Governor Cuomo Announces Nominations and Appointments to Administration

 

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced new nominations, which were confirmed by the New York State Senate, and appointments to his administration.

"When you work for the State of New York, you work for the people. It's our motto and our motivation for doing the work that we do every day," Governor Cuomo said. "I am proud to work side by side with those who are as honored to be here as I am. While our experience with COVID has been a defining moment in our careers, the fact that so many people continue to be passionate about state service cannot be ignored. These additions to our state team mean that there will be even more strength behind the great State of New York as we move toward our reimagined future."

• Cynthia M. Monaco, Commissioner, Tax Appeals Tribunal
• Yolanda Canty, Member, State Commission of Correction
• Steven M. Cohen, Commissioner, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
• Lani Jones, Commissioner, Civil Service Commission
• Adam Zurofsky, Director, New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation
• Lino Garcia, Commissioner, State Athletic Commission
• Havidan Rodriguez, Director, State of New York Mortgage Agency
• Licha M. Nyiendo, Commissioner, Commission of Human Rights
• Kevin P. Bruen, Superintendent, State Police

Authorities Budget Office

The following individual was nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate as the Director of the Authorities Budget Office:

• Jeffrey H. Pearlman Esq

CUNY Board of Trustees

The following individual was nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the CUNY Board of Trustees:

• Angelo V. Vivolo

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

The following individual was nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry:

• Oluwole McFoy

Higher Education Service Corporation

The following individual was nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the Higher Education Service Corporation:

• Andrew Sherman

City University Construction Fund

The following individual was nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the City University Construction Fund:

• Alan Lee Van Capelle

State University Construction Fund

The following individual was nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the State University Construction Fund:

• Kisha Santiago-Martinez

Administrative Review Board for Professional Medical Conduct

The following individuals were nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the Administrative Review Board for Professional Medical Conduct:

• Carmella Torrelli
• Richard Milone

New York State Behavioral Health Services Advisory Council

The following individuals were nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the New York State Behavioral Health Services Advisory Council:

• Roxanne Marie Lewin
• Sabina Lim
• Kathy Gardini
• Diane Blohm
• Patricia Marsik
• Judge Robert T. Russell

Board of Directors Great Lakes Protection Fund

The following individual was nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the Board of Directors Great Lakes Protection Fund:

• Judy Drabicki

Board of Visitors for the New York State Home for Veterans and Their Dependents at Batavia

The following individual was nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the Board of Visitors for the New York State Home for Veterans and Their Dependents at Batavia:

• Marlene L. Roll

Board of Visitors for the Taconic Developmental Disabilities Service Office

The following individual was nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the Board of Visitors for the Taconic Developmental Disabilities Service Office:

• Angela Paul

Board of Visitors of the Capital District Psychiatric Center

The following individual was nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the Board of Visitors for the Board of Visitors of the Capital District Psychiatric Center:

• Charlene Ann Hrachian

Board of Visitors of the Central New York Forensic Psychiatric Center

The following individuals were nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the Board of Visitors of the Central New York Forensic Psychiatric Center:

• Philip E. McDowell
• Ronald Wright

Board of Visitors of the Finger Lakes Developmental Disabilities Services Office

The following individual was nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the Board of Visitors of the Finger Lakes Developmental Disabilities Services Office:

• Sherilyn Coleman-Ferrer

Board of Visitors of the Greater Binghamton Health Center

The following individual was nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the Board of Visitors of the Greater Binghamton Health Center:

• Michael Kritkausky

Board of Visitors of the New York City Children's Center

The following individual was nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the Board of Visitors of the New York City Children's Center:

• Jessica B. Brito

Board of Visitors of the South Beach Psychiatric Center

The following individual was nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the Board of Visitors of the South Beach Psychiatric Center:

• Michele D. Rampino

Board of Visitors of the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center

The following individual was nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the Board of Visitors of the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center:

• Christian Taylor

Board of Visitors of the Western New York Children's Psychiatric Center

The following individual was nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the Board of Visitors of the Western New York Children's Psychiatric Center:

• Steven Nelson

Central New York State Park, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Commission

The following individuals were nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the Central New York State Park, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Commission:

• Bethaida Gonzalez
• Lawrence Carpenter

Continuing Care Retirement Community Council

The following individuals were nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the Continuing Care Retirement Community Council:

• Herbert H. Friedman
• Madeline Lee

CUNY Board of Trustees

The following individuals were nominated by Governo Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the CUNY Board of Trustees:

• Brian Obergfell
• Jill O'Donnell-Tormey
• Mayra S. Linares-Garcia
• Kenneth M. Sunshine
• Robert F. Mujica

Finger Lakes State Park, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Commission

The following individuals were nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the Finger Lakes State Park, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Commission:

