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Monday, February 7, 2022
Former NYC Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr. - Eric Adams Must Be a Mayor for All People
MAYOR ADAMS RECEIVES REPORT FROM SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMISSION
Mayor Signs Executive Order Focused on Protecting and Facilitating Free Speech and Transparency – One of Several Recommendations Outlined in New Report
New York City Mayor Eric Adams today received a report outlining a set of recommendations related to social justice reform from a commission impaneled by civil rights lawyer Norman Siegel. The report focuses on high-priority subjects, such as economic development, climate change, education, Rikers Island, health, land use, policing, and more. The goal of the commission’s work is to expand on Mayor Adams’ belief that “public safety is the prerequisite to prosperity,” and to include social justice.
“This commission included a world-class group of people whose commitment to social justice is beyond a doubt, and whose hard work on behalf of the city is deeply appreciated,” said Mayor Adams. “We are proud to sign this order re-committing the city to the principles of the First Amendment and look forward to reviewing these recommendations in further detail as we govern and develop new policies to serve New Yorkers.”
“The report and its 81 recommendations are a framework for governing through the prism of social justice,” said Norman Siegel. “We take seriously Mayor Adams’ desire to pursue social justice as well as public safety and believe we have given him a framework for doing so that is well within the powers of the mayor. If implemented, such commitments would effect a historic transformation of the relationship between a municipal government and its constituents.”
The commission, formed in September 2021, completed the report in December. The first recommendation from the report focuses on an executive order aimed at reinforcing city agencies’ existing obligations to share information and adhere to the First Amendment. Mayor Adams is signing a version of that executive order today.
Commission members included:
- Normal Siegel, partner, Siegel Teitelbaum & Evans LLP
- Dennis Flores, community activist and co-founder, El Grito of Sunset Park
- Hon. Marcy S. Friedman, retired New York State Supreme Court Justice
- Ira Glasser, former executive director, American Civil Liberties Union
- Dr. Tarry Hum, professor and chair, Queens College Department of Urban Studies
- Steven Hyman, partner, McLaughlin & Stern, LLP
- Dr. Micaela E. Martinez, assistant professor, Emory University; adjunct assistant professor, Columbia University
- Terry McGovern, professor and director of Global Health, Justice & Governance, Columbia University School of Health
- Harriet R. Michel, former executive director, New York Urban League
- Aryana Swanson, third-year student, Columbia University
- Earl S. Ward, criminal defense attorney; chair, Housing Works; chair, Bronx Defenders; partner, Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel, LLP
Attorney General James Secures Reimbursements for Consumers Charged for COVID-19 Vaccine Administration Fees
Embassy Pharmacy and Fulton Drugs Were Found to Have Improperly Charged
Hundreds of COVID-19 Vaccine Recipients a Fee when Administering the Vaccine
New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced that her office secured refunds for New Yorkers who were wrongfully charged administration fees from two pharmacies when they received their COVID-19 vaccine. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) found that Embassy Pharmacy, in Manhattan improperly charged a vaccine administration fee of $25 to approximately 275 consumers that received a COVID-19 vaccination. Similarly, Fulton Drugs, in Brooklyn, charged a vaccine administration fee of $20 or $25 to approximately 175 consumers. In accordance with the agreements, the pharmacies have reimbursed all improperly charged vaccine recipients and will implement stronger training programs for staff.
“Make no mistake: COVID vaccines are free to all who seek them,” said Attorney General James. “New Yorkers should not be charged fees to receive the vaccines. If they are, my office will work to ensure they are reimbursed for the charges.”
The OAG first launched its investigation in March of 2021, following reports from New Yorkers who were charged for vaccines. While vaccination providers are allowed to seek appropriate reimbursement from a vaccine recipient’s health plan or for those who are uninsured, from the Health Resources and Services Administration’s COVID-19 Uninsured Program, providers are not allowed to charge a vaccine recipient. By imposing a vaccine administration fee directly to consumers, Embassy and Fulton engaged in deceptive acts and practices that violated Executive Law § 63(12) and General Business Law § 349.
