Van Cortlandt Jewish Center
News and Notes
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Friday, April 14, 2023
VCJC News & Notes 4/14/23
Van Cortlandt Jewish Center
New York City Comptroller’s Office Releases FY 2022 Claims Report
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander released the Annual Claims Report, summarizing claims filed against or settled by the City during fiscal year 2022.
In FY 2022, 12,188 claims and lawsuits against New York City cost $1.5 billion—the highest annual amount in the city’s history. The increase from FY21 is largely due to the Gulino class action lawsuit, filed in 1996 for discrimination by the City as a result a State-mandated teacher certification examinations. Of the top 11 largest individual claims settled by the City in FY 2022, seven were for wrongful convictions.
“Of the eleven largest individual tort claim settlements against the City last year, seven were for wrongful convictions, two for medical malpractice, one for an assault at Rikers Island, and an accident involving a science experiment at a public school. We’d so much rather spend the $1.5 billion we spent on claims this year to improve our schools, parks, and neighborhoods. The Annual Claims Report can serve as a tool to identify and mitigate risks, reduce harms to New Yorkers, and improve the City’s bottom line,” said Comptroller Brad Lander.
Personal injury and property damage claims (collectively, “tort claims”) payouts cost the City $688.4 million, up from the $583.0 million spent in FY 2021, an 18% increase. The five costliest types of tort claim settlements in FY 2022 were civil rights, motor vehicle crashes (explored in detail over the past decade in the Comptroller’s recent Wreckless Spending report), police action, accidents in schools, and medical malpractice claims. Together, these five claim types cost $482.7 million and accounted for 71% of all personal injury claim settlements in FY 2022.
Salary Claims Account for Largest Share of Law Settlements
In FY 2022, the City paid out $819.2 million in law claims, a 117% increase from the $377.0 million paid out in FY 2021. Salary claims represent more than half the cost of all law claims. Total salary claim payouts increased dramatically from $18 million in FY 2021 to $437.5 million in FY 2022, primarily due to judgments in Gulino v. Board of Education.
The Gulino v. Board of Education class action lawsuit was filed in 1996 and alleged that two of the Department of Education (DOE) mandated teacher certification examinations had a disparate impact on Black and Latino teachers. After years of litigation courts decided that use of the examinations as part of the selection process for teachers violated Title VII because the examinations had a disparate impact on Black and Hispanic test takers and there was a lack of proof that the examinations were a valid device for selecting teachers. Ultimately, the DOE was required to pay backpay and other damages and costs, resulting in payments of $366.8 million in FY 2022.
Excluding judgments on that lawsuit, payouts on salary claims still increased by 293%. This increase is due to several other multimillion-dollar payments, including two eight-figure collective action settlements alleging violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Excluding Gulino v. Board of Education, the cost of salary claim payouts increased by $52.7 million, from $18.0 million in FY 2021 to $70.8 million in FY 2022.
Wrongful Conviction Settlements Account for Largest Share of Tort Settlements
For the first time since FY 2017, City payouts on tort claims rose in part due to the 17% rise in civil rights claims. The cost of civil rights claim payouts increased to $143.2 million in FY 2022 up from $95.2 million in FY 2021.
Some of the highest tort claim payouts were 16 wrongful conviction claims that settled for an average of $5.43 million each, costing the City a total of $86.8 million in payouts. Six of these settlements were settled by the Bureau of Labor Law pre-litigation and cost the city $25 million. Pre-litigation settlements ensure prompt relief for claimants and help both the City and claimants avoid costly legal fees.
Under the New York City Charter, the Comptroller has the power to settle or adjust all claims against or on behalf of the City. This work is performed by the Comptroller’s Office Bureau of Law and Adjustment (BLA), which, under the direction of the Comptroller, the General Counsel, and the Assistant Comptroller for BLA, comprises attorneys, claims professionals, engineers, and administrative staff.
The full Annual Claims Report for Fiscal Year 2022 can be read here.