• Nicolette Wagoner
• Sharon Miller

Genesee State Park, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Commission

The following individual was nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the Genesee State Park, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Commission:

• Gail Serventi

Industrial Board of Appeals

The following individual was nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the Industrial Board of Appeals:

• Sandra Abeles

Justice Center Advisory Council

The following individual was nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the Justice Center Advisory Council:

• Megan C. O'Connor-Herbert

Long Island State Park, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Commission

The following individuals were nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the Long Island State Park, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Commission:

• Linda Armyn
• Bryan Erwin

Minority Health Council

The following individual was nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the Minority Health Council:

• Mill Etienne

New York Convention Center Operating Corporation (Javits)

The following individuals were nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to New York Convention Center Operating Corporation (Javits):

• Quenia Abreu
• Joseph F. Chan

New York State Gaming Commission

The following individuals were nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the New York State Gaming Commission:

• Christopher Robert Riano
• Peter J. Moschetti. Jr.

New York State Housing Finance Agency

The following individuals were nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the New York State Housing Finance Agency:

• Sarah McKeown Singman
• Bethaida Gonzalez

New York State Urban Development Corporation

The following individuals were nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the New York State Urban Development Corporation:

• Sharon Anne Miriam Glied
• Michael K. Rozen

Buffalo Psychiatric Center

The following individual was nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the Buffalo Psychiatric Center:

• Swarnjeet Bhatia

Olympic Regional Development Authority

The following individual was nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the Olympic Regional Development Authority:

• Frank Cardinale

Palisades Interstate Park Commission

The following individuals were nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the Palisades Interstate Park Commission

• Mariko Silver
• Lisa Garcia

Power Authority of the State of New York

The following individual was nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the Power Authority of the State of New York:

• Bethaida Gonzalez

Public Employment Relations Board

The following individual was nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the Public Employment Relations Board

• Rosemary A. Townley

Public Health and Health Planning Council

The following individuals were nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the Public Health and Health Planning Council:

• Roxanne Marie Lewin
• Sabina Lim
• Jo Ivey Boufford
• Kevin D. Watkins
• Nilda I. Soto
• Patricia Yang

Saratoga-Capital District State Park, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Commission

The following individual was nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the Saratoga-Capital District State Park, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Commission:

• Clifford Oliver Mealy

State Board for Historic Preservation

The following individual was nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the State Board for Historic Preservation:

• Gretchen S. Sorin

State Camp Safety Advisory Council

The following individuals were nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the State Camp Safety Advisory Council:

• Randolph R. DeFrank
• Jaime Sirkin

State Council on the Arts

The following individuals were nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the State Council on the Arts:

• Catherine Schwoeffermann
• Lawrence Howard Cook
• Aaron Albert Flagg
• Andrea Louie
• Carolee Fink
• David Alan Miller
• Adriana Maria Trigiani
• Monica Angle
• James Lemons

State Public Transportation Safety Board

The following individual was nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the State Public Transportation Safety Board:

• Frank W. Kobliski

SUNY Board of Trustees

The following individuals were nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the SUNY Board of Trustees:

• Joseph Warren Belluck
• Eunice A. Lewin
• Edward M. Spiro
• Eric Corngold
• Stanley S. Litow
• Cesar A. Perales
• Courtney E. Burke

Thousand Islands State Park, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Commission

The following individuals were nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the Thousand Islands State Park, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Commission:

• Anastasia Praatt
• Lauren Piche

Veterans' Services Commission

The following individual was nominated by Governor Cuomo and confirmed by the Senate to the Veterans' Services Commission:

• Cheryl Dupris

208 Days and Counting Bring in the ATF

 

 

I don't care what Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez says that we don't need any federal police to help out in the war on shootings and gang activity in the city, and Bronx in particular. When my developer friends say they do not feel safe when they are in the Bronx at a Yankee game they want me to do something. 

We need help from the Congress and the federal government. Today, I want to highlight some very good news about an unprecedented collaboration, an unprecedented partnership between the NYPD and the federal ATF. This is crucial. Everyone agrees, the number-one issue is guns, getting the guns off our streets. And we all know that the proliferation of guns during the pandemic was unprecedented and troubling, and, therefore, we have to double down on getting guns off our streets. We know how important it is to work with our federal partners. We know that federal courts are a crucial part of the equation as well. ATF is where it all comes together. The federal bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives – this is the leading edge. This is the part of the federal government that finds the guns, gets them out of the hands of bad guys, and keeps communities safe. We know that gun trafficking must be attacked on a national level and the ATF leads the way.  

 

Now, this is the first time in this country that the ATF has partnered with a local police department in this manner. And it means we're going to have ATF agents directly embedded in the NYPD, working together to find guns and quickly act on the information that they find to stop the flow of guns. It takes information, it takes partnership. It takes the ability to quickly act, that can only happen when the federal government and the NYPD are working, literally, side-by-side here in New York City.

