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Friday, April 7, 2023
Bronx Chamber of Commerce - Bronx Business News You Can Use
PUBLIC ADVOCATE, CITY LEADERS CALL ON ALBANY TO PRIORITIZE HOUSING AND PROTECT TENANTS IN STATE BUDGET
New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams is leading calls from a coalition of city elected leaders and advocates for Albany to enact Good Cause eviction protections and fund the Housing Access Voucher Program as part of the delayed state budget. At a Thursday press conference, they highlighted the importance of these measures as the city faces a homelessness and eviction crisis, with rents skyrocketing, and urged lawmakers to prioritize housing and tenant protections in the final days of negotiations.
“Instead of prioritizing urgent issues like housing in the state budget, negotiations are being centered around yet another attempt to roll back bail reform,” said Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams. “This is becoming an annual effort, at the expense of tenants and others suffering in our city and state’s housing and homelessness crisis. The legislature, along with tenants across the city and state, are pushing for vital Good Cause eviction protections and voucher programs to help New Yorkers find and stay in their homes. These programs must be at the forefront of the discussion and the foundation of our state’s budget and housing strategy.”
Good Cause Eviction protections would grant every tenant in New York State safeguards against unjust evictions and unreasonable rent hikes. It would require landlords to justify rent increases beyond 3% or 150% of the Consumer Price Index, protecting 1.6 million households in New York State and helping to stem the rising tide of evictions. The coalition pushed back on misinformation surrounding the measure spread by its opponents and highlighted the importance of these tenant protections as essential to any affordable housing plan on a state level.
During the press conference advocates also urged Albany to enact the The Housing Access Voucher Program (HAVP), which would establish a state-level rental subsidy program for low-income New Yorkers who are homeless, facing eviction, or at risk of losing their housing because of hazardous living conditions or domestic violence. HAVP would allow tenants to be able to afford units previously inaccessible to them by capping rent burden at 30% of a tenants' income. It would help to get people out of temporary shelters and into permanent homes, regardless of of immigration status.
The coalition stressed that these two measures, which would have benefit statewide, are absolutely essential to address the housing crisis in New York City, where over two thirds of residents are renters and rents have skyrocketed to all-time highs.
“In a city where renting is the primary form of housing, New York has a responsibility to protect tenants from arbitrary and unjust eviction," said Comptroller Brad Lander. "Any housing deal in Albany must provide stable and secure housing to millions of New Yorkers. Good Cause Eviction will protect tenants from price-gouging and unfair evictions, so that every New Yorker can live in dignity and security.”
“Any budget devoid of ‘Good Cause’ will fail the millions of tenants throughout New York State who need immediate protections now from unwarranted evictions and exorbitant rent increases,” said Adriene Holder, chief attorney of the Civil Practice at The Legal Aid Society. “With eviction filings spiking statewide, inflation at unprecedented levels and economic uncertainty abound, lawmakers must ensure that this needed measures is adopted into New York’s upcoming budget.”
"New Yorkers know the most effective pathway in achieving a truly safer state is by investing in housing and tenant protections. It's a problem that our Governor has not recognized this. Churches United for Fair Housing is calling on our state legislators to hold the line for our communities being priced out of their homes, for the hundreds and thousands of New Yorkers in eviction court, because we cannot wait on delivering for tenants (again) during a mass housing and eviction crisis," said Whitney Hu, Director of Civic Engagement and Research at Churches United for Fair Housing (CUFFH)
MAYOR ADAMS, CITY CORPORATION COUNSEL HINDS-RADIX ANNOUNCE CITY INTENDS TO FILE SUIT AGAINST KIA, HYUNDAI FOR REFUSING TO SAFEGUARD VEHICLES
City Will Join National Kia/Hyundai Litigation After Both Companies Have Refused to Equip Certain Models of Cars with Standard Anti-Theft Measures
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Corporation Counsel Sylvia O. Hinds-Radix today announced that the city intends to join ongoing national against car manufacturers Kia and Hyundai that aims to hold the two companies accountable for refusing to equip certain models of both cars with standard anti-theft measures following an uptick in car thefts. Due to the absence of sufficient anti-theft devices in Kia and Hyundai vehicles, New York City saw an 890 percent increase in Kia thefts at the end of last year and a 766 percent increase in Hyundai thefts in the preceding months.
The vulnerability of these vehicles to theft has been spread through a viral social media trend. Thieves have been breaking ignition covers off Kia and Hyundai vehicles made between 2011 and 2021 and are able to use any external device shaped like a USB to bypass the ignition sequence and easily drive away. Certain models of the companies’ cars that use mechanical keys, instead of a key-fob, lack theft “immobilizer” systems that are present in other vehicles — making them especially vulnerable to theft.
