MAYOR DE BLASIO AND THE TRUST FOR GOVERNORS ISLAND ANNOUNCE GLOBAL COMPETITION TO ESTABLISH LEADING CLIMATE SOLUTIONS CENTER IN NEW YORK CITY

Request for Expressions of Interest seeks a partner to anchor climate research, educational hub on iconic island

 

$150 million funding commitment available to support capital investments

 Mayor Bill de Blasio and The Trust for Governors Island (the Trust) today launched a global competition to create a climate-focused research and educational hub on Governors Island. The competition invites universities and research institutions to establish an anchor institution for a Climate Solutions Center, dedicated to combatting the climate crisis in the heart of New York City’s harbor. The Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) can be found here.

 

The Center will capitalize on New York City’s unique talent pool to prepare communities around the world for the impacts of climate change; create good-paying green jobs across the city; and foster public awareness, dialogue, and action to address the global climate crisis.

 

“Governors Island is a crown jewel of this city – a place where families, workers and students have come to enjoy a beautiful landscape with spectacular views of the greatest city in the world. But we can get more out of this unique space. We can maintain the island’s identity while turning it into a world-class destination for fighting the climate crisis in New York City and across the world. That journey starts today, and I can’t wait to see where it takes us,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

 

“New York City has every asset needed to become the global leader in climate solutions and adaptation. We have the best talent, most innovative and creative entrepreneurs, and now, we’re offering Governors Island as the ideal location to host this existential work,” said Deputy Mayor Vicki Been. “This competition will foster diverse ideas and perspectives on how to create a world-class climate solutions center, and I look forward to seeing institutions from across the globe propose concepts for this once-in-a-generation opportunity.”

 

“As our city emerges from the COVID-19 crisis, we have a critical opportunity to address the global climate crisis in a way that centers equity, prepares our communities, and involves all New Yorkers in creating solutions,” said Clare Newman, President and CEO of the Trust for Governors Island. “Situated at the center of New York Harbor, and at the center of New York City’s global network of talent, institutions, businesses and leaders in climate action, Governors Island offers a visible platform for education, research and public engagement to address one of the defining challenges of our time. We look forward to working with prospective partners to define this important project for Governors Island, and our city.”

 

“Just as the United Nations was persuaded to locate its headquarters here three-quarters of a century ago, today marks an important step in bringing a world-class institution to New York City to address the defining issue of our time – climate change,” said Alicia Glen, Chair of the Trust for Governors Island. “As we seek to combat the devastating impacts of climate change on our communities, this RFEI acknowledges and builds upon our history as the global center for innovation and progress.”

 

The RFEI seeks an institution to lease land within 33 acres of development sites, and/or up to one million square feet of adaptive reuse opportunity available within historic buildings on Governors Island. The Trust and the City of New York have partnered to make available up to $150 million of capital funding that may be allocated to support this project.

  

Governor Cuomo Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19

 

Statewide 7-Day Average Positivity is 0.39%

24,746 Vaccine Doses Administered Over Last 24 Hours

3 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday—Fewest Since September 28, 2020 

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

"Our state has come a long way in beating back this virus, but our work continues because we need to get every New Yorker vaccinated," Governor Cuomo said. "Every shot in the arm brings us closer to defeating this beast once and for all, which is why we are continuing to work with our local partners across the state to make sure the vaccine is accessible in every community. If you still need to get your shot, I urge you to do so quickly because it's the best way to protect yourself and everyone else you care about." 

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Test Results Reported - 55,334
• Total Positive - 290
• Percent Positive - 0.52%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 0.39%
• Patient Hospitalization - 346 (+16)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 55
• Patients in ICU - 89 (4)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 42 (-1) 
• Total Discharges - 184,745 (52)
• Deaths - 3
• Total Deaths - 42,964
• Total vaccine doses administered - 21,046,333 
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 24,746
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 440,607 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 69.2%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 63.5%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 71.9%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 65.0%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 57.4%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 52.4%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 59.7%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 53.7%

Attorney General James Calls on Congress to Protect Consumers by Providing FTC with Much-Needed Tools

 

 New York Attorney General Letitia James, today, co-led a bipartisan coalition of 28 attorneys general from around the nation in taking action to support the ability of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to successfully combat fraudulent and anticompetitive conduct. In a letter to congressional leaders, Attorneys General James and the coalition express their strong support for the Consumer Protection and Recovery Act (H.R. 2668), which would ensure the ability of the FTC to obtain equitable monetary relief, including restitution for consumers and disgorgement of ill-gotten gains, after a U.S. Supreme Court decision stripped the agency of its ability earlier this year. 

