NYC Seeks Public Input for a New Data Tool that Can Help Communities Plan a More Equitable Future

 

Watch a Short Video Explainer of the Coming Data Resource

 Department of City Planning (DCP) Director Dan Garodnick and Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr. today announced that public engagement work is set to begin on the City’s effort to build New York’s first Equitable Development Data Tool. An interactive website, the tool will better equip New Yorkers with data that can facilitate challenging conversations about housing affordability, racial equity, displacement, and many other issues related to the future of New York City and its neighborhoods.

“Our goal here is to develop strategies that allow us to deliver more housing and jobs while also protecting ourselves and our neighbors from displacement. We want your input to make sure this still-in-development digital data tool can help us build a more equitable future,” said Dan Garodnick, Director of the Department of City Planning.

“Making sure that equity is central to the conversation about the future of our city is a key objective of Where We Live NYC, our plan to advance housing strategies that combat persistent disparities. Every New Yorker deserves a safe, affordable home, and our responsibility is to ensure no one faces discriminatory barriers to finding and keeping that home,” said Department of Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr. “The Equitable Development Data Tool is one of several tools that will allow us to build a fairer city for all New Yorkers.”

The tool, which is being developed with active participation by the Racial Impact Study Coalition (RISC), will allow the public to more easily see and explore data about housing, demographics, public health, and more, while also comparing that data across neighborhoods and racial and ethnic groups as we plan for a fairer city. Interactive mockups of what the tool is expected to look like, and a more in-depth description of the tool are available at the above link to the tool.

DCP and HPD are inviting public feedback on an early prototype and mockups of the data tool, which were released last month, and a Displacement Risk Index map, a component of the larger tool. The map seeks to illustrate how demographics, market pressures, and other factors may contribute to displacement risk in different neighborhoods as compared to each other, and New Yorkers will be able to weigh in on the early version of the tool ahead of its official launch on April 1, 2022.

With this data, the City, alongside our communities, will be better equipped to facilitate discussion and create policies that increase affordable housing opportunities and help New Yorkers stay in their homes and neighborhoods.

DCP and HPD will hold a series of remote meetings in early March to further inform the public about the tool and gather input:

• Tuesday, March 1, 2022 at 9:00 am (link to sign up) 
• Thursday, March 3, 2022 at 6:00 pm (link to sign up) 
• Saturday, March 5, 2022 at 10:00 am (link to sign up)

In addition, DCP and HPD staff will host a remote public hearing to receive feedback on the draft tool on March 10, 2022. Details to sign up will be posted on NYC Engage in the near future.

“RISC commends the work of HPD and DCP in honoring the spirit of the legislation and working to deliver this tool on time. Department staff have contended with complex data sets and lifted up the indicators identified by community members in the legislative process as being integral to addressing racial disparities during zoning changes,” the Racial Impact Study Coalition said. “This data mapping confirms what we know: to build stable neighborhoods, we need stable people, stable housing, and stable housing markets that enhance choice for all households, including the choice to stay. This tool will help communities visualize the underlying conditions in their neighborhoods. We encourage HPD and DCP to improve the tool over time based on user feedback. We hope the new Equitable Development Data Tool and Displacement Risk Index encourage policy makers to enact more community-responsive land use proposals and enable vulnerable communities to advocate for their needs more effectively.”

The in-development data tool is the result of Local Law 78 of 2021, which was adopted by the City Council last summer following ongoing advocacy by the Coalition and sponsorship from Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. The tool builds on work done over the past several years by DCP and HPD, with support from many other City agencies, to make data related to development more available and to advance more accessible and inclusive planning around community investments. Centralizing this information and making it operational for all types of users is one of the many objectives of the tool and supports Where We Live NYC, the City’s fair housing plan. Where possible, the data will be broken down to the neighborhood level so users can learn about commonalities and disparities across neighborhoods and demographic groups.

Per last year’s legislation, the tool will support the creation of Racial Equity Reports for Housing and Opportunity, which will be a required component of certain land use applications that enter public review after June 1, 2022. The Reports will draw data from the data tool and include a narrative statement of how the project relates to the City’s goals to affirmatively further fair housing and promote equitable access to opportunity.

