DEC ADVISES OF AVALANCHE AND HIGH WATER RISK IN ADIRONDACKS DUE TO WARMER WEATHER AND RAIN

 

 The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation today advised backcountry users in the Adirondacks, especially the High Peaks Region, of potential avalanche and high water risk following mild temperatures, high winds, and rain. Warmer weather and rain will melt existing snowpack, swelling waterways and making water crossings dangerous. High winds and a return to colder temperatures will then result in re-freezing. Avalanche danger increases during thaws and snow becomes increasingly unstable as it undergoes freeze/thaw cycles.  

DEC advises that where bridges are not available, do not attempt stream crossings during periods of high, fast-moving water. Water temperatures will be extremely cold and full or partial submersion can quickly lead to hypothermia. Be cautious on frozen bodies of water, especially near shore, over moving bodies of water, and where streams enter and exit lakes and ponds. Follow ice safety guidelines and remember that slush ice is approximately 50 percent weaker than new, clear ice. 

Backcountry downhill skiers, snowboarders, and others who may traverse slides or steep, open terrain should be aware of and prepared for avalanche conditions. Avalanches can occur in any situation where snow, slope, and weather conditions combine to create the proper conditions. While the majority of steep, open terrain is found in the High Peaks region of the Adirondacks, avalanche-prone terrain is found on mountains throughout the Adirondacks, including Snowy Mountain in Hamilton County. Skiers and snowboarders should assess their own experience level before going into the backcountry and should be equipped with avalanche safety tools and knowledge, such as participation in an avalanche safety course. 

Andrew Giuliani Guest Speaker at Wednesday Morris Park Community Association Meeting

Wednesday's Morris Park Community Association meeting began as usual with the pledge of allegiance, and a moment of silence for those who have died in the line of fire.  There was a discussion on the current mailbox situation with glued opening. MPCA President Al D'Angelo said that a complaint must be made so the Postal Police are made aware of any problem with the mail or mailbox.

After the NCO officers spoke of the rising crime rates in the 49th Precinct, and how to protect yourself, MPCA Vice-President Yahay Obied asked the officers what store owners can do to protect themselves from attacks on their businesses. He then went on to say it takes over one year at times to open the doors to the public due to certain regulations, and wondered what could be done to shorten the time it takes. That answer would be answered by the guest speaker later. 

The guest speaker was Republican candidate for New York State Governor Andrew Giuliani, who opened with a summary of the current level of crime in New York. He gave a personal note about trying to break up an argument between a man and a woman where as he was hit in the face with a potted plant, a case that is ongoing in Manhattan. He then spoke of the policy of some of the District Attorneys towards crime, noting the Manhattan DA and the memo he sent to his staff on day one. He said he would work to repeal bail reform on day one, and mentioned that the current governor made no mention of it in her speech. He added that the governor should remove any DA who does not do their job, mentioning Manhattan DA Bragg as the example. 

Giuliani continued saying that he would stop crime underground on all underground transportation, which would force the mayor to take care of it above ground. He said he would raise the cap on charter schools, and look to get a voucher program in effect. He said that of the $216 billion dollar budget $30 Billion went to the UFT, and that he wanted to put students first. He wants to understand why Florida with one million more people than New York spends only has a budget of $97 billion dollars. He wants to use the office of governor as a Bully Pulpit to push through the state legislature those and other ideas that he has, like loosing up on some of the regulations that businesses must go through to open. He then took some questions in line with what he had spoken about.  

MPCA President D'Angelo said that people must vote to put in good elected officials, and that the MPCA would be inviting other candidates to speak. He also mentioned that the MPCA will be doing early voting in 2022 for the primary and general election. The early voting begins ten days before the primary and general election, and that it looks like besides the usual Democratic Primary there should be a Republican Primary.   

The Sector A NCO officers give a report on crime in their sector of the 49th Precinct as a very interested Andrew Giuliani  looks on. 

MPCA Vice-President Yahay Obied asks candidate for governor Andrew Giuliani what can be done to help small business owners in cutting some of the red tape that can take over one year to open. 

Candidate for governor Andrew Giuliani praised the work of the NYPD, but said their hands are tied with some of the new regulations and laws that have recently been put in place.