Tax Preparer And His Company Permanently Barred From Preparing Federal Tax Returns For Others; Defendants To Pay Disgorgement To The United States

 

 Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff entered an order today permanently barring RAFAEL ALVAREZ (“ALVAREZ”) and ATAX New York LLC (“ATAX NEW YORK”) from, among other things, preparing federal tax returns for others.  In its civil complaint, the United States alleged that ALVAREZ and ATAX NEW YORK had prepared and filed fraudulent tax returns on behalf of their customers in which they falsely reduced their customers’ tax liabilities and generated tax refunds to which those customers were not entitled.  According to the complaint, ATAX NEW YORK filed over 36,000 tax returns on behalf of its customers from 2016 to 2019.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “This Office will take appropriate actions to shut down tax preparation businesses that prepare and file fraudulent returns and unfairly shift the tax burden to honest American taxpayers.”

After the Government filed its complaint, ALVAREZ and ATAX NEW YORK consented to the entry of a permanent injunction and admitted, among other things, that:

• Between 2016 and 2019, they prepared and filed many federal income tax returns for ATAX NEW YORK’s customers that included claims of expenses, losses, or “head of household” status that lacked adequate supporting information or documentation.
   
• These unsupported entries caused the customers’ tax liabilities to be substantially understated.
   
• They had no adequate basis for including these entries on their customers’ returns.

The Government’s complaint also asked the Court to order disgorgement of the net profits that ALVAREZ and ATAX NEW YORK earned for preparing federal tax returns in which they made reckless or fraudulent claims with respect to their customers’ federal income tax liability.  As part of today’s court-ordered resolution, ALVAREZ and ATAX NEW YORK agreed to pay $159,600 to the United States in disgorgement.

Ms. Strauss thanked the Internal Revenue Service’s Small Business/Self-Employed Division for its invaluable assistance in this matter.

Attorney General James Wins Lawsuit Forcing Rensselaer County to Increase Access to Early Voting Sites in Communities of Color

 

Court Orders BOE to Find Accessible Site in Troy for June 2021 Primary

 New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that a judge ruled in favor of her office’s request for an injunction against the Rensselaer County Board of Elections (BOE) for failing to provide voters in Rensselaer County with adequate and equitable access to early voting poll sites, specifically in communities of color. Judge Adam W. Silverman of the Rensselaer County Supreme Court ruled that BOE’s decision not to place a site in a centrally located area within Troy is arbitrary and capricious, and must be annulled. The court ordered BOE to select a site by June 9^th that would provide Troy voters with reasonable access to early voting poll sites in advance of the June 2021 primary election. The early voting period for New York State primary elections is June 12, 2021 through June 20, 2021.

“This decision is critical to our efforts to ensure that every New Yorker has fair access to the polls,” said Attorney General James. “As states around the country seek to infringe on this most basic right and make it harder to vote, our work to protect and expand voting rights in New York is more important than ever. I will always fight to ensure that every New Yorker has the opportunity to make their voice heard at the polls.”  

In May 2021, Attorney General James filed a lawsuit against the Rensselaer County 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 alleged 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. The lawsuit followed 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.    

Governor Cuomo Announces COVID-19 Positivity Rate Drops Below 1 Percent in Every Region of New York State for First Time Since August 19

 

Statewide 7-Day Average Positivity Rate is 0.51% — New Record Low for 10th Consecutive Day; 63 Straight Days of Decline

58,807 Vaccine Doses Administered Over Last 24 Hours

Statewide Positivity Rate is 0.66%

Hospitalizations Drop to 799 — First Time Below 800 Since October 8

9 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the COVID-19 positivity rate in every region of New York State has dropped below 1 percent for the first time since August 19, 2020.

"New Yorkers continue to beat back COVID-19 by getting vaccinated and practicing safe behaviors, and we're making progress rebuilding New York for the future. Vaccination is the key to defeating this terrible virus for good, and we need all New Yorkers who haven't yet received the shot to do so," Governor Cuomo said. "We're upping our game with new incentives to encourage New Yorkers to get vaccinated, including a $5 million lottery and free full scholarships to SUNY and CUNY. The numbers are coming down and more shots go in arms every single day, and we're lifting restrictions to help New Yorkers move into the new normal and build our economy back."

