RIKERS ISLAND INMATE SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON FOR STABBING NYC DOC OFFICER 12 TIMES IN THE HEAD

 

Defendant Pleaded Guilty to Attempted Assault in the First-degree Victim Sustained Serious Injuries During Unprovoked Attack

 Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Rikers Island inmate has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for stabbing a New York City Department of Correction Officer in the head multiple times.

 District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant stabbed the victim, a DOC Correction Officer, a dozen times in the head with a sharpened metal. This was a brazen, unprovoked attack against a Correction Officer who was working his shift in the Protective Custody Unit in Rikers Island.”

 District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Dennis Applewhite, 29, a Rikers Island inmate, was sentenced today to 10 years in prison and five years of post-release supervision by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Ralph Fabrizio. During his arraignment on November 1, 2022, the defendant told the court that he wanted to plead guilty. He officially pleaded guilty to Attempted Assault in the first degree on February 7, 2023.

 According to the investigation, on October 31, 2022 at approximately 4:45 p.m., inside the Protective Custody Unit of the Anna M. Cross Center, the defendant went up to the 28-year-old Correction Officer and stabbed him in the back of the head 12 times with an eight-inch piece of sharpened metal. The defendant was removed by other Correction Officers who came to the victim’s aid. The victim was taken to Elmhurst Hospital after sustaining lacerations to his head and a puncture wound to the right side of his neck. The victim still has difficulty moving his neck since the attack.

 District Attorney Clark thanked Trial Preparation Assistant Mel-Asia Pugh and Jevet Johnson, Director of the Rikers Island Sex Offense Initiative, for their assistance.

 District Attorney Clark also thanked the New York City Department of Correction Intelligence Bureau, specifically Investigators Epifanio Vasquez, Lakeisha White, Juan Rivera, and Walter Holmes for their work in the investigation.

NYC PUBLIC ADVOCATE RESPONDS TO THE ADAMS ADMINISTRATION'S NEW PROPOSED CUTS TO CITY AGENCIES

 

"The administration’s latest 'Program to Eliminate the Gap' will only deepen the deficit of vital city services.

"How can we justify further cuts to agencies when the city workforce is already drastically understaffed and services are suffering as a result? Four percent is not an abstract figure – it means real reductions in things like safe housing inspectors, shelter staff, sanitation workers, civil rights attorneys. It means New Yorkers get 4% less effective government and services than they deserve. Last year’s "savings" have already cost a city reeling from pandemic-era staffing reductions, and further cuts will only deepen the damage and undercut the effort to stabilize our city and its economy. All of these proposed cuts come from an administration that refuses to support additional revenue raising measures which could help to provide that stability. 

"The goal of the current city budget process should be preserving and strengthening the programs in place, not further slashing them. Long term austerity is not the answer, and our city’s commitment to meeting the needs of New Yorkers cannot be in question."

MAYOR ADAMS, OLR COMMISSIONER CAMPION ANNOUNCE TENTATIVE CONTRACT AGREEMENT WITH PBA, PROVIDING FAIR WAGE INCREASES FOR FIRST TIME IN SIX YEARS AND PILOT PROGRAM FOR EXTENDED TOURS

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Office of Labor Relations (OLR) Commissioner Renee Campion today announced a tentative contract agreement with the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association (PBA) that will offer pay increases for New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers for the first time in six years. The eight-year agreement — which is retroactive to 2017 and would cover roughly 23,000 members of New York’s Finest — represents the first contract agreement with a union representing uniformed employees under the Adams administration.  For only the third time since 1994, the City of New York and the PBA have reached a voluntary agreement. 

The tentative agreement is retroactive, beginning on August 1, 2017, and ends on July 31, 2025. It includes wage increases ranging from 2.25 percent to 4.00 percent over the contract period. It also includes an equity fund to increase starting salaries for NYPD officers and to improve the schedule for raises in the early years of employment. Additionally, a new pilot program will allow officers to test working extended tours of 10 and 12-hour shifts. Officers participating in the pilot will work the same number of hours per year, but the program provides greater flexibility to increase staffing during times when crime is highest, or other issues arise.

“New York City will always support the men and women of the NYPD as they do one of the toughest jobs anywhere — and today, we’re proud to announce a historic deal with the Police Benevolent Association that will do just that,” said Mayor Adams. “As someone who wore the blue uniform and the badge for 22 years, I know that today’s agreement represents an acknowledgment that working people keep this city running and how this administration will always put working people first. The contract will allow our police officers to work a more flexible schedule, build morale, and ensure that New York remains the safest big city in America. I want to thank our tireless OLR commissioner, Renee Campion, and PBA President Pat Lynch for their partnership.”

“This is a contract agreement for the future, not just for New York City police officers but for our entire city,” said PBA President Patrick J. Lynch. “The challenges police officers face on our streets have never been greater, and our work has never been more critical to the city’s success. It’s no secret that police officers and our families have been under tremendous strain. We have lost far too many talented cops to better paying and less stressful policing jobs elsewhere. This agreement is not only a major step toward closing our pay gap relative to other police departments — it also significantly improves our members’ quality of life. We thank Mayor Adams, Police Commissioner Sewell, and their teams for engaging us in real conversations about what cops are going through and what we need to keep this city safe. We have much more work ahead of us, but today’s agreement is proof that those real conversations can produce real solutions.”

“This is a landmark agreement with a number of historic firsts for our officers, and we want to thank PBA President Pat Lynch for his partnership,” said New York City Office of Labor Relations Commissioner Renee Campion. “Mayor Adams has made clear that public safety is a top priority for this administration, and we are confident that this contract provides officers with the resources they need to get the job done.”

“The women and men who put on the blue uniform of the New York City Police Department each day and night — who dutifully safeguard everyone in every neighborhood throughout our great city — have more than earned the increased compensation reflected in this new agreement,” said NYPD Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell. “They have achieved continuing reductions in crime and increasing quality of life for all the people we serve. Our police officers truly are special, courageous people, and everyone in our city is extremely fortunate to have them as protectors.”

The total cost of the tentative agreement is approximately $5.5 billion through Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27). It is fully funded for the first three years and has a net budgetary impact of approximately $2 billion through FY27. The agreement is consistent with raises other uniformed groups received in the last round of bargaining and is the first uniformed agreement reached in the new round.

The tentative agreement includes:

• Equity fund for salary increases for entry-level and early officers: The contract dedicates funding to improve the early steps of the salary schedule. As of August 1, 2023, new officers in their first year will earn a base pay of $53,790, plus a neighborhood policing differential payment that automatically adds 2.25%, or $1,210, to the salary that all officers receive (previously negotiated in the 2012-2017 agreement). Altogether, officers will be compensated approximately $60,000 when including all differentials, holiday pay, and a uniform allowance. As of August 1, 2024, the top pay for police officers after 5.5 years of service, including all differentials, longevity, holiday pay, and uniform allowance, will be $131,500 per year.
• Extended tour pilot: The city will introduce a groundbreaking pilot program to implement 10 and 12-hour tours for officers. This program is expected to improve officer morale while providing the NYPD with greater flexibility to increase staffing during times when crime is highest. Initially launching in two Bronx precincts, one transit district, and one housing service area, the pilot will run for six months, with plans to expand further if successful. Officers will work the same number of hours each year (2,088) with no additional cost or budgetary impact expected.

Members of the union will receive the following compounded and retroactive wage increases: 

• August 1, 2017 – 2.25%
• August 1, 2018 – 2.50%
• August 1, 2019 – 3.00%
• August 1, 2020 – 3.25%
• August 1, 2021 – 3.25%
• August 1, 2022 – 3.50%
• August 1, 2023 – 3.50%
• August 1, 2024 – 4.00%

The agreement is subject to ratification by the PBA’s members.

Housing Lottery Launches For Home Simpson Apartments At 1210 Simpson Street In Crotona Park East, The Bronx

 

The affordable housing lottery has launched for Home Simpson Apartments, a seven-story residential building at 1210 Simpson Street in Crotona Park East, The Bronx. Designed by Urban Architectural Initiatives and developed by St. Peter’s Deliverance Ministries and non-profit Help USA, the structure yields 72 residences. Available on NYC Housing Connect are 27 units for residents at 60 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $33,326 to $99,300.

Amenities include security cameras, bike storage lockers, a shared laundry room, a community center, business center, and an outdoor terrace. Residences come with air conditioning and hardwood floors. Rent includes all utilities.

At 60 percent of the AMI, there is one studio with a monthly rent of $972 for incomes ranging from $33,326 to $64,080; 11 one-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $1,215 for incomes ranging from $41,658 to $72,060; 14 two-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $1,459 for incomes ranging from $50,023 to $86,460; and one three-bedroom with a monthly rent of $1,685 for incomes ranging from $57,772 to $99,300.

Prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than June 5, 2023.

Attorney General James Leads Multistate Coalition to Protect Transgender Students’ Rights

 

Coalition of 18 Attorneys General File Amicus Brief to Support a West Virginia Transgender Student’s Right to Join Sports Teams

New York Attorney General Letitia James co-led a coalition of 18 attorneys general to support a student challenging a West Virginia law that bans transgender students from participating on sports teams consistent with their gender identity. The student, B.P.J., was prohibited from joining her school’s girls’ cross country and track teams and filed a lawsuit against the board of education. In an amicus brief filed in B.P.J. v. West Virginia Board of Education, the coalition of attorneys general argue that the sole purpose of the West Virginia law is to exclude and stigmatize transgender students like B.P.J. and therefore it clearly violates her right to equal protection under the law. 

“When a transgender student is prevented from playing on the sports team consistent with their gender identity, their rights are taken away from them and we will not stand for it,” said Attorney General James. “Transgender students should be afforded the same opportunities as their peers and deserve to live without fear of discrimination or stigma. My office is dedicated to combating any effort to restrict rights or punish people solely for being who they are.”

The brief, filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, asks the court to reverse a lower court ruling which dismissed B.P.J.’s lawsuit. The attorneys general argue that the West Virginia statute, which bans B.P.J. from participating on her school’s all-girls cross country and track teams, violates Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, as it denies transgender girls like B.P.J. access to the same athletic opportunities that other boys and girls have. The attorneys general want to ensure that federal law is applied properly to protect transgender people from discrimination.

The brief also notes that over 1.6 million people in the United States — including about 300,000 youth between the ages of 13 and 17 — identify as transgender. These Americans make valuable contributions to our communities as teachers, essential workers, firefighters, doctors, and more, but face discrimination, violence, and harassment that limits their ability to realize their potential. One survey of transgender students by the National School Climate Survey found that 77 percent of respondents reported negative experiences in school including verbal harassment and assault.

Attorney General James has long fought for the rights of transgender students and people and has been a leader in supporting the LGBTQ+ community. Last month, Attorney General James called out Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for violating public university students’ right to privacy over his request for information on those receiving gender-affirming care. Last December, Attorney General James led a multi-state coalition of attorneys general to support equal access to gender-affirming care in West Virginia. In November 2022, Attorney General James led a coalition of attorneys general to support transgender students seeking to participate in sex-segregated school sportsconsistent with their gender identity in Indiana. Attorney General James has led or co-led coalitions of attorneys general to challenge policies prohibiting transgender students from using bathrooms which correspond with their gender identity in Indiana, Florida, and Virginia.

Joining Attorney General James in filing the brief are the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.

Statement from NYC Comptroller on Administration’s New FY 2024 PEG Directive

 

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander issued the following statement:

“Today’s PEG directive shows that the unresolved State budget poses serious threats to New York City. Albany must stop delaying the budget, and instead fully fund the MTA, provide the State’s share for shelter and services for asylum seekers, and remove the Governor’s proposed cost shifts that could cost the City over $1 billion.

“City Hall’s response to uncertainty from Albany is a blunt approach that cuts arbitrarily rather than plans strategically for the future. These broad cuts will hit agencies that already faced large and arbitrary headcount reductions imposed by City Hall earlier this year.

“As our analysis of the preliminary budget showed, despite revenues above projections this year, the City faces serious out-year budget gaps. We need a long-term, strategic approach that allows agencies to plan for efficiencies and attrition over time that will protect critical services and considers revenue increases targeted to those who can afford them in order to make wise investments in the City’s future thriving. Not 10 days for every agency to make hasty cuts.”

The Comptroller’s Office’s analysis of the FY 2024 Preliminary Budget is available here.

Statement from Governor Kathy Hochul on Latest School 'Swatting' Threats

 

"More than 50 school districts across New York have received disturbing 'swatting' threats today including in Central New York, Long Island, the Southern Tier and the North Country. I want to reassure parents that their children are safe at school - swatting threats are false and intended to cause panic and scare students, teachers and families.

"I have directed the New York State Police to investigate these threats and work closely with all levels of law enforcement to identify the perpetrators, hold them accountable, and restore the sense of safety and security our children deserve. Since the first round of swatting incidents occurred last week, State Police has been working closely with the State Education Department, county leadership and local school boards to provide support and any necessary resources to address these incidents. My top priority will always be the safety of New Yorkers."

MAYOR ADAMS UNVEILS COLLABORATIVE PORTRAITS BY ACCLAIMED ARTIST ROY NACHUM IN CITY HALL ROTUNDA

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams unveiled several unique collaborative portraits by artist Roy Nachum in the City Hall Rotunda. These extraordinary works of art feature low vision individuals, who collaborated with Nachum by adding the final touches to their own portraits. Today’s unveiling marks the third installation of new artwork displayed in City Hall in recent months, following the display of photos from Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre during Black History Month and artist Elena del Rivero’s artwork, “Home Address,” in honor of International Women’s Day.

 

“As the mayor of arts and culture, I am proud to bring diverse art to City Hall," said Mayor Adams. “By showcasing Roy Nachum’s remarkable portraits in City Hall, we hope to continue to celebrate the talents and experiences of New Yorkers, and foster a spirit of unity and inclusion in our city. Roy’s installation, “Portraits,” showcases the incredible collaboration between him and some of our inspiring brothers and sisters who are low vision is a testament to the power of art to transcend boundaries and bring people together.”

 

“When we bring art into our city's public places, we create space for inspiration, exploration, and new connections" said New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo. "We're so excited for the remarkable artwork of Roy Nachum, along with his amazing collaborators, to be installed in City Hall, the civic heart of New York, and we look forward to bringing even more local artists’ work to public buildings around the city.“

 

“Art made by and for individuals with disabilities illuminates a unique perspective and invaluable creativity that enriches our world with inclusion and meaningful self-expression,” said Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities Commissioner Christina Curry. “Roy Nachum’s ‘Portrait’ is a celebration of artistic collaboration and breaks down barriers, proving again that art has the power to unite us all.”

 

“I worked on each portrait for over a year, capturing every detail of their faces, but it was not until after they touched the canvas itself that the paintings were given their soul,” said Artist Roy Nachum. “These works represent humility. It is a great honor to exhibit them in City Hall and be part of a historic event advocating for cultural diversity in New York City.”

 

These three installments are a part of the new citywide initiative to exhibit work by local artists and arts groups in city buildings across the five boroughs. Roy Nachum, an Israeli-born artist based in New York, is known for his creative collaborations with low vision individuals, incorporating braille and other tactile elements into his artwork. Nachum has received widespread acclaim for his inclusive approach to art, which challenges traditional notions of sight and perception. Among his accomplishments is a Grammy nomination for his work on Rihanna's 2017 album cover, “Anti.” This exhibition will showcase the power of art to bring people together and foster understanding and appreciation for the diverse experiences of all New Yorkers.