Statement from Speaker Adrienne Adams on the Council’s Legislation to Ban Solitary Confinement

Speaker Adrienne Adams announced support for legislation to ban solitary confinement and the scheduling of a hearing on the bill for next week. The Speaker released the following statement:

“The Department of Correction’s stated mission is to create a safe and supportive environment while providing individuals in its care with a path to successfully re-enter their communities. Solitary confinement does not line up with this objective and New York City must be smarter by relying on evidence-based practices to keep New Yorkers and our neighborhoods safe. The research is clear: solitary confinement is a counterproductive and harmful practice that causes immense damage to the health of those subjected to it. It disproportionately leads to suicide and worsens the mental health of those subject to it. This can exacerbate the safety challenges within the jail system and outside of it when individuals are released. The Council will hold a hearing on legislation to ban solitary confinement, advancing a comprehensive and sensible legislative process to gather input from all stakeholders. New York City is better than solitary confinement, and the Council intends to pass a law to restrict this practice.” 

Governor Hochul Announces $10 Million in Funding for Fashion Innovation Center During New York Fashion Week

 

Center Will Support the Sustainable Development of New York State Textiles for Wearable Technologies and Fashion Industry Use

Will Establish a Physical Center To Connect Upstate Agriculture and Downstate Fashion Industries Focused on a More Sustainable Future

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced $10 million in State funding for the Fashion Innovation Center, which will promote a collaborative approach to utilizing New York State-produced smart and sustainable textiles. Empire State Development will spearhead the creation of a consortium-led FIC, which will utilize expertise from New York State universities, farms, fashion industry leaders, and non-profit organizations. The FIC will focus on addressing fashion industry needs, utilizing New York State-produced crops for fiber materials, and cultivating technology that advances sustainability and innovation through wearable technologies in the fashion and textile industries. The FIC will also include a Sustainable Fashion Innovation Center Accelerator, focused on the creation of smart and sustainable alternatives that solve large scale industry problems, create green jobs, promote state-sourced textiles, and support sustainable fashion.

Governor Hochul announced the new FIC during New York Fashion Week, which lasts from September 7 through September 14. In recognition of the industry-wide event, the Governor attended the Coach fashion show in New York City.

"As the fashion capital of the world, New York is the perfect fit for cutting-edge solutions to make this booming industry more innovative and more sustainable," Governor Hochul said. "The Fashion Innovation Center will foster collaboration across fashion, agriculture, and other industries to to reduce our environmental footprint, limit waste and create opportunity across New York State."

Globally, the fashion and textile industry contributes 1.2 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually — more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined. This is due to the heavy reliance on fossil fuels, decentralized supply chains, and improper end of life product disposal. New technologies and material processing approaches offer the potential for more "smart" and "sustainable" fashion, and New York's farms currently produce the needed raw materials, such as linen, flax, cotton, and hemp that can transformed into textiles that can be used in these applications on a larger scale.

Sustainable textiles are the future of fashion, and New York State is poised to lead the way in the ecologically responsible production of these materials. Smart textiles are a cutting-edge industry that have applications for countless professions, from athletes to first responders and medical professionals.

Empire State Development's Division of Science, Technology and Innovation will issue a Request for Proposals to select the consortium, which will include universities, businesses, farmers, fashion industry leaders, and non-profits. The Accelerator, housed within the FIC, will provide space to early-stage companies working on promising developments in the field, which are strong candidates for commercialization and can be challenged with solving the real issues of industry partners.

The FIC will solicit, evaluate, and oversee projects focused on addressing industry challenges and opportunities, with priority given to those involving the use of New York State crops and material inputs, and cultivating technology that accelerates sustainability in the fashion and textile industry. Through a competitive process, the FIC will provide grant funding to New York State small businesses in the fashion industry, offering a critical connection between industry leaders and innovation and supporting projects that aim to improve industry sustainability.