Candidate Giuliani after speaking took questions from the audience, many of which were on topics of what candidate Giuliani was talking about.

MAYOR ADAMS APPOINTS NYC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT LEADERSHIP TEAM

 

Zachary Iscol Appointed NYCEM Commissioner

 

Christina Farrell Appointed NYCEM First Deputy Commissioner

  New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced two appointments to lead New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM), the agency tasked with coordinating citywide emergency planning and response. Zachary Iscol will serve as commissioner of NYCEM. Christina Farrell will serve as first deputy commissioner, the first woman ever to serve in that role. She previously served as acting commissioner. Staffed by 200 professionals, NYCEM works with agencies across city government to develop disaster readiness plans and respond to emergencies when they arise. Commissioner Iscol and First Deputy Commissioner Farrell will both be responsible for delivering on Mayor Adams’ vision of a safer city by implementing upstream strategies to ensure the city is prepared for and able to mitigate emergencies before they become crises.

 

“Emergencies are inevitable in a city as large and dynamic as ours and, sadly, we have already faced a number of them during my first six weeks in office,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “One of the core functions of government is to keep people safe. Ensuring we have strong leadership to prepare for emergencies and respond appropriately when they occur is critical to this mission. I am proud to have Zach Iscol and Christina Farrell join our team. They are proven leaders, who will help us keep New Yorkers safe and ‘Get Stuff Done.’”

 

“The Adams administration is laser-focused on keeping New Yorkers safe — and these appointments underscore that commitment,” said Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks. “From preparing for the next pandemic to hardening our defenses against natural disasters, the job of NYCEM has never been more urgent. I look forward to working with Commissioner Iscol and First Deputy Commissioner Farrell to deliver on Mayor Adams’ vision for a safer, more equitable city.” 

 

“Throughout my career, whether in combat, addressing a suicide epidemic, or on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, I've seen that government works best when it works together,” said NYCEM Commissioner Zachary Iscol. “Mayor Adams and his administration understand the importance of moving our city upstream and getting city agencies to work together and with their federal, state, and private sector partners to solve the many pressing issues facing New Yorkers. That’s how we create a safer, more equitable and more resilient city. I am incredibly honored to be joining this administration and the remarkable team at NYCEM to make that vision of effective government a reality in addressing 21^st century challenges and crises.”

 

“I am honored to be officially named the first female First Deputy Commissioner of New York City Emergency Management, an agency like no other,” said NYCEM First Deputy Commissioner Christina Farrell. “Over the past 19 years, I have been proud every day to help the residents of New York City during many emergencies, including the 2003 citywide blackout, Hurricanes Irene and Sandy, Ebola, building explosions, blizzards, and, of course, the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The women and men of our agency are beyond dedicated, and consistently give of themselves selflessly to make our city safer and more prepared. I thank Mayor Adams for this opportunity.”

 

“Congratulations to Zach Iscol and Christina Farrell on their appointments as our city's next commissioner and first deputy commissioner of Emergency Management,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “Zach is a lifelong public servant with a proven track record leading through crises and putting others first, and Christina has already proven to be a critical partner in helping our communities recover from too many recent tragedies. I am looking forward to working with both of them in continuing to build a more equitable and resilient borough and city.”

 

“Zach Iscol’s long history of leadership and service to our nation and our city make him an ideal choice to lead our emergency and disaster planning and response efforts as commissioner of New York City Emergency Management,” said Vincent Alvarez, president, New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO. “Our city’s workforce is the best in the world, and we’re confident that under Zach’s stewardship, we can continue to improve coordination and cooperation between our municipal agencies and with our state and federal partners — resulting in a safer, more resilient New York City.”

 

“I want to congratulate Zach Iscol on his appointment as our city’s next commissioner of Emergency Management and Christina Farrell as the first deputy,” said Andy D’Amora, former commissioner, NYCEM. “I had the pleasure of working alongside Zach and saw his leadership abilities firsthand, pulling together over 40 federal, state, and city agencies to put politics aside and focus on serving New Yorkers during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic at Javits Medical Center. I know with Zach as commissioner and Christina Farrell as first deputy commissioner the agency and the tremendous team at NYCEM are in good hands and commend the mayor on these exciting appointments.”

