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Wednesday, January 26, 2022
SAVE THE DATE : PROJECT HOPE 4/3/22
NYGOP Chairman Blasts Hochul, Legislative Democrats for Refusing to Consider Bail Reform Changes
Langworthy: “If Governor Hochul wanted to make changes to bail reform, it would be done.”
New York Republican Chairman Nick Langworthy today ripped Governor Hochul and legislative Democrats for once again refusing to repeal--or even make any revisions--to their deadly bail reform laws that have created a public safety crisis. Chairman Langworthy blasted Governor Hochul, who could have put changes or repeal in her executive budget, as more proof that she is firmly in line with the radical left.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams in a press conference yesterday called for changes to Democrats’ bail reform laws that would give judges more discretion to keep violent offenders off the streets. Senate Democrats immediately shut down the proposal & so far Hochul has remained silent. She has also refused to condemn Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg’s policy of not prosecuting several crimes and reducing charges to avoid incarceration for many crimes, including ones that involve the use of a weapon.
“If Kathy Hochul wanted to make any changes to bail reform, it would be done,” said NYGOP Chairman Nick Langworthy. “She likes to talk a good game about the importance of safety, but her actions are the exact opposite, keeping New Yorkers trapped in this crisis. She has extraordinary powers through the budget process, but her failure to do anything proves she is firmly in line with the radical left. Perhaps she should spend less time raising special interest money and more time protecting the people of this great state. The only way to stop this madness is with the election of a Republican governor this November.”
Former NYC Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr. - WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW - Those That Voted To Defund The Police
Those That Voted To Defund The Police
You should know that (32) thirty-two members of the New York City Council voted to defund the NYC Police and a mere (17) seventeen voted against it. Practically the entire Bronx Delegation (7 out of 9) members voted in favor of defunding the police. Those members were Vanessa Gibson, Diana Ayala, Andrew Cohen, Andy King, Rafael Salamanca, Richie Torres and Fernando Cabrera. Only two City Council members from the Bronx voted against this outrageous proposition when it was brought to the council floor for a vote. Those two members were Councilman Mark Gjonaj and me.
Among these (32) anti-police voices were other Hispanic, Councilmembers like Francisco Moya from Queens and Ydanis Rodriguez from Manhattan. They decided by voting against the Police, and defunding them, less people would be arrested and therefore our jails would be empty.
How is it that it never occurred to them that by defunding the police, combined with the new bail reform, would create a dangerous environment for the people of New York. Those greatly impacted, with the recent rise in crime and shootings are the most vulnerable of our society, the elderly, children, and those everyday citizens who simply want to live in a safe city where they can make it to work and provide for their families.
As you well know, these days we all feel as if the criminals have more rights and protections than our police officers and we the people. The criminals brazenly commit violence against the police, and against the innocent without fear of repercussions. These policies have greatly emboldened those with the criminal mind who wish to do us all harm. The rise in crime and gun violence is evidence of that.
We have seen news reports that show our police officers being assaulted and mocked when buckets of water and bottles have been thrown at them, and profanities shouted at their faces, with no arrests. Police officers have been ambushed, shot, and killed while sitting in their squad cars. Senior Citizens (the elderly and disabled) have been assaulted, physically beaten in elevators, and hallways in their own residences, people have been shoved and pushed under subway trains, and children have been shot by stray bullets while simply going to McDonalds, or playing outside, even toddlers, and babies have fallen victim at the hands of those who wish to harm us and have been embolden by our elected leaders.
The most recent attacks on police officers came when Police Officer Jason Rivera (age 22) and his partner Police Officer Wilbert Mora were responding to a domestic violence call. P.O. Rivera and P.O. Mora, tragically, were shot and killed. Our prayers go out to both their families and loved ones.
Other violent crimes include an 11-month-old baby girl Catherine Gomez, shot in the face by a stray bullet, a 40-year-old woman, Michelle Go was killed when she was pushed in front of a subway train in Times Square, a 19-year-old girl Krystal Bayron working at a Burger King was shot and killed. Since January 1, 2022, five (5) police officers have been shot. This year 2022 has barely started.
As you could see my dear reader it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that those policies like defunding the police, reducing, and eliminating bail has emboldened the criminal element of our society. It’s time that our elected leaders recognize the impact that their policies have on us the residents of New York City.
These legislators need to wake up immediately and start working on behalf of our communities by first restoring the funds that were gutted out of the NYPD’s budget. They must also restore the support, resources, and tactics that worked and were available to law enforcement that helped reduce crime in our city.
They must restore bail, which will allow the judges and prosecutors to detain and hold those individuals they deem a menace to our society and detain those repeat offenders until their trial date. If necessary, I would suggest that they take a page from former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani’s policies and reinstate “Stop and Frisk”. Why? Because it took illegal guns out of the hands of the criminals, and more importantly it worked to help law enforcement, reduce crime, and help keep New Yorkers safe.
