Brooklyn Residents Plead Guilty To Conspiring To Commit Arson In Connection With Burning Of NYPD Homeless Outreach Unit Vehicle

 

 Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that COREY SMITH and ELAINE CARBERRY pled guilty to conspiring to burn a marked New York City Police Department (“NYPD”) Homeless Outreach Unit van in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York, New York, in July 2020.  SMITH and CARBERRY pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman, to whom the case is assigned. 

U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss stated: “As they admitted in court today, Corey Smith and Elaine Carberry committed arson, deliberately setting fire to an NYPD van, then minutes later returning to the vehicle and – once again using an accelerant – ensuring its complete destruction.  Now Smith and Carberry await sentencing for their willful and wanton destruction of a law enforcement vehicle that had been used for outreach to homeless New Yorkers.”

According to the allegations in the Indictment and other documents filed in federal court, as well as statements made in public court proceedings:

On July 15, 2020, shortly after 4:30 a.m., SMITH and CARBERRY set a marked NYPD Homeless Outreach Unit van (“NYPD Van”) on the northwest corner of 12th Street and University Place on fire using ignitable liquid.  More specifically, as surveillance footage shows, as SMITH walked by the NYPD Van, CARBERRY handed SMITH a bottle filled with ignitable liquid and SMITH attempted to set fire to the NYPD Van.  After seeing that the NYPD Van was not fully engulfed in flames, CARBERRY again handed SMITH the bottle of ignitable liquid and SMITH circled back to the NYPD Van with more accelerant, and set it ablaze once more, thereby assuring the complete destruction of the NYPD Van. 

An analysis of the materials found in the NYPD Van confirmed the presence of an accelerant.  The Fire Department of the City of New York (“FDNY”) ultimately confirmed that the fire was deliberately set as an act of arson, resulting in the complete destruction of the NYPD Van. 

CARBERRY, 37, and SMITH, 25, both of Brooklyn, New York, each pled guilty to one count of conspiring to commit arson, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.  In connection with their guilty pleas, both defendants admitted their roles in the arson.  CARBERRY is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Liman on January 5, 2022, at 2:00 p.m.  SMITH is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Liman on January 11, 2022, at 2:00 p.m.

The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants would be determined by the judge.

Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Arson and Explosion Task Force of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the NYPD, and the FDNY. 

Governor Hochul Visits One World Observatory with Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and Mayor De Blasio

 

Earlier today, Governor Hochul visited One World Observatory with Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, and Mayor de Blasio.

DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS ADVISES PROPERTY OWNERS, CONTRACTORS, & CRANE OPERATORS TO TAKE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES DURING HIGH WINDS

   

 The New York City area may experience severe weather, including thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, and potential wind gusts up to 60 MPH, starting tomorrow, Thursday, September 23rd, and continuing into Friday, September 24th. Accordingly, DOB is reminding all builders, contractors, crane operators, and property owners to secure their construction sites, buildings, and equipment.

 

The Department will be performing random spot-check inspections of construction sites around the city. If sites are not secured, the Department will take immediate enforcement action -- issuing violations and Stop Work Orders, where necessary.

Winds may reach higher speeds and last longer than forecast in certain areas of the city. Property owners must consider the safety of their buildings and construction sites, including cranes, suspended and supported scaffolding, hoists, and any other building appurtenances that may come loose from exposure to high winds. Structures that have been subject to deferred maintenance or are in delicate condition could be at greater risk. The Department suggests consulting a professional to advise how to secure construction sites and buildings.

 

To safeguard construction sites, builders, contractors, and developers should take all precautionary measures including but not limited to the following:

 

• Tie down and secure material and loose debris at construction sites.
• Cover electrical equipment from exposure to the weather.
• Store loose tools, oil cans, and extra fuses in a tool box.
• Secure netting, scaffolding, and sidewalk sheds.
• Suspend crane operations and secure crane equipment when wind speeds reach 30 mph or greater.
• Suspend hoist operations and secure exterior hoists when wind speeds reach 35 mph or greater, unless manufacturer specifications state otherwise.
• Brace and secure construction fences.
• Call 911 if there is an emergency on a construction site.

Buildings Bulletin 2015-029 outlines the requirements for vertical netting, debris netting and material-fall protection devices at buildings and construction sites.

To secure a building, property owners should take all precautionary measures including but not limited to the following:

• Bring inside loose, lightweight objects such as lawn furniture, potted plants, garbage cans, garden tools, and toys.
• Anchor objects that would be unsafe outside, such as gas grills or propane tanks.
• Close up and secure patio umbrellas.
• Secure retractable awnings.
• Remove aerial antennas and satellite television dishes.
• Take down tents or follow manufacturer’s instructions to secure them.
• Check to ensure all gutters, roof drains, and down spouts are cleared of debris to allow for proper drainage.

