STATEMENT FROM BOROUGH PRESIDENT GIBSON ON RECENT SURGE IN GUN VIOLENCE AND LEGISLATION TO COMBAT GHOST GUNS

 

 “The recent incidents of gun violence across our borough have been heartbreaking. When our residents are being senselessly gunned down in the street, then we know that we are in a state of emergency. This is a call to action for all of us to join together as a community to combat this gun violence epidemic.

I want to thank my friend and colleague Congressman Torres for his leadership in introducing legislation to combat the distribution of ghost guns in our neighborhoods that has claimed the lives of many of our residents. We need our partners at the federal level because this epidemic is an issue that needs to be addressed at all levels of government. I also want to thank our law enforcement, first-responders, cure violence organizations, and advocates that have been on the frontlines keeping all of us safe. These are difficult times, but I know as a borough, we will get through this together.”

SEC Denies Amazon’s Attempt to Block a Vote on NYC Retirement Systems’ Shareholder Proposal on Health and Safety Disparities

 

Vote will take place at May 25th Meeting of Amazon Shareholders.

 New York City Comptroller Brad Lander announced that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has determined that Amazon, Inc. must allow shareholders to vote on a proposal submitted by the New York City Retirement Systems to require the company to report detailed data on the company’s health and safety practices.

The New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS), the New York City Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS), and the New York City Board of Education Retirement System (BERS) filed a shareholder proposal in December 2021 that calls on Amazon to assess whether its health and safety practices are leading to racial and gender disparities in workplace injury rates among its warehouse workers.  The company sought to toss out the shareholder proposal, but the SEC ruled that shareholders should be allowed to vote on it at the company’s May 25th annual meeting.

Lander organized a letter to Amazon directors, along with New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, and the State Treasurers of Illinois, Oregon, and Vermont to discuss the company’s human capital management practices with institutional investors. Amazon declined the request to meet.

“The high rates of injury to Amazon workers raise serious concerns about how health and safety practices impact the company’s racially and ethnically diverse workforce, practices that may impact the company’s bottom line. Calls from workers for companies to strengthen workplace safety protections have continued to grow, and Amazon’s leadership owes investors answers to how they are addressing these risks. I am grateful to the SEC for denying Amazon’s attempt to disenfranchise shareholders from voting to have Amazon disclose critical information about how it is addressing serious health and safety concerns,” said New York City Comptroller Brad Lander.

Amazon is the second largest employer in the United States, and its health and safety issues have a significant impact on its more than 1.3 million diverse workers. Nationally and across industries, studies have shown Black and Hispanic workers were more likely to experience work-related disabilities compared to white workers, and research also found that Black workers’ occupational fatality rate was 1.3 to 1.5 times higher. Amazon has been cited for significantly higher injury rates at its warehouses before and during the pandemic. Since 2017, according to one analysis of government data, Amazon reported a higher rate of serious injury incidents leading to missed work or light-duty shifts than at other retailers’ warehouses. Data also show Amazon’s serious injury rates were nearly double those of their peers.

Amazon has announced that it is making large investments in safety and health initiatives, yet details are scant, and investors lack transparency into how Amazon analyzes adverse impacts of the company’s health and safety practices on its workers, especially warehouse workers of color.

The shareholder proposal also requests that the company assess the impact of any such disparities on the long-term earnings and career advancement potential of female and minority warehouse workers. It would mandate Amazon’s board of directors to release the report and include lost time injury rates for all warehouse workers, broken down by race, gender and ethnicity.

Comptroller Lander is the custodian and a trustee of the New York City Employees’ Retirement System, the New York City Teachers’ Retirement System, and custodian of the New York City Board of Education Retirement System. The three New York City Retirement Systems own over 465 thousand shares of stock at Amazon, Inc., valued at approximately $1.4 billion as of February 28th.

The full SEC decision letter and shareholder proposal can be read here.