 

“During these challenging times for our city, the selection of Zach Iscol as the commissioner of Emergency Management represents a great appointment by Mayor Adams,” said Ken Chenault, chairman, General Catalyst; and former CEO and chairman, American Express. “A true public servant, Zach brings a wealth of crisis management and leadership experience from across the private and public sector that will serve the city well. I look forward to working with him and the rest of the administration to ensure New York’s best days remain in front of us.”

 

“Congratulations to my good friend Zach Iscol,” said Jake Wood, founder, Team Rubicon. “I’ve had the privilege of working alongside him in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and he has an incredible track record from leading Marines in heavy combat operations to addressing a suicide epidemic amongst our fellow veterans at home to serving New Yorkers during the most recent pandemic. Zach will do so much to keep the City of New York safe and secure. I look forward to serving and working alongside him again in the future.”

 

“Zach is a great choice to bring fresh insights and energy to NYCEM,” said Kathryn Wylde, president and CEO, Partnership for New York City. “His background of service to the country and state has given him broad exposure to the complex issues that the city must address in preparing for and managing a range of crises.”

 

About Zachary Iscol

 

Zachary Iscol will serve as commissioner of NYCEM. Iscol previously pulled together over 40 federal, state, and city agencies as the deputy director of Joint New York Medical Station, one of the largest and only successful COVID-19 field hospitals in the country. He recently ran for New York City comptroller.

 

As a Marine, Iscol served two tours in Iraq and on other assignments throughout Africa and the Middle East. During his second tour of duty, he led a combined unit of US Marines and Iraqi soldiers in some of the heaviest fighting of the Iraq War during the Second Battle of Fallujah, where he was awarded a Bronze Star for valor. He later helped build many of the components of the Marine Corps’ First Special Operations Command (MARSOC) and was deployed on one of the first MARSOC teams to deploy overseas.

 

Over the past decade, Iscol has built and led businesses and a non-profit health care provider, the Headstrong Project. The Headstrong Project now cares for over 1,000 veterans a week, in more than 30 cities, and provides world-class, cost- and bureaucracy-free mental health care to veterans and service members so that they can recover from hidden wounds and get back to the best versions of themselves.

 

Iscol received his B.A. from Cornell University. He lives in Manhattan with his wife Meredith, their four children, and three rescue dogs.

 

Iscol will report to Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Phil Banks.

 

About Christina Farrell

 

Christina Farrell will serve as the first deputy commissioner of NYCEM. She has been acting first deputy since October 2021 and acting commissioner since January 2022. Since the beginning of 2022, Farrell managed the citywide response to multiple snowstorms, the tragic Bronx fire, and multiple building explosions. During her time at the agency, Farrell has served as the director of grants, as well as assistant commissioner and deputy commissioner of external affairs. Under her leadership, foundational programs at New York City Emergency Management have been created and grown to national prominence, including the New York City Community Emergency Response Team Program, Ready New York, and Notify NYC. A city employee for more than 27 years, Farrell started at New York City Emergency Management in 2003.

 

She is a graduate of Colgate University and has a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Farrell resides in Whitestone, Queens, with her husband Tim and their four children.

 

11 Members and Associates of the Brooklyn-Based Woo Gang Charged with Multi-Million Dollar COVID-19 Unemployment Insurance Fraud

 

The Defendants Allegedly Obtained $4.3 Million by Submitting Fraudulent Claims for Unemployment Insurance Using Hundreds of Stolen Identities

 A criminal complaint was unsealed today in federal court in Brooklyn charging Romean Brown, Tyrek Clarke, Kennith Desir, Stephan Dorminvil, Kai Heyward, Keith James, Oneal Marks, Jahriah Olivierre, Christopher Jean Pierre, Roleeke Smith and Christopher Topey with conspiracy to commit access device fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with a scheme to obtain millions of dollars in unemployment insurance benefits funded, in whole or in part, by COVID-19 pandemic assistance programs.  Eight defendants were arrested this morning in New York City and will make their initial appearances this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Sanket J. Bulsara.  Heyward was arrested in Delaware and will make his initial appearance this afternoon in federal court in Wilmington.  Brown was arrested in California and will make his initial appearance this afternoon in federal court in Los Angeles.  Olivierre remains at large.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Jonathan Mellone, Special Agent-in-Charge, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, New York Regional Office (DOL-OIG), and Keechant L. Sewell, Commissioner, New York City Police Department (NYPD), announced the arrests and charges.

