Governor Hochul Signs Legislation to Strengthen Housing Affordability for New York Seniors and Families

 Legislation S.3085A/A.3956A Provides a Local Option to Expand Eligibility for the Property Tax Exemption for People Over 65 and People with Disabilities and Limited Income

Legislation S.8890/A.9135 Extends Local Option to Provide Property Tax Exemption to First-Time Home Buyers

Legislation S.9193/A.10271 Increases the Timeline for Completion and Amount Spent on Emergency Home Repairs for Low-to-Moderate Income Seniors Through RESTORE

New Legislation Affirms Governor's Commitment to Helping New Yorkers Through Nationwide Affordability Crisis

 Governor Kathy Hochul today signed a legislative package aimed at expanding tax relief for New York homeowners, particularly those 60 and over. The package, which was signed alongside members of the State Legislature and advocates, will help to support homeowners - from first-time homebuyers to senior citizens - as inflation, rising costs, and other factors drive a nationwide affordability crisis.  

"I am proud to sign these bills to put money back in the pockets of New York homeowners and help seniors and families stay in their homes," Governor Hochul said. "With inflation and rising costs putting a strain on families nationwide, this legislation will help to ensure that New Yorkers — from seniors to first-time homebuyers — get some much-needed relief. I thank the bill sponsors for getting this legislation over the finish line and for their partnership in our mission to keep New York affordable."

New Legislation  

The bills signed today will expand eligibility for New York property tax exemptions and the Residential Emergency Services to Offer (Home) Repairs to the Elderly (RESTORE) program, which provides financial resources for homeowners age 60 and over to make repairs that allow them to continue living independently in their homes. They include:  

• Legislation S.3085A/A.3956A: this allows municipalities to increase the maximum income eligible for New York's real property tax exemption to $50,000 for people age 65 and over and people with disabilities. Before today, the maximum income eligible was $29,000 per year outside of New York City for seniors and people with disabilities.  
• Legislation S.8890/A.9135: this extends the option for local municipalities to provide a property tax exemption for first-time homebuyers purchasing newly constructed homes through 2028. Before today, the option was set to expire at the end of this year.  
• Legislation S.9193/A.10271: this bill provides greater benefits on a more flexible timeline for senior homeowners in need of emergency repairs by increasing the deadlines for RESTORE projects to 60 days and the maximum cost allowed per project to $20,000.  

Governor Hochul's Commitment to Senior Affordability   

Since taking office, Governor Hochul has made affordability a top priority. Today's bill signing affirms the Governor's commitment to lowering costs and providing tax relief to keep money in the hands of everyday New Yorkers, including New York seniors.  

Affordable Housing for Seniors 

Governor Hochul is tackling New York's housing affordability crisis with a $25 billion housing plan announced in this year's budget, which includes $300 million for the construction of new housing for seniors. In the past year, the State has announced the creation of over 1,400 units of senior housing.  

Tax Relief for Seniors 

New York State continues to provide several refundable and non-refundable tax credits benefiting people age 65 and older. The Long Term Care Insurance Credit benefits individuals and businesses who pay premiums for qualifying long-term care insurance policies. The Real Property Tax Credit benefits New York homeowners paying full or partial real property tax.  

In addition, as part of the Enacted Budget, the Governor and the State Legislature are providing $2.2 billion in tax relief to approximately 2.5 million homeowners across New York State through the Homeowner Rebate Tax Credit. More than 2 million checks have already been delivered and the remaining checks will be sent in the coming months.  

Expanding Medicaid Access 

Earlier this year, as part of the Enacted Budget, Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature increased seniors' eligibility for Medicaid and the Medicare Savings Program by raising the income limit for New Yorkers 65 and up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level. This will ensure that more New Yorkers have access to reliable, affordable health coverage. The budget also increased eligibility for people with disabilities and undocumented individuals 65 and up.  

Expanding Access to SNAP Benefits 

The Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) has deployed a simpler application for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), making it easier for low-income working people, seniors, and people with disabilities to access benefits to purchase food. At Governor Hochul's direction, OTDA has also taken steps to ensure that eligible seniors can continue receiving SNAP benefits by extending how frequently they need to recertify their eligibility to 36 months, 12 months longer than the previous timeline. Additionally, seniors are no longer required to complete an interview to recertify eligibility - frequently one of the greatest impediments to successful recertification. 

