Governor Hochul Announces Launch of New Online Dashboards to Expand Access to Unemployment Data

 

Local Area Unemployment Statistics Dashboard, Available Here, Provides Monthly and Annual Employment and Unemployment Data

Unemployment Insurance Dashboard, Available Here, Includes Weekly Data on Unemployment Claims and Benefits

New Dashboards Support Statewide Commitment to Data Transparency, Ongoing Modernization Efforts

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the launch of two new interactive online dashboards to improve access to unemployment data for all New Yorkers. The Local Area Unemployment Statistics dashboard, a joint effort between New York State and the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, provides monthly and annual employment, unemployment, labor force, and unemployment rate data for New York State, labor market regions, metropolitan areas, counties, workforce investment regions, and municipalities of at least 25,000 people. The Unemployment Insurance dashboard contains weekly data on benefits paid, beneficiaries, and initial claims sorted by region, industry, and program. Data for the UI dashboard is available for New York State's 10 labor market regions, as well as out-of-state residents who were employed in New York and qualify for New York UI benefits.

"My administration has been committed to transparency since the beginning, and we will continue to prioritize advancements that allow New Yorkers to learn about what their government is doing for them," Governor Hochul said. "By making these new dashboards from the Department of Labor available to the public, it will streamline the process and allow New Yorkers to obtain data quickly and easily. This will give New Yorkers a clear picture of how our labor market is doing."

Distribution of this data will help to better connect New Yorkers to the resources and support they need. This data is used by a variety of policymakers, industry experts, and other stakeholders who will benefit from greater access. It will inform and help determine eligibility for federal assistance programs that benefit New York State. Estimates will also inform state and local budgetary processes. Private industry, researchers, the media, and other individuals use the data to assess local labor market conditions and make comparisons across geographic areas.

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, "These new, innovative data dashboards will not only support our long-term goal of increased transparency, but will also improve accessibility to data for State, local and federal government groups, as well as private citizens accessing the data to report on or assess labor market conditions. Initiatives like these bring New York State into the future, and show how technological innovation can further progress across our State and change the lives of the people we serve."

These new dashboards are part of an ongoing effort to modernize the New York State Department of Labor's systems and processes, increase data transparency across the department and enhance the overall customer experience. In March, Governor Hochul unveiled the Current Employment Statistics and the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics dashboards, giving New Yorkers greater access to current employment information and data trends. In June, the Governor announced that NYSDOL reached the halfway point of its 4-year Technology Implementation Plan, with developing enhancements to help the agency achieve its goal of handling 100% of customer inquiries.

Registered Sex Offender Convicted of Attempting to Sexually Exploit Minors and Distributing Child Pornography

 

Defendant, a Queens Resident, Enticed Victims by Pretending to be a Modeling Scout

 In federal court in Brooklyn, Davis Burgos-Collazo was convicted by a jury of attempting to sexually exploit five children, two counts of distributing child pornography, accessing child pornography with intent to view it, and committing a felony sexual offense involving minors while being a registered sex offender.  The verdict was returned after a one-week trial before United States District Judge Pamela K. Chen.  When sentenced, the defendant faces up to life in prison.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the verdict.

“The defendant, a registered sex offender who deviously portrayed himself as a modeling scout to lure victims, repeatedly victimized minors without regard for the profound harm he was causing them.  With today’s verdict, he now faces the consequences necessary to protect the community from this serial predator,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “I urge parents and caregivers to remain vigilant about the importance of educating our children about the dangers of communicating online with strangers.”

Mr. Peace thanked the FBI-NYPD Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force for their work on the case.

“Burgos’s conviction illustrates how vulnerable our children are to sexual predators.  The heartbreaking pleas from one of his victims to be left alone should shock parents and guardians. Please talk with children about the dangers they can face online, and tell them they can ask for help if they face a similar situation,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Driscoll.

As proven at trial, in 2020, Burgos-Collazo used at least 26 Instagram accounts to attempt to sexually exploit children as young as nine-years-old.  The defendant enticed the victims by pretending to be a modeling scout and by using accounts with names like “future models” and “preteen beauty pics.”  In addition, after the defendant had coerced one victim into performing live sex acts for him on Instagram and she pleaded with him to leave her alone, he threatened to post a naked picture of the 10-year-old child online for her friends to see.  The FBI recovered over 100 photos and videos of child pornography on the defendant’s phone.  Burgos committed the crimes while he was a registered sex offender. In March 2006, he was convicted of raping a seven-year-old minor and attempting to sexually assault two other minors, ages 9 and 11.

