New York, Finger Lakes, Mid-Hudson, Mohawk Valley, North Country, Southern Tier, and Western New York. 

The program is a partnership between HCR and the Community Preservation Corporation, a non-for-profit community development financial institution that focuses on the preservation and creation of affordable and multifamily workforce housing across New York. CPC will provide funding for the program through its ACCESS initiative which was launched in 2020 to provide capital and pre-development support to developers and real estate entrepreneurs of color, and which targets high-quality housing projects in underserved communities.

Selected land banks will transfer assemblages of up to 10 single-family properties to local developers, with preference going to developers that are minority- and women-owned businesses. CPC will provide construction financing and each project will be eligible to receive up to $75,000 per unit in HCR subsidy, with the potential for $95,000 per unit if specific energy efficiency improvements are included in the project scope. Once completed, each property will be resold to first-time homebuyers, with priority given to households of color and to families who earn less than 80 percent of area median income. 

Applicants will also be required to work with community-based housing counseling agencies to connect residents to HCR's "Give Us Credit" program--a statewide initiative that uses alternative credit analysis to increase homeownership for applicants who have been underserved in the homeownership market, particularly applicants of color. HCR will offer these potential homebuyers down payment assistance to cover acquisition and closing costs. 

Program applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and the application window will remain open until the program funds have been committed. For more information about the Legacy Cities initiative, including applications and term sheets, visit the HCR website: https://hcr.ny.gov/legacy-city-access-program.

HCR Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, "Governor Cuomo understands that dilapidated properties and blight in our communities threaten to undo the investments made by both public agencies and private investors, decreasing property values and tax bases critical for ongoing development of cities throughout New York. Through targeted interventions such as these, we can strengthen our ongoing revitalization efforts while also pursuing our goal to increase minority homeownership rates across the state. We look forward to working with our partners in local government and the development community to producing new housing opportunities while also improving neighborhoods for current residents." 

EDITOR'S NOTE:

Hey Governor Cuomo if you are looking for people to live in those homes, why not call Mayor Bill de Blasio to see if some of the homeless people in the city will be willing to move into these upstate homes. They have been sent mostly to the Bronx which has over one-third of New York City's Homeless population, and would probably love to live the renovated homes. These people earn less than 80 percent of the median income upstate, a requirement. 

How about it Governor Cuomo?

220 Days and counting I'm going to hawk items on T.V.

 

I'm drinking this delicious coffee from the coffee shop around the corner from City Hall before I go into my weekday briefing. This coffee has a rich flavor to it and is made with 100 Percent New York City water, the finest drinking water any place around. 

As Mayor Ed Koch use to say, "How am I doing"? Time is running out on my last term as your mayor. Tuesday will leave me only seven months left in office. 

Mayoral Candidate Ray McGuire visits 16th City Council Candidate Yves Filius

 

(L-R), Br. Cary Goodman. 16th City Council District candidate Yves Filius, and Mayoral candidate Ray McGuire.

  

Tuesday Mayoral candidate Ray McGuire stopped by the Yankee Stadium area to visit with 16th City Council candidate Yves Filius. Filius is the Make District Leader from the 77th Assembly District, and the two were joined by Dr. Cary Goodman the Executive Director of the 161t Street BID to tour the BID area. 

As they walked along East 161st Street a few blocks from Yankee Stadium people would stop to talk to candidates Yves Filius and Ray McGuire.

The two candidates passed by the Office of the Bronx District Attorney's office.

The pair of candidates stopped by the Bronx County Courthouse for a photo with the Bronx County flags.

Mayoral Candidate Ray McGuire Visits with 18th City Council District Candidate William Rivera

 

What can you say to a candidate who has an empty movie theater front as his campaign headquarters? 18th City Council District candidate William Rivera and Mayoral candidate Ray McGuire are dwarfted by the marquee sign for candidate Rivera. William Rivera is the District manager of Bronx Community Board 8 in the Soundview/Parkchester area of the Bronx. He is also the former Chair of Community Board 9.

Before they went on a tour of the Parkchester area where 18th Council District candidate William Rivera's office is located William howed off all the awards and citations he has received to Mayoral candidate Ray McGuire. 

After a short talk the pair went out for their walk of the area.

As the two candidates stopped along the way almost everyone knew city council candidate William Rivera, who has become the favorite in the 18th Council District race. The owner of the deli had a few questions for Mayoral candidate Ray McGuire as to the current mayor's policies. William Rivera's large campaign posters are in almost every store window. 