“As alleged, the defendants conspired to steal millions of dollars in pandemic-related unemployment assistance and then brazenly flaunted the proceeds of their crimes on social media,” stated United States Attorney Peace.  “These government programs are designed to provide financial assistance to those who are most in need during an unprecedented pandemic.  This Office and its law enforcement partners will vigorously prosecute gang members and anyone else who exploits the pandemic and steals from taxpayer-funded programs.’

Mr. Peace also thanked the New York State Department of Labor for its assistance during the investigation.

“The Unemployment Insurance Program exists to provide needed assistance to qualified individuals who are unemployed due to no fault of their own.  Fraud against the Unemployment Insurance Program distracts state workforce agencies, like the New York State Department of Labor, from ensuring benefits go to individuals who are eligible to receive them. The Office of Inspector General will continue to work closely with our many law enforcement partners, to investigate those who exploit the Unemployment Insurance Program,” stated DOL-OIG Special Agent-in-Charge Mellone.

As alleged in the complaint, the defendants are all members or associates of the Brooklyn-based Woo gang.  Between March 2020 and October 2021, the defendants used the personally identifiable information of more than 800 victims to submit nearly 1,000 claims to the New York State Department of Labor for unemployment insurance benefits funded, in whole or in part, by COVID-19 pandemic assistance programs.  The defendants ultimately obtained approximately $4.3 million in unemployment insurance after having filed for approximately $20 million in benefits.  During the period of the charged conspiracy, the defendants posted photos of themselves on social media flashing gang signs, standing in front of luxury vehicles, and holding stacks of United States currency.  Several of the defendants appeared in a music video entitled “Trappin,” which was posted to YouTube on May 8, 2021.  The lyrics of the song include, “Unemployment got us workin’ a lot,” a reference to the defendants’ fraudulent scheme.  

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress established programs and provided additional funding for unemployment insurance benefits for unemployed persons.  These programs included the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), which was signed into law on March 27, 2020, and created programs for pandemic unemployment assistance and federal pandemic unemployment compensation.

The charges in the complaint are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Joint Statement by Council Speaker Adrienne E. Adams and Finance Committee Chair Justin Brannan Re: Mayor Eric Adams’ Preliminary Budget for Fiscal Year 2023

 

 “As our City looks ahead to a post-pandemic recovery, we must strive to adopt a budget that promotes equity, health and safety for all New Yorkers. Baselined funding for Fair Fares to help support public transit access for low-income New Yorkers and the historic investment in employment for young people are major steps forward for our city. We also appreciate the Mayor’s proposals for new family health services, expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit, and support for the Fair Futures program that assists young people in successfully transitioning out of foster care. We must continue investing in New York City’s families and workforce, while ensuring affordable housing, health equity, small businesses and mental health care are priorities. When we commit our budget to ensuring communities are strong, public safety can be improved and New Yorkers can thrive.  This is a promising start to the budget process, and the Council looks forward to fulfilling its role in examining this Preliminary Budget through hearings and other efforts. We as leaders have a responsibility to ensure that our Fiscal Year 2023 budget advances equity, fiscal responsibility, and a strong recovery for New York City.” 

Founder And Former Chief Investment Officer Of New York Based Investment Adviser Charged With Securities Fraud And Obstruction Of Justice

 

James Velissaris inflated the values of numerous positions in the investment funds managed by Infinity Q and falsified documents to Infinity Q’s auditors and the SEC in order to hide the fraud

