TAXI MEDALLION RELIEF PROGRAM IN FULL SWING, WITH 1,000 OWNERS IN THE DEBT FORGIVENESS PIPELINE

 

 Mayor Bill de Blasio today shared an update on the City’s $65 million Medallion Relief Program (MRP), announcing that 57 loan restructuring deals have been approved, delivering $10.4 million in debt cancellation to financially distressed Owners. In total, the program could bring $500 million of debt forgiveness to thousands of Individual Medallion Owners. As of this week, 1,000 medallion owners have reached out and completed appointments with the TLC’s Owner/Driver Resource Center, beginning the potentially life-altering process of analyzing and renegotiating loans on an individual basis for maximum relief. The TLC anticipates that a significant portion of the renegotiations would take place by the end of the calendar year. 

“With 57 Owners having deals in place and 1,000 more in progress, the Medallion Relief Program is having a real impact, not just on paper and in ledgers, but in the lives of people who believed – and continue to believe – in New York City’s present and future,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “The MRP is having a stabilizing effect on the market and preserving an institution that has given as much to our city as the women and men who are its backbone.” 

 

"The TLC is fully committed to the success of the Taxi sector and its Medallion Owners/Drivers,” said TLC Commissioner and Chair Aloysee Heredia Jarmoszuk. “We encourage individual Taxi Owners with high medallion-related debt to reach out to the TLC Owner/Driver Resource Center to schedule an appointment. Our offer to collaborate with the entire industry and advocates to preserve and advance Yellow Taxis remains, and we are hopeful that we can still come together to ensure that all available financial resources reach each Owner/Driver in need."

 

“Taxi drivers work tirelessly to provide essential transportation for New Yorkers and those that visit our City,” said DCWP Commissioner Peter A. Hatch. “We are pleased to partner with TLC, NYLAG, and others to provide drivers/owners with free legal assistance and financial counseling to help manage and reduce their debt, and give them the tools they need to thrive and achieve financial stability.” 

 

“NYLAG is excited to be moving this work along on behalf of yellow taxi medallion owners,” said Associate Director, Consumer Protection Unit at NYLAG Rose Marie Cantanno. “We know yellow taxicab medallion owners provide a vital function for this city, and we are pleased to be helping ensure that continues for years to come. This week alone has offered the opportunity to move forward over two dozen cases, and with many others to follow!” 

 

About the Medallion Relief Program

 

The City of New York will provide $65 million in grants to economically distressed individual medallion owners. This includes $20,000 as a down payment to restructure loan principals and set lower monthly payments, as well as up to $9,000 for monthly debt relief payments.

 

Many medallion owners will have over $200,000 in debt forgiven, and loan payments reduced to about $1,500 or less per month. Some owners will achieve total debt erasure through settlements.

 

TLC's Owner/Driver Resource Center, which offers a range of free financial counseling and legal assistance for TLC Licensees, as well as connecting them with government benefits and health and wellness resources, has already served over 1,000 licensees. TLC Licensees in need of these services can call 311 or visit nyc.gov/taxi to make an appointment.

 

91 Days and Counting

 

They shoved me to the side at the Bronx Democratic Party Dinner, as they treated current Governor David Patterson, Excuse me Kathy Hochul, as if she was going to win next year's Democratic primary. I have dumped on the Bronx just about my entire eight years in office, but this past year with Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie I opened a new YMCA in Speaker Heasties, and Bronx Democratic Party Leader Jamaal Baileys districts. 

After me on the same platform Attorney General Tish James spoke, and then it was NYC Public Advocate Jumanne Williams. With the close race that Governor Hochul had with Jumanne Williams for Lieutenant  governor, it should be easy for one of the most popular people in the state to win. I should win hands down in next years Democratic primary for governor. I'll just have to wait and see who the Republicans put up against me. 

Affordable Housing Lottery Launches for 186 East 205th Street in Bedford Park, Bronx

 

The affordable housing lottery has launched for 186 East 205th Street, an eight-story residential building in Bedford Park, The Bronx. Designed by Badaly Architects and developed by Franco Sukaj, the 42,524-square-foot structure yields 62 residences. Available on NYC Housing Connect are 19 units for residents at 130 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $41,143 to $167,570.

Residents will have access to a shared laundry room and outdoor green spaces. Units include name-brand appliances and finishes, air conditioning, energy-efficient appliances, and hardwood floors.

186 East 205th Street in Bedford Park, Bronx via NYC Housing Connect

At 130 percent of the AMI, there are five studios with a monthly rent of $1,200 for incomes ranging from $41,143 to $124,150; nine one-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $1,600 for incomes ranging from $54,858 to $139,620; and five two-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $1,950 for incomes ranging from $66,858 to $167,570.

Prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than October 20, 2021.

Latin Kings Member Charged With The 2017 Murder Of Joshua Flores

 

 Audrey Strauss, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Dermot Shea, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the unsealing of a five-count Superseding Indictment charging JONATHAN GARCIA, a/k/a “Jayo,” with racketeering, murder in aid of racketeering, firearms, and narcotics offenses, in connection with GARCIA’s involvement in the 2017 murder of Joshua Flores, a/k/a “Monster,” and offenses committed by GARCIA as a member of the Latin Kings, including the Black Mob tribe of the Latin Kings.  GARCIA was arrested today and will be presented before U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel W. Gorenstein in Manhattan federal court.  The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Valerie E. Caproni. 

U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “Latin Kings, like other gangs, solve disputes with intimidation and violence, as Jonathan Garcia allegedly did when he shot and killed Joshua Flores in 2017.  Acts such as this endanger the public and wreak havoc on the neighborhoods where gangs have entrenched themselves. We will continue our partnership with the NYPD and FBI to stop the proliferation of deadly gang violence on the streets of our City.”

FBI Assistant Director Michael J. Driscoll said: “Violent street gang like the Latin Kings use brutal tactics in their pursuit of illegal drugs and firearms, terrorizing all those who stand in their way. Basing status within the gang on a member’s violent acts is a stark illustration of their utter lack of respect for human life. For his alleged acts of violence, Mr. Garcia now faces a possible lifetime in federal prison.”

As alleged in the Superseding Indictment[1] unsealed today in Manhattan federal court and statements made in public filings:

GARCIA is a member of a racketeering enterprise known as the Latin Kings, and specifically, the set or “tribe” of the Latin Kings known as the Black Mob, which operates in the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, and Long Island.  In order to enrich the enterprise, protect and expand its criminal operations, enforce discipline among its members, and retaliate against members of rival gangs, members and associates of the Black Mob committed, conspired, attempted, and threatened to commit acts of violence; distributed and possessed with intent to distribute narcotics, including heroin, fentanyl, and crack; committed robberies; and obtained, possessed, and used firearms.  In December 2019 and April 2021, several members and associates of the Black Mob, including its senior-most leaders, were charged with racketeering offenses, narcotics conspiracy, and firearms offenses.

Since at least in or around 2012, GARCIA has been a member of the Latin Kings.  On or about May 18, 2017, GARCIA shot and killed Joshua Flores, a/k/a “Monster.”  The murder elevated GARCIA’s status within the Latin Kings, including the Black Mob. 

GARCIA, 27, of Queens, New York, is charged with: (1) conspiracy to commit racketeering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1962(d) and 1963, which carries a maximum term of life in prison; (2) murder in aid of racketeering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1959(a)(1) and 2, which carries a mandatory term of life in prison or death; (3) murder through the use of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 924(j)(1) and 2, which carries a maximum term of life in prison or death; (4) narcotics conspiracy, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 846 and 841 (b)(1)(A), which carries a maximum term of life in prison and a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison; and (5) use of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Sections 924(c)(1)(A) and 2, which carries a maximum term of life in prison, and a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison, which must be served consecutively to any other term of in prison.  The maximum potential sentences and the mandatory minimum sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge. 

Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and NYPD. 

This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation.  OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.  Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

The charges in the Superseding Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Superseding Indictment constitutes only allegations, and every fact described herein should be treated as an allegation.

