Former State Department Employee Pleads Guilty To Honest Services Fraud Scheme

 

May Salehi Provided Confidential Bidding Information to a Bidder and Received Lucrative Kickback Payments in Return

 Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Michael Speckhardt, the Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of State, Office of Inspector General (“State Department OIG”), and Thomas Fattorusso, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, New York Field Office (“IRS-CI”), announced that MAY SALEHI, a former State Department employee, pled guilty today to conspiracy to commit honest services fraud.  SALEHI was a longtime State Department employee who was involved in evaluating bids for critical overseas government construction projects such as U.S. embassies and consulates.  SALEHI gave confidential inside bidding information to a bidder, and received $60,000 in kickback payments in return.  SALEHI surrendered today and pled guilty before United States Magistrate Judge James L. Cott.  SALEHI’s case is assigned to United States District Judge P. Kevin Castel.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “As a State Department employee, May Salehi was entrusted to serve the public.  Instead, she abused her position of trust to line her own pockets, as she admitted today.  Salehi revealed, and traded on, confidential information – corrupting the bidding process and receiving lucrative kickbacks in return.  Together with our law enforcement partners, this Office is committed to rooting out corruption.”

State Department OIG Special Agent in Charge Michael Speckhardt said: “The State Department OIG is dedicated to preserving the integrity of the Department’s programs and processes.  As government employees, we are entrusted to carry out our responsibilities with integrity and support an equitable process.  May Salehi did just the opposite.  She used her position of public trust to selfishly obtain a personal financial advantage by selling proprietary contracting information for profit.  Today’s plea, the culmination of extensive investigative and prosecutorial efforts, demonstrates that those who violate the public’s trust will be held accountable for their actions.”

IRS-CI Acting Special Agent in Charge Thomas Fattorusso said: “May Salehi violated the trust of the American taxpayer by putting her personal financial gain over her responsibilities to safeguard confidential information and government resources. Today’s guilty plea shows IRS-Criminal Investigation will continually work with our law enforcement partners to protect the American taxpayer from this type of abuse.”

According to the allegations in the Information, court filings, and statements made in court:

From 1991 until mid-2021, MAY SALEHI was a State Department employee.  For many years, SALEHI worked as an engineer in the State Department’s Overseas Building Operations division (“OBO”), which directs the worldwide overseas building program for the State Department and the U.S. Government community serving abroad. 

In 2016, the State Department solicited bids for a multimillion-dollar construction project known as a compound security upgrade to be performed at the U.S. Consulate in Bermuda (the “Bermuda Project”).  The bidding process involved the submission of blind, sealed bids from various bidders.  Six companies submitted sealed bids, one of which was named Montage, Inc. (“Montage”). 

SALEHI was involved in the Bermuda Project in several respects.  Among other things, SALEHI served as the Chair of the Technical Evaluation Panel (“TEP”) – a panel of experts that evaluates the technical aspects of bids, including whether they meet the State Department’s structural and security needs.  In connection with the Bermuda Project, the TEP disqualified one bidder, but determined that the other five bids (including Montage’s bid) were technically acceptable.

In September 2016, the State Department’s employees who evaluate the cost of bids gave the remaining five bidders (including Montage) the opportunity to re-bid, if they wished to do so.  Montage had two days to decide whether to submit a re-bid.  During that two-day window, Montage’s principal, Sina Moayedi, spoke with SALEHI by phone and sought confidential inside bidding information about the relationship between Montage’s bid and those of its competitors, which SALEHI supplied.  SALEHI knew that this information was confidential, and that it was unlawful to provide it to a prospective bidder.  After Moayedi received this inside information from SALEHI, Montage immediately increased its bid by $917,820.  In its revised submission to the State Department, Moayedi and Montage lied as to the reason it had increased its bid by nearly $1 million, falsely claiming that it had discovered “an arithmetic error” in its estimates.  Montage was ultimately awarded the Bermuda Project with a revised bid of $6.3 million.  

