Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - NOVEMBER 17, 2021

 

95,434 Vaccine Doses Administered Over Last 24 Hours  

31 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday 

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

"In order to spend the holidays safely with our loved ones, we must stay vigilant in our fight against COVID-19," Governor Hochul said. "If you have not done so yet, get vaccinated. If you have a child, protect them by getting them vaccinated. And if you have already been vaccinated but feel at risk, get your booster shot and we can end this pandemic together."    

Today's data is summarized briefly below:

• Test Results Reported - 160,747
• Total Positive - 6,114 
• Percent Positive - 3.80%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 3.47% 
• Patient Hospitalization - 2,102 (+51) 
• Patients Newly Admitted - 328 
• Patients in ICU - 414 (-8) 
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 225 (-6) 
• Total Discharges - 212,015 (+265) 
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 31 
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 46,101

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 - 58,732 

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 - 28,627,601 
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 95,434 
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 654,701 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 85.0% 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 77.7% 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 89.3% 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 79.9% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 72.9% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 65.8% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 76.2% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 67.7% 

Attorney General James Announces Takedown of Major Drug Trafficking Operation in Capital Region

 

54 Individuals Indicted for Roles in Distributing Heroin, Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Cocaine 

 New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced the indictment of 54 members of a drug trafficking ring for their roles in distributing heroin laced with fentanyl, powder and crack cocaine, and methamphetamine to Fulton, Montgomery, Saratoga, Albany, Rensselaer, Schenectady, and Warren counties sourced from New York City dealers. The year-long investigation led to the seizure of approximately two kilograms of methamphetamine, 1.5 kilograms of cocaine, 14 grams of heroin, four handguns, and $25,000 in cash.

“Dangerous drugs have devastated too many communities throughout our state and claimed too many lives,” said Attorney General James. “As New Yorkers and Americans across the country witnessed the greatest number of drug overdose deaths in history in 2020, the defendants here were allegedly flooding our streets with the very types of drugs that caused this devastation. Today, we are putting an end to their efforts that put New Yorkers in harm’s way. My office will continue to pursue and hold accountable anyone who violates the law. I thank our partners in law enforcement for their critical support in this takedown.”

Today’s takedown was the result of a joint investigation between the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF), the Johnstown Police Department, the Gloversville Police Department, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, the Amsterdam Police Department, the Schenectady Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the New York State Police. The investigation — codenamed “Operation Garage Days” — included covert surveillance and hundreds of hours of wiretaps over numerous targeted phones. 

As alleged in the indictment, the central figures in this narcotics distribution network were Brianna Nichols and Michael Kuntzsch, who often worked together to obtain and sell methamphetamine and cocaine in Fulton County. The investigation also revealed that Nichols had various sources of supply for the methamphetamine and narcotics that she sold to customers who travelled to her from around the Capital Region. Kuntzsch had customers based in Montgomery, Fulton, Saratoga, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties.  

During the course of the investigation, investigators intercepted communications in which Sahib Braan, Miguel John, Christopher Mitchell, and Jordan Thomas plotted and attempted a home invasion robbery of a rival narcotics trafficker in Gloversville. The investigators were able to thwart the robbery plot, intercept the would-be robbers, and seize a loaded handgun that they had planned to use.   

“This case is a good example of how drug dealers have no jurisdictional boundaries and they actually try and use those boundaries to further criminal activity,” said Johnstown Police Chief David Gilbo. “We have shown through this collaborative effort that law enforcement will rise to the challenge and protect our communities. This investigation is the direct result of the hard work done by members of the various agencies involved and shows just how effective law enforcement can be when working together. This case also shows the scale of drugs, weapons, and money that travels through our suburban and upstate communities.”

“Drug dealers do not contain their violence and other negative impacts on our communities to specific jurisdictions,” said Gloversville Police Chief Anthony Clay. “For example, the resources in this investigation were leveraged to prevent multiple home invasions that suspects from other communities intended to commit in Gloversville. This collaboration among the various law enforcement agencies sends a clear message that law enforcement will rise to the challenge and protect our communities. The success of this investigation is the direct result of the hard work done by members of the various agencies involved and shows just how effective law enforcement can be when working beyond their jurisdictional boundaries.”

“This case targeted a trafficking network that was bringing dangerous, illegal narcotics into upstate New York and beyond, with no regard for the damage being done to the local communities,” said State Police Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen. “We will not stand for it. These arrests were only made possible through the combined efforts of our members and our state and local law enforcement partners, and we appreciate this ongoing collaboration.”

“This drug trafficking organization distributed everything from crack cocaine, to methamphetamine, to heroin,” said DEA New York Division Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan. “We are proud to have worked in partnership with our many law enforcement partners and the Office of the Attorney General to dismantle this organization, and others like it, that do nothing but pollute our communities with addictive and deadly drugs.”

The 376-count indictment — unsealed today in Fulton County Court — charges the defendants with various counts of Criminal Sale and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance (class A, B, C, D felonies) and Conspiracy in the Second Degree (class B felony).  

Those charged in today’s indictment include:

Walter Allen, 51 years old, Gloversville, NY

Darnell Alston, 49 years old, Gloversville, NY

Zionna Belknap, 21 years old, Gloversville, NY

Everett Russell Bishop, 48 years old, Wilton, NY

Toni Borromeo, 45 years old, Gloversville, NY

Sahib Braan, 30 years old, Troy, NY

Octavius Brooks, 24 years old, Binghamton, NY

Lamar Brown, 35 years old, Gloversville, NY

Christopher Clark, 39 years old, Amsterdam, NY

Lawrence Cross, 34 years old, Gloversville, NY

Daniel Degnan, 30 years old, Gloversville, NY

Stephen Dingman, 27 years old, Gloversville, NY

Floyd Everson, 47 years old, Port Jefferson, NY

Megan Grubb, 32 years old, Gloversville, NY

Alex Hanson, 26 years old, Potsdam, NY

Sean Hines, 38 years old, Gloversville, NY

Tina Jackson, 49 years old, Gloversville, NY

Ryan Jacques, 40 years old, St. Regis Falls, NY

Miguel John, 26 years old, Saratoga Springs, NY

Donald Johnson, 39 years old, Johnstown, NY

John Kaminski, 43 years old, Fort Johnson, NY

Christopher Kippen, 41 years old, Schenectady, NY

Adam Krzeski, 37 years old, Gloversville, NY

Michael Kuntzsch, 33 years old, St. Johnsville, NY

Thomas Laverpool, 30 years old, Brooklyn, NY

Andre Lewis, 52 years old, Gloversville, NY

Dylan Mailloux, 30 years old, Little Falls, NY

Kenneth McKiver, 29 years old, Gloversville, NY

Ernest McMikle, 35 years old, Gloversville, NY

Shakona Mikula, 25 years old, Gloversville, NY

Donovan Millhouse, 25 years old, Gloversville, NY

Christopher Millington, 37 years old, Gansevoort, NY

Christian Mitchell, 33 years old, Troy, NY

Khalif Mitchell, 35 years old, Hudson, PA

Adonta Moore, 24 years old, Gloversville, NY

Brianna Nichols, 25 years old, Gloversville, NY

Barbara Parker, 47 years old, Gloversville, NY

Wayne Platt, 37 years old, Gloversville, NY

George Ramson, 43 years old, Rotterdam, NY

Dalton Remines, 28 years old, Galway, NY

Jacquelynn Ross, 36 years old, Gloversville, NY

Dashawn Rowland, 27 years old, Gloversville, NY

Tessa Taylor, 26 years old, Mayfield, NY

Jordan Thomas, 23 years old, Troy, NY

Javiel Tirse, 41 years old, Gloversville, NY

Steven VanAllen, 43 years old, Gloversville, NY

Ross VanAlstyne, 26 years old, Gloversville, NY

Clinton Waddell, 39 years old, Middle Grove, NY

Laquan Warren, 26 years old, Brooklyn, NY

Christopher Williams, 53 years old, Gloversville, NY

Hassan Wilson, 31 years old, Gloversville, NY

Jamar Wright, 38 years old, Johnstown, NY

The charges against the defendants are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty in a court of law. 