Trustees of the pension fund board bringing this resolution are:

New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS): New York City Comptroller Brad Lander; Mayor Eric Adams’ Representative Preston Niblack, Chair; New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams; Borough Presidents: Mark Levine (Manhattan), Donovan Richards (Queens), Antonio Reynoso (Brooklyn), Vito Fossella (Staten Island), and Vanessa L. Gibson (Bronx); Henry Garrido, Executive Director, District Council 37, AFSCME; Tony Utano, President Transport Workers Union Local 100; and Gregory Floyd, President, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 237.

Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS): New York City Comptroller Brad Lander; Mayor Eric Adams’ Appointee Philip Dukes; Chancellor’s Representative, Lindsey Oates, New York City Department of Education; and Debra Penny (Chair), Thomas Brown and David Kazansky, all of the United Federation of Teachers.

Board of Education Retirement System (BERS): Schools Chancellor David C. Banks, Represented by Lindsey Oates; Mayoral: Tom Allon, Vasthi Acosta, Gregory Faulkner, Dr. Angela Green, Anthony Lopez, Alan Ong, Gladys Ward, Karina Tavera; Thomas Sheppard (CEC); Geneal Chacon (Bronx), Tazin Azad (Brooklyn), Kaliris Salas-Ramirez (Manhattan), Jaclyn Tacoronte (Staten Island), and Deborah Dillingham (Queens); and employee members John Maderich of the IUOE Local 891 and Donald Nesbit of District Council 37, Local 372.

Dark Web User Known As “The Bull” Admits Guilt And Is Sentenced In Insider Trading Scheme

 

Apostolos Trovias, a/k/a “The Bull,” Used the Dark Web and Encrypted Messaging Services that Catered to Aspiring Insider Traders

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that APOSTOLOS TROVIAS, a/k/a “The Bull,” pled guilty and was sentenced to time served, following approximately eleven months in custody, in connection with his scheme to solicit and sell confidential, pre-release earnings, deal, and other information regarding public companies.

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

Since at least in or about December 2016, APOSTOLOS TROVIAS, who identified himself by the pseudonym “The Bull,” had used websites on the Dark Web and encrypted messaging services to solicit and sell confidential, non-public information about publicly traded companies (“Inside Information”) to enrich himself. TROVIAS’s scheme consisted of multiple related efforts to obtain and monetize confidential nonpublic business information, including the sale of pre-release earnings reports and deal information misappropriated from publicly traded companies.

Further, in or about 2020, TROVIAS took steps to design and build a website to facilitate the purchase and sale of material, non-public information for use in stock trading (the “Inside Information Auction Site”). TROVIAS planned to use the Inside Information Auction Site to enrich himself by charging membership fees and commissions from individuals using the Inside Information Auction Site to engage in the unlawful trade of Inside Information.

TROVIAS, 30, of Athens, Greece, had been arrested in the Republic of Peru in May 2021 and arrived in the United States by extradition on March 25, 2021. TROVIAS was ordered to pay forfeiture in the amount of $6,700.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the FBI. Mr. Williams further thanked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Internal Revenue Service for their cooperation and assistance in this investigation.

Permits Reveal Ground-Up Residential Building At 2838-2840 Webb Avenue In Kingsbridge, The Bronx

 

The New York City Department of Buildings is now reviewing permits to complete a new 16-unit multifamily rental property in the Kingsbridge section of The Bronx. The development represents an assemblage of two neighboring lots at 2838 and 2840 Webb Avenue, which will debut as a pair of two interconnected four-story buildings.

Designed by Badaly & Badaly Architecture and Engineering, each building will comprise 6,960 square feet of residential area. The mix of units will include studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments. The façade will comprise a mix of brick masonry, a standard punched window system with PTAC units underneath, and stuck-enclosed bulkheads at the roof of the building.

The buildings will replace a three-family low-rise home constructed around 1920. The developer, which was not specified, has also filed permits to demolish and excavate the existing property at 2832 and 2840 Webb Avenue. No word yet on when the building might debut.

MAYOR ADAMS APPLAUDS EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT ENHANCEMENT IN STATE BUDGET, FULFILLING PLEDGE TO BOLSTER SOCIAL SAFETY NET FOR WORKING FAMILIES

Over 800,000 New York City Families to Benefit From Enhancement

 

City to Invest $250 Million Annually and Receive One-Time State Payment Estimated at $100 Million

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today was joined by elected officials and community leaders to celebrate the enhancement of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) in the state budget. The EITC enhancement was part of a campaign pledge from the administration to bolster the social safety net and expand services for working families in New York City. At today’s event, Mayor Adams announced over 800,000 families will benefit from the enhancement. Additionally, the city committed to investing $250 million annually to EITC and will receive a one-time state payment estimated at $100 million. 

“Earlier this year, I told New Yorkers I would fight for them by expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit. Today, we say to New Yorkers: promises made and promises kept,” said Mayor Adams. “The additional $250 million annually in EITC reaches 800,000 New Yorkers — putting money back in their pockets for food, bills, and rent. Too many working families suffered because of COVID-19, losing wages and falling through our social safety net. With this critical expansion, we are making sure no one falls through the gaps again.”

 

“The Earned Income Tax Credit enhancement is this administration’s continued commitment to work on behalf of working families,” said Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Sheena Wright. “We will continue to fight for New York City families to have access to the social services needed to thrive and survive — from EITC to child care. We thank our colleagues in Albany for their partnership and commitment to rebuilding our social safety net.”

 

“For our city to move forward with an equitable recovery, we must invest in our working families and, thanks to Mayor Adams’ leadership and partnership with lawmakers in Albany, New York City is doing just that,” said Department of Consumer and Worker Protection Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga. “By increasing the amount of the Earned Income Tax Credit to be in line with the reality of today’s cost of living, we are putting money in the pockets of hardworking New Yorkers. Each year, NYC Free Tax Prep helps families file for the EITC, and we see the relief this credit brings to families as they pay bills, find childcare, and buy groceries. I thank Mayor Adams for being a champion of this effort!”

 

The state and city match to EITC had not previously been increased in almost 20 years. Under the city’s expansion of the EITC, a single parent with one child with an income of $14,750 will see their benefit increase from $181 to $905 — a 400 percent increase. A married couple with two children and an income of $25,000 will see their New York City benefit increase from $299 to $897 under the city payment — a 200 percent increase. The expansion of EITC will help the 800,000 New Yorkers who qualify to better afford essential items like food, rent, and utilities, and will supercharge New York City’s economic recovery.

 

NEW YORK STATE ISSUES 10th ‘GREENING NEW YORK STATE REPORT’ ON GREEN, SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES

 

Report Finds Greener Operations Continue Benefiting New York's Environment and Economy

Three New Green Purchasing Specifications Issued, 15 Others Tentatively Approved to Help Protect New Yorkers from Hazardous Substances and Fight Climate Change

The GreenNY Council today issued the tenth annual Greening New York State Report for 2020-21, documenting the continued progress made by New York State to reduce the environmental footprint of State operations. Highlights of this year's report include a record $300 million invested in green products and services, 4.4 trillion BTUs of energy saving projects completed or underway as part of the BuildSmart 2025 program, and a record 94 percent recycling rate.

The GreenNY Council, co-chaired by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), New York Power Authority (NYPA), Office of General Services (OGS), and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), issued the report detailing progress on a wide range of sustainability initiatives, many of which save State resources and make operations more resilient. The full report is available online on the State's GreenNY website (https://ogs.ny.gov/greenny/), along with more details about New York's efforts to green State purchasing and operations.

"The Greening New York State Report is documenting New York State’s sustainable actions and investments to reduce the environmental footprint of State agencies," DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said. "We're proud of what we’ve achieved, but recognize there is more work to do. I commend the Interagency Committee for approving the three new green purchasing specifications that will fight climate change, reduce waste, and protect New Yorkers from hazardous substances."

OGS Commissioner Jeanette Moy said, “For more than a decade, OGS and our partners in State government have been leading by example and making great strides toward a cleaner, more sustainable New York. We have made it our priority to procure green products and technology and advance energy-saving projects at public facilities. We are especially excited about what comes next as we begin work to implement Governor Hochul’s ambitious plans to electrify the State’s passenger vehicle fleet by 2035.”

Doreen M. Harris, President and CEO, NYSERDA said, “New York’s agencies and authorities are leading by example when it comes to tackling greenhouse gas emission reductions and combatting climate change. Our new green purchasing specifications will build on our collaborative success to date and further expand our progress within new areas of state government, helping to lower costs and use cleaner and more resilient technologies.”

NYPA Interim President and CEO Justin E. Driscoll said, “Whether it’s enrolling more New York State agencies in our New York Energy Manager to help them monitor their energy use, upgrading transmission infrastructure to integrate more renewable energy into the grid, or employing sustainable land management techniques at our statewide clean energy projects, the New York Power Authority is fully engaged with our state partners and is privileged to help lead the way to a shared sustainable, clean energy future that will have tangible, lasting benefits for all New Yorkers.”

Executive Order 4 directs State agencies and authorities to implement a Sustainability and Environmental Stewardship Program and assign an employee to serve as Sustainability and Green Procurement Coordinator. In addition to releasing the report, the Executive Order 4 Interagency Committee gave final approval to three new green purchasing specifications and tentative approval to 15 additional specifications. These specifications will lower the environmental impact of goods and services purchased and used by New York State government, with a focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions ?and reducing exposure to hazardous substances. Approved specifications are:

• Lower Carbon Concrete;
• Menstrual Products; and
• Product Packaging

Specifications given tentative approval include:

• Heating and Cooling Equipment (Heat Pumps);
• Green Cleaning Products (specifications for 13 different types of equipment); and
• Passenger Vehicles.

Specifications that received tentative approval will be posted for a 90-day public comment period before the Interagency Committee considers them for final approval at their next meeting. Today's actions bring the total number of final green purchasing specifications to 79. All green purchasing specifications can be found on the GreenNY website.

In addition to the Executive Order referenced above, other laws, executive orders, and policies have created a strong framework to support New York State government as it works to advance the State's ambitious climate goals, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and adopt sustainable practices. The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), for example, is the most ambitious and comprehensive climate and clean energy law in the country, mandating that the State's power system be 100 percent zero carbon by 2040, and that the state reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030, and 85 percent by 2050, while ensuring that at least 35 percent with a goal of 40 percent of the benefits of clean energy investments to disadvantaged communities.  Executive Order 88 requires state agencies and authorities to reduce source energy use in State-owned and managed buildings 20,000 square feet or greater; Executive Order 18 directs New York State executive agencies to eliminate the expenditure of State funds for the purchase of bottled water. And the "New Efficiency: New York" initiative, supported by the Public Service Commission Order of December 2018, establishes a reduction of State agency site energy use of 11 trillion BTUs by 2025 (from the baseline year of 2015) through energy efficiency measures.

New York State's Nation-Leading Climate Act

New York State's nation-leading climate agenda is the most aggressive climate and clean energy initiative in the nation, calling for an orderly and just transition to clean energy that creates jobs and continues fostering a green economy as New York State recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. Enshrined into law through the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, New York is on a path to achieve its mandated goal of a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and to reach economy-wide carbon neutrality. It builds on New York's unprecedented investments to ramp-up clean energy including over $33 billion in 102 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce buildings emissions, $1.8 billion to scale up solar, more than $1 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $1.6 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. Combined, these investments are supporting nearly 158,000 jobs in New York's clean energy sector in 2020, a 2,100 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011 and a commitment to develop 9,000 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035. Under the Climate Act, New York will build on this progress and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, while ensuring that at least 35 percent with a goal of 40 percent of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities, and advance progress towards the state's 2025 energy efficiency target of reducing on-site energy consumption by 185 trillion BTUs of end-use energy savings.

Governor Hochul, Mayor Patterson-Howard, and County Executive Latimer Announce Historic Partnership to Address Longstanding Water Infrastructure Challenges in City of Mount Vernon

 

State to Direct $150 Million to Replace Aging Water and Sewer Infrastructure, Improve Quality of Life and Protect Public Health  

Governor Directs $7 Million to Immediately Launch Engineering, Design, and Construction of 'Third Street' Sewer Project

$8 Million Assistance Package to Fund Emergency Repairs and Jump Start Long-Term Planning for Lead Pipe Replacement    

$3 Million Awarded for Housing Remediation and Resiliency Pilot Program

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced a historic $150 million investment and a precedent-setting three-way partnership with Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard and Westchester County Executive George Latimer to immediately advance work to address longstanding water infrastructure and related public health challenges that have plagued the city of Mount Vernon for decades. At an event at Mount Vernon's City Hall, the Governor also announced the immediate launch of the $7 million 'Third Street Sewer Project,' that, when complete, will ensure reliable wastewater service for 500 nearby households currently served by temporary pumps and a makeshift system staged in the street to ensure adequate wastewater collection.

"In too many communities of color like Mount Vernon, critical water infrastructure has been left to fall into disrepair, but today we are setting an example for the nation by advancing environmental justice, improving quality of life for residents, and addressing decades of disinvestment," Governor Hochul said. "When I met with Mayor Patterson-Howard and heard about the seriousness of this crisis in her city, I immediately directed my administration to coordinate with the city and the county and right this systemic wrong. I am so proud of our collective and collaborative efforts to deliver this transformative environmental justice victory."

In December, the Governor announced a $10 million Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) program grant award from DEC to Mount Vernon that will improve water quality in the Hutchinson River by upgrading one portion of the city's municipal wastewater outfalls to prevent the discharge of raw sewage. This grant advances work required by the Federal Consent Decree. DEC also awarded a $75,000 Non-Point Planning Grant to support the mapping of Mount Vernon's municipal separate storm sewer systems to prevent polluted runoff from affecting local communities and the environment. In addition, EFC provided two Engineering Planning Grants totaling $200,000 in 2021. Additional State investments to help address Mount Vernon's wastewater infrastructure challenges include a $1.6 million WQIP grant awarded in 2016.

The Fiscal Year 2023 Enacted Budget builds upon New York State's commitments by including more than half a billion dollars in direct investment into clean water initiatives, including:

• $500 million in clean water infrastructure funding, bringing the State's total clean water investment to $4.5 billion since 2017;
• $400 million - a record level of funding - for the Environmental Protection Fund to support critical projects that work to mitigate the effects of climate change, improve agricultural resources, protect water sources, advance conservation efforts and provide recreational opportunities;
• $4.2 billion for the landmark Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act. If approved by voters this fall, this historic initiative will provide the support New York State needs to protect and improve our water resources, restore critical environmental habitats, reduce flood risks, conserve additional lands and open spaces, and invest in climate change mitigation projects that will reduce pollution and lower carbon emissions; and
• Additional water quality protections with essential improvements to the State's wetlands protection program, safeguarding an estimated one million additional acres of unprotected wetlands habitat and helping New York adapt to increased flooding and severe storms fueled by climate change.

The Easter Bunny Hops Along Allerton Avenue

 

The day before Easter Sunday, the Easter Bunny was spotted hopping along Allerton Avenue. Officers from the 49th precinct in the area on patrol, stopped to make sure this was the real Easter Bunny hopping along on Allerton Avenue. 

The Easter Bunny met children to have his picture taken with them, and gave out colorful Easter eggs to the children. The  Easter Bunny then stopped in a few of the stores on Allerton Avenue to greet some of the people in them, and have his picture taken with them.

The Easter Bunny was standing outside the Sanz on Allerton Avenue Saturday morning.

Police officers from the 49th Precinct checked out a giant bunny on Allerton Avenue.

Above and below, the Easter Bunny was handing out Easter Eggs to the children from his basket of eggs. 

The Easter Bunny then hopped down the street to greet some of the people in the stores. While the sign said no dogs, it did not say no Easter Bunnies.

At the Hair Studio the Easter Bunny posed with the ladies.

Here the Easter Bunny waits for an egg sandwich with these ladies in the restaurant. 

At the cleaners the Easter Bunny was put to work pressing clothes.

Then it was back outside to meet some more children and give them some Easter eggs.