“We are not going to sit idly by while automakers turn a blind eye to safety and make it easy for criminals to prey on New Yorkers,” said Mayor Adams. “New Yorkers count on their Kia and Hyundai automobiles to earn a living, get to and from work, transport their children and elderly family members, and live their daily lives. We have the right to expect that those cars have standard anti-theft measures — measures which certain Kia and Hyundai cars lack. We’re going to hold Kia and Hyundai accountable for the public nuisance they’ve created and protect New Yorkers’ cars.”
“A public safety crisis is growing in our communities because of the irresponsible business practices of Kia and Hyundai,” said Corporation Counsel Hinds-Radix. “Criminals are becoming more intuitive and are now capable of stealing cars by using USB cables. As attorneys for the city, we too must be just as intuitive to prevent these crimes. The city intends to file a lawsuit against these automakers, to hold them accountable for the public nuisance they have created.”
“These automakers left people open to having their cars stolen, and they need to be held accountable,” said Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks III. “These thefts put an extreme burden on the victims who may rely on their cars to get to and from work, and who have to shoulder the cost of repairing or replacing their vehicles, but they also impact our city as a whole. The criminals committing these thefts often use the cars for other crimes, like reckless driving or robberies. This is a major concern for us, and we are taking action to put an end to it.”
“We always say that public safety requires everyone to do their part —– that’s how we reduce crime and disorder in New York City,” said New York City Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Keechant L. Sewell. “All of our partners — both in the public and private sectors — must work together to ensure our communities are secure.”
Today’s announcement comes after, last week, Mayor Adams and NYPD Commissioner Sewell warned New Yorkers about a significant uptick in auto thefts involving Kia and Hyundai vehicles. Thefts of both vehicles increased dramatically between September and December of 2022. Hyundai thefts increased from 12 to 104, while Kia thefts escalated from 10 to 99 in that same timeframe.
The City of New York plans to join the multidistrict litigation that is being coordinated and consolidated for pretrial purposes in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The lawsuit — — which was established on December 22, 2022, operates on two separate tracks: one for the consumer class action and one for the governmental entities cases. The original governmental entity lawsuit was filed on January 23, 2023, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. The government entity cases primarily assert claims of public nuisance and, sometimes, negligence against the two car manufacturers arising out of their decisions not to equip certain models of their vehicles with industry standard anti-theft immobilization devices.
DEC ISSUES GUIDANCE TO REDUCE CONFLICTS WITH BEARS
Public Encouraged to Remove Bird Feeders, Feed Pets Indoors
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today reminded New Yorkers to remove or secure outdoor food sources that may attract black bears.
New Yorkers who feed birds in areas with bears (which includes most of upstate New York), should begin emptying and cleaning up spilt seed from feeders, and let nature feed the birds from spring through fall. The public is also advised to secure garbage cans in a sturdy building, clean or remove all residual grease and food from grills, and store pet and livestock food indoors. New Yorkers should also consider installing electric fences around chicken coops or apiaries to protect flocks and hives.
Black bears emerging from their winter dens have depleted fat reserves and will search extensively for easily obtainable, calorie-dense foods. Bears will readily utilize human-created food sources and repeat access can make bears bolder, leading to an increase in human-bear conflicts around homes and residential areas, especially when natural food sources are scarce.
Feeding bears intentionally is illegal. Unintentional feeding can create problems for the surrounding community, or even the bear if it becomes a threat to people or property.
By removing and/or securing food sources that might attract bears, the public is helping keep bears away from people, homes and neighborhoods, which helps keep bears healthy, wild, and safe. The public is also advised to remove any unnatural food attractants and encourage neighbors to do the same. Recently, a bear in Chemung County proved that bears leave the area if there is no food available, https://www.dec.ny.
For more information on how to live responsibly with black bears, please visit DEC's webpage and Bearwise.org.
An interview with DEC Wildlife Biologist Jeremy Hurst discussing ways to avoid human-bear conflicts can be found here:
https://www.dec.ny.gov/fs/
New York City Pension Funds Adopt Implementation Plan to Achieve Net Zero Investment Portfolio By 2040
The New York City Employees’ and Teachers’ Retirement Systems Voted to Approve Emissions Disclosure (Scopes 1, 2 & 3), Interim Reduction Targets, Corporate and Investment Manager Engagement Strategies, Climate Solutions Investments, And Continued Phase Out of Fossil Fuels
Net Zero Implementation Plans Are Modeled on U.N. High-Level Experts Group; Helps Set Standard for “High Ambition” Net Zero Plans to Mitigate Climate Risk and Avoid “Greenwashing”
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, together with trustees of the New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS) and the Teachers Retirement System (TRS) announced implementation plans to reach their goal of net zero emissions in their investment portfolios by 2040.