In addition to the listed partners, Attorney General James would like to thank Gloversville Police Detective Brian Knecht, who worked under the supervision of Gloversville Police Chief Anthony Clay and Detective Lieutenant Richard Richardson, as well as Fulton County District Attorney Chad W. Brown for their assistance in this investigation. 

MAYOR DE BLASIO CELEBRATES OPENING OF NEW CARIBBEAN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OFFICE AT CATON FLATS

 

Mayor Recognizes Visionary Behind New Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce Office, Presents Special Honor to Family

 Mayor de Blasio joined community members, New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), Department of Small Business Services (SBS) and elected officials today at Flatbush Caton Market in Brooklyn to recognize and honor Dr. Roy Hastick at the grand opening of the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) headquarters. Dr. Hastick, who founded CACCI in 1985, was the visionary and strong advocate for building CACCI office space near a bustling market to help Caribbean-American vendors and small business owners with development, trade, and investment opportunities between the United States and the Caribbean. 

 

“Dr. Roy Hastick was a tireless advocate who worked to promote small businesses and deepen ties between New York City and the Caribbean,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “His legacy lives on in the new permanent headquarters of the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Caton Flats Market, spaces that will spur our small businesses’ recovery and bring us back stronger than before.”

 

“Dr. Hastick’s vision was always to promote small business development, trade and investment opportunities between the United States and the Caribbean. This space is critical in strengthening Brooklyn's Caribbean American, African American and other minority communities economic power. In collaboration with other community leaders, elected officials, city regulatory agencies, the developers and the community at large, today we are able to see the vision come to pass, to the City of New York this space is a gift for you,” said Renee Hastick-Motes, daughter of Dr. Roy A. Hastick Sr.

 

“Strong communities and empowered small businesses are the key to New York City’s success. Caton Flats Market represents the fruits of a successful cross-sector collaboration, which honors the late Dr. Roy Hastick and his leadership of Brooklyn’s vibrant Caribbean-American community,” said Housing and Economic Deputy Mayor Vicki Been. “By listening to and partnering with our community leaders, New York City charges toward a true Recovery For All of Us.”

 

“We are proud to honor Dr. Hastick’s legacy with the opening of CACCI’s new offices at Caton Flats,” said NYCEDC President and CEO Rachel Loeb. “This new space will realize Dr. Hastick’s vision for CACCI and continue to provide Brooklyn’s small businesses and entrepreneurs with the resources, tools, and trainings necessary to help them thrive.”

 

“The grand opening of the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) headquarters is one of the ways we are making our City better by bringing opportunity and economic activity to communities,” said Jonnel Doris, Commissioner NYC Department of Small Business Services. “It’s exciting to see the work of such an important community leader and mentor Dr. Roy Hastick come to fruition as we honor his legacy today. This new space will go a long way in serving the Caribbean American community, aspiring entrepreneurs and small businesses across Brooklyn and the City as they embark on fulling their dreams and aspirations. Thank you to the Hastick family and to the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry for being great partners in getting this done.”

 

NYCEDC, partnering with the City and a coalition of community organizations, transformed the space with the help of BRP Companies. 

 

At the new office, CACCI will continue to offer               

·       Business development and networking opportunities with the public and private sectors

·       Free on-site confidential small business counseling services and technical assistance

·       Minority and women owned business, financial literacy, and business service seminars

·       Assistance with increasing Caribbean based exports to New York City

In addition to the CACCI headquarters, the ground floor will be home to Flatbush Caton Market, featuring upgraded amenities for the Market’s existing small business owners, expanded space for food vendors including a bar, café, and commercial kitchen, as well as flexible classroom space for business trainings and workshops for the community. 

 

BRONX DISTRICT ATTORNEY DARCEL D. CLARK CALLS FOR CHANGES TO STOP YOUTH GUN VIOLENCE

 

Gaps in the “Raise the Age” Law Have Deadly Ramifications in Bronx DA Clark Also Urges More Resources for Prevention and Interdiction

 Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today called for adjustments to New York’s “Raise the Age” law and other measures to address youth gun violence in the Bronx, which has taken the lives of teens and devastated communities at a pace not seen in the city for decades. 