 Damian Williams, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced that JAMES VELISSARIS, the founder and former chief investment officer of Infinity Q Capital Management (“Infinity Q”), a New York based investment adviser that ran a mutual fund and a hedge fund that purported to have approximately $3 billion in assets under management, was charged with securities fraud and obstruction of justice for orchestrating a scheme to lie to investors and falsify documents.  VELISSARIS made false and misleading statements to investors and others concerning Infinity Q’s process for valuing certain over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivative positions that made up a substantial portion of the holdings of the mutual and hedge funds, and also fraudulently mismarked those securities in ways that did not reflect their fair value. VELISSARIS committed the mismarking scheme in order to inflate the value of the investment funds as reported to investors, to attract and retain capital, and to increase his own compensation. In order to avoid detection of the scheme, VELISSARIS provided both Infinity Q’s auditor and the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) with falsified or altered documents, including providing the auditor with altered term sheets that served to provide fabricated support for the fraudulently inflated values.  VELISSARIS surrendered to FBI agents in Atlanta, Georgia this morning and is expected to be presented later today.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:  “As alleged, James Velissaris violated his obligation to put the interests of his investors before his own profits.  In order to attract and retain investments in the funds that he operated, Velissaris lied about the independence of the process that he used to value fund assets, and he manipulated that process to convince investors that the funds were performing much better than they were.  He then tried to cover his tracks by submitting fabricated or altered documents to the funds’ auditor and the SEC.  This case further demonstrates the Office’s continued commitment to stamping out financial fraud, whether it be in private funds or the public markets.”

FBI Assistant Director Michael J. Driscoll said: "Investment fraud schemes may seem like a tried and true way to get rich quick, but the perpetrators are often too confident in their abilities to hide their illegal activity from investigators. As was the case with Velissaris, the truth caught up with him, and his alleged lies were exposed. Today he faces the consequences of his actions."

According to the allegations contained in a six-count Indictment unsealed today in Federal court and other publicly-available information:[1]

Background

VELISSARIS was the founder and chief investment officer of Infinity Q, an investment adviser that ran both a mutual fund (the “Mutual Fund”), started in about 2014, and a hedge fund (the “Hedge Fund,” and collectively the “Investment Funds”), started in about 2017.  As of 2021, the two funds purported to have approximately $3 billion in assets under management.  Infinity Q was headquartered in New York, New York, and employed a small staff including a chief compliance and chief risk officer (“Employee-1”). 

A major component of both the Mutual Fund and the Hedge Fund’s holdings were over-the-counter (“OTC”) derivative positions that involved customized contracts that allowed the counterparties to take positions on the volatility, or price movement, of underlying assets or indices.  VELISSARIS, through Infinity Q, represented to its investors that it valued these OTC derivative positions based on fair value, and that in order to do so, it utilized the services of an independent third-party provider.  In particular, Infinity Q represented to investors and other stakeholders that it used Bloomberg Valuations Service (“BVAL”) to independently calculate the fair value of these positions, in accordance with the terms of the underlying derivative contracts.  These OTC derivative positions comprised hundreds of millions of dollars of the Investment Funds’ portfolios.   

Velissaris’ Scheme to Lie to Investors and Inflate Derivative Swap Positions

In fact, however, VELISSARIS defrauded Infinity Q’s investors by taking an active role in the valuation of Infinity Q’s positions, and by modeling the positions in ways that were not based on the actual terms of the underlying contracts and were inconsistent with fair value.  VELISSARIS’ input into the BVAL valuation process was inconsistent with Infinity Q’s representations about the independence of the process and allowed VELISSARIS to fraudulently mismark positions in BVAL.  VELISSARS engaged in the mismarking of positions in BVAL by making false entries in BVAL’s system including by secretly altering the computer code employed by BVAL that caused BVAL to alter and disregard certain critical terms.  Altering and disregarding terms in this fashion caused BVAL to report values that were artificially inflated and, often, much higher than fair value. 

By manipulating OTC derivative positions in BVAL in this way, VELISSARIS caused numerous positions in the Investment Funds to have anomalous and, at times, impossible valuations.  For example, at times, VELISSARIS made manipulations in either the Mutual Fund and/or the Hedge Fund that caused certain identical positions that were held by both the Mutual Fund and the Hedge Fund (namely, a position where all the material terms are the same) to have substantially divergent values.  In other cases, some of VELISSARIS’ manipulations caused certain positions held by the Investment Funds to have impossible values, such as where under the true terms of the swap, the value adopted by VELISSARIS could only be true if volatility were negative – a condition which is mathematically impossible.

