MAYOR ADAMS CELEBRATES GRADUATION OF FIRST-EVER CYBER ACADEMY CLASS

 

Graduates From 21 Agencies Will Serve as Cyber Defenders to Fight Threats in Their Offices

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, New York City Chief Technology Officer (CTO) Matthew Fraser, and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) Kelly Moan today honored 21 city employees who graduated from the first-ever New York City Cyber Academy — a specialized training program designed to bolster the city’s cybersecurity workforce and enhance agency cyber capabilities to defend against threats to essential services and critical infrastructure. In accordance with Mayor Adams’ Executive Order 10 (EO10), issued last February, graduates will serve as liaisons to the Office of Cyber Command, representing their agency and serving as the primary contact with the New York City Office of Technology and Innovation’s (OTI) Cyber Command.

“Congratulations to all our incredibly impressive graduates who are blazing the way to a secure future for New York City,” said Mayor Adams. “Technology is at the heart of nearly everything we provide to New Yorkers, running our water, electricity, and notifying us during an emergency. It is crucial to the future of our city, and that is why we must protect it. Cyber threats can bring our entire city to a halt if we’re not prepared, costing us time, millions of dollars, and even livelihoods and lives. These threats are not going away, and today’s graduating class will be our guardians by building a pipeline of cyber expertise. Together, we will keep New York City technology safe.”

“New York City is continuing to lead the charge on creating a workforce ready to handle the changing times and emerging issues — and the inaugural Cyber Academy is no different,” said First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright. “I applaud the 21 graduates for serving our city, bolstering our cybersecurity infrastructure, and protecting all New Yorkers from any and all cyber-related threats.”

“New York City is the safest big city in the nation, despite facing constant cyber threats, because of its 24/7/365 vigilance, proactive defense measures, and strong local, state, and federal partnerships,” said CTO and OTI Commissioner Matthew Fraser. “The New York City Cyber Academy program fortifies our city’s overall cyber resilience by augmenting our cybersecurity workforce and fostering closer working relationships between participating agencies and OTI’s Cyber Command. I thank Mayor Eric Adams for continuing to prioritize our city’s cybersecurity, and the highly skilled team at Cyber Command, led by CISO Kelly Moan, for their extraordinary efforts on behalf of New Yorkers. Congratulations to the inaugural class of Cyber Academy graduates!”   

“Cybersecurity is a great equalizer — gaining skills in the field can launch a career to new heights,” said New York City Chief Information Security Officer Kelly Moan. “Just as important, teaching these skills across city government will help keep New York City, its systems, and its people safe. Thank you to Mayor Adams and CTO Fraser for making cybersecurity and workforce development such a critical priority in this administration, and congratulations to our ever-impressive group of graduates.”  

“In our modern world, cyber security is no longer optional — it is absolutely necessary,” said New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell. “That’s what makes this citywide effort, spearheaded by the Office of Cyber Command, so critical to our public safety mission. Securing the flow of digital information requires advanced technical skillsets, and the specialized training offered by the Cyber Academy enhances every aspect of the work we do. The NYPD is proud to partner with the Mayor’s Office and numerous other agencies as we step forward into the next era of policing in New York City.”

“The number of cyberattacks on government agencies is fast growing and consistently challenges our way of safeguarding critical infrastructure and private information,” said Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) Commissioner Laura Kavanagh. “The FDNY is grateful to have a strategic partner in the city’s Office of Technology and Innovation. With programs like the New York City Cyber Academy, we are better positioned to meet cyber threats head on, so that our first responders can do what they do best — protect the lives and property of New Yorkers.”

“Protecting New York City’s health demands safe, secure, and effective data infrastructure to plan and evaluate our population health strategies, and to drive resources into the programs and into the communities that will make the biggest difference in protecting and improving the health of our city,” said New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “Congratulations to the graduates of the Cyber Academy, especially the agency’s own Fazle Chowdhury. The Health Department is grateful for the hard work to build skills that will make our agency and our city more secure from whatever threats come our way.” 

“We are so proud that Mikhail Katsev from the Mayor's Office of Housing Recovery Operations (HRO) is part of the city's inaugural Cyber Academy class,” said New York City Chief Housing Officer Jessica Katz. "The New Yorkers whose homes continue to be made safer by HRO's work can rest assured that Mikhail will also keep their digital information secure. Congratulations to Mikhail and all the Cyber Academy graduates!”

“As DSS continues to implement new technologies and transitions more services online, robust cybersecurity is essential to our efforts to provide critical benefits and services to New Yorkers and safeguard sensitive information,” said New York City Department of Social Services (DSS) Acting Commissioner Molly Wasow Park. “We are grateful that this administration is prioritizing cybersecurity at a time when cyberattacks are increasingly prevalent, and we are so proud of all of today’s graduates, including our own Iwan Axt who will serve as DSS’ Cyber Command liaison and further strengthen our connection with OTI.”

“Cybersecurity is top of mind across all New York City agencies. At city Planning, where we produce and support many of the city’s data systems, initiatives to protect infrastructure and sensitive data are at the center of our work,” said New York City Department of City Planning Director Dan Garodnick. “I want to thank the mayor, Chief Technology Officer Matthew Fraser, and Chief Information Security Officer Kelly Moan, along with City Planning’s ITD Division and Antonio Caceres for stepping up to take on this significant responsibility to work with the Office of Technology and Innovation’s Cyber Command. Thank you, Antonio!”

“Congratulations to the graduates of the city’s inaugural Cyber Academy, including our very own Cesar Cabrera, who has worked in the Division of Information Technology at ACS since 2019,” said New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) Commissioner Jess Dannhauser. “This is a wonderful achievement for both the graduates and New York City as a whole, as it means that New York City’s information technology infrastructure is better protected than ever before.”  

“Our DYCD family couldn’t be prouder of Ramian Gyan, who started with us in 2018 and is being honored as one of the 21 graduates of the Cyber Academy’s inaugural class,” said New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) Commissioner Keith Howard. “Ramian is a shining example of how Mayor Adams and the administration are preparing our best and brightest to combat the ever-present threats against cybersecurity. Congratulations to Ramian and all the esteemed graduates who will make DYCD, our sister agencies, and New York City even more secure so that we can safely deliver services to New Yorkers.”

 “The Cyber Academy is an innovative resource for the city’s tech teams, who represent a special breed of highly skilled public servants committed to serving and protecting their community,” said New York City Taxi and Limousine Commissioner David Do. “We are proud to have our very own information security analyst graduating from this inaugural class, the first of many that will go on to keep city operations and services safe from cyberthreats.”

“Preventing cyberattacks and safeguarding sensitive customer information is crucial to DOF’s mission of safely and efficiently collecting the revenues that make every city service possible,” said New York City Department of Finance (DOF) Commissioner Preston Niblack. “We are grateful for the opportunity to participate in OTI’s inaugural Cyber Academy, and we thank all of today’s graduates, including DOF’s own CIO/CISO Ron Richardson, for their tireless work to protect the city's critical infrastructure, as well as the private information of New Yorkers." 

“Congratulations to all the graduates of the inaugural Cyber Academy,” said New York City Business Integrity Commission (BIC) Commissioner and Chair Elizabeth Crotty. “This is not only a benefit to the Business Integrity Commission, but to all of the participating agencies on the front lines of how we are working to improve and digitize our processes to ensure efficiency and information security along with improving public safety. Cyber security is a top priority for the city, especially for regulatory agencies like BIC. I would like to thank OTI for their leadership in this area and for inviting BIC to be a part of this inaugural Cyber Academy class.”

“As the city’s independent administrative law court, OATH handles sensitive information across a variety of systems,” said Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) Commissioner and Chief Administrative Law Judge Asim Rehman. “Congratulations to our Cyber Academy graduate Quiana Battle, who, along with our stellar IT team, will help ensure that data held by OATH remains secure so that we can focus on administering fair and impartial justice for New Yorkers.”

“New York City has embraced the digital age, being home to the nation’s largest tech workforce,” said New York City Mayor’s Office of Contract Services (MOCS) Director Lisa Flores. “Investing in the professional development of our public servants is necessary to protect our city’s interests and the interests of every New Yorker. It is the city’s responsibility to seek out ways to better safeguard sensitive information from those seeking to cause harm by illegally obtaining data and personal information. One way we can do this is to provide continued education opportunities on a consistent basis to our professionals. I applaud the New York City Office of Technology and Innovation for launching our city’s inaugural Cyber Academy class. Congratulations to MOCS’ very own Joseph Clarke, Cybersecurity IT engineer manager, and the rest of the academy’s graduating class.”

Part of OTI, the city’s Office of Cyber Command tracks more than 90 billion suspicious cyber events each week — an incident visibility much closer to the U.S. Department of Defense than other U.S. cities and states. Using cutting-edge technology, Cyber Command is able to whittle down those 90 billion events to 50 investigations by its highly trained team of cyber defenders.

In February 2022, Mayor Adams signed EO 10, which required each city agency to designate a cyber command liaison to work with the Office of Cyber Command to share information, monitor threats, and adopt best practices around cybersecurity. The inaugural New York City Cyber Academy program provided participants with a specialized instructor-led, web-based, and experiential training that focused on incident response, network security, and cyber threat intelligence. Future cohorts are planned for this spring and fall and will include city employees from agencies that did not participate in this first class. The goal is to have a graduate in each city agency and office by the end of 2024.

The inaugural Cyber Academy’s graduates are (in alphabetical order):

•  Iwan Axt, New York City Department of Social Services
• Quiana Battle, New York City Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings
• Cesar Cabrera, New York City Administration for Children’s Services
• Antonio Caceres, New York City Department of City Planning
• Patrick Cheung, New York City Police Department
• Fazle Chowdhury, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
• Joseph Clarke, Mayor’s Office of Contract Services
• Dennis Green, Police Pension Fund
• Ramian Gyan, New York City Department of Youth & Community Development
• Aditi Halder, New York City Department of Transportation
• Harry Halikias, New York Public Library
• Chengying He, Fire Department of New York
• Mikhail Katsev, Mayor’s Office of Housing Recovery Operations
• Noah Klingaman, Business Integrity Commission
• Jordan Mamet, New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission
• Olin McFadden, Special Narcotics Prosecutor
• Ron Richardson, New York City Department of Finance
• Deshard Stevens, New York City Commission on Human Rights
• Jason Suazo, New York City Office of Technology and Innovation
• Victor Tavares, New York City Comptroller’s Office
• Derick Yu, New York City Conflicts of Interest Board

 In addition to its work with city agencies, the Office of Cyber Command works closely with state and federal partners, as well as the private sector, to ensure maximum defense, deterrence, and resilience. On the same day Mayor Adams signed EO 10, he was joined by New York Governor Kathy Hochul to launch the Joint Security Operations Center in Brooklyn, a first-of-its-kind hub for coordinating cybersecurity efforts across New York state, helping foster collaboration among city, state, and federal entities.

Former Start-Up CEO Charged In $175 Million Fraud

 

Former CEO of Frank Charged with Making False Claims and Submitting False Data to J.P. Morgan Chase in $175 Million Acquisition Fraud Scheme

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Patricia Tarasca, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Regional Office of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s Office of the Inspector General (“FDIC-OIG”), announced the unsealing of a criminal Complaint charging CHARLIE JAVICE with falsely and dramatically inflating the number of customers of her company, Frank, in order to fraudulently induce J.P. Morgan Chase (“JPMC”) to acquire Frank for $175 million.  JAVICE, who appeared on the Forbes 2019 “30 Under 30” list, stood to gain over $45 million from the fraud.

JAVICE was arrested last night in New Jersey and will be presented later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barbara Moses.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Javice engaged in a brazen scheme to defraud JPMC in the course of a $175 million acquisition deal.  She lied directly to JPMC and fabricated data to support those lies — all in order to make over $45 million from the sale of her company.  This arrest should warn entrepreneurs who lie to advance their businesses that their lies will catch up to them, and this Office will hold them accountable for putting their greed above the law.”

FDIC-OIG Special Agent in Charge Patricia Tarasca said: “The allegations described in today’s criminal Complaint exemplify the many ways banks can be defrauded.  The FDIC-OIG remains committed to holding individuals accountable who threaten the integrity of financial institutions, and we thank our law enforcement partners for their diligence and dedication to investigating such crimes.”

According to the Complaint unsealed today in Manhattan federal court:[1]

In or about 2017, JAVICE founded TAPD, Inc., d/b/a Frank (“Frank”), a for-profit company that offered an online platform designed to simplify the process of filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (“FAFSA”).  FAFSA is a federal government form, available free of charge, that students use to apply for financial aid for college or graduate school.  JAVICE was Frank’s CEO.

In or about 2021, JAVICE began to pursue the sale of Frank to a larger financial institution.  Two major banks, one of which was JPMC, expressed interest and began acquisition processes with Frank.  JAVICE represented repeatedly to those banks that Frank had 4.25 million customers or “users.”  JAVICE explicitly defined “users” — to both banks — as individuals who had signed up for an account with Frank and for whom Frank therefore had at least four identified categories of data (i.e., first name, last name, email address, and phone number).  In fact, Frank had less than 300,000 users.

When JPMC sought to verify the number of Frank’s users and the amount of data collected about them — information that was critical to JPMC’s decision to move forward with the acquisition process — JAVICE fabricated a data set.  To do this, JAVICE and a co-conspirator (“CC-1”) first asked Frank’s director of engineering to create an artificially generated data set (a so-called synthetic data set).  The director of engineering raised concerns about the legality of the request, to which JAVICE responded, in substance and in part, “We don’t want to end up in orange jumpsuits.”  The director of engineering declined the request.

JAVICE then approached an outside data scientist and hired him to create the synthetic data set.  After the data set was created, JAVICE provided that synthetic data set to an agreed-upon third-party vendor in an effort to confirm to JPMC that the data set had over 4.25 million rows.  JAVICE then caused the third-party vendor to convey to JPMC that the data set had over 4.25 million rows, consistent with JAVICE’s misrepresentations that Frank had 4.25 million users.

In reliance on JAVICE’s fraudulent representations about Frank’s users, JPMC agreed to purchase Frank for $175 million.  As part of the deal, JPMC hired JAVICE and other Frank employees.  JAVICE received over $21 million for selling her equity stake in Frank and, per the terms of the deal, was to be paid another $20 million as a retention bonus.

Unbeknownst to JPMC, at or about the same time that JAVICE was creating the fabricated data set, JAVICE and CC-1 sought to purchase, on the open market, real data for over 4.25 million college students to cover up their misrepresentations.  JAVICE and CC-1 succeeded in purchasing a data set of 4.5 million students for $105,000, but it did not contain all the data fields that JAVICE had represented to JPMC were maintained by Frank.  JAVICE then purchased an additional set of data on the open market in order to augment the data set of 4.5 million users.  After JPMC acquired Frank, JPMC employees asked JAVICE and CC-1 to provide data relating to Frank’s users so that JPMC could begin a marketing campaign to those users.  In response, JAVICE provided what was supposedly Frank’s user data.  In fact, JAVICE fraudulently provided the data she and CC-1 had purchased on the open market at a small fraction of the price that JPMC paid to acquire Frank and its purported users.

JAVICE, 31, of Miami Beach, Florida, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud, one count of wire fraud affecting a financial institution, and one count of bank fraud, each of which carry a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, and one count of securities 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 Special Agents from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and from FDIC-OIG.

The charges contained in the Complaint are merely accusations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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

Governor Hochul Issues Proclamation Declaring April as Child Abuse Prevention Month

Directs State Landmarks to be Illuminated in Blue Tonight, April 3, to Spread Awareness

State Office of Children and Family Services Hosts Annual Pinwheel Planting and Highlights Key Prevention Programs

Read Proclamation Here

 Governor Kathy Hochul today recognized April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in New York State, issuing a proclamation and directing that 13 State landmarks be illuminated in blue tonight, April 3, in commemoration. Coinciding with this proclamation, the State Office of Children and Family Services hosted its annual 'pinwheel planting' event in Huyck Park in the city of Rensselaer to raise awareness and highlight the need for all New Yorkers to do their part to keep children safe from abuse and maltreatment.

"All children deserve a warm and supportive environment to grow that is free from maltreatment and abuse," Governor Hochul said. "As we begin Child Abuse Prevention month, we are reminded that we all must do our part to keep New York's children safe. By working together and investing in upstream prevention programs, we can ensure children in our state will reach their full potential."

This year's theme for the month is 'Family Strengthening and Support,' highlighting how OCFS and other State agencies have collaborated with their community partners to develop bold new evidence-based initiatives designed to protect children and help families thrive. OCFS commemorated the month by planting pinwheels -the national symbol for a childhood free of fear and trauma - nearby the agency's offices in Rensselaer.

In addition to issuing the proclamation, Governor Hochul directed that 13 State landmarks and buildings be illuminated in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month. The landmarks and buildings illuminated tonight, April 3, include:  

• One World Trade Center
• Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge
• Kosciuszko Bridge
• The H. Carl McCall SUNY Building
• State Education Building
• Alfred E. Smith State Office Building
• Empire State Plaza
• State Fairgrounds - Main Gate & Expo Center
• Niagara Falls
• Albany International Airport Gateway
• MTA LIRR - East End Gateway at Penn Station
• Fairport Lift Bridge over the Erie Canal  
• Moynihan Train Hall

Governor Hochul continues to support family and childhood initiatives designed to increase protective factors that reduce the risk of child abuse or maltreatment. Last year, she provided $12 million to open and expand family opportunity centers, which promote positive parenting and family well-being through community or school-based support services.

OCFS also updated New York State's mandated reporter training program in an effort to undo bias in the child welfare system, which has disproportionately impacted the Black and Latinx community for decades. This effort was also aimed at reducing unnecessary calls to the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment based solely on race and poverty, and to help mandated reporters better understand the impact of adverse childhood experiences to prevent inflicting additional trauma on children and families.

OCFS also expanded Healthy Families NY, an intensive, voluntary in-home visiting program offering family services in partnership with non-profit community-based organizations, to all 62 counties in New York including the five boroughs of New York City.

In addition, OCFS has established the HEARS Family Line, which is designed to connect families to community resources offering help with housing, food, health care and more. The line is available for all New Yorkers and can be reached at 1-888-55HEARS (1-888-554-3277) from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and is available in 12 languages.

Van Cortlandt Park Alliance - Volunteer with VCPA in April

 

Wetland Wednesdays

Wednesdays (except 4/19) - Meet at 9am

Van Cortlandt Park is home to the largest swath of freshwater wetlands in the Bronx!

Wetland ecosystems are essential for flood protection, freshwater quality improvement, and shoreline erosion control but they need constant vigilance to stay healthy. Join us for a wetland workday. Make sure to wear long pants, sturdy closed-toe shoes, and bring lots of water. All other tools will be provided. No prior experience needed.

RSVP Now

Meet at Van Cortlandt Golf House.

Forest Fridays

Fridays (except 4/14) - Meet at 9am

With 640 acres of urban woodland, Van Cortlandt Park could use your help!

Make sure to wear long pants, sturdy closed-toe shoes, and bring lots of water. 

All other tools will be provided. No prior experience needed.

RSVP Now

Meet at VCPA Garden and Compost Site.

Community Volunteer Days in the Garden

Tuesdays, April 11 + 25, 10am to 1pm

Wednesday, April 12, 10am to 1pm

Saturday, April 15, 10am to 1pm

Let’s prepare for this year’s growing season! 

Volunteers are needed for weeding, building, and maintaining the compost bins.

Make sure to wear comfortable clothing, sturdy closed-toe shoes, and bring lots of water. All tools will be provided. No prior experience needed.

RSVP For Weekdays Now

RSVP for Saturday Now

Meet at VCPA Garden and Compost Site.

 

Woodlawn Beautification Day

Join VCPA, Women of Woodlawn, and Woodlawn Taxpayers Association as we continue to beautify the area around Woodlawn Playground.  Projects will include removing non-native invasive plants, planting native species, and general clean-up around the playground and in the wildflower patch.
Make sure to wear long pants, sturdy closed-toe shoes, and bring lots of water. 

All other tools will be provided. No prior experience needed.

All other tools will be provided. No prior experience needed.

RSVP Now

Meet at Woodlawn Playground.

 

Northwest Corner Care

Saturday April 29 - Meet at 2pm

Show the northwest corner of VCP some TLC with VCPA and RMSA (Riverdale Main Streets Alliance). Volunteers needed to help us beautify the 261st Street Garden and field. We will move toward the city line as time allows. 

RSVP Now

Meet at the Wildflower Garden at W. 261st and Broadway.

 

Support Our Work in Van Cortlandt Park

 

East Meets West

Tuesday, April 11 from 6-8pm

Join VCPA and Friends of Pelham Bay Park for a fun fundraiser to support programs in the two largest parks in the Bronx at the Rambling House in Woodlawn.

Tickets!

 

Springtime Shindig!

Thursday, May 11 from 6:30-8pm

VCPA’s annual fundraiser to support our education, restoration, research, and community stewardship programs in Van Cortlandt Park.

Honoring Courts of Dreams Junior Board and the Friendly Fridge BX.

Tickets, Sponsorships and Journal Ads

Make a Donation

The park is really big. Our staff is really small. Only with your help can we grow our capacity, hire more staff, and take on projects to improve Van Cortlandt Park… for YOU!  Please consider a gift to Van Cortlandt Park Alliance today.

Donate!

VCPA Merch Shop!

Show your love for Van Cortlandt Park while supporting the Alliance!

Shop Now!

 

Become a Member

Members get VCPA merch and invitations to member only hikes while supporting their favorite park!

Join Now

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

MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES CITY HALL, MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS TO BE LIT TURQUOISE, PINK, AND PURPLE TONIGHT IN HONOR OF WORLD DYSLEXIA ASSEMBLY BEING HELD IN NEW YORK CITY

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced that City Hall and two additional municipal buildings will be lit turquoise, pink and purple tonight as part of Made By Dyslexia’s World Dyslexia Assembly being held here in New York City.

 

“Made By Dyslexia has made it their mission to train every teacher and help every workplace to spot, support, and empower every dyslexic mind,” said Mayor Adams. “As a student, I struggled with identifying my dyslexia until long after leaving the public school system. By changing the way we approach dyslexia, we can unlock the untapped potential in students who may feel insecure about their dyslexia or any other language-based learning disabilities they may have. I am proud to welcome the World Dyslexia Assembly here to New York City as we highlight great dyslexic thinkers in our city.”

 

“We are committed to going back to basics, strengthening our classroom instruction and supports, and focusing on ensuring every student becomes a skilled reader and confident learner,” said New York City Department of Education Chancellor David Banks. “I am proud to partner with Mayor Adams and Made By Dyslexia to provide the resources and interventions our educators need to best support our students with dyslexia.”

 

“New York City is leading the way in empowering dyslexic thinking in its schools,” said Kate Griggs, founder and CEO, Made By Dyslexia. “By holding the World Dyslexia Assembly here in the city, we are celebrating what has been achieved and the limitless power of dyslexic thinking for all.”

 

 In addition to City Hall, the following municipal buildings will be lit up starting tonight at sundown:

•  Bronx Borough Hall: 851 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10451
• The David N. Dinkins Manhattan Municipal Building: 1 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007

Carl Heastie puts Unions and Criminals over Children and Safety

 

NYGOP Chair Ed Cox released the following statement in response to the release of polling data demonstrating that Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie’s constituents overwhelmingly support charter schools and cash bail for criminals:

“New Yorkers are demanding safe streets and better schools, but Speaker Heastie listens only to Albany’s special interests and power players. He pays lip service to the needs of his constituents but puts teachers unions’ clout and cash ahead of the parents and children of the Bronx, where the people want more charter schools, and he puts progressive ideologues, who threaten primaries, ahead of public safety for New York’s families and small businesses.”

NYS Office of the Comptroller DiNapoli: Are You Missing Money?

 

$118 Million in Lost Money Returned in 2023

The Office of the New York State Comptroller’s initiative to help New Yorkers access their unclaimed funds has resulted in $1.5 million in lost money being returned every day. As of March, the Comptroller's Office holds over 46 million unclaimed funds accounts worth a total of $17.5 billion. The Comptroller's Office is committed to helping individuals access their rightful money and is actively reaching out to communities throughout the state. Staff members will be attending community events and offering free one-on-one sessions to assist individuals with searching for and filing claims for their unclaimed funds. Educational materials and workshops are also available to help individuals understand the process of retrieving their money.  "Our office is dedicated to returning every dollar of unclaimed funds to its rightful owner," said New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. "The unclaimed funds system puts the power back in the hands of the people, making it simple and convenient to access and claim their unclaimed funds." New Yorkers can access an online database administered by the Comptroller's Office. The unclaimed funds consist of a wide range of financial assets, including bank accounts, uncashed checks, and insurance policies, that have been dormant for decades. The Comptroller's Office is responsible for safeguarding these funds and making them available to New Yorkers. The Comptroller's Office urges all residents of New York to search for unclaimed funds and to take advantage of this opportunity to claim what is rightfully theirs. Residents can search for themselves, family members, friends, churches, synagogues, mosques, and other organizations that matter to them. To claim the funds, individuals must provide proof of their identity and ownership of the funds. The Comptroller's Office will then process the claim and issue a check to the rightful owner. For more information on OSC's unclaimed funds initiative, visit OSC's website or contact their office directly. Residents who cannot attend events can search for and claim their money by using the online claim system or by calling 1-800-221-9311. View a map of unclaimed funds owed to New Yorkers by county and region. Learn more about Unclaimed Funds. Date Event Location County Capital Region April 29 9AM – 3PM PEF Community Wellness Fair Washington Avenue Armory 195 Washington Avenue Albany, NY 12210  Albany Hudson Valley Mid and Upper April 5 Wed. 11AM - 3PM Senator Michelle Hinchey’s OUF Outreach Event Catskill Public Library 1 Franklin St Catskill, NY 12414 Greene April 13 Thurs. 11AM - 3PM Senator Michelle Hinchey’s OUF Outreach Event Elting Memorial Library 93 Main Street New Paltz, NY 12561 Ulster April 18 10AM - 2PM Senator Michelle Hinchey’s OUF Outreach Event Red Hook Public Library 7444 S Broadway Red Hook, NY 12571 Dutchess April 20 11AM - 3PM Senator Michelle Hinchey’s OUF Outreach Event Hudson Area Library 51 North 5th Street Hudson, NY 12534 Columbia Hudson Valley Lower April 5 Wed. 1PM In-Person Unclaimed Funds Workshop South Salem Firehouse 1190 Old Post Road (Rte. 35) South Salem, NY 10590 Westchester April 12 Wed. 11:30AM In-Person Unclaimed Funds Workshop Mount Kisco Fox Senior Center 198 Carpenter Ave Mt Kisco, NY 10549 Westchester New York City April 29 Sat. 11AM – 1PM Financial Literacy Awareness St. Luke's Episcopal Church 777 East 222 Street Bronx, NY 10467 Bronx Long Island April 19 Wed. 1PM In-Person Unclaimed Funds Workshop Floral Park Public Library 17 Caroline Pl Floral Park, NY 11001 Nassau

Albany Phone: (518) 474-4015 Fax: (518) 473-8940 NYC Phone: (212) 383-1388 Fax: (212) 681-7677  Internet: www.osc.state.ny.us E-Mail: press@osc.state.ny.us

MAYOR ADAMS MAKES PUBLIC SAFETY-RELATED ANNOUNCEMENT WITH NYPD COMMISSIONER SEWELL

 

Mayor Eric Adams: Thank you. Thanks. Thanks so much, Phil. This morning when the police commissioner and I spoke at our morning briefing with the other team, we were clear that tomorrow is a day that's going to draw a great deal of attention to our city. And we know there are many questions around the movement of the city, and we want to make sure that we send a very clear and loud message. As the deputy mayor stated, New York City's always ready. We know that this is a city where our NYPD and other law enforcement entities must be prepared at any given moment for anything that happened in this city. To start, I want to make it clear. The commissioner has stated over and over again, there has been no specific credible threats to our city at this time and all New Yorkers should go on with their regular activities.

 

That means going to work, going to school. We are going to do our job as we always do. If you usually drive, we stated to take public transportation. It is easy to get around on public transportation because we expect some disruptions and additional traffic. There's a great deal of additional traffic that may come in the city and there will be street closures near the courts and throughout the city. While there may be some rabble rousers thinking about coming to our city tomorrow, our message is clear and simple: control yourselves. New York City is our home, not a playground for your misplaced anger.

 

We are the safest large city in America because we respect the rule of law in New York City, and although we have no specific threats, people like Marjorie Taylor Greene, who is known to spread misinformation and hate speech, stated she's coming to town. While you are in town, be on your best behavior. As always, we will not allow violence or vandalism of any kind, and if one is caught participating in any act of violence, they will be arrested and held accountable, no matter who you are. And I want to again, thank the Police Department, the commissioner for their response and for the necessary preparation as we deal with this major historical potential event that would take place in the city. At this time, I'd like to introduce the police commissioner of the City of New York.

 

Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell: Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Good afternoon everyone. Thank you for being here. As always, the NYPD is prepared to ensure that everyone is able to have their voices heard peacefully while exercising their first amendment rights. We do this work in close collaboration with our federal, state, and local partners because keeping our city safe is absolutely a collective effort. As the mayor stated, there are no credible or specific threats to New York City at this time.

 

New Yorkers may see an increased police presence in parts of the city and should anticipate intermittent road closures over the next two days, particularly in Manhattan. To avoid delays, I too urge everyone to use mass transit when possible. As I said, our job is to facilitate and safeguard the rights of people to express themselves and those going about their daily activities. But I will remind everyone that violence and destruction are not part of legitimate lawful expression and it will never be tolerated in our city. But people we serve know this just as they know that the NYPD will be out there today, tomorrow, and every day to make sure that they are safe. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Sure. Sure. Well, we'll take some questions.