MAYOR ADAMS, ELECTED LEADERS HAIL ISO’S APPROVAL OF APPLICATION TO CREATE NEW MERCHANT CATEGORY CODE FOR GUN AND AMMUNITION SELLERS

 

 New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released the following statement after the International Standards Organization (ISO) voted to approve the creation of a new merchant category code for gun and ammunition sellers on Friday, September 9^th.

 

“Keeping New Yorkers safe is my top priority — and that is why we are taking every possible step to dam the many rivers leading to the sea of gun violence. We are grateful that the International Standards Organization has heeded our call to create a new merchant category code for firearms and ammunition sales. This is a smart, commonsense measure that will track suspicious gun and ammunition sales — saving lives and making our city safer.”

 

Credit card companies use a four-digit merchant category code to classify businesses by the types of goods and services sold. Such codes have existed for several types of retailers — but not gun and ammunition sellers. Merchant category codes are set by the International Organization on Standardization. Last month, Amalgamated Bank submitted an application to the ISO to create a merchant category code for gun and ammunition sellers, which was supported by Mayor Adams, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, trustees of the New York City Employees’ Retirement System, Teachers’ Retirement System and Board of Education Retirement System.

 

Tippee Pleads Guilty In First Ever Cryptocurrency Insider Trading Case

 

Nikhil Wahi Traded Based on Tips From a Former Coinbase Employee Regarding Crypto Assets That Were Going to be Listed on Coinbase Exchanges

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that NIKHIL WAHI, the brother of a former product manager at Coinbase Global, Inc. (“Coinbase”), pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with a scheme to commit insider trading in cryptocurrency assets by using confidential Coinbase information about which crypto assets were scheduled to be listed on Coinbase’s exchanges.  WAHI was arrested in July of this year and pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Loretta A. Preska.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said:  “Less than two months after he was charged, Nikhil Wahi admitted in court today that he traded in crypto assets based on Coinbase’s confidential business information to which he was not entitled.  For the first time ever, a defendant has admitted his guilt in an insider trading case involving the cryptocurrency markets.  Today’s guilty plea should serve as a reminder to those who participate in the cryptocurrency markets that the Southern District of New York will continue to steadfastly police frauds of all stripes and will adapt as technology evolves.  Nikhil Wahi now awaits sentencing for his crime and must also forfeit his illicit profits.”

According to the allegations in the Indictment, and statements made in public court proceedings:

At all relevant times, Coinbase was one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world.  Coinbase users could acquire, exchange, and sell various crypto assets through online user accounts with Coinbase.  Periodically, Coinbase added new crypto assets to those that could be traded through its exchange, and the market value of crypto assets typically significantly increased after Coinbase announced that it would be listing a particular crypto asset.  Accordingly, Coinbase kept such information strictly confidential and prohibited its employees from sharing that information with others, including by providing a “tip” to any person who might trade based on that information.

Beginning in approximately October 2020, ISHAN WAHI worked at Coinbase as a product manager assigned to a Coinbase asset listing team.  In that role, ISHAN WAHI was involved in the highly confidential process of listing crypto assets on Coinbase’s exchanges and had detailed and advanced knowledge of which crypto assets Coinbase was planning to list and the timing of public announcements about those crypto asset listings. 

On multiple occasions between July 2021 and May 2022, after getting tips from ISHAN WAHI as to which crypto assets Coinbase was planning to list on its exchanges, NIKHIL WAHI used anonymous Ethereum blockchain wallets to acquire those crypto assets shortly before Coinbase publicly announced that it was listing these crypto assets on its exchanges.  Following Coinbase’s public listing announcements, on multiple occasions NIKHIL WAHI sold the crypto assets for a profit. 

To conceal his purchases of crypto assets in advance of Coinbase listing announcements, NIKHIL WAHI used accounts at centralized exchanges held in the names of others, and transferred funds, crypto assets, and proceeds of their scheme through multiple anonymous Ethereum blockchain wallets.  NIKHIL WAHI also regularly created and used new Ethereum blockchain wallets without any prior transaction history in order to further conceal his involvement in the scheme.

NIKHIL WAHI, 26, of Seattle, Washington, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. 

