Thursday, January 20, 2022

Transcripts, Exhibits, and Videos From Independent Investigation Into Sexual Harassment Allegations Against Former Governor Cuomo Released


Video Testimony, Transcripts, and Exhibits of Staff and Outside Advisors Released Today 

 The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) today released the final set of videos, transcripts, and corresponding exhibits from the independent investigation into sexual harassment allegations against former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. On August 3, 2021, after nearly five months of investigating, the independent investigators appointed by New York Attorney General Letitia James — led by Joon H. Kim and Anne L. Clark — released their report concerning the multiple allegations of sexual harassment by Cuomo. Following the release of the report, multiple district attorneys asked that the OAG refrain from publicly releasing transcripts and other evidence so that their offices could first investigate and determine whether to file criminal charges against Cuomo.

However, following the filing of a criminal complaint against Cuomo on October 28, 2021 in Albany County, the Albany County District Attorney’s Office informed the OAG that it would begin releasing evidence to Cuomo to comply with New York state’s discovery laws. These laws state that once someone is charged with a crime, they must be furnished transcripts and other evidence in their case. As these materials have been released by the Albany County District Attorney’s office — and in an effort to provide full transparency to the people of New York — the OAG informed local district attorneys that it would immediately begin releasing, on a rolling basis, all transcripts, corresponding exhibits, and videos compiled during the investigation, pending redactions to protect the privacy of individuals, as appropriate. This rolling release of evidence began on November 9, 2021.

The investigation was conducted after, on March 1, 2021, the Executive Chamber made a referral, pursuant to New York Executive Law Section 63(8), for Attorney General James to select independent lawyers to investigate “allegations of and circumstances surrounding sexual harassment claims made against the governor.” Kim and Clark were chosen to lead the investigation on March 8, 2021.

The transcripts, exhibits, and video testimonies being released today include former Executive Chamber staff, outside advisors, and other witnesses:

  • Peter Ajemian
  • Video Testimony (Transcript and Exhibits previously released)
  • Rich Azzopardi
  • Video Testimony (Transcript and Exhibits previously released)
  • Stephanie Benton
  • Video Testimony (Transcript and Exhibits previously released)
  • Alphonso David
  • Video Testimony (Transcript and Exhibits previously released)
  • Jill DesRosiers
  • Video Testimony (Transcript and Exhibits previously released)
  • Linda Lacewell
  • Video Testimony (Transcript and Exhibits previously released)
  • Annabel Walsh
  • Video Testimony (Transcript and Exhibits previously released)

Transcripts and exhibits previously released can be found on the OAG website.

Posted by at No comments:

Hollywood Executive Pleads Guilty To Defrauding New York Investment Fund Of Over $30 Million

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that WILLIAM SADLEIR pled guilty to two counts of wire fraud in connection with his participation in two schemes relating to investments made by a New York-based investment fund (the “Fund”) in Aviron Pictures, LLC and its affiliated entities (collectively, “Aviron”). SADLEIR is scheduled for sentencing on May 10, 2022, at 10:30 a.m., by U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer, who presided over yesterday’s plea.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:  “William Sadleir used his talent for selling stories to con a New York investment fund out of over $30 million using a fake company, fake documents, and even a fake identity.  In a brazen plot that could be ripped from one of the films he distributed, Sadleir even made up a character that he named ‘Amanda Stevens,’ and masqueraded as her in an effort to get away with his fraud. We called a wrap on Sadleir’s scheming, and he now faces significant time in federal prison.”

According to the Complaint, Indictment, and other court filings:

The Fund is a publicly traded, closed-end investment fund.  Shares in the Fund trade on the New York Stock Exchange.  As of in or about December 2019, the Fund had approximately $649.1 million in assets.

WILLIAM SADLEIR was the chairman and chief executive officer of Aviron, and oversaw its operations from in or about 2015 until in or about December 2019.  Aviron participated in the distribution of a number of films in the United States, including My All American (2015), Kidnap (2017), The Strangers: Prey at Night (2018), A Private War (2018), Destination Wedding (2018), Serenity (2019), and After (2019).

SADLEIR engaged in two fraudulent schemes relating to an approximately $75 million investment made by the Fund in Aviron.