This prosecution is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov

Accused Major Trafficker Indicted in Large-Scale Drug Operation near Bronx Courthouse

 

Over 40 pounds of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and counterfeit pills, plus two loaded guns and over $320,000 cash seized

 A Bronx man was indicted as a Major Trafficker following an investigation that uncovered a large-scale drug stash house at 910 Sheridan Avenue. The residential apartment building is adjacent to the Bronx Family-Criminal Courthouse. Over $3 million dollars in drugs, including more than 40 pounds of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine, and approximately 1,000 counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, were seized along with two guns and over $320,000 cash.

 Bridget G. Brennan, New York City’s Special Narcotics Prosecutor, Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark, Susan A. Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New Jersey Division, and New York City Police Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell announced the indictment against DUJUAN SOTO in conjunction with a scheduled arraignment before Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Steven M. Statsinger.

 The indictment, filed by the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor (SNP), contains charges of Operating as a Major Trafficker, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First, Second, and Third Degrees, and Criminal Possession of a Firearm.

 SOTO was arrested on March 29, 2022, following a short-term investigation by DEA New Jersey Division, Enforcement Group 2, and the New York City Police Department’s (NYPD) Narcotics Borough Queens North.

 On the day of the arrest, agents and officers were conducting surveillance outside 910 Sheridan Avenue and observed SOTO leave the building at approximately 9:45 a.m. carrying a blue bag that appeared to contain a rectangular object. Agents and officers stopped SOTO after he entered a silver Jeep Grand Cherokee parked in front of 190 East 162nd Street. They obtained court-authorization to search the vehicle and SOTO’s residence at 910 Sheridan Avenue, Apt. K.

 At approximately 3:25 p.m. on that day agents and officers searched the Jeep and discovered the blue bag held a U.S. Postal Service package with approximately $216,500 in alleged drug proceeds inside. A dollar figure was written on the box.

 During a search of SOTO’s residence, agents and officers recovered over eight kilograms of fentanyl (approximately 18 pounds) and over three kilograms of cocaine (nearly 8 pounds) from inside a locked closet in SOTO’s bedroom. Some of the narcotics were imprinted with a Mercedes symbol.

 The closet also contained approximately 15 pounds of methamphetamine packaged inside freezer bags and over 1,000 counterfeit oxycodone and alprazolam pills alleged to contain fentanyl, as well as multiple twists containing fentanyl and cocaine.

 Underneath SOTO’s bed, agents and officers recovered two loaded 9mm pistols with additional ammunition. Agents and officers also seized over $107,100 cash, a money counter, digital scales, a vacuum sealer and two kilo presses used in packaging narcotics from the apartment.

 “The volume and variety of drugs, and the hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and two firearms recovered, signals that this was a fully operational illegal drug packaging and distribution center. It is hard to imagine a more audacious location than a building adjacent to the Bronx Family-Criminal Courthouse to set up a storehouse for deadly drugs like fentanyl, methamphetamine and the counterfeit pills that are saturating the black market in our city,” said Special Narcotics Prosecutor Brennan.

 “The NYPD and our law enforcement partners have shut down another major drug-trafficking operation in New York City,” NYPD Commissioner Sewell stated. “By dismantling such violent enterprises, and by holding accountable anyone who pushes poison on our streets, our highly skilled investigators are making all of our neighborhoods safer. I commend everyone involved from the NYPD’s Narcotics Borough Queens North, the DEA’s New Jersey Division, the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York, and the Bronx District Attorney’s Office for their collaboration and hard work throughout this important case.”

Defendant                    Charges

Dujuan Soto              Operating as a Major Trafficker

Bronx, NY                 CPCS 1st – 1 ct CPCS 2nd – 1 ct CPCS 3rd – 2 cts

Age: 56                      Criminal Possession of a Firearm – 2 cts 

The charges and allegations are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Construction Breaks Ground At 1761 Walton Avenue, Affordable Senior Housing Project In Bronx’s Mount Hope

 

Construction has broken ground at 1761 Walton Avenue, the site of a new mixed-use affordable housing building in the Mount Hope section of The Bronx. The project will debut as Mount Hope Walton Apartments and will eventually comprise 103 income-restricted apartments and a 9,500-square-foot community gymnasium.

The developers responsible for the project include Procida Development Group and Mt. Hope Housing Corporation.

“Mixed-use, community-focused housing developments are vital to tackling our housing shortage while also preserving neighborhoods for long-term residents, which is at the heart of ‘Housing Our Neighbors,’ a citywide blueprint for housing and homelessness,” said New York City chief housing officer Jessica Katz. These 103 new affordable apartments and the new gym will strengthen the Mount Hope neighborhood, help our neighbors experiencing homelessness, and better support the community’s current and future residents.”

Designed by Aufgang Architects, the building will top out at 14 stories and comprise roughly 102,500 square feet. The façade of the building will feature a mix of red and tan masonry and white cladding at the uppermost levels.

The building is also designed to meet the latest Enterprise Green Communities requirements for energy and water conservation. Energy-efficient facilities include high efficiency condensing boilers, variable speed pumps, high-output baseboard radiators, energy recovery ventilators, and variable refrigerant flow systems.

Within the building, the residential component will occupy about 94,000 square feet. A total of 16 units will be reserved for the formerly homeless, while the rest are reserved for households at or below 80 percent Area Median Income (AMI). Floorplans will range from one- to three-bedroom apartments.

Amenity spaces include laundry facilities, two indoor recreation rooms, an outdoor terrace, and bicycle storage.

Total development costs are estimated at $55 million. State financing for Mount Hope Walton Apartments include Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits that will generate $23 million equity and $2.6 million in subsidy from New York State Homes and Community Renewal.

Funding from New York City agencies include $15.8 million from the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) through the Mix and Match program. The New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) also deeded city-owned land to Mount Hope Housing for the development. The New York City Council and Borough President provided $2.25 million in combined Reso A funding. Additional financing is being provided by Webster National Bank.

Statement from NYGOP Chairman Nick Langworthy on the Attack Against NYGOP Gubernatorial Nominee Congressman Lee Zeldin

 

“Tonight, Congressman Zeldin was targeted in a violent attack at a campaign rally stop in Monroe County. Thanks to the swift action of several brave eventgoers, the perpetrator was subdued. Congressman Zeldin and all of the attendees are safe, but this could have ended much worse. It’s not a coincidence that just hours earlier, Kathy Hochul fanned the flames of hate by directing her supporters to his rally schedule. This is unacceptable conduct for anyone, let alone a sitting governor. It’s not enough to condemn the attack, she must apologize and tone down her hateful rhetoric immediately.”

Three Arrested For Scheme To Steal Unclaimed Funds From The NYS Comptroller

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Daniel B. Brubaker, Postal Inspector in Charge, Postal Service Inspection Service, New York Division, and Thomas P. DiNapoli, New York State Comptroller, announced the arrest of BAKARE DOUKOURE, SANNEH TUNKARA, and LASSANA SYLLA on mail fraud and identity theft charges arising out of their scheme to fraudulently obtain unclaimed funds held by the New York State Comptroller’s Office of Unclaimed Funds.  TUNKARA was arrested on July 19, 2022 and presented before the Hon. Andrew E. Krause, United States Magistrate Judge.  SYLLA surrendered upon learning of an outstanding arrest warrant and was presented before Judge Krause on July 20, 2022.  Earlier today, DOUKOURE also surrendered upon learning of an outstanding arrest warrant and was presented before Judge Krause.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged in the Complaint, Bakare Doukoure, Sanneh Tunkara, and Lassana Sylla defrauded over 100 unsuspecting New York residents out of money to which they were entitled that was held in trust by the New York State Comptroller’s Office of Unclaimed Funds. My Office and our partners in law enforcement will not stand idly by when wrongdoers target government programs designed to protect the assets of the people of this State.”

USPIS Inspector-in-Charge of the New York Division Daniel B. Brubaker said: “The defendants thought no one was looking while they carried out their scheme to defraud the New York State Comptroller’s Office, and in an attempt to hide their crimes steal the identities of numerous victims. They gamed the system for over one hundred thousand dollars and tarnished the names of innocent people, all in the pursuit of their greed. However, Postal Inspectors and our law enforcement partners are ever vigilant when it comes to exposing fraudsters. We will commit every resource available to us in the fight against identity theft and fraud. Today’s arrests should also serve as a warning to anyone who uses the mail for illegal purposes: once Postal Inspectors are on the case, it’s game over for the bad guys.”