The statutory maximum sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.  NIKHIL WAHI is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Preska on December 13, 2022, at 12:00 p.m.

Mr. Williams praised the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  He also acknowledged the assistance of the Justice Department’s National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team, as well as that of the Securities and Exchange Commission, which separately initiated civil proceedings against WAHI.

Attorney General James Recovers $50 Million from Cigarette Companies

 

Canadian Cigarette Manufacturer and Western New York Distributor Evaded State Taxes on Millions of Cigarettes Sold in New York

New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced a $50 million agreement with two companies that allegedly sold cigarettes without paying the required state excise taxes. Today’s agreement resolves allegations that Grand River Enterprises Six Nations, Ltd. (Grand River) based in Canada, and its wholesaler, Native Wholesale Supply Company, Inc. (Native Wholesale), located in Western New York, violated state and federal laws by shipping, selling, and distributing cigarettes in New York without paying state taxes. The two companies brought millions of cartons of unstamped cigarettes into New York from Canada. In addition to paying $50 million, the agreement also permanently prevents the companies from selling unstamped cigarettes in New York.

“Hardworking New Yorkers pay taxes and so should multi-million-dollar companies,” said Attorney General James. “Regulating and taxing cigarettes is a critical tool to protect public health from the deadly dangers of tobacco. Today’s agreement enforces New York’s laws and will stop the overflow of unstamped cigarettes into New York. I will continue to enforce the law against companies and individuals who flout New York state laws and put our residents in jeopardy.”

New York imposes state taxes on cigarettes to curtail the usage of tobacco products that are known to have serious and sometimes deadly health effects and significant related economic costs. State excise taxes on tobacco products have been proven to prevent smoking imitation among adolescents and young adults, reduce cigarette consumption, and increase the number of smokers who quit. When state excise taxes are evaded, cigarette prices become artificially low, making them more attractive and accessible to young people. Moreover, the sale of contraband cigarettes also reduces valuable tax revenue used to pay for essential state services and public infrastructure. 

Grand River manufactures the cigarette brands Seneca, Couture, and Opal. Grand River’s primary distributor and wholesaler of cigarettes in New York is Native Wholesale. The two companies are alleged to have operated as a joint venture to manufacture, transport, and sell cigarettes and other tobacco products in New York.

As alleged in the complaint, Native Wholesale purchased cigarettes and tobacco products from Grand River, imported them into New York, and distributed the cigarettes to retailers in the state. Native Wholesale was not licensed by New York to distribute or sell cigarettes. Grand River knew that the cigarettes it sold to Native Wholesale would be sold into New York without going through a New York state licensed stamping agent for pre-payment of state taxes and would be neither stamped nor taxed as required by New York law.

These unstamped cigarettes then ended up on shelves in New York retailers throughout the state. On multiple occasions, investigators from the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) were able to purchase these unstamped cigarettes from retailers in the state.

As a result of today’s agreement, New York will be paid $50 million. In addition, the companies must:

•   Create and maintain records of all of the Grand River cigarettes that enter New York and make those records available to OAG upon request;
•   Obtain statements from out-of-state customers indicating that they do not intend to reimport any unstamped cigarettes back into New York;
•   Cooperate with OAG when OAG is conducting an investigation into sales of unstamped Grand River cigarettes, or the sale of any unstamped cigarettes made by defendants;
•   Utilize authorized common carriers to transport unstamped cigarettes while they are transiting through New York; and,
•   Restrict sales of unstamped cigarettes to licensed cigarette stamping agents, federally bonded facilities, and other specified entities.

Attorney General James would like to thank the New York state Department of Taxation and Finance and the Ontario Ministry of Finance for their assistance and cooperation with this matter.