Additional details about how to provide input can be found on the project site here and on NYC Engage.

Department of City Planning

The Department of City Planning (DCP) plans for the strategic growth and development of the City through ground-up planning with communities, the development of land use policies and zoning regulations applicable citywide, and its contribution to the preparation of the City’s 10-year Capital Strategy. DCP promotes housing production and affordability, fosters economic development and coordinated investments in infrastructure and services, and supports resilient, sustainable communities across the five boroughs for a more equitable New York City.

In addition, DCP supports the City Planning Commission in its annual review of approximately 450 land use applications for a variety of discretionary approvals. The Department also assists both government agencies and the public by advising on strategic and capital planning and providing policy analysis, technical assistance and data relating to housing, transportation, community facilities, demography, zoning, urban design, waterfront areas and public open space.

Department of Housing Preservation and Development

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) is the nation’s largest municipal housing preservation and development agency. Its mission is to promote quality housing and diverse, thriving neighborhoods for New Yorkers through loan and development programs for new affordable housing, preservation of the affordability of the existing housing stock, enforcement of housing quality standards, and educational programs for tenants and building owners. For full details visit www.nyc.gov/hpd and for regular updates on HPD news and services, connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @NYCHousing.

Nigerian National Pleads Guilty To Participating In Scheme To Conduct Cyber Intrusions To Steal Payroll Deposits

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that CHARLES ONUS pled guilty to computer fraud in connection with a scheme to conduct cyber intrusions in order to steal payroll deposits from multiple user accounts maintained by a company that provides human resources and payroll services to employers across the United States.  ONUS was previously arrested on April 14, 2021 in San Francisco while traveling to the United States from Nigeria and has been detained since his arrest.  ONUS pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Paul G. Gardephe.  

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:   “Charles Onus admitted to participating in a scheme to steal hundreds of thousands of hard-earned dollars from workers across the United States by hacking into a payroll company’s system and diverting payroll deposits to prepaid debit cards he controlled.  Our Office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to zealously arrest and prosecute those who seek to commit cybercrimes targeting Americans from behind a keyboard abroad.”

According to the Indictment, public court filings, and statements made in court: 

From at least in or about July 2017 through at least in or about 2018, ONUS participated in a scheme to conduct cyber intrusions of multiple user accounts maintained by a company that provides human resources and payroll services to employers across the United States (the “Company”), in order to steal payroll deposits processed by the Company.

During the course of the scheme, unauthorized access was obtained to over 5,500 Company user accounts through a cyber intrusion technique referred to as “credential stuffing.”  During a credential stuffing attack, a cyber threat actor collects stolen credentials, or username and password pairs, obtained from other large-scale data breaches of other companies.  The threat actor then systematically attempts to use those stolen credentials to obtain unauthorized access to accounts held by the same user with other companies and providers, to compromise accounts where the user has maintained the same password.

After a Company user account was compromised, the bank account information designated by the user of the account was changed so that ONUS would receive the user’s payroll to a prepaid debit card that was under ONUS’s control. 

From at least in or about July 2017 through at least in or about 2018, at least approximately 5,500 Company user accounts were compromised and more than approximately $800,000 in payroll funds were fraudulently diverted to prepaid debit cards, including those under the control of ONUS.  The compromised Company user accounts were associated with employers whose payroll was processed by the Company, including employers located in the Southern District of New York.

ONUS was arrested on April 14, 2021 at San Francisco International Airport after arriving on a flight from Abuja, Nigeria.  According to statements ONUS made to U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the airport, ONUS was traveling to the United States for a two-week vacation in Las Vegas.

ONUS, 34, a resident and national of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, pled guilty to one count of computer fraud for unauthorized access to a protected computer to further intended fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.  The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

ONUS is scheduled be sentenced on May 12, 2022, by Judge Gardephe. 

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and IRS-CI.  Mr. Williams also thanked the New York City Police Department, the FBI New York Cyber Task Force, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the FBI Field Office in San Francisco for their assistance in the investigation of this case.

Attorney General James Takes Action to Provide Syracuse Tenants with Safe, Livable Housing

 

OAG Investigation Finds Green National Repeatedly Ignored State

and Local Housing Code Requirements, Creating Unsafe Living Conditions 

Green National Required to Correct All Outstanding Code Violations at its NYS Properties and Maintain Full-Time Security at Skyline Apartments 

 New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced an agreement with Greenland Property Services, LLC, and its related entities (Green National), a real estate management company with several affordable housing properties in Syracuse, requiring them to address all its housing code violations within 60 days. An investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) confirmed evidence of unsanitary conditions, criminal activity, and repeated code violations at Green National’s Syracuse-area properties. Under the agreement, Green National will pay a $300,000 penalty, of which all but $50,000 will be suspended if all terms of the agreement are fulfilled within 60 days.

“Today, we’re putting Green National on notice: Immediately address the uninhabitable living conditions in your buildings, or face the full force of my office and the law,” said Attorney General James. “New Yorkers have the right to livable, safe homes, and landlords have an obligation to provide them. My office will continue to hold landlords accountable for shirking their responsibilities at the expense of New York families.”

Green National has owned and managed more than 1,000 apartments in buildings throughout the Syracuse area. The tenants in these buildings are mostly people who earn modest or fixed incomes, people with health challenges, people receiving aid from government programs, and the elderly. The OAG started its investigation into Green National in March 2021 in response to reports of rampant crime, unsafe conditions, and unabated code violations at some of their Syracuse area properties, including but not limited to the Skyline Apartments, the Vincent Apartments, and the James Apartments. 

At the Skyline Apartments, tenants reported human waste and drug paraphernalia in the hallways, broken elevators, and inadequate security. Due to these conditions, the city of Syracuse declared the common areas of Skyline unfit for human occupancy. The elevators in the 12-story building, which has many elderly and disabled residents, have been frequently out-of-service. Security had been lax at the entryways, and non-residents frequently entered the building without authorization to purchase, use, and sell drugs. A 93-year-old woman was murdered in her apartment last year by a non-resident and another woman was shot in the building last month. 

At the Vincent Apartments, an eight-building apartment complex also located in Syracuse, there were 149 code violations that were past deadline. Some of the violations included broken doors, missing and/or inoperable smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, roach infestations, and plumbing leaks.

At the James Apartments, tenants expressed persistent safety and health concerns. Residents said there was poor security and often found homeless people in the halls and human waste in the hallways and in washing machines. Residents also raised concerns about bedbugs, roaches, broken elevators, broken locks, and the lack of adequate heat.

Under the terms of Attorney General James’ agreement, Green National must correct all the outstanding code violations within 60 days. At the Skyline Apartments, Green National must continue to abide by the terms of the City’s Abatement Order and maintain “no loitering” signs in conspicuous locations outside the building, proactively monitor all activity on the premises through full-time roving security patrols, secure all the residential doors, and employ a full-time, around-the-clock security employee at the front desk by the main entrance. Green National must respond to all tenant’s requests for repairs and keep a written record. Green National must also pay $300,000 in costs and penalties, of which $250,000 can be suspended if all terms of the agreement and all code violations have been met within 60 days. The other $50,000 will be paid effective immediately to the state.

Additionally, prior to the sale of any of its New York properties, Green National must either correct all open code violations or include in any contract of sale a provision that requires the new owners to fix outstanding code violations. Within 14 days of selling any of its properties, the company must notify the OAG of the sale. Additionally, if Green National purchases any additional property in New York within the next five years it must notify the OAG.

“Tenants of any property deserve clean and safe housing, and it’s important that landlords are held accountable for the condition of their properties,” said Onondaga County Executive J. Ryan McMahon McMahon. “Thanks to the work of Attorney General James and Mayor Walsh, that accountability is taking place and should serve as a sign to other landlords that these types of conditions will not be tolerated.” 

“The city of Syracuse is applying pressure from every direction to hold Green National accountable for providing its residents with safe and quality living conditions. When we asked Attorney General James to assist, her office responded with additional authority and resources to help us address all of the company’s properties in Syracuse,” Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh. “Instead of the city being forced to pursue individual violations through repeated inspections, fines, and, ultimately, the courts, the attorney general has structured a penalty that puts all the accountability for its properties where it belongs: Green National. The city appreciates the partnership of Attorney General James and will continue to work with her office to confirm the company does right by its tenants.” 

