Wednesday, October 12, 2022

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on State's Progress Combating COVID-19 - OCTOBER 12, 2022

 Clinical specimen testing for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) at Wadsworth Laboratory

Governor Encourages New Yorkers to Keep Using the Tools to Protect Against and Treat COVID-19: Vaccines, Boosters, Testing, and Treatment

73 Statewide Deaths Reported October 8th to October 11th


 Governor Kathy Hochul today updated New Yorkers on the state's progress combating COVID-19.   

"I urge New Yorkers to remain vigilant and be sure to use the tools that are available to keep themselves, their loved ones, and their communities safe and healthy," Governor Hochul said. "Take advantage of the vaccine by staying up to date on doses. Test before gatherings or travel and if you test positive, talk to your doctor about potential treatment options."

Governor Hochul continues to urge New Yorkers to get their bivalent COVID-19 vaccine boosters from Pfizer-BioNTech for anyone age 12 or older and from Moderna for those 18 or older. To schedule an appointment for a booster, New Yorkers should contact their local pharmacy, county health department, or healthcare provider; visit vaccines.gov; text their ZIP code to 438829, or call 1-800-232-0233 to find nearby locations.

In addition, Governor Hochul is encouraging New Yorkers to get their annual flu vaccine as flu season is already widespread across New York State. The flu virus and the virus that causes COVID-19 are both currently circulating, so getting vaccinated against both is the best way to stay healthy and to avoid added stress to the health care system.

The State Department of Health on Saturday announced the launch of its annual public education campaign, reminding adults and parents to get both flu and COVID-19 shots for themselves and children 6 months and older. The advertisements, which will run in both English and Spanish language, began running on Monday, October 10.

For information about flu vaccine clinics, contact the local health department or visit vaccines.gov/find-vaccines/.

Today's data is summarized briefly below:  

  • Cases Per 100k - 20.01
  • 7-Day Average Cases Per 100k - 19.46
  • Test Results Reported - 62,333
  • Total Positive - 3,910
  • Percent Positive - 5.60%**
  • 7-Day Average Percent Positive - 6.46%**   
  • Patient Hospitalization - 2,658 (+203)
  • Patients Newly Admitted - 1,418*
  • Patients in ICU - 264 (+27)
  • Patients in ICU with Intubation - 90 (+12)
  • Total Discharges - 349,649 (+1,081)*
  • New deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 73*
  • Total deaths reported by healthcare facilities through HERDS - 58,354*   

** Due to the test reporting policy change by the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and several other factors, the most reliable metric to measure virus impact on a community is the case per 100,000 data -- not percent positivity.   

The Health Electronic Response Data System is a NYS DOH data source that collects confirmed daily death data as reported by hospitals, nursing homes and adult care facilities only.  

Important Note: Effective Monday, April 4, the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is no longer requiring testing facilities that use COVID-19 rapid antigen tests to report negative results. As a result, New York State's percent positive metric will be computed using only lab-reported PCR results. Positive antigen tests will still be reported to New York State and reporting of new daily cases and cases per 100k will continue to include both PCR and antigen tests. Due to this change and other factors, including changes in testing practices, the most reliable metric to measure virus impact on a community is the case per 100,000 data -- not percent positivity.   

  • Total deaths reported to and compiled by the CDC - 74,529

This daily COVID-19 provisional death certificate data reported by NYS DOH and NYC to the CDC includes those who died in any location, including hospitals, nursing homes, adult care facilities, at home, in hospice and other settings. 

Each New York City borough's 7-day average percentage of positive test results reported over the last three days is as follows **:   

Borough  

Sunday,  

October  

9, 2022 

Monday,  

October  

10, 2022 

Tuesday,  

October  

11, 2022 

Bronx 

5.13% 

5.03% 

4.84% 

Kings 

3.93% 

3.93% 

3.39% 

New York 

4.79% 

4.85% 

4.73% 

Queens 

5.90% 

5.95% 

5.92% 

Richmond 

7.67% 

7.44% 

7.50% 


MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES COMPREHENSIVE EFFORT TO OVERHAUL CAPITAL PROCESS, REDUCING RED TAPE AND ENSURING FASTER AND CHEAPER PROJECT DELIVERY

 

Capital Process Reform Task Force, Convened by Mayor Adams in April 2022, Announces Agreement on More Than a Dozen Initial Recommendations

 

DDC Blueprint 2022 Highlights Successes in Capital Project Delivery, Including Time and Cost Savings Achieved on Completion of Critical Projects During COVID-19 Pandemic


New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced a comprehensive effort to reform the capital process, including the initial recommendations of the Capital Process Reform Task Force and the release of the New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Blueprint 2022.