New York City’s public pension funds are national leaders in mitigating climate risk in their portfolios. In 2015, NYCERS and TRS divested from thermal coal. From 2017 through 2022, the funds conducted comprehensive climate risk assessments, proceeded to divest from fossil fuel reserve owners, and doubled investments in climate solutions. In October 2021, the funds committed to reaching net zero by 2040 and set a robust goal of investing $36 billion in investments by 2035. Trustees directed the Comptroller— who serves as investment adviser, custodian, and a trustee of the funds— to develop an implementation plan to reach that goal across their portfolios.
This NYCERS and TRS announcement represents one of the most comprehensive plans to date by a public pension fund to mitigate climate risk.
“Adopted by trustees, the Net Zero Implementation Plans are a tangible, measurable roadmap toward decarbonization across our investment portfolio and the global economy,” said Comptroller Brad Lander. “NYCERS and TRS’ plans will prudently address climate risks and maximize opportunities to benefit New York City pensioners and beneficiaries, consistent with our fiduciary duty. This ‘high ambition’ plan is also a call for partnership with other pension funds, asset managers, financial firms, and portfolio companies. The climate crisis cannot be effectively addressed in silos.”
Climate change poses well-documented, systemic and material investment risks to the global economy. Meeting this challenge and prudently addressing the financial risk it poses to the pension fund assets will require a just transition to a low-carbon economy, and action by asset managers and portfolio companies.
The Net Zero Implementation Plans encompass four strategies that the pension funds will employ to prudently achieve net zero emissions:
- Disclose emissions and set interim targets, including measurable goals and benchmarks across all investments and operations, specific interim emissions reduction targets by asset class, and disclosure of Scopes 1, 2, and 3 emissions. The plans specifically call for a public equity and corporate fixed income portfolio emissions reduction target of 32% for Scopes 1 and 2 by 2025, of 59% by 2030 for Scopes 1, 2 and 3, and of 100% by 2040.
- Engage portfolio companies and asset managers to be net zero-aligned. The plans call for strengthening partnerships with other investors to collectively make change at the scale of individual companies, specific sectors, and the economy as a whole. For example, this year the pension funds brought shareholder resolutions at major banks to adopt absolute emissions targets, which would drive major reductions in bank lending for fossil fuel infrastructure projects, if enacted.
- Invest in climate change solutions, such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, pollution prevention, and low-carbon buildings to reach the ultimate goal of $50 billion invested in climate solutions across all five NYC pension funds by 2035. NYCERS’ plan sets an interim target of $4 billion of climate solutions investment by the System by 2025, and $17 billion by 2035. TRS’ plan sets an interim target of $4.2 billion by 2025 and $19 billion by 2035.
- Divest to reduce risk, building on the funds’ historic divestment of fossil fuel reserve owners in public equities by asking all private markets managers to exclude upstream fossil fuel investments. In addition, if thorough engagement proves to be futile with managers or companies whose core business undermines climate goals, the systems will consider excluding them, consistent with fiduciary duty.
In developing the plans, the Comptroller’s Office consulted a wide range of stakeholders, including the United Nations High-Level Expert Group on the Net Zero Emissions Commitments of Non-State Actors, the Paris-Aligned Investment Initiative, and the Net Zero Asset Owners Alliance. The Comptroller’s office intends to work with other “high-ambition” investors to align on disclosure, asset manager due-diligence standards, and shareholder engagement.
Given the prevalence of “greenwashing” by corporations and investors who announced net zero goals, but show no intention of actually reaching them as well as rollbacks in the face of myopic right-wing pushback against responsible fiduciary investing, the pension funds adopted a measurable and transparent plan that could serve as a model for other investors.
“If the cynical war of political distraction waged by red-state politicians at the behest of their fossil-fuel donors deters us, we will sacrifice our opportunity to maximize long-term investment returns along with millions of lives and trillions of dollars of global investment,” Lander said.
The vote to approve the implementation plan follows a robust and collaborative process between the Comptroller’s Office and trustees of NYCERS and TRS. As part of the plan, the Comptroller’s Office will publish an annual progress report, including status of interim emissions benchmarks, carbon footprint analysis, climate change solution investments, asset manager alignment, and corporate engagement.