“The deplorable situation at the Skyline has gone on long enough,” said Andrea Wandersee, executive director, Northeast Hawley Development Association. “We are relieved that Attorney General James has escalated the consequences for Greenland if they do not meet their responsibility to their tenants and to our community. These apartments are people’s homes, and Greenland must be held accountable for maintaining a safe environment.”

“CNY Fair Housing has worked for several years to advocate for improved conditions at Skyline, particularly around issues of accessibility,” said Sally Santangelo, executive director, CNY Fair Housing. “We are glad to see this important action by Attorney General James to hold Green National accountable for the conditions at their properties, and hope it sends a message to landlords that they can't ignore the law and put their tenants at risk.”

DEC ANNOUNCES 2021 WAS SAFEST-EVER SEASON FOR NEW YORK HUNTERS

 

Lowest Number of Hunting-Related Shooting Incidents Since DEC’s Hunter Education Program Was Established in 1949

 New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos announced today that the 2021 hunting seasons in New York were the safest ever, with the lowest number of hunting-related shooting incidents since record-keeping began. DEC Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECO) investigated nine hunting-related shooting incidents (HRSIs) in 2021, including one fatality.

"Hunting is an enjoyable and safe form of outdoor recreation with a long and storied history in New York State,” Commissioner Seggos said. “This past year was the safest-ever on record in New York, with the lowest number of hunting-related shooting incidents since DEC’s Hunter Education Program began in 1949. I’m proud of our Hunter Education Program, and our educators and volunteer instructors, working to ensure licensed hunters experience a safe hunting season. Every hunting fatality is preventable when New Yorkers hunt safely and responsibly.” 

Seven of the nine HRSIs that occurred in 2021 were two-party firearm incidents; two incidents were self-inflicted. All identified shooters were experienced hunters with an average of 40 years of hunting experience, emphasizing the need for all hunters to remain vigilant when heading afield. All incidents could have been prevented if those involved followed hunting safety rules.

A new hunting regulation that took effect in 2021 extended legal shooting hours for big game to 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. None of the deer hunting incidents last year took place during the new extended hours. The four incidents involving deer hunters occurred between 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Another new regulation change effective last year requires all persons hunting deer or bear with a firearm, or anyone accompanying these hunters, to wear a solid or patterned fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink hat, vest, or jacket, visible from all directions. Unfortunately, the single fatality that occurred in 2021 involved a deer hunter not wearing fluorescent orange or pink. The hunter was mistaken for game and shot by a hunting partner.

Also new in 2021, 52 upstate counties passed local laws allowing 12- and 13-year-old licensed hunters to hunt deer with a firearm or crossbow while under the supervision of an experienced, licensed, adult hunter. None of the nine HRSIs investigated in 2021 involved a 12- or 13-year-old hunter. 

All first-time hunters, bowhunters, and trappers must successfully complete a hunter, bowhunter, or trapper education safety course before being eligible to purchase a hunting or trapping license or bowhunting privilege in New York State. DEC-trained and -certified volunteer instructors have taught hunters and trappers to be safe, responsible, and ethical since 1949. Learn more about DEC’s Hunter Safety Program on the DEC website: Hunter Education Program - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation.

DEC encourages hunters to remember the primary rules of hunter safety:

• Treat every firearm as if it were loaded;
• Control the muzzle, keep it pointed in a safe direction;
• Identify your target and what lies beyond;
• Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to fire; and
• Wear hunter orange or pink.

For the past several years, DEC has also tracked and investigated Elevated Hunting Incidents (EHI), previously referred to as tree stand incidents. EHIs are underreported and DEC is not always notified when these falls occur. In 2021, 10 EHIs were reported; one was fatal. Only one of the 10 hunters involved was wearing a safety harness. However, the harness was not connected to the tree when the fall occurred. Tree stand safety is integrated into DEC's hunter education course because these incidents have become a major cause of hunting-related injuries. The proper use of tree stands, and tree stand safety equipment, will help prevent these injuries and fatalities. Used correctly, a full body harness and a lifeline keep hunters connected from the time they leave the ground to the moment they get back down. 