U.S. Attorney Announces Return Of 30 Looted Antiquities To Kingdom Of Cambodia

 

The Statues and Artifacts Were Sold by Antiquities Dealer Douglas Latchford to Collectors and a Museum in the United States

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Ricky J. Patel, Acting Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) in New York, announced today the return to the Kingdom of Cambodia of 30 antiquities which were stolen from Cambodia as part of an organized looting network and sold by antiquities dealer Douglas Latchford.  Among the antiquities returned today was a 10th Century sculpture of Skanda on a Peacock and a monumental 10th Century sculpture of Ganesha, both looted from the ancient Khmer capital Koh Ker. Cambodian Ambassador to the United States Keo Chhea received the antiquities today during a ceremony at the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:  “Today, we celebrate the return of Cambodia’s cultural heritage to the Cambodian people, and reaffirm our commitment to reducing the illicit trafficking of art and antiquities.  It is with great pleasure that we send the Skanda on a Peacock and the rest of these artworks on the final leg of their journey home.”

HSI Acting Special-Agent-in-Charge Ricky J. Patel said:  “These antiquities we return today were ripped from their country. Beyond their extraordinary beauty and craftsmanship, many are sacred artifacts pried from temples and palaces to be smuggled across borders and peddled by those seeking profit, without any regard to the intangible value they have to the people of their homeland.  For over five years, the agents and experts in HSI New York’s specialized dedicated Cultural Property, Arts and Antiquities Unit, alongside our government partners, hunted down leads, examined origin, reviewed financial records, and conducted dozens of interviews to find and recover these pieces we are returning today.  These artifacts belong to the people of Cambodia, and we are proud to participate in their recovery and their return home.”

The 30 antiquities returned to Cambodia today were the subjects of three civil forfeiture actions filed in this District. According to the civil forfeiture complaints filed in 2021 and 2022, and other documents filed in the cases:

The antiquities repatriated to Cambodia are sandstone and bronze sculptures and artifacts, ranging in age from the Bronze Age to the 12th Century, which were either removed illegally from Cambodia by looters, imported into the United States based on false statements to United States Customs and Border Protection (“CBP”), or both.

During the civil conflicts of late 20th century, statues and other artifacts were stolen from Koh Ker and other archeological sites in Cambodia and entered the international art market through an organized looting network.  Local teams of looters would first remove the statues from the original sites. The statues would then be transported to the Cambodia-Thailand border, and transferred to brokers, who would in turn transport them to dealers in Khmer artifacts located in Thailand, particularly Bangkok.  These dealers would sell the artifacts to local or international customers, who would either retain the pieces or sell them on the international art market.

Bangkok-based antiquities dealer Douglas Latchford, a/k/a “Pakpong Kriangsak” sold the antiquities to individuals in the Western art market, including the two private collectors and an American museum which were the prior owners of the pieces returned today. In 2019, Latchford was charged by this Office with wire fraud conspiracy and other crimes related to a many-year scheme to sell looted Cambodian antiquities on the international art market, primarily by creating false provenance documents and falsifying invoices and shipping documents. The indictment was ultimately dismissed due to the death of Latchford.

Once the prior owners were contacted by the United States, they agreed to relinquish possession of the antiquities and to waive all claims of right, title, and interest in them.

Mr. Williams thanked Homeland Security Investigations for its outstanding work on this investigation, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection for its invaluable assistance. Mr. Williams also thanked the Kingdom of Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts for its assistance with this investigation.

Mayor Eric Adams and The Members of The NYC Council Cut More Than Two Million Dollars From The Education of Our Children

 

By Former NYC Councilman

Rev. Ruben Diaz Bronx County

 You should know that Mayor Eric Adams and the NYC City Council members have approved the budget for the Fiscal Year 2023, which will be devastating to the education of our children.

 

It is important for you to know that the Education of our children will receive a cut More than Two Million Dollars directly affecting the schools in low-income areas more so than in any of the other sectors.

 

Hundreds of teachers have already received their notices that they are not to report to their teaching jobs in the next coming school year because of these cuts.  Once again, the Democratic Party takes actions that directly affect the future of our children.

 

You should know that both Mayor Adams and the city council members ALL, during their political campaigns, promised to watch over and protect our children's education, lower rents, create affordable housing, and repair public housing.

 

According to news reports, during the COVID pandemic, Congress passed the "Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act."   This Act allocated $7 BILLION dollars to the City of New York and the Department of Education.  Out of those funds allocated to the City, $4.3 BILLION were not used and as a result those funds are now in reserve.   The question is why cut the funding for our children's education? And why keep this amount of funds, already allocated to the New York City Schools, in reserve?

 

How is it possible that Mayor Adams and the City Council, intend to cut More Than Two MILLION Dollars to the education of our children, and keep hidden $4.7 BILLION in reserve?  No doubt this will serve the Democrats with talking points to blame Donald Trump and the Republicans as racists, vile and perverse.  Which is ironic given that in the State of New York, the Governor, The Senate, the State Assembly, the Mayor and the City Council are all Democrats. 

 

You should know that this state is totally controlled by the Democratic Party. They are the ones who are ignoring the well-being and education of our children.

 

It is my responsibility, as a Conservative Democrat, to be the voice of one who cries out in the wilderness, and to inform my readers of the atrocities and barbarities that our own legislators and representatives have been subjecting us to year after year.

 

My advice to Mayor Adams and the members of the NYC City Council is to take the needed More Than Two MILLION Dollars out of the 4.7 BILLION that was not used from the "Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act.", and restore the funds they eliminated from our children’s Education and return the teachers to their classrooms.    It's as simple as That!

 

I am The Rev. Ruben Diaz, and this is What You Should Know.You should know that Mayor Eric Adams and the NYC City Council members have approved the budget for the Fiscal Year 2023, which will be devastating to the education of our children.

 

It is important for you to know that the Education of our children will receive a cut More than Two Million Dollars directly affecting the schools in low-income areas more so than in any of the other sectors.

 

Hundreds of teachers have already received their notices that they are not to report to their teaching jobs in the next coming school year because of these cuts.  Once again, the Democratic Party takes actions that directly affect the future of our children.

 

You should know that both Mayor Adams and the city council members ALL, during their political campaigns, promised to watch over and protect our children's education, lower rents, create affordable housing, and repair public housing.

 

According to news reports, during the COVID pandemic, Congress passed the "Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act."   This Act allocated $7 BILLION dollars to the City of New York and the Department of Education.  Out of those funds allocated to the City, $4.3 BILLION were not used and as a result those funds are now in reserve.   The question is why cut the funding for our children's education? And why keep this amount of funds, already allocated to the New York City Schools, in reserve?

 

How is it possible that Mayor Adams and the City Council, intend to cut More Than Two MILLION Dollars to the education of our children, and keep hidden $4.7 BILLION in reserve?  No doubt this will serve the Democrats with talking points to blame Donald Trump and the Republicans as racists, vile and perverse.  Which is ironic given that in the State of New York, the Governor, The Senate, the State Assembly, the Mayor and the City Council are all Democrats. 

 

You should know that this state is totally controlled by the Democratic Party. They are the ones who are ignoring the well-being and education of our children.

 

It is my responsibility, as a Conservative Democrat, to be the voice of one who cries out in the wilderness, and to inform my readers of the atrocities and barbarities that our own legislators and representatives have been subjecting us to year after year.

 

My advice to Mayor Adams and the members of the NYC City Council is to take the needed More Than Two MILLION Dollars out of the 4.7 BILLION that was not used from the "Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act.", and restore the funds they eliminated from our children’s Education and return the teachers to their classrooms.    It's as simple as That!

 

I am The Rev. Ruben Diaz, and this is What You Should Know.

EDITOR'S NOTE:

We know the councilman repeats himself in the letter, but we think maybe he wanted to get his point across to the people.

MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES NYC TO SOON BE HOME TO LARGEST COMPOSTING PROGRAM IN NATION, PROVIDING EVERY HOUSEHOLD IN QUEENS WITH WEEKLY CURBSIDE COMPOSTING

 

First Ever Full-Borough Composting Program Will Collect Yard Waste and Food Scraps Weekly Starting October 3 for All Queens Residents, Providing Service to 2.2 Million New Yorkers

 

City to Also Blow Past Prior Goal of 100 New Smart Compost Bins by Instead Installing Approximately 250 Across All Five Boroughs

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) Commissioner Jessica Tisch today announced the launch of the nation’s largest curbside composting program starting this fall, as weekly collection of compostable materials becomes automatic and guaranteed for every single resident in the borough of Queens. Beginning October 3, all residential buildings in Queens will automatically receive weekly collection of leaf and yard waste, food scraps, and food-soiled paper products. This is the first time that an entire borough will receive this service — coming to an area that produces significant amounts of leaf and yard waste in particular, as Queens is home to 41 percent of New York City’s street trees.