Ultimately, after VELISSARIS’ mismarking scheme was uncovered in or about February 2021, Infinity Q liquidated the Investment Funds and sold its OTC derivative positions.  These positions were sold for hundreds of millions of dollars less than their purported market values in BVAL thereby resulting in substantial losses to the investors in the Investment Funds.

Velissaris Lies to Auditors and Obstructs the SEC’s Investigation

In order to hide this scheme and prevent its detection, VELISSARIS lied to numerous outside stakeholders and regulators.  First, in order to prevent Infinity Q’s outside auditor (the “Auditor”) from discovering the fraud VELISSARIS provided the Auditor with falsified term sheets from counterparties that he had altered to change the true terms of certain OTC derivative positions.  In particular, in connection with a number of audits, the Auditor selected certain OTC positions that it would independently value in order to confirm the reasonableness of Infinity Q’s values from BVAL.  In order to ensure that the Auditor would not arrive at materially different results when independently valuing positions that VELISSARIS had manipulated in BVAL, VELISSARIS altered the terms of certain deal documents and provided them to the Auditor.  After receiving these falsified documents and relying on them in its independent evaluation, the Auditor confirmed the reasonableness of VELISSARIS’ valuations in BVAL.

Furthermore, beginning in May 2020, the SEC opened an inquiry and later an investigation into Infinity Q’s valuation practices.  In connection with that investigation, VELISSARIS provided false and misleading information to the SEC.  For example, when the SEC asked for original documents that had been provided to investors, VELISSARIS altered the documents before providing them to the SEC, including certain alterations that would help hide his mismarking scheme.  For example, Infinity Q’s original investor materials stated that “[o]nce a price is established for a portfolio security, it shall be used for all Funds that hold the security.”  As explained above, this was untrue and on numerous occasions, manipulations in BVAL made by VELISSARIS caused the same positions in the Mutual Fund and the Hedge Fund to have substantially different values.  To conceal the falsity of Infinity Q’s disclosures, VELISSARIS along with Employee-1 removed this line from investor documents that were provided to the SEC.

In June 2020, the SEC requested that Infinity Q provide additional materials, including documents regarding Infinity Q’s valuation committee and all of its meeting minutes.  Infinity Q’s investor materials had represented that Infinity Q had a valuation committee, including VELISSARIS, that the committee would meet monthly or more often, and that VELISSARIS would be responsible for preparing minutes of such meetings.  In fact, however, VELISSARIS had not kept notes of any such meetings.  Accordingly, days before responding to the SEC, VELISSARIS made up notes purporting to be from valuation committee meetings in 2019 and 2020 and submitted them to the SEC.

VELISSARIS, 37, of Atlanta, Georgia, is charged with securities fraud, wire fraud, lying to auditors, and obstruction of justice, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and investment adviser fraud and conspiracy to obstruct justice, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison.  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 a judge.

Mr. Williams praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  He further thanked the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for their cooperation and assistance in this investigation.   

[1]As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictments and the description of the Indictments set forth in this release constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

Letitia James The New York Democrats nominated me

 

It’s official, 

Yesterday, at the New York State Democratic Convention, I was honored to receive an official nomination for attorney general.

I have spent every moment of my time as your attorney general fighting to defend the rights of the voiceless and vulnerable – even against some of the most powerful forces in the nation. I’ve taken fights to Big Pharma for their role in the opioid crisis, held corrupt politicians accountable, and protected Americans' right to choose – because I refuse to be bought or intimidated.

It would be the honor of my career to serve as New York’s attorney general for another four years, but I can’t do this alone. That’s why we set a goal to receive at least 1,000 donations before midnight tonight. 

Together we made history in 2018 when I became the first Black woman to be elected to hold statewide office. And now, we have the opportunity to make history again by getting me re-elected.

But, I didn’t run for attorney general to make history – I ran because I knew that I had the grit and determination needed to make a positive difference for New York. And I’m running for re-election because I’m not done fighting for the vulnerable and voiceless.

I’m incredibly honored to receive an official nomination from the New York Democrats for attorney general – now I need your help to take advantage of this momentum and make history with me again.

Thanks for standing with me,

Letitia

EDITOR'S NOTE:

We are happy that the New York State Democratic Party has chosen to re-nominate current Attorney General James, but we would of liked her to have run for governor. As usual we have edited out any and all requests for  donations to the campaign. 

MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES COVID-19 RECOVERY ROUNDTABLE AND HEALTH EQUITY TASK FORCE

 

As Omicron-Driven Pandemic Wave Recedes, Mayor Adams Convenes Diverse Stakeholders to Accelerate Health, Economic Recovery for New York City

 

Task Force Will Have Eye Towards Long-Term Health Equity as City Rebuilds and Protects Long-Term Growth

 

Policy Advisors and Public Engagement Functionaries Will Help New York City Bridge Gap From COVID to Longer Term Equity Goals

 New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced his administration’s COVID-19 Recovery Roundtable and Health Equity Task Force, a commission, unprecedented in its diversity, to advise the administration on long-term, comprehensive policies around health equity and health access. The task force is made up of approximately 40 leaders from a wide variety of sectors, recognizing that to be effective, the task force must include a wide range of voices whose sectors, taken together, are instrumental in a speedy, effective recovery. The task force will also build a healthier, stronger, and more equitable city for all New Yorkers. The task force will meet monthly over the next year.

 

“We cannot build a just and prosperous recovery for all New Yorkers without bringing together and listening to experts and community leaders from across the city,” said Mayor Adams. “The COVID-19 Recovery Roundtable and Health Equity Task Force brings not only the best minds together to build a speedy recovery, but a lasting one. I’m grateful to the co-chairs and members for bringing their time and ideas to the city as we work towards this shared goal.”

 

“I’m thrilled to have leaders from every corner of New York City as part of our COVID-19 Recovery Roundtable and Health Equity Taskforce,” said First Deputy Mayor Lorraine Grillo. “Thank you to everyone who has joined this effort, I’m looking forward to rolling up our sleeves and getting to work developing long term policies to guide our city through a just and equitable recovery.” 

 

“Assembling a group of leaders, advocates, and practitioners from 11 different fields, ranging from the disability community to the tech sector and the faith-based community will yield an inclusive conversation on how we can continue on the city’s path to an equitable recovery,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “We look forward to an engaged, sustained, and productive dialogue with the task force in service of building a stronger and more equitable city for all New Yorkers.”

 

The COVID-10 Recovery Roundtable and Health Equity Task force will be co-chaired by:

 

• Dr. Ramon Tallaj, chairman of SOMOS Community Care, a nonprofit of about 3,000 doctors serving about 900,000 Medicaid-reliant patients citywide and an immigrant himself.
• Dr. Wayne Riley, chair, Board of Trustees, New York Academy of Medicine and president, Downstate Health Sciences University. University Hospital was designated as a COVID-only hospital during the height of the pandemic and is among New York’s most impactful teaching hospitals and research facilities.
• Pat Kane, executive director, New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA). NYSNA represents over 42,000 frontline health care workers.
• Melba Wilson, whose renowned eatery, Melba’s, is a Harlem institution and an icon of New York City’s beleaguered hospitality industry.

 

“Eric Adams made a promise to bring preventive care to the streets and neighborhoods of New York City that need it the most – and with this announcement he has kept that promise,” said Dr. Ramon Tallaj, chairman, SOMOS Community Care. “The mayor has done this by uniting community doctors, leaders from major hospitals and caring New Yorkers from a diverse range of industries and organizations behind a lasting COVID-19 recovery, and a lasting conversation around health equity that represents and benefits all New Yorkers. We look forward to developing and announcing a recovery plan that builds back the social fabric of the city, especially for poor and working communities.”

 

“As frontline nurses we have seen the devastating effects of a lethal pandemic on communities across the city,” said Pat Kane, RN, executive director, New York State Nurses Association. “Uneven resources undercut the fundamentals of equity governing access to health resources in our city. Seeking long-term health equity is key to enhancing the public's health. We greatly appreciate and thank Mayor Adams for the opportunity to join with diverse stakeholders in a COVID-19 Recovery Roundtable and Health Equity Task Force, a much-needed effort to protect the health of all New Yorkers.”