9 Department Of Correction Officers And Employees Charged With Taking Bribes To Smuggle Contraband To Inmates At New York City Jails

 

 Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, William F. Sweeney Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Margaret Garnett, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”), announced the unsealing of indictments charging nine current and former employees and officers of the New York City Department of Correction with taking cash bribes in return for smuggling contraband such as scalpels, razor blades, drugs, alcohol, and cellphones to inmates in New York City area jails.  Nine defendants were arrested today and will be presented before United States Magistrate Judges.  Seven defendants were arrested in New York, one defendant in Pennsylvania, and one defendant in Virginia.

U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said:  “These defendants were responsible for maintaining a safe and orderly environment in New York City’s jails.  Instead, as alleged, they abused their positions to enrich themselves by smuggling weapons, drugs, and other dangerous contraband in return for thousands of dollars of cash bribes.  This alleged activity violated the defendants’ duties, and endangered the inmates they were charged to supervise and guard.”

FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said:  “The nine defendants charged today risked the safety and security of their colleagues and others within the New York City Department of Correction when they carelessly decided to smuggle contraband into our jails, as we allege today.  We shouldn’t have to remind public servants that accepting bribes while conducting illegal activity could constitute a federal crime, but when necessary, that’s exactly what we’ll do.”

DOI Commissioner Margaret Garnett said:  “These charged crimes involving contraband smuggling and bribery by City Correction officers and employees reflect the pernicious and damaging impact of corruption. Correction officers and staff should protect the integrity of the jails, not promote lawlessness and violence by accepting bribes in return for trafficking drugs, scalpels, razor blades, cell phones, and other contraband – all highly valued, illegal items that undermine order in the jails and compromise the safety of other correction officers and inmates. DOI thanks the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York for their partnership on these significant investigations.”      

According to the allegations in the Indictments[1] unsealed today:

MIGUEL COMPRES, 35, of New York, New York, abused his position as a correction officer to smuggle scalpels, smokable synthetic cannabinoids, often referred to as “K2” or “Spice,” cellphones, and large quantities of cigarettes into the Manhattan Detention Complex in downtown Manhattan, in return for over $6,000 in bribes, from at least in or about November 2019 up through and including in or about August 2020.  He is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit federal crimes, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, one count of federal program bribery, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and one count of honest services wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

TAMEKA LEWIS, 41, of Brooklyn, New York, abused her position as a counselor with the Department of Correction to smuggle K2 and other contraband into the Otis Bantum Correctional Center on Rikers Island, in return for over $40,000 in bribes, from at least in or about June 2019 up through and including in or about September 2020.  She is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit federal crimes, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, one count of federal program bribery, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, one count of honest services wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of distribution of a controlled substances analogue, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

DARIEL DIAZ, 33, of Reading, Pennsylvania, abused his position as a correction officer to smuggle K2, a cellphone, and large quantities of cigarettes into the George R. Vierno Center on Rikers Island, in return for over $8,000 in bribes, from at least in or about March 2020 up through and including in or about September 2020.  He is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit federal crimes, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, one count of federal program bribery, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and one count of honest services wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

JASMINE REED, 34, of Norfolk, Virginia, abused her position as an exterminator with the Department of Correction to smuggle a razor, K2, marijuana, cigarettes, a cellphone, and other contraband into the Manhattan Detention Complex in downtown Manhattan in return for cash bribes, from at least in or about September 2019 up through and including in or about December 2019.  She is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit federal crimes, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, one count of honest services wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of distribution of a controlled substance, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

TEMAINE PELZER, 45, of Brooklyn, New York, abused his position as a correction officer to smuggle cigarettes and other contraband into the Manhattan Detention Complex, in return for over $8,000 in bribes, from at least in or about August 2019 up through and including in or about February 2020.  He is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit federal crimes, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, one count of federal program bribery, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and one count of honest services wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

BRIAN HARRELL, 60, of Pelham, New York, abused his position as a correction officer to smuggle K2, alcohol, cigarettes, and other contraband into the Manhattan Detention Complex, in return for over $6,500 in bribes, from at least in or about May 2020 up through and including in or about June 2020.  He is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit federal crimes, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, one count of federal program bribery, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, one count of honest services wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and one count of distribution of a controlled substances analogue, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