The NYCERS Net Zero Implementation Plan is available here and the TRS plan is available here.
“By adopting these plans, NYCERS and TRS are showing what responsible investment looks like in the era of climate change.” said Bryan Berge, representative of Mayor Eric Adams, chair of the Board of Trustees of the New York City Employees’ Retirement System and a trustee of the Teachers’ Retirement System. “This plan will be a beacon for other institutional investors who share our vision for prudent portfolio decarbonization.”
“District Council 37 strongly supports NYCERS’ approval of actions to adopt the Implementation Plan to achieve Net Zero emissions in the NYCERS investment portfolio by 2040. I am proud to stand with my fellow Trustees and Comptroller Lander to commit to take actionable, science-based steps to address the global climate crisis. Our vote today signals that NYCERS – and labor – will play a leading role, working with other stakeholders, to protect millions of lives, and the retirement livelihoods of our members,” said Henry Garrido, Executive Director, District Council 37 and NYCERS Trustee.
“New York—a vulnerable city set just feet above the Atlantic—is leading the world in its financial response to climate change. It knows its fiscal health depends on a working planet, so it is showing others one of the key ways to make sure that working planet doesn’t break down,” said Bill McKibben, climate activist and founder of 350.org and Th!rdAct.
“Investors are at the crossroads of a growing set of climate risks and the ongoing need to finance the energy transition to end our reliance on fossil fuels. Thankfully, the New York City pension funds have been consistent pioneers in confronting our climate crisis and protecting the retirement income of New Yorkers at the same time,” said Daniel Zarrilli, former NYC Chief Climate Policy Advisor. “First by divesting from thermal coal and fossil fuel reserve owners, then investing billions in climate solutions like renewable energy and low-carbon buildings, and now committing to a measurable and transparent plan that will deliver a net zero investment portfolio by 2040, New York City continues to lead the way by demonstrating how to invest in a changing world while putting the retirement security of New Yorkers first. Congratulations to NYC Comptroller Lander for your leadership and to all of the NYCERS and TRS trustees for approving this thoughtful plan.”
In addition to Comptroller Lander, the trustees of NYCERS and TRS are as follows:
New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS): Mayor Eric Adams’ Appointee Bryan Berge, Director, Mayor’s Office of Pension and Investments; New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams; Borough Presidents: Mark Levine (Manhattan), Antonio Reynoso (Brooklyn), Vito Fossella (Staten Island), and Vanessa L. Gibson (Bronx); Henry Garrido, Executive Director, District Council 37, AFSCME; Richard Davis, President Transport Workers Union Local 100; and Gregory Floyd, President, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 237.
Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS): Mayor Eric Adams’ Appointee Bryan Berge, Director, Mayor’s Office of Pension and Investments; Chancellor’s Representative, Dr. Angela Green, New York City Department of Education Panel for Educational Policy; and Thomas Brown (Chair), Victoria Lee, and David Kazansky, all of the United Federation of Teachers.
Statement Of U.S. Attorney Damian Williams On The Conviction Of Nicholas Tartaglione
“Martin Luna, Miguel Luna, Urbano Santiago, and Hector Gutierrez were beloved fathers, husbands, brothers, and sons. In 2015, Nicholas Tartaglione, a former police officer-turned drug dealer, suspected that Martin Luna had stolen money from him. Tartaglione then devised a scheme to confront Martin at a meeting. Unaware he was being lured into a deadly trap, Martin tragically brought his two nephews — Miguel and Urbano — and a family friend — Hector — to the meeting. What occurred next could only be described as pure terror, as Tartaglione tortured Martin, then forced one of his nephews to watch as Tartaglione strangled Martin to death with a zip-tie. Tartaglione and two of his associates then transported Miguel, Urbano, and Hector — who were simply at the wrong place at the wrong time — to a remote wooded location, forced them to kneel, and executed them with gunshots to the back of the head. Tartaglione then buried all four victims in a mass grave. Tartaglione’s heinous acts represent a broader betrayal, as he was a former police officer who once swore to protect the very community he devastated. A jury has found Tartaglione guilty of these heinous acts, sending a message that no one is above the law. We commend the career prosecutors and investigators for their relentless pursuit of justice in this case over the past seven years, and for ensuring that Nicholas Tartaglione faces a lifetime in federal prison for his unconscionable murder of four men. Most of all, we thank the victims’ families for trusting law enforcement to find their loved ones and see that justice was done.”
ALLEGED PIMPS, FORMER HOTEL EMPLOYEES CHARGED IN CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING, PROSTITUTION ENTERPRISE; 7 DAYS HOTEL ALLEGEDLY SERVED AS BROTHEL
A 16-year-old Girl Had 100 “Dates” There in a Year
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark and New York City Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell today announced that six men—three alleged pimps, and the manager, front desk clerk and security guard at a Bronx hotel—have been indicted on a host of charges including Enterprise Corruption, Sex Trafficking of a Child, and Promoting Prostitution, and two of the alleged pimps are also charged with Rape.
District Attorney Clark said, “This scheme involves brutal pimps, and hotel employees who allegedly were paid to look away from the despicable acts of degradation against teenage girls and facilitate them. The 7 Days Hotel allegedly profited from the human trafficking of girls and young women, and now employees will be held accountable. Hotels should be regulated in a manner where they cannot host criminal activity for years without bearing responsibility.”
Commissioner Sewell said, “The NYPD and our law enforcement partners share an unwavering commitment to protecting the survivors of sex trafficking, one of society’s most heinous crimes. And we will continue to ensure that anyone who seeks to profit through the abuse and exploitation of other people – especially our youth – is held fully accountable. I thank and commend all of the investigators in the NYPD’s Vice Enforcement Division Major Case Section and the prosecutors in the Bronx District Attorney’s Office for their tireless efforts in this important case.”
District Attorney Clark said the defendants Akeem Lee, 34; Marvin Flint, 32; Anthony Reyes, 31; Golam Rabbani, 27; Robert Olaguibel, 45; and Patrick Walker, 51 were variously charged in an 80-count indictment for Enterprise Corruption, Sex Trafficking, Compelling Prostitution, Promoting Prostitution, Intimidating a victim or witness, Conspiracy, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Falsifying Business Records, and other related charges.
Walker, Reyes, Rabbani and Lee were arraigned on April 3, 2023, before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Lawrence Busching, Lee was remanded, and Reyes had bail set in the amounts of $10k cash/ $50k bond. They are due back in court on May 18, 2023. Flint was arraigned on April 4, 2023, and remanded. Olaguibel was arrested in Pennsylvania and has not been arraigned yet.
According to the investigation by the NYPD Vice Human Trafficking Team and the Bronx District Attorney’s Human Trafficking Unit, the conspiracy took place from on or about August, 2019 through November, 2022, among members or associates of a prostitution organization which operated inside of the 7 Days Hotel located at 2338 Bruckner Boulevard.
According to the investigation, one of the girls engaged in prostitution for the coconspirators starting when she was 14 years old and continuing until she was 17 years old. Defendant Akeem Lee allegedly hit and choked her and threatened to kill her if she went to the police. According to the investigation and related investigations, approximately 16 girls and young women were trafficked by the co-conspirators. Out of the 16, seven were underage.
An undercover NYPD officer posed as a pimp. He and alleged trafficker Marvin Flint were given discounted room rates in exchange for cash tips to hotel employees. According to the investigation, Robert Olaguibel, manager; Golam Rabbani, front desk clerk; and Patrick Walker, security guard allegedly facilitated prostitution by failing to check their identification or that of the sex workers; and failing to post inside of the Hotel a Human Trafficking victims’ hotline number as required by New York State Law. Defendants tipped each other off if law enforcement was present at the Hotel in order to evade arrest.
District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detective Denis Regimbal and Lieutenant Amy Capogna of the NYPD Human Trafficking Team.
An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.
Renderings Reveal New Bronx Charter School At 1472 Boston Road In Crotona East Park, The Bronx
Renderings from KSS Architects are the first to reveal the new permanent home of the Bold Charter School at 1472 Boston Road in the Crotona East Park neighborhood of The Bronx. The new building will comprise 81,590 square feet and will serve students currently enrolled in two temporary facilities at 1093 Southern Boulevard and 1090 Close Avenue, also in The Bronx.
When complete, the building will stand eight stories tall with a brick and gray cladded exterior. The massing features a large setback above the fourth floor to make room for an outdoor terrace, and additional outdoor play areas on the roof of the building.
Inside, the school will offer 27 classrooms, a full-size gymnasium, and a cafeteria.
“1472 Boston Road advances our mission of building world-class public schools and delivers on our commitment to achieving the extraordinary in everything we do,” said Andrew Foglia, founder and executive director, Bold Charter School. “We’re thrilled to create a learning environment worthy of our families’ aspirations and our students’ futures.”
The school is expected to open for the 2025/2026 academic year and will serve K-8 students in School District 12, with the capacity to support approximately 810 students.