The agreements reached by Attorney General James ensure that all who paid the vaccine administration fee have been reimbursed and the pharmacies have immediately changed their practices to eliminate the vaccine administration fee to consumers. Additionally, the pharmacies have agreed to institute new requirements that strengthen training for all staff involved with the administration of COVID-19 vaccines, as well as signage requirements associated with vaccine administration.
If New Yorkers are aware of providers improperly charging consumers a fee for administration of the COVID-19 vaccine, they should contact the Office of the Attorney General’s Health Care Bureau online or call 1-800-428-9071.
“New York City’s free vaccination program is a vital part of our city’s response to the pandemic. We must eliminate every barrier to getting vaccinated against COVID-19, including misinformation that recipients will be charged for getting the vaccine,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. “If you were wrongfully charged for a shot you are entitled to reimbursement. I applaud Attorney General James for investigating these wrongful charges and ensuring that New Yorkers who were responsible by getting vaccinated are fully and rightfully reimbursed.”
“During these difficult times, we must continue encouraging people to get vaccinated to keep themselves and their communities safe,” said State Assemblymember Al Taylor. “Falsely charging fees for a free, essential vaccine will only drive people away. I applaud Attorney General James for swiftly reaching an agreement with the pharmacies in question and for looking out for the people of New York.”
“Today's announcement by Attorney General Letitia James illustrates New York state's commitment to consumer protection,” said State Assemblymember Stefani L. Zinerman. “I applaud her quick response to recover the wrongfully charged administrative fees for the COVID-19 test kits sold by Embassy and Fulton pharmacies. The self-advocacy of the residents from the 56th Assembly District who reported these deceptive acts coupled with a responsive government agency is how we effectively prevent future fraud in our community.”
“New Yorkers put a tremendous amount of trust in their local pharmacies to serve them with honesty and compassion. That's why it is so disturbing and damaging when these same businesses exploit our must vulnerable during a pandemic,” said Council Member Shaun Abreu. “Thanks to Attorney General James, 275 of my constituents are getting restitution from Embassy Pharmacy. As a member of the Council's Consumer and Worker Protection Committee, I look forward to fighting fraud side by side with her.”
“Cost barriers for vaccination are incredibly dangerous, even when applied by mistake,” said Council Member Chi Ossé. “It is encouraging to see the Attorney General's Office securing these reimbursements, as well as to know that stronger training and other measures will prevent this mistake from being repeated in the future.”
Bank CEO Stephen M. Calk Sentenced To One Year And One Day For Corruptly Soliciting A Presidential Administration Position In Exchange For Approving $16 Million In Loans
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that STEPHEN M. CALK was sentenced to one year and one day of imprisonment for corruptly using his position as the head of a federally-insured bank to issue millions of dollars in high-risk loans to Paul Manafort in exchange for personal benefit: CALK’s placement on the Donald J. Trump 2016 presidential campaign and assistance from Manafort in trying to obtain a senior position with the incoming presidential administration. On July 13, 2021, CALK was found guilty of financial institution bribery and conspiracy to commit financial institution bribery following a three-week trial before U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield, who also imposed today’s sentence.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Stephen Calk abused his position as the CEO of a federally-insured bank to try to buy himself prestige and power by trading millions of dollars in high-risk loans for influence with a presidential campaign and consideration for positions at the highest levels of the Defense Department. Today’s sentence sends the message that those who corrupt federally regulated financial institutions will be held to account.”
As reflected in the Indictment, documents previously filed in the case, and evidence introduced at trial:
CALK, The Federal Savings Bank, and Paul Manafort
STEPHEN M. CALK was the chairman and chief executive officer of The Federal Savings Bank, a federal savings association headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with an office in New York, New York. The Bank was owned in its entirety by National Bancorp Holdings, a Chicago-based bank holding company, and CALK was the chairman, chief executive officer, and owner of approximately 67% of the holding company.
Paul Manafort was a lobbyist and political consultant. Beginning in or about March 2016, Manafort held a senior role with Donald J. Trump’s 2016 presidential, and from June 2016 through August 2016, he served as chairman of the presidential campaign. After Manafort’s formal role with the presidential campaign concluded in or about August 2016, Manafort continued to be informally involved in the campaign. Beginning in or about November 2016, when Donald J. Trump was elected President of the United States, Manafort provided informal input to the presidential transition team.
