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Tuesday, August 16, 2022
Senator Gustavo Rivera's Weekly Update
Long Island Chiropractor Pleads Guilty to $1 Million Health Care Fraud
The Defendant Billed an Insurance Company over $1 million for Acupuncture Services That Were Never Provided
Peter Adamczak, a licensed chiropractor operating in East Meadow, Long Island, pleaded guilty to health care fraud in connection with billing a private insurance company over $1 million for acupuncture services that were never performed. The proceeding was held before United States Magistrate Judge Arlene R. Lindsay.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and Michael Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Lucy Lang, Inspector General of New York State, announced the guilty plea.
“Adamczak bilked an insurance company for acupuncture services that he never performed, brazenly lying in order to line his own pockets with money that he did not earn,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “As a health care professional, Adamczak was required to uphold the highest standards of honesty and integrity, and failed both miserably. This Office will continue to hold healthcare providers accountable for fraud and abuse.”
“False medical claims jeopardize the wellbeing of sick and injured New Yorkers and drive-up costs for all of us,” said New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang. “Thank you to our colleagues at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York for their partnership in protecting the integrity of our healthcare system.” The IG thanked Deputy Inspector General, Long Island Office Jean Carsey, Director of Audit for the Downstate Office Giovaani Liotine, Investigative Auditor Angelus Okeke, and Investigator Mario Rubino for their work on the investigation.
According to court filings and facts presented during the plea proceeding, from 2016 to 2020, Adamczak submitted over $1 million in fraudulent claims for reimbursement to a private insurance company. Adamczak was not licensed to perform acupuncture, but claimed that the services were rendered by an unaffiliated acupuncturist who leased office space from the defendant. Neither the unaffiliated acupuncturist nor Adamczak performed the billed acupuncture services. Based on Adamczak’s fraudulent claims, the private insurance company paid approximately $994,838.16 in reimbursements to its beneficiaries who, in turn, delivered the payments to Adamczak. In one case, a beneficiary who was a relative of Adamczak deposited the reimbursement checks to their personal bank account and kept the funds.
Attorney General James and DEC Commissioner Seggos Sue Queens Auto Salvage Company for Dangerous Pollution
“If you make a mess, you clean it up. Most learn this old adage before they speak their first words, but it’s clear LSM never did. Instead, LSM flouted our environmental protection laws and mismanaged toxic chemicals and pollutants which pose a serious, long-term threat,” said Attorney General James. “LSM will not get away with knowingly jeopardizing the health and safety of our communities. It’s time they clean up the dangerous mess they have made.”
“Violations of New York state’s environmental laws and regulations are serious offenses that not only threaten our natural resources but also put a heavy burden on communities near non-compliant businesses,” said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. “The daily operations at LSM Auto Parts and its unremedied oil spills led to contaminated runoff that threatens the environment and the community. Despite DEC’s ongoing outreach to take proper steps for cleanup, the owners are unresponsive and continue to operate with blatant disregard for the environment and the local community. DEC’s collaborative enforcement effort with Attorney General James and her office is a reminder that New York state has zero tolerance for anyone who breaks environmental laws that are created to protect public health and the environment.”
For years, LSM acted without regard for the surrounding neighborhood, resulting in hazardous and toxic conditions that repeatedly spilled out into the community. In addition to multiple unremedied gas and oil spills, petroleum and other toxic fluids pooled in several areas throughout the salvage yard. Employees often drained vehicle fluids directly onto the ground instead of into a waste container, thus allowing the chemicals to directly permeate the soil and groundwater. LSM stored gas and other hazardous fluid waste in large plastic tanks, which were neither properly sealed nor capable of withstanding the heat or necessary containment of potential combustion. Gas, oil, and antifreeze regularly spilled out of the salvage yard and into the street, running down sidewalks and into storm drains.
DEC, the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the New York City Police Department (NYPD), and the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) have all repeatedly observed these conditions and violations of state laws and regulations that prevent the release of toxic and hazardous fluids from vehicle dismantling operations. DEC contacted LSM in 2019 to alert them of the violations and propose an administrative resolution to persisting hazards. LSM failed to respond, but their consultants suggested a plan for remediation was forthcoming. No such plan was ever presented to DEC. In late 2021, against the direction of DEC, LSM covered a significant portion of the yard with a layer of concrete, an action which obstructs both investigation and remediation.
The lawsuit filed today alleges LSM violated the following state laws and regulations:
- The “vehicle dismantling law,” which requires that vehicle dismantlers recover and reuse or properly dispose of oil, gasoline, coolant, and a host of other toxic automobile fluids to avoid their contamination of surface and ground water, soil, and the air.
- The “oil spill law,” which requires all spills of petroleum products to be immediately reported and contained in order to limit the spill’s pollution of surface and groundwaters and public exposure to fumes, fires, and other hazards.
- DEC “petroleum bulk storage” regulations, which require facilities that store significant volumes of petroleum to securely contain the petroleum and provide for the early detection of leaks or potential leaks.
With this lawsuit, OAG and DEC will ensure LSM’s owners and operators are held accountable by seeking financial penalties, as well as order LSM to submit a workplan for investigating and remediating contamination at the site to be implemented upon approval by DEC and immediately move into compliance with hazardous fluid waste storage and disposal.
The defendants in this matter are LSM and Liberty Scrap Metal Inc. (Liberty Scrap Metal), which have operated the salvage yard, and Three Sons Real Estate Group, LLC (Three Sons) and its subsidiary, BGN Real Estate, LLC (BGN), which own the property itself.
Governor Hochul Directs Department of Environmental Conservation to Expand Drought Watch
Map of New York State Drought Conditions Available Here
Governor Kathy Hochul today directed the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to issue an updated drought watch after consulting with the State Drought Management Task Force and federal partner agencies. The watch now includes most New York counties except those located in the Adirondack, Eastern Great Lakes, and New York Metropolitan regions. New York State is encouraging residents in affected counties, particularly those dependent on private groundwater wells, to conserve water whenever possible during the coming weeks.
"While recent rains have helped, severe dry conditions continue to persist across the state," Governor Hochul said. "New Yorkers should take steps to conserve water whenever possible in the areas now under a designated drought watch. Simple steps to reduce water consumption will be crucial to our efforts to help prevent any increased drought levels."
The counties under drought watch are available here. A watch is the first of four levels of State drought advisories, which are watch, warning, emergency, and disaster. No mandatory restrictions are in place under a state drought watch.
Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said, "This year's below normal precipitation and above-normal temperatures continue to combine to exacerbate low stream flows, reduced groundwater levels, and ongoing wildfire risk. DEC will continue to monitor water levels and the environmental impacts of the dry conditions and encourage residents throughout the state to monitor usage and avoid wasting water."
An increasing number of water supply challenges are being reported due to dry conditions. Below-normal precipitation during the last three months, low stream flows and low groundwater levels prompt the need for the expansion of the watch status to ensure adequate public water supplies. Local public water suppliers are urged to assess the current situation, promote voluntary conservation, and take appropriate actions to manage risk.
New York State drought region IIA, which includes New York City and Westchester, remains in normal status due to the satisfactory storage levels and refill probability of the New York City reservoirs. According to the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the City's reservoirs are approximately nine percent below normal for this time of year, with 422 billion gallons currently in storage, compared to 469 billion gallons normally. DEC continues to work closely with DEP to monitor reservoir conditions and encourage responsible water use, especially outdoors, regardless of the hydrological conditions or season.
The drought watch is triggered by the State Drought Index, which reflects precipitation levels, reservoir/lake levels, and stream flow and groundwater levels in the nine drought regions of the state. Each of these indicators is assigned a weighted value based on its significance to various uses in a region. The State Drought Index is attuned to the specific attributes of New York and may differ moderately from some national technical drought assessments.