New York Litigation Funder Convicted In Trip-And-Fall Fraud Scheme Sentenced To 36 Months In Prison
Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that ADRIAN ALEXANDER, a New York litigation funder, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for his participation in a scheme to obtain large insurance settlements and lawsuit recoveries from fraudulent trip-and-fall accidents. ALEXANDER is the 11th defendant to plead guilty or be convicted at trial for his participation in this fraud scheme and the fifth defendant to be sentenced. Defendants Ryan Rainford, Bryan Duncan and Robert Locust, who recruited patients into the scheme and were convicted at trial in May 2019, were previously sentenced on January 7, 2020, July 27, 2020, and July 9, 2021, respectively. Defendant Sady Ribeiro, a surgeon who participated in the scheme, was previously sentenced on March 23, 2023. U.S. District Judge Sidney H. Stein imposed all sentences.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Adrian Alexander knowingly exploited some of the most vulnerable members of society – many of whom were poor, drug addicts, or homeless – in order to enrich himself and his investors. Today’s sentence should serve as a warning to unscrupulous litigation funders that, together with our law enforcement partners, we will hold accountable those who engage in unlawful practices and prey on litigants without the means to avail themselves of the judicial process.”
According to the Indictment, the Superseding Information, evidence presented in court, and statements made in court:
ALEXANDER, among others, was involved in an extensive fraud scheme through which fraud scheme participants defrauded businesses and insurance companies by staging trip-and-fall accidents and filing fraudulent lawsuits arising from those staged trip-and-fall accidents.
The fraud scheme participants recruited individuals (the “Patients”) to stage or falsely claim to have suffered trip-and-fall accidents at particular locations throughout the New York City area (the “Accident Sites”). In the course of the fraud scheme, scheme participants recruited more than 400 Patients. Members of the fraud scheme often recruited Patients who were extremely poor. For example, it was common for Patients to ask for food when they would appear for their intake meetings with the lawyers. Many of the Patients did not have sufficient clothing to keep them warm during the winter and had poor-quality shoes. Members of the fraud scheme also recruited Patients who were drug addicts, and it was common for scheme participants to recruit Patients from homeless shelters in New York City.
In the beginning, scheme participants would instruct Patients to claim they had tripped and fallen at a particular location, when in fact, the Patients had suffered no such accidents. Eventually, at the direction of the lawyers who filed fraudulent lawsuits on behalf of the Patients, scheme participants began to instruct Patients to stage trip-and-fall accidents, i.e., to go to a location and deliberately fall. Common Accident Sites used during the fraud scheme included cellar doors, cracks in concrete sidewalks, and purported “potholes.”
After the staged trip-and-fall accidents, Patients were referred to specific attorneys who would file personal injury lawsuits (the “Fraudulent Lawsuits”) against the owners of the Accident Sites and/or insurance companies of the owners of the accident sites (the “Victims”). The Fraudulent Lawsuits did not disclose that the Patients had deliberately fallen at the Accident Sites or, in some cases, had not fallen at all. During the course of the fraud scheme, the defendants, together with others known and unknown, attempted to defraud the Victims of more than $31,000,000.
The Patients were also instructed to receive ongoing chiropractic and medical treatment from certain chiropractors and doctors, including Ribeiro. The fraud scheme participants advised the Patients that if they intended to continue with their lawsuits, they were required to undergo surgery, which was critical to boosting the value of any potential settlement. Fraud scheme participants, including ALEXANDER, looked for doctors who were willing to perform surgeries, even when others would not. For example, in a May 2015 email, after one doctor informed ALEXANDER that a particular patient was “not . . . a surgical candidate,” ALEXANDER directed a Patient recruiter and case manager to “[t]ake him to [another doctor]—Nothing is done until its done.”
As an incentive to getting surgery, the recruited Patients were offered a payment, in the form of loans, typically between $1,000 and $1,500 after they completed surgery (“Post-Surgery Loans”). Patients generally were told to undergo two surgeries.