The Corrupt Scheme
Between in or about July 2016 and January 2017, CALK engaged in a corrupt scheme to exploit his position as the head of the Bank and the holding company in an effort to secure a valuable personal benefit for himself, namely, Manafort’s assistance in obtaining for CALK a senior position in the presidential administration. During this time period, Manafort sought millions of dollars in loans from the Bank. CALK understood that Manafort urgently needed these loans in order to terminate or avoid foreclosure proceedings on multiple properties owned by Manafort and Manafort’s family. Further, CALK believed that Manafort could use his influence with the presidential transition team to assist CALK in obtaining a senior administration position.
CALK thus sought to leverage his control over the Bank and the loans sought by Manafort to his personal advantage. Specifically, CALK offered to, and did, cause the Bank and holding company to extend $16 million in loans to Manafort in exchange for Manafort’s requested assistance in obtaining a high-level position in the presidential administration. For example, and while Manafort’s loans were pending approval, CALK provided Manafort with a ranked list of the governmental positions he desired, which started with Secretary of the Treasury, and was followed by Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of Commerce, and Secretary of Defense, as well as 19 ambassadorships similarly ranked and starting with the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy.
In approving these loans to Manafort, CALK was aware of significant red flags regarding Manafort’s ability to repay the loans, such as his history of defaulting on prior loans. Moreover, given the size of the loans, Manafort’s debt became the single largest lending relationship at the Bank. In order to enable the Bank to issue these loans without violating the Bank’s legal limit on loans to a single borrower, CALK authorized a maneuver never before performed by the Bank, in which the holding company—which CALK also controlled—acquired a portion of the loans from the Bank.
During the same time period, Manafort provided CALK with valuable personal benefits. First, in or about the summer of 2016, during the presidential campaign—and just days after CALK and the rest of the Bank’s credit committee conditionally approved a proposed $9.5 million loan to Manafort — Manafort appointed CALK to a prestigious economic advisory committee affiliated with the campaign. And second, in or about late November and early December 2016—after Donald J. Trump had been elected President, after Manafort’s first loan from the Bank had been issued, and while a second set of loans worth $6.5 million sought by Manafort was pending approval by the Bank— Manafort used his influence with the presidential transition team to assist Calk, recommending CALK for an administration position. Due to Manafort’s efforts, CALK was formally interviewed for the position of Under Secretary of the Army on January 10, 2017 at the presidential transition team’s principal offices in New York, New York. CALK was not ultimately hired.
To conceal the unlawful nature of his scheme, CALK made false and misleading statements to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency regarding the loans to Manafort. For example, CALK falsely stated to the OCC regulators that he had not known that the Manafort’s properties had been in foreclosure prior to issuing the loans. CALK also stated that he had never desired a position in the presidential administration.
In addition to the prison term, CALK, 56, was sentenced to two years of supervised release and 800 hours of community service. CALK was also ordered to pay a $1 million fine on Count 1 and a $250,000 fine on Count 2.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s Office of Inspector General.
MAYOR ADAMS, NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS EXPAND ACCESS LIFESTYLE MEDICINE SERVICES CITY-WIDE
Announcement Represents Most Comprehensive Expansion of
Lifestyle Medicine Programming in U.S.
New Expansion Will Provide Dedicated Team-Based Support for Healthy Lifestyle Changes, Including Emphasis on Plant-Based Diet
Programming to Help Address Burdens of Type 2 Diabetes, Hypertension, Other Common Chronic Conditions Disproportionately Impacting Black and Brown New Yorkers
Services Will Be Expanded to Six New Public Health Care Sites Across NYC
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and NYC Health + Hospitals (H+H) today announced the expansion of their groundbreaking lifestyle medicine services at six public health care sites across New York City — the most comprehensive expansion of lifestyle medicine programming in the U.S. Modeled off the popular and successful Plant-Based Lifestyle Medicine Program at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, the new expansion will provide patients living with chronic disease the tools to make healthy lifestyle changes, included providing them access to plant-based diet resources. The program will expand to serve qualifying NYC Health + Hospitals adult patients at Jacobi, Lincoln, Woodhull, Kings County, and Elmhurst hospitals, as well as Gotham Health, Vanderbilt. The program expansion will be implemented over the coming year.