In one of the schemes (the “Advertising Scheme”), SADLEIR misappropriated millions of dollars in funds from Aviron that had been invested in Aviron by the Fund.  SADLEIR represented to the Fund that this money had been invested by Aviron in pre-paid media credits with the advertising placement company MediaCom Worldwide (“MediaCom”), which is a subsidiary of the advertising and media agency GroupM Worldwide.  Instead, using the bank account for a sham entity he had created, SADLEIR illicitly transferred out of Aviron over $25 million of those funds.  Specifically, SADLEIR created a sham New York-based company called GroupM Media Services, LLC (the “Sham GroupM LLC”) designed to appear to be the legitimate entity, GroupM Worldwide, and a corresponding bank account in the name of that sham entity.  SADLEIR then used a significant portion of those illicitly transferred funds for his personal benefit, including to purchase a private residence in Beverly Hills for approximately $14 million.  SADLEIR then falsely represented to the Fund that Aviron had purchased an approximately $27 million balance in pre-paid media credits with MediaCom that were available to promote future Aviron films, and pledged a portion of those credits to the Fund as collateral for additional loans, when in fact the claimed credits did not exist.  As part of these false representations, SADLEIR also created a fake identity of a purported New York-based female employee of the Sham GroupM LLC named “Amanda Stevens” who corresponded with a representative of the Fund, assuring the Fund that Aviron had an approximately $27 million balance in pre-paid media credits with the Sham GroupM LLC.  But SADLEIR himself posed as Amanda Stevens when engaging in email exchanges with a representative from the Fund.

In the other scheme (the “UCC Scheme”), SADLEIR engineered the illicit and fraudulent sale and refinancing of assets worth over $3 million that secured the Fund’s loans to Aviron.  The Fund had secured its investment in Aviron by, among other means, obtaining UCC liens in 2017 and 2018 on certain intellectual property and other assets relating to Aviron’s films.  In 2019, SADLEIR used the forged signature of one of the Fund’s portfolio managers on releases to remove the Fund’s UCC liens on certain of these secured assets.  SADLEIR did so in order to sell or refinance the assets without the Fund’s consent, thus depriving the Fund of its collateral on outstanding loans.  Aviron ultimately defaulted on those loans.

SADLEIR, 67, of Beverly Hills, California, pled guilty to two counts of wire fraud, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.

The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Williams praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  He also thanked the Securities and Exchange Commission for its cooperation and assistance in this investigation. 

Posted by at No comments:

Van Cortlandt Park Alliance - Tell Councilman Dinowitz Van Cortlandt Park Needs His Support!

 


Van Cortlandt Park and other NYC Parks need your advocacy. 

 

Just the other day, the Mayor asked City Agencies to cut their budgets by 3%.*

NYC Parks cannot afford to do this!

 

NYC Parks is already chronically underfunded and understaffed: there are not nearly enough City Park Workers, Gardeners or PEP officers. In fact, approximately just 300 Park Enforcement Patrol officers are expected to patrol every park in all 5 boroughs. In the Bronx, there are currently fewer than 30 PEP officers!

 

The budget for Parks in other large cities is 2% of the overall budget, on average. In NYC, it is 0.5%!!

Considering 14% of NYC is parkland, that is just not enough money. Van Cortlandt Park alone is 1,146 acres and serves nearly 3 million visitors a year. Yet, on a regular day, we have 2 PEP officers covering the whole park. And their shift is NOT 24/7!

 

NYC Council Members and the Mayor will spend the next few months planning the City’s budget. Councilman Eric Dinowitz is seeking your input on how to spend capital and expense dollars in his district.

 

If you live in District 11, please help Van Cortlandt Park and take a few minutes to complete this Google Form.  

 

1. Question: Where would you like to see capital dollars invested in District 11? 

Answer: Parks & Recreation

 

1a. Write in the capital projects you would like to see in Van Cortlandt Park. 

African Burial Grounds: This area needs landscaping, interpretive signage, and a memorial to the enslaved African and Indigenous people who lived, worked, and died on the land that is now the park. 

Birding Bridge: The bridge that crosses the wetland near the golf course is in disrepair and should be replaced. 

Comfort Station: North End of the Parade Ground: This part of the park is in dire need of a restroom facility!  