RASHAWN ASSANAH, 25, of Queens, New York, abused his position as a correction officer to smuggle a cellphone, a large quantity of cigarettes, and other contraband into the Robert N. Davoren Center on Rikers Island, in return for over $7,500 in bribes, from at least in or about November 2020 up through and including in or about February 2021.  He is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit federal crimes, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, one count of federal program bribery, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and one count of honest services wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

ROBERT BALDUCCI, 33, of the Bronx, New York, abused his position as a correction officer to smuggle razor blades, marijuana, and other contraband into the Otis Bantum Correctional Center on Rikers Island, in return for at least $5,000 in bribes, in or about October 2020.  He is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit federal crimes, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, one count of federal program bribery, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and one count of honest services wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

JOHNATHAN GARRETT, 32, of Brooklyn, New York, abused his position as a correction officer to smuggle methamphetamine, K2, and other contraband into the Anna M. Kross Center on Rikers Island, in return for at least $5,000 in bribes, from at least in or about September 2020 up through and including in or about October 2020.  He is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit federal crimes, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, one count of federal program bribery, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and one count of honest services wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

The maximum potential sentences in these cases are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of each defendant will be determined by the judge.

Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and DOI.

The charges in the Indictments 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 Indictments and the description of the Indictments set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

DEC RELEASES DRAFT 2021–2025 HUDSON RIVER ESTUARY ACTION AGENDA

 

Comments Accepted on Draft Action Agenda through July 9

 The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today released the draft Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda 2021-2025, a five-year blueprint for conserving and restoring the Hudson River estuary and its watershed. DEC is accepting public comments on the draft through July 9, 2021. In addition, DEC released the 2015 – 2020 Hudson River Estuary Program Coordinator’s Report, which provides the context for the strategies and actions outlined in the draft Action Agenda. 

“The Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda presents a strategic vision for protecting and restoring the river, its valley and watershed for future generations,” said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. “DEC developed the draft Action Agenda with the input of diverse interests throughout the region and I encourage all stakeholders to review it and share their comments. This Action Agenda outlines New York’s goals for the Hudson River estuary and sets a course to address the challenges we face, including climate change, environmental justice, and water quality, as well as the protection of fish, wildlife, and habitats.”

 

The Hudson River Action Agenda is updated every five years to address current trends and opportunities. For example, some of the estuary’s signature fisheries, such as shad, are in a trend of decline while others, like Atlantic sturgeon, appear to be recovering. Changing land-use patterns in the watershed affect the region’s biological diversity and water resources, and climate change and related tidal flooding are affecting community shorelines and river access sites such as parks and preserves. The proposed actions are built around delivering the key benefits people receive from a strong and vibrant Hudson River Estuary ecosystem. 

Highlights of the 2021 – 2025 Action Agenda include: 

• Research and monitoring to improve the sustainability of migratory fishes; 
• Restoration of river habitats;
• Long-term plans to bolster progress being made to better manage wastewater discharges into the Hudson;
• Management for habitat and flood resiliency of tributary streams;
• Assistance to help communities adapt to climate-change impacts and address land use changes;
• Outdoor programs and web-accessible content to inform and engage the public; and
• Enhancements to make sites along the Hudson accessible to more people. 

The outcomes included in the Action Agenda are measurable and achievable by 2030, and build on a successful record of progress in each of the Hudson River Estuary Program’s core areas of expertise. As described in the 2015 – 2020 Hudson River Estuary Coordinator’s Report, from 2015 – 2020, this DEC program provided technical assistance, grants, research, or other support in 163 watershed communities, including at least 700 specific projects. DEC awarded 156 Estuary Program grants totaling more than $10 million. 

The Hudson River Estuary Management Advisory Committee helps guide DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program, and includes representatives of the commercial fishing industry, recreational anglers, utility companies, local government, educators, researchers, conservationists and other river users, and helps engage many representatives of the public in working together toward common goals. DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program was created in 1987 and helps people enjoy, protect, and revitalize the estuary and the Hudson River Valley.

Implementation of the Action Agenda is funded through the State’s Environmental Protection Fund and carried out through extensive outreach, coordination with state and federal agencies, and public-private partnerships through grants and restoration projects; education, research and training; natural resource conservation and protection; and community planning assistance. 

The Draft Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda 2021-2025 is available on DEC’s website at: www.dec.ny.gov/lands/4920.html. Comments can be emailed with “Action Agenda” in the subject line to hrep@dec.ny.gov or mailed through July 9 to: Hudson River Estuary Program, NYSDEC Region 3, 21 South Putt Corners Road, New Paltz, New York 12561.