“Today, New York City is again leading the way with the most comprehensive expansion of lifestyle medicine programming in the nation,” said Mayor Adams. “This is personal to me — a plant-based lifestyle helped save my life, and I’m thrilled that New Yorkers in every zip code will have access to this critical programming. Together, we will stop feeding the health care crisis and ensure all New Yorkers can access the healthy lifestyle they deserve.”
“This expanded programming won’t only touch the lives of the patients served, but will extend to the families and communities of every person served,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “That mom with type 2 diabetes or that dad with high cholesterol now has new tools to reclaim their health through everyday choices to eat, manage stress, and sleep better, as well as find enhanced social support. These programs can change individual lives by treating, preventing, and even reversing common chronic diseases, but will also ripple through to families and communities of those at risk of or living with a chronic disease. I want to thank Dr. McMacken, Dr. Katz, and all the staff doing this cutting-edge work and making a difference in the lives of so many New Yorkers.”
“Even through the pandemic, heart disease remains the leading killer of New Yorkers, with diabetes not too far behind,” said Senior Advisor for Public Health and Incoming Commissioner of Health Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “To move the needle, we will need to invest in both upstream policy reforms and downstream care and supports. Increasing access to dietitians, health coaches, and physicians through innovative approaches, like the Lifestyle Medicine Program, will help more New Yorkers with cardio-metabolic diseases live longer, healthier lives.,. I applaud Mayor Adams and our colleagues at NYC Health + Hospitals for their leadership and for taking a holistic approach to supporting the health of our communities.”
“I have seen the benefits of lifestyle medicine for patients with chronic diseases in my own clinical practice,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Dave A. Chokshi. “As we continue to fight COVID-19, scaling these services will help build a healthier city for all New Yorkers. I applaud NYC Health + Hospitals for expanding this evidence-based program.”
“As a physician, I know that medicine doesn’t always come in the form of a pill. Eating a diet of fruits and vegetables can help prevent and treat chronic illnesses like heart disease - the leading cause of death among New Yorkers - cancer, and type 2 diabetes,” said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD. “Low-income New Yorkers are much more vulnerable to these diseases and we want to continue offering them an alternative way of eating that works on a limited budget and is accompanied by a network of medical and nutritional professionals. NYC Health + Hospitals is grateful to Mayor Adams for his continued support and innovation as we tackle the problem of chronic illnesses.”
“The expansion of our lifestyle medicine services to New Yorkers throughout the five boroughs will be a powerful tool in addressing the burden of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and other common chronic conditions, with benefits that could positively impact entire family units and those closest around them,” said Michelle McMacken, MD, FACP, DipABLM, executive director, Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine at NYC Health + Hospitals. “We continue to be grateful to all of our advocates and partners who have made our existing lifestyle medicine services a success and this necessary expansion a reality.”
“Today's announcement that H+H's lifestyle medicine services are now available in all five boroughs is an exciting step forward for our city," said Kate MacKenzie, executive director, Mayor's Office of Food Policy. "Healthy food is essential for a healthy life, and this expansion couldn't come at a better time for New Yorkers. I am grateful to Mayor Adams for his passion and commitment to helping all New Yorkers make positive lifestyle changes and to Dr. McMacken and the team at H+H for executing on that vision."
In 2019, with the advocacy of then-Brooklyn Borough President Adams, the Bellevue Plant-Based Lifestyle Medicine Program — among the first of its kind in a safety-net health care setting — was launched. The program takes an interdisciplinary approach to reduce patients' cardiometabolic risk, where a team of physicians, dietitians, and health coaches support patients in making evidence-based lifestyle changes, including adopting a healthy plant-based diet, increasing physical activity, improving sleep habits, reducing stress, avoiding risky substances, and providing social support. The program has received national attention and there has been a high demand for services, including self-referrals from more than 850 New York City residents.