 District Attorney Clark said, “The Raise the Age Law increased the age for criminal responsibility to 18 and established a Youth Part in Criminal Court. It was the right decision, since New York was one of only two states to still treat youths as adults, and it was designed to protect their lives. However, since its inception in 2019, we have seen unexpected consequences that do not promote safety in our community. There are 16 and 17-year-olds with guns who are not being held accountable, recidivists are not being detained, and a gap in the law results in a situation where there is no jurisdiction or supervision for youth who turn 18 while their case is pending in Family Court.

 “The result: we are seeing 16 and 17-year-olds—and some even younger—with multiple gun cases that are not held accountable when sent to family court. They are arrested for gun possession, released, and without proper supervision, they graduate to a fatal shooting, or they are killed by another youth with a gun. We are losing a generation of boys and young men of color in the Bronx. We need to make some modest adjustments to the Raise the Age Law. But even more, we need resources directed toward violence prevention, and we need to stop the flow of guns into our neighborhoods. The cycle of violence has to end.” 

 District Attorney Clark suggests these adjustments to the law:

 1. Make all firearms charges (Penal Law Article 265) eligible for retention by the Youth Part in Criminal Court. There is a requirement that the defendant “displayed” the firearm. As a result, youth who are in possession of a loaded gun see their cases sent to Family Court. If they possess a loaded gun it should be eligible to remain in the Youth Part.

 2. Allow Youth Part judges to access Family Court records, and such records should be made available to all parties to a Youth Part case for the purposes of setting bail, sentencing and alternatives to detention. Judges do not have the authority to access Family Court records, which may contain information that is relevant for purposes of setting bail, sentencing and alternatives to detention. The practical effect of this is that Youth Part judges do not know a defendant’s prior Family Court history. In effect, as far as Youth Part judges know, it is always a youthful offender’s first and only charge.

 3. Give Family Court jurisdiction over 18-year-olds if the offense with which they are charged is alleged to have been committed when the defendant was 16 or 17 years old. The presumption is that a case should be transferred from the Youth Part to Family Court, unless one of three facts exist (causing serious or significant injury, displaying a firearm, or certain sex offenses), or there is a showing of “extraordinary circumstances.” If you commit a crime when you are 16 or 17, and your case goes to Family Court, its jurisdiction ends when you turn 18, so the case ends. This is clearly an unintended consequence.

 District Attorney Clark also called for expanding the funding of services and programming to prevent youth guns violence, and for increasing services such as trauma counseling within the youth detention centers to prevent reoffending. She has also called for increased efforts to stop firearms trafficking.

 To provide examples of the need for changes to the Raise the Age Law, District Attorney Clark cited a recent case in which five 16-year-old boys were indicted on charges related to the fatal shootings of a 13-year-old, a 16-year-old, and the non-fatal shooting of two men, along with car jackings and robberies in the Bronx. One of the murder victims, a 16-year-old, had two prior criminal possession of a weapon cases removed to Family Court.

 She also cited the case of a 16-year-old shot and killed in September, who had two open gun cases in Family Court and one open gun case in the Youth Part prior to his murder; and the case of a 17-year-old charged with the murder of a college student on October 24, 2021. The teen was on probation at the time for a 2020 case. He and a co-defendant were indicted on facts alleging assault robbery and criminal possession of a firearm for robbing a person of a chain. The co-defendant allegedly shot the person. The case was in the Youth Part of Criminal Court. Over prosecutors’ objections, a judge gave him five years’ probation after pleading to the charges.

CONSUMER ALERT: Attorney General James Issues Warning Against Marketing Schemes Aimed at Trapping Consumers into Recurring Payments

 

AG James Provides Tips to Consumers to Avoid Being Tricked into Unwanted Charges  

AG James Warns Industries That New York Law Requires Most Industries to Allow Consumers Who Enroll Online to Cancel Online

 New York Attorney General Letitia James today issued an alert to New Yorkers reminding them to take precaution when presented with deceptive marketing offers that may unwittingly result in recurring charges. This kind of marketing, known as negative option marketing, comes in several forms. Each contains a term or condition under which a seller interprets a consumer’s silence or failure to take affirmative action to reject a good or service or to cancel the agreement as acceptance or continuing acceptance of the offer.

