Senator Biaggi's Week in Review: 10/24/22-10/28/22

 

Dear Community,

I’m excited to share that this past Wednesday the MTA announced that it will be expanding cyclist and pedestrian access across two bridges in the Bronx. Cyclists will now be able to bike across the Cross Bay bridge and bike across the Henry Hudson bridge in 2025, once necessary renovations are completed. This upgrade is part of a series of actions the MTA will be undertaking through its landmark Bike, Pedestrian, and Micromobility Strategic Action Plan— a direct result of my legislation with Assemblymember González-Rojas that was signed into law to require the MTA to develop a plan for expanding cyclist and pedestrian access on MTA bridges and stations. 

The initial plan also includes additional bike parking infrastructure at 37 priority subway stations throughout the system and the announcement of the initial commuter rail stations to pilot improved car-free connectivity to local communities. 

These capital improvements are a transformative step towards building a more sustainable and accessible transportation system, and will benefit thousands of commuters and working New Yorkers. I’m grateful to the MTA for prioritizing cyclists and pedestrians, and look forward to further working with them on this issue.

Additionally, today is the last day to nominate exceptional individuals and businesses in District 34 for the Liberty Medal and Empire Awards. Fill out this form to nominate individuals for the Liberty Medal Award and fill out this form to nominate businesses for the Empire Award

Lastly, this upcoming Monday is Halloween. I’d like to wish everyone a safe and happy Halloween!

With Gratitude,

State Senator Alessandra Biaggi

Statement Of U.S. Attorney Damian Williams On The Conviction Of Timothy Shea

 

A Unanimous Jury Has Found Shea Guilty of a Scheme to Defraud Thousands of Donors to the Crowdfunding Campaign “We Build The Wall” of Over $25 Million

"Timothy Shea and his co-defendants orchestrated a crowdfunding scheme to purportedly raise funds to erect a border wall between Mexico and the United States.  We Build The Wall’s public campaign promised that 100% of the funds raised would be used to build the wall, which induced over 100,000 victims to donate.  Shea and his co-defendants lied.  And they stole over $25 million from their victims.

Months ago, this Office stated our belief in the powerful and compelling evidence that showed Shea’s guilt. Today, a unanimous jury has convicted Shea on all counts in the indictment.  I commend the prosecutors of this Office for their perseverance in ensuring justice was done."     

Inspector General publishes report and recent investigative letters

 

The Offices of the New York State Inspector General (OIG) published a newly-issued report as well as five agency letters arising from investigations recently undertaken by her office. These letters, which were previously only sent to the relevant public officials and agencies, detail the Inspector General’s findings regarding allegations of misconduct or wrongdoing, and continues the Inspector General’s commitment make all such letters public.

“At a time when confidence in government is at historic lows, it is more incumbent than ever on public officials to communicate clearly and candidly about the work that is being done to serve our communities, especially in the wake of the unspeakable tragedy that gave rise to today’s report,” said Inspector General Lang. “This office takes seriously our responsibility to thoroughly investigate every complaint that falls under our jurisdiction, to follow the facts wherever they may lead, and to share our findings with the public when our investigations are complete.”  

OIG Report: Review of New York State DOT’s and DMV’s Compliance with 2020 Limousine Safety Laws and Additional Recommendations Related to the October 2018 Schoharie County Limousine Tragedy

07.27.22 OPWDD letter re: Sprinkler Inspections

10.12.22 DOH letter re: Check Fraud

10.12.22 OGIG letter re: Possession of Gambling Devices

10.25.22 DOCCS letter re: Parole Employee Misconduct

10.25.22 OTDA letter re: Employee Misconduct

NYC PUBLIC ADVOCATE'S STATEMENT ON THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF HURRICANE SANDY

 

"When Hurricane Sandy struck our shores a decade ago, it took the lives of dozens of New Yorkers. Its waters caused immense loss of life and livelihoods, and decimated homes, businesses, and the foundational infrastructure our city depends on. Today, we are still rebuilding, still recovering, and of course, still remembering the pain of this tragedy.

"Ten years ago, we were unprepared for the damage and devastation that this storm, and the climate crisis that precipitated it, would bring – and that lack of preparedness led to harm that may have been prevented. The reality is that there will be another superstorm – and we have to be ready. In the ten years since Sandy, we have made some significant investments and improvements – but in cases like Hurricane Ida, we have also seen significant vulnerabilities. We must expand investment in climate resiliency, and continue to pass measures to aggressively combat the climate crisis, to learn from the lessons and the loss of a decade ago."