 

New Yorkers are encouraged to call 311 to report non-compliant conditions or 911 to report emergencies at construction sites or buildings. New Yorkers who suspect a building or property has been structurally compromised should call 911.

Under §28-301.1 of the Administrative Code of the City of New York, property owners are legally obligated to maintain their properties in a safe condition.

Department weather advisories are strictly a courtesy to remind property owners to prepare their properties for severe weather and cannot be read to suggest that the Department, rather than the property owner, is responsible for maintaining his or her property.

State Senator Gustavo Rivera on the Resignation of NYS Department of Health Commissioner Zucker

 

"Dr. Zucker’s ability to serve as the Commissioner of Health was hindered beyond repair by his decisions allowing the agency he led on behalf of the people of New York to become a political tool for Cuomo and his allies. His resignation is warranted and another step towards ensuring we hold those who neglected their duties under the Cuomo administration accountable. As we continue to face a devastating pandemic, we need the Department of Health to be fully transparent and functional. I trust that Governor Kathy Hochul will choose a qualified, dedicated public health expert who will turn the Department’s focus to what it should have always been --- to protect and improve the health and well being of all New Yorkers.”   

EDITOR'S NOTE:

Senator Rivera mentions that Dr. Zucker's ability to serve was a political tool for former Governor Cuomo. Senator Rivera was I mean is the Senate Health chair for how long Senator Rivera, and you never questioned Dr. Zucker once on what he was doing, and let's not say that you questioned him when he came before the committee. What policy that you felt was wrong did you prevent Governor Cuomo from installing through Dr. Zucker. In essence, you Senator Rivera should retire and go fishing with Dr. Zucker.

The Latest Cuomo Appointee to Resign - Howard Zucker State Department of Health Commissioner

 

The latest Cuomo appointee to resign

Kevin P. Coughlin/Office of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo

State Department of Health Commissioner Howard Zucker will resign, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Thursday morning. The embattled commissioner has been criticized for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and alleged role in a cover-up of data showing the true COVID-19 death toll among nursing home residents. Hochul said he will remain in his current role until a replacement is named, which Hochul hinted might happen by the early October 45-day mark she has set for staffing up her new administration. “He understands that in this time I've wanted to take the first 45 days to assemble a new team going forward,” Hochul told reporters at a Manhattan press conference. “That process is ongoing, and he understands and he respects that and he also has an opportunity to move on to new ventures, and I appreciate his service.”

NYC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ISSUES TRAVEL ADVISORY FOR THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

 

A Flash Flood Watch is in effect citywide from 4 p.m. Thursday through 8 a.m. Friday

 New York City Emergency Management has issued a travel advisory for Thursday, September 23 through Friday, September 24. According to the National Weather Service, rain and scattered thunderstorms are forecast citywide beginning Thursday afternoon through Friday. Light rain on Thursday morning will become steadier after 2 p.m. with a chance for scattered thunderstorms. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Maximum rainfall rates are forecasted to potentially reach 1 inch per hour. The greatest chance of heavy rain and thunderstorms is from 6 p.m. Thursday through 2 a.m. Friday. There is also a potential for 60 mph wind gusts during periods of heavy rainfall and severe thunderstorms. A total of 1.5 inches to 2 inches of rain are expected with locally higher amounts possible. The National Weather Service has also issued a Flash Flood Watch for New York City beginning at 4 p.m. Thursday, September 23, through 8 a.m. Friday, September 24. A Flash Flood Watch is issued for New York City when there is a forecast for 1 inch of rain per hour for an entire hour.

The New York City Emergency Management Department is prepared, and will monitor the storm and rapidly respond to any potential impacts throughout the city. 

“The City is still working to recover Ida, and we want to ensure that New Yorkers are ready. New Yorkers should prepare for possible thunderstorms that can cause strong wind gusts and moderate rainfall,” NYC Emergency Management Commissioner John Scrivani said. “New Yorkers should give themselves additional travel time and take the appropriate precautions if they must move about the city during the storm.”  

Agency Actions 

  

• NYC Emergency Management is working closely with the National Weather Service to monitor the storm’s track to determine any potential impacts to New York City.  
• NYC Emergency Management has activated the City’s Flash Flood Emergency Plan.
• NYC Emergency Management is hosting daily interagency conference calls with agency partners to coordinate the City’s preparation for the storm. 
• NYC Emergency Management is contact with elected officials and community partners.  
• The Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Sanitation have crews cleaning debris on basins and are canvassing arterial highways for debris, inspecting all known flood locations and cleaning as required.  
• Department of Transportation crews surveyed roadways in the city and will continue to do so throughout the night. 
• NYPD and FDNY will monitor roadway and neighborhood conditions. 