DEC and U.S. Geological Survey are partners in evaluating hydrologic conditions across New York State. In addition, DEC supports efforts by local governments and stakeholders to undertake water conservation measures based on specific local circumstances. Observed precipitation has been less than normal with shortfalls of two to six inches common over the last 90 days. The dry weather began in the spring and is beginning to significantly affect other metrics. Stream flows and groundwater levels are well below normal throughout much of the affected regions. Groundwater levels have been declining over the past few months and they are not expected to improve in the immediate future due to the existing precipitation deficit.
The National Weather Service outlook for the remainder of the summer predicts above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation. By voluntarily reducing water usage, and being extra careful with fire and outdoor flames, New Yorkers can help conserve our natural resources during these dry days of summer.
To protect water resources, homeowners are encouraged to voluntarily reduce outdoor water use and follow these tips:
- Water lawns only when necessary, choose watering methods that avoid waste, and water in the early morning to reduce evaporation and maximize soil hydration;
- Reuse water collected in rain barrels, dehumidifiers, or air conditioners to water plants;
- Raise lawn mower cutting heights. Longer grass is healthier with stronger roots and needs less water;
- Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways and sidewalks; and
- Fix leaking pipes, hoses, and faucets.
For more water saving tips, visit DEC's webpage at http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/5009.html. For more information about drought in New York, go to: https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/5011.html
Wildfire Risk
In addition to the drought watch expansion, New York State continues to encourage New Yorkers and visitors to follow the recommendations below to reduce the risk of wildfires. The majority of New York State is currently at a high risk for fires - see map here: https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/68329.html. Any outdoor fire can spread quickly, especially if the wind picks up. Campfires are among the top five causes of wildfires.
While camping in the backcountry, New Yorkers are advised to:
- Use existing campfire rings where possible;
- Build campfires away from overhanging branches, steep slopes, rotten stumps, logs, dry grass, and leaves. Pile extra wood away from the fire;
- Clear the area around the ring of leaves, twigs, and other flammable materials;
- Never leave a campfire unattended. Even a small breeze could cause the fire to spread quickly; and
- Drown the fire with water. Make sure all embers, coals, and sticks are wet. Move rocks as there may be burning embers underneath.
MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES NEW EXPANSION PLANS FOR URBAN ASSEMBLY NEW YORK HARBOR SCHOOL ON GOVERNORS ISLAND
School’s Footprint to Grow From Two to Four Buildings, Including One Soon-to-Be Constructed Facility
New Expansion Plan to Include Additional Classroom Space, Short-Course Pool, Competition Gymnasium, and New Specialty Lab Facilities to Support the School’s Unique Maritime and Environmental Curriculum
Plan Follows Commitment Outlined in Mayor Adams’ Blueprint for NYC’s Economic Recovery
New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced new plans to expand the Urban Assembly New York Harbor School on Governors Island. Doubling the school’s footprint from two to four buildings — including one that will be newly constructed — the plan will bring additional classroom space and new facilities, including a pool, gymnasium, and lab space to support the school’s unique maritime and environmental curriculum. The plan is the product of a partnership between the Trust for Governors Island, the New York City Department of Education (DOE), and the New York City School Construction Authority (SCA).
“For many New Yorkers, Governors Island is a place to get away over the weekend. And for so many others, it is a place to learn about our world or prepare our city for the threats of climate change,” said Mayor Adams. “This project will give our young people the best of all worlds: a holistic, high-quality education, brand new facilities to help students learn, and access to one of our city’s gems where nature truly is the classroom.”
“The Urban Assembly Harbor School expansion will provide our youth with brand-new facilities, a unique learning environment, and exposure to a city treasure in Governors Island,” said First Deputy Mayor Lorraine Grillo. “Thank you, Mayor Adams, the School Construction Authority, and all the city and community stakeholders for making this project possible.”
“Governors Island has proven itself to be a recreational, cultural, and educational resource for over a decade in partnership with the Urban Assembly New York Harbor School,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development Maria Torres-Springer. “We know the exceptional students at the Harbor School have bright futures, and I am excited to see all they can accomplish with state-of-the-art expanded space and resources.”
Expansion plans announced today include the construction of a new, state-of-the-art facility located on a site within the Island’s Western Development Zone. The new facility will house a competition-sized pool to support the school’s unique water-dependent maritime programs, a new gymnasium, and expanded laboratory space dedicated to career-technical training and research. The new facility will be the first new construction building located within a development zone on Governors Island since its transfer from federal to local control and will be a key component of the trust’s planned multi-tenant Center for Climate Solutions. The construction of the new pool, gymnasium, and laboratory facility will demonstrate bold sustainable and resilient design as outlined in the trust’s goals for the Climate Center and the island’s overall transformation.
The School Construction Authority will also renovate Building 555 — a designated landmark building originally constructed in 1938 as family housing by the United States Army — to support 32,000 square feet of additional classroom space. Both projects will expand the Harbor School’s facilities on Governors Island from two buildings to four. The overall expansion project includes capital funding support from the New York City Council and the Manhattan Borough President’s Office.
The first year-round tenant on Governors Island since its transfer from federal to local control in 2003, the mission of the Harbor School — a DOE public high school — is to provide a college-preparatory education built upon New York City’s maritime experience with a focus on environmental stewardship. With its partners — including the Billion Oyster Project — the school develops authentic activities for its students on, around, and related to the water that creates a sense of responsibility to the New York Harbor and develop a new generation of maritime advocates, enthusiasts, workers, and decision-makers. The Harbor School currently occupies nearly 80,000 square feet across two buildings located within the Governors Island Historic District, including Building 550 and the Marine and Science Technology Center, which supports the school’s water dependent activity.
The expansion of the Harbor School comes at a transformational moment as the trust moves forward, with plans to develop a Center for Climate Solutions, which will expand partnership, learning and training opportunities for students on Governors Island. The trust is currently in the process of attracting an anchor educational and research institution as part of the Center for Climate Solutions, a groundbreaking initiative designed to further New York City as a global leader in efforts to respond to the climate crisis. A key part of Mayor Eric Adams’ Blueprint for New York City’s Economic Recovery, the project will support the research, development, and demonstration of equitable climate solutions for New York City — that can be scaled and applied globally.
“The Urban Assembly Harbor School is an incredible example of how a school’s campus and facilities can help mold our students’ passions, interests, and, ultimately, their path to economic security. Most importantly, we listened to and heard from the students, educators, and families of the Harbor School, who advocated for these facility investments,” said DOE Chancellor David C. Banks. “I look forward to the impact that these new and sustainable facilities, including a new pool, gymnasium, and laboratory, will have on this unique school community, and thank the School Construction Authority and the Trust for Governors Island for their continued partnership.”
“For over a decade, the Urban Assembly New York Harbor School has utilized Governors Island and New York Harbor as a living classroom, where students from across the five boroughs receive career training in maritime and environmental fields and are empowered to take action in the face of climate change, and today’s announcement of an expanded campus means more students than ever will have the opportunity to experience its unique curriculum,” said Clare Newman, president and CEO, Trust for Governors Island. “We’re honored to have worked with Mayor Eric Adams, the School Construction Authority, Schools Chancellor David Banks, and the Harbor School community to develop new state-of-the-art laboratory and aquatic facilities here on Governors Island, where students will gain exposure to real-world training for jobs in the maritime, climate, and the environmental fields.”
“I am thrilled that the SCA will be able to improve and expand upon our original plans for the Urban Assembly New York Harbor School,” said SCA president and CEO Nina Kubota. “The collaborative effort between the SCA, DOE, and the Trust for Governors Island has led to this terrific opportunity for the school’s unique maritime programming to serve even more New York City students as well as an additional resource for the community.”
“The expansion of Urban Assembly New York Harbor School brings to life our chancellor’s vision of reimagining the student learning experience,” said Fred Walsh, high school superintendent for CUNY and the Urban Assembly, DOE. “We are thrilled about the plan to expand and improve the school’s facilities, which will ultimately expand opportunities for students across the city. Students who attend the Harbor School engage in a wide range of maritime- and marine science-focused career and technical education (CTE) programs and work-based learning, leading to industry certification, and preparing them for successful experience in college or a career of their choice. As our world changes and the need for climate change solutions evolves, this expansion will enrich the lives of countless students, while preparing future graduates to be at the forefront of the field and enter the workforce prepared to lead. We look forward to seeing the impact the expansion has on all of the students and families who join the Harbor School Community.”
“The New York Harbor School’s CTE program is one of the most unique in the city, and because of that, careful considerations must be made when developing a space that is intended to be of optimal service to the school community there,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. “I am extremely pleased to see that SCA is acting on those considerations and centering equity as it relates to a school whose mission is to provide robust, unique, on-water experiences for their students and offer pathways into maritime careers.”
“We are thrilled and excited that the New York Harbor School’s long quest for an aquatics center and gym will finally have a facility empowering success for this special program of environmental science and maritime careers in our city on the water,” said Nan Richardson, chair, SEA committee; and Amy Koza, PTA president, New York Harbor School. “Gratitude to the Trust for Governors Island and School Construction Authority and to the chancellor for their commitment to a visionary future of education, as well as to Congressman Nadler, Councilmember Marte, Senator Kavanagh, Assemblymember Fall, Assemblymember Niou, and Manhattan Borough President Levine for their unflagging support and belief in innovative learning. Every single family and friend of Harbor School past, present, and future, will be joyous at this news.”
“The Urban Assembly New York Harbor School community greatly appreciates the support of the Trust for Governors Island and the School Construction Authority for providing our public school the necessary tools to meet the requirements of our seven career and technical education pathways,” said Jeffrey Chetirko, principal, The Urban Assembly New York Harbor School. “This investment will ensure greater opportunities to prepare our students to pursue careers in the blue and green economies of the future and continue to appreciate and protect our city’s greatest natural resources, New York Harbor and Governors Island. These resources will create equitable facilities, allowing New York City students to learn to swim, space for physical education, and state-of-the-art facilities that will support the environmental work we do with the Billion Oyster Project.”
“The Urban Assembly’s ability to provide robust work-based learning and career pathways in the maritime industry has been strengthened by this expansion,” said David Adams, CEO, The Urban Assembly. “We look forward to continuing the work of developing the next generation of stewards and leaders of the New York Harbor."
Monday, August 15, 2022
Senator Gustavo Rivera Hosts First Back to School Event in Bronx Park East
On Friday, August 12, Senator Gustavo Rivera hosted his first Back to School and Community Resource Fair of the year at the Ben Abrams Playground in Bronx Park East.
During the event, Senator Rivera and his staff distributed more than 500 backpacks, bags of food, and connected those in attendance with a variety of resources and services from local community providers.
Senator Rivera's next Back to School event will be held on Thursday, August 18 at 3:30 PM at St. James Park. Aside from distributing backpacks, the event will also be a job and resource fair where Bronx residents will be able to learn of employment opportunities.
The number of backpacks is limited and they will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Community Board 11 Public Hearing on Jacobi Hospital 'Just Home' is Being Rescheduled
The Community Board 11 public hearing regarding the Just Home initiative at Jacobi Medical Center, which had been scheduled for Maestro’s Caterer’s this coming Tuesday, August 16, 2022 is being rescheduled for a date in September. Details are still being planned out.
Sincerely,
Staff
Community Board 11
Bronx, New York