In the months that followed, Moayedi paid SALEHI a total of $60,000 in kickbacks, which he paid in three installments.  In making these kickback payments, Moayedi used intermediaries to obscure the link between him and SALEHI.  To conceal the true purpose of the kickback payments, SALEHI also gave one of the intermediaries a Persian rug.  SALEHI did not report the $60,000 kickback payments on her State Department financial disclosure form.

SALEHI, 66, of Washington, D.C., pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.  The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as SALEHI’s sentence will be determined by Judge Castel.

Sina Moayedi was arrested on May 28, 2021, on three charges contained in a criminal Complaint: wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and bribery of a public official.  The charges against Moayedi are pending.

Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the State Department OIG, Special Agents from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, and IRS‑CI.  She also thanked Special Agents from the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Montgomery County, Maryland, Police Department.

MAYOR DE BLASIO JOINS COMMUNITY ADVOCATES TO BREAK GROUND ON NEW 116TH PRECINCT IN SOUTHEAST QUEENS

 

Decades of community advocacy produces first new precinct since 2013

 Mayor Bill de Blasio, NYPD Chief of Patrol Juanita Holmes, NYPD Chief of Community Affairs Jeffrey Maddrey, and Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Commissioner Jamie Torres-Springer joined elected officials and local representatives from southeast Queens today to break ground on the NYPD’s new 116th Precinct at 244-04 North Conduit Avenue. The new precinct is the result of decades of advocacy from committed community groups in the area, which had previously been served by just one command in the 265-mile stretch of blocks from Middle Village to Kennedy Airport.

The new 116th Precinct, which will be the first new precinct established in New York City since 2013, will serve Rosedale, Laurelton, Springfield Gardens, and Floral Park.

 

“Southeast Queens fought hard to make this day possible, and this neighborhood deserves responsive, community-centered policing. That’s what this new precinct will deliver,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “I’m proud of all the advocates who fought to make their voices heard, and I thank all the leaders stood up for a new era of public safety in Queens.”

 

“This new police precinct was conceived by the communities of Southeast Queens. It was forged, and designed, as a reflection of their best vision for effective public safety and is thankfully now being realized after decades of their hard work and inspiration. The NYPD embraces this moment for the opportunities this premier facility gives us to help deepen our connections and better serve the people who live in the neighborhoods it will cover,” said Police Commissioner Dermot Shea.

 

“The 116th Precinct is designed to be an integral part of the neighborhood with community meeting space and a new public plaza,” said NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Commissioner Jamie Torres-Springer. “We look forward to completing this important new piece of civic infrastructure.”

 

Construction on the $78 million building began last month and is projected to be completed in January 2024. DDC is managing the design and construction for NYPD. The total project cost is $104.8 million.

 

The new 48,410 square foot facility has been designed with a Community Meeting Room on the first floor, with a dedicated entrance from the front of the building, to allow members of the neighborhood to engage with the precinct in a way that strengthens awareness of the NYPD’s commitment to community policing. The precinct is placed strategically within the community to allow for more rapid responses and effective policing.

 

The precinct’s parking lot has been sited in the rear of the building, bringing the new precinct closer to the street and protecting the neighborhood’s residential character. A second parking lot will be located in front of the existing 105th Precinct Annex. A public plaza leading to the Long Island Railroad will occupy the western area featuring benches, a water filling station, bicycle racks and new landscaping.

 

WILLIAMS RESPONDS TO THE ELEVENTH DEATH ON RIKERS ISLAND IN 2021

 

 Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams released the following statement after the death of Karim Isaabdul on Rikers Island, the eleventh death there in 2021.

"Another life has been lost on Rikers – another death sentence coming as a consequence of the crisis conditions on the island. I pray for the family of Karim Isaabdul – they, and we all, need answers and the accountability that comes with them.

"As I saw last week, and as we have argued since the start of the pandemic, a lack of adequate health protocols have compounded the threat to the safety of everyone on Rikers. The steps that have been taken in recent days in effort to decarcerate and start to stabilize the situation are welcome, but do not go far enough, fast enough to alleviate the health and safety emergency for all inside."

NYC GREEN RELIEF & RECOVERY FUND ANNOUNCES $150,000 IN GRANTS FOR 112 GRASSROOTS VOLUNTEER GROUPS CARING FOR PARKS AND GREEN SPACES ACROSS NYC

 

NEW MATCHING GRANT OPPORTUNITY OPENING IN OCTOBER FOR VOLUNTEER GROUPS

Funding supports local groups sustaining New York City’s parks and open spaces as the pandemic enters a new phase and the parks system reels from last year’s budget cuts and increased use 

Today, City Parks Foundation announced the selection of 112 grant recipients through the NYC Green Relief & Recovery Fund’s grassroots grants program. These 112 NYC-based community groups will each receive a grant of up to $3,000 to support environmental stewardship and health & wellness programs in parks, gardens, and open spaces. Grantees are distributed across New York City’s five boroughs with a focus on Environmental Justice Areas identified through the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Sustainability, where communities are disproportionately vulnerable to environmental injustices because of systemic racism and inequitable resource distribution.

The 112 recipients were selected through an open call and application process. Funded projects range from launching new gardens led by Mujeres en Movimiento in Corona, Queens and Ujamaa Garden in the Bronx to maintaining the dog runs at Saint Nicholas Dog Run in Harlem and Maria Hernandez Dog Run in Bushwick, Brooklyn with new tools, equipment, and gravel. Additionally, grants are supporting open streets and street tree stewardship by community groups including West 103rd Street Open Street Community Coalition in Manhattan as well as NYCHA property beautification projects including expanding the garden areas maintained by Castle Hill Houses Tenant Associations in the Bronx. The NYC Green Fund is administered by City Parks Foundation with the grassroots grants portion managed by Partnerships for Parks (PfP)—a joint program of City Parks Foundation and NYC Parks.

Grassroots grant recipients include: 

The Bronx 

Wakefield 4 Change - Wakefield Street Tree Revitalization Project 

Eastchester Road Community Garden - Eastchester Road Community Garden

Havemeyer Garden Association - Havemeyer Garden

Stewards of Ewen Park - Ewen Park

Castle Hill Houses Tenants Association - Roxanne Reid Memorial Garden

Bruckner Mott Haven Garden - Bruckner Mott Haven Garden

Friends of Tremont Park - Walter Gladwin Park

Bronx Sole - St. James Park

Concrete Friends - Concrete Plant Park

Friends of Garden Kitchen Lab - Hunts Point Recreation Center

Bringing The Peace Incorporated - RFT Community Peace Garden / 169th Street tree beds 

Future Star Productions - Crotona Park, Playground #9

Woodycrest Community Garden - Woodycrest Community Garden

Friends of 4 Parks Alliance, Inc. - Andrew Freedman Home, Joyce Kilmer Park, Franz Sigel Park, Macombs Dam, John Mullaly Park

Mill Brook Garden - Mill Brook Houses

Kelly Street Block Association - Street Trees on Kelly Street

Stewards of Henry Hudson Park - Henry Hudson Park

Encouragement and Enrichment Motivational Services - Alexander Alley 

Ujamaa Garden - Ujamaa Garden

Friends of Astin Jacobo / Mapes Baseball Field - Mapes Baseball Field

BronxRockets - Mullaly's Park

Padre Plaza Success Community Garden - Padre Plaza community garden

Woodlawn Collective - Muskrat Cove - Bronx Park - along the Bronx River

The grants program also includes the launch of a new collaboration with ioby (in our backyards) for NYC Green Fund grantees to crowdfund for additional support. The NYC Green Fund Crowdfunding Challenge will launch in early October. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and will stay open as long as funds remain available. The NYC Green Fund will match funds raised up to $2,500 per grantee. For more information on the funding opportunity, please sign up for updates on City Parks Foundation’s website at cityparksfoundation.org/nyc-green-fund.  