  

Safety Tips 

  

• If you live in a basement apartment, be prepared to move to a higher floor during periods of heavy rain.
• If you live in a flood-prone area, keep materials such as sandbags, plywood, plastic sheeting, and lumber on hand to help protect your home.  
• If you have a disability or access or functional need, make sure your plan addresses how your needs may affect your ability to evacuate, shelter in place, or communicate with emergency workers. Arrange help from family, friends, or service providers if you will need assistance. 
• Exercise caution when traveling. Do not drive your vehicle or walk into areas where water covers the roadway as the water depth may be too great to allow you to cross safely. Use mass transit if possible.
• When outside, avoid walking and driving through flooded areas. As few as six inches of moving water can knock a person over. Six inches of water will reach the bottom of most passenger cars, causing loss of control and possible stalling. One or two feet of water can carry away a vehicle. 
• Stay out of any building if it is surrounded by floodwaters. Avoid flooded subway stations.
• If you see downed electrical wires, do not go near them. Never attempt to move or touch them with any object. Be mindful that tree limbs, leaves, or water can cover downed wires from view. Always stay away from downed power lines because they could be live. 
• Strong winds can bring down trees and power lines and can turn unsecured objects into dangerous projectiles. They can also cause power outages. To prepare for these hazards, New Yorkers should:

• Check the area immediately surrounding your home for unsecured objects or potentially dangerous conditions. Tree limbs, garbage cans, yard debris, or other materials that can be moved by the wind are potential projectiles aimed at your home or parked vehicle.
• Bring inside loose, lightweight objects such as lawn furniture, potted plants, garbage cans, garden tools and toys.

• Report downed wires immediately. If a power line falls on your car while you are in it, stay inside the vehicle and wait for emergency personnel. 

Power Outages 

  

• To prepare for a possible power outage, charge cell phone batteries, gather supplies, and turn your refrigerator and freezer to a colder setting. If you lose power, items that need refrigeration will stay cooler for longer. 
• Make sure your flashlights and any battery-operated radios or televisions are working. Keep extra batteries. 
• If you lose power and have a disability, access and functional needs or use life-sustaining equipment (LSE) and need immediate assistance, dial 911. 
• Do not use generators indoors. 
• Check on friends, relatives, and neighbors, especially older adults and people with disabilities, access and functional needs, or health conditions. Help them to prepare if needed. 

  

Stay Informed 

  

Before and during an emergency, the City will send emergency alerts and updates to New Yorkers through various channels including Notify NYC, the City’s free emergency notification system. Through Notify NYC, New Yorkers can receive phone calls, text messages, and/or emails alerts about traffic and transit disruptions and other emergencies. To sign up for Notify NYC, call 311, visit NYC.gov/NotifyNYC, or follow @NotifyNYC on Twitter.     

Rep. Jamaal Bowman Statement on Deportation of Haitian Migrants

 

 Following the reporting of the pursuit and mass deportation of Haitian migrants near the Texas border, U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman issued the following statement:

"I’m heartbroken by the treatment of Haitian refugees who have recently arrived at the U.S. border. Thousands of people have risked their lives seeking safety and stability, only to be stranded in a horribly unhygienic encampment and threatened with mass deportations. I’ve been especially horrified by images of horses being weaponized and the reins of the horses being used by border patrol officers to detain desperate and vulnerable immigrants seeking asylum. 

 

“As I discussed with Haiti’s Ambassador Bocchit Edmond yesterday, Haiti has recently suffered the compounding tragedies of last month’s earthquake, the assassination of President Jovenel Moise, and the struggle to recover from Hurricane Matthew, all amid the ongoing COVID pandemic. I expressed to Ambassador Edmond my continued support for lasting federal efforts to provide relief to Haiti.

 

“We need to recognize that Haiti has been victimized by centuries of colonial rule and capitalist exploitation. Racism and profiteering have separated families and starved Haiti of resources, much as mass incarceration has separated families and drained wealth from communities of color within the United States. I myself have seen the squalor of migrant detention facilities in Laredo, Texas. It’s clear that our struggles for self-determination and security are inextricably linked. At the border and in our neighborhoods, policy should be based on care and human rights — not mass deportation or mass incarceration.