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - OCTOBER 1, 2021

 

48,015 Vaccine Doses Administered Over Last 24 Hours  

37 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday

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

"New Yorkers are continuing to make progress in the fight against COVID," Governor Hochul said. "While trends remain positive, it is important we remain cautious and do our part to stop this pandemic. Wash your hands, wear a mask, and get vaccinated - it's as simple as that." 

  

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Test Results Reported - 220,916
• Total Positive - 5,187 
• Percent Positive - 2.35%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 2.52% 
• Patient Hospitalization - 2,169 (-101) 
• Patients Newly Admitted - 251 
• Patients in ICU - 520 (-10) 
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 295 (+3) 
• Total Discharges - 201,079 (+308) 
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 37 
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 44,587 

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 - 56,758 

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 - 25,279,437 
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 48,015 
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 378,747 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 81.7% 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 73.6% 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 84.2% 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 75.5% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 69.1% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 62.1% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 71.4% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 63.8% 

NYS Office of the Comptroller DiNapoli Releases Bond Calendar for Fourth Quarter

 

Tentative Schedule Includes $5.05 Billion of New Money and Refunding Debt Sales

 New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli today announced a tentative schedule for the planned bond sales for New York State, New York City and their major public authorities during the fourth quarter of 2021.

The planned sales of $5.05 billion include $3.06 billion of new money and $1.99 billion of refundings and reofferings as follows:

• $4.08 billion scheduled for October, of which $2.26 billion is for new money and $1.82 billion for refunding or reoffering purposes;
• $967 million scheduled for November, of which $796 million is for new money purposes and $171 million is for refunding purposes; and
• no issuances have been scheduled for the month of December at this time.

The anticipated sales in the fourth quarter compare to past planned sales of $6.75 billion during the third quarter of 2021, and $6.28 billion during the fourth quarter of 2020.

The State Comptroller’s office chairs the Securities Coordinating Committee, which was created by Gubernatorial Executive Order primarily to coordinate the borrowing activities of the state, New York City and their respective public authorities.  All borrowings are scheduled at the request of the issuer and done pursuant to their borrowing programs.

A new schedule is released every quarter and updated as necessary. The schedule is released by the committee to assist participants in the municipal bond market. It is contingent upon execution of all project approvals required by law. The collection and release of this information by the Office of the State Comptroller is not intended as an endorsement of the proposed issuances it contains, many of which will be subject to approval by the Office of the State Comptroller.

The prospective fourth quarter calendar includes anticipated bond sales by the following issuers: the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York, the Environmental Facilities Corp, Empire State Development, the Hudson Yards Infrastructure Corporation, New York City Housing Development Corporation, New York City Municipal Water Finance Authority, New York Liberty Development Corporation, the State of New York Mortgage Agency, and the Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority.

Calendar:

Securities Coordinating Committee (SCC) Forward Issuance Bond Calendar

VAN NEST NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE(VNNA) OCT MONTHLY MEETING –7PM–10.4.21 IN-PERSON MEETING

 

Welcome old and new members! Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance –

October Monthly Meeting– Monday October 4, 2021 – 7PM

October Mtg Guest — Aleksander Mici (R) November Mtg Guest — Marjorie Velázquez (D)

October Meeting will be Nominations, so members please attend.

Senator Biaggi's Week in Review: 9/27/21-10/01/21

 

Dear Community,

Earlier this week on Monday, Governor Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio allocated $27 million in financial relief for undocumented New Yorkers who experienced damaging flooding during Hurricane Ida. The funding will be distributed by New York State’s Office for New Americans to New Yorkers who are not eligible to receive storm recovery assistance through the FEMA Individual Assistance Program or other means. To apply, call the ONA Hotline at 1-800-566-7636 and visit the Hurricane Ida Recovery section below for more information.

This week, I was also proud to join the New York Taxi Workers Alliance at their rally Wednesday night to demand true debt relief for New York’s taxi workers. Thousands of New York City’s taxi drivers were deceived into believing they were buying into a prosperous and better life by purchasing a medallion, but instead were burdened with hundreds of thousands in debt due to artificially inflated medallion prices.