Affordable Housing Development ‘El Borinquen Residences’ Now Complete At 3401 Third Avenue In The Bronx

 

Developers and city agencies recently celebrated the completed of El Borinquen Residences, a new, deeply affordable property in The Bronx. Located at 3401 Third Avenue in the Morrisania neighborhood, the ten-story building houses 148 affordable apartments, including 29 homes for seniors at or below 30 percent Area Median Income (AMI), and 90 units designated for the formerly homeless and youths aging out of foster care. The latter includes access to on-site supportive services.

The remaining apartments are for households earning at or below 60 percent of the AMI.

“Affordable and supportive housing is a fundamental component to addressing homelessness across the state,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul said. “Building on the successful opening of the El Borinquen Residence, my administration is implementing our $25 billion, five-year housing plan that will allow us to continue to make important investments in communities like The Bronx.”

The property was developed by Comunilife, a New York city-based organization that helps fund and create affordable and supportive housing properties in Latino communities. The organization selected Alexander Gorlin Architects to design the building which features concrete spans and columns arranged in a box-grid pattern with vibrant window panels meant to evoke the neighborhood’s Puerto Rican Heritage.

Within the property, available units include 112 studios, 35 one-bedroom apartments, and a two-bedroom unit for the super. Amenity spaces include a laundry room, a community lounge, a computer lounge, bike storage, a rooftop garden, and a landscaped courtyard. Supportive services include individual case management, mental health referrals, job readiness training, and financial literacy workshops, all provided by Comunilife.

“With the completion of the El Borinquen Residence, more of our neighbors experiencing homelessness and mental illness will have a place they can call home,” said New York City mayor Eric Adams. “Our administration’s ‘Housing Our Neighbors’ blueprint finally treats homelessness as a housing problem and we’re working to solve it with a housing solution, and supportive housing projects like El Borinquen are a critical part of making that solution reality.”

State financing for the El Borinquen Residence includes $7.7 million in permanent tax-exempt bonds, Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits that generated $23.2 million in equity and $14.3 million in subsidy from New York State Homes and Community Renewal. The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development provided $14.2 million through the Supportive Housing Loan Program.

Governor Lee Zeldin Comes to Parkchester

Governor Lee Zeldin Comes to Parkchester 

By Robert Press

Many of you might be questioning why the headline says Governor Lee Zeldin comes to Parkchester when Early voting started on Saturday October 29th. That is because in many polls the two candidates are in a dead heat after current Governor Kathy Hochul had enjoyed a huge lead at the beginning of the campaign. In fact current Governor Hochul is now calling herself the underdog. 

It is the failing policies of the current occupant of the Governor's Mansion that candidate Lee Zeldin pointed out. A failed No Cash Bail Law that has led to an increase in crime, lower performance in the public schools, and people who are in positions to uphold the law but are not doing it calling out Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. 

Zeldin said that he would use the power of Executive order to declare a public safety emergency to suspend the No Cash Bail Law, fire District Attorneys who do not do their job, and raise the cap on charter schools. Governor Zeldin was joined by a former colleague  from the state senate Reverend Ruben Diaz Sr., 34th State Senate candidate Samantha Zherka, and Mohammed Mujumder a leader in Parkchester's Bangledesh community, Mr. Yahay Obeid a leader in the Little Yemen community with many people from the Parkchester and Little Yemen communities. 

Governor Zeldin was questioned by the media present from the time he got out of his car until the time  he got back into the car to go to the next event on his busy schedule. Lee Zeldin has the backing of the Republican and Conservative Parties. 

Leaders of the Parkchester community await the arrival of candidate for Governor Lee Zeldin.

Lee Zeldin greets  former State Senate colleague Ruben Diaz Sr. as reporters await to ask questions of future Governor  Zeldin

As he enters the hall Governor (to be) Zeldin is greeted by cheering members of the Parkchester community.

Ruben Diaz Sr. introduces the next governor Congressman Lee Zeldin. (L - R) 34th State Senate candidate Samantha Zherka, Bronx Republican Chair Michael Rendino, Ruben Diaz Sr., Candidate for Governor Congressman Lee Zeldin, and Bronx Conservative Party Chair Patrick McManus. 

Candidate for Governor Lee Zeldin tells those gathered what is wrong currently with New York State and what he plans to do on Day one as Governor of the state.

Candidate Zeldin answers listens to a member of the audience ask what can be done about the crime situation in New York.

Candidate Lee Zeldin with business owners of the Parkchester community.