About the NYC Green Relief & Recovery Fund 

In May 2020, a coalition of national, family, and community foundations launched the NYC Green Relief & Recovery Fund to support stewardship organizations that care for New York City’s parks and open spaces. The Fund is intended to respond to the most urgent needs facing the City’s parks and open spaces, while spurring policy-makers to address ongoing systemic challenges, and provide adequate funding to maintain and improve them. The Fund was launched in response to the efforts of the Parks and Open Space Partners – NYC coalition to raise awareness of the financial impacts of the pandemic on open spaces. The Fund is intended to grow, and we encourage those interested in supporting the NYC Green Relief & Recovery Fund to donate now or contact NYCGreenFund@cityparksfoundation.org for more information.

Nos Quedamos is HIRING Youth Change Agents! APPLICATION DEADLINE: October 6, 2021.

Nos Quedamos is HIRING Youth Change Agents!

We Stay/Nos Quedamos is looking for emerging and dynamic Youth Change Agents—ages15-25—interested in an opportunity to strengthen and develop your skills as a community leader around environmental justice issues.

Role: Youth Organizer Pay: $15/hr Commitment: 6-10 hours a week**

Submission deadline: October 6, 2021 — no later than 5:00pm.

More details at: nosquedamos.org/youthmatters / Download flyer. If interested, submit a resume and cover letter to our Community Organizer, Carmen De Jesús at: cdejesus@nosquedamos.org.

** Work hours can be as much as 10 hours during scheduled events. You may also be asked to work on a Saturdays.

Nos Quedamos is a firm supporter of Equal Employment Opportunity laws and practices. Read our EEO Policy.

 

Governor Hochul Announces Expanded NY-Sun Program to Achieve at Least 10 Gigawatts of Solar Energy by 2030

Expands Upon State's Successful Six Gigawatt by 2025 Distributed Solar NY-Sun Program Which Has Reached Every County in the State and is On Track to Achieve its Goal Earlier Than Anticipated, Supporting More Than 12,000 Solar Jobs to Date

Expanding NY-Sun Will Help Create an Additional 6,000 Solar Jobs and Deliver At Least 35 Percent of Benefits to Disadvantaged Communities and Low- to Moderate- Income New Yorkers

Increasing Solar Capacity Accelerates Progress to Exceed New York's Goal to Obtain 70 Percent of State's Electricity from Renewable Sources by 2030 on Path to a Zero-Emission Grid 

 On the first day of Climate Week 2021, Governor Kathy Hochul today announced a call for the expansion of the highly successful NY-Sun program to achieve an expanded goal of at least 10 gigawatts of distributed solar installed by 2030. Expanding the program is expected to help bolster the State's economic recovery following Covid-19 with the creation of an additional 6,000 solar jobs beyond the 12,000 that now exist across the state, a portion of which will be ongoing operations and maintenance jobs which will remain throughout the 25+ year project lifespans. The program expansion will also deliver at least 35 percent of the benefits from the investments to disadvantaged communities and low-to moderate- income New Yorkers. Increasing solar energy capacity statewide will rapidly accelerate progress to exceed New York's nation-leading Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act goal for 70 percent of the state's electricity to come from renewable sources by 2030 on the path to a zero-emission grid.

"New York State must be more aggressive in setting the bar higher in recognition of the reality of climate change and the closing window of time to stop the worst impacts nationally and globally," Governor Hochul said. "With this expansion, we are demonstrating New York State's commitment to increasing the amount of renewable energy flowing to the electric grid as well as creating more jobs in the solar industry in support of our growing clean energy economy. Climate change is a public health issue - we need to fight with everything we've got in order to ensure generations to come will be able to thrive on a healthy, efficient planet."

Today, Governor Hochul called upon the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and New York State Department of Public Service to develop a distributed solar roadmap to be issued this fall to chart a path to advance an expanded NY-Sun goal of at least 10 gigawatts by 2030 in a resilient, cost effective and responsible manner. The projects resulting from the expanded goal are expected to power nearly 1.7 million homes and will be advanced comprehensively- including serving those in disadvantaged communities.