 

2. Question: What programs and services do you want prioritized in District 11? 

Answer: Check “Other.”  Write in “Parks!”

 

2a. Write in where you think expense funding should go:

Van Cortlandt Park Alliance Educational and Stewardship Programs

Parks Enforcement Patrol

City Park Workers

 

Van Cortlandt Park Alliance is grateful for all of the ways that you support our beloved park.  

Thank you for speaking up for Parks!

 

* Mayor asks City Agencies to cut their budgets by 3%. 


Posted by at No comments:

Morris Park Community Association Meeting With New Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez


Wednesday January 19th was the MPCA meeting where new Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez was introduced, spoke, and took questions. There is another homeless shelter planned for Community Board 11, the third being a third Single Adult Men's shelter for 140 men. Two other Single Adult Men's homeless shelters of 200 men each are already in the process of being built in CB 11.

This 140 bed shelter is located at 2028 White Plains Road at the intersection of Bronxdale Avenue. The building was a former pool and Bingo parlor that closed years ago before the pandemic hit.

Councilwoman Velazquez gave the association ideas on fighting the shelter, and said she can't fight this alone, but with great community support there is a possibility of getting something done. She cautioned that it can not be a NIMBY, because that will not work. Ideas came from the audience, including this reporter telling of questions to former Mayor de Blasio on Fair Share, as to why the Bronx has 37% of the homeless population, while only having 18% of the city's population. The councilwoman continued on that idea, but said the community should be looking for an alternative site for this shelter.


(L - R) MPCA Treasurer Elio Morales, Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez, MPCA President Al D'Angelo, MPCA Vice-President Yahay Obeid, and MPCA Patrol Coordinator Lefty.

Posted by at No comments:

Governor Hochul Releases Feasibility Report for the Interborough Express

Rendering of Interborough Express

Next Steps Include Community Outreach across Brooklyn and Queens and the Environmental Review Process as Directed by Governor in 2022 State of the State  

View Complete Feasibility Study Here 

Project Would Serve 80,000 Daily Riders and Connect to Up to 17 Subway Lines and the Long Island Rail Road    

Travel Time End-to-End Expected to be Less Than 40 Minutes


 Governor Kathy Hochul and Metropolitan Transportation Authority Acting Chair and CEO Janno Lieber today unveiled the results of a yearlong study assessing feasibility of the Interborough Express, the transformative transit project which would connect communities in Brooklyn and Queens to as many as 17 subway lines and the Long Island Rail Road, and significantly reduce travel times within and between the two boroughs.

“Infrastructure is all about connection, and with the Interborough Express we can connect people to their family and friends while also improving their quality of life,” Governor Hochul said. “The Interborough Express will connect Brooklyn and Queens, not only shaving time off commutes but also making it easier to connect to subway lines across the route. With the completion of the feasibility study, we can move forward to the next phase of this project and bring us one step closer to making the Interborough Express a reality for New Yorkers.”

The feasibility study’s results indicate that it is indeed physically feasible to accommodate passenger traffic alongside the existing freight rail traffic, that there is significant demand, and that Bus Rapid Transit, Light Rail, and conventional Heavy Rail are all options in terms of the possible modes of transit.

As announced in Governor Hochul’s 2022 State of the State, the MTA’s next step is to conduct required state and federal environmental review processes, which will also include public engagement to gather input from communities, elected officials, and other key stakeholders to further the process of determining the most appropriate mode of transit.

The Interborough Express would use the existing right-of-way of the Bay Ridge Branch, which is a freight rail line that runs through Brooklyn and Queens, connecting ethnically and socioeconomically diverse neighborhoods such as Bay Ridge, Sunset Park, Borough Park, Kensington, Midwood, Flatbush, Flatlands, New Lots, Brownsville, East New York, Bushwick, Ridgewood, Middle Village, Maspeth, Elmhurst and Jackson Heights. The project would include several new connections in neighborhoods that currently lack efficient connections to each other, and in some cases, to Manhattan.

According to the study, up to seven out of ten people served will be from communities of color, approximately one-half will come from households with no cars, and approximately one-third will be living in households at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Line.    

MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, “MTA riders deserve a reliable and wide-reaching transit system that promotes equity, and this study proves The Interborough Express will provide better access to jobs, education and economic opportunities for some 80,000 New Yorkers in Queens and Brooklyn. I want to thank Governor Hochul for her leadership on this exciting project and look forward to working with local communities to get work underway.”   

The project could provide potential connections to up to 17 subway lines, (2,3,5,7,A,B,C,D,E,F,J,L,M,N,Q,R,Z) serving areas of Brooklyn and Queens while initial studies indicate up to 80,000 daily weekday riders with annual ridership of approximately 2.5 million. Travel times between Brooklyn and Queens could be reduced by up to 30 minutes each way, depending on travel distance.       

Proposed service would operate at up to five-minute headways during the peak periods, with off-peak headways of up to 10 minutes at other times of the day. The number and location of stations along the 14-mile corridor will be determined as part of the forthcoming environmental, planning, and engineering studies. Additionally, transportation planners believe the new service would work in concert with the Cross-Harbor Rail Freight Tunnel project, which is why Governor Hochul directed the Port Authority to complete the environmental review for the freight tunnel as she mentioned in her State of the State address. Increasing rail service and reducing truck traffic could have a significant impact on the region.   

Determining fares will be the responsibility of the MTA Board at time of implementation; they are expected to be equivalent to standard subway fares.   

The Interborough Express could take many different forms depending on factors such as operating mode, service frequency, station locations and relationship with existing freight tracks. The total project cost will be determined as part of the forthcoming environmental review and design process.   

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, “The Interborough Express would be a game changer for the many Brooklyn and Queens residents who lack sufficient access to public transit. This project has the potential to reduce travel times for up to 80,000 New Yorkers each day while also cutting down on traffic congestion and pollution. The MTA is the engine that moves New York City and I’ll keep fighting to make sure it gets the federal funds it needs to provide reliable, safe, and efficient transportation to every New Yorker.”

Representative Jerry Nadler said, “The Interborough Express is an important project that has the potential to expand transit access to underserved neighborhoods in Brooklyn and Queens. This project can and should co-exist with the Cross Harbor Rail Freight Tunnel project which would finally connect the New York metropolitan region to the national freight rail grid by removing trucks from our streets and diverting them to the underutilized rail network. Together, these projects will improve transportation equity and reduce carbon emissions. I am pleased that these projects will be able to take advantage of new federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and I want to thank our Governor, Kathy Hochul, who has become a strong supporter for both projects. I look forward to working with her as these projects move forward to improve transit options for all New Yorkers.”

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said, “The Interborough Express is a creative proposal and a critical step towards our shared goal of providing greater connectivity for New Yorkers living in transit deserts as well as much-needed economic development. By building efficiently on existing infrastructure, we can provide commuting options for hundreds of thousands of potential riders from Middle Village and Midwood and from to Brownsville and Bushwick. I applaud Governor Hochul and am excited to work together on this initiative to move Brooklyn and Queens forward.”

EDITOR'S NOTE:

Some of the subway lines mentioned also run into the Bronx, where new homeless shelters are being built near Bronx subway stations so the working homeless people can use the subway to get to work. Why not include the Bronx subway lines in this project, or does Governor Hochul not care about the Bronx. 

Also shame on Mayor Adams, U.S. Senator Gillibrand, and Congressman Nadler, and all of the Brooklyn and Queens elected officials for not including the Bronx,

New York City consists of five boroughs, which includes Bronx County.

Posted by at No comments:

Congressman Jamaal Bowman Arrested During Voting Rights Protest

 

 Today, Congressman Jamaal Bowman, was arrested alongside at least 20 others, including faith leaders and youth who have been hunger striking for our democracy.

 

“Today, Congressman Jamaal Bowman joined a voting rights non-violent direct action at the North Barricade of the U.S. Capitol Building and was arrested by the U.S. Capitol Police,” said Marcus Frias, Director of Communications for Congressman Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D (NY-16). “We will provide more information and updates as we gather them.”


EDITOR'S NOTE:


We do hope that the congressman and 20 others were not put in the same cell, as the congressman said he found 20 people in one cell during his taxpayer paid trip to the southern border.  


By the way Congressman Bowman, we are still waiting for our interview on your trip to the Southern border, and what else you found out.