Each of the sites that will be receiving the expanded lifestyle medicine services will be equipped with a full-time dietitian and health coach, as well as physician teams. Participants will be referred by their health care providers or can self-refer. Eligibility criteria for participants include heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, and/or health concerns related to obesity.
Patients who enroll in one of the programs will receive a full medical evaluation by a team physician, with special attention to current lifestyle behaviors and social needs. They will also meet individually with a dietitian and a health coach and will participate in group education on topics including nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress reduction, and other lifestyle pillars. The lifestyle medicine team will individualize the behavior change approach for each patient, considering cultural traditions, socioeconomic circumstances, family situations, and other key factors.
In addition to expanding access to lifestyle medicine services, NYC Health + Hospitals will partner with the American College of Lifestyle Medicine to help provide additional lifestyle medicine training to care teams, as well as with Plant-Powered Metro New York to offer cooking demonstrations to patients at the Kings County Hospital site.
“We know that evidence-based lifestyle medicine programs deliver powerful health outcomes, so seeing the significant expansion of these NYC Health + Hospitals programs to reach more communities affected by chronic disease and health disparities is inspiring,” said Dr. Catherine Collings, president, American College of Lifestyle Medicine. “This is innovative, vital, and time-sensitive work that will make a dent in the impact of chronic disease in New York City and provide a model nationwide. We applaud the leadership shown here by Dr. Katz, Dr. McMacken, and Mayor Eric Adams, and we encourage other health systems and political leaders to follow suit.”
“We are thrilled to partner with NYC Health + Hospitals to support its patient community with culturally-mindful education and skill-building for healthy eating,” said Lianna Levine Reisner, president and network director, Plant Powered Metro New York. “Throughout the city, people from all walks of life are being inspired by the power of food for health. They want to learn how to incorporate more fruits, vegetables, and other healthy plant foods onto their plates and into their daily routines. It's a great step forward to have the investment of the public health care system in life-changing programs and services that prioritize evidence-based nutrition and lifestyle.”
NYC Health + Hospitals’ expansion of lifestyle medicine services builds on its commitment to put healthy eating and other beneficial lifestyle habits at the forefront of patients’ care. In 2019, the system launched Meatless Mondays at all 11 of its acute care hospitals. The program was launched in an effort to provide a broader range of healthy, appealing meal options to inpatients and introduce them to the benefits of plant-based nutrition so that they could make important lifestyle decisions that would lead to living their healthiest lives.
“For years, the Bronx has lagged behind other counties in health indicators, and the COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated existing health issues in our borough,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “The expansion of the lifestyle medicine services program citywide, including in two Bronx hospitals, will be an important step towards providing our communities with the resources needed to use food as a tool towards leading an overall healthy life and avoiding chronic illness. I applaud Health + Hospitals, Dr. Katz, Dr. McMacken, and Mayor Eric Adams for their continuous commitment to holistic health and equity.”
“The expansion of this initiative will help more New Yorkers maintain healthy lifestyles by providing individualized health improvement plans and support,” said New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. “These services are critical for the many patients suffering from chronic disease to achieve holistic and long-term lifestyle changes that reduce their health risks. I thank Mayor Adams and NYC Health + Hospitals for expanding access to this innovative program.”
Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - FEBRUARY 7, 2022
3,795 Cases Statewide Yesterday, Lowest Since November 8
New Cases Down More than 40% Over Past Week
New COVID-19 Admissions Down Across All Regions
Statewide COVID-19 Hospitalizations Down Nearly 30% Over Past Week
90 COVID-19 Deaths Statewide Yesterday
Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combating COVID-19.
"The decline in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are cause for celebration and hope, but not complacency," Governor Hochul said. "There is still plenty of progress that can be made to ensure we stop the spread and keep our businesses and schools open. We know the tools that work - please get vaccinated if you haven't yet, and get boosted once you're eligible."