“Consumers should never be tricked into paying recurring charges for goods and services that they are not aware of and did not authorize,” said Attorney General James. “As consumers continue to suffer the financial harms of COVID-19, the last thing companies should be doing is making it harder for consumers to end a service. We encourage any consumer who has been unwittingly trapped by these offers to file a complaint with our office, as we will do everything in our power to protect New Yorkers’ wallets.” 

One example of negative option marketing involves a so-called “free” or low-priced trial offer, where consumers are offered a trial period of a product or service. To receive the trial, consumers are required to submit their payment information, such as a credit or debit card number. However, the trial has additional terms and conditions — which may not be clearly or conspicuously disclosed to the consumer — stating that unless consumers cancel the goods or services by a certain date they are agreeing to continue to receive and pay for them. Often, once consumers discover that they have been unwittingly charged, many companies make it difficult to cancel, resulting in consumers incurring additional charges until they succeed or give up trying.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently issued guidance on this topic, which provides consumers and businesses with the FTC’s interpretations of federal laws and regulations in this area. Earlier this year, New York’s Automatic Renewal Statute, GBL § 527-a, became effective, which provides important consumer protections and adds to the tools available to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to combat problems with this type of marketing.

Under both federal guidance and New York’s laws, businesses engaged in these negative option marketing tactics must follow three key requirements

• Clear and Conspicuous Disclosures
  • Material terms of the offer must include, among other notices:
    • That consumers will be charged for the good or service and how much,
    • That those charges will increase after any applicable trial period ends,
    • That the charges will be made on a recurring basis, unless the consumer timely takes steps to prevent or stop such charges in a timely manner, if applicable, and
    • How to prevent or stop such charges.
  • Internet disclosures should be unavoidable, meaning consumers need not take any action, such as clicking on a hyperlink or hovering over an icon to see it.
  • Written disclosures, including on the Internet, should appear immediately adjacent to the means of recording consumer consent to the negative option feature and should appear before consumers make a decision to buy.

• Informed Consent
  • The consumer’s acceptance of the negative option offer should be obtained separately from any other portion of the entire transaction and should not include any information that interferes with, detracts from, contradicts, or otherwise undermines the consent process.
  • A “pre-checked box” does not constitute affirmative consent.

• Simple Cancellation Processes:
  • It must be just as easy to cancel as it was to sign up.
  • Consumers should be allowed, at minimum, to cancel using the same method they used to enroll, i.e. if consumers accept an offer online, they should be able to cancel online.
  • Consumers should not be subject to new offers or attempts to “save the sale” that impose unreasonable delays on the cancellation effort.
  • New York requires most industries that allow consumers to purchase goods or services via online enrollment to allow consumers to cancel online as well.

In December 2019, Attorney General James co-led a coalition of 23 attorneys general from around the nation in urging the FTC to adopt greatly needed regulations to prevent consumers from being deceived by negative option marketing schemes. In a letter to the agency, Attorney General James and the coalition argued for the FTC to use its rulemaking authority to further expand existing negative option regulations. As part of its recommendations, the coalition recommended that consumers should be allowed to cancel their membership using the same method they used to enroll. The FTC guidance issued late last month states that the FTC is still considering various options, including rule amendments.

Consumers who feel they have fallen victim to a negative option marketing scheme are encouraged to file a complaint on the OAG website or call (800) 771-7755.

The OAG has also settled a number of matters involving deceptive recurring fee-based membership programs, including settlements with dietary supplement manufacturers, an online language learning program, an online apparel seller, and a credit monitoring program.

White Plains Investment Adviser Sentenced To 63 Months In Federal Prison For Embezzlement

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York,  announced that GREGG BRIE, an investment adviser in White Plains, New York, was sentenced yesterday in White Plains federal court to 63 months in prison for fraud in connection with his embezzlement of more than $640,000 from three clients.  BRIE had previously pled guilty to one count of wire fraud and was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Cathy Seibel.

According to the allegations in the Information to which BRIE pled guilty and other court documents:

BRIE embezzled funds from three victims, two of whom lived in his White Plains apartment complex.  He advised his first victim, a disabled man on a fixed income and confined to a wheelchair, to buy shares in Alaska Air Group, Inc.  Bank records show that this victim gave BRIE more than $480,000.  BRIE told his victim that he had opened accounts for him at a brokerage firm and that his stock had increased in value to approximately $8 million.  When the victim asked for his money, BRIE told him that his accounts were frozen because the stockbrokers had done something “sketchy” in order to buy the shares at a lower price.  When the victim attempted to contact the brokerage firm, BRIE told him that he would “murder [him]” if the victim attempted to contact the firm again.  BRIE repeated this threat at least two more times, noting that he meant his threats to be taken “literally, not metaphorically.”

According to written loan agreements drafted by BRIE, the second victim made three loans to BRIE in a total amount of approximately $157,000 “for the purpose of producing and distributing a proprietary, composite unimold commode for use within indigent venues of the African nation of Uganda.”  The third victim loaned $2,000 to BRIE on BRIE’s representation that he was illiquid because he had put all of his cash into the unimold commode project.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (“FBI”) analysis of bank accounts controlled by BRIE showed that BRIE spent the money he obtained from his victims primarily on credit cards and a Mercedes Benz lease.  The evidence showed that there was no brokerage account.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Seibel ordered BRIE, 54, of White Plains, New York, to serve three years of supervised release and to pay forfeiture and restitution, each in the amount of $642,333.33.     

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI.

Permits Filed For 1010 Washington Avenue In Morrisania, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for an 11-story mixed-use building at 1010 Washington Avenue in Morrisania, The Bronx. Located between East 164th Street and Weiher Court, the lot is near the Intervale Street subway station, serviced by the 2 and 5 trains. Joel Landau of Emerald Developers is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 110-foot-tall development will yield 53,961 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 79 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 683 square feet. The concrete-based structure will also have 40 open parking spaces, ground-floor commercial space, two floors above grade for community facility space consisting of an exhibition hall and lecture room, and recreational use of the rooftop.

Kao Hwa Lee Architects PC is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits have not been filed yet. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

Governor Hochul Announces Grand Opening of $35 Million Supportive Housing Development for Families in the Bronx

 

Brand-New Development in Longwood Provides 62 Affordable Homes with On-Site Supportive Services for Families Experiencing Homelessness

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the grand opening of The Corden, a $34.5 million housing development for families in the Longwood section of the Bronx. The new development includes 62 affordable apartments with 37 apartments set aside for homeless families. Previously named The Bryant, the building has been dedicated to New Destiny Housing's former executive director, Carol Corden, who retired in 2020 after 24 years at the helm of New Destiny Housing and a lifetime of service creating affordable housing for New Yorkers in need. 

"My administration is committed to ending homelessness and creating more affordable housing, and by investing in developments like The Corden in the Bronx, families will have access to a permanent home with the amenities and assistance they need to thrive," Governor Hochul said. "These newly built new apartments will allow 62 families to experience the great benefits and stability that comes from having truly good quality homes, allowing them to live safely and securely."  

All households will have access to on-site services including financial counseling, professional development, case management, programming for children, and other services to promote housing security. The project's developer is New Destiny Housing, a New York City nonprofit providing housing to homeless families for nearly 30 years. 

Amenities at The Corden include a multi-purpose program space, library, staff offices for social services, a beautifully landscaped courtyard, and indoor and outdoor children's play areas. Tenants will have access to trauma-informed, on-site services from New Destiny's Family Support Program staff. 

Supportive services and rent are subsidized through the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative and administered by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. 

State funding for the development includes federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits that generated $13.8 million in equity and $1.3 million in subsidy from New York State Homes and Community Renewal and $5.7 million from the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance through the Homeless Housing Assistance Corporation. The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development provided $7.9 million from the Supportive Housing Loan Program. 

Bank of America/Merrill Lynch provided the construction loan for $11.9 million and pre-development funding was provided by Deutsche Bank's DB Share program. Hudson Housing Capital was the tax credit syndicator, with HSBC as the investor. The building was designed by Magnusson Architecture and Planning, PC, built by D.P. Group General Contractors, and built on land jointly owned by the NYC Housing Authority and HPD.