Nos Quedamos - EVELINA 100 "VOTES FOR WOMEN!" Bronx Concert 5pm-7:30pm

 

Join Nos Quedamos, Bronx Music Heritage Center (BMHC), WHEDco, and BronxNet TODAY (September 12, 2022) for the official VOTES FOR WOMEN! voter registration drive concert at the Bronx Music Hall Plaza from 5pm-7:30pm, with a live program that features an outstanding all-female musical lineup: Oxil Febles, Rae Da Vine, Sofia Tosello, Monica Meaux, Antoinette Montague, Marilyn Castillo, Mikaela Curet, Bharati Kemraj and more! Register to vote and get your groove on, too! Bronx Music Hall Plaza is located at 438 E. 163rd St, The Bronx, NY 10451. Download flier in English/Spanish (PDF). VOTES FOR WOMEN! is part of “EVELINA 100 VOTE!” that pays homage to the civic engagement work of famed community organizer, educator and activist Eveliva Antonetty (aka “The Hell Lady of the Bronx”) on the 100th anniversary of her birth date. The voter registration drive and concert is coordinated by the E100 Centennial Celebration Committee—and its partners. The campaign is comprised of dozens of locations being facilitated by some of NYC’s most respected institutions from the education, non-profit and civic sectors. ALSO: Please review the exciting week-long Evelina 100 menu of curated events celebrating the memory of Evelina Antonetty below. Hostos Community College of The City University of New York  The Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College/CUNY  The Bronx Music Heritage Center  The Bronx County Historical Society The Caribbean Cultural Center and African Diaspora Institute  Pregones Puerto Rican Traveling Theater  BronxNet and the  E100 Centennial Celebration Committee invite you to attend SEPTEMBER 12–19, 2022   MONDAY, September 12 Hostos Community College/CUNY  A Building Atrium   11 AM | Opening Ceremonies 12 PM | Citywide Evelina 100 Voter Registration Campaign at Hostos Community College, Brooklyn College,  Borough of Manhattan Community College, College of Staten Island, Hunter College, La Guardia Community College, Casita María, The Point CDC, Nos Quedamos and more!   TUESDAY, September 13 Hostos Community College/CUNY C-Building, Room C-391   2 PM | A Gift of Community Empowerment: The Legacy of Evelina Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow PS 25 Bilingual School Alumni Reunion, (Hostos Faculty Lounge) 6 PM | An Embrace between Puerto Rico and New York. La G8 and El Caño de Martín Peña allá, La Casita de Chema, acá (In person and via Zoom)   WEDNESDAY, September 14 Hostos Community College/CUNY C-Building, Student Cafeteria   6 PM | Opening Reception, Images of Evelina Art Exhibition  Participating Artists: Maestro Antonio Martorell, Nitza Tufiño, María Domínguez, Esther (Star Angel) Pagán, Siuko García, Sara Morales, Rudy Gutiérrez, Marcos Dimas and Manny Vega 6 PM | Evelina 100 Musical Premier  Humberto Ramírez, Composer 7 PM | Evelina’s Heart, a reading  Sandra Rodríguez, playwright 7:30 PM | 52 People for Progress E100 Concert at 52 People’s Park   THURSDAY, September 15 Center for Puerto Rican Studies Hunter College/CUNY Library-119 Street and 1st. Ave.   3 PM | El Café de las 3, Evelina Antonetty Activism in Bilingual Education,  Food Programs and the Youth, Panel Presentation 6 PM | Welcoming Reception, Evelina 100  Centro Library Document Exhibition Evelina Art Exhibition   FRIDAY, September 16 Pregones PR Traveling Theater  Walton Ave, The Bronx   6 PM | The Bronx County Historical Society Honors Elba Cabrera Video presentation: A conversation with Evelina’s family members   SATURDAY, September 17  Bronx Music Heritage Center 1303 Louis Niñé Blvd, Bronx, NY 10459   3 PM | Evelina Antonetty Activism and  The Movie Fort Apache Panel Presentation 7 PM | The Fort Apache Concert   SUNDAY, September 18 Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute 120 E 125th St, New York, NY 10035   2 PM | Images of Evelina Art Exhibition: A Conversation with the Artists   MONDAY, September 19 Evelina Antonetty Playground Hostos Community College/CUNY  A Building Atrium   11 PM | Tree Planting Ceremony at Evelina Antonetty Playground 12 PM | ¡Feliz Cumpleaños Evelina! Cake Presentation by Artist Pepón Osorio & Chocolate Cortes/Choco Bar Chef Ricardo de Obaldia   For further information on these events, visit the following websites:  www.evelina100.org, www.hostos.cuny.edu or https://centropr.hunter.cuny.edu/library/   To sponsor the celebration, please visit:  https://hostos.thankyou4caring.org to make a donation.  Please write under comments that your contribution is for the  E100 Centennial Celebration. Thank you! Find the full up-to-date E100 event schedule and program details at — evelina100.org/events Important: For the health and safety of our guests, some venues will ask upon entry to provide proof of Covid-19 vaccination or negative test results from an accredited lab. Facebook Instagram Twitter Website Subscribe

Bronx River Art Center (BRAC) - Afterschool and Saturday Art Classes This Fall

 

Registration is open for FALL 2022 ART CLASSES! Drawing, Painting, Ceramics, Cartooning, Mixed Media Digital Photography, Animation, Web Design, Illustration Classes run for 10 sessions October 3rd - December 17th

Visit Education Page

Register on Eventbrite

CHECK OUT THESE OFFERINGS FOR CHILDREN, TEENS AND ADULTS!

Most classes will be held on-site at the Bronx River Art Center, with sessions taking place within our well-ventilated open space studios.  All persons ages 7 or over must show proof of vaccination. Proof of vaccination will be required upon entering building for first class. For general questions about classes, please email education@bronxriverart.org.

Former NYC Councilman Ruben Diaz Sr. - TRIP TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

 

You Should Know that the week of Monday, September 19th to Monday, September 26th, I will be visiting the Dominican Republic, accompanied with a delegation of 20 Ministers, members of The New York Hispanic Clergy Organization. 

This is a Missionary trip with an agenda filled with Humanitarian, Social and Community activities.

The schedule of events are as follows:

1. Monday 19: Arrival and reception organized by Dr. Zoraya Aquino, President of the "Christian Solidarity Party."

2. Tuesday 20: We will travel to Villa Vásquez in Monte Cristi, where we will begin the construction of a new Health Clinic, organized by Rev. Virginia Molina, the Honorable Mayor Henry Castro, and Mr. Cristian Tejada, President of the Promise and Action Foundation. 

3. Wednesday 21: Travel to Dajabón, where together with Mr. Tony Bengoa, Civic Community Leader, the Governor of Dajabon Rosalba Milagros Peña, Santiago Riverón the Mayor of Dajabón and the Hon. Tony Morel, Mayor of Cañongo, will be distributing Backpacks, filled with School Materials to more than 300 children.

4. Thursday 22: Travel to the Province of Altagracia where we will be greeted by Mr. Víctor Dume, Director of Community Relations of the New Bávaro International Airport. In the afternoon we will attend The Baseball Field for a worship service organized by Radio Visión Cristiana International and its President Bishop José Martínez.  

5. Friday 23: Together with Mr. Victor Dume and Mr. William (Willy) Rivera, District Manager of Community Planning Board #9 in the Bronx, we will be delivering a much needed Ambulance to the people of Barrio Santana in Higüey.

6.Saturday 24: We will visit the "Tabernacle of Adoration" Christian Church located on San Vicente de Paul corner of Curacao, Pastor Rev. Santiago Ponciano and Radio Visión Cristiana International for a worship service. 

7.Sunday 25: The Rev. Martha Chamorro and her daughter Ruth Chamorro, together with the Hon. Juan J. Vargas, Mayor of Consuelo in San Pedro De Macorís, will host the farewell event, to conclude our trip and return to New York the following day. 

As you can see, my dear reader, this humanitarian trip depends on prayers and the abundant blessings of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We ask for your prayers and invite our friends in the Dominican Republic to join us. These events will be open to the Public. 

I Am Rev. Ruben Diaz, and This Is What You Should Know. 

EDITOR'S NOTE:

We hope you accomplish your mission and return home safe and sound. That is what We Want To Know.