Posted by at No comments:

MAYOR ADAMS CREATES MORE EFFICIENT GOVERNMENT BY CONSOLIDATING CITY TECH AGENCIES UNDER NEW OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION


 CTO Matt Fraser Will Lead Office 

Office Will Lead Key City Tech Initiatives Including Closing the Digital Divide and Setting Up MyCity Portal


 New York City Mayor Eric Adams today signed an executive order to consolidate all city technology agencies under a single authority to streamline their operations and foster interagency cooperation. The authority will be granted to the city’s New York City Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Matthew C. Fraser, who will lead the Office of Technology and Innovation.

 

“I made a commitment to New Yorkers that we would leverage technology to improve the delivery of government services and track agency performance in real time, and we are doing just that,” said Mayor Adams. “Before serving as a transit cop, I worked as a programmer at the NYPD, so I understand how important it is to bring our city’s government into the 21st century. With today’s announcement, we are ensuring that all of our technology agencies are unified under one voice and one leader. I thank Matt Fraser for his dedication to this mission, and his commitment to using innovation to ‘Get Stuff Done’ for New Yorkers.”

 

“The Office of Technology and Innovation will streamline technology operations across the city and revolutionize how New York City does business, as well as how the city provides services to its residents and visitors” said Chief Technology Officer Matthew Fraser. “I thank Mayor Adams for his commitment to elevating technology across city government and look forward to working with the entire administration to make government even more efficient and responsive to the 8.4 million New Yorkers who call our city home. We are now entering the era where we can truly use technology in real time to overcome what were perceived to be insurmountable challenges and ‘Get Stuff Done.’”

 

Executive Order 3 delivers on Mayor Adams’s promise to promote the use of civic technology across city government to make agencies more efficient and responsive, while breaking down silos between disparate agencies. It will also ensure the city can collaborate with New York’s burgeoning technology sector, which has continued to grow in recent years despite the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

The Office of Technology and Innovation will be tasked with carrying out Mayor Adams’ key tech initiatives, including the creation of MyCity, a single one-stop shop portal for all city services and benefits, and closing the digital divide. The office will also oversee and coordinate efforts among the following agencies:

  • New York City Department of Information, Technology, and Telecommunications 
  • Mayor's Office of Data and Analytics
  • Mayor's Office of the Chief Technology Officer
  • Mayor's Office of Information Privacy
  • New York City Cyber Command 
  • Algorithms Management and Policy Office
  • NYC 311

 

“Consolidating the city’s overlapping technology agencies, something Tech:NYC has long supported, is crucial to improving how New Yorkers interact with technology day-to-day and how the fast-growing tech sector builds in our city,” said Julie Samuels, executive director, Tech:NYC. “I applaud Mayor Adams for prioritizing this measure, and we look forward to working with Matt Fraser as he leads this new effort.”

 

 

 

 

Posted by at No comments:

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

MAYOR ADAMS, COMMISSIONER RODRIGUEZ, COMMISSIONER SEWELL ANNOUNCE MAJOR NEW ACTIONS & INVESTMENTS TO IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY AT INTERSECTIONS

 

Major Design Changes and Increased NYPD Enforcement Will Target Intersections Where 79 Percent of Pedestrian Injuries Occur

 

Mayor Adams and DOT Commit to Improvements to Make 1,000 Intersections Safer

 

New Traffic Rule Protecting Pedestrians Takes Effect Today


 New York City Mayor Eric Adams today was joined by New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez and New York Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Keechant Sewell to announce major new actions and investments in pedestrian safety at intersections. With intersections the leading site of pedestrian injuries and fatalities, DOT will make design improvements to make 1,000 intersections safer with improved traffic signals, raised crosswalks, and other expanded pedestrian space and visibility measures. Empowered by a new traffic rule protecting pedestrians that takes effect today, the NYPD will immediately begin expanded enforcement against drivers who fail to recognize the primacy of pedestrians in crosswalks. The agencies also announced a new education campaign to ensure that all drivers know the rules of the road.

 

“After the tragedy of 2021, when traffic fatalities in New York City reached their highest level in nearly a decade, we clearly need to turbo-charge Vision Zero — and fast,” said Mayor Eric Adams. “I thank my two commissioners for putting this early focus on enforcement and design within intersections, where we have the tools that can and will save lives.  Drivers need to know that intersections are where most crashes happen — and so if you do not drive safely through them, NYPD officers will make sure you pay a price.” 