Today's data is summarized briefly below:
- Test Results Reported - 90,292
- Total Positive - 3,795
- Percent Positive - 4.20%
- 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 4.53%
- Patient Hospitalization - 5,069 (-78)
- Patients Newly Admitted - 422
- Patients in ICU - 814 (-40)
- Patients in ICU with Intubation - 452 (-42)
- Total Discharges - 277,571 (+427)
- New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 90
- Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 53,715
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 - 67,222
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 - 36,213,205
- Total vaccine doses administered over past 24 hours - 29,225
- Total vaccine doses administered over past 7 days - 318,830
- Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with at least one vaccine dose - 91.1%
- Percent of New Yorkers ages 18 and older with completed vaccine series - 82.3%
- 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) - 84.9%
- Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 80.3%
- Percent of New Yorkers ages 12-17 with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 70.1%
- Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose - 80.4%
- Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series - 72.3%
- Percent of all New Yorkers with at least one vaccine dose (CDC) - 88.0%
- Percent of all New Yorkers with completed vaccine series (CDC) - 74.6%
Community Board 11 Housing Committee Meeting and Public Hearing on Proposed Adult Men's Homeless Shelter at 2028 White Plains Road
Community Board 11 Housing Committee Meeting and Public Hearing on Proposed Adult Men's Homeless Shelter at 2028 White Plains Road
By Robert Press
Thursday night February 3rd was the Community Board 11 virtual Housing Committee meeting followed by an in person Public Hearing on the proposed Adult Single Men's Homeless Shelter at 2028 White Plains Road, at the corner of Bronxdale Avenue. The community board was notified of the proposal by the de Blasio administration in early October, and decided not to take action until new Mayor Eric Adams took office.
Since this shelter was being proposed by the de Blasio administration, why would the de Blasio administration listen to any of the communitie's arguments not to place the adult men's shelter where proposed. It was decided to wait until new Mayor Eric Adams was in office to ask the new mayor not to place the men's shelter where the de Blasio administration proposed it. There was no response from Mayor Adams, as one emergency after another came up until this reporter asked Mayor Adams Sunday January 30th when the mayor visited Jacobi Hospital to thank the staff after an emergency room shooting. I asked Mayor Adams about placing 540 Single adult homeless men into Community Board 11 when that would be up to 75% of CB 11;s homeless responsibility, adding where were the homeless families? Mayor Adams told me that he would check with DHS on the matter.
Thursday February 3rd came with the CB 11 Housing Committee meeting with representatives of DHS and the provider Westhab, a Yonkers based company, with big questions from Queens City Council member Robert Holden about Westhab's shelter in his district. As the meeting went on Ms. Erin Drinkwater of DHS gave out figures and statements that were later in the meeting proven false with the help of DHS's own figures. It was said that there were over 16,500 single adult homeless people when in fact the number of single adult homeless men is 12,565 or an average of 210 per each of the 59 NYC community boards. DHS also said that a court case mandated that all homeless be given shelter, when the court decision was all homeless families must be given shelter. It seemed obvious that Mayor Adam and DHS had not spoken.
In the public hearing which began at about 7:40 PM Community Board 11 was blamed for not giving the community notice when the board received it in October of 2021. There were also comments of the board getting a proposed men's shelter moved from Stillwell Avenue to Popham Street. CB 11 chair Al D'Angelo said that the board did not want to go against the mayor whose administration was proposing the adult men's homeless shelter for White Plain Road, but decided to wait for the new year and new mayor. CB 11 Chair D'Angelo also said that the board was trying to change the latter two men's shelters to family shelters, as Community Board 11 has a figure of about 760 homeless people the board is responsible to house in the board area. Chairman D'Angelo is now seeking a lawyer who will work Pro Bono for the community against the city on the single adult men's homeless shelters.
The virtual Housing Committee meeting was seen on the wall of the room before the public hearing.
Close to 150 people attended the in person public hearing on the proposed Adult Men's Shelter for 140 men.
Assemblywoman Fernandez agreed with the community around the proposed Adult Men's Homeless Shelter, but the shelter is a city not state matter.
At the end of the Public Hearing CB 11 Board chair D'Angelo said that maybe the board made a mistake by not informing the public of the proposed site when the board found out. He added that he was waiting for an answer from the Adams administration.