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli said: “The defendants unconscionably stole people’s identities to submit claims for money that did not belong to them, stealing from those who had unclaimed funds held by the state. Thanks to the work of my investigations team, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, and the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the New York City Housing Authority’s Office of Inspector General, they have been arrested and will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”

According to the allegations in the Complaint filed yesterday and unsealed today[1]:

New York State’s Abandoned Property Law requires banks and other financial institutions to transfer abandoned customer funds in their custody to the Office of Unclaimed Funds after a specified period of time.  The Office of Unclaimed Funds maintains an online database in which anyone can search to see if the Office of Unclaimed Funds is holding any unclaimed funds in someone’s name.  The owner of the funds can recover the money from the Office of Unclaimed Funds by filing a claim and proving he or she is the rightful owner of the money by providing personal identifying information such as a Social Security number or an address.  New York State has approximately $17.5 billion in unclaimed money with more than 46 million account records remaining unclaimed. The Office of Unclaimed Funds returns over $1.5 million to individuals, companies, non-profit organizations, and municipalities daily.

An investigation by the State Comptroller’s Office initially discovered the identity theft and the fraud. State Comptroller investigators brought the matter to the federal authorities and worked jointly with the Postal Inspection Service and the United States Attorney’s Office to fully uncover the scheme.

From at least in or about June 2012 to in or about April 2018, DOUKOURE, TUNKARA, and SYLLA worked together in a fraudulent scheme in which they filed fraudulent claims with the Office of Unclaimed Funds for abandoned monies held in trust by the New York State Comptroller.  Bank records show that, during the relevant period, the Office of Unclaimed Funds issued approximately 170 checks made out to approximately 120 different payees that were deposited into approximately eight different bank accounts that were controlled by either DOUKOURE or TUNKARA.

In connection with the scheme, bank accounts controlled by DOUKOURE and TUNKARA were used to make purchases from online databases that collect public records on individuals, such as names, dates of birth, and addresses. DOUKOURE and TUNKARA also used stolen identities to perpetrate their scheme, including fake driver’s licenses.

DOUKOURE, 54, of the Bronx, New York, has been charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud, mail fraud, and two counts of aggravated identity theft, which carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence of 4 years in prison.  TUNKARA, 38, of the Bronx, New York, has been charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud, mail fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison, and a mandatory minimum sentence of 2 years in prison.  SYLLA, 47, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has been charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud and mail fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 40 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 defendants will be determined by a judge.

The charges in the Complaint are merely accusations, and DOUKOURE, TUNKARA and SYLLA are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of Postal Inspectors with the United States Postal Inspection Service, Investigators with the Office of the New York State Comptroller, and Investigators with the New York City Housing Authority’s Office of Inspector General.

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

VCJC News & Notes 7/22/22

 

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center
News and Notes

Here's this week's edition of the VCJC News and Notes email. We hope you enjoy it and find it useful! Reminders Shabbos Shabbos information is, as always, available on our website, both in the information sidebar and the events calendar. Here are the times you need:   Shabbos Candles Friday 7/22/22 @ 8:02 pm Shabbos morning services at 8:45 am.  Please join the services if you can do so safely.  Shabbos Ends Saturday 7/23/22 @ 9:05 pm   Blood Drive!  VCJC is hosting a blood drive on Sunday, July 31, from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm.  We need both people to donate blood and volunteers to help run the drive.   To donate:  https://donate.nybc.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/296446  To volunteer: Call the office or email Stu Harris.   Van Cortlandt Jewish Center  3880 Sedgwick Ave Bronx, NY 10463

NEW YORK STATE INSPECTOR GENERAL ANNOUNCES RESULTS OF STATE AGENCY COMPLIANCE WITH GOVERNOR’S NEW DOMESTIC VIOLENCE POLICY

 

IG FINDS SUBSTANTIAL AGENCY COMPLIANCE WITH GOVERNOR’S EFFORTS TO ADDRESS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN STATE GOVERNMENT

 Domestic violence affects thousands of New York families and extends beyond the family into all areas of society, including the workplace. This has never been more evident than in the case of a devastating domestic violence murder of a State employee in 2019, which gave rise to an investigation by the New York State Inspector General that revealed deficiencies in State policy and practice.  These findings, made public in April of 2022, led the Governor to issue an Executive Order mandating trained domestic violence liaisons in every State agency, dissemination of information and resources statewide, and a collaborative approach between agencies to identify and support those suffering from domestic violence. This Executive Order – affecting more than 100,000 employees and families across the State – requires all State agencies to comply before January 2023.

Pursuant to a commitment made at the time of the investigation, the Inspector General is pleased to report that as of July 20, 2022, more than five months in advance of the deadline, New York’s executive branch agencies are well on their way to compliance with the terms of the Executive Order.  Where the Inspector General has identified gaps in compliance, the relevant agency has been notified.  In partnership with the Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (“OPDV”) the Inspector General hopes that this will make New York State service safer for all.

“The scores of people who serve New York State deserve the dignity and protection of a workplace that recognizes and addresses the trauma of domestic abuse,” says State Inspector General Lucy Lang.  “Today, on the 174^th anniversary of the first Women’s Rights Convention, standing at Seneca Falls where the women of upstate New York gathered to protest the violence that accompanied the building of the Erie Canal and demand their right to vote, I am proud that New York is a state committed to building a safer and more free future.”

Survey Methodology:

The survey, a copy of which is appended hereto, was distributed to ninety agencies under OIG Jurisdiction via email with a link to complete the questions electronically.  Agencies were also provided with a portal through which copies of their respective Domestic Violence in the Workplace policies could be uploaded.   Of the ninety surveyed agencies, OIG received responses from eighty-five agencies.  There was also an opportunity for responding agencies to comment.

Statistical Findings

Of the responsive agencies, the following statistical findings were observed.

Findings

Overall, more than 96% of the responding agencies indicated that they had some form of Domestic Violence and the Workplace Policy (“DVWP”) in effect at the time of the survey, though roughly 10% of those are following the policy of a hosting agency or utilizing the OPDV Model Policy without agency specific modifications.  Of the three agencies that do not have a DVWP, two of them have, at present, five or fewer employees.

Pursuant to the Governor’s Executive Order, and prior Executive Orders, all agencies must, regardless of size, promulgate a Domestic Violence and the Workplace Policy and appoint a Domestic Violence Agency Liaison (“DVAL”).  The Inspector General will follow up directly with both non-responsive agencies and those not presently under compliance to ensure any present non-compliance is rectified.

Despite the fact that the Domestic Violence Agency Liaisons were not formally mandated for each agency until Governor Hochul’s April 28, 2022 Executive Order, virtually every reporting agency indicates that they already have one in place, well in advance of the January 1, 2023 deadline.   Of these liaisons, close to 90% have received training from OPDV in the past, and agencies with newer liaisons that have not yet been trained expressed an eagerness for such training to commence.

It is also clear that agencies are conscious of the importance of publicizing the existence of, and contact information for, their liaisons.  When asked how they share this information with their staff, a significant number of agencies indicated that information regarding the DVAL is provided during new employee orientation, a majority asserted that the information had been emailed to all staff, included in handbooks or posted on agency intranet sites, and many agencies cited the posting of the information on posters in common areas.   There are also a number of agencies who require attestations from their employees indicating that they have reviewed and are familiar with the agency’s DVWP. 

The Inspector General was also pleased to see that the individuals selected by their respective agencies are most frequently members of their agency’s human resources unit or a member of executive staff, as these liaisons are both likely to have regular contact with a broad range of agency staff and are well situated to understand the importance and spirit of a DVWP.  

The Inspector General is also encouraged by the fact that more than half of the responding agencies are already offering annual training to staff regarding domestic violence issues.  Of those that are not, nearly all indicated that they are aware of the Governor’s mandate that going forward all covered employees will be mandated to participate in an annual Gender-Based Violence and the Workplace training developed by OPDV and made available on the Statewide Learning Management System. Moreover, multiple agencies indicated in the comments that they wanted to host additional on-site training related to domestic violence for their employees through OPDV.   As one noted, in some places “[f]ocus on domestic violence only tends to happen in October for Domestic Violence Awareness month.  It would be beneficial for OPDV to send Domestic Violence Liaisons materials each month that can be shared with staff to continue awareness throughout the year.” 
 
Recommendations

• It is the view of the Inspector General that while technically compliant with state mandates, it is preferable that all subsidiary agencies have their own Domestic Violence Agency Liaison, even if their human resources functions are largely hosted by their parent agency or the Office of Employee Relations. Having a liaison in daily proximity to co-workers ensures that the spirit of the policy will be most efficiently addressed.

• Training on an agency’s Domestic Violence and the Workplace Policy should be included as part of all new employee onboarding.

• All agency staff should be required to review their agency’s Domestic Violence and the Workplace Policy annually and submit certifications advising that they understand its contents and are aware of the identity of the agency’s liaison.

• Agencies should put in place mechanisms to ensure that all covered employees complete the annual Gender-Based Violence and the Workplace training to be developed by OPDV and offered via the Statewide Learning Management System

• All agency Domestic Violence and the Workplace Policies should articulate the process for promptly notifying all agency employees of any change in the identity of the agency’s liaison.