 

“Starting this fall, we’re bringing guaranteed, weekly curbside composting to the entire borough of Queens — taking action to keep our streets clean and simultaneously fight climate change,” said Mayor Adams. “This launch makes New York City home to the largest curbside composting program in the country and will help Queens residents easily get rid of yard waste, food scraps, and food-soiled paper products in an environmentally conscious way. There’s no sign-up required, and all that Queens residents need to do it put out their waste in a separate bag or bin. This is how we ‘Get Stuff Done’ for our city.”

“Giving the entire borough of Queens curbside organics collection is part of our larger citywide cleanup,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “Since the start of the year, we have provided funding to put organics collection in every public school, added 250 smart composting bins to our streets, launched a citywide containerization pilot, and increased litter basket collection. And this is just the beginning.”

“Mayor Adams tasked us with developing a new program that would be effective, affordable, and equitable,” said DSNY Commissioner Tisch. “We looked at what had worked in the past, as well as what hadn’t, and developed a smart, innovative solution that is going to be easier for the people of New York City, harder for rats, and better for the planet.”

 

New York City has developed new extreme routing efficiencies for this program, allowing DSNY to service Queens — the geographically largest of the five boroughs — at the lowest cost-per district of any curbside composting program to date. Queens was selected because of the diversity of communities and housing stock. The borough also includes large leaf and yard waste districts in the east, dense multifamily homes in the west, and a variety of historically underserved neighborhoods that have suffered the consequences of environmental injustice.

 

The new program will include all leaf and yard waste — which residents already collect and place out separately from trash — as well as all food scraps and food-soiled paper products, such as napkins, paper towels, and unlined plates.

 

Unlike past composting programs, there is no sign-up required for this new program. Residents of Queens need to simply set out their waste on the assigned day — all collection schedule information will be available on DSNY’s composting website by mid-September — and let DSNY pick it up to turn into usable compost or clean, renewable energy.

 

To make this program even more accessible, DSNY will proactively deliver bins to all Queens residential addresses of 10 or more units in the coming weeks.

 

When waste decomposes at a landfill, it creates methane, a potent and dangerous greenhouse gas. Separating compostable material from household trash is one easy way to ensure a cleaner, greener city, and yard and leaf waste provide New Yorkers with the easiest way to compost, as these materials already exists outside the home. About one third of the city’s residential waste is compostable material, which can help gardens grow or create power through renewable energy — all from a discarded apple core.

 

In addition to improving sustainability, composting also improves cleanliness. Rats and other pests feed on organic material in trash bags, and secure compost bins make it more difficult to access that material. To participate in the program, residents must place food waste in a labeled bin with a secure lid or a bag to prevent pests and odors. Residents may use an old DSNY-issued brown bin or a lidded, labeled bin of their own. Residents who need a compost bin may order one online until October 1 at nyc.gov/curbsidecomposting. DSNY decals are available at nyc.gov/CompostingBinDecal.

 

Weekly service will begin October 3 and run through late December. After a three-month pause for winter — when there is little to no yard waste to be collected — service will resume in late March 2023. The history of composting programs in New York City and comparable cities shows that during the start-up phase, yard waste is the primary driver of tonnage collected — producing far more compostable material than food scraps.

 

New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) residents may contact sustainability@nycha.nyc.gov with questions about how to participate in this program.

 

The Adams administration also today announced the placement of 250 new “smart” composting bins this fall — vastly more than the 100 promised earlier this year. The sealed bins will be on publicly accessible streets and opened via a smartphone app. The city has completed a small-scale pilot of these bins that began in late 2021, proving them to be a popular and effective way to keep compostable material out of landfills. The new bins will be placed in communities in all five boroughs, with a special emphasis on areas in Manhattan above 125^th Street, the South Bronx, the North Shore of Staten Island, and Central Brooklyn.

Bronx, NY Woman Convicted in Marriage Fraud Scheme

 This past Friday, a federal jury convicted 43-year-old Barbara Oppong of Bronx, New York on charges of naturalization fraud, conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and theft of government property. 

