CONSUMER ALERT: New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection Provides Tips to Save Money on Groceries

 

Part of a Five-Part Consumer Alert Series to Help New Yorkers Save Money

Follow the New York Department of State on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for “Tuesday’s Tips” – Practical Tips to Educate and Empower New York Consumers on a Variety of Topics

Secretary Robert J. Rodriguez: “These tips and a little extra planning before going to the grocery store can go a long way toward helping consumers stretch their grocery dollars further this year.”

For this week’s “Tuesday Tips,” the New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection announced the rollout of a five-part consumer alert series to help New Yorkers save money amidst inflation and rising costs. In the coming weeks, consumers will receive guidance on how to save money on groceries, utilities and energy, transportation, entertainment and general shopping costs. In this first consumer alert, DCP is providing consumers with practical tips on how to reduce spending on groceries. Follow the New York Department of State on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and check in every Tuesday for more practical tips that educate and empower New York consumers on a variety of topics. 

“Rising costs are affecting New Yorkers all across the State, and New York’s Division of Consumer Protection wants consumers to know that small changes can add up quickly when it comes to saving money,” said Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez, who oversees the Division of Consumer Protection. “These tips and a little extra planning before going to the grocery store can go a long way toward helping consumers stretch their grocery dollars further this year.” 

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “During financially challenging times, it’s important to choose fresh and wholesome food for your family, not only for its nutritional value but also for its economic value as fresh foods that are minimally processed, when properly refrigerated, can last longer, extending your budget so that you can provide more meals for your family throughout the week.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Consumer Price Index shows grocery store food prices increased 12% from November 2021 to November 2022, and prices are predicted to increase another 3 - 4% in 2023. With a large part of personal budgets expended on food, opportunities to save money are more important than ever. 

DCP offers the following tips to help consumers save money on groceries: 

Plan your meals. Planning meals in advance, including breakfast, lunch and dinner, will reduce food waste and cut down on expensive meal delivery or dining-out costs. Make a grocery list to support the plan and reduce impulsive purchases. 

Look for deals. Plan meals around a few bulk ingredients or based on the weekly grocery sales circular to ensure you’re buying items on sale. Take advantage of store savings and enroll in store reward programs. Search for online coupons, use store savings and rewards cards, and watch for manufacturer coupons attached to the items in-store. 

Shop strategically for food. Take inventory of what you have at home before going shopping. Go to the grocery store with a list, having planned out your meals until your next grocery trip. 

Reduce food waste:

• Learn about food product dating. According to the FDA, confusion over date labeling accounts for an estimated 20 percent of consumer food waste. Important tips to know:
  • Except for infant formula, manufacturers are not required by Federal law or regulation to place quality-based date labels on packaged food.
  • Manufacturers apply date labels at their own discretion and for a variety of reasons. The most common is to inform consumers and retailers of the date to which they can expect the food to retain its desired quality and flavor.
  • Best if Used By is the standard phrase to indicate the date until which a product will be at its best flavor and quality, not the date an item will spoil. Consumers should examine foods that are past their Best if Used By date for signs of spoilage before they throw them away.
  • For example, bread past its Best if Used By date may be stale, but if it is not moldy or spoiled, it could be used to make French toast, croutons, breadcrumbs and several other items you may otherwise buy at the store.
  • To learn more tips on how to cut food waste, visit fda.gov.
• Use your freezer. Freezing is a great way to store most foods to keep them from going bad until you are ready to eat them.
• Understand food and beverage storage. It will help you maximize the freshness and quality of items. Visit FoodKeeper for information on how to safely store different foods to maintain freshness and quality.
• Got Leftovers? Make one dinner a week your ‘smorgasbord night’. Reheat those leftovers as is or turn them into an entirely different meal by adding some additional ingredients. 

Consider planting a garden in the Spring. This can help save both time and money. Turn those harvested fresh veggies into lunches and dinners, and then can or freeze your excess harvest to enjoy it all year long.

Wholesale clubs. Purchase in bulk to save money on items you frequently buy. Wholesale shopping also allows you to stock up for fewer shopping trips. Some wholesale clubs allow membership sharing, and that could mean splitting the membership fee with a friend or family member. Remember to cancel memberships you aren’t using.

Buy seasonal fruits and vegetables. Many fruits and vegetables peak at a certain time of year. Prices normally drop when they’re in season and rise when they’re not. Learn what’s in season with this guide to New York’s produce. 

About the New York State Division of Consumer Protection 

The New York State Division of Consumer Protection provides resources and education materials to consumers on product safety, as well as voluntary mediation services between consumers and businesses. The Consumer Assistance Helpline 1-800-697-1220 is available Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm, excluding State Holidays, and consumer complaints can be filed at any time at www.dos.ny.gov/consumer-protection. 

For more consumer protection tips, follow the Division on social media at Twitter: @NYSConsumer and Facebook: www.facebook.com/nysconsumer.

Governor Hochul Announces More Than $8.6 Million for Innovative Programs to Treat Opioid Addiction

 

Funding will Support Up to 18 Comprehensive Integrated Outpatient Treatment Programs Designed to Increase Access to Medication to Address Opioid Use Disorder

Grants Awarded Through New York State’s Opioid Settlement Fund

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the availability of more than $8.6 million to develop comprehensive integrated outpatient treatment programs to address opioid use disorder across New York State. Administered by the State Office of Addiction Services and Supports, the funding will support up to 18 providers in their efforts to establish these innovative programs and is the latest award through the New York State Opioid Settlement Fund.

“Like too many New Yorkers, I know what it’s like to lose a family member to the disease of opioid addiction,” Governor Hochul said. “These innovative outpatient treatment programs tap Opioid Settlement Fund money in order to greatly expand and enhance our services and address the harm that this epidemic has caused countless New Yorkers.”

Comprehensive integrated outpatient treatment programs provide more opportunities to access person-centered comprehensive services – including medication treatment for opioid use disorder – and are a new initiative to address the ongoing need for integrated treatment in New York State. These programs are designed to make it easier for New Yorkers seeking treatment for a substance use disorder to access multiple services in one location.

Office of Addiction Services and Supports Commissioner Chinazo Cunningham said, “Medication treatment for opioid use disorder is safe and effective and is proven to help support overall health and well-being among people with addiction. Establishing these comprehensive integrated programs is an important priority and will help more people access critical help to benefit their short and long-term recovery.”

Providers can apply for funding to support existing integrated programs, combine existing opioid treatment and outpatient programs, or develop new integrated programs. Funding will be awarded through a request for applications process.

New York State will receive more than $2 billion through various settlement agreements with opioid manufacturers. A portion of the funding from these settlements will go directly to municipalities, with the remainder deposited into a dedicated fund to support prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery efforts to address the ongoing opioid epidemic.

The same legislation that established the dedicated fund also created the Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board, which is tasked with making recommendations on how settlement dollars should be allocated to best serve those in need. Board members issued their first recommendations on November 1, identifying the expansion of harm reduction services and treatment as top priorities.

New York continued to grapple with opioid-related deaths in 2021, with fentanyl now involved in most overdose deaths statewide, according to a report released by the state Department of Health. Other key findings include:

• 4,766 overdose deaths involving opioids, a 14 percent increase over the prior year.
• 10,430 outpatient emergency department visits due to opioid overdoses, a 12.6 percent increase over the prior year.
• 19,139 instances of naloxone being administered by Emergency Medical Services, an 11.8 percent increase over the prior year.

 Governor Hochul was a member of the New York State Heroin and Opioid Task Force, which in 2016, recommended new, non-traditional services, including recovery centers, youth clubhouses, expanded peer services, and open access centers, which provide immediate assessments and referrals to care. These services have since been established in numerous communities around the state and have helped people in need access care closer to where they live.

New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369).

Available addiction treatment including crisis/detox, inpatient, residential, or outpatient care can be found using the NYS OASAS Treatment Availability Dashboard at FindAddictionTreatment.ny.gov or through the NYS OASAS website.

If you, or a loved one, have experienced insurance obstacles related to treatment or need help filing an appeal for a denied claim, contact the CHAMP helpline by phone at 888-614-5400 or email at ombuds@oasas.ny.gov.

MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES PLACEMENT OF NEW HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND RELIEF CENTER TO RESPOND TO ASYLUM SEEKER INFLUX

 

Manhattan Hotel Will Open to Assist Adult Families and Single Women Seeking Asylum

 

New York City Continues to Handle Unprecedented Number of Asylum Seekers Arriving, More Than Any Other City

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the city will soon open a sixth Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center at the Holiday Inn Manhattan – Financial District hotel to temporarily serve the continued influx of asylum seekers arriving in New York City. As the estimated number of asylum seekers that have arrived in the city since last spring surpasses more than 44,000, this humanitarian relief center will provide 492 rooms to assist adult families and single adult women, and provide them with a range of services, in addition to ensuring they can reach their final desired destination, if not New York City.

 

“With more than 44,000 asylum seekers arriving in the last 10 months alone, we have helped provide shelter and support to nearly as many asylum seekers as the number of New Yorkers we already had in our shelter system when we first came into office,” said Mayor Adams. “We continue to meet all our moral obligations, serving those arriving with dignity and care, but we remain in serious need of additional support from our federal partners, including a real decompression strategy to slow this influx. This sixth Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center will provide hundreds of asylum seekers with a place to stay, access support, and get to their final destination.”

 

“We will continue to do what is required to address this ongoing humanitarian crisis,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “Our teams will continue to work to serve every child, family, and individual coming to New York City to seek asylum.”

 

"Despite almost single-handedly bearing the cost of this crisis for almost a year now, New York City is continuing to find ways to help these vulnerable families and make sure their needs are met," said Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks III. "We remain committed to ensuring asylum seekers’ safety, dignity, and well-being, but we need help. Our federal partners need to act now before we reach a breaking point.”

 

“New York City has consistently risen to the challenge of this unprecedented humanitarian crisis, and we will continue to do our part to support those seeking asylum in our country,” said Ted Long, MD, MHS, senior vice president, ambulatory care and population health, NYC Health + Hospitals. “We know the trauma and arduous journey asylum seekers have experienced, and this sixth humanitarian center will provide tailored services to help them restore their dignity and get back on their feet. I am proud to be a part of the Adams administration as we help asylum seekers complete their journeys and find a better life.”

 

“I’m proud our city continues to meet the challenge of supporting asylum seekers during this unprecedented humanitarian crisis,” said New York City Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol. “The opening of the latest Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center delivers on the promise to aid and provide various resources for over 44,000 individuals and families who have arrived in the city seeking a better life.”

 

Since this humanitarian crisis began, the city has taken fast and urgent action, managing the arrival of a rapidly increasing number of buses across New York City with virtually no coordination from states sending them — opening 83 hotels as emergency shelters and five other humanitarian relief centers already, standing up navigation centers to connect asylum seekers with critical resources, enrolling children in public schools through Project Open Arms, and more.

Statement from NYC Comptroller Brad Lander on Filing of Shareholder Proposals on Workers’ Rights at Major U.S. Companies

 

The New York City Retirement Systems joined the New York State Common Retirement Fund in filing shareholder proposals urging major employers to respect the rights of workers. New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced the proposals today on behalf of the New York State Common Retirement Fund, which were filed at Walmart, CVS Pharmacy, Netflix and DoorDash.

The proposals at CVS Pharmacy and Walmart urge the companies to initiate a third-party assessment of the companies’ adherence to their commitment to workers’ freedom of association and collective bargaining rights as contained in each company’s Human Rights Policy. The proposals at Netflix and DoorDash urge the companies to adopt and disclose a noninterference policy to uphold workers’ freedom of association and collective bargaining rights.

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander issued the following statement: “Respecting workers’ rights to organize – and not interfering when they do – should be the standard expected of any responsible employer. Aggressive anti-union practices that spill into the press, violate labor laws, or contradict a company’s own policies can pose reputational and financial risks for businesses. We’re proud to make that standard clear to more of the country’s major employers as reflected in the New York City Retirement Systems’ agreement with Apple and ongoing efforts with Starbucks. We are pleased to join Comptroller DiNapoli and the New York State Common Retirement Fund to emphasize that long-term value is dependent on the wellbeing of a company’s workforce, and we expect portfolio companies to act accordingly.”

The New York City Retirement Systems are also engaged in similar shareholder advocacy around workers’ rights to organize at Starbucks and Apple. The systems filed a shareholder resolution at Starbucks and recently announced an agreement with Apple to conduct a third-party assessment of its response to worker organizing.

Disaster Relief Consultant Pleads Guilty To Fraud In Connection With New York City’s Hurricane Sandy Recovery Efforts

 

  Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Jocelyn E. Strauber, the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation ("DOI"), announced that MARK O’MARA, a disaster relief consultant, pled guilty to fraud in connection with his work for an Illinois-based consulting firm (“Company-1”) that provided Hurricane Sandy-related recovery services to the City of New York.  O’MARA surrendered today and pled guilty before U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman in federal court in Manhattan.  O’MARA is the second Company-1 employee to plead guilty in recent months to fraud related to Hurricane Sandy relief work, as WALTER MELNICK previously pled guilty in a separate case assigned to U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero. 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Instead of helping New York City recover from the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, Mark O’Mara helped himself by fraudulently obtaining housing benefits to which he was not entitled.  I commend the Department of Investigation and this Office for holding to account those who conspire to defraud invaluable federal programs.”

DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber said: “This defendant used Hurricane Sandy as an opportunity for personal profit, through a scheme to pocket federal relief funds intended to help New Yorkers rebuild from this disaster.  Today, he takes responsibility for that conduct, pleading guilty to federal offenses, including destroying evidence, and agreeing to repay the City nearly $225,000, forfeit over a quarter-million dollars, and pay any past-due taxes.  DOI and our law enforcement partners in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York are committed to stopping frauds that drain public resources and holding accountable those who participate.”

According to the allegations in the Information, court filings, and statements made in court:

Beginning in or about 2013, in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the City of New York (the “City”) received billions of dollars in federal money to fund Hurricane Sandy-related recovery efforts.  The City used certain of these funds to hire Company-1 to assist with Hurricane Sandy relief (the “Sandy Project”).  Company-1 hired O’MARA to work on the Sandy Project.

Between at least in or about 2013 and in or about 2019, while working for Company-1, O’MARA submitted fraudulent information and documents, including a fraudulent lease agreement, to the New York City Office of Management and Budget (“NYC-OMB”) via Company-1 in order to obtain lodging reimbursements from the City to which he knew he was not entitled.  Between in or about 2017 and in or about 2019, O’MARA also conspired with others – including another consultant at Company-1, WALTER MELNICK – to defraud the City by falsely claiming that he was residing in an apartment purchased by an individual at MELNICK’s direction.  O’MARA fraudulently obtained more than approximately $250,000 from the City via Company-1 as a result of these schemes. 

Additionally, in or about February 2020, when the City began raising concerns about Company-1’s travel reimbursements, O’MARA destroyed relevant emails and other communications to cover up the fraud. 

MELNICK previously pled guilty in a separate case to conspiring to commit federal program fraud while working for Company-1 on the Sandy Project for fraudulently obtaining housing reimbursements based on a fake lease and other fraudulent documentation.  MELNICK agreed to pay $387,749 in forfeiture and restitution.  MELNICK is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Marrero on February 24, 2023. 

O’MARA is cooperating with the Government.

MARK O’MARA, 41, of New York, New York, pled guilty to one count of federal program fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; one count of wire fraud in connection with a presidentially-declared major disaster, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison; one count of conspiracy to commit federal program fraud and wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; and one count of destruction of evidence, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  Under the terms of his plea agreement, O’MARA agreed to forfeit $258,900 and to pay restitution to NYC-OMB in the amount of $224,687.26.

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 would be determined by a judge. 

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of DOI.

Former Coinbase Insider Pleads Guilty In First-Ever Cryptocurrency Insider Trading Case

 

Ishan Wahi Tipped His Associates 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 ISHAN WAHI, a former product manager at Coinbase Global, Inc. (“Coinbase”), pled guilty to two counts 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 and charged in July 2022 and pled guilty earlier today before U.S. District Judge Loretta A. Preska.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Ishan Wahi – a former Coinbase product manager – admitted in court today that he tipped others regarding Coinbase’s planned token listings so that they could trade in crypto assets for a profit.  Wahi is the first insider to admit guilt in an insider trading case involving the cryptocurrency markets.  Whether it occurs in the equity markets or the crypto markets, stealing confidential business information for your own personal profit or the profit of others is a serious federal crime.  The Southern District of New York has decades of experience pursuing insider trading cases, and we will continue to use our expertise to prosecute this crime no matter what form it takes and where it occurs.”

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, 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 June 2021 and April 2022, WAHI violated his duties of trust and confidence to Coinbase by providing confidential business information that he learned in connection with his employment at Coinbase to Nikhil Wahi and Sameer Ramani so that they could secretly engage in profitable trades around public announcements by Coinbase that it would be listing certain crypto assets on Coinbase’s exchanges.  Following Coinbase’s public listing announcements, on multiple occasions, Nikhil Wahi and Ramani sold the crypto assets for a profit. 

On April 12, 2022, a Twitter account that is well known in the crypto community tweeted regarding an Ethereum blockchain wallet “that bought hundreds of thousands of dollars of tokens exclusively featured in the Coinbase Asset Listing post about 24 hours before it was published.”  The trading activity referenced in the April 12 tweet was trading previously conducted by Ramani based on tips provided by WAHI.  Coinbase thereafter publicly replied on Twitter, noting that it had already begun investigating the matter and, a few weeks later, stated in a public blog post that any Coinbase employee who leaked confidential company information would be “immediately terminated and referred to relevant authorities (potentially for criminal prosecution).”  On May 11, 2022, Coinbase’s director of security operations emailed WAHI to inform him that he should appear for an in-person meeting relating to Coinbase’s asset listing process at Coinbase’s Seattle, Washington, office on May 16, 2022.  WAHI confirmed he would attend the meeting.

On the evening of May 15, 2022, WAHI purchased a one-way flight to India that was scheduled to depart the next day shortly before WAHI was supposed to be interviewed by Coinbase.  In the hours between booking the flight and his scheduled departure, WAHI called and texted Nikhil Wahi and Ramani about Coinbase’s investigation and sent both of them a photograph of the messages he had received on May 11, 2022, from Coinbase’s director of security operations.  Prior to boarding the May 16, 2022, flight to India, WAHI was stopped by law enforcement and prevented from leaving the country.

ISHAN WAHI, 32, of Seattle, Washington, pled guilty to two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which each carry, respectively, 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 defendant will be determined by a judge.  WAHI is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Preska on May 10, 2023, 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.

NYC PUBLIC ADVOCATE'S STATEMENT ON THE RESIGNATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES COMMISSIONER

 

"Since its merging with the Department of Homeless Services, the Department of Social Services – already containing the Human Resources Administration – has been much more difficult to operate effectively given the breadth of its mission and mandate. Combining these entities may be a factor in our worsening homelessness crisis and the struggles New Yorkers experience in accessing critical services. 

"We need to take this moment of a transition in leadership to explore transitioning our city’s approach and operations. Decoupling DSS/HRA from DHS in an effort to increase their focus and effectiveness could better serve the mission of each agency and the New Yorkers who rely on them. It should be clear that we cannot continue the structure of the past several years, which has largely failed New Yorkers most in need, regardless of who is in leadership roles."

MAYOR ADAMS’ STATEMENT ON ANNOUNCEMENT BY DSS COMMISSIONER GARY JENKINS TO STEP DOWN NEXT MONTH

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams tonight released the following statement after New York City Department of Social Services Commissioner Gary Jenkins announced he would step down from his position next month:

 

“Commissioner Jenkins has served New Yorkers for 36 years, providing our most vulnerable neighbors with compassion, dignity, and a path toward stabilizing their lives. Under his leadership, the Department of Social Services invested a historic amount to support unsheltered New Yorkers — bringing and keeping more than 1,100 people living on our subways into shelter as part of our Subway Safety Plan and inviting those with lived experiences to the table to help craft our housing and homelessness plans.

 

“Commissioner Jenkins also brought his own experience living in a shelter as a child to the job, a unique understanding of the struggles families in shelters face, and a steadfast commitment to treating all of our clients with dignity and care. I'm incredibly grateful to Gary for his decades of service and wish him the very best in his next chapter."