You should also know that mental illness, or drug abuse is NO excuse to have policies that allow the criminally insane to wander the streets and commit violent crimes against New Yorkers. Our legislators need to get to work and get the criminally insane off our streets or we can expect the loss of more innocent lives.
This is Former Councilman Rev. Ruben Diaz Sr. and this is WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW.
DEC ANNOUNCES ACTIONS TO PROTECT NEW YORK’S POLLINATORS BY RESTRICTING USE OF ‘NEONIC’ PESTICIDES
New Requirement for Neonicotinoids Will Help Prevent Potentially Harmful Exposure to Honeybees and Other Beneficial Insects
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced actions to limit the unrestricted use of pesticides that can harm bee and other pollinator populations. DEC is reclassifying certain products containing the neonicotinoid (neonic) insecticides imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, and acetamiprid as “restricted use” to ensure applications are limited to trained pesticide applicators in specific situations. Restricting the use of these pesticides enables DEC to collect new data to determine where, when, and how they are used, as well as their potential impacts.
“Protecting pollinators is a top priority, and today’s action to restrict the use of these neonicotinoid pesticides is another important step in our ongoing efforts to safeguard these species that are crucial to New York’s environment, agricultural economy, and biodiversity,” Commissioner Seggos said. “Reclassifying these pesticides will ensure they are only used in targeted instances by qualified professional applicators, and only available for sale to certified applicators which will further protect public health and the environment.”
New York is committed to promoting the health and recovery of pollinator populations, as highlighted in the State’s Pollinator Protection Plan. Pollinators contribute substantially to New York’s environment and economy. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, pollinators provide approximately $344 million worth of pollination services to New York and add $29 billion in value to crop production nationally each year. The state’s ability to produce crops such as apples, grapes, cherries, onions, pumpkins, and cauliflower relies heavily on the presence of pollinators.
Pesticides represent one of many factors that stress pollinators, and neonicotinoids in particular have been identified as a group of pesticides that, in general, are highly toxic to pollinators. While commercial application of all pesticides is reported to DEC as part of the State’s stringent regulatory oversight, residential applications and sales of general use products to consumers are not. The reclassification ensures proper use by trained applicators and enables DEC to collect sales and use data to estimate and monitor the quantities and locations where these products are used.
The reclassification will take effect on Jan. 1, 2023, allowing time for registrants, distributors, and retailers to prepare for the change in classification. Neonics will be reclassified under DEC’s pesticide regulation authority and pesticide registrants have been notified of the intent to reclassify the applicable products. Products labeled for “limited directed application” to tree trunks and the ground at the base of trees, shrubs, and plants are not included in the reclassification. These products provide cost-effective and unique pest control for residential applications, particularly for invasive species, and limit potential exposure to pollinators.
“Getting ‘over-the-counter’ neonic products off of store shelves marks an important first step in reining in widespread neonic contamination, which we see in New York State’s water and in record yearly losses of bees,” said Dan Raichel, Acting Director of Natural Resources Defense Council’s Pollinator Initiative. “We look forward to continued work with the DEC on even more protections for people and pollinators from these neurotoxic pesticides."
“Reclassifying the neonic insecticides imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, and acetamiprid as ‘restricted use’ takes these dangerous pollinator-killers out of circulation for the everyday consumer and helps to curb their misuse and overuse,” said Caitlin Ferrante, Conservation Program Manager, Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter. “The Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter commends Governor Hochul and DEC for this important action to help reverse the pollinator crisis and we hope today’s announcement will lead to further restrictions of this dangerous insecticide, and recovery of plummeting bird and insect populations.”
“Over the last decade, neonics have come under increasing scrutiny because of their impacts on pollinators—but new evidence demonstrates that these chemicals are harming an even wider range of wildlife,” said Erin McGrath, Policy Manager for Audubon New York. “Exposure to neonics can prevent songbirds from orienting themselves for their migration, cause significant weight loss, and interfere with their reproductive success. We thank Governor Hochul and DEC for taking action to curtail the unrestricted use of neonic pesticides in consumer products, which will help protect birds and the places they need.”
For more information about DEC’s pesticides program, go to: https://www.dec.ny.gov/
Attorney General James Challenges Donald Trump’s Efforts to Stop Lawful Investigation into Him and the Trump Organization
AG Files Motion to Dismiss Trump Lawsuit to Halt the AG’s Investigation, Citing Baseless Arguments and Ignoring the Ongoing State Court Proceeding
New York Attorney General Letitia James today took action to stop Donald J. Trump’s baseless efforts to thwart the ongoing lawful and justified investigation into his and the Trump Organization’s financial dealings. On December 20, 2021, Donald J. Trump took the unwarranted action of filing a lawsuit against Attorney General James in federal court seeking to stop this investigation and interfere with the related state court proceeding. In a motion to dismiss the federal lawsuit, filed today in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York, Attorney General James argues that the lawsuit is a baseless attempt to forum shop and should be dismissed on both procedural and substantive grounds.
