9 Defendants Indicted In Interstate Gun Trafficking Scheme

 

Arrests and Seizure of 18 Firearms Shuts Down a Pipeline of Illegal Firearms into New York City

 Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco joined Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, John B. DeVito, Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”), and Dermot Shea, Police Commissioner for the City of New York (“NYPD”), for the announcement today of a third superseding indictment charging JAMES THOMAS, a/k/a “Spazz,” DUVAUGHN WILSON, a/k/a “Dupree,” COURTNEY SCHLOSS, a/k/a “Bway,” a/k/a “Balenci,” KEN ALEXANDER, a/k/a “Ryu,” ARGAM TAJ, a/k/a “Sour,” SAMUEL TAJ, a/k/a “Sosa,” CHRISTOPHER MACHADO, a/k/a “Chris Elite,” HARLIE RAMOS, a/k/a “White Girl,” and JAMEL THOMAS, a/k/a “Mel,” with conspiracy to commit gun trafficking and gun trafficking, in connection with their involvement in a scheme to illegally transport firearms from Georgia for resale to residents of New York.  THOMAS, WILSON, and SCHLOSS were also charged with interstate travel with intent to engage in gun trafficking.  This case is assigned to United States District Judge Sidney H. Stein.

JAMEL THOMAS and ARGAM TAJ were arrested this morning in SDNY and will be presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger later today.  KEN ALEXANDER was arrested this morning in the District of Massachusetts and will be presented before a magistrate judge in Boston later today.  WILSON, SCHLOSS, and JAMES THOMAS were previously charged; SCHLOSS and JAMES THOMAS are currently in custody.  HARLIE RAMOS, SAMUEL TAJ, and CHRISTOPHER MACHADO remain at large.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “Today’s arrests shut down the alleged gun pipeline of these nine defendants.  These arrests should also send a message to anyone who is thinking about illegally selling guns to New Yorkers or illegally bringing guns to New York: We and our law enforcement partners are watching.  And we will prosecute gun traffickers to the fullest extent of the law.” 

ATF Special Agent in Charge John B. DeVito said: “The individuals named in the indictment are alleged to have participated in a trafficking scheme which flooded our New York City Streets with illegal firearms. Combatting firearms trafficking lies at the heart of ATF’s strategy to stop violent gun crime.  Exploitation of Crime Gun Intelligence along with effective collaboration with our law enforcement partners will allow us to disrupt and dismantle groups such as this that in turn fuel the violence in our communities.  I would like to thank the New York Police Department for their partnership on this case and the United States Attorney’s Office for their leadership.”

Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said: “The NYPD continues to work closely with our law enforcement partners to drive down gun violence and stop the trafficking of illegal firearms in New York City. I commend the work of the investigators and prosecutors whose hard work resulted in these arrests, firearms seizures, and indictment.”

According to the allegations in the Superseding Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:[1]

From at least in or around August 2020 up to and including April 2021, the defendants used Georgia resident DUVAUGHN WILSON, a/k/a “Dupree,” as a straw purchaser to buy at least 87 firearms from at least six federal firearms licensees (“FFLs”) in Georgia.  Over the course of the scheme, during which WILSON completed approximately 30 different transactions, WILSON attested that he was the true purchaser of the firearms, when in fact he was buying the guns on behalf of the defendants, who in turn illegally resold many of the guns to others.

Prior to purchases, the defendants coordinated with WILSON to place orders for specific firearms and pay for the weapons using cash, mobile banking applications, and through wire payments.  When communicating about the firearms, the defendants used coded language, referring to the weapons as “tvs,” “knocks,” and “situations.”  In some instances, the defendants referred to the caliber or model of a firearm by referencing the jersey numbers of famous athletes.

After purchasing the weapons, WILSON transferred the firearms to defendants JAMES THOMAS, a/k/a “Spazz,” COURTNEY SCHLOSS, a/k/a “Bway” a/k/a “Balenci,” and others who (i) sold some of the guns in Georgia and (ii) transported other firearms, primarily by bus, to New York for resale.  In many instances, the guns were transferred to members of the Brooklyn-based “Blixky Gang” – a group composed primarily of aspiring rappers.  Some of these guns later appeared in music videos filmed by members of the Blixky Gang.  The videos, which include some of the defendants charged today, show Blixky Gang members brandishing loaded firearms and displaying stacks of cash.

On some occasions, law enforcement successfully interdicted firearms being transported by the defendants before they reached New York.  For example, in November 2020, law enforcement in South Carolina stopped a bus in Wellford, South Carolina, from which they seized five firearms, four pistol magazines, a high capacity .40 caliber magazine, and a nine-millimeter drum magazine – all of which were being transported by the defendants in a single backpack.

Law enforcement in New York City seized other firearms purchased in Georgia by WILSON.  On at least two occasions, in the wake of violent crimes, the NYPD seized firearms trafficked to New York as part of this scheme.  As alleged, in February 2021, the NYPD seized a gun that WILSON had bought after a fleeing suspect discharged it at responding officers in the Bronx.  And in April 2021, following a shooting in the Bronx, the NYPD seized another pistol purchased by WILSON.

To date, law enforcement authorities across numerous jurisdictions have recovered a total of 18 firearms purchased by WILSON in the course of the scheme.

A chart containing the names, charges, and maximum and minimum penalties for the defendants is set forth below.  The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the ATF and the New York City Police Department.  Ms. Strauss thanked Lisa O. Monaco, the Deputy Attorney General of the United States, for the Department of Justice’s support and leadership in the area of gun trafficking.  Ms. Strauss also thanked local law enforcement partners as well as those in Georgia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina, including the ATF’s Greenville Field Office, Boston Field Division, and Atlanta Field Division; the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office; the New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force; the Duncan Police Department, Wellford Police Department, and Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office in South Carolina; the Clayton County Sherriff’s Office in Georgia; the Rockingham County Sherriff’s Office and Virginia State Police in Virginia; the Pennsylvania State Police; the United States Marshals Service; and the United States Attorney’s Offices in the Eastern District of New York, the Northern District of Georgia, the District of South Carolina, and the District of Massachusetts.

Count	Charge	Defendants	Max. Penalty
1	Conspiracy to Commit (i) Gun Trafficking, and (ii) Illegal Transportation or Receipt in State of Residency of Firearm Purchased or Acquired Outside of State of Residency	JAMES THOMAS, a/k/a “Spazz,”     DUVAUGHN WILSON,   a/k/a “Dupree,”     COURTNEY SCHLOSS, a/k/a “Bway,” a/k/a “Balenci,”     KEN ALEXANDER, a/k/a “Ryu,”     ARGAM TAJ, a/k/a “Sour,”      SAMUEL TAJ, a/k/a “Sosa,”     CHRISTOPHER MACHADO, a/k/a “Chris Elite,”     HARLIE RAMOS, a/k/a “White Girl,”     JAMEL THOMAS, a/k/a “Mel”	Five years
2	Gun Trafficking	JAMES THOMAS, a/k/a “Spazz,”     DUVAUGHN WILSON,   a/k/a “Dupree,”     COURTNEY SCHLOSS, a/k/a “Bway,” a/k/a “Balenci,”     KEN ALEXANDER, a/k/a “Ryu,”     ARGAM TAJ, a/k/a “Sour,”      SAMUEL TAJ, a/k/a “Sosa,”     CHRISTOPHER MACHADO, a/k/a “Chris Elite,”     HARLIE RAMOS, a/k/a “White Girl,”     JAMEL THOMAS, a/k/a “Mel”	Five years
3	Interstate Travel With Intent to Engage in Gun Trafficking	JAMES THOMAS, a/k/a “Spazz,”     DUVAUGHN WILSON,   a/k/a “Dupree,”     COURTNEY SCHLOSS, a/k/a “Bway,” a/k/a “Balenci,”	10 years

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

2021-22 NEW YORK STATE HUNTING AND TRAPPING LICENSES ON SALE NOW

New Opportunities for Deer Hunters

Expanded Call Center Hours and Online Sales

 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced that hunting and trapping licenses and Deer Management Permits (DMPs) for the 2021-2022 seasons are on sale now. In addition, DEC announced new opportunities for hunters this year, including expanded hunting seasons and allowing youth ages 12 and 13 to hunt deer with a firearm or crossbow in upstate counties that have passed a local low and ‘opted in’ to participate.   