Instead of protecting taxi drivers, the City government profited off of them, making over $850 million off of medallion-owning drivers, while drivers barely made enough to survive, were forced to file for bankruptcy, and some even felt compelled to take their own lives due to the insurmountable debt that they faced.

Earlier this year, NYC announced a $65 million taxi relief fund to help debt-burdened drivers restructure their loans. However, taxi workers believe that this plan was not enough, as it would still leave drivers in debt, with large monthly payments. The New York Taxi Workers Alliance is now demanding that the City take more significant steps to remedy this crisis and give taxi workers debt relief now. 

The City has a responsibility to offer a city-backed guarantee to lenders to restructure the loans to terms that the drivers can afford and implement the demands made by the NY Taxi Workers Alliance. No longer should drivers be forced to choose between putting food on the table or paying off their medallion debt. 

Lastly, I will be attending the Women’s March this Saturday in Westchester to demand that we protect reproductive rights for all. Marches will be held nationwide. Find one near you at https://womensmarch.com/. I hope to see the community there! 

With Gratitude,

State Senator Alessandra Biaggi

Financial Assistance for Undocumented New Yorkers: Undocumented New Yorkers impacted by Hurricane Ida who are ineligible for storm recovery assistance through the FEMA Individual Assistance Program can now apply for financial relief through the state. To apply, call the ONA Hotline at 1-800-566-7636 or visit any of the locations below. The application period will close on Friday November 26, 2021. 

The following organizations will provide assistance:

• Bronx - Catholic Charities Community Services, 402 East 152nd Street, Bronx, NY 10455 
• Brooklyn - Chinese American Planning Council, 4101 8th Ave, 4th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11232 
• Queens - 
  • MinKwon, 133-29 41st Avenue, Suite 202, Flushing, NY 11355
  • Make the Road, 92-10 Roosevelt Ave, Jackson Heights, NY 11372 
• Staten Island - Make the Road, 161 Port Richmond Ave, Staten Island, NY 10302
• Nassau - Economic Opportunity Commission of Nassau County, 134 Jackson Street, Hempstead, NY 11550
• Suffolk - Make the Road, 1090 Suffolk Ave, Brentwood, NY 11717 
• Westchester & Rockland - NeighborsLink, 27 Columbus Ave, Mount Kisco, NY 10549  

✦✦✦

Apply for FEMA financial assistance: New Yorkers may be able to receive funds for other uninsured or under-insured disaster-caused expenses and serious needs, such as repair or replacement of personal property or funds for moving and storage, or medical, dental, and child care. The last day to apply for FEMA assistance is November 5th. 

Federal disaster assistance is not just for homeowners. It’s also available to eligible renters, and can cover such expenses as furniture, job-related equipment, vehicle repair, even disaster-caused medical and dental bills.

If you have renter’s insurance, first call your insurance provider to file a claim. Then apply with FEMA. If you are insured, you must provide FEMA with information from your insurance provider, which may include a settlement or denial. FEMA rental assistance is intended to cover the monthly rent and cost of essential utilities (i.e., gas, electric and water). FEMA grants may also be used for security deposits but not for telephone, cable or internet service.

The link to apply for FEMA financial assistance can be found here: www.disasterassistance.gov. 

The phone numbers to call are 1-800-621-3362 and TTY 1-800-462-7585.

You will need the following to complete your FEMA claim:

• Social Security Number (SSN) OR the SSN of a minor child in the household who is a U.S. Citizen, Non-Citizen National or Qualified Alien
• Annual Household Income
• Contact Information (phone number, mailing address, email address*, and damaged home address)
• Insurance Information if you have (coverage, insurance company name, etc.)
• Bank Account Information (if you are eligible to receive financial assistance, the money can be deposited in your account)

*Note: You must provide an email address if you want to review your registration status online. If you do not provide an email address, you will be required to contact FEMA for any updates to your registration.