D.A. Vance: $112K in Stolen Wages Recovered for Electrical Workers at Midtown Construction Site of Virgin Hotel

 

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., today announced that AMPAK ELECTRICAL SERVICES has returned $112,176 in stolen wages to 18 electrical workers who performed work on the construction of the Virgin Hotel in Midtown Manhattan following an investigation by the Manhattan D.A.’s Construction Fraud Task Force (“Task Force”). AMPAK – an unlicensed, uninsured subcontractor based on Staten Island – is expected to plead guilty on September 21st to one count of Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree after meeting the requirement that it repay the stolen wages to the New York State Department of Labor, which will distribute the funds to the workers. 

“The Manhattan D.A.’s Office will continue to ensure that hard-working people aren’t stiffed by greedy employers,” said District Attorney Vance. “Thanks to my Office’s Construction Fraud Task Force, and our partners at the New Immigrant Community Empowerment, these workers will have the hard-earned wages they are owed in their pockets as soon as possible. New Yorkers can work with us to obtain justice and recover stolen wages regardless of their immigration status, and without fear of being deported. Please contact us via WhatsApp at 646-712-0298 – you can report anonymously, and in any language. We are here to protect your earnings, your safety, and your rights.” 

New Immigrant Community Empowerment (“NICE”) Executive Director Manuel Castro said: “We are proud to have partnered with the Manhattan D.A. to recover the wages of 18 immigrant workers stolen by this unscrupulous employer. NICE receives calls every day from hardworking immigrants who have been victims of wage theft but sadly their cases often go years, if ever, before being resolved. We will continue to work hand in hand with D.A.’s offices to address this pervasive crime, particularly as the economy re-opens from the COVID-19 pandemic and badacting employers try to take advantage of vulnerable workers. Moreover, the same employers who steal wages will break other laws, such as safety and health regulations that lead to work accidents and deaths. Employers whose business model is dependent on skirting the law should not be allowed to continue operating in New York. For this reason, we also call on city and state elected officials to address this issue with legislation that will revoke the licenses of contractors that engage in this behavior.”

New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”) Commissioner Margaret Garnett said: “New York City has zero tolerance for wage theft, a crime that undercuts confidence in the construction industry and often raises a red flag to other wrongdoing. As a result of this joint investigation with the Manhattan District Attorney and the state Department of Labor, these 18 workers will rightly be paid their hard-earned wages and the subcontractor is being held accountable. DOI is pleased to stand up today with our law enforcement partners and New Immigrant Community Empowerment to underscore the import of protecting workers from corrupt contractors.”

According to court documents and as admitted in the defendants’ guilty plea, AMPAK was hired as a subcontractor to perform electrical work at 1227 Broadway, the construction site for the 38- story Virgin Hotel. Between January 23, 2021, and March 18, 2021 AMPAK failed to pay 18 of its electrical workers, stealing a total of $112,176 in unpaid wages. When the workers complained about missing paychecks, they were promised that the checks were coming, or falsely told that the General Contractor had not yet paid the company.

In March 2021, workers reported the theft to the D.A.’s Office’s Construction Fraud Task Force via its WhatsApp hotline. Workers also contacted New Immigrant Community Empowerment, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of immigrant workers in New York. NICE referred the cases to the Task Force, and provided extensive assistance coordinating interviews with affected workers.

District Attorney Vance thanked NICE, the New York State Department of Labor, and the New York City Department of Investigation, specifically Confidential Investigator Olivia Tonge, Assistant Inspector General Dan Taylor, and Chief Investigator James McElligott; for their assistance with the investigation.

Defendant Information AMPAK ELECTRICAL SERVICES Staten Island, NY 

Charge: • Scheme to Defraud in the First Degree, a class E felony

Governor Hochul Announces $23.7 Million in Grant Awards to End the Gun Violence Epidemic

 

Funding Supports Gun Violence Prevention Efforts Including Job Training and Placement, Community Activities, and Expansion of Gun Violence Intervention Programs

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced funding for several gun violence prevention efforts, which include job training, community activities, and intervener staffing in communities seeing the highest concentration of gun violence.

"Gun violence is a horror no one should have to live through, and yet too many New Yorkers do. It is time we put an end to this epidemic," Governor Hochul said. "We have to give young people hope and let them know their lives have meaning, which starts with creating jobs as well as more access to career training, working closely together with community organizations, and boosting gun violence intervention programs."

Governor Hochul and her administration worked with local leaders across the state to identify the most effective use of gun violence prevention funds in each community. Funding has been awarded to support three gun violence prevention programs.

Job Training and Placement

New York is awarding $16 million to local workforce development boards to fund workforce training and job placement programs in 20 cities most impacted by gun violence across New York State. Programs were designed and reviewed by local leaders to provide job training, credentialing and career placement services to ultimately connect at-risk youth to good-paying, permanent jobs. Unemployed, underemployed and out-of-school youth age 18-24 in areas of cities impacted by gun violence will be eligible. This is in addition to $12 million already awarded to the Consortium for Worker Education to facilitate similar programs to youth in New York City. Interested young people can learn more and connect to these programs here.

Community Activities

New York is awarding $5.7 million in grants to provide sports, arts, civic engagement, skill development, and recreational programming in communities seeing high gun violence. These afterschool and weekend programs will provide young people with safe and enriching activities in their community Programs were recommended by county and legislative leaders in each community.

Additional Staffing for Community-Based Gun Violence Intervention Organizations

New York is awarding $2 million to gun violence intervention programs across the state to hire and train 39 new street outreach workers and violence interrupters. This funding will allow successful community-based gun intervention programs to increase their staff of credible messengers, who engage and mentor at-risk youth, host community events, work to steer young people away from gun violence, and respond to shootings to prevent retaliatory violence. Additional awards to hire new outreach workers and interrupters will be made in the coming weeks. 

MAYOR DE BLASIO DELIVERS REMARKS AT GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY FOR THE NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY’S LGBTQ+ MUSEUM

 

 Mayor Bill de Blasio: Some people change the world profoundly, and Billie Jean King, someone who captured the hearts, the admiration, the respect of this nation, as both athletes and activists. 

And one thing, a lot of us who serve the public, we puzzle over time over how minds change, hearts change. There is no one in the world who understands how progress specifically happens. We've seen it, we've felt it, we'd been a part of it, we've been beneficiaries of it, but no one specifically understands the building blocks of progress, the exact formula, the magic, because if they did, so many more things to change so much more quickly. It's something we all puzzle on and work on and strive for and experiment with, but I know one of the reasons we're standing here to acknowledge this history, acknowledge this movement, acknowledge the changes, the profound changes that have happened is because certain people by their very example made possible this progress. So, I say it with admiration and with humility, Billie Jean King, you are one of those people who've made that possible, thank you.  

 

And while I'm thanking people, all my colleagues in elected office and public service, and Corey Johnson, I know this is a labor of love for you, thank you brother. This is something that I'm honored to be joining you in. 

 

Corey Johnson and I are retiring simultaneously. We're talking about a bar tour of the Caribbean, which we'll turn it into a book, maybe a movie. We're thinking of a variety of options. If there's any agents here, you can talk to us after. To everyone who will create this amazing new presence in our city, thank you to Louise Mirer and to Pam Schafler for all you do for the city.  

 

And to someone I have great affection for and will be so crucial to this project, I have affection for them because of all the good he has done in the world, and also as two people are tall today, this is the first one who is chairing this amazing initiative, Richard Burns. I've always enjoyed your height too. 

 

And a dear, dear friend that I have to acknowledge because he has often been the person who guided me to where I could do the most good for this community, and in so many other ways, I consider him a progressive champion and someone who’s voice when I hear it, I truly believe he is a voice of conscience of the most profound kind, my friend, Ethan Geto, thank you. 

 

He tries to tell me he's been around a long time, but I think he's one of the most young-at-heart people I know, so we don't believe in chronological age, Ethan. Yes. Now, everybody, I'll be very quick, look, we're New Yorkers and yes, there is something special about this place. There is, you know, exceptionalism is a tricky, tricky thing. We're proud New Yorkers. We know there are things about us that are unique in the world, but we're also here. Everyone gathered, Progressive's and people who believe in inclusion and respect for all. So, exceptionalism is a strange, strange path. However, when it comes to how the modern movement for LGBTQ+ rights developed, when it comes to where the leadership occurred, where history was made, where the spirit and fight grew, there is no debate. There are many places in the world where people fought struggles, unquestionably, and many, many people who did the right thing and suffered often for it, but there's no place where it crystallized like it did here. So, it is rightful that this museum will be here. The entire reconceptualization that we needed in this world began here, and the notion of a righteous rebellion acknowledgement that something unacceptable had become the norm in society, and it had to be turned over. That happened here. 