Evidence presented at trial revealed that in February of 2019, a tipster alerted Fort Bragg U.S. Army CID (Criminal Investigation Division) that Samuel Agyapong, a U.S. citizen and soldier, was engaged in a sham marriage with Barbara Oppong, a citizen of Ghana who was unlawfully present in the United States.  Agyapong agreed to engage in the sham marriage in exchange for and upfront $10,000.00 in cash and the benefit of additional Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) funds he would receive from the Army for having a dependent spouse.  Oppong would obtain a lawful permanent resident card, commonly known as a green card. Agyapong and Oppong were married in New York in January 2015.

Thereafter, Agyapong and Oppong submitted fraudulent applications to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requesting Oppong’s adjustment of status as a lawful permanent resident in the United States, which she received. Based on the marriage to Agyapong, Oppong then filed an application for U.S. citizenship.    Over the course of this sham marriage, roughly $110,000 of undeserved BAH was paid out by the U.S. Army.

Additional evidence presented at the trial showed that Oppong resided in New York, and Agyapong purchased a residence in Fayetteville, and they seldom, if ever, travelled to see each other nor had they engaged in an actual marital union.  Further, evidence revealed that around the time Oppong and Agyapong were married and filed the applications, they omitted the fact that Oppong had two children with another man.

Agyapong was separately tried at a prior trial in which he was convicted and sentenced to 18 months in prison and restitution of more than $110,000.  As a result of this past Friday’s conviction, Oppong faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison at her own sentencing hearing scheduled for the November 15th term of court.

Michael Easley, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan accepted the verdict. The Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force (DBFTF) in the Eastern District of North Carolina led by Homeland Security Investigations and assisted by the Diplomatic Security Service and U.S. Army CID investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabriel J. Diaz is prosecuting the case. 

A Sunday March on Jacobi Hospital Protesting the Just Home Proposal

It was a hot Sunday morning when the March on Jacobi Hospital began. Morris Park Community Association President and Vice-Chair of Community Board 11 spoke to those who would join him in a march from the back of Building 2 at 1400 Pelham Parkway the NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation was trying to sell as 1900 Seminole Avenue, so that Rikers Island inmates could be housed on the Jacobi Hospital campus. 

Close to two-Hundred people marched to Pelham Parkway the front of Jacobi Hospital where they were joined by current and a former elected official. Speeches were made that said that Rikers Island inmates at Jacobi Hospital will not happen including Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez who expressed that she is against the proposal. Strangely former Councilman Mark Gjonaj who admitted that he knew of the Jacobi proposal back in November of 2021 attacked current Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez for not doing anything about this proposal. Gjonaj continued his tongue lashing questioning if the councilwoman had sent Mayor Adams her disapproval of this proposal, and what else was she doing to stop this project. 

Councilwoman Velazquez returned to the microphone to repeat that she is opposed, opposed, and opposed to the Just Home proposal for Jacobi Hospital, and that she has informed Mayor Adams of her opposition. Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez who toured the area where the Just Home project is to be placed with the provider Fortune Society and News 12 to document the tour, less one day after it was announced that the Fortune Society got the contract. This reporter gave Assemblywoman Fernandez a Freedom of Information Letter on July 25, 2022 requesting any written information, emails, and texts from the Fortune Society, HHC, Jacobi Hospital, and former Councilman Mark Gjonaj the assemblywoman had with the four named principals from November 2021 the date former Councilman Gjanaj said he knew of the Just Home proposal to house Rikers Island inmates at Jacobi Hospital. As of August 7, 2022 Assemblywoman Fernandez refused to answer in the required five days if she was going to comply with the FOIL, the reason why she could not comply with the FOIL, or that she was not going to comply with the Freedom of Information Letter of July 25, 2022. She refused to reply to me at the rally and my next move is to make her comply in Bronx Supreme Court since it appears that Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez may have some knowledge of the Just Home proposal to house Rikers Island inmates at Jacobi Hospital wanting to hide it from the general public, or voters. The Freedom of Information Letter to Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez can be found at https://100percentbronx.blogspot.com/2022/07/assemblywoman-nathalia-fernandez-foiled.html .