 

“Thanks to Mayor Adams’ leadership, we are taking these early actions to save lives,” said Department of Transportation Commissioner Rodriguez. “As we take a new approach to Vision Zero, we know intersections are where pedestrians and cyclists face the greatest dangers — and so we can and will make hundreds of crosswalks safer with a range of treatments, both new ones and more of those that we know work. We will not be complacent or accept any life lost on our streets. My thanks to Commissioner Sewell and the NYPD for their serious focus this year on failure-to-yield, which sends a strong signal to New York drivers about how serious we are about this.”

 

“Ensuring the safety of New York City streets and all who use them is paramount, and this new plan is critical to the NYPD’s important work with its city partners,” said Police Commissioner Sewell. “The NYPD continues to be relentless in enforcing the laws, including this new rule that protects pedestrians crossing city intersections. Through Mayor Adams’ leadership, and by working hand-in-hand with the Department of Transportation in this new approach to Vision Zero, the NYPD will keep innovating to make our streets safer.”

 

Intersections pose a special safety challenge in New York City, where crashes at intersections typically comprise 50 percent of all fatalities and 70 percent of all injuries. For pedestrians, the dangers are more pronounced: 55 percent of pedestrian fatalities and 79 percent of pedestrian traffic injuries occur at intersections. Today’s intersection-focused announcement includes the following elements:

 

DOT Design Toolkit Focus on Intersections

 

DOT announced that in 2022 it would undertake new and expanded efforts focused on intersection design at 1,000 locations, including through: 

 

·     Increased focus on intersections in Street Improvement Projects: DOT will use its full toolkit of street design treatments as redesigns happen, focused on Vision Zero priority geographies, locations where fatalities and serious injuries have occurred, and Priority Investment Areas as detailed in the NYC Streets Plan. These changes include new turn signals and “head-starts” that allow pedestrians to enter the intersection before vehicles can turn.

 

·    Raised crosswalks: DOT will begin a program to construct 100 raised crosswalks at curb level annually. Raised crosswalks serve a dual purpose of increasing accessibility for the disability community, while at the same time serving as speed bumps that slow drivers. This work will be done primarily via a new contract with the New York City Department of Design and Construction.

 

·     Bike corrals at intersections: DOT will “daylight” at least 100 intersections with bike corrals this year, as part of its planned installation of more than 10,000 bicycle racks by the end of 2022. Bike corrals at intersections help provide visibility for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians, while preventing drivers from cutting corners and turning too quickly.

 

·     Parking lot and gas station traffic-calming: Curb cuts at high-traffic locations like parking lots and gasoline stations, often at intersections, can create danger as drivers cut across sidewalks unpredictably — a particular concern for vulnerable student and senior pedestrians. DOT efforts will target dozens of problem locations, largely outside Manhattan, reducing driver “short cuts” and better channeling vehicle traffic to increase visibility and predictability.

 

·     Doubling the Turn-Calming Program: Research has shown that drivers take turns more slowly and deliberately when physical elements are in place to force turns at more appropriate speeds. DOT will double the production of such efforts to 100 intersections this year.

 

Increased Enforcement Within Intersections

 

The NYPD will strongly enforce failure-to-yield (FTY), a violation that especially endangers pedestrians and cyclists at intersections, with a goal of doubling 2021 FTY enforcement efforts.

 

While enforcement will be at intersections citywide, officers will also be empowered by a new DOT traffic rule that goes into effect today for such violations at over 1,200 intersections citywide that are governed by neither a traffic signal nor a stop sign. Under the new rule, drivers and cyclists passing through such intersections must not simply yield but fully stop until a pedestrian has completely crossed the street. The new rule is intended to clarify enforcement and remove any subjectivity from such violations.

 

New “Stop. Let Them Cross” Public Awareness Campaign

 

This month, DOT will begin a public awareness campaign on social media and in community and ethnic media publications to raise awareness for the new stop for pedestrians’ rule for uncontrolled intersections. The message also underscores the importance of slowing down and being aware of pedestrians while driving in New York City.

 

 

Posted by at No comments: