Cleveland Postal Service Manager Sentenced to Prison for Stealing Packages Containing Drugs

 

 U.S. Attorney Bridget M. Brennan announced that Anthony Sharp, 31, of Euclid, Ohio, was sentenced on Wednesday, December 29, 2021, by Judge Donald C. Nugent to 10 years in prison after Sharp admitted to stealing packages from the U.S. Mail that he suspected contained drugs.

Sharp pleaded guilty in August of 2021 to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances, money laundering and theft of mail.

According to court documents, the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (USPS OIG) began an investigation into Sharp, a Cleveland Postal Service Manager, based on suspicion that Sharp was profiling U.S. Mail suspected to contain cocaine, fentanyl and methamphetamine and stealing the packages.

In July of 2021, USPS OIG special agents and postal inspectors observed Sharp arrive at a Cleveland Postal Service processing facility to help sort Express Mail.  Sharp was then observed removing three packages from the mail stream and placing them in a hamper to be transported to his facility.  Once the Express Mail was sorted, Sharp was observed loading all the Express Mail for his facility, including the three packages suspected of containing drugs, into his vehicle.

Sharp was then observed leaving the facility, opening several parcels and arriving at the postal facility that he managed.  Later, Sharp left the facility and was detained during a traffic stop.  A search of his vehicle produced the three packages which were opened and contained methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl.  Law enforcement officers also observed additional Express and Priority Mail parcels opened in the trunk of the vehicle. 

This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.  

A Letter to New Yorkers from New York City Comptroller Brad Lander - January 1, 2022

At this moment of transition for New York City, our communities are facing both anxious uncertainty and expansive opportunity.

We are emerging from a historic pandemic that brought our city to a standstill and took the lives of too many of our neighbors – disproportionately in communities of color. As we start the new year with a new administration, we are still facing down a public health crisis, and we must learn the lessons of this one to ensure we are better prepared for the next ones.

The NYC Comptroller is the city’s budget watchdog, pension fiduciary, and chief accountability officer. The mission is to secure a thriving future for all New Yorkers. The office has the tools and the responsibility to ensure we are budgeting wisely, investing strategically, holding city agencies to their promises, and keeping a sharp eye on the challenges to come.

And there are a lot of challenges.

The city’s glaring gender and racial inequities, highlighted and exacerbated by the pandemic, threaten the long-term prosperity of New York City’s families, neighborhoods, and economy. The climate crisis looms as the biggest long-term risk, not just to NYC’s infrastructure, but also to our investment portfolios and to the very lives of our people.

Some believe there is a conflict between effective government and progressive government. I believe they are mutually essential.

We need big, bold government that can care for people when they need it, educate our children to be leaders in diverse communities, and maintain the infrastructure that holds our lives in common together. But for that to be possible, we must build confidence – confidence which has been badly eroded – in our government’s ability to tell the truth, to plan ahead for emergencies, to deliver services effectively, to spend our public funds wisely, and account for where they’ve gone. To bring us together to solve shared problems and build a common future.

The Comptroller is NYC’s accountant. We often think about accounting as values-free – do the numbers add up, do credits and debits balance?

But the truth is: it’s all about what we value.

If we value our neighborhoods, then we must invest in good transit, truly affordable housing, and resilient infrastructure so that they can remain places where people can afford to live.

If we value a fair economy, then we must ensure that people whose work keeps our city and our economy going get the stability, pay, and dignity they need to care for themselves and their families.

If we value a sustainable future, then we must take action now – through our investments, our infrastructure, our buildings, our transportation – to transition to a green economy.

Our task together over the next four years is to ensure that we are accounting for our shared values. That we are delivering on the promises that NYC government has made to its people for a more just and equitable city.

The numbers must add up to a city where everyone has a chance to thrive.

That is the work ahead of us: to secure a fairer and more sustainable future for all our neighborhoods.

A future where every child can learn and succeed, regardless of their race or class. Where workers are treated with respect, earn fair pay, and can retire with dignity. Where economic opportunity and prosperity is accessible and shared, no matter what neighborhood you live in. Where our sewers, transit, and utilities are ready to withstand the storms to come. Where everyone who calls this city home has a home to live in.

Where our city’s government is our common vehicle for that shared thriving.

I look forward to working hard, every day, side-by-side with you, to deliver on those promises.

Sincerely,

Brad Lander

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - JANUARY 1, 2022

89,675 Vaccine Doses Administered Over Last 24 Hours     

88 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday   

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

“As we fight the winter surge, we need to keep the most vulnerable among us in mind – do what you can to keep others in your community safe from COVID-19,” Governor Hochul said. “Wear a mask, wash your hands, and take advantage of the best tool we have at our disposal – the vaccine. If you haven’t gotten your second dose, do so as soon as possible and get your booster if you’re eligible. We will continue to make vaccines, boosters and testing more widely available as part of our Winter Surge Plan so we can continue to keep each other safe.” 

Today's data is summarized briefly below:   

• Test Results Reported – 384,365 
• Total Positive – 85,476
• Percent Positive – 22.24%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive – 19.79% 
• Patient Hospitalization – 8,451 (+532)
• Patients Newly Admitted – 1,808
• Patients in ICU – 1,112 (+40)
• Patients in ICU with Intubation – 554 (+29)
• Total Discharges – 232,184 (1,334)
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS – 88
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS – 48,496

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 – 61,242

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 – 33,741,158
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours – 89,675
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days – 664,655
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose – 89.2%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series – 80.6%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) – 95.0%
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) – 82.9%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose – 78.1%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series – 69.8% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) – 84.0%
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) – 71.8%

That's It, I'm No Longer Your Mayor

 

As of 12:30 AM I was no longer your mayor. Hey Ruben you were out of a job at 12:01 AM. Let's smile for this photo by my favorite Bronx Reporter who would not stop giving me such hard questions, I told my moderator not to call on him. Are you really going to work for a developer like he said, but I liked that photo of you picking up trash in the park.

At least he can't pick on me anymore now that I am no longer mayor, and he is going to have to do it now to the new Mayor Eric Adams. At least the Bronx will have a better borough president in Vanessa Gibson, and she can't do any worse than you, because you set the bar so low, but then again you took over for someone who wound up working for a developer. They could have waited in announcing that 17 story building in Pelham Bay until you were out of office. Good luck Amigo.

Ice Skating in the Square at Owen Dolan Park

 

Thursday December 30th from 3 - 6 PM Owen Dolan Park in Westchester Square was transformed into an Ice Skating area provided by Magical Entertainment. Fitted hard plastic squares were set up in a rectangular rink, and ice skates were provided free to those who wanted to skate. There were also training aids for the very young children who did not know how to ice skate.

Experienced skaters did have some problems on this hard plastic surface, and they explained that real ice gives a little when an experienced skater tries to push off, whereas the hard plastic did not give at all. In fact many of the skates had to be ground down after being used, because the hard plastic took away the shark edge used on real ice to skate. Those who had the best time seemed to be the young people who knew how to skate, but only did it once in a while. Some said that since they did not skate often it was easy to get use to the hard plastic surface. 

Precast hard plastic squares were set up as in a rectangle shape, with skates that were given to use for free on the wall, and seats to change into the skates before entering the rink. 

Training skating aids were available to those who did not know how to skate. 

Older children such as these boys who knew how to skate, were able to skate on the hard plastic squares set up as a rink.

At times people would fall down, and in order to go skating waivers had to be signed by the person or the parent of a child. 

Because it was a hard plastic surface not real ice, some of the blades of the skates had to be ground down after being used.

Lights were used to allow for skating after the sun went down until 6 PM.

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - DECEMBER 31, 2021

 

137,298 Vaccine Doses Administered Over Last 24 Hours      

80 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday

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

“On this New Years Eve I wish everyone a safe and healthy celebration," Governor Hochul said. “It was a difficult year for so many New Yorkers, lets do the right thing and get vaccinated, and let's welcome the new year with lots of good health and happiness. If we work together and get vaccinated, we can make 2022 the year we beat the pandemic.”

Today's data is summarized briefly below:  

• Test Results Reported - 339,853
• Total Positive - 76,555
• Percent Positive - 22.53%
• 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 17.91%
• Patient Hospitalization - 7,919 (+546) 
• Patients Newly Admitted - 1,718 
• Patients in ICU - 1,072 (+52) 
• Patients in ICU with Intubation - 525 (+7) 
• Total Discharges - 230,850 (+1,194) 
• New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 80 
• Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 48,405
  
  
  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 - 61,242
  
  
  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 - 33,651,483
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours -137,298
• Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days -671,674 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 89.2%   
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 80.6%  
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 95.0% 
• Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 82.8% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 78.0% 
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 69.7%  
• Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 84.0%  
• Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 71.8% 

FIRST LADY CHIRLANE MCCRAY AND DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION ANNOUNCE PLANS TO RELOCATE ARTWORK BY FAITH RINGGOLD FROM RIKERS ISLAND TO THE BROOKLYN MUSEUM

 

As the city moves to close jails on Rikers Island, the agency is planning to relocate the Faith Ringgold painting “For the Women’s House” to a permanent home

 

 First Lady Chirlane McCray and the Department of Correction (DOC) today announced that For the Women’s House, an iconic painting by celebrated artist Faith Ringgold is expected to be moved out of the Rose M. Singer Center (RMSC) on Rikers Island to the Brooklyn Museum, subject to review by the NYC Public Design Commission.