 

This museum will capture not only that revolutionary instinct and the people made it possible, it will capture everything before and after, it will capture the decades and decades of oppression. It will capture the fact that so many people suffered just for being who they were and for loving who loved, but it will also capture the profound changes that occurred in the scope of history very, very quickly. And this movement, and I, like many people here, strive for inspiration and understanding. And you look at the great movements, civil rights movement in ‘50’s, ‘60’s, and so many other examples, what worked, how and when, what can we learn from it? This movement achieved some of the most extraordinary successes in the least time, which is a credit to everyone here and everyone who will be honored in this museum, and in doing that opened up space for so many others, which is really what it's all about for all of us. When we're fighting for the rights of one, we're fighting for the rights of all, which is what this city is ultimately about, that sense that everyone matters and everyone is welcome, and that is the ultimate New York magic.  

 

So, everyone, I have been honored to support this work, the people's resources will go into this work. That is the right thing. And what will happen here will now be seen all over the world. People will come from literally every corner of the world to learn, to be educated, to be inspired, to remember that, yes, a change can come, and it did here in New York City. Thank you and God bless you all. 

 

DISTRICT COUNCIL 37 FILES IMPROPER PRACTICE PETITION TO STOP “RETURN TO WORK” FOR 80,000 NON-ESSENTIAL WORKERS

 

Filed with the Office of Collective Bargaining, the Petition argues on the grounds of health and safety

 In an effort to stop the mandatory “return to work” for 80,000 non-essential municipal workers, District Council 37 yesterday filed an Improper Practice Petition with the Office of Collective Bargaining. The Petition argues that the Mayor’s mandate puts workers’ health at risk by prematurely and unnecessarily bringing everyone back to the office, especially given the increased risk from the Delta variant and others. District Council 37 represents the majority of the 80,000 workers in question. Most have worked remotely since March 2020 without issue. The Improper Practice Petition follows weeks of attempting to negotiate a delay with the City.

“The workers who make up District Council 37 have kept New York City running for the last 18 months,” said Henry Garrido, Executive Director, District Council 37, AFSCME. “They’ve proven time and again that no matter where they are, the job will get done. With the Delta variant and all the others, the landscape of COVID-19 is too uncertain to needlessly force people back to their desks. We will not let our members be used as guinea pigs. The City must allow non-essential works to work from home until we are certain it’s safe.”

 

The Office of Collective Bargaining will now review the Petition and the City will have an opportunity to respond.

 

After over 200 inspections of members’ work locations, the union has determined that indoor office spaces – largely unused since the start of March 2020 – are not equipped to the new safety standards and therefore not ready for the return of workers. Further, the Department of Citywide Administrative Services removed the social distancing requirement still recommended by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. District Council 37 requests City Hall halt bringing non-essential workers back until all office spaces are deemed safe.

 

STATEMENT FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HENRY GARRIDO ON NYS SUPREME COURT ACTION REGARDING THE MAYOR’S VACCINE MANDATE FOR DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION EMPLOYEES

 

“We just learned the Supreme Court has issued a temporary restraining order effectively pausing the Mayor’s mandate that Department of Education employees get the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by September 27. This decision follows a similar decision regarding State healthcare workers made earlier today.

 

“While we do believe our members should get the vaccine, we do not believe it should be a condition of employment. Clearly, the courts agree. The fight is not over, but we are energized by this decision and ready to keep going on behalf of our members.”

 

NYC PUBLIC ADVOCATE CALLS ON MAYOR, GOVERNOR TO VISIT RIKERS IMMEDIATELY, ADDRESS CRISIS CONDITIONS

 

 "Rikers is an emergency environment, one in which the humanity and health of everyone inside are being disregarded. I was shaken during yesterday's tour, and I am scared for the well-being of everyone who lives or works on Rikers. Corrections staff and incarcerated people alike are in constant, imminent danger. It is a humanitarian crisis rapidly descending toward even greater disaster.

"I implore the Mayor and the Governor to go to Rikers today, immediately. See what I saw, hear what I heard, and you will know the moral, human obligation using every tool available to provide disaster relief. It will not be easy - but any hesitation by leadership to act now amounts to responsibility for the consequences of inaction.

"The Governor must sign the Less is More Act, and put it into effect immediately. On the city level, low-level offenders should be granted supervised release, early and compassionate release options should be exercised, and technical parole violations should not be grounds for incarceration. Court proceedings must be accelerated, and alternatives to incarceration should be the priority. The Department of Correction must engage in stabilization efforts to show staff the city is invested in their safety and security. Staff must return to work.

"The warnings were repeated for a long time, and they were downplayed or ignored. Now, we must simultaneously move to get more staff back onto the island and more incarcerated people off of it."

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for Congress - Tax the rich… explained 👗

 

Every day is a good day to talk about taxing the rich.

Whether the message is on a sweatshirt or something more formal , the facts are the same. Politicians spent the better part the last 40 years cutting taxes for the rich – expecting wealth to “trickle down” to the rest of us (spoiler alert: it doesn't).

In order to reshape our economy and make it work for all of us — not just those who can self-fund their trips to space — we absolutely must Tax the Rich. That’s why Alexandria has been pushing for higher taxes on the rich and large profitable corporations in the Build Back Better bill.

In case you get into a conversation today about what exactly we mean when we say “tax the rich,” here’s some more info to help you out:

So, why do we need to tax the rich?

• The super rich pay lower taxes than the poorest Americans. The United States has a regressive tax system in which the richest people actually pay lower effective tax rates across all levels of government than the poorest people in our country. Seems hard to believe, right? But it’s true.¹
  
  
• Taxes on the rich are much lower than they used to be. Check out this graph from The New York Times comparing rates from 1950 to 2018.²

  

• Two men — Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos — own more wealth than the bottom 40% of Americans combined.³
  
  
• During the pandemic, U.S. billionaires saw their wealth go up 55% from $2.95 trillion to $4.56 trillion. Just the gains they made over the last year of this pandemic alone could pay for almost 70% of Biden’s jobs plan.⁴
  
  
• U.S. income inequality has returned to Gilded Age levels from the early 1900s. Our inequality levels are the highest of all G7 countries (UK, Italy, Japan, Canada, Germany, France).^5,6
  
  
• CEOs at large companies in the U.S. now make an astonishing 264 times what the average U.S. worker makes.⁷ In 1989, the ratio was 58-to-1, and in 1965, it was 20-to-1.⁸
  
  
• Polls show Americans don’t believe the rich pay their fair share, but Republicans keep lowering their taxes. Gallup polls as far back as 1992 have shown that the vast majority of Americans want to tax the rich more.⁹ Even then, Presidents Bush and Trump pushed through massive tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans.

Are you fired up and ready to tax the rich?

Good — because we can’t win this fight without grassroots activism and organizing. If you know someone who might benefit from reading the facts above, please forward them this email. When the rich finally pay their fair share, we can have the funds to provide universal Pre-K, transition our economy off of fossil fuels, rebuild our crumbling schools, and so much more.

Thanks for continuing the conversation,

– Team AOC

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - SEPTEMBER 14, 2021

 

40,017 Vaccine Doses Administered Over Last 24 Hours  

28 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday   

 Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combating COVID-19.  

"Wearing a mask, washing your hands, getting your vaccine - it's that easy to keep yourself and your community safe," Governor Hochul said. "If you haven't gotten your vaccine already, now is the best time to do so. It's safe, effective, free, and readily available anywhere across the great state of New York."

 

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

·         Test Results Reported - 117,753
·         Total Positive - 4,098
·         Percent Positive - 3.48%·         7-Day Average Percent Positive - 3.16%
·         Patient Hospitalization - 2,476 (+85)
·         Patients Newly Admitted - 296
·         Patients in ICU - 552 (+8)
·         Patients in ICU with Intubation - 279 (-3)
·         Total Discharges - 196,464 (+182)
·         New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 28
·         Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 44,005

The Health Electronic Response Data System is a NYS DOH data source that collects confirmed daily death data as reported by hospitals, nursing homes and adult care facilities only.

·         Total deaths reported to and compiled by the CDC - 56,097

This daily COVID-19 provisional death certificate data reported by NYS DOH and NYC to the CDC includes those who died in any location, including hospitals, nursing homes, adult care facilities, at home, in hospice and other settings.

·         Total vaccine doses administered - 24,387,543
·         Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 40,017
·         Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 352,623
·         Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 79.2%
·         Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 71.5%
·         Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 81.7%
·         Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 73.4%
·         Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 66.9%
·         Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 60.2%
·         Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 69.2%
·         Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 61.8%