The Roadmap will ensure these projects are developed and sited in a manner that fully considers land use and are advanced in close collaboration with local stakeholders and agricultural communities. Once the Roadmap is filed with the Public Service Commission, it will be issued for public comment and subsequent decision-making in early 2022.

Doreen M. Harris, President and CEO and Climate Action Council Co-Chair, NYSERDA said, "Governor Hochul's directive to expand the NY-Sun goal sends a clear signal that New York State is committed to continuing to grow its thriving solar industry, in recognition of the critical role that solar energy plays in meeting the State's climate and clean energy goals. We expect 2021 to be New York's largest year yet for distributed solar installations and stand ready to develop and implement the roadmap that will chart our course for the years ahead to ensure an expanded, resilient and thoughtful approach inclusive of all New Yorkers."

Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner and Climate Action Council Co-Chair Basil Seggos said, "Today's bold announcement during Climate Week 2021 builds on New York's nation-leading climate actions and is another critical step to achieve our goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Coupled with the State's landmark investments to strengthen our communities' ability to withstand severe storms and future flooding and our work advancing sustainable solutions to address pollution, New York continues to serve as a model for other states and we are expanding our efforts to meet the climate challenge with Governor Hochul's leadership."   

Currently, installed distributed solar projects, combined with the projects that are under development, bring the State to 95 percent of the current Climate Act goal to install six gigawatts of solar by 2025. In 2020, New York was ranked first in the nation in Community Solar installations and second for total installations. There are currently over 114,000 NY-Sun supported projects and nearly 6,000 in the NY-Sun pipeline, which are complemented by 73 New York State-supported utility-scale solar projects under development throughout the state - together, these projects will deliver enough electricity to power more than 2.2 million homes once completed.

Since 2011, NY-Sun, New York State's $1.8 billion initiative to advance the scale-up of solar and move the State closer to having a sustainable, self-sufficient solar industry, has:

• Installed solar on the rooftop or property of 145,000 homes spanning every county in New York;
• Provided over $1 billion in incentives, leveraging $5.3 billion in private investment;
• Drove over 2,100 percent solar growth in the State;
• Delivered enough clean, renewable energy to power over 522,000 New York homes;
• Fostered 12,000 jobs in the solar industry;
• Helped to drive down the cost of solar 69 percent in 10 years; and
• Committed $30 million for projects benefiting environmental justice and disadvantaged communities.

New York State's Nation-Leading Climate Plan

New York State's nation-leading climate agenda is the most aggressive climate and clean energy initiative in the nation, calling for an orderly and just transition to clean energy that creates jobs and continues fostering a green economy as New York State recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Enshrined into law through the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, New York is on a path to achieve its mandated goal of a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and to reach economy wide carbon neutrality. It builds on New York's unprecedented investments to ramp-up clean energy including over $21 billion in 91 large-scale renewable projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce buildings emissions, $1.8 billion to scale up solar, more than $1 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $1.2 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. Combined, these investments are supporting more than 150,000 jobs in New York's clean energy sector in 2019, a 2,100 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011 and a commitment to develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035. Under the Climate Act, New York will build on this progress and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, while ensuring that at least 35 percent with a goal of 40 percent of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities, and advance progress towards the state's 2025 energy efficiency target of reducing on-site energy consumption by 185 trillion BTUs of end-use energy savings.

CLIMATE WEEK: MAJOR GREEN ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS TO POWER NEW YORK CITY WITH NEW WIND, SOLAR AND HYDROPOWER

 

 During Climate Week, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Kathy Hochul today announced two major green energy infrastructure projects to power New York City with wind, solar and hydropower projects from upstate New York and Canada. The announcement is made possible by New York City’s commitment to purchase electricity to power City government with fully clean and renewable power. 