“As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many consumers are more financially vulnerable than ever before and rely on federal and state enforcers to protect their interests and return their hard-earned money when they have been defrauded,” said Attorney General James. “If the FTC does not have the ability to obtain monetary relief and redress harms, consumers will be the ones who lose out. Our federal partners at the FTC are vital in the fight to protect consumers, which is why I urge Congress to support consumers and honest businesses by restoring these essential enforcement tools.”

For 40 years, the FTC was able to obtain equitable monetary relief by suing wrongdoers in district court, rather than engaging in a lengthy administrative proceeding. In fact, in the last five years alone, the FTC successfully recovered over $11.2 billion in refunds for consumers through court actions. But this all changed with the Supreme Court’s April 2021 decision in AMG Capital Management, LLC, et al. v. Federal Trade Commission, which limited the ability of the FTC to recover money for injured consumers.

The FTC is an important partner to states as they police anticompetitive, unfair, and deceptive trade practices. The lack of authority to seek equitable monetary relief — directly in court proceedings — undermines the FTC’s efforts to combat unfair and deceptive practices. As the coalition makes clear, in their letter today, this, in turn, frustrates federal-state collaboration and forces states to divert resources away from other consumer protection efforts and perform duties that were previously fulfilled by the FTC. 

Unfair and deceptive trade practices are a serious problem in the United States and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to an uptick in consumer complaints. Likewise, unfair competitive practices have dire and adverse impacts on consumers and businesses. Monopolization, collusion, and other unlawful conduct threaten the proper functioning of the American marketplace and cost consumers and honest businesses billions of dollars each year. Curtailing the remedies available to the FTC enables bad actors to keep their ill-gotten gains, thereby emboldening wrongdoers and incentivizing unlawful conduct.

Joining Attorney General James in co-leading today’s letter is Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser. The two were joined by the attorneys general of Alaska, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia, as well as the executive director of the Hawaii Office for Consumer Protection.

Bank Employee Pleads Guilty To Defrauding Her Employer Of Nearly $1.7 Million

 

 Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that GANGADAI RAMPERSAUD AZIM, a/k/a “Julie Azim,” pled guilty today to a more than decade-long conspiracy to commit bank fraud, defrauding her employer, a Manhattan-based bank, by misappropriating approximately $1.7 million.  AZIM pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said:  “As she admitted today, Gangadai Azim betrayed her position as a trusted bank employee to defraud the bank and misappropriate nearly $1.7 million in client funds over the course of more than a dozen years.  Now Azim awaits sentencing for her crime.”

According to the allegations in the Complaint, court filings, and statements made during plea proceedings:

Between August 2008 and January 2021, AZIM, a long-time employee of a New York, New York-based bank (“Bank-1”), stole approximately $1.7 million from her employer.  Over the course of approximately 12 years, AZIM executed hundreds of wire transfers of Bank-1 funds to co-conspirators and related companies, who then sent portions of the ill-gotten funds to AZIM’s personal bank account. 

In furtherance of her scheme to defraud Bank-1, AZIM repeatedly made false entries in Bank-1’s systems, misappropriating funds paid to Bank-1 by its clients to satisfy outstanding loan obligations and then extending the maturity dates of those loan obligations, making it appear as though the loan obligations had not yet been paid.  When even the fraudulently extended maturity dates came due, AZIM originated new, fraudulent loans to help conceal the scheme.  AZIM utilized the proceeds of those fraudulent loans to satisfy the loans for which she had previously stolen the client payments.  Over the course of the approximately 12 years, AZIM caused approximately 200 improper wire transfers of Bank-1’s funds, each for an amount under $10,000,  to be sent to third party accounts, including those of co-conspirators and related companies, which then returned portions of those funds to AZIM.  In doing so, AZIM abused her position at Bank-1 and enriched herself at the expense of her employer.   

AZIM, 58, of Richmond Hill, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiring to commit bank fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1349, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison.  The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

AZIM is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Failla on October 19, 2021, at 3:30 p.m.

Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in this case.

Attorney General James Calls on Congress to Protect Consumers by Providing FTC with Much-Needed Tools

 

Three North Shore Areas to Close July 2, Expected to Reopen July 8

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced the annual temporary closure of three shellfishing areas on the North Shore of Long Island during the upcoming Fourth of July holiday period. These closures are imposed during busy holidays to protect public health from potentially contaminated shellfish associated with increased boating activity in shellfishing waters. Boaters are reminded to use pump-out facilities to help protect these waters.

"DEC closes these waters on Long Island's North Shore to shell fishing each year during the Fourth of July holiday due to the increase in recreational boating," Commissioner Seggos said. "To protect our natural resources and public health, I strongly encourage boaters to use pump-out facilities, act responsibly, and be mindful of the no-discharge zones in Port Jefferson Harbor, Oyster Bay Harbor, and the Sand Hole." 

 

Since 1995, DEC has designated these areas as temporarily uncertified for the harvest of shellfish during the Fourth of July and Labor Day holidays. During peak holiday periods, discharges from marine sanitation devices (toilets) may contaminate nearby shellfish beds with pathogenic bacteria or viruses, rendering the shellfish unsafe for human consumption. 

 

DEC will designate the following areas on the North Shore of Long Island as closed to the harvest of shellfish beginning at sunrise on Friday, July 2, and continuing through Wednesday, July 7: 

 

·         445 acres in a section of Oyster Bay Harbor, town of Oyster Bay, Nassau County; 

·         347 acres in northern Port Jefferson Harbor, town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County; and 

·         50 acres in the area known as the Sand Hole, town of Huntington, Suffolk County. 

 

Shellfish harvesting is expected to resume in these areas on Thursday, July 8. If poor weather causes fewer boaters to visit these areas, DEC may rescind the closure and reopen the areas to harvesting prior to July 8. 

 

A recorded message advising the public about temporary closures of any shellfishing areas in New York State is accessible 24 hours a day by calling (631) 444-0480. The recorded message also advises harvesters when such areas have reopened. Information, including maps showing the affected areas, is available on DEC's website. 

 

Boaters should be aware that Oyster Bay Harbor, Port Jefferson Harbor, and the Sand Hole are designated as no-discharge zones in their entirety. A no-discharge zone is a designated body of water where the discharge of treated or untreated boat sewage is prohibited. Boaters in these areas should utilize the pump-out facilities listed below: 

 

·         Oyster Bay Harbor (West Harbor): One pump-out boat is operated by the town of Oyster Bay at no cost to boaters. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. Contact the pump-out boat via marine radio VHF channel 9 or by cell phone at (516) 375-9864. In addition, the town provides two pump-out stations on floats near the Oyster Bay Marine Center and Waterfront Park and a land-based pump-out in the town marina at Theodore Roosevelt Park. 

·         Port Jefferson Harbor: The town of Brookhaven operates a pump-out boat (no fee) in Port Jefferson Harbor. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Boaters may contact the town's pump-out boat via marine radio VHF channel 73. In addition, the town provides a pump out station on its transient dock, east of the boat launch ramp, west of the charter fishing vessels. 

·         The Sand Hole (Lloyd Neck): Although there are no facilities within the Sand Hole, boaters should contact the town of Oyster Bay pump-out boat as noted above. There also is a land-based pump-out facility at Powle's Marine Center in Cold Spring Harbor. In addition, boaters traveling from town of Huntington waters can request the services of the town's pump-out boat (no fee) by calling on marine radio VHF channel 9. There are also a number of land-based pump-out facilities at marinas in Northport Harbor and Huntington Harbor. 

 

A full list of No Discharge Zones in New York State (leaves DEC's website), including other Long Island waters, can be found on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's website. 

Statement from The Bronx Democratic Party on Preliminary Primary Election Results

 

“Thank you to every Bronxite who came out and made their voice heard at the ballot box. As votes continue to be counted and the Ranked Choice Voting process begins, the future of The Bronx is looking bright. The City Council is poised to achieve gender parity for the first time in city history and women of color could make up the majority of the Bronx Council delegation. Early results show all of our city council candidates leading in their races and races called in three districts. Congratulations to Council Members Diana Ayala and Rafael Salamanca Jr. on their decisive victories and Marjorie Velázquez for her history-making win to become the first Latina to represent District 13. In the coming weeks, we’re encouraged that our candidates will be able to maintain their leads and bring new progressive leadership that will achieve historic wins for The Bronx”, said Chair Jamaal T. Bailey.