Sunday, February 6, 2022
Long Island MS-13 Gang Leader Sentenced to 30 Years’ Imprisonment for Racketeering Offenses Including 2016 Murder and Attempted Murder
In federal court in Central Islip, Carlos Argueta, also known as “Violento,” “Desorden” and “Dylan,” a former leader of the Freeport Locos Salvatruchas (Freeport) clique of La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as the MS-13, a transnational criminal organization, was sentenced by United States Circuit Judge Joseph F. Bianco to 30 years’ imprisonment for racketeering and firearms charges in connection with his participation in the June 3, 2016 murder of Jose Pena, an MS-13 member who was suspected of violating the gang’s rules, and the January 15, 2016 attempted murder of a suspected rival gang member outside of the Brentwood public library. Argueta pleaded guilty to the charges in July 2019.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Rodney K. Harrison, Commissioner, Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD), announced the sentence.
“Argueta, a violent leader in the MS-13, shot and wounded a so-called ‘rival’ in broad daylight outside of a public library, and then participated in the pre-planned brutal slashing and stabbing death of one of his alleged MS-13 accomplices in that shooting. Today’s lengthy sentence ensures that Argueta will no longer inflict senseless violence and bloodshed on our streets,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “I commend our prosecutors and the Long Island Gang Task Force for their steadfast commitment in bringing MS-13 members to justice and eliminating their violence from our communities.”
“Like so many members of MS-13, Carlos Argueta is without any moral compass and has shown zero regard for human life,” stated SCPD Commissioner Harrison. “It is up to law enforcement to send a message to this transnational gang that their violent and homicidal actions have no place in Suffolk County. I would like to thank Eastern District of New York and the Long Island Gang Task Force for their relentless pursuit to ensure individuals like Argueta are held accountable for their crimes.”
On the afternoon of January 15, 2016, Argueta, Pena and several other MS-13 members confronted three suspected rival gang members outside of a public library in Brentwood. Argueta removed a .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun from his waistband and shot one of the men, identified as John Doe in the superseding indictment, in the torso. Argueta and the other MS-13 members then fled. The wounded victim received medical treatment and survived.
The Suffolk County police subsequently arrested Argueta, Pena and a third MS-13 member in connection with the attempted murder of John Doe, and they were released on bail. Argueta told other members of the Freeport clique that he suspected that Pena, a member of the Normandie clique of the MS-13, had cooperated with the SCPD. Additionally, members of the MS-13 suspected that Pena was homosexual, which is unacceptable under the rules of the MS-13.
After consulting with MS-13 leaders in El Salvador, Argueta and other MS-13 members agreed to kill Pena, and Argueta assigned tasks to other MS-13 gang members, including procuring weapons and a vehicle to be used in the murder. On June 3, 2016, Argueta and other MS-13 members lured Pena into a car and drove to a secluded area in Brentwood. After walking into the woods, the group attacked Pena, taking turns stabbing and slashing him with knives, and killing him. Pena’s body was found four months later.
The sentencing is the latest in a series of federal prosecutions by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York targeting members of the MS-13, a violent, transnational criminal organization. The MS-13’s leadership is based in El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Mexico, but the gang has thousands of members across the United States. With numerous branches, or “cliques,” the MS-13 is the most violent criminal organization on Long Island. Since 2003, hundreds of MS-13 members, including dozens of clique leaders, have been convicted on federal felony charges in the Eastern District of New York. A majority of those MS-13 members have been convicted on federal racketeering charges for participating in murders, attempted murders and assaults. Since 2010, this Office has obtained indictments charging MS-13 members with carrying out more than 60 murders in the Eastern District of New York, and has convicted dozens of MS-13 leaders and members in connection with those murders. These prosecutions are the product of investigations led by the FBI’s Long Island Gang Task Force, which is comprised of agents and officers of the FBI, SCPD, Nassau County Police Department, Nassau County Sheriff’s Department, Suffolk County Probation Office, Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, the New York State Police, the Hempstead Police Department, the Rockville Centre Police Department and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision.