Kick off your shoes and dance on the lawn of Van Cortlandt House Museum to West African Drumming! Dance with Yahaya Kamate and Kamate Traders. FREE!   Kamate is a teaching artist with our friends at the Bronx Arts Ensemble.   Enter the park at Broadway and W. 246th Street.   RSVP Now.

Tickets on Sale for Hike-toberfest

Van Cortlandt Park Alliance
80 Van Cortlandt Park, Ste. E1                             
Bronx, NY 10463
718-601-1460
http://vancortlandt.org

THE NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ANNOUNCES IN-PERSON PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE FEEDBACK ON NATION-LEADING SEXUAL HARASSMENT PREVENTION MODEL POLICY

The New York State Department of Labor today announced an in-person public hearing to receive feedback from workers, employers, and other stakeholders regarding the state's Sexual Harassment Prevention Model Policy. The hearing will take place on September 15, 2022, at 10 a.m. at the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building, Second Floor Community Room, 163 West 125th Street, New York, NY 10027. Doors will open at 9:30 a.m. If attending, please bring identification for security purposes. This hearing is an essential step in the ongoing process to strengthen the Sexual Harassment Prevention Model Policy this year.

“The pandemic has led to drastic changes in what a workplace can be, so it is important that we update the Sexual Harassment Prevention Model Policy to align with that,” Governor Hochul said. “I encourage all New Yorkers to make their voices heard and submit either written or in-person testimony. The review process will rely on this feedback to create an updated policy for the modern-day worker.”

“The Sexual Harassment Prevention Model Policy was a bold and successful initiative, but over the past four years, workplaces have significantly changed in many ways, due largely to the effects of the pandemic and the growth of remote work,” said New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon. “To ensure this initiative keeps up with evolving workplaces, the policy is required to undergo a revision process every four years. Our review will rely heavily on the feedback received at this public hearing, because we know how important it is for workers and businesses to have a voice in this process. We encourage everyone and anyone to attend.”

During the hearing, the public will have the opportunity to provide their feedback before a panel that will include Commissioner Reardon, New York State Division of Human Rights Commissioner Maria Imperial, and a senior representative from Governor Hochul’s Office.

“New York State takes the civil rights of our workforce seriously,” said New York State Division of Human Rights Commissioner Maria L. Imperial. “We want to hear from everyday New Yorkers to understand what is happening on the ground in order to build better, more equitable, and inclusive workplaces free from sexual harassment.”

This announcement builds on Governor Hochul’s commitment to strengthening New York’s nation-leading Sexual Harassment Prevention Model Policy. In July, she announced that  members of the public were invited to provide feedback on the current Sexual Harassment Prevention Model Policy through this secure feedback form. New Yorkers who are unable to attend the September 15 hearing may continue to submit statements through the NY.gov form through September 20, 2022.

The current Sexual Harassment Prevention Model Policy was created in 2018 as part of New York State’s commitment to establishing safer and more equitable workplaces by requiring all employers, regardless of size, to adopt a sexual harassment prevention policy and provide annual training to employees. The legislation included the provision that the Sexual Harassment Prevention Model Policy be reviewed and revised every four years. The workplace is constantly changing, and the state is committed improving its Sexual Harassment Prevention Model Policy to reflect the evolution of the world of work.

Anyone wishing to provide testimony should sign up through this secure registration form. Testimony will be given in the order people have registered. Media wishing to attend should RSVP through the same form.

For more information on the current Sexual Harassment Prevention Model Policy, go to Combating Sexual Harassment in the Workplace and to provide feedback, visit the Model Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy page.

If you or someone you know is experiencing sexual harassment in the workplace, file a report online or call DHR’s new toll-free sexual harassment hotline at 1-800-HARASS-3 Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 

Movie Producer Pleads Guilty To Conspiring To Operate A Prostitution Business

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that DILLON JORDAN, a/k/a “Daniel Jordan,” a/k/a “Daniel Maurice Hatton,” a/k/a “Daniel Bohler,” pled guilty to conspiracy to violate the Mann Act for his operation of an interstate prostitution business.  JORDAN pled guilty before U.S. District Judge John P. Cronan. Sentencing is scheduled for December 12, 2022.

As alleged in the Indictment, public court filings, and statements made in court:

From in or about 2010 through at least in or about May 2017, JORDAN operated a prostitution business throughout the United States and abroad.  JORDAN maintained a roster of women who resided around the United States and who, in exchange for payment, performed sexual acts for JORDAN’s clients at locations throughout the United States, including the Southern District of New York, and abroad.  JORDAN communicated with the clients of his prostitution business by email to coordinate the prostitution services, which included sending to clients photos of women who were available for hire for prostitution services, discussing the price of prostitution services, and overseeing travel logistics for women to travel to engage in prostitution.  At times, JORDAN himself arranged the interstate travel for the women to engage in prostitution, and at other times, clients, at JORDAN’s direction, arranged the interstate travel for the women whom JORDAN directed to those clients.  To facilitate his prostitution business, JORDAN also coordinated with a United Kingdom-based madam by sharing and referring customers and prostitutes.

JORDAN primarily managed the finances of the prostitution business through two front companies – a purported party and event planning company and a movie production company – incorporated in California.  JORDAN opened multiple bank accounts for these companies, which he used to accept cash, wire, and check payments for prostitution services from clients and to pay for the expenses of the prostitution business, including paying the women for their prostitution services by cash and check.  By using the two front companies to receive deposits from the prostitution business, JORDAN ensured that transactions involving those proceeds from the prostitution business would disguise the nature, source, and origin of those proceeds.    

JORDAN, 50, of Arrowhead Lake, California, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the Mann Act, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison. As part of his guilty plea, JORDAN has agreed to forfeit $1,429,717 to the United States.

The sentencing of JORDAN is scheduled for December 12, 2022, before Judge Cronan. 

We urge anyone who feels she may be a victim of, or have information related to, the conduct in this case to please contact the FBI at NK-Victim-Assistance@fbi.gov or (973) 792-3000.

Mr. Williams praised the investigative work of the FBI.  This case is being handled by the Office’s Money Laundering and Transnational Criminal Enterprises Unit.  Assistant United States Attorney Cecilia E. Vogel is in charge of the prosecution.