Most tree stand incidents are preventable when hunters follow the "ABCs" of tree stand safety:

• Always inspect the tree stand before every use;
• Buckle full body harness securely every time; and
• Connect to the tree before your feet leave the ground.

A video showing the proper way to climb into and out of a tree stand can be viewed on DEC's YouTube channel. More information, including the 2021 Hunting Safety Statistics and 2021 Tree Stand Safety Statistics, is available on DEC's website.

Governor Hochul Announces Formation of Joint Security Operations Center to Oversee Cybersecurity Across the State

 

The New York JSOC Will Serve as a First-of-its-Kind Hub for Data Sharing and Cyber Coordination Across New York State, New York City, the Five Major Upstate Cities, Local and Regional Governments, Critical Infrastructure and Federal Partners

Announcement Builds on Governor Hochul's Unprecedented $61.9 Million Investment in the State's Cybersecurity Infrastructure as Part of FY23 Budget

Governor Proposes Historic New $30 Million Program for Localities to Help Bolster Cyber Defenses Statewide

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the creation of a Joint Security Operations Center in Brooklyn that will serve as the nerve center for joint local, state and federal cyber efforts, including data collection, response efforts and information sharing. A partnership launched with New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan, Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, Rochester Mayor Malik Evans, Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, and cyber leaders across the state, the JSOC is the nation's first-of-its-kind cyber command center that will provide a statewide view of the cyber-threat landscape and improve coordination on threat intelligence and incident response.

"There is a new type of emerging risk that threatens our daily lives, and just as we improved our physical security infrastructure in the aftermath of 9/11, we must now transform how we approach cybersecurity with that same rigor and seriousness," Governor Hochul said. "I'm proud to announce this dynamic and innovative partnership to establish the Joint Security Operations Center in collaboration with New York City, our upstate cities, and government and business leaders across the state. Cybersecurity has been a priority for my administration since Day 1, and this command center will strengthen our ability to protect New York's institutions, infrastructure, our citizens and public safety." 

This innovative collaboration has been months in the making and is the result of Governor Hochul and her team's early vision and commitment to enhancing the State's cybersecurity posture. No other state has brought together cybersecurity teams in a shared command space at this scale including federal, state, city, and county governments, critical businesses and utilities, and state entities like Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, Office of Information Technology Services, New York State Police, MTA, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the New York Power Authority, among others.

New York's leadership in finance, energy, transportation, healthcare, and other critical fields makes the State an attractive target for cyber attacks that can disrupt operations, including critical infrastructure and services to citizens. While government entities across the State have historically taken an independent approach to cyber defense and protecting the safety of their technology assets, acting alone is no longer optimal. As the frequency and sophistication of cyber attacks have grown, so too has the need for a "whole of government" approach.

The JSOC, headquartered in Brooklyn and staffed by both physical and virtual participants from across the state, will improve defenses by allowing cyber teams to have a centralized viewpoint of threat data. This will yield better collaboration on threat intelligence, reduction in response time, and quicker remediation in the event of a major cyber incident. It will help participating entities respond to potential issues and elevate systemic trends that may have otherwise gone undetected. This approach leverages all the cyber defense assets at the state, city, local and authority-level under one umbrella.

New York State will collaborate with city and regional leaders on cyber trainings and exercises as the JSOC becomes operational over the coming months. The Governor and her team will continue ongoing conversations with the White House and federal partners to ensure coordination.

This builds on Governor Hochul's historic proposal in this year's budget for investment in New York State's cyber protections, which includes $61.9 million for cybersecurity, doubling the previous investment. These investments will fund critical protections, including the expansion of the state's cyber Red Team program to provide additional penetration testing, an expanded phishing exercise program, vulnerability scanning and additional cyber incident response services. These investments help ensure that if one part of the network is attacked, the State can isolate and protect the rest of the system.

As part of this proposal, the Governor is also proposing a $30 million "shared services" program to help local governments and other regional partners acquire and deploy high quality cybersecurity services to bolster their cyber defenses. The interconnected nature of the state's networks and IT programs means that attacks can quickly spread across the state. Many government entities often do not have the funding or resources necessary to protect their systems, some which provide critical services like healthcare, law enforcement, emergency management, water treatment, and unemployment insurance, to name a few. 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said, "New York City is a prime target for those who want to attack our cyber infrastructure to cause destruction. While New York City Cyber Command is already a national model for impeding these threats, it's time our cybersecurity moved to the next level. We know that when it comes to cyber attacks, the difference between a minor disruption and a catastrophe can be a matter of minutes. That is why the new Joint Security Operations Center will take an integrated and holistic approach to hardening our cyber defenses across the state. I thank Governor Hochul and our fellow mayors for their partnership, and look forward to working with them to confront this common threat."