MPCA President and Community Board 11 Vice-Chair Al D'Angelo speaks to the almost 200 people gathered behind Building 2 at 1400 Pelham Parkway which is being called 1900 Seminole Avenue, which does not exist.

The march to 1400 Pelham Parkway the front of Jacobi Hospital with Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez.

The crowd of about 200 people in front of Jacobi Hospital was addressed by Al D'Angelo.

Community Board 11 Chairman Yahay Obeid lets the crowd know of the committee meeting on Tuesday August 9th and the Public hearing at Maestros on Tuesday August 16th. He said the board normally does not meet during July and August and both meeting agendas are on the CB 11 website. 

City Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez stated that she is opposed to the Just Home proposal at Jacobi Hospital.

Throggs Neck Assemblyman Michael Benedetto warned of upzoning such as in going on in his assembly district. 

After Assemblywoman Nathalia Fernandez spoke I asked her why she hasn't answered my Freedom of Information Letter about when she knew about the Just Home proposal, and who informed her? There was no response from her. I will have to go to the Bronx Supreme Court to have the court force Assemblywoman Fernandez to answer the Freedom of Information Letter. 

Former Councilman Mark Gjonaj who has admitted that he knew about the Just Home proposal in November of 2021, questioned his replacement Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez on what she was doing to stop the Just Home proposal, did you tell and write to Mayor Adams he said. 

Councilwoman Velazquez returned to the microphone to let everyone know that she had informed Mayor Adams of her opposition to the Just Home proposal at Jacobi hospital.

 

Freddy Perez Sr. Way

 

It was a hot sunny Saturday morning at the corner of Third Avenue and East 156th Street. There was a new street sign on the northeast street pole that was covered to be unveiled as a tribute to a community hero. That community hero was Freddy Perez Sr. who was a man who held community festivals to give back to the community and help inform people what was going on in the community. He was also a leader in the taxi industry in the Bronx informing non medallion drivers of their rights, and trying to unionize the drivers. On December 4, 1989 according to son John Perez his father Freddy Perez Sr. was shot and killed dying in his arms. That was the end to the attempt to unionize the non medallion taxi drivers. 

The Perez family including sons Freddy Perez Jr., John Perez, daughter Miriam, and their children, friends of the family, and current elected officials were on hand for the unveiling of Freddy Perez Sr. Way. Former Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr. and Assemblyman Jose Rivera recalled stories about their friend Freddy Perez Sr. a man for the people. Assemblywoman Amanda Septimo spoke and presented the family with a Citation from the New York State Assembly, and Councilman Rafael Salamanca who sponsored the street co-naming also spoke. Then everyone gathered for the unveiling of the new Street sign Freddy Perez Sr. Way by his two sons Freddy Perez Jr. and John Perez who together pulled the cover off the new sign. A second street sign was presented to the family to have. 

Councilman Rafael Salamanca speaks as you can see the street sign that is to be uncovered for Freddy Perez Sr.

Daughter Miriam smiles, Son John standing, and son Freddie Jr. (white shirt) listens to the friends of their father recall accounts of him. 

Assemblyman Jose Rivera who drove a cab before entering politics spoke of the old days with his friend Freddie Perez Sr.

Reverend Ruben Diaz Sr. gave the invocation and spoke at length about Freddie Perez Sr.

Assemblywoman Amanda Septimo would present the family with a Citation for their father from the New York State Assembly.

Brothers John and Freddy Jr. uncover the street sign in honor of their father Freddy Perez Sr. Way. 

The Perez family is given a second street sign that hangs from the pole at the corner of Third Avenue and East 156th Street. The photo includes some of Freddy Perez Sr.'s grandchildren who are now grown up. 

 

Statement From Governor Kathy Hochul on Senate Passage of Inflation Reduction Act

 "I applaud Majority Leader Schumer and Senate Democrats for reaching an agreement on the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. The compromise legislation makes critical investments to address the climate crisis through investments that will lower utility costs for everyday New Yorkers and spur renewable energy production needed to meet our emission reduction goals. Under this legislation, New Yorkers will also see lower healthcare costs and an extension of critical subsidies to ensure insurance remains affordable. To support these critical programs, the package finally closes longstanding corporate tax loopholes.   

"I call on all my colleagues in the House of Representatives to swiftly pass this legislation, so it can quickly arrive at President Biden's desk for his signature — and so relief arrives to New Yorkers as quickly as possible."