The motion to dismiss argues that the federal court should decline to hear the case in deference to the ongoing state court action under well-settled legal doctrines that bar federal courts from considering claims that could be more efficiently and appropriately brought in ongoing state court actions. It also argues that Donald J. Trump and the Trump Organization have acknowledged the legitimacy of this investigation and largely complied with it for almost three years, which precludes them from contesting the basis for the investigation or asserting their claims in federal court.
“This lawsuit is nothing but a baseless and meritless collateral attack by Donald Trump to stop our legal and legitimate investigation into his and the Trump Organization’s financial dealings,” said Attorney General James. “In the three years that we have been conducting this investigation, the Trump Organization and its principles have never challenged the legality of the investigation, until now, when Mr. Trump himself was subpoenaed to testify. We will not be deterred by frivolous lawsuits and will continue to follow the facts of this case because no one is above the law.”
Since this investigation began almost three years ago, neither the Trump Organization nor Donald J. Trump has ever challenged the underlying legal basis for this investigation or the Office of the Attorney General's (OAG) authority to conduct this investigation. In fact, both the Trump Organization and Mr. Trump have acknowledged its legitimacy by largely complying with subpoenas and other legal actions. To date, the Trump Organization has produced more than 900,000 documents, has brought in more than a dozen employees for testimony, and has been subject to multiple orders entered by the presiding state court judge requiring compliance with OAG’s subpoenas. None of these orders has ever been appealed. Only now that Mr. Trump himself has been subpoenaed to testify has he suddenly contested the legitimacy of the investigation.
The motion to dismiss also argues that this case should be dismissed for failure to state a claim. As set forth in OAG’s 113-page supplemental petition recently filed in the state court proceeding, OAG has gathered significant evidence indicating that the Trump Organization used fraudulent or misleading asset valuations to obtain a host of economic benefits, including loans, insurance coverage, and tax deductions, clearly establishing a legal basis for this investigation. Additionally, the judge presiding over the state court proceeding has compelled the Trump Organization and its employees and agents to comply with numerous OAG subpoenas, confirming that OAG has a sufficient factual and legal basis under New York law to issue the subpoenas.
Lastly, Mr. Trump and the Trump Organization are using their federal action to improperly collaterally attack the state court orders entered in New York Supreme Court that rejected their efforts to oppose OAG’s subpoenas and compelled their compliance. Under settled law, Mr. Trump and the Trump Organization are “state-court losers,” and therefore cannot ask a federal court to review and reject the state court orders that required compliance with OAG’s subpoenas.
Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - JANUARY 26, 2022
Statewide COVID-19 Hospitalizations Drop by More Than 500 in Past 24 Hours, Nearly 2,700 Over Past Week
Cases Per 100k (7-Day Average) Continue to Decline in All Regions
158 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday
Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combating COVID-19.
"I am grateful for all the hard work New Yorkers have put in to bring infections down, but our fight is not over yet." Governor Hochul said. "It is important that we continue to wear our masks and get vaccinated. For the parents hesitating to get their children vaccinated, thousands of young New Yorkers across the state have already gotten their shot - it is safe, free, widely available, and the best way to protect your children and keep them in school.
Today's data is summarized briefly below:
- Test Results Reported - 229,992
- Total Positive - 16,519
- Percent Positive - 7.18%
- 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 9.11%
- Patient Hospitalization - 9,335 (-519)
- Patients Newly Admitted - 1,073
- Patients in ICU - 1355 (-78)
- Patients in ICU with Intubation - 796 (-9)
- Total Discharges - 267,121 (+1,282)
- New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 158
- Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 52,305
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 - 65,250
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 - 35,629,331
- Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 66,121
- Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 469,438
- Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 90.7%
- Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 81.8%
- 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) - 84.3%
- Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 79.9%
- Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 71.5%
- Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 87.1%
- Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 73.7%
Co-Founder And Former CEO Of Foreign Oil Company Sentenced To 60 Months In Prison For Failure To File Tax Returns Causing Over $20 Million In Losses To The U.S. Treasury
Damian Williams, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Thomas Fattorusso, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”), announced today that TODD KOZEL, the former Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) of a multi-national foreign oil company, was sentenced in Manhattan federal court to 60 months in prison following KOZEL’s guilty plea to five counts of willful failure to file individual income tax returns for the calendar years 2011 through 2015. U.S. District Judge Kimba M. Wood, who previously accepted Kozel’s guilty plea, imposed today’s sentence.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “For years, Todd Kozel failed to file income tax returns, or pay the federal tax liabilities that were owed under those returns, despite earning millions of dollars in compensation as the CEO of an overseas oil company. Today’s sentence shows that no one is above the law—all citizens must pay their fair share of taxes, including Americans who earn compensation from working in foreign countries.”
IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent-in-Charge Tom Fattorusso said: “U.S. citizens are required to pay taxes on worldwide income from all sources, including income earned overseas. Kozel earned tens of millions of dollars, and as a result, was required by law to pay taxes – more than $20 million – on those earnings. By not paying his fair share, he cheated the American people out of millions of dollars.”
According to the Information and other documents filed in the case, as well as statements made during public court proceedings:
Pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code and attendant regulations, all United States citizens and residents who had annual income in excess of a threshold amount are required to report accurately their income, tax obligations, and, where appropriate, any claim for a refund on a United States Individual Income Tax Return, Form 1040 (“Form 1040”), which must be filed annually with the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). This obligation applies to all sources of income, including income earned through overseas employment and from foreign financial accounts.
From at least in or about 2004 through at least in or about 2014, TODD KOZEL was the co-founder and CEO of a London-based petroleum company with operations in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (the “Oil Company”). During the period 2011 through 2015, KOZEL, a United States citizen, earned substantial compensation as the CEO of the Oil Company, totaling more than approximately $66 million during the five-year period. But despite earning this substantial income, KOZEL willfully failed timely to file any personal federal income tax returns for calendar years 2011 through 2015, resulting in well over $20 million in unpaid federal tax liabilities. As part of his criminal conduct, KOZEL used sophisticated offshore structures, trusts, and bank accounts to conceal a portion of his undeclared income from the U.S. government.
In addition to the prison sentence, KOZEL, 55, of New York, New York, was sentenced to two years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution to the IRS in the amount of $29,462,965.23.
Mr. Williams praised the IRS-CI for their outstanding investigative work on this case, and thanked the Large Business and International Division of the IRS for its assistance.
OPERATION OVERNIGHT EXPRESS: COLLEGE STUDENT INDICTED FOR SELLING 73 FIREARMS TO UNDERCOVER OFFICER
Defendant Allegedly Brought Firearms from Tennessee By Bus; Weapons Included 59 Loaded Guns, Over 40 High-Capacity Magazines
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark and New York City Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell today announced that a 23-year-old man has been indicted on hundreds of counts of Criminal Sale of a Firearm, Criminal Possession of a Firearm and related charges for trafficking 73 weapons and high capacity magazines to the Bronx and Manhattan, where they were sold to an undercover NYPD officer.
District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant allegedly brought these semi-automatic weapons and high-capacity magazines up from the south, sometimes transporting them in a duffle bag by bus. Dozens of the firearms were loaded and four are considered assault weapons. The NYPD worked diligently to intercept these deadly weapons before they hit our streets. Bronxites are dying from gunfire and we cannot tolerate one more illegal gun in our community.”
Commissioner Sewell said, “Stopping traffickers who flood our streets with illegal guns is mission critical in our work to smash the Iron Pipeline. The NYPD’s officers, working with their prosecutorial partners in the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, are the first line of defense in protecting our residents, our families, and our children from the scourge of gun violence and I commend their work in this important case.”
District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Shakor Rodriguez, 23, originally from the Bronx, who was attending Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee, is charged in two indictments totaling 304 counts. He was arraigned January 24, 2022 on 79 counts including Criminal Sale of a Firearm, Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Criminal Possession of a Firearm, and Possession of Ammunition before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Albert Lorenzo. He was remanded and is due back in court January 31, 2022.
On December 23, 2021 he was arraigned before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Efrain Alvarado on 225 counts including Criminal Sale of a Firearm, Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Conspiracy and Criminal Possession of a Firearm.
According to the investigation by the NYPD Firearms Investigations Unit and the Bronx District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprise Bureau, dubbed “Operation Overnight Express,” between July 17, 2020 and December 22, 2021, in the Bronx and Manhattan, Shakor Rodriguez, also known as “Sha,” allegedly sold an undercover officer 73 firearms, of which 59 were loaded, as well as over 40 high capacity magazines, including multiple “drum” magazines. The undercover paid typically between $1,000 and $1,500 per gun.
According to the investigation, the defendant sold most of the weapons near his former home in the vicinity of Weeks Avenue and Nelson Avenue in the Bronx, and multiple sales occurred on Allen Street in Manhattan. The investigation is continuing into how he obtained the guns and where they were purchased.
The investigation found the defendant transported guns in duffle bags and in some instances traveled with them by bus.
District Attorney Clark also thanked the NYPD’s Firearms Investigations Unit for their work in the investigation, specifically Detective Gustavo Medina, Sergeant Brian O’Hanlon, Lieutenant Michael Raso, Captain Jeffrey Heilig and Inspector Brian Gill.
An indictment is an accusatory instrument and is not proof of a defendant’s guilt.