As he is about to get into his car to go to the next stop Lee Zeldin is answering  questions about what he will do as the new governor of New York State.

Ahead of Tenth Anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, Governor Hochul Announces New Office of Resilient Homes and Communities to Protect New Yorkers from Climate Change

 

New, Permanent Statewide Office Will Continue New York's Nation-Leading Community Recovery and Resiliency Efforts

Releases 10-Year Anniversary Report Detailing Governor's Office of Storm Recovery's Progress To Date on Superstorm Sandy Recovery

Announces $19 Billion Invested in Electric Grid Over 10 Years to Protect New Yorkers from Extreme Weather Power Outages

 Governor Kathy Hochul today marked the 10-year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy by announcing the creation of the Office of Resilient Homes and Communities, a new office to lead New York's housing recovery and community resiliency efforts. The new Office of Resilient Homes and Communities will build on the work of the Governor's Office of Storm Recovery, which was created in 2013 to manage the State's long-term recovery from Superstorm Sandy and oversee the expenditure of $4.5 billion of federal disaster recovery funds provided by the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013. As a permanent office within Homes and Community Renewal, the Office of Resilient Homes and Communities will assume Governor's Office of Storm Recovery's portfolio and partner with the State's disaster-response agencies to lead the long-term recovery for homes and communities and develop a pipeline of resiliency initiatives and strategies across the State. 

"With the new Office of Resilient Homes and Communities, we are taking a major step toward protecting and strengthening New York for generations to come," Governor Hochul said. "Ten years ago, Superstorm Sandy hit our shores and upended the lives, homes, and businesses of countless New Yorkers, but thanks to our brave first responders, robust community-led planning, and exceptional partnerships, New York's recovery has been extraordinary. My administration will continue our nation-leading efforts to prepare for future weather events, and I look forward to working with communities, agency partners, and local, state, and federal officials to build a better, stronger, and more resilient New York."

The Governor also released a 10-year anniversary report detailing GOSR's  progress to-date on the Superstorm Sandy recovery effort. Overall, under GOSR's direction, the state has spent 91 percent of its $4.5 billion allocation through U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)'s Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Program completed more than 11,000 housing recovery and resiliency projects, and provided support to more than 1,000 small businesses across New York. The state has also invested $19 billion in the electric grid statewide to protect New Yorkers from extreme weather power outages, including $4.9 billion invested on Long Island, over the past ten years.

Governor Hochul first committed to establishing a permanent resiliency entity in her State of the State address. The new Office of Resilient Homes and Communities will build on GOSR's work and fulfill the Governor's commitment to supporting New York families still impacted by Superstorm Sandy by: 

• Working directly with New Yorkers and communities before and after disasters,leveraging scalable and effective program models that assisted homeowners to complete more than 11,000 repair and flood mitigation projects, including more than 3,000 home elevations. 
• Effectuating seamless transition from immediate response to long-term recovery, to future resiliency by incorporating long-term planning into the recovery process. 
• Advancing equity for New Yorkers vulnerable to disasters by emphasizing the disadvantaged communities criteria identified by New York's Climate Justice Working Group to guide the equitable implementation of the State's ambitious Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.

The 10-year anniversary report provides a comprehensive review of the GOSR's completed and ongoing resiliency initiatives in the following areas to support New York's recovery. 

Housing Recovery  

The now-complete homeowner program provided $1.27 billion directly to New Yorkers to support the completion of more than 11,000 housing recovery and resiliency projects, including 3,500 home elevations and more than 400 reconstructions. 

The NY Rising Buyout Program successfully returned 615 storm-damaged properties to nature — including 423 on Staten Island, 130 on Long Island, and 62 Upstate — allowing them to serve as a natural coastal buffer that will protect surrounding communities in perpetuity. 

The voluntary program provided $276 million to New Yorkers who wished to relocate and not rebuild, while making a strategic investment into the future sustainability of the state. Natural areas help adapt to the effects of climate change by absorbing stormwater and reducing flooding. They also help reduce carbon from the atmosphere, decreasing pollution and improving air quality. To date, this program made land made available for the Staten Island Sea Wall project, the Staten Island Youth Soccer League, a variety of local partners on Long Island. 

Community Reconstruction and Infrastructure

GOSR's NY Rising Community Reconstruction Program engaged local stakeholders in the long-term recovery and resiliency process in their communities and helped develop project proposals that focused on their specific needs and assets after Superstorm Sandy, Hurricane Irene, and Tropical Storm Lee. 

To date, the program has worked with state, local, and non-profit subrecipient partners to complete more than 200 resiliency projects and programs totaling $306 million across the State, with more than 80 currently in the construction phase. The $625 million program has continued to help communities respond to future storms, which are occurring more often as our climate changes. 

The Governor highlighted the $45.5 million investment the NY Rising Community Reconstruction Program made in the Rockaways and Breezy Point, which includes the now completed:

1. $1.3 million preparedness training for non-profits and workforce development program in Far Rockaway
2. $2.4 million back-up power and resiliency upgrades to critical community facilities in Far Rockaway - the Young Israel of Wavecrest and Bayswater, Addabbo Health Center and St. John's Episcopal Hospital
3. $4.5 million Downtown Far Rockaway Streetscape, which upgrades the drainage systems while also making the downtown more walkable and accessible
4. $11.7 million drainage and stormwater management across the Breezy Point community  
5. Through its Infrastructure Program, the State has also completed 12 large-scale projects totaling $218.4 million

Rebuild by Design 

In June 2014, the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) announced the winners of its innovative Rebuild By Design competition  a contest that encouraged interdisciplinary planning, design, and engineering firms to create blueprints for recovery and resiliency efforts. 

The $125 million Living with the Bay initiative aims to increase the resiliency of communities along Nassau County's Mill River by mitigating damage from storm surges, better managing stormwater, improving habitat and water quality, and increasing access to the Mill River through both educational and increased recreational opportunities.  

GOSR has completed the first two of eight Living Breakwaters, a $107 million project off the coast of Tottenville, Staten Island. Living Breakwaters is an innovative coastal green infrastructure project designed to reduce or reverse erosion and damage from storm waves, improve the ecosystem health of the Raritan Bay and encourage stewardship of our nearshore waters and generally enhance people's experience of the shoreline of southern Staten Island.

Small Business Support 

The now-completed NY Rising Small Business Program facilitated repairs, reconstruction, and working capital to storm-affected small businesses across the state — recognizing the large role they play in the state's economy. The program provided more than $52 million to more than 1,000 small businesses. 

The full report is available here on GOSR's website: www.storm-recovery.org 

Storm Resiliency and Electric Grid Hardening Progress

In addition to the 10-year anniversary report, Governor Hochul announced that the state has invested $19 billion in electric grid hardening over the past decade. Investments to date include storm hardening, resiliency and reliability initiatives, and vegetation management. 

• $4.9 billion has been invested in Long Island's electric grid, improving storm readiness and resulting in a 35% reduction in customers experiencing outages. 
• $49 million invested to storm-harden and elevate three Rockaway substations (Arverne, Far Rockaway, and Rockaway Beach substations) above the 500-year flood level. 
• $10 million to storm harden eight Rockaway distribution circuits, including installing stronger poles and wires, and deploying a redesigned narrow profile to limit damage from falling tree limbs. 

In partnership with New York State and New York City, the U.S Army Corps of Engineers is advancing the $600 million Rockaway and Jamaica Bay Coastal Storm Risk Reduction Project, which includes construction on both the Atlantic and Jamaica Bay shorelines of the Rockaway peninsula. 

• On the Atlantic shoreline, the project includes the construction of a heightened sand dune reinforced with an internal sheet steel and buried stone, 19 new or rehabilitated stone groins to hold sand on the beach and break waves, and a new dune crossing structures to support public access. 
• In Jamaica Bay, the project includes a series of smaller levees, floodwalls and other features to provide protection from smaller and more frequent flooding events in low-lying areas of the Hammels, Edgemere, and Arverne neighborhoods. 

In addition, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has been involved in projects and studies totaling more than $5 billion in state and federal investments across New York City and Long Island to advance recovery and resiliency projects. Additional work to provide long-term protections against deadly storm surges and flooding is underway. New York State and local lead projects include: 

• South Shore Water Reclamation Facility Resilient Rebuild ($830 million) - a complete resilient rebuild of the former Bay Park Waste Water Treatment Plant to protect it against a 500-year level storm.
• Bay Park Conveyance Project ($439 million) will convey wastewater out to the ocean, strengthening natural flood protections in Long Island's Western Bays.
• Long Beach Waste Water Interconnect ($130 million) will convert and strengthen the existing waste water treatment plant in Long Beach.
• The Suffolk County Coastal Resiliency Initiative ($408.8 million) is upgrading septic and sewer systems to homes in Babylon, Mastic-Shirley.
• Patchogue River Watershed Project ($21 million) will connect approximately 500 homes in the river's watershed and along Great South Bay to reduce nitrogen discharges and create healthier coastlines, mitigating flooding impacts. 

Including Superstorm Sandy, New York State has received 13 Presidential Disaster Declarations in the past decade. This has enabled New York to receive nearly $27 billion in federal Public Assistance funding to restore damaged infrastructure, as well as nearly $1.4 billion in federal Hazard Mitigation funding to support long term hazard mitigation planning and projects aimed at improving community resiliency.

This funding continues to be administered by the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services and has directly supported critical resiliency and recovery projects which stem directly from Hurricane Sandy, including:

Public Assistance

• New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) - $2.9 billion - for repair, restoration, storm surge protection and mitigation measures at 35 damaged housing complexes throughout the five boroughs, including 20 NYCHA developments which received new heating and hot water systems housed in elevated and flood proofed structures. Additionally, 201 buildings now have permanent, full-load generators in case of power outages.
• Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) - $1.4 Billion -  for critical infrastructure repair and mitigation on their entire electrical distribution system, including efforts to elevate or relocate equipment at substations damaged during Hurricane Sandy and the strengthening of damaged transmission lines.

Hazard Mitigation

• Port Authority of NY/NJ LaGuardia Flood Control (Queens) - $40.6 million - to create a floodwall around the east end lighting vault and substation, as well as the installation of generators and adding drains to support the storm pump station. 
• Port Authority of NY/NJ JFK Airport Tide Gates (Queens) - $6.0 million - to install multiple backflow prevention devices at the northwest end of the airport. 
• Suffolk County Coastal Resiliency Initiative - $409 million - to remove up to 5,559 parcels from septic systems and cesspools and connect to new sewer systems as well as construct a new, state-of-the-art wastewater treatment facility in the Forge River watershed.
• Nassau County Western Bays Resiliency Project - $532 million - to remove up to 90 percent of the nitrogen loading in an already compromised area to improve the water quality in the Western Bays. The project includes the construction of a new pump station at Bay Park, the installation of a 2-mile force main via micro-tunnel from Bay Park to Sunrise Highway, the repurposing a 7.3-mile aqueduct along Sunrise Highway, and the installation of a 1.6-mile force main via micro-tunnel from Sunrise Highway to Cedar Creek.

EDITOR'S NOTE: 

We agree with Queens Borough President Donavan Richards when he says it's been ten years already. 

We would like to know why it has taken ten years, that is much too much time, and who knows when these projects will be finished or if they will prevent the damage that was done ten years ago. 

Pennsylvania Man Pleads Guilty To Making Threats To Kill United States Congressman

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that JOSHUA HALL pled guilty to a Superseding Information charging him with making threats to kill a member of the United States Congress.  HALL previously pled guilty to wire fraud for impersonating family members of the then-President of the United States on social media to fraudulently raise funds for a fictitious political organization (the “Fraud Scheme”).  At the time HALL made the threats to kill a member of the United States Congress, he was on pretrial release pending sentencing for the Fraud Scheme.  HALL was arrested the same day the threats were made and was subsequently ordered detained pending sentencing.  HALL pled guilty before United States District Judge Gregory H. Woods, before whom sentencing will be held on December 8, 2022.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Joshua Hall made terrifying threats to the staff of a United States Congressman whom he disliked rather than attempting to effect change through any of the freedoms of expression that all Americans enjoy.  These threats of violence endanger our public officials and thwart common decency, which is why this Office will continue to prosecute crimes like those committed by Joshua Hall.”

According to the Superseding Information:

On or about August 29, 2022, HALL placed a series of telephone calls from in or around Yonkers, New York, to the California office of a member of the United States Congress (the “Congressman”).  During those telephone calls, HALL conveyed threats to kill the Congressman to at least three different members of the Congressman’s staff (“Staff Member-1,” “Staff Member-2,” and “Staff Member-3”). 

On a telephone call with Staff Member-1 and Staff Member-2, HALL stated, in substance and in part, that he had a lot of AR-15s; that he wanted to shoot the Congressman; that he intended to come to the Congressman’s office with firearms; and that if he saw the Congressman, he would kill him.  He further stated, in substance and in part, that he wanted to “beat the shit out of” the Congressman and that he would find the Congressman wherever he was and hurt him.  On a telephone call with Staff Member-3, HALL stated, in substance and in part, that he intended to come to the Congressman’s office to kill the Congressman with firearms. 

HALL, 22, of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, pled guilty to one count of making interstate communications with a threat to injure, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.  HALL previously pled guilty to one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. 

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

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the United States Capitol Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and thanked the City of Yonkers Police Department for their assistance.