The Patients’ legal and medical fees were usually paid for by litigation funding companies (the “Funding Companies”), including a funding company owned by ALEXANDER, even if the Patient maintained medical coverage through an insurance company or a government-subsidized program. The Funding Companies also paid the fraud scheme organizers and participants referral fees, typically $1,000 to $2,500, for each Patient who signed a funding agreement. In an April 2015 email about a particular Patient’s staged accident, Alexander wrote to two of the recruiters and case managers, “I am sure you realize I want to do these deals; I am just trying to see how we can, without getting in trouble.”
In exchange for funding Patients’ medical and legal costs, the Funding Companies charged the Patients high interest rates, sometimes up to 50% on medical loans and up to 100% on personal loans. The interest rates were so high that oftentimes the majority of the proceeds that were awarded in the Fraudulent Lawsuits were paid to the Funding Companies, lawyers, doctors, and others, with the Patients receiving a much smaller percentage of the remaining recovery.
In addition to the high-interest rates charged by the Funding Companies, ALEXANDER also profited from the Fraud Scheme through an MRI facility that he owned and operated (“MRI Facility-1”). ALEXANDER pushed the case managers to send Patients to MRI Facility-1, which routinely prepared MRI reports that were “positive” for medical conditions justifying surgery, even though the Patients had not sustained any injuries. ALEXANDER received $1,000 per MRI that MRI Facility-1 prepared as part of the scheme.
In addition to the prison term, ALEXANDER, 76, of New York, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release. ALEXANDER was further ordered to pay $659,011 in forfeiture. Restitution will be determined by the Court within 90 days.
Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Mr. Williams also thanked the National Insurance Crime Bureau for their assistance in the investigation.
Housing Lottery Launches For Victory Commons At 1007 Union Avenue In Morrisania, The Bronx
The affordable housing lottery has launched for Victory Commons, aka Victory Baptist, a pair of six-story mixed-use buildings at 1007 Union Avenue in Morrisania, The Bronx. Designed by Aufgang Architects and developed by Michael Callaghan of Exact Capital, the structure yields 95 residences. Available on NYC Housing Connect are 79 units for residents at 130 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $17,452 to $132,400.
Amenities include parking for 58 vehicles, an on-site superintendent, bike storage lockers, a shared laundry room, storage, elevator, and a recreation room. Tenants are responsible for electricity and gas for cooking.
At 30 percent of the AMI, there is one studio with a monthly rent of $410 for incomes ranging from $17,452 to $32,040; nine one-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $521 for incomes ranging from $21,703 to $36,030; seven two-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $615 for incomes ranging from $25,920 to $43,230; and one three-bedroom with a monthly rent of $701 for incomes ranging from $29,898 to $49,650.
At 50 percent of the AMI, there is one studio with a monthly rent of $729 for incomes ranging from $28,389 to $53,400; nine one-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $919 for incomes ranging from $35,349 to $60,050; five two-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $1,094 for incomes ranging from $42,343 to $72,050; and two three-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $1,253 for incomes ranging from $48,823 to $82,750.
At 70 percent of the AMI, there are two studios with a monthly rent of $1,126 for incomes ranging from $42,000 to $74,760; eight one-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $1,416 for incomes ranging from $52,389 to $84,070; six two-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $1,689 for incomes ranging from $62,743 to $100,870; and three three-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $1,942 for incomes ranging from $72,446 to $115,850.
At 80 percent of the AMI, there are two studios with a monthly rent of $1,305 for incomes ranging from $48,138 to $85,440; 13 one-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $1,640 for incomes ranging from $60,069 to $96,080; eight two-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $1,958 for incomes ranging from $71,966 to $115,280; and two three-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $2,252 for incomes ranging from $83,075 to $132,400.
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 12, 2023.
Thursday, April 13, 2023
BRONX MAN INDICTED IN DEATH OF DOG
Defendant Slammed Pup’s Head on Table, Killing Him Instantly
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that a Bronx man has been indicted for Aggravated Cruelty to Animals for allegedly killing a 7-year-old Pomeranian dog during an argument with his ex-girlfriend.