 

“There is a covenant between government and the people of our city: New Yorkers pay taxes and they expect that the city delivers for them. For too long, however, our city has failed to deliver,” said Mayor Adams. “The capital process may seem abstract — but it makes a difference for the elderly person who needs that senior center, the kid who needs the library to access the internet, the essential workers who need well-functioning facilities, and millions more across our city. DDC Blueprint 2022 shows we can achieve excellence in project delivery, and the talented group of stakeholders on our task force will ensure that we take it to the next level.”

 

The Capital Process Reform Task Force — convened in April 2022 — is undertaking a comprehensive review of the city’s capital process with the goal of developing recommendations to reform capital project delivery. The task force brings together a group of individuals with different expertise in the capital process, including construction contractors, design professionals, labor leaders, and city agencies, including DDC, the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks), the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT), the New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC), the New York City School Construction Authority (SCA), the New York City Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the New York City Law Department, and the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services (MOCS), as well as the New York City Comptroller’s Office. 

 

The task force’s initial recommendations span several areas of the capital process, including improving the project pipeline, streamlining approvals, managing projects more effectively, reforming procurement, and growing the number of New Yorkers who can participate. The task force’s comprehensive citywide review has benefitted from an examination of many successful DDC initiatives, which, in certain instances, made sense to extend to other city agencies. Many of DDC’s accomplishments are highlighted in Blueprint 2022, which illustrates successful projects, streamlined processes that have made management of those projects more effective, and strategic initiatives to improve the capital construction process.

 

Through the release of Blueprint 2022 and the initial set of recommendations from the Capital Reform Task Force, the Adams administration is signaling its commitment to making government work better for New Yorkers, including prudent stewardship of taxpayer dollars in delivering world-class public facilities and critical infrastructure.

 

“The public capital construction process should exemplify what government can do for everyday New Yorkers,” said First Deputy Mayor Lorraine Grillo.  “Under Mayor Adams’ leadership, we are focused on ways to improve the construction of public buildings and infrastructure in the City of New York, and I am grateful to the industry leaders who agreed to lend their time and expertise to the effort.”

 

“New Yorkers deserve a capital delivery program that provides excellent public works delivered on-time, on-budget, and encourages broad participation,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “The mayor’s task force is working to scale the successes detailed in Blueprint 2022, improve internal processes, and cut duplicative red tape to deliver better projects with fewer disruptions. I applaud DDC on their building successes under the COVID emergency and appreciate the dedication of our industry partners to meet this moment for reform.”

 

“New York City's future rests — literally, and too often, creakily — on our infrastructure. So we can’t allow decade-late sewer and bridge repair or multi-million dollar bathrooms to be the norm,” said New York City Comptroller Brad Lander. “Improving the city's ability to deliver capital projects on-time and on-budget is essential for an inclusive economic recovery, for public health and safety and mobility, and especially, as the ten-year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy reminds us, for a resilient future in the face of climate change. That's why I’ve been fighting for many of these reforms for a decade. Thanks to Mayor Adams and Deputy Mayor Grillo for making capital projects reform a real priority, and for doing it with a spirit of collaboration. It will take all hands to more efficiently build the future of our city.”

 

“DDC has shown repeatedly that it can build quickly and efficiently under emergency conditions when the city’s outdated contracting rules are fixed to focus on ‘Getting Stuff Done’ fast,” said DDC Commissioner Thomas Foley, P.E. “We did it after Hurricane Sandy, we did it during the pandemic, and we’re doing it again right now to improve conditions for asylum seekers and for detainees and guards in our jails. DDC has an amazing team, which continues to find ways to wring improvements out of our current system, but, ultimately, they need the tools that everyone else uses to complete construction projects successfully. We are treating each and every day as an emergency and our team deserves modern delivery techniques to get things done.”

 

“The arduous work of capital project delivery requires innovative solutions. In convening this task force, Mayor Adams and First Deputy Mayor Grillo have rolled out the welcome mat for the best ideas on reforming a complex capital process from an accomplished and diverse group of industry leaders,” said Sherif Soliman, director, Mayor's Office of Policy and Planning. “I am thrilled to work with these esteemed leaders to create real change that will benefit New York City's communities.”

 

“Our city’s built environment is ever evolving, which means our public capital project process should be evolving along with it,” said MOCS Director Lisa M. Flores. “Under the leadership of Mayor Adams, we recognized the need to bring together a set of diverse perspectives to produce a new and sustainable vision for the future. The Capital Process Reform Task Force has been successful in laying the groundwork for change. It has allowed us to dig into the details and identify pain points for all parties, which we can now translate into a solution agenda to meet the infrastructure needs of our city.”

 

“Reforming the city’s capital process is long overdue, and we appreciate that Mayor Adams understands its importance and is leading this unprecedented effort,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “We are proud to work with this administration, our colleagues, and industry experts to help make the city’s capital process more efficient.”

 

“In order to make New York City resilient to climate change we must be able to select, design, procure, and implement capital projects faster than we do now,” said Chief Climate Officer and DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala. “Speeding up the delivery of critical capital projects is taking action on climate change, and I thank the members of the task force and our partners in government for their commitment to this existential work.”

 

The Capital Process Reform Task Force members are:


Michael A. Capasso, CEO and president, C.A.C. Industries, Inc.

Ali Chaudhry, senior vice president and chief of development and government relations, AECOM.

Louis Coletti, president and CEO, Building Trades Employers’ Association

Raquel Diaz, public sector area manager, Gilbane Building Company

Reverend Jacques Andre DeGraff, chair, MBE Leadership Summit

John T. Evers, president and CEO, American Council of Engineering Companies of New York

Alaina Gilligo, head of strategic partnerships, Gilbane Building Company

Shari C. Hyman, vice president for public affairs, Turner Construction Company

Gary LaBarbera, president, Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York

Sam Padilla, president, Padilla Construction Services, Inc.

Taylor Palmer, government relations manager, American Council of Engineering Companies of New York

Nayan Parikh, president, New York Tri-State Chapter of National Association of Minority Contractors

Benjamin Prosky, executive director, American Institute of Architects New York Chapter and The Center for Architecture

Arthur Rubinstein, president, Skyline Steel Corp., and chair, Subcontractors Trade Association Legislative Committee

Gus Sanoulis, vice president of construction, Con Edison 

Dan Sawh, owner and president, Haydan Consultants Inc.

Dan Symon, associate partner, Gartner; former director, MOCS

Robert G. Wessels, executive director, The General Contractors Association of New York

 

“I am honored to serve the city of New York on the Capital Reform Task Force, utilizing my 28 years of experience working on New York City public works and as a lifelong resident of New York City,” said Michael A. Capasso, CEO and president, C.A.C. Industries, Inc.

 

“It is an honor for AECOM to be a part of these efforts, and extend our support in fostering a collaborative, efficient, and effective environment to build back New York stronger than ever,” said Ali Chaudhry, senior vice president and chief of development and government relations, AECOM. “Thank you, Mayor Adams, for your leadership and commitment to innovation and reform that truly works in the best interest of New York, in partnership with the industry that is the backbone of our continued prosperity.”

 

“These recommendations will be the foundation for reducing costs for city projects, expediting the construction of city projects and the jobs and tax revenue these projects will create for New Yorkers,” said Louis Coletti, president and CEO, Building Trades Employers’ Association.

 

“The Capital Process Reform Task Force represents a unique opportunity for our city to seize the future. As the building industry continues to cut costs and streamline the timeline, we will open the door to creating jobs for New Yorkers and expanding the middle class. This is a moment for a once-in-a-generation revolution,” said Reverend Jacques Andre DeGraff, chair, MBE Leadership Summit.

 

“We commend Mayor Adams and First Deputy Mayor Lorraine Grillo’s efforts to improve the agency procurement process in New York City,” said John T. Evers, president and CEO, American Council of Engineering Companies of New York. “By engaging the engineering and design community in these crucial discussions, Mayor Adams is showing he values the input of design professionals and the critical role they occupy in the procurement process. ACEC New York looks forward to continuing our work on the Task Force and continuing the engineering community’s strong partnership with the administration to promote design excellence and efficiency in the building and infrastructure sector.”

 

“We have been honored to work closely with city leaders in an effort to make the city’s capital process more efficient, cost-effective, and inclusive,” said Raquel Diaz, public sector area manager; and Alaina Gilligo, head of strategic partnerships, Gilbane Building Company. “We applaud Mayor Adams, First Deputy Mayor Grillo and their team for gathering all stakeholders around the table to press for reforms that will move the city forward more swiftly while deepening its commitment to economic growth, opportunity, and diversity.”

 

“To benefit all New Yorkers, reforms to the city’s capital processes are critical to the success of future construction projects,” said Shari C. Hyman, vice president for public affairs, Turner Construction Company. “This Task Force reflects the Adams administration’s commitment to leveraging the experiences of the private sector to help shape the agenda, and Turner Construction greatly appreciates the opportunity to participate in this important effort.”

 

“Mayor Adams and his administration are laser focused on bringing New York City back from the pandemic and the convening of the Capital Process Reform Task Force is an important step in that process,” said Gary LaBarbera, president, Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York. “Working together we can offer the city expert recommendations on how to build smarter and faster, while also creating opportunities for family-sustaining careers with benefits for New Yorkers.”

 

“The evolving post-pandemic economy and its impact on New York businesses and city deliverables remains unknown,” said Sam Padilla, president, Padilla Construction Services, Inc. “The mayor’s capital process reform is a proactive measure that will address some of the uncertainty by involving New York business owners, professionals, labor leaders, and city agencies. All of which have ‘hands on’ knowledge of the existing capital process, its impact on our businesses and the city’s budget and what can be done to improve it. This reform will be to the overall benefit of all New Yorkers.”

 

“NAMC’s initiatives shine a light on barriers to inclusive procurement,” said Nayan Parikh, president, New York Tri-State Chapter of National Association of Minority Contractors. “We celebrate the Task Force’s goal of enhanced participation and inclusion in the city’s capital process and offer our members' knowledge and experience in support of helping the Task Force meet its goals, therefore ensuring the success of the M/WBE community.”

 

“It is an honor to serve on this rigorous task force focused on establishing better processes to attract a broader pool of talent to design and deliver New York City’s much-needed public buildings and infrastructure,” said Benjamin Prosky, executive director, American Institute of Architects New York Chapter and The Center for Architecture. “Throughout this process, there has been an extraordinary confluence of leadership, from agency staff and commissioners to private-sector volunteers, who have questioned outdated procedures and envisioned new policy directions that will ultimately lead to more cost-effective, better designed, and more inclusive projects for all New Yorkers.”

 

“Thank you to the Adams Administration for undertaking the Capital Process Reform Task Force, an initiative which will benefit all New Yorkers,” said Arthur Rubinstein, president, Skyline Steel Corp., and chair, Subcontractors Trade Association Legislative Committee.

 

“Con Edison is proud to be a part of the Capital Reform process discussion and we look forward to contributing towards its success,” said Gus Sanoulis, vice president of construction, Con Edison. “We thank Mayor Adams for the opportunity to participate in this important Task Force.”

 

“Our Task Force team of public servants and private sector leaders have worked diligently and cohesively to ensure that our city will continue to be competitive and a world leader,” said Dan Sawh, owner and president, Haydan Consultants Inc. “The outcomes of this Task Force will be positively felt by New York City residents for years to come as we build for the present and future in a timely, cost effective, accountable, and equitable way.”

 

“The Capital Reform Task Force is another indication that the Adams administration takes the tactical operations of government seriously and values the collaboration and partnership of a diverse set of stakeholders,” said Dan Symon, associate partner, Gartner; and former director, MOCS. “Deputy Mayor Grillo, Deputy Mayor Joshi, their teams, and our city agency leadership all deserve praise for their practical efforts to take these longstanding, functional issues with the capital process head on.”

 

“The formation of this task force is a much-welcomed strategic action by the mayor that will permit a comprehensive review of how capital projects are reviewed, processed, and left to ensure New York is able to meet the needs of a 21st-century city,” said Robert G. Wessels, executive director, The General Contractors Association of New York. “It comes at a time when every tax dollar needs to go farther, and every public contract has the means to strengthen our city’s economy.”

 

Governor Hochul Announces More than $246 Million in Federal Funding for Emergency Preparedness and Counterterrorism Efforts

Crime Analysis Center

 Funding Will Help Communities Across the State Prevent, Respond to, and Recover from Various Disasters and Emergencies


 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced more than $246 million in federal funding to support counterterrorism and emergency preparedness efforts across New York. The funding, provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency through its FY2022 Homeland Security Grant Program, supports regional homeland security preparedness efforts, including planning, organization, equipment, training, and exercise activities which are critical to sustaining and improving community prevention, protection, response, and recovery capabilities. The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services manages these programs in close coordination with local stakeholders.  

"Public safety is my top priority — that's why I fought hard to secure federal funding for New York to help our state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies enhance their preparedness and counterterrorism efforts," Governor Hochul said. "We continue to face a myriad of threats such as cyberattacks, domestic extremism, and potential attacks on our election system, and the more than $246 million announced today will be critical to help law enforcement agencies across the state continue their emergency preparedness and anti-terrorism efforts." 

The Federal Emergency Management Agency's Homeland Security Grant Program is comprised of three separate risk-based grants aimed at assisting state, local, and tribal efforts in preventing, preparing for, protecting against, and responding to acts of terrorism. Those programs are the State Homeland Security Program, the Urban Area Security Initiative and Operation Stonegarden.

New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, "This critical funding supports emergency responders across the state by giving them the resources they need to bolster their response capabilities and keep our communities safe. These funds will help strengthen ongoing counterterrorism efforts throughout New York State and help our local partners continue to protect New Yorkers from existing and emerging threats."

State Homeland Security Program - $68 million
The State Homeland Security Program provides funding to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism and other catastrophic disasters. Per federal guidelines, the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services awards 80 percent of this funding to local jurisdictions. This includes the list of awards below, as well as an additional suite of targeted grants which will be made available in the coming months. The remaining 20 percent of funding is used by the state to further enhance New York's counterterrorism and emergency preparedness posture statewide.


Urban Area Security Initiative - $176.5 million

This funding is awarded to jurisdictions in the New York City metropolitan area under the Urban Area Security Initiative grant. The region will use this money to sustain and enhance their critical anti-terrorism programs. Based on federal guidelines, 80% of the award is allocated to partners in the region's Urban Area Working Group, using a consensus-based process, and the consensus agreement for these funds is outlined below.

An additional $16,532,588 million will also be allocated and is included in the awards below from the State's portion of the FY2022 Urban Area Security Initiative grant, in recognition of the New York City urban area partner's unique position in terms of potential threats from terrorist-related activities. The remaining funding is used by the state to further enhance New York's counterterrorism and emergency preparedness posture within the urban area.

Award amounts are listed below:

Grantee                                                           Total Award


Port Authority of New York and New Jersey - $10,534,293


 

Westchester County                                         -$2,819,726


City of Yonkers                                                -$2,617,773


Suffolk County                                                 -$2,811,464


Nassau County                                                 -$2,839,631


City of New York                                           -$136,188,901


Total                                                              - $157,811,788


Operation Stonegarden Grant Program - $2 million
This grant provides critical funding to enhance cooperation and coordination between federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies through the support of joint operations which are conducted along the northern border.

Total  $2,035,100


About the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services
The New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services provides leadership, coordination, and support to prevent, protect against, prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate disasters and other emergencies. For more information, find us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram, or visit our website.

Kuwaiti Diplomat And Wife Charged With Forced Labor Of Domestic Workers And Related Fraud Offenses

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Carlos F. Matus, Director of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (“DSS”), announced today that BARRAK ABDULMOHSEN ALHUNAIF, a former diplomatic attaché assigned to the Permanent Mission of the State of Kuwait to the United Nations, and his wife KHALEDAH SAAD ALDHUBAIBI were charged in Manhattan federal court with forced labor, visa fraud, fraud in foreign labor contracting, and conspiracy to commit visa fraud and fraud in foreign labor contracting, in connection with their hiring and subsequent abuse of three domestic workers from India and the Philippines.  Both ALHUNAIF and ALDHUBAIBI remain at large.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Today’s indictment makes clear that no one is above the law.  Barrak Abdulmohsen Alhunaif and his wife Khaledah Saad Aldhubaibi are alleged to have lied to obtain visas to bring three domestic workers to the United States and then exploited and abused those workers upon their arrival.  This Office is committed to investigating and prosecuting those individuals who commit this type of fraud and abuse of particularly vulnerable foreign workers – no matter the title of the alleged offender.”

DSS Director Carlos F. Matus said:  “As the lead agency in this investigation, the Diplomatic Security Service demonstrated its commitment to maintaining the integrity of U.S. travel documents and the rights of visitors to the United States.  Our strong relationship with our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York continues to be essential in the pursuit of justice.”

According to the allegations in the Indictment filed today in Manhattan federal court:[1]

From in or about 2017, up to and including in or about 2020, ALHUNAIF, a Kuwaiti national and diplomatic attaché assigned to the Permanent Mission of the State of Kuwait to the United Nations, and ALDHUBAIBI, ALHUNAIF’s wife, conspired to fraudulently procure visas for three foreign domestic workers, who were from India and the Philippines, to provide household help to their family in Manhattan.  ALHUNAIF and ALDHUBAIBI obtained the visas through the submission of fraudulent employment contracts, which, among other things, vastly overstated the domestic workers’ salaries, understated their hours, and falsely guaranteed other benefits, such as paid holidays and private living accommodations. 

Once the domestic workers arrived in the United States, ALHUNAIF and ALDHUBAIBI paid the domestic workers far less than what was specified in their contracts and what was the minimum salary required by law.  In order to conceal this scheme, ALHUNAIF provided payments to the domestic workers for the amounts set forth in their employment contracts but required the domestic workers to withdraw a portion of their paycheck in cash and to return the cash to either ALHUNAIF or ALDHUBAIBI.  As a result, ALHUNAIF and ALDHUBAIBI paid at least two of the domestic workers as little as $700 per month.  ALHUNAIF and ALDHUBAIBI also regularly compelled each of the domestic workers to work far in excess of 40 hours per week and without a regular day off.

Further, ALHUNAIF and ALDHUBAIBI subjected the domestic workers to other abusive conditions, including requiring two of them to surrender their passports upon arrival in the United States, restricting their ability to leave their employment, and controlling the domestic workers’ movements by prohibiting them from leaving their residence without their express permission. ALHUNAIF and ALDHUBAIBI also denied two of the domestic workers timely medical care for medical conditions caused by or contracted during their employment.      

In addition, ALDHUBAIBI verbally abused each of the domestic workers and physically abused one of the workers.  ALHUNAIF and ALDHUBAIBI also threatened at least one domestic worker on several occasions.  These threats included, among other things, that ALHUNAIF and ALDHUBAIBI would falsely report the domestic worker to law enforcement for stealing from them or mistreating their children. 

ALHUNAIF, 36, and ALDHUBAIBI, 34, both of Kuwait City, Kuwait, are charged with conspiracy to commit visa fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; conspiracy to commit fraud in foreign labor contracting, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; and forced labor, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. 

In addition, ALHUNAIF is charged with three counts of visa fraud, which each carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and three counts of fraud in foreign labor contracting, which each carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Diplomatic Security Service. 

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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

MAYOR ADAMS’ CITY OF YES FIRST PUBLIC MEETING TO BE HELD OCT 17

 

Department of City Planning will outline the Mayor’s plans to modernize and update our zoning regulations to promote sustainability, to support small businesses, and to create affordable housing.


Remote public session is accessible online or by phone


Department of City Planning (DCP) announced today that it will hold the first public information session on the Mayor’s City of Yes on Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. These key zoning proposals seek to modernize and rationalize our zoning rules to help the City recover more quickly from the pandemic, to create a greener city, to support small business growth, and to incentivize the creation of housing, at all levels, in all New York City neighborhoods.

 

“The City of Yes proposals are designed to speed up our recovery, and to create a healthier and more affordable city, so we are excited to begin the public conversation.  We are starting this process early, while we are still drafting the plan, in order to ensure robust community engagement.  We hope people turn out to share their views,” said Dan Garodnick, Department of City Planning Director and Chair of the City Planning Commission.

 

The “City of Yes” initiative includes three zoning text amendments that will update New York City’s zoning rules as part of Mayor Adams’ vision for a more inclusive and equitable city. The proposals include:

 

Zoning for Zero Carbon (ZZC) aims to modernize the zoning regulations in support of our climate goals. The changes would focus on supporting a renewable energy grid, making our buildings clean and efficient, support for electric vehicle charging and micro-mobility options, and reducing waste and stormwater.

 

Zoning for Economic Opportunity (ZEO) is focused on providing our small businesses with the flexibility needed to for them to change and grow, especially as the city recovers from COVID-19. The proposals would remove unnecessary and outdated limitations on small businesses and ensure that our storefronts are occupied, and our neighborhoods remain lively spaces.

 

Zoning for Housing Opportunity (ZHO) is a direct response to our City’s housing crisis. This inclusive, citywide approach to expanding and diversifying the housing supply, will ensure that every neighborhood does its part to help meet housing needs and provide equitable access to housing for all New Yorkers.

 

  • To learn more about City of Yes, visit DCP’s website here.
  • To sign up or watch the info session via livestream, visit NYC Engage .
  • Flyers describing the proposals are directly available here.