Housing Lottery Launches For The Bryant At 1115 East 165th Street In Longwood, The Bronx

 

The affordable housing lottery has launched for The Bryant, an eight-story residential building at 1115 East 165th Street in Longwood, The Bronx. Designed by Magnusson Architecture and Planning and developed by New Destiny Housing, the 69,450-square-foot structure yields 62 residences. Available on NYC Housing Connect are 24 units for residents at 50 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $25,886 to $64,450.

Residents will have access to bike storage lockers, shared laundry room, computer room, library, lounge, media room, children’s playroom, a doorman, live-in super, and a community center with on-site social services for low-income or formerly homeless households with special needs. Units include energy-efficient appliances, hardwood floors, and air conditioning.

The Bryant at 1115 East 165th Street in Longwood, The Bronx via NYC Housing Connect

At 50 percent of the AMI, there are 13 studios with a monthly rent of $682 for incomes ranging from $25,886 to $47,750; six one-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $865 for incomes ranging from $32,503 to $53,700; and five two-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $1,049 for incomes ranging from $39,703 to $64,450.

The Bryant at 1115 East 165th Street in Longwood, The Bronx via NYC Housing Connect

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 29, 2021.

New York City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce - Upcoming Events in October

Thursday, October 7, 2021 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM EDT

Register here

Thursday, October 7, 2021 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM EDT

Thursday, October 7, 2021

8:30 AM – 6:00 PM EDT

Register here

Register here

Register here

Register here

Register here

Register here

 

Two Individuals Convicted of Murder and Extortion of Queens Business Owner

 

Defendants Killed the Owner of Family Business While Trying to Collect a Debt

 A federal jury in Brooklyn convicted Ppassim Elder, also known as “Bsam,” “Big Sam” and “Sam,” and Wilbert Bryant, also known as “Will” and “La,” of extortion, bank fraud, firearms and murder offenses.  The verdict followed a three-week trial before by United States District Judge William F. Kuntz, II.  When sentenced, the defendants face up to life in prison.

Jacquelyn M. Kasulis, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI); and Dermot F. Shea, Commissioner, New York City Police Department, announced the verdict.

“With this verdict, a jury has held the defendants accountable for their heinous crimes, including the murder of a Queens business owner while attempting to collect a debt they claimed was owed by the victim’s son,” stated Acting United States Attorney Kasulis.  “This Office and our law enforcement partners are working tirelessly to protect the communities in our district from violent criminals like the defendants who will now face very serious consequences for their actions.”  Ms. Kasulis also expressed her appreciation to the Queens County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance during the investigation and prosecution.

As proven at trial, on the morning of October 23, 2017, Bryant and two other perpetrators walked into Garden Valley Distributors, a family-owned wholesale distribution business located in Ozone Park, Queens.  The perpetrators said that “Big Sam” had sent them to collect his money.  Earlier that year, Elder, who was known as “Big Sam,” had given the murder victim’s son money, which the son used to support the business.  When Elder demanded full repayment, the son was unable to repay the debt because much of the money had been used to purchase merchandise for Garden Valley.  Elder then began a campaign of intimidation against the son and his family.  On one occasion, Elder paid co-conspirators to throw a rock through a window of the victim’s home.  On another, Elder barged into the family home, intimidating members of the victim’s family.  Finally, Elder dispatched Bryant and two co-conspirators into Garden Valley business where, on October 23, 2017, the perpetrators brandished a firearm, pistol-whipped the son and fatally shot the father in the face. 

In addition to the murder, Elder extorted another person whose brother had stolen the proceeds of a fraud scheme committed by Elder.  Although the victim was not involved in the theft, Elder nonetheless punched him in his face in front of his daughters, breaking and bloodying his nose in order to “send a message” to the victim’s brother.  Elder and Bryant were also convicted of bank fraud conspiracy for lying to banks about the true owner of certain bank accounts, which permitted Elder to defraud innocent victims across the country, including an elderly man who lost over $30,000 when he was tricked into believing he was purchasing a car and another individual who lost over $150,000 when he was defrauded into believing he was purchasing two real estate properties.  Elder was also convicted of crimes committed after his arrest in this case, including stealing his attorney’s identity and lying to federal officials.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  As part of the program, U.S. Attorneys’ Offices work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement and their local communities to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.  

Three Current and Former NYPD Officers Charged with Bribery

 

In Exchange for Bribes, Two NYPD Officers Steered Damaged Vehicles to a Tow Truck Company Operated by a Former NYPD Officer

 An indictment was unsealed in federal court in Brooklyn charging James Davneiro, Giancarlo Osma, and Michael Perri with one count of conspiracy to violate the Travel Act and one count of using interstate facilities to commit bribery.  During the relevant period, Davneiro, Osma, and Perri were New York City Police Department (“NYPD”) officers assigned to the 107th Precinct in Queens.  Perri retired from the NYPD in June 2020.

The defendants were arrested and are scheduled to be arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Lois Bloom.

Jacquelyn M. Kasulis, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Dermot Shea, Commissioner, NYPD, announced the charges.

“As alleged in the indictment, these defendants disgraced their badges and betrayed the public trust and their oaths as police officers by lining their pockets with cash bribes,” stated Acting U. S. Attorney Kasulis.  “We will continue to root out and prosecute corruption by those who are sworn to enforce and uphold the law.”  Ms. Kasulis also thanked the National Insurance Crime Bureau for its assistance with the case.

“Accepting bribes as a law enforcement officer in lieu of following legal procedure is against the law and won't be tolerated. Those charged today aren't representative of the tens of thousands of men and women who serve the NYPD with honor day in and day out and, as such, will be held accountable for their alleged crime,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll.

“The NYPD cleans its own house. Corruption is a crime and a violation of a police officer’s sworn oath. This investigation is the third phase of an ongoing case where our Internal Affairs Bureau investigators left no stone unturned. I want to thank our FBI partners from the Public Corruption Unit, and the prosecutors of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York who have helped guide this case throughout,” stated NYPD Commissioner Shea.

Beginning in approximately May 2020, after Davneiro and Osma responded as NYPD officers to automobile accidents, they would steer the damaged vehicles to a licensed tow trucking and automobile repair business operated by Perri, instead of using the NYPD’s Directed Accident Response Program, as legally required. That program requires the NYPD to identify appropriate licensed tow trucking and automobile repair businesses to respond to automobile accident scenes and remove damaged vehicles.  In exchange for steering the removal and repair of damaged vehicles to Perri’s business, Perri paid Davneiro and Osma thousands of dollars in cash bribes.

The charges in the indictment are merely allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.  If convicted, the defendants face up to five years in prison.

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - OCTOBER 3, 2021

107,640 Vaccine Doses Administered Over Last 24 Hours

30 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday

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

"New Yorkers continue to battle COVID-19 every day across our state, and we can't sit idly by and accept that situation—we have to continue fighting this virus," Governor Hochul said. "The vaccine is the way forward, and we have to get as many eligible New Yorkers to take the shot as soon as we possibly can. New York State maintains numerous convenient vaccination sites and we have ample supply, so don't hesitate to get your shot right away."

 

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Test Results Reported - 194,919
• Total Positive - 4,584
• Percent Positive - 2.35%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 2.44%
• Patient Hospitalization - 2,151 (-26)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 246
• Patients in ICU - 525 (+0)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 285 (+0)
• Total Discharges - 201,610 (+267)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 30
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 44,641

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 - 25,478,584
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 107,640
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 456,925
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 82.0%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 73.9%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 84.4%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 75.7%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 69.4%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 62.4%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 71.5%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 63.9%

State Parks Announces Federal Grant Supporting LGBT Heritage Research in Greenwich Village

 

Fifth Grant Supports Project Begun in 2014

Nine Greenwich Village Properties Named to State, National Historic Registers So Far

 Marking LGBT History Month in October, the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation announced today the award of a $49,999 federal grant from the National Park Service to expand State and National Registers of Historic Places documentation for the Greenwich Village Historic District in Manhattan.

The grant was made under the National Park Service's Underrepresented Community Grants Program, which works towards diversifying nominations submitted to the National Register of Historic Places. The grant will be facilitated by Park’s Division for Historic Preservation and the New York City LGBT Historic Sites Project, a cultural heritage initiative documenting the city’s LGBT heritage.

State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said, "Greenwich Village, a site of layered social, art, and culture movements, holds a singular place in the nation’s LGBTQ history. It is of the utmost importance that we preserve the Greenwich Village landscape for future generations to understand the accomplishments, struggles, and fortitude of the individuals that have paved the way to expand LGBTQ rights.”

While the Greenwich Village Historic District was originally listed in the Registers in 1978, documentation then did not acknowledge the significant role that the LGBT community played in the history of the village.

In 2014, State Parks received a $49,999 federal grant to help launch the New York City LGBT Historic Sites Project to supplement research in the historic district. This was followed by another $49,999 federal grant in 2016 and additional grants of $25,000 in 2018 & 2019.

The latest grant will expand the registers’ documented history of the historic district, adding important scholarship on LGBT history that encompasses early 20th century LGBT culture and contributions, through late 20^th century, an era of extraordinary significance due to the impact of AIDS epidemic.

Amanda Davis, Manager of the NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project said, "In the 1920s, Greenwich Village emerged as one of the world's most famous LGBT enclaves, building a presence that continues today through sites of activism, arts and culture, community, nightlife, and residence. Creating an LGBT overlay to the Greenwich Village National Register Historic District will officially recognize the transformative contributions that the LGBT community has made to this famed neighborhood and, we hope, will inspire other historic preservationists to look for and document queer history within new or existing historic districts throughout the country going forward."

October’s LGBT History Month was founded in 1994 by Missouri high school teacher Rodney Wilson. The month-long celebration promotes LGBTQ+ role models and documents the contributions of the LGBTQ+ community.

So far, nine New York City properties have been listed on the National Register due to the project, with the most recent being the Women’s Liberation Center, the first permanent advocacy space for women’s and lesbians’ organizations in New York, and Raisin in the Sun author Lorraine Hansberry’s residence in New York City. 

The Stonewall Inn State Historic Site, a New York City bar and site of a 1969 uprising widely recognized as a key turning point in the LGBT rights movement, was the first such site of its kind in the nation to be added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.

State Parks has subcontracted the Greenwich Village District amendment project to the NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project, which so far has documented the history of more than 350 sites across the city, including residences, stores, performance venues, bars and restaurants, organizational and community spaces, medical facilities, and cultural and educational institutions.

The project has documented these locations on its website http://www.nyclgbtsites.org/ and disseminates its content through social media at @nyclgbtsites.

In 2018, State Parks honored the NYC LGBT Sites Project team with a state Historic Preservation Award for its ground-breaking, nationally significant work.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, which are visited by 78 million people annually. For more information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit www.parks.ny.gov, connect with us on Facebook, or follow on Instagram and Twitter

90 Days and Counting

 

Let me get ready for my Monday morning media advisory. Let's see, I am going to have to go over the public schools, the vaccination rate, and COVID indicators. I am going to have to go to Staten Island to commission a new ferry at lunch time. Then I have a taping later with Errol Louis for the 7 PM Inside City Hall show on NY1. 

I wonder what questions those pesky reporters are going to have for me, so I better make sure my moderator does not call on any pesky reporter that I don't want to be questioned by. That goes for that pesky reporter from the Bronx, who always puts me into a corner with his questions, so he is on my do not call on list.

Attorney General James' Statement on Wayne LaPierre’s Re-Election to NRA Board

 

 New York Attorney General Letitia James today released the following statement after the National Rifle Association (NRA) yesterday announced that Wayne LaPierre was re-elected to the NRA board as executive vice-president:

“The NRA’s decision to re-elect Wayne LaPierre and other top leaders yesterday despite the detailed evidence of repeated fraud and self-dealing we have laid out in our lawsuit and during the bankruptcy trial underscores that board governance is broken and that the rot runs deep at the NRA. For years, Mr. LaPierre and his lieutenants used the NRA and its donors as a breeding ground for personal gain and to live a lavish lifestyle, which is why they must be removed. Our fight for transparency and accountability will continue because no one is above the law.”

In August 2020, Attorney General James filed a lawsuit against the NRA and four of the organization’s current or former top executives for failing to manage the NRA’s funds; failing to follow numerous state and federal laws, as well as the NRA’s own bylaws and policies; and contributing to the loss of more than $64 million in just three years. The suit was filed against the NRA as a whole, as well as LaPierre, former Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer Wilson “Woody” Phillips, former Chief of Staff and Executive Director of General Operations Joshua Powell, and Corporate Secretary and General Counsel John Frazer.

This past January, in an effort to avoid accountability altogether, the NRA filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy even though the organization still claimed to have healthy financial reserves. Over the course of the bankruptcy trial, LaPierre and other senior leaders, including incoming NRA President Charles Cotton and incoming First Vice-President Willis Lee, admitted that the bankruptcy was simply a way of avoiding New York’s enforcement action, yet still stated that they believed that New York courts and judges could be trusted to fairly and impartially oversee the case. In May, a federal bankruptcy court in Texas rejected the organization’s claims of bankruptcy after the NRA sought to reorganize in Texas, stating, “that the NRA did not file the bankruptcy petition in good faith.”

Attorney General James’ suit against the NRA, LaPierre, and the other defendants continues.