Governor Hochul Signs Legislation Boosting Consumer Protections and Addressing Inequities in Financial Services System

 

Legislation (S.1684/A.8293) Directs the Department of Financial Services to Conduct a Study on Underbanked Communities

Legislation (S.4894/A.1693) Prohibits Banking Organizations from Issuing Unsolicited Mail-Loan Checks

 Governor Kathy Hochul today signed legislation that boosts consumer protections and addresses inequities in the state's financial services system. Legislation (S.1684/A.8293) directs the Department of Financial Services to conduct a study of underbanked communities and households in New York and make recommendations to improve access to financial services for them. Legislation (S.4894/A.1693) protects consumers from potentially unsafe banking products by prohibiting the issuance of unsolicited mail-loan checks.

"This legislation is the first step in remedying the lack of safe and accessible banking services that contribute to the inequities in our state's financial system," Governor Hochul said. "Dangerous mail-loan checks and banking deserts prevent already underserved New Yorkers from safely accessing the services they need to build wealth and pursue economic prosperity. I am proud to sign this legislation into law that will boost consumer protections for New Yorkers and explore ways to bring these much-needed resources to consumers."

“Protecting consumers and delivering data-driven policies to help implement a more equitable and resilient financial sector in New York is a top priority for DFS,” Superintendent of Financial Services Adrienne A. Harris said. “We look forward to engaging with all stakeholders in order to shed light on the current state of financial services in underserved areas and propose collaborative recommendations to increase access to financial services for the benefit of all New Yorkers.”

Legislation (S.1684/A.8293) directs the Department of Financial Services to conduct a study of underbanked communities and households in New York and make recommendations to improve access to financial services for them. Access to safe and affordable financial services is necessary in building financial stability but far too many New Yorkers are either unbanked, with no access to a checking or savings account, or underbanked, with access to some banking services but also the need to use alternative and riskier financial services such as payday loans. This bill will update the numbers of households that are unbanked and underbanked and analyze the data to develop an assessment for New York State's Department of Financial Services to more effectively aid these communities.

Legislation (S.4894/A.1693) protects consumers from potentially unsafe banking products by prohibiting banking institutions from issuing unsolicited mail-loan checks. A mail-loan check is a an unsolicited loan offer that is sent by mail and once cashed or deposited binds the recipient to the loan terms, which may include high interest rates for multiple years. The practice of mailing unsolicited loan checks can prove confusing and dangerous for consumers and this legislation will protect New Yorkers from the associated risk.

MAYOR ADAMS, COUNCILMEMBERS POWERS, BRANNAN STAND UP FOR NYC SMALL BUSINESSES, PUSH TO SUSPEND LIQUOR LICENSE SURCHARGE

 

Bill Introduced by Councilmembers Powers and Brannan Would Put Money Back Into Pockets of Small Business Owners and Fuel City’s Recovery

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today stood up for New York City small businesses by backing a newly introduced bill by New York City Councilmembers Keith Powers and Justin Brannan that would suspend the city’s liquor license surcharge and put money back into the pockets of small business owners: 

 

“The COVID-19 pandemic hit our small businesses hard and had an especially big impact on bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues,” said Mayor Adams. “Suspending the local tax these businesses currently pay on liquor licenses is a simple, common-sense way to put money back into their pockets and help keep their doors open. This was a key component of my economic blueprint in March, and I am proud to support this legislation sponsored by Councilmembers Powers and Brannan. Under my administration, city government will not be an obstacle for our small business community but an ally that helps small business owners thrive.”

 

“Small businesses propel economic activity across the five boroughs, and this administration is committed to giving them the support they need to succeed and create jobs for New Yorkers,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development Maria Torres-Springer. “This legislation will provide welcome financial relief to many of the businesses that were most impacted by the pandemic. It will help support our nightlife industry — a critical engine of our tourism economy — and deliver on a commitment from our ‘Rebuild, Renew, Reinvent’ blueprint for the city’s economic recovery.” 

 

“It’s time to tap into common-sense proposals to help New York City’s small businesses,” said Councilmember Powers. “I’m excited to join Mayor Adams today to raise a glass to our city’s nightlife by putting money back into their pockets. Cheers to boosting the spirits of our bars and restaurants — it’s worth the shot!” 

 

“New York City’s restaurants, bars, grocery stores, and bodegas are the lifeblood of our neighborhoods,” said Councilmember Brannan. “These small business owners have been through the wringer over the past few years, and they need our support. Owning and operating a small business during normal times is no easy feat. Taking the health, safety, and well-being of your customers and employees seriously, while doing everything you can to make sure your business survives a global pandemic, basically calls for a miracle. Everyone loves to say ‘small businesses are the backbone of our local economy,’ but talk is cheap. By suspending this tax, we can help lighten their load just a little bit as we explore additional avenues to ensure our small businesses can thrive beyond the pandemic. I’m happy to get this done in partnership with Mayor Adams.”

NYPD Announces Citywide Crime Statistics for April 2022 - Up Citywide By 34.2 Percent.

 

Intelligence-Driven Policing, Focus on Guns and Quality-of-Life Offenses Continue

For the month of April 2022, New York City saw a 38% decrease in homicides (31 v. 50) and a 29.1% drop in shooting incidents (105 v. 148) compared to April 2021.

Overall index crime increased by 34.2% in April 2022, compared to the same period a year ago (9,463 v. 7,051) – a total driven by a 43.5% increase in grand larceny (3,867 v. 2,694) and a 41.5% increase in robbery (1,261 v. 891). Burglaries also increased by 39.4% (1,209 v. 867) in April 2022 compared to last year.

NYPD officers effected 49.6% more arrests across the seven major index crime categories (3,832 v. 2,561) in April 2022, including 372 arrests for illegal gun possession – which is 146 more gun arrests than the same period last year, a 64.6% increase.

“The women and men of the NYPD are making noticeable headway through our enhanced patrol deployments both on the street and below ground in the subway system, a concentrated effort to take even more illegal firearms out of the hands of criminals, and a renewed attention to persistent quality-of-life offenses – guided directly by complaints from the people we serve,” Police Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell said. “Throughout the five boroughs, the NYPD remains highly focused on the relatively small number of people responsible for much of New York City’s crime and disorder.”

Each day and night, NYPD investigators and analysts are relentless in gathering timely and accurate intelligence, identifying and arresting the drivers of violence, and presenting the strongest possible cases to their law enforcement colleagues in the courts.

The NYPD’s ability to reverse negative crime trends is enhanced by collaborations with its city, state, and federal partners – most notably by way of their daily Gun Violence Strategic Partnership meetings. Further progress is realized through New Yorkers’ understanding that true public safety requires a shared responsibility, and that building trust and strengthening relationships between the police and the people they serve is vital to the city’s collective mission.

**All crime statistics are preliminary and subject to further analysis, revision, or change.*.*

Index Crime Statistics: April 2022

	April 2022	April 2021	+/-  %
Murder	31	50	-19	-38.0%
Rape	109	116	-7	-6.0%
Robbery	1261	891	+370	+41.5%
Fel. Assault	2044	1690	+354	+20.9%
Burglary	1209	867	+342	+39.4%
Grand Larceny	3867	2694	+1173	+43.5%
Grand Larceny Auto	942	743	+199	+26.8%
TOTAL	9463	7051	+2412	+34.2%

Additional Statistics For April 2022

	April 2022	April 2021	+/- %	%%%
Transit	176	115	+61	+53.0%
Housing	444	466	-22	-4.7%
Citywide Shooting  Incidents	105	148	-43	-29.1%

Hate Crimes Statistics Summary for April 2022

(Representing April 1st – April 30th* for calendar years 2022 and 2021)

Motivation	2022	2021	Diff	% Change
Asian	7	28	-21	-75%
Black	4	3	+1	+33%
Disability	0	0	0	0%
Ethnic	4	0	4	***.*
Gender	0	3	-3	-100%
Hispanic	0	0	0	***.*
Jewish	16	27	-11	-41%
Muslim	3	0	3	***.*
Religion	2	0	+2	***.*
Sexual Orientation	4	6	-2	-33%
White	0	0	0	0%
Grand Total	40	67	-27	-40%

Note: Statistics above are subject to change upon investigation, as active possible 

bias cases may be reclassified to non-bias cases and removed from counted data.

Governor Hochul Signs Legislation Eliminating Discriminatory Language from Parts of Education Law and Prohibiting Intimidation and Retaliation Against Students

 Legislation (S.6744/A.7981) Removes Archaic Stigmatizing Term 'Incorrigible' to Protect Students     

Legislation (S.6529/A.9391) Prohibits Intimidation and Retaliation Against Students Who File Complaints Against Proprietary Schools     

 Governor Kathy Hochul today signed legislation to protect the rights of students in New York by eliminating a sexist and racist term from certain sections of education law. Legislation (S.6744/A.7981) is intended to address the stigma and historical racial bias of being labelled 'incorrigible' by removing the term from reference in education law. Additionally, Governor Hochul signed legislation (S.6529/A.9391), which explicitly prohibits discrimination, intimidation, and retaliation against proprietary school students who file a complaint or exercise their right of private action.

"It is essential that New York's educational institutions are places where all students, no matter how they look or express themselves, can pursue their fullest potential free from bias and intimidation," Governor Hochul said. "In New York, our diversity is our strength, and this legislation will help ensure that young women, especially young women of color, are not stigmatized by this outdated term and are protected from abuses of power."

Legislation (S.6744/A.7981) is intended to address the stigma of being labelled 'incorrigible' by removing the term from reference in education law. 'Incorrigible,' or 'incapable of being corrected, not reformable' as defined by Merriam-Webster, is a term that has historically been applied to girls of color for behavior that is not stereotypically feminine. This bill aims to right the historical wrongs of racial bias and discrimination that stemmed from use of the word by removing reference to the term "incorrigible" in education law.

Legislation (S.6529/A.9391) prohibits discrimination, intimidation, and retaliation against proprietary school students who file a complaint or exercise their right of private action against such schools. State law currently provides students with the right to file a written complaint against licensed private career school conduct with the State Education Department, as well as providing for a private right of action outside the Education Department's complaint procedure. However, the law does not provide any protections against retaliation for students in proprietary or for-profit colleges. By signing this bill, Governor Hochul has now expanded protections to students in these schools. Students will no longer have to be intimidated or threatened by unscrupulous school administrators or leadership for exercising their legal rights.

Third Avenue Business Improvement District - Visit the South Bronx

 

Third Avenue BID Community Survey Each year Third Avenue Business Improvement District uses a survey to evaluate work & identify community priorities to help chart the vision of the organization and deploy resources. Questions focus on services like sanitation, open space, public safety, public health & homeless outreach, & community programming. As neighbors, we are here to listen Take the 2022 Community Survey

Attorney General James Calls for Full Cancelation of Federal Student Loan Debt

 

In Letter, AG James and Multistate Coalition Urge President Biden

to Cancel All Publicly Held Debts for Student Borrowers

 New York Attorney General Letitia James led a multistate coalition of eight attorneys general in urging U.S. President Joe Biden to fully cancel federal student debt owed by every federal student loan borrower in the country. In a letter to President Biden, Attorney General James and the coalition stress that immediate relief is needed for borrowers struggling with the unmanageable burden of student loan debt. The attorneys general acknowledge the administration’s commitment to addressing the issue, however, the coalition urges President Biden to immediately exercise his authority under the Higher Education Act to cancel all federal student loan debt for every borrower.

“While I commend President Biden for giving serious consideration to forgiving $10,000 per borrower, we must take bolder, more decisive action to end this crisis and provide Americans with the tools they need to thrive,” said Attorney General James. “Student debt keeps millions of struggling borrowers from reaching financial stability and leads to a cycle of financial burdens that follow them throughout their lives. I join my colleagues in urging President Biden to lead one of the most impactful racial and economic justice initiatives in history by canceling this debt, in its entirety, for all.”

Currently, student borrowers owe more than $1.7 trillion to the federal government. In their letter, the coalition argues that a full cancelation of student debt is necessary to address the sheer enormity of debts owed, systemically flawed repayment and forgiveness systems, and the disproportionate impact of the debt burden on millions of borrowers. While state attorneys general have taken key actions to ease debt burdens wherever possible, the coalition contends that only permanent action by the Biden administration can provide the widespread relief that is needed by millions of federal student loan borrowers.

The coalition further argues that the cancelation of federal student loan debts will reduce stress and mental fatigue and provide countless opportunities for borrowers, such as saving for retirement and purchasing new homes.

Joining Attorney General James in sending the letter to President Biden are the attorneys general of Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Washington.