MAYOR ADAMS AND GOVERNOR HOCHUL UNVEIL JOINT SECURITY OPERATIONS CENTER TO COMBAT CYBERSECURITY ATTACKS

 

Collaborative Effort Will Foster Greater Statewide Coordination and Bolster City’s Defenses Against Cyber Threats

 New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York Governor Kathy Hochul, along with the mayors of Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and Yonkers, today unveiled the new Joint Security Operations Center (JSOC) that will bolster New York State’s ability to combat cybersecurity threats and attacks. The center — headquartered in Brooklyn — will be a first-of-its-kind hub for coordinating cybersecurity efforts across New York State, helping to foster collaboration among city, state, and federal entities.

 

Mayor Adams, today, also signed Executive Order 10, which sets forward the roles and responsibilities of the New York City Cyber Command (NYC3) under the direction of the New York City Office of Technology and Innovation, overseen by New York City Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Matt Fraser. The order also requires each city agency to designate a cyber command liaison who will work with the Office of Cyber Command to share information, monitor threats, and adopt best practices around cyber security.

 

“Technology runs our water, controls our electricity, and notifies us during an emergency, so cyber attacks have the ability to bring our entire city to a halt if we are not prepared,” said Mayor Adams. “Our city is a prime target for those who want to cause destruction, and while New York City Cyber Command is already a national model for impeding these threats, it’s time our cybersecurity gets moved to the next level. The new Joint Security Operations Center will take an integrated and holistic approach to hardening our cyber defenses across the city and the state, building on the robust cyber infrastructure New York City has developed in recent years. We thank Governor Hochul and our fellow mayors for recognizing the urgency of this challenge, and the importance of working together to confront a common threat that connects us all.”

 

“New York has the opportunity to pioneer an integrated, statewide approach to cybersecurity, and I’m proud to announce this innovative partnership with Mayor Adams and New York City, our upstate cities, and government and business leaders across the state,” said Governor Kathy Hochul. “Cybersecurity threats pose a risk to every facet of our lives. That's why I put improving our cyber infrastructure at the forefront of my administration as we chart a course to better protect our state and our citizens. The Joint Security Operations Center will serve as the epicenter in helping to defend against this emerging threat.”

 

The JSOC will be staffed by NYC3, federal and state law enforcement entities, and representatives from local and county governments. The command center will strengthen New York State’s threat detection capability by centralizing telemetry data — allowing officials to assess and monitor potential threats in real time. The JSOC will also streamline threat intelligence and responses in the event of a significant cyberattack.

 

In 2017, New York City created NYC3 through Executive Order 28. The body coordinates the city’s cyber defenses across more than 100 agencies and offices — helping monitor, deter, and respond to potential cyber threats. NYC3 has developed and launched NYC Secure — a first-of-its-kind, free application that provides warnings to users when suspicious activity is detected on their mobile devices — and implemented new protections on public Wi-Fi networks. NYC3 has also led the nation in developing protocols and policies to prepare for and prevent cyberattacks.

 

“Hardening our defenses against the growing threat of cyberattacks will take a whole-of-government approach,” said First Deputy Mayor Lorraine Grillo. “New York City has already led the nation in building its cyber infrastructure, and today’s announcement underscores our commitment to working together with our statewide partners to confront this problem and ‘Get Stuff Done.’”

 

“In this modern era of intensifying cyberattacks on municipalities and critical infrastructure, the creation of this Joint Security Operations Center marks a transformational moment for cybersecurity in New York State — one that has the potential to make us the most cyber-resilient state in the nation,” said New York City Chief Technology Officer Matthew Fraser. “It’s a prime example of Mayor Adams’ unparalleled commitment to leveraging technology to ‘Get Stuff Done’ for New Yorkers — in this case, improving their safety and well-being — and a tribute to Governor Hochul’s prioritization and investment in New York’s cybersecurity infrastructure. Thanks to their leadership and vision, this center will erect a formidable shield around the state’s cyber perimeter, and 20 million New Yorkers will be the beneficiaries.”

 

Last year, then-Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams joined The City University of New York (CUNY) Chancellor Felix V. Matos-Rodriguez and New York City College of Technology President Russell K. Hotzler to call for greater investments in cybersecurity education. At the time, they cited cybersecurity as a burgeoning field, and highlighted the urgent need to prepare New Yorkers — particularly those who are currently underrepresented in the tech sector — for roles in that field. Under the leadership of the CTO, JSOC will pursue partnerships with local educational institutions, such as CUNY, to develop a cyber curriculum and build out the talent pipeline to connect graduates with jobs in public and private sectors.

Governor Hochul Signs Conditional Cannabis Cultivation Bill

 

Bill Provides Opportunity for New York's Hemp Farmers to Grow Cannabis this Spring  

Conditional Licenses Fast-Tracking State's Adult-Use Cannabis Program and Putting New York's Farmers First  

Leading with Cultivation Licenses will Help Ensure Products Are Available to Launch Upcoming Adult-Use Program  

Includes Provisions to Ensure Equity and Inclusion, and Environmental Sustainability  

 Governor Kathy Hochul today signed legislation creating a new Conditional Adult-use Cannabis Cultivator license, establishing a pathway for existing New York hemp farmers to apply for a conditional license to grow cannabis in the 2022 growing season for the forthcoming adult-use cannabis market. Under the law, conditionally licensed cannabis farmers must meet certain requirements, including safe, sustainable and environmentally friendly cultivation practices, participation in a social equity mentorship program, and engagement in a labor peace agreement with a bona fide labor organization.   

"I am proud to sign this bill, which positions New York's farmers to be the first to grow cannabis and jumpstart the safe, equitable and inclusive new industry we are building," Governor Hochul said. "New York State will continue to lead the way in delivering on our commitment to bring economic opportunity and growth to every New Yorker in every corner of our great state."   

Office of Cannabis Management Executive Director Chris Alexander said, "I can't thank Governor Hochul and the Legislature enough for providing us with the tools to make up for lost time while also keeping equity and inclusion at the center of the new cannabis industry we're building in New York. With this bill, we're putting New York farmers, not big corporations, at the forefront of our industry while protecting public health by delivering safely grown products. We are immediately getting to work implementing the bill so that our farmers can start planting this spring."   

With a conditional adult-use cannabis cultivation license, farmers can grow outdoors or in a greenhouse for up to two years from the issuance of the license. It also allows them to manufacture and distribute cannabis flower products without holding an adult-use processor or distributor license, until June 1, 2023.Cultivators are limited to one acre (43,560 square feet) of flowering canopy outdoors or 25,000 square feet in a greenhouse and can use up to 20 artificial lights. They can also split between outdoor and greenhouse grows with a maximum total canopy of 30,000 square feet as long as greenhouse flowering canopy remains under 20,000 square feet.     

The OCM will be developing a license application process and opening the program as soon as possible. To qualify for an Adult-use CannabisConditional Cultivator License an applicant must have been an authorized industrial hemp research partner for the Department of Agriculture and Markets, cultivating hemp for its non-intoxicating cannabinoid content for at least two of the past four years and in good standing as of December 31, 2021, when the research program ended.   

Holders of the license must also participate in a social equity mentorship program where they provide training in cannabis cultivation and processing for social and economic equity partners, preparing them for potential roles in the industry. Growers will also have to meet sustainability requirements to ensure the cannabis is grown in an environmentally conscientious way.   

The Governor's action today builds on the quick work she and the OCM have undertaken to bring the new cannabis industry to life in New York. In January ,the Governor's Executive Budget proposed a $200 million program that will use industry licensing fees and revenue to provide support to eligible applicants from communities impacted by the overcriminalization of cannabis during its prohibition. The Governor and the Legislature also moved quickly to appoint the Cannabis Control Board and OCM leadership within weeks of the start of her administration. Since the Board held its first meeting on Oct. 5, the OCM has:   

• Launched the Cannabinoid Hemp Program, putting in place protections for the public and provisions to help New York's CBD businesses compete;  
• Vastly expanded access to the Medical Cannabis Program, including empowering health care providers to determine if medical cannabis can help their patients, lowering costs by permanently waiving patient fees and allowing the sale of whole flower, and growing the list of providers who can certify patients; and  
• Launched its first wave of community outreach events with 11 regional events, including one in Spanish, that's already engaged more than 5,000 attendees; and  
• Developed a pipeline of talented professionals to join the Office's growing team and built the infrastructure to support the office.      

Former Owner Of Tax Preparation Business Convicted Of Fraud, Identity Theft, And Money Laundering Crimes

 

Ariel Jimenez Sold the Stolen Identities of Children to Thousands of His Customers, Triggering Tens of Millions of Dollars in Fraudulent Tax Loss

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that ARIEL JIMENEZ, a/k/a “Melo,” was convicted today following a two-week jury trial before the Honorable Sidney H. Stein.  As the jury found, between in or about 2009 through in or about 2015, JIMENEZ, the owner of a tax preparation business in the Bronx, New York (the “Business”), sold the stolen identities of minors to his customers so that his customers could claim inflated tax refunds.  The jury convicted JIMENEZ of four counts: conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:  “Ariel Jimenez’s tax and identity theft crimes cruelly forced his victims to endure bureaucratic snafus and agonizing delays for their much-needed tax refunds. Jimenez now stands convicted, and now faces years in federal prison. Today’s conviction is a stark reminder that tax fraud results in real-world victims and real-life consequences.”

According to the Indictment, evidence presented during trial, court documents, and statements in open court:

Beginning in or about 2007, JIMENEZ founded the Business.  From the outset, JIMENEZ obtained hundreds of stolen minor identities and, working with his co-conspirators, sold those identities, as fraudulent dependents, to his customers for between $1,000 and $1,500 in cash.  JIMENEZ personally received $1,000 in cash for every identity sold.  JIMENEZ and his co-conspirators callously referred to these stolen identities as “pollitos,” meaning little chickens.  In some years, JIMENEZ sold more than a thousand identities, resulting in personal profits to him of more than $1 million per year.  In addition, JIMENEZ also made hundreds of thousands of dollars every year in the tax fees that his Business charged just to prepare fraudulent tax returns.  In return for their participation in this scheme, the customers received thousands of dollars in inflated tax refunds.

JIMENEZ’s use of stolen identities harmed the actual caretakers of the fraudulently claimed children.  In some cases, the people actually taking care of these children had much-needed tax refunds delayed and were required to prove their actual connection to their own dependent children.

JIMENEZ used the profits from his tax preparation business to acquire millions of dollars of real estate, in addition to funding his lavish lifestyle.  By his own admission, JIMENEZ spent more than $5.5 million of the Business’s proceeds on properties in the United States and abroad, jewelry, cars, and gambling.  In or about March 2016, JIMENEZ transferred several properties purchased with fraud proceeds to his parents, for little to no value, in order to conceal the criminal source of the funds used to purchase the properties. 

One of the primary credits claimed by JIMENEZ and the Business for their clients was the Earned Income Tax Credit (“EITC”).  The EITC is intended to provide tax relief or tax refunds for qualifying low and moderate income working individuals and families.  Between tax years 2009 and 2014, the Business filed approximately 14,199 personal income tax returns claiming the EITC.  In total, these returns claimed approximately $37,910,246 in the EITC alone.  During these years, between 54% and 62% of all personal income tax returns filed by the Business claimed the EITC.  By comparison, approximately 41% of all returns filed by tax preparers in the Bronx and approximately 20% of all returns filed by tax prepares nationwide claimed the EITC.

JIMENEZ was first arrested in November 2018, along with eight of his co-conspirators.  JIMENEZ is the last of the defendants charged to be convicted.  The remaining eight defendants have pleaded guilty to fraud and other offenses.

ARIEL JIMENEZ, 38, of Bronx, New York was convicted at trial of one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States with respect to tax returns, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years; conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years; aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of 2 years; and money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.  The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.  JIMENEZ is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Stein on June 6, 2022.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the IRS-Criminal Investigation.