 

“The history of New York City's success is very much about how women contributed in every aspect of the city’s development. But too many of those stories remain untold, particularly for women of color whose achievements were literally erased from history books,” said First Lady Chirlane McCray. “This Administration has made it a priority to showcase unseen and unheralded artworks that give us another perspective on the important issues of our time. I’m proud that this historic painting will be preserved at the Brooklyn Museum where children can see it and know that they too can create works of art that ignite change, expand awareness and fire the imagination.”

 

The mural was dedicated to the women at the Correctional Institution for Women on Rikers Island in January 1972. When men began to be housed at the facility in 1988, the painting was whitewashed before it was saved by an officer. The piece was then restored and relocated to the new women’s facility, the RMSC or “Rosie’s,” where it remains on display.

 

“While we rightly move off Rikers, there is much history to remember and reflect upon,” said DOC Commissioner Vincent Schiraldi. “Bringing this piece into public view is an important part of learning and growing from this history. We thank Faith Ringgold who dedicated her talents to offer a bit of beauty in an otherwise difficult place.”

 

The Administration has advanced several progressive initiatives including: Catalyst Art and Social Justice, the largest ever art exhibition at Gracie Mansion to examine art and social justice through over 75 works by more than 50 artists and activists since the 1960s, and SheBuilt NYC, an effort to create monuments and other public art honoring women. CreateNYC, the City’s first-ever roadmap for cultural investment and equality, has increased equitable funding and support for culture, especially in historically underserved neighborhoods, and provided high-quality arts education for all NYC public school students.

 

Incorporating suggestions given to Ringgold by incarcerated women, For the Women’s House depicts the first female president, professional women basketball players and other positive female role models.  The piece is expected to be added to the Ringgold collection at the Center for Feminist Art at the Brooklyn Museum to ensure it is accessible to the public.

 

In order to replace the artwork, and to promote beauty and healing within the jails, the Art for Justice Fund has kindly offered to fund the creation of a new community mural in RMSC in the space vacated by Ms. Ringgold’s work.

 

Attorney General James Secures $50,000 for RV Owners Who Could Not Obtain Timely Repairs

 

Agreements Require Both Current and Former Owners of RV Dealerships to Make Significant Changes to Business Practices

 New York Attorney General Letitia James announced agreements with the former and current owners of two recreational vehicle (RV) dealerships in upstate New York, Albany RV and Buffalo RV, for failing to provide consumers with timely repairs. The agreements with RV One Superstores, Inc. and RV Retailer East, LLC — the former and current owners, respectively, of Albany RV and Buffalo RV — resolve an investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) that found both companies engaged in deceptive practices and failed to make timely repairs to consumers’ vehicles. The two dealerships have already repaired consumers’ RVs, and RV One Superstores will pay $50,000 to compensate consumers who were harmed by the dealerships’ dishonest business practices. 

“RVs are costly investments, which is why it’s so important that consumers get accurate information and timely repairs when they make these purchases,” said Attorney General James. “Because of our action, repairs have already been completed and consumers will be compensated for delays. New Yorkers can trust that my office will always fight to protect their wallets and help them get what they have paid for.”

Since 2015, the OAG has received approximately 70 complaints against Albany RV and 16 against Buffalo RV. The OAG’s subsequent investigation revealed that many consumers faced lengthy delays when they sought to obtain repairs from the dealerships — waiting weeks or months to schedule or obtain a repair. Many consumers also complained that the dealerships were not responsive to their phone calls and inquiries concerning the status of their repairs. Additionally, some consumers complained that sales representatives misled them during the sales process about the scope of warranty coverage or the condition of the used vehicles they agreed to purchase, or made false promises concerning repairs or cleaning services that would be provided before consumers would take possession of their RVs.

In December 2018, RV One Superstores sold the two dealerships’ assets to RV Retailer East, which has owned and operated the dealerships since that time.

During the course of the investigation and, at the OAG’s request, both the former and current owners made many of the overdue repairs that were the subject of consumer complaints. Additionally, today’s agreements require both the current and former owners to make significant changes to their business practices, including:

• Prohibiting the businesses from misrepresenting any material fact about the condition of an RV or the terms of any warranty or service contract,
• Responding to phone calls and inquiries from consumers who purchased RVs within three business days,
• Providing timely service appointments to consumers,
• Keeping consumers apprised of the status of their RV repairs, and
• Providing consumers with a copy of the warranty, or a written document describing its terms before contracting with them for it.

Consumers who believe they paid for repairs that should have been made without charge from either Albany RV or Buffalo RV are encouraged to file a consumer complaint online on the OAG’s website or contact the OAG’s Consumer Hotline by phone at (800) 771-7755.