District Attorney Clark said, “This was a spectacularly brutal act of animal abuse. The defendant is being held accountable for allegedly causing multiple fractures to the little dog’s head, killing him instantly.”
District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Victor Castillo, 32, of Webb Avenue, the Bronx, was arraigned Wednesday on an indictment charging Aggravated Cruelty to Animals, New York Agricultural and Markets Law section 353-a, a felony, before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Guy Mitchell. He is due back in court on May 4, 2023.
According to the investigation, on February 9, 2023, Castillo had an argument with his exgirlfriend in her apartment on Arthur Avenue, when he picked up her pet dog, Ken-Shin, a 9 ½- pound Pomeranian, by the neck and slammed his head onto a wooden coffee table, causing blood to splatter around the room, and killing the dog instantly. A post-mortem examination of KenShin by the A.S.P.C.A. revealed that the blunt force trauma to his head caused him to have multiple skull fractures and lacerations to his brain which caused his death.
District Attorney Clark thanked the A.S.P.C.A., specifically Dr. Deana Rowlison, and NYPD Detective Janet Ospina, of the Animal Cruelty Investigation Squad, for their work on this investigation.
An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.
Governor Hochul Announces More Than $8.3 Million to Municipalities for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
Grants Support Nearly 250 New Public Charging Stations in 70 Communities Statewide
New York State to Build More Than 1,300 Charging Stations for Agency Fleet Over Next Five Years
Plans Build Upon State's Ongoing Investments in Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure and Emissions Reduction Initiatives
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced more than $8.3 million to 70 municipalities to install electric vehicle charging stations for public use. The transportation sector is the second-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in New York, and these electric vehicle charging stations will help the state achieve the ambitious greenhouse gas emission reduction requirements under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. The announcement, made at the New York International Auto Show today, includes an EV infrastructure plan to build of more than 1,300 charging stations in support of a full transition to a zero-emission State fleet.
"New York has made remarkable progress advancing our transition from fossil fuels and reducing harmful vehicle emissions statewide as part of our nation-leading climate agenda," Governor Hochul said. "Thanks to initiatives like the Municipal Zero-Emissions Vehicle Infrastructure grants, communities across New York State are taking bold action to protect the environment and tackle the climate crisis. We will continue to invest in clean energy to improve the health and quality of life of New Yorkers and ensure a safe and sustainable future."
The 2022 round of the Department of Environmental Conservation's (DEC) Municipal Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Infrastructure Grant Program made 131 awards to 70 municipalities totaling $8.38 million to support the installation of 454 Level 2 charging ports and 28 direct current fast charger (DCFC) pedestals throughout New York State, the largest award amount since the program began in 2016. More than 42 percent of the grant funding was awarded for projects located in disadvantaged communities. The Climate Justice Working Group recently finalized criteria for disadvantaged communities that will ensure 35 percent, with a goal of 40 percent, of overall benefits of spending on clean energy and energy efficiency programs - one of several ways the Climate Act prioritizes climate justice.
Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said, "DEC is proud to work with the communities and local leaders across the state investing in clean energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and building sustainable infrastructure. This funding will continue to grow New York's electric vehicle charging network in communities as we shift to zero-emissions vehicles to reduce emissions and improve the health and safety of New Yorkers. DEC applauds these communities working to address the climate crisis by acting locally to bolster the State's climate leadership."
Recipients of the 2022 Municipal Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Grant awards are as follows:
Capital Region
City of Albany, $499,769.60 for 28 Level 2 charging ports
Albany County, $65,970.80 for 14 Level 2 charging ports
City of Schenectady, $54,800 for eight Level 2 charging ports
Village of Menands, $32,934 for four Level 2 charging ports
Village of Catskill, $26,605.95 for eight Level 2 charging ports
Central New York
City of Oneida, $450,711 for eight Level 2 charging ports and two DCFC pedestals
Town of Dewitt, $261,800 for 16 Level 2 charging ports
Town of Salina, $199,400 for one DCFC pedestal
Town of Onondaga, $194,521.60 for 10 Level 2 charging ports
City of Auburn, $80,288 for six Level 2 charging ports
Village of Baldwinsville, $35,454.50 for four Level 2 charging ports
Finger Lakes
Village of Medina, $245,184 for two DCFC pedestals
Village of Clyde, $110,862.60 for four Level 2 charging ports
Town of Chili, $89,463 for 20 Level 2 charging ports
Town of Seneca Falls, $86,022 for 12 Level 2 charging ports
Town of Irondequoit, $79,028.10 for 14 Level 2 charging ports
Town of Brighton, $63,570 for eight Level 2 charging ports
Village of Sodus Point, $62,440 for 16 Level 2 charging ports
Village of Sodus, $44,950 for eight Level 2 charging ports
Town of Ogden, $31,328 for eight Level 2 charging ports
Town of East Bloomfield, $29,071.20 for eight Level 2 charging ports
City of Canandaigua, $28,820 for six Level 2 charging ports
Town of Lodi, $27,908 for eight Level 2 charging ports
Town of Macedon, $25,274.48 for four Level 2 charging ports
Town of Richmond, $22,216.50 for four Level 2 charging ports
Wyoming County, $20,800 for four Level 2 charging ports
Town of Lima, $13,720 for four Level 2 charging ports
Town of Pittsford, $12,502 for two Level 2 charging ports
Village of Albion, $10,500.00 for two Level 2 charging ports
Long Island
Town of Oyster Bay, $490,811.41 for 22 Level 2 charging ports and one DCFC pedestal
Town of Smithtown, $161,130 for two DCFC pedestals
Town of Huntington, $123,264 for 16 Level 2 charging ports
City of Glen Cove, $47,774.10 for two Level 2 charging ports
Village of Sea Cliff, $42,114 for two Level 2 charging ports
Mid-Hudson
City of Kingston, $268,644.54 for two DCFC pedestals
Town of Mount Pleasant, $250,000 for four DCFC pedestals
City of Poughkeepsie, $207,167.50 for four Level 2 charging ports and two DCFC pedestals
Village of Croton-on-Hudson, $149,266.78 for 12 Level 2 charging ports
Town of Amenia, $82,180.40 for two Level 2 charging ports
Village of Pleasantville, $43,644.01 for four Level 2 charging ports
Village of Sleepy Hollow, $38,100 for two Level 2 charging ports
Town of Esopus, $35,260 for four Level 2 charging ports
Village of Briarcliff Manor, $25,800 for four Level 2 charging ports
Town of Kent, $23,027.64 for four Level 2 charging ports
Village Wappingers Falls, $9,790 for two Level 2 charging ports
City of White Plains, $9,387.15 for two Level 2 charging ports
Mohawk Valley
City of Oneonta, $299,546 for 26 Level 2 charging ports
Montgomery County, $268,000 for 24 Level 2 charging ports
Village of Northville, $23,659 for two Level 2 charging ports
North Country
Town of Indian Lake, $236,686.50 for two DCFC pedestals
Village of Waddington, $117,375 for four Level 2 charging ports
Town of Clayton, $87,375 for four Level 2 charging ports
Town of Jay, $53,292 for six Level 2 charging ports
Village of Canton, $50,061 for one DCFC pedestal
Town of Newcomb, $49,452.50 for six Level 2 charging ports
Town of Chesterfield, $37,525.45 for two Level 2 charging ports
Town of Tupper Lake, $17,200 for two Level 2 charging ports
Town of Ausable, $14,675 for two Level 2 charging ports
Southern Tier
Chemung County, $500,000 for two DCFC pedestals
Village of Sidney, $80,632.32 for two DCFC pedestals
Village of Fleischmanns, $7,573.50 for two Level 2 charging ports
Western New York
City of Olean, $499,210 for 20 Level 2 charging ports
Town of Amherst, $470,683.20 for 14 Level 2 charging ports and one DCFC pedestal
Village of South Dayton, $209,750 for one DCFC pedestal
Village of Lancaster, $137,200.00 for two Level 2 charging ports and one DCFC pedestal
Town of Grand Island, $50,148 for four Level 2 charging ports
Village of Hamburg, $49,100.80 for four Level 2 charging ports
Town of West Seneca, $31,475.70 for four Level 2 charging ports
Town Eden, $26,377.96 for two Level 2 charging ports
More information about the DEC Municipal ZEV Infrastructure Grant Program, as well as Municipal ZEV Rebates is available on DEC's website at: https://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/109181.html#ZEV
Greening New York State Fleets
The New York State Office of General Services is leading an effort to build more than 1,300 charging stations dedicated to fleet charging within five years at state facilities, beginning with the installation of 130 stations at OGS properties. These chargers will be a mix of networked Level 2 and fast chargers. OGS Resiliency and Sustainability is also partnering with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to develop a Clean Fleet Plan to identify critical infrastructure milestones required to meet this goal and recommend key policies and procedures to support and accelerate the transition to a zero-emission fleet.
EVolve NY Fast-Charging Progress
The New York Power Authority announced that the number of chargers in its high-speed EVolve NY network has reached more than 120 at 32 sites along major travel corridors. Working with other state agencies, the total is expected to climb to at least 800 statewide by 2025, ensuring that EV drivers don't have to worry about running out of charge. The Direct Current Fast Chargers can charge most of the battery capacity in any make or model of EV in as little as 20 minutes.
The EV announcements today complement other recent actions New York is taking to fast-track the transition to electric vehicles. In December, DEC announced the adoption of the Advanced Clean Cars II regulations which require all new passenger cars and light-duty trucks sold in New York State to be zero-emissions by 2035 to accelerate zero-emission car sales, resulting in improved air quality statewide, particularly in communities disproportionately impacted by transportation-related pollution. The regulation requires an increasing percentage of new light-duty vehicle sales to be zero-emission vehicles (ZEV) each year, starting with 35 percent ZEV sales in model year 2026, leading to 100 percent ZEV sales by 2035.
Adoption of Advanced Clean Cars II is included among the recommendations in the Climate Action Council's Scoping Plan and will be instrumental in achieving the greenhouse gas emissions reductions required in the Climate Act, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent by 2050 from 1990 levels. On Dec. 19, New York State's Climate Action Council adopted the Scoping Plan, which outlines recommended policies and actions to help meet the Climate Act's goals and requirements. The plan was the culmination of more than three years of collaboration, including contributions from the Council's Advisory Panels and Working Groups, since the enactment of the Climate Act in 2019.
Funding for the ZEV grants announced today was provided by the State Environmental Protection Fund. Among the many environmental victories in the 2022-23 State Budget, the EPF was funded at $400 million, the highest-ever level of funding in the program's history. The EPF supports climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts, improves agricultural resources to promote sustainable agriculture, protects our water sources, advances conservation efforts, and provides recreational opportunities for New Yorkers.
New York State's Nation-Leading Climate Plan
New York State's nation-leading climate agenda calls for an orderly and just transition that creates family-sustaining jobs, continues fostering a green economy across all sectors and ensures that at least 35 percent, with a goal of 40 percent, of the benefits of clean energy and energy efficiency investments are directed to disadvantaged communities. Guided by some of the nation's most aggressive climate and clean energy initiatives, New York is on a path to achieving a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and economywide carbon neutrality by mid-century. A cornerstone of this transition is New York's unprecedented clean energy investments, including more than $35 billion in 120 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce building emissions, $1.8 billion to scale up solar, more than $1 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $1.8 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. These and other investments are supporting more than 165,000 jobs in New York's clean energy sector in 2021 and a 2,100 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality, New York also adopted zero-emission vehicle regulations, including requiring all new passenger cars and trucks sold in the State be zero emission by 2035. Partnerships are continuing to advance New York's climate action with nearly 400 registered and 100 certified Climate Smart Communities, nearly 500 Clean Energy Communities, and the State's largest community air monitoring initiative in 10 disadvantaged communities across the state to help target air pollution and combat climate change.
MAYOR ADAMS ANOINTS KATHLEEN CORRADI AS NYC’S FIRST-EVER ‘RAT CZAR’
Citywide Director of Rodent Mitigation Will Be First Dedicated Member of Mayor’s Office Working Solely on Rat Reduction — Major Quality-of-Life and Health Challenge
Adams Administration Accelerates Rat Reduction Work in Harlem with Combined $3.5 Million Investment to Fight Rats Across Agencies
New York City Mayor Eric Adams appointed Kathleen Corradi as the city’s first-ever citywide director of rodent mitigation, also known as the ‘rat czar.’ In this newly created role, Corradi will coordinate across city government agencies, community organizations, and the private sector to reduce the rat population in New York City — building a cleaner, more welcoming city and tackling a major quality-of-life and health issue. Mayor Adams also announced the new Harlem Rat Mitigation Zone and a $3.5 million investment starting in Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) to expand and accelerate rat reduction work across Harlem.
“New York City has done a lot recently when it comes to fighting public enemy number one: rats. But it was clear we needed someone solely focused on leading our rat reduction efforts across all five boroughs, and today I’m proud to announce Kathy Corradi as New York City’s first-ever ‘rat czar,’” said Mayor Adams. “Kathy has the knowledge, drive, experience, and energy to send rats packing and create a cleaner more welcoming city for all New Yorkers. Beginning with this $3.5 million investment toward rodent mitigation in Harlem, Kathy will take the lead on our multi-agency effort to test new mitigation techniques, expand outreach and education efforts, and increase maintenance and remediation work. The rats are going to hate Kathy, but we’re excited to have her leading this important effort.”
“Rats are more than just a quality-of-life issue — they are a symbol of systemic issues that for too long have plagued New Yorkers, particularly low-income and communities of color,” said Chief of Staff Camille Joseph Varlack. “I’m thrilled to have Kathy Corradi as our first rat czar, who will coordinate across agencies, bring a scientific, data-driven approach to the role, and deliver on Mayor Adams’ vision to finally control our rat population. It will take each and every New Yorker working together to create the rat free New York City we all want, and Kathy is the right person to lead us forward.”
“Every New Yorker — regardless of their zip code, income level, or any defining factor — deserves to live in a city free from rats,” said First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright. “I’m thrilled to have Kathy Corradi as the city’s first ever rat czar, who with a background in science and expertise in rodent mitigation, will help deliver an equitable quality of life experience for all New Yorkers. Through Kathy’s leadership and each and every New Yorker playing their own part, we can write a new chapter in our city on cleanliness and ending the rat crisis.”
“On behalf of all New Yorkers, we welcome Kathy to the war on rats,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “She will lead a team of experts with focus and energy, every day diligently depriving rats of food, water, and shelter. And the rest will be history!”
“No person or family should have to deal with rats in their home, in any significant way in their neighborhood, or elsewhere across the city,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “I am excited to continue the work of this interagency effort and welcome Kathy Corradi on board to tackle what is a serious quality of life issue affecting many communities across the city.”
“Rat mitigation is more than a quality-of-life issue for New Yorkers,” said Citywide Director of Rodent Mitigation Kathleen Corradi. “Rats are a symptom of systemic issues, including sanitation, health, housing, and economic justice. As the first director of rodent mitigation, I’m excited to bring a science- and systems-based approach to fight rats. New York may be famous for the Pizza Rat, but rats, and the conditions that help them thrive will no longer be tolerated — no more dirty curbs, unmanaged spaces, or brazen burrowing. I’m honored to lead this work, grateful to Mayor Adams for this opportunity, and look forward to