 

“I commend Mayor Adams for bringing together such an esteemed panel of leaders and experts to help guide his administration’s efforts to advance New York City’s COVID Recovery,” said Wayne J. Riley, M.D, president, Downstate Health Sciences University. “The public health, economic, arts and recreation, education, hospitality, tourism, and workforce prowess of the city is critically important to creating a thriving ‘new normal.’ The past two years have illuminated the shortcomings of our health care systems and public health infrastructure, particularly for our most vulnerable New Yorkers. We now have an opportunity to learn from our experiences, mistakes, and successes. I am humbled to serve and contribute to this innovative COVID-19 Recovery Roundtable and Health Equity Taskforce, and am encouraged by the mayor’s deep commitment to getting this right.”

 

“The restaurant industry is the beating heart of our city,” said Melba Wilson, owner, Melba’s. “I am honored to be a co-chair of the Recovery Roundtable and remain optimistic that New York, the greatest city in the world, will rebound stronger than ever!”

 

Among members of the commission are:

 

• Jo-Ann Yoo, executive director, Asian American Federation
• Avi Greenstein, executive director, Boro Park Jewish Community Council
• Lisa Sorin, president, Bronx Chamber of Commerce
• Joseph Rappaport, executive Director, Brooklyn Center for the Independence of the Disabled Independent Living Center
• Mary Anne Tighe, CEO, CBRE's New York Tri-State Region
• Vincent Alverez, president, Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO
• Dr. Wafaa el-Sadr, university professor, Dr. Mathilde Krim-amfAR Chair of Global Health Epidemiology (In ICAP); director, ICAP, Columbia University
• Dr. Rosa Gil, founder, president, CEO, Communilife
• Mark Cannizaro, president, Council of School Supervisors and Administrators
• Felix Matos Rodriguez, chancellor, CUNY
• Henry Garrido, executive director, DC 37
• Dr. Billy Jones, clinical professor, Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine
• Jean Ryan, disabled advocate and activist, Disabled in Action
• Eddie Cuesta, national executive director, Dominicanos USA
• Karen Ignagni, CEO, Emblem Health
• Rafael Espinal, executive director, Freelancers Union
• Stephen Scherr, chief strategy officer, Goldman Sachs
• William Floyd, head of external affairs, Google New York
• Fred Cerullo, president, CEO, Grand Central Partnership
• Michael Balboni, executive director, Greater New York Health Care Facilities Association
• Rich Maroko, president, Hotel and Gaming Trades Council, AFL-CIO
• Loreen Loonie, senior vice president, Independence Care System
• Bruce Flanz, president, CEO, Jamaica Hospital Medical Center
• Orit Lender, CEO, Joan & Alan Bernikow JCC of Staten Island
• Guillermo Chacon, president, Latino Commission on AIDS
• Melba Wilson, owner, Melba's Harlem
• Jack Stephenson, president, Molina Healthcare
• Dr. Donna Futterman, director and professor of pediatrics at Adolescent AIDS Program, Montefiore Medical Center
• Rev. Dr. Valerie Oliver Durrah, founder and president, Neighborhood Technical Assistance Clinic
• Andrew Rigie, executive director, New York City Hospitality Alliance
• Murad Awawdeh, executive director, New York Immigration Coalition
• Pat Kane, executive director, New York State Nurses Association
• Arva Rice, president, CEO, New York Urban League
• LaRay Brown, CEO, One Brooklyn Health System
• Javier Castaño, publisher, Queens Latino
• Ricot Dupuy, publisher, Radio de Soleil
• James Whelan, president, REBNY
• Fitzgerald Giddings Jr., publisher, Reset Talk Show
• Dr. Tom Frieden, president, CEO; former DOHMH commissioner, CDC director, Resolve to Save Lives
• Anna Pekerman, publisher, Rusa FM
• George Gresham, president, SEIU 1199 United Healthcare Workers East
• Dr. Ramon Tallaj, chairman, SOMOS
• Michelle Sabatino, executive director, Staten Island Center for Independent Living
• Dr. Wayne Riley, president, SUNY Downstate Medical Center
• Danny Meyer, CEO, Union Square Hospitality Group
• Fred Wilson, partner, Union Square Ventures
• Michael Mulgrew, president, United Federation of Teachers
• Rev. Zidde Hamatheite, senior pastor, Wayside Baptiste Church
• Sandeep Mithrani, CEO, WeWork
• Christine C. Quinn, CEO, Win