“Hunting is a longstanding tradition for many and an estimated half a million New Yorkers enjoy the sport each year. The upcoming, expanded hunting seasons bring even greater excitement and opportunities to encourage greater participation in the sport,” said Commissioner Seggos. “As always, DEC encourages hunters to plan ahead, get outdoors responsibly, and follow the principles of hunter safety." 

Licenses and permits can be purchased online, at any one of DEC's license-issuing agents, or by telephone at 866-933-2257. New hunting and trapping licenses are valid from Sept. 1, 2021, through Aug. 31, 2022; annual fishing licenses are valid for 365 days from date of purchase. 

New York's habitat serves a critical role in maintaining healthy and sustainable fish and wildlife resources. Purchasing a hunting, fishing, or trapping license helps support conservation projects and ensures the protection of the State’s natural resources. In addition, DEC encourages outdoor enthusiasts to consider purchasing a Habitat & Access Stamp each year. Funds from the $5 Habitat & Access Stamp support projects to conserve habitat and improve public access for fish- and wildlife-related activities. This year's Habitat & Access Stamp features a bobcat. 

Expanded Call Center Hours 

Beginning this week, the DEC Call Center’s hours of operation are from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays through Nov. 30. Regular call center weekday hours will resume on Dec. 1. 

Individuals should have the following items ready when buying a license:

1. Complete contact information (e.g. name, address, email address, telephone number);
2. DEC customer ID number (if applicable);
3. Proof of residency (e.g., driver's license or non-driver's ID with a valid New York State address); and
4. If purchasing by phone or internet, a valid credit card. 

If not already entered in DEC's automated licensing system, individuals are required to provide proof of hunter or trapper education certification or a copy of a previous license for all hunting and trapping license purchases. For additional information, visit the General Sporting License Information webpage on DEC's website. 

Deer Management Permits (DMPs) 

DMPs are available at all license-issuing outlets, by phone, or online through Oct. 1. DMPs are used to manage the deer herd and are issued through an instant random selection process at the point of sale. The chances of obtaining a DMP remain the same throughout the application period; hunters need not rush to apply. The 2021 chances of selection for a DMP in each Wildlife Management Unit are available online, through license-issuing agents, or by calling the DMP Hotline at 1-866-472-4332. Detailed information on Deer Management Permits and this fall's Deer Season Forecast is available on DEC's website. 

The 2021-22 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide, which provides an easy-to-read collection of pertinent rules and regulations, is available on the DEC Hunting webpage. Copies will be available soon at license-issuing agents. 

Online and In-Person Hunter Education Training Courses 

All first-time hunters, bowhunters, and trappers must pass one or more courses before purchasing a license. Online and in-person courses are available. In-person courses have a field day where new hunters can get hands-on experience. All in-person courses are free of charge, but space may be limited. Courses fill quickly, so early sign-ups are encouraged. Visit DEC's website for more information on materials, including a list of courses and course registration. 

The requirements to earn a New York State hunter education certificate can be met by completing DEC's online hunter education course and passing the exam. Upon passing, participants will receive a hunter education certificate, enabling the purchase of a hunting license. Participants must be New York State residents and the cost of the course is $19.95. The online course can be accessed at DEC's website. 

New York State also offers an online bowhunter education certification course. Upon passing, hunters receive their bowhunter education certificate so they can purchase a bowhunting privilege. Participants must be New York State residents and the cost of the course is $30. The online course can be accessed at DEC's website. 

New Hunting Opportunities

 

Deer hunters will have several new opportunities this year, with a law change that allows 12- and 13-year-old hunters to pursue deer with a firearm or crossbow under the supervision of an experienced adult hunter in upstate counties that opt-in to participate (see the Junior Big Game Hunting map). In addition, DEC created a new holiday deer hunt, an extended portion of the late bow and muzzleloader season from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, in the Southern Zone. These are new opportunities for young hunters to be mentored by experienced adults and for families to hunt together during the holiday season.

 

DEC is also proposing additional hunting-related changes, which are currently out for public review and comment. If these proposals are adopted, DEC will notify the public by means of a press release and email newsletters. 

Opportunities for Junior Hunters and Trappers 

To foster the next generation of hunters in New York, DEC has expanded opportunities for junior hunters (licensees aged 12-15) and trappers (under 12 years old) by designating special youth hunts for deer, wild turkey, pheasants, and waterfowl. These opportunities allow youth hunters and trappers to spend time in the field with experienced adults and gain the necessary knowledge and skills to become safe and responsible members of the hunting and trapping community. More information about these programs and other opportunities for junior hunters and trappers is available on DEC's website. 

Remember: Hunt Safe, Hunt Smart! 

The number of hunting-relating shooting incidents is declining, but even one incident is too many. Hunters can prevent injuries and fatalities by following the cardinal rules of hunting safety: 

1. Assume every gun to be loaded;
2. Control the muzzle in a safe direction;
3. Keep your finger off the trigger until firing;
4. Be sure of your target and beyond; and
5. Wear hunter orange or pink. 

Tree stand falls are a major cause of hunting injuries. These hunting-related injuries are easily preventable. Hunters are advised to use a full-body harness and fall-arrest system and stay connected from the time they leave the ground until the time they return. Hunters are advised to check their stands (including straps and chains) every season and replace worn or missing parts. The proper use of tree stands and full-body harnesses helps prevent injuries and fatalities. 

Keep Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Out of New York 

Hunters should take the threat of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) seriously. CWD is always fatal to deer, elk, moose, and caribou. If introduced, CWD could spread rapidly and be practically impossible to eliminate once established, threatening the future of New York's deer population, hunting tradition, and many of the other benefits associated with deer. The most effective disease management strategy is to prevent CWD from entering New York. A recent detection of CWD in a captive deer herd in Pennsylvania near the New York State border is a reminder that the disease can be unintentionally moved to new locations. Hunters can help protect New York's deer herd from CWD by following these tips: 

1. If hunting any type of deer, elk, moose, or caribou outside of New York, debone the animal before bringing it back, and follow the law about importing carcass parts from outside of New York. See CWD Regulations for Hunters. DEC will confiscate and destroy illegally imported carcasses and parts;
2. Avoid products containing real deer urine, like scent lures. Prions are shed in the bodily fluids (saliva, feces, urine) of infected deer before they appear sick. Prions bind to soil and plants where they remain infectious for years. There is no way to ensure that products containing deer urine are free of prions. Choose synthetic alternatives;
3. Dispose of carcass waste in a landfill, not on the landscape;
4. Hunt only wild deer and support fair chase hunting principles; and
5. Report any deer that appears sick or is acting abnormally. 

Hunters, Want Older Bucks in New York? It's Your Choice 

Many deer hunters dream of seeing and shooting a large buck but there is great temptation for a hunter to take the first buck they see, often a young buck, when the opportunity presents itself. New York hunters can increase the likelihood of harvesting an older, larger buck, by choosing to pass up shots at young, small-antlered bucks. Older bucks create more rubs and scrapes, are more challenging to hunt, and yield more meat. 

Many New York hunters are already voluntarily choosing to pass on young bucks. As a result, the availability and harvest of older, larger antlered bucks is increasing. To see and take more older bucks, DEC encourages hunters to work with neighbors and hunting partners to cooperatively reduce harvest of young bucks, improve habitat conditions, and ensure adequate harvest of antlerless deer.

MAYOR DE BLASIO UNVEILS PLAN TO SAVE AND REIMAGINE THE BQE - Brooklyn Queens Expressway

 

 Mayor Bill de Blasio and Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Hank Gutman today released a comprehensive plan to extend the life of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) cantilever for at least another 20 years, while reimagining the corridor for a long-term future with less reliance on large, diesel trucks. The four-part plan focuses on preserving the structure; executing immediate and ongoing maintenance; expanding monitoring and enforcement; and developing a long-term, community-based vision for the entire corridor. 

“We have the technology, the ideas, and the expertise to save the BQE, and we’re excited to execute this plan. But that’s just the start,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “New York City can do more than patch up a highway in need of repair – we can use this opportunity to rethink how people, goods, and services move around our city. I look forward to leading that process, and findings fresh ways to use this resource to build a long-term recovery for all of us.”

 

“Repairing and restoring the BQE takes creativity, ingenuity, and hard work, and I’m proud to lay out a plan that relies on just that,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Laura Anglin. “This plan will preserve an essential part of our city’s infrastructure for years to come, and I look forward to thinking creatively about its future.”

 

“This plan is designed to address current safety and structural concerns about the 70-year old roadway, while reimagining not only its future purpose, but how freight is moved in this city in the 21^st century,” said DOT Commissioner Hank Gutman.

 

“To drive economic development, we must invest in sustainable roadways, and decrease our reliance on diesel trucks to transport goods,” said New York City Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Rachel Loeb. “Tens of thousands of New Yorkers depend on the BQE, and aging infrastructure and truck congestion have been long-standing problems. NYCDOT’s plan will work to address needed maintenance and repairs to make the expressway safer and will allow for commerce to move more efficiently, helping our city’s businesses and residents. NYCEDC will continue to support the city in its long-term vision to also ease truck congestion with water and rail solutions, which will reduce traffic and harmful emissions.”

 

The mayor’s plan features four key elements:

 

Preserving the Structure

 

DOT has identified new ways to provide at least two more decades of life on the BQE from Sands Street to Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. These methods include:

 

Stopping water infiltration

Preservation methods will stop water infiltration to slow down corrosion. These methods will mitigate the intrusion of water into the structure by addressing the joints, improving drainage, and reintroducing waterproofing. This effort will be combined with rigorous, ongoing maintenance.

 

Shifting lane markings

·         Starting on August 30 and as recommended by the Expert Panel convened by the City in 2019, DOT will shift lane markings on the BQE along a half-mile segment (approximately from Atlantic Ave to the Brooklyn Bridge) from three lanes in each direction to two. DOT will replace current pavement markings of three sub-standard width lanes with two wider lanes and a shoulder, which will also allow for improved entry lanes at Atlantic Avenue. This will reduce weight along a critical segment of the structure, make the roadway safer, and reduce delays caused by breakdowns and collisions.

 

Monitoring and managing traffic

·         DOT will launch a comprehensive traffic management and monitoring plan, as well as a neighborhood protection plan to minimize disruption to motorists and nearby residents.

·         The City will install “weigh-in-motion” technology to automatically fine overweight trucks, which put undue strain on the structure. The NYPD has already increased weight enforcement in recent months; summonses have increased up to five-fold since February.

·         Once per month, NYPD will surge enforcement even further, with extra units increasing efforts over several days at a time.

 

Immediate and Ongoing Maintenance

·         DOT will complete its ongoing concrete and rebar repairs on the Hicks Street retaining wall this year. Work on two deck spans showing faster signs of deterioration will begin next year.

 

Expanding Monitoring

·         The City has installed sensors along the BQE to continuously monitor the structure’s health. Preliminary results will be available later this summer; full results should be available by next spring. These sensors will provide a real time picture of how the structure is behaving under traffic.

 

Developing a Long-Term Vision

·         Throughout the summer and fall, the City will engage affected communities from Staten Island to Queens, including businesses and the freight industry, on a corridor-wide vision for the long-term future of the BQE.

·         As discussed in Delivering New York: A Smart Truck Management Plan for New York City, the City will better manage the last leg of the freight supply chain, especially during the most congested times of day, by incentivizing off-hour deliveries, freight consolidation, and cargo bike deliveries. The plan also outlined ways the City will promote and incentivize the use of safer, cleaner vehicles and technology by expanding the NYC Clean Truck Program.

·         By working with freight and distribution companies, the City can make significant shifts from truck to water or rail movement of goods (up to 20 million truck miles eliminated annually) to diminish congestion and better air quality.

 

EDITOR'S NOTE:

What no bike lane, or is that the intention of the shoulder to become a bike lane as was done on many NYC streets when changing lane size?

154 Days and Counting - I Love the Bronx

 

I love the Bronx, and my new friend here, Councilman Oswald Feliz from Washington Heights. I should have bet the governor who would last in office longer. I have 154 days left, but can probably count the days the governor has left on one or both of my hands.

President Trump, oops I mean President Biden (I was so use that name that I haven't realized that Joe Biden is the President) and other top elected officials have called for Governor Cuomo to resign, even State Senators Biaggi and Rivera. So Oswald, why have you and your puppet master Congressman Espaillat not called for Governor Cuomo to resign yet so I can run for governor? 

Video, Audio & Rush Transcript: Governor Cuomo Responds to Independent Reviewer Report

 

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo issued the following response to the independent reviewer report. The position statement from Attorney Rita Glavin can be viewed here.

VIDEO of the Governor's response is available on YouTube here and in TV quality (h.264, mp4) format here.

AUDIO is available here.

A rush transcript of the Governor's response is available below:

Over the past several months, you have heard a number of complaints brought against me. I called for an independent review, and I said at the beginning, I would let the process unfold. I didn't want anyone to say that I interfered. I said I would hold my tongue and I have - making only limited comments.

It has been a hard and a painful period for me and my family. Especially as others feed ugly stories to the press, but I cooperated with the review and I can now finally share the truth. My attorney, who was a nonpolitical, former federal prosecutor, has done a response to each allegation and the facts are much different than what has been portrayed.

That document is available on my website. If you are interested, please take the time to read the facts and decide for yourself. 

First, I want you to know directly from me that I never touched anyone inappropriately or made inappropriate sexual advances. I am 63 years old. I have lived my entire adult life in public view. That is just not who I am and that's not who I have ever been.

There is one complaint that has been made that bothered me most. That was a complaint made by a young woman, Charlotte Bennett, who worked in my office. And it's important to me that you fully understand the situation.

Charlotte worked in my office last year as an assistant. She was smart, talented, and eager to learn. She identified herself to me as a survivor of sexual assault. She said that she came to work in my administration because of all the progress we had made in fighting sexual assault. She talked about the personal trauma that she endured and how she was handling it.

I could see how it affected her. I could see her pain. People now ask me, why was I even talking to this young woman? If I knew she was dealing with such issues, why did I even engage with her? That is the obvious and fair question, and one I have thought a lot about.

The truth is that her story resonated deeply with me. I had heard the same story before with the same ugliness, the same injustice, the same damage. Not only had I heard this story before, I had lived with this story before. My own family member is a survivor of sexual assault in high school. I have watched her live and suffer with the trauma. I would do anything to make it go away for her, but it never really goes away.

I spent countless days and nights working through these issues with her and therapists and counselors. I'm Governor of the State of New York, but I felt powerless to help and felt that I had failed her. I couldn't take the pain away. I still can't and this young woman brought it all back. She's about the same age.

I thought I had learned a lot about the issue from my family's experience. I thought I could help her work through a difficult time. I did ask her questions I don't normally ask people. I did ask her how she was doing and how she was feeling. And I did ask questions to try to see if she had positive supportive dating relationships.

I know too well, the manifestations of sexual assault trauma and the damage that it can do in the aftermath. I was trying to make sure she was working her way through it the best she could. I thought I had learned enough and had enough personal experience to help. But I was wrong. 

I have heard Charlotte and her lawyer and I understand what they are saying, but they read into comments that I made and draw inferences that I never meant. They ascribe motives I never had. And simply put, they heard things that I just didn't say.

Charlotte, I want you to know that I am truly and deeply sorry. I brought my personal experience into the workplace and I shouldn't have done that. I was trying to help - obviously I didn't. I am even more sorry that I further complicated the situation. My goal was the exact opposite. I wish nothing but good for you, and for all survivors of sexual assault.

There is another complaint that I want to address from a woman in my office who said that I groped her in my home office. Let me be clear. That never happened. She wants anonymity and I respect that. So I am limited of what I can say, but her lawyer has suggested that she will file a legal claim for damages. That will be decided in a court of law. Trial by newspaper or biased reviews are not the way to find the facts in this matter. I welcome the opportunity for a full and fair review before a judge and a jury, because this just did not happen. 

Other complainants raised against me questions that have sought to unfairly characterize and weaponize everyday interactions that I've had with any number of New Yorkers.

The New York Times published a front page picture of me touching a woman's face at a wedding, and then kissing her on the cheek. That is not front-page news. I've been making the same gesture in public all my life. I actually learned it from my mother and from my father. It is meant to convey warmth, nothing more.

Indeed there are hundreds, if not thousands of photos of me using the exact same gesture. I do it with everyone. Black and white, young and old, straight and LGBTQ, powerful people, friends, strangers, people who I meet on the street after the event, the woman told the press that she took offense at the gesture.

And for that, I apologize. Another woman stated that I kissed her on the forehead at our Christmas party and that I said, "ciao Bella." Now I don't remember doing it, but I'm sure that I did. I do kiss people on the forehead. I do kiss people on the cheek. I do kiss people on the hand. I do embrace people. I do hug people, men and women.

I do on occasion say, "ciao, Bella."  On occasion, I do slip and say "sweetheart," or "darling," or "honey." I do banter with people. I do tell jokes, some better than others. I am the same person in public as I am in private. You have seen me do it on TV, through all my briefings, and for 40 years before that.

I try to put people at ease. I try to make them smile. I try to connect with them and I try to show my appreciation and my friendship. I now understand that there are generational or cultural perspectives that frankly, I hadn't fully appreciated. And I have learned from this. Now the State already has an advanced sexual harassment training program for all employees, including me, but I want New York State government to be a model of office behavior, and I brought in an expert to design a new sexual harassment policy and procedures, and to train the whole team, myself included. I accept responsibility and we are making changes.

Other complaints relate to the work environment. Now, I have always said, my office is a demanding place to work and that it is not for everyone. We work really, really hard. My office is no typical nine to five government office, and I don't want it to be - the stakes we deal with are very high. Sometimes even life and death. We have to get the job done. I promised you that I would, and I will.

But now a number of complaints, target female managers, which smacks to me of a double standard. First, when have you ever seen male managers maligned and villainized for working long hours or holding people accountable or for being tough? A strong male manager is respected and rewarded. But a strong female manager is ridiculed and stereotyped. It is a double standard. It is sexist and it must be challenged.

Also, remember where we are. Today we are living in a superheated, if not toxic political environment - that shouldn't be lost on anyone. Politics and bias are interwoven throughout every aspect of this situation. One would be naive to think otherwise, and New Yorkers are not naive.

I understand these dynamics. My father used to say, God rest his soul, that politics is an ugly business. As usual he was right. But for my father and for me, it's worth it, because despite it all, at the end of the day, we get good things done for people. And that is what really matters. And for those who are using this moment to score political points or seek publicity or personal gain, I say they actually discredit the legitimate sexual harassment victims that the law was designed to protect.

My last point is this: I say to my daughters all the time that as complicated as life gets is as simple as life is.  My job is not about me, my job is about you. What matters to me at the end of the day is getting the most done I can for you.

And that is what I do every day. And I will not be distracted from that job. We have a lot to do. We still have to manage the COVID beast. It is not dead yet. It's not over. We then have to reopen and re-imagine our state. Because our future is going to be what we make it. I know we can do these things because I know the strength and the character of New Yorkers.  Look at the progress we made on COVID -- it is amazing. We went from the highest infection rate in the country to one of the lowest infection rates in the country. Nobody thought that we could do it, but New Yorkers did it. That shows that there's nothing that we can't do when we work together. Together, together as one, as one community, as one family, as New Yorkers, we will.

Thank you.

Attorney Rita Glavin Releases Detailed Response to Independent Reviewer Report on Allegations Against Governor Cuomo

 

Attorney Rita Glavin of Glavin PLLC released a detailed response to the Independent Reviewer Report on allegations against Governor Andrew M. Cuomo that was issued earlier today.   

The Eighty-five page position statement can be viewed here.

PUBLIC ADVOCATE FOR THE CITY OF NEW YORK JUMAANE D. WILLIAMS STATEMENT ON NEW NYC VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS

 

 "Vaccination screens for a wide range of activities and spaces are one of the best ways we can both encourage more New Yorkers to get vaccinated and limit the spread of the Delta variant as we continue that work. I thank and applaud the Mayor for announcing this policy and urge businesses to adopt it voluntarily ahead of the mandated deadlines.

"I also believe that vaccine requirements and mask requirements are not mutually exclusive - masks will help us to keep case rates down as vaccination rates go up, and requiring masks indoors for a limited period, regardless of vaccination status, is a critical part of protecting our city amid the current surge."