If approved, these infrastructure projects will create approximately 10,000 family-sustaining jobs statewide and bring $8.2 billion in economic development investments, including developer-committed investment to support disadvantaged communities, once completed, to help accelerate the City State's economic recovery from COVID-19. This announcement will help reduce the City's reliance on fossil fuels, lower carbon emissions and significantly improve air quality and public health in disadvantaged communities and will help meet the Mayor’s commitment to power City government operations with 100% clean and renewable electricity by 2025.

 

"This is a transformative moment for New York City's fight against climate change," said Mayor Bill de Blasio. "Two new transmission lines connecting New York City to electricity from water, the wind, and solar will create thousands of good union jobs, improve the resilience and reliability of our power supply, and dramatically reduce our reliance on oil and gas electricity that dirties the air in our neighborhoods and endangers our planet. Thank you to Governor Hochul and NYSERDA for their partnership, and we look forward to working closely together to join in this landmark award and fulfill our commitment to power New York City government operations with 100% clean and renewable electricity by 2025."

 

"New York's communities are repeatedly facing serious consequences as a result of the devastation caused by the global climate crisis, and the stakes have never been higher as we deal with the economic and environmental destruction these extreme weather events leave behind," said Governor Kathy Hochul. "These transformative projects are a win-win—delivering thousands of new good-paying jobs throughout the state and attracting billions of dollars in private investment. They also help us turn the page on New York City's long-standing dependence on fossil fuels and will ensure millions of New Yorkers, especially those living in our most vulnerable communities, can have the promise of cleaner air and a healthier future."

     

Combined, the awarded Clean Path NY (CPNY) project, developed by Forward Power (a joint venture of Invenergy and EnergyRe) and the New York Power Authority, and Champlain Hudson Power Express (CHPE) project, developed by Transmission Developers, Inc. (backed by Blackstone) and Hydro-Québec will:

 

·         Produce approximately 18 million megawatt-hours of upstate and Canadian renewable energy per year, enough to power more than 2.5 million homes;

·         Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 77 million metric tons over the next 15 years, the equivalent of taking one million cars off the road; and

·         Provide $2.9 billion in public health benefits over 15 years that will result from reduced exposure to harmful pollutants—including fewer episodes of illness and premature death, fewer days of school or work missed, less disruption of business, and lower health care costs.

 

The awarded contracts will include prevailing wage provisions for all laborers, workers, and mechanics performing construction activities with respect to the construction of the projects. In addition, the project developers will be required to negotiate Project Labor Agreements among their construction contractors and a building and construction trade labor organization representing craft workers for the construction of the new transmission lines as well as for the construction of the new renewable energy generation resources that the developers and its affiliates build for this project in New York State.

 

CPNY and CHPE will invest approximately $460 million in community benefit funds to create pathways to green energy jobs, support public health, advance capital improvement projects, realize habitat restoration and improve the environmental footprint of buildings in disadvantaged communities.

 

The projects were selected for contract negotiation as part of the New York State Energy Research Development and Authority's (NYSERDA) Tier 4 renewable energy solicitation issued in January. Once finalized, NYSERDA will submit the negotiated contracts for these awarded projects to New York's Public Service Commission for consideration and approval. If the Tier 4 contract is approved, NYSERDA payments under this award will not commence for each respective project until the project has obtained all required permits and local approvals, is constructed and delivers power to New York City, which is expected to begin in 2025 for CHPE and 2027 for CPNY.

 

“We are ending the age of fossil fuels,” said Ben Furnas, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Sustainability. “These transformative investments to bring clean electricity into New York City will clean our air, create great jobs, and protect our planet. This is a generational crisis, and New York City and New York State are rising to the challenge.”

 

NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, "Investing now in these major renewable energy infrastructure projects will bolster the state's economic recovery at a time when New Yorkers truly need it and will accelerate our progress in providing clean, resilient, renewable energy to some of the state's most densely-polluted and underserved communities. Under Governor Hochul's leadership, New York is using every tool at its disposal, including this impactful large-scale renewables and infrastructure program, to accelerate our progress towards the State's nation-leading climate and clean energy goals while harnessing the power of the wind, sun and water to spur private investment, economic development and job creation across the state."

 

“New York is taking a bold step towards decarbonization,” said Hydro Québec President and CEO Sophie Brochu and DI CEO Don Jessome. “By selecting the CHPE transmission line project, the State will be reducing carbon emissions as soon as 2025 and building the long term backbone infrastructure needed to support local renewable energy, all the while making sure that local com munities receive direct benefits. We are honored that our permitted, fully buried, construction ready transmission project has been chosen to join other important renewable projects as the State and City work toward achieving their important climate man dates. We commend Governor Hochul, NYSERDA president and CEO Doreen M. Harris, Mayor de Blasio and the many leaders in New York City, the State Senate and Assembly and local communities for their commitment to bringing new clean energy to New York State. We look forward to quickly delivering the project’s benefits, including new jobs, cleaner air, new tax dollars, and increased economic activity to New York State as soon as possible.”

 

Clean Path NY leaders Jeff Blau of energyRe, Michael Polsky of Invenergy, and Gil C. Quiniones of the New York Power Authority said, "Clean Path NY is the most significant U.S. renewable energy infrastructure investment in this century and a defining project for the advancement of clean energy in New York - one that will dramatically reduce carbon emissions, catalyze green jobs across the state, provide crucial environmental justice benefits and fundamentally change the way our State is powered. Pairing innovative wind, solar, and storage projects with state-of-the art transmission to bring clean energy directly to New York City, Clean Path NY will be a truly transformative renewable energy project. We thank Gov. Hochul for her leadership and NYSERDA for their partnership, and we look forward to delivering Clean Path NY for the benefit of all New Yorkers."

 

ALEKSANDER MICI CHALLENGES MARJORIE VELÁZQUEZ TO A SERIES OF DEBATES

 

"Marjorie Velázquez needs to clarify her positions and assure our community that she is not lying to us."

"Well Marjorie, are you willing to defend your positions?"

 Aleksander Mici, Republican candidate for New York City Council in the 13th District in the Bronx, today challenged Democratic candidate Marjorie Velázquez to a series of four debates throughout the district.

Debate #1 (Week of October 4th): Quality of Life Issues

Debate #2: (Week of October 11th): Law & Order and Police Issues

Debate #3: (Week of October 18th): Up-zoning Issues at Bruckner Blvd Development site

Debate #4: (Week of October 25th): Local Issues

Aleksander Mici said, "What's clear is that my opponent's positions are unclear. Regarding up-zoning in our community, she is either lying to Open New York, or lying to us. She can't have it both ways, which is why I have challenged her to a series of debates, including one in front of the Bruckner Blvd site in question. She MUST be transparent with the community and let us know her positions on issues important to us. How can she expect to represent us in the City Council when she refuses to make her positions known?"

Since Velázquez is endorsed by Open New York, an organization that expressly advocates for "policies that encourage ... upzoning for greater densities, raising height-limits and reducing setbacks, and streamlining the approval process for social housing," and yet has also stated that she opposes up-zoning on Bruckner Blvd., her actual positions are unclear.

Mici concluded, "I escaped to America from a communist dictator - I know the evils of one-party rule firsthand. The voters of the 13th Council District in the Bronx deserve to know the positions of their candidates. I pledge to work with my opponent on scheduling these four debates at mutually convenient times and locations, if she will commit to participating in them. Well Marjorie, are you willing to defend your positions, or even make them known at all, publicly, so our community can make an informed decison?"

Marjorie Velazquez (D)

Alex Mici (R)

EDITOR'S NOTE:

It is imperative that the district hear from the candidates like they did four years ago. We encourage both candidates to participate, and I offer my services a to be the moderator of any or all debates. 

I moderated the 2018 congressional debate for the 14th Congressional District as an impartial political reporter for the Parkchester Times. My list of media credentials has grown since then to include the Bronx Chronicle, The Coop-City News, and I am the host of Parrot T. V. Talking Politics, a one hour You Tube show. I also have full New York City Police Department Media Credentials, and a blog and Facebook group dedicated to Politics and Community News.