“We are proud of the remarkable slate of candidates we endorsed and the inspiring, principled, and impactful campaigns they ran. We proudly supported their candidacies because of their community-centered policies, record of public service, and dedication to improving their communities. We want to congratulate each and every dedicated candidate, staff member, and volunteer for all they’ve achieved so far. Through their hard work and commitment, they were able to build diverse coalitions of support to advance the vision of a stronger and more equitable city for all Bronxites.”

EDITOR'S NOTE:

We have to give it to the Bronx Democratic Party Leader State Senator Jamaal Bailey on his Bronx County victories. He endorsed two District Leaders who won their races, Eric Dinowitz 11th CD, and Marjorie Velazquez 13th CD. 

While he told the following District Leaders, your time may be up as a District Leader, by not endorsing them, for another candidate in their races. 

Marcos Sierra   2.19%    11th CD race

Irene Estrada    5,65%    13th CD race

Yves Filus         7.68%    16th CD race

Yudelka Tapia   20.88%  14th CD race

Let The 2022 Democratic Primary Season Begin.

Governor Cuomo Directs State Police Hate Crimes Task Force to Offer Assistance in Investigation of Anti-Semitic Graffiti in Bay Ridge

 

"I am disgusted to learn that a swastika was spray-painted on a tree in Bay Ridge, and I thank the members of the local community for doing all of us a service and removing it from sight.

"These ignorant anti-Semitic hate crimes against our Jewish brothers and sisters are an attack on all New Yorkers. We will not tolerate them, and I want perpetrators to know that the more you try to divide us and spread hate, the more New Yorkers will come together and stand up for one another against the hate that you are trying to fuel.

"I am directing the State Police hate crimes task force to provide their assistance to the local authorities who are investigating this incident."

VALUE OF INDUSTRIAL AGENCIES' PROJECTS INCREASE NEARLY 50 PERCENT OVER PAST DECADE

 

Thomas P. DiNapoli, New York State Comptroller, 

Industrial Development Agencies (IDAs) reported 4,320 active projects valued at $109 billion for 2019, a 3.3 percent, or $3.5 billion, increase in project values from 2018, while net tax exemptions totaled $796 million in 2019, compared to nearly $784 million in 2018. Project values have increased by 48 percent since 2009, while the number of active projects has declined by six percent over the same period, according to a report released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

“IDA’s reported an increase in the total value of active IDA projects for 2019, continuing an upward trend during the last decade,” said DiNapoli. “The reported number of net jobs gained as a result of these projects has hovered around 200,000 over the same period. I encourage New Yorkers to use the IDA project data we provide to assess whether the benefits these projects bring to their communities are worth the cost of the incentives their local IDAs are providing.”

IDAs are local public benefit corporations that exist to encourage local economic development projects by offering financial incentives to private companies, with the goal of increasing job opportunities and overall economic welfare in the area.

Tax Exemptions

IDAs reported providing total tax exemptions of almost $1.5 billion in 2019, up 1.5 percent or $22 million from 2018. The vast majority of these benefits ($1.3 billion) were in the form of property tax exemptions. These were partially offset by $680 million in payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) to municipalities and school districts by IDA projects, for net exemptions of $796 million in 2019.

The value of net exemptions was generally highest downstate: IDAs in New York City, Mid-Hudson and Long Island regions accounted for 56 percent of all net tax exemptions. On a per capita basis, the New York City IDA provided the lowest net exemptions at $14 per capita, while the Capital District had the highest net exemptions at $92 per capita.

Jobs

IDAs reported that project operators estimated 220,442 jobs would be created over the projected life of each active project reported in 2019, with a median salary of $40,000. They estimated 271,930 previously existing jobs would be retained with a median salary of $43,000. A total of 49,636 temporary construction jobs were also expected to be created.

Reported net jobs gained – the difference between the number of jobs at the start of the projects and those as of the reporting year – totaled 199,982 in 2019. Over the past decade, this number has remained fairly steady.

Finances

In 2019, IDAs reported total revenues of $75 million, down $21.1 million from 2018. The Erie County IDA had the highest revenues ($4.7 million), followed by the City of Yonkers ($4.3 million), Genesee County ($4.2 million), and Chautauqua County ($4 million). Expenditures in 2019 totaled $97 million, down $2.2 million from the prior year. The largest operating expenditure category for IDAs was professional services contracts at 23 percent of the total, for services such as accounting, legal or marketing. Salaries, wages and benefits for IDA employees totaled $17.5 million, or 18 percent of the total.

Report

Performance of Industrial Development Agencies in New York

Appendix A - Regional Information