 

“While I appreciate President Biden’s commitment to raising the refugee cap to 125,000 by the end of the year, we must do much more to offer our Haitian neighbors the safety and stability that all people deserve. We need to expand our humanitarian efforts to provide safety, security and opportunities to those who come to our country seeking asylum. The federal government should grant asylum to Haitian refugees, and Congress should act by including a path to citizenship in our reconciliation package. If the choice is between accepting the parliamentarian’s non-binding recommendation and showing compassion to our neighbors who have suffered so profoundly, our moral obligation is to human life.”

EDITOR'S NOTE:

When Congressman Bowman went to the southern border I requested an interview with him about his trip to the southern border, That was two months ago, and we have not heard from Congressman Bowman or his office since then.

THE NEW CARBON CHALLENGE: MAJOR EXPANSION TO ACHIEVE BUILDING CARBON NEUTRALITY BY 2030

 

The new program expansion will recognize and support leaders in the private, institutional, and non-profit sectors in their commitment to decarbonize select buildings within their portfolio by 2030

 Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced the expansion of the NYC Carbon Challenge, a public-private partnership between the NYC Mayor’s Office of Climate and Sustainability and leaders in the private, institutional, and non-profit sectors, to bring on 13 new participants who have committed to achieving carbon neutrality in select buildings as early as 2030. With buildings being the largest contributor of climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions in New York City, this new pledge will remove more than 360,000 metric tons of carbon emissions—the equivalent of taking more than 78,000 cars off the road—save an estimated $175 million in energy costs, and create approximately 1,000 green jobs.

 

"When faced with a challenge as enormous as climate change, you can count on New Yorkers to take the lead,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. "The new Carbon Challenge is about going bigger, faster, and going together to tackle the climate crisis. Now is the time for industry leaders in New York City to show the rest of the nation how we can decarbonize buildings by 2030." 

 

“Climate change is one of the greatest threats we are facing today, and we must confront this moment with collaboration, ingenuity, and leadership,” said Ben Furnas, Director of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Climate and Sustainability. “I want to thank our Carbon Challenge partners for stepping up to the challenge and showing how sustainably transforming our buildings is possible and necessary to combat the climate emergency.”

 

The 13 partners taking the Carbon Neutral by 2030 pledge include: Barclays, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Empire State Realty Trust, Google, InterContinental New York Barclay, JB&B, Loews Regency Hotel, Marion Scott Real Estate Inc, RiseBoro Community Partnership, StuyTown Property Services, The Westin New York at Times Square, and Yeshiva University.

 

"We're proud to be part of a city that leads on carbon reduction—we signed onto the original Mayor’s Challenge and exceeded the 50% emissions reduction target seven years ahead of the 2025 deadline,” said John Burgess, Director of Facilities at Google. “We congratulate Mayor de Blasio on this bold initiative, and will continue to prioritize sustainability in our New York City offices and beyond."

 

“At InterContinental New York Barclay, we vow to be a considerate steward of New York City, respecting the setting and community for a prosperous future,” said Sofia Vandaele, General Manager at InterContinental New York Barclay. “As an eco-friendly hotel with a rooftop garden and beehive producing hyper-local ingredients for our bar; utilizing energy efficient lighting, heating, and water systems; operating extensive waste management programs and more environmentally responsible practices, we proactively seek ways to better our eco footprint in the destination. We are proud to support the IHG initiative Journey to Tomorrow; a 10-year commitment which aims to focus on two key areas: our people and communities, and our planet. This is at the heart of the company’s purpose to deliver True Hospitality for Good—empowering our people to help shape the future of responsible travel. Last but not least, we join the NYC Carbon Challenge, the latest step in our pursuit, to be a responsible partner for New York City and the world, and we are delighted to join this prestigious group of establishments in the quest to become carbon neutral by 2030.”

 

“We are immensely proud of our commitment to making StuyTown & Peter Cooper Village carbon neutral by 2030,” said Rei Moya, Chief Operating Officer at Beam Living. “Our work so far includes doubling Manhattan’s solar capacity by installing solar panels on the roofs of all 110 of our buildings; replacing 13,000 common area lightbulbs with LEDs; and embedding advanced sensors throughout the complex to help us manage energy use. Achieving the NYC Carbon Challenge’s ambitious target requires ongoing, focused action, which is why we are continuing to investigate ways to bring even more cutting-edge efficient energy solutions to our community.” 

 

“As the challenges posed by climate change become more urgent by the day, members of the real estate industry are continuing to lead the way with innovative approaches to sustainable development and emissions reduction,” said REBNY President James Whelan. “REBNY and its members remain committed to working with City officials on the Carbon Challenge and other critical efforts to achieve our shared goals of addressing climate change and creating a more sustainable city for all.”