Attorney General James Announces Guilty Pleas of Bronx Nonprofit and Executive Director for Stealing Millions of Dollars Intended for Homeless New Yorkers

 

Millennium Care, Executive Director Ethel Denise Perry, Evaded Taxes, Stole Over $2 Million from Homeless Shelter to Fund Lavish Shopping Sprees

 New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the guilty pleas of nonprofit Millennium Care, Inc. and its executive director Ethel Denise Perry for tax evasion and theft of millions of dollars. Perry evaded taxes for years and stole more than $2 million to support her luxury lifestyle. The money stolen from Millennium Care was meant for the operation of a homeless shelter located at 980 Prospect Avenue in the Bronx.

“Stealing money that is earmarked for people experiencing homelessness is as immoral as it is illegal,” said Attorney General James. “This individual broke the law by failing to pay taxes while taking money from a homeless shelter in order provide a luxurious lifestyle for herself and her family members. Such actions will never be tolerated in New York, and I will continue to do everything within my power to hold those who take advantage of vulnerable communities accountable.”

Millennium Care operated a homeless shelter out of a 100-room hotel owned by Perry in the Bronx. Millennium Care received more than $10 million in funding from the New York City Department of Homeless Services to provide short-term housing services to homeless individuals. Between 2013 and 2016, Perry used Millennium Care as her own personal piggy bank and illegally took more than $2 million from Millennium Care for luxury shopping sprees at retailers such as Tiffany & Co. and Bergdorf Goodman, and to pay for her cars, gym membership, and other personal expenses. Perry also used the nonprofit to hire her brother, William Perry, and nephew, Jose Colon, and paid them far in excess of their reported salaries.

Perry, knowingly and with intent to evade her tax obligations, grossly underreported her income in 2013, then failed to file taxes from 2014 through 2019. In 2018, Perry filed late returns for 2015 and 2016, but underreported her income for those years by hundreds of thousands of dollars.

In New York County Supreme Court on Friday, Perry pleaded guilty to Criminal Tax Fraud in the Second Degree, a class C felony, and Millennium Care, Inc. pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the First Degree, a class B felony. Perry’s felony plea agreement bars her from nonprofit service, and requires her to pay the $1,138,208 that she owes in New York City and state taxes, penalties, and interest during a five-year probation sentence. Millennium Care, Inc. will pay a fine of $2,394,169 and will be dissolved for its participation in numerous regulatory violations and crimes, including failure to make required filings with the Office of the Attorney General’s Charities Bureau and the New York City Mayor’s Office of Contract Services. After the plea was entered Friday afternoon, the Court imposed the promised sentence.

The Attorney General’s Office thanks the New York State Department of Tax and Finance for their assistance on this case.

“This is an appalling case of greed and callous disregard for those desperate for help, one that unfairly tarnishes all the charitable organizations throughout New York who do so much good,” said Acting Commissioner of Taxation and Finance Amanda Hiller. “By flouting her tax obligations, the perpetrator also deprived communities of critical funding for other essential public services. We will continue to work with all our partners in law enforcement to help ensure that justice prevails.”

Governor Hochul Announces Distribution of 3,200 Turkeys Statewide to Provide Support for New Yorkers Facing Food Insecurity Ahead of Thanksgiving

Builds on Governor's Recent Signature to Make Nourish New York Food Program Permanent

Over $100,000 in Generous Donations Went Toward Turkeys for New Yorkers 

Corporations Who Offered Donations Include Amazon.com, Inc., The Coca-Cola Company, Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages, Golub Family Foundation, UJA-Federation of New York, China General Chamber of Commerce, MetLife, and Geico 

New York State Partnered with Feeding NYS to Distribute Turkeys to Families in Need 

A List of Feeding NYS Food Banks is Available Here 

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced 3,200 turkeys will be distributed throughout every region of New York State thanks to donations and a partnership with Feeding New York State. 

"The pandemic has brought unprecedented hardship onto so many New York families. I'm proud to have recently made the Nourish New York program permanent to battle food insecurity and we are thankful to the kindness of corporations statewide and Feeding NYS for working with us to ensure 3,200 households will have turkeys on their tables this Thanksgiving holiday," Governor Hochul said. "As New Yorkers gather together with their families for Thanksgiving, I encourage everyone to please get vaccinated if you haven't already and get the booster shot for an extra layer of defense against COVID. This is an important way to keep yourself and loved ones protected from this deadly virus."

This year's turkey distribution is possible because of the generosity of corporations across New York State including Amazon.com, Inc., The Coca-Cola Company, Liberty Coca-Cola Beverages, Golub Family Foundation, UJA-Federation of New York, China General Chamber of Commerce, MetLife, and Geico.  

Feeding NYS is leading the way on a unified effort for a hunger-free New York State. Feeding NYS supports the ten food banks of New York State by managing statewide grants, they source food for the food banks, partner with farmers and the food industry to encourage donations, educate the public on hunger issues, among other actions. Learn more about Feeding NYS and their work here. 

This announcement comes days after Governor Hochul signed legislation codifying Nourish New York into law. The Nourish New York initiative reroutes New York's surplus agricultural products to the populations who need them most through the state's food banks. Through three rounds of the program, New York's food banks have purchased over 35 million pounds of New York food products, which equates to 29,800,000 meals. In this fourth round, to date, New York's food banks have purchased 6,903,366 pounds of food, creating an additional 5,752,805 meals for households in need. A total of $85 million has been committed to Nourish NY since its launch in May 2020. Nourish NY food purchases have positively impacted 4,178 businesses across the state. 

41 Days and Counting

 

We are heading into the Thanksgiving Holiday where most of you will have a four day holiday. If you are going to visit relatives or having relatives over please make sure you and your guests are vaccinated, or wherever you may be going that the people there are vaccinated, and that you have a safe holiday.

As I thought one reporter this morning asked me if I was going to run for Governor since I was doing so bad in the polls according to that reporter. My answer was that if I listened to the polls I would not be the Mayor of New York City the past eight years. I can't wait to hear tomorrow's questions from the reporters on my call on list. I can only think of what the questions would be if I had the moderator call on any reporter who is not on my short list of reporters to be called on to question me.

Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association Turkey Giveaway

 

Sunday was the Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association Turkey Giveaway, with Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez, an the Albanian American Open Hands Association. in front of 2141 Holland Avenue. Boxes of turkeys were lined up in the vestibule of the building so the turkeys could be given out one by one. PPNA President Edith Blitzer said that almost one-hundred and fifty turkeys were given out. 

PPNA executive board members, AAOHA workers, and volunteers helped give out the turkeys to the people who were waiting for several hours so they could receive a free turkey for Thanksgiving. Bronx Borough President-Elect Vanessa Gibson stopped by to see how things were going and to say hello to everyone. 

PPNA executive board member (L - R) Jacqueline Lutnick, Louis Lutnick, Robert Press, and Elio Morales.

PPNA President Edith Blitzer with volunteers from AAOHA.

PPNA Vice-President Steven Glosser stands outside holding the turkey he is about to put in this woman's bag.

Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez puts this turkey in the bag of this woman.

Bronx Borough President-Elect Vanessa Gibson speaks with Aleksander Nilaj of OPPHA, with PPNA President Blitzer looking on.

Everyone wished each other a happy holiday, and PPNA Blitzer asked BP Gibson to come to the June PPNA meeting the second Tuesday in June. 

Food and Health Empowerment Hosted by Councilmember-Elect Marjorie Velázquez and Senator Biaggi

 

Saturday at the Huntington Free Library in Westchester Square was a panel discussion of elected officials and community leaders to discuss government and community-based solutions to combat food insecurity in the Bronx, followed by a food justice resource fair, turkey, and produce distribution. 

The panel discussion consisted of host Johnathan Cetnarski from the Sylvia Center, Senator Biaggi, Council member elect Marjorie Velazquez, Elizabeth Peralta-Foxwell from Feed Forward, Philip Grant from the Hunt's Point Produce Market, Deepti Sharma from Food to Eat, and Jessica Altagracia Woolford from Kingsbridge Unidos. They discussed the lack of fresh fruit and vegetables boroughwide, and the large number of bad fast food stores in place of healthy food stores. Mr. Grant of the Hunt's Point Produce Market said that the market is open to the public, and he would like to see neighborhood organizations buy more fresh food to distribute to the people who live in the areas they serve.

After the panel finished there was a free food, turkey giveaway, and informational tabling for people who were lined down the block waiting to enter the area. Stagg Developers brought two-hundred turkeys to give away, hundreds of bags of assorted groceries and produce were set up to be given away, and there were tables from various city agencies, and community organizations with valuable information. Bronx Borough President Elect Vanessa Gibson was on hand for the free food and turkey giveaway.