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Test Results Reported - 70,635
• Total Positive - 463
• Percent Positive - 0.66%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 0.51%
• Patient Hospitalization - 799 (-17)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 76
• Patients in ICU - 206 (-2)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 120 (+8)
• Total Discharges - 183,091 (+96)
• Deaths - 9
• Total Deaths - 42,799
• Total vaccine doses administered - 19,538,790
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 58,807
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 494,158
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 66.3%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 58.5%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 68.6%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 59.5%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 54.7%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 47.3%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 56.6%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 47.9%

State Senator Gustavo Rivera's Bill to Decriminalize Syringes Passes the State Senate

 

Today, State Senator Gustavo Rivera released the following statement after his bill (S.2523) to decriminalize the possession and sale of hypodermic needles and syringes passed the State Senate.

“Policing and criminalization will not end our State’s substance use crisis. I am proud that the Senate Majority passed my bill to decriminalize the possession and sale of hypodermic needles and syringes. Syringe access programs are proven public health initiatives that help to reduce the rate of HIV and hepatitis transmissions and connect those in need to harm reduction services.

While syringe access programs have been successfully operating in New York State for decades, syringe possession was never removed from our State’s penal code. This unfortunate legal ambiguity has deterred countless New Yorkers struggling with substance use from accessing harm reduction services or resulted in the unnecessary incarceration of New Yorkers participating in the program. My bill will make a simple yet critical change that ends this vicious cycle and stops the counterproductive use of law enforcement resources to address what is a public health issue.” 

Bronx Gang Member Sentenced To Life In Prison For 2011 Murder Of Bolivia Beck

 

 Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that KAREEM DAVIS, a/k/a “Reem,” was sentenced today to life in prison for the April 18, 2011, murder of Bolivia Beck.  Ms. Beck, 20, was killed by a bullet while standing next to her boyfriend in the Mill Brook Houses in the Bronx, New York.  DAVIS was aiming for Beck’s boyfriend, a rival gang member, but struck Beck instead.  On December 17, 2019, DAVIS was convicted of conspiring to commit racketeering, murder in aid of racketeering, and murder through the use of a firearm after a one-week trial before U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield.

U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said:  “On April 18, 2011, Bolivia Beck was murdered while meeting her boyfriend’s grandparents on a sidewalk in the Mill Brook Houses.  What should have been a happy moment ended in tragedy, when she was shot by Kareem Davis.  For his role in this horrific and senseless act of violence, Davis will now spend the rest of his life in a federal prison.  We extend our deepest condolences to the members of Bolivia’s family.  We thank our partners at the NYPD, who worked to achieve this measure of justice for Bolivia and her family.  This Office remains committed to investigating and prosecuting gang violence and seeking justice for all victims of violent crime.”

According to the allegations in the Indictment and the evidence at trial:

On April 18, 2011, Bolivia Beck was struck and killed by a bullet while standing next to her boyfriend in the Mill Brook Houses, where she lived at the time.  KAREEM DAVIS was a member of Killbrook, a violent street gang based in the “Down the Block” section of the Mill Brook Houses.  Since at least 2007, Killbrook had been engaged in a violent rivalry with “MBG,” a gang based in the “Up the Block” section of Mill Brook.  

On the night of April 18, 2011, DAVIS and his brother planned to kill a rival MBG member as part of the broader gang rivalry.  DAVIS and his brother, each armed with a gun, walked “Up the Block” in Mill Brook looking for their target, who was standing next to Beck and introducing her to his grandparents.  At that point, DAVIS and his brother started shooting, firing at least 12 shots from their guns.  Tragically, Beck was struck by one of the bullets and killed.

DAVIS also committed other crimes in connection with his membership in Killbrook, including drug dealing and robbery.

In addition to his prison term, KAREEM DAVIS, 32, of the Bronx, New York, was sentenced to five years of supervised release.

Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Police Department.  

Governor Cuomo Announces School Districts Can Allow Students To Remove Masks Outdoors

 

Guidance on Mask Use Indoors Remains in Place

Change Aligns Summer Camp Guidance with School Guidance

 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that school districts can choose to lift the requirement that their students must wear masks outdoors. Guidance on mask use indoors remains in place. This change aligns New York State's guidance on schools with CDC guidance on summer camps, where even unvaccinated students are not currently required to wear masks outdoors.

"The numbers show that the risk of transmission by children is extremely low, especially in this state, which has an extremely low positivity rate. We spoke with the CDC, and since they're not going to change their guidance for several weeks in New York State, we're going to modify the CDC guidance and allow schools to choose no mask outside for children," Governor Cuomo said. "We'll leave that up to the local school district and we spoke to the CDC, which has no objection. It's very important that people understand the logic between these decisions and that they're rational and based on the science and the data. We have a disconnect right now between the school guidance and the camp guidance, and it's important to rectify it because if people don't think the rules are logical, then they're not going to want to follow the rules."

On May 24, Governor Cuomo announced that based on the current COVID trajectory, all New York State schools will reopen for full in-person learning for the 2021-2022 school year beginning in September.