Councilwoman elect Marjorie Velazquez gets the last words in for the panel discussion on food insecurity. Next to her is Philip Grant, the head of the Hunt's Point Produce Market.

The line for the free food giveaway stretched down to Westchester Avenue.

(R - L) Bronx Borough President-Elect Vanessa Gibson, Councilwoman-Elect Marjorie Velazquez, and Ms. Niki Martel stand among the hundreds of bags of groceries and produce that were to be given out, showing the Bronx 'X'.

Extra food that was not put into the bags is lined up to be given out.

More produce sits behind the tables if needed.

(R - L) State Senator Biaggi, Bronx Borough President-Elect Vanesa Gibson, and Councilwoman-Elect Marjorie Velazquez. 

Information tables as people enter the yard for the free food and turkey giveaway.

Bronx Borough President-Elect with Developer Mark Stagg and Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez stand in front of the boxes of turkeys brought by Mark Stagg.

Councilwoman-Elect Marjorie Velazquez has mastered the art of putting the turkey into the shopping cart, as Mark Stagg of Stagg Developers who provided two-hundred turkeys holds the bag for this turkey to be put into.

NYS Office of the Comptroller DiNAPOLI: LOCAL SALES TAX COLLECTIONS IN OCTOBER UP NEARLY 13% FROM 2020

 

Exceeded Pre-Pandemic Levels by 7%

 Local sales tax collections in New York grew by 12.9% in October compared to a year ago, State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced today. Collections for all localities totaled more than $1.5 billion, up $175 million from October 2020.

This growth continues the trend that began in April of monthly sales tax collections exceeding last year’s results. October’s increase also surpassed pre-pandemic levels and was up 7% (or nearly $101 million) over October of 2019.

“Sales tax collections came in strong in October, boosting local revenues,” DiNapoli said. “The consistent growth over the last few months is a positive sign of our economic recovery and life moving forward as we deal with the ongoing reality of COVID-19.”

New York City’s collections totaled $672 million, an increase of 8.3% – or more than $51 million – over October of 2020.

Nearly every county saw year-over-year collections for October grow by double digits, with Monroe County having the largest growth at 37%, followed by Oswego County (35.8%) and St. Lawrence County (30%).

During the last month of each calendar quarter, the Department of Taxation and Finance reconciles quarterly distributions against what had been reported by sales tax vendors for the reporting quarter and adjusts payments to local jurisdictions in those months upward or downward accordingly. During the other months, including October, the payments are based on estimates. The next reconciliation will be reported in mid-January 2022 and will provide more information on the regional picture of sales tax collections for not only the fourth quarter (October through December), but for the entire 2021 calendar year.

Table

Monthly Local Sales Tax Collections by County and Region (for detailed monthly breakdown)

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - NOVEMBER 21, 2021

 

96,564 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.  

"With the colder months and holiday travel season quickly approaching, we know how to prevent the spread of this deadly virus in our communities," Governor Hochul said. "Get the vaccine if you have not already, get the booster shot to add another layer of defense, get tested before gathering with others, and stay home if you feel sick. This is no time to let our guard down."

Today's data is summarized briefly below: 

• Test Results Reported - 191,142
• Total Positive - 6,857
• Percent Positive - 3.59% 
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 3.77% 
• Patient Hospitalization - 2,292 (+43)
• Patients Newly Admitted - 334 
• Patients in ICU - 453 (-2)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 227 (-7)
• Total Discharges - 213,162 (+298)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 31
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 46,221  

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 - 58,789 

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 - 29,087,332
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 96,564
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 694,322
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 85.3% 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 78.0% 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 89.8%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 80.2% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 73.4% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 66.0% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 76.9% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 68.0%

42 Days and Counting - Those Pesky Reporters Tomorrow

 

Six more weeks with New Years Day coming on a Saturday this year or is it next year? Tomorrow is my daily media advisory where I take questions, and I wonder who will be asking me, Mr. Mayor when are you going to declare that you are running for Governor? 

Or will they ask me vaccination questions such as do I support the Dinowitz/Hoylman Mandatory COVID vaccination for children ages 2 - 18, when the CDC has only allowed children as young as age 5 to be vaccinated. Then that idiot Assemblyman Dinowitz said: “As New York continues working to prevent another measles outbreak". Maybe it's time to say I want to introduce term-limits for all state elected office. That should get me many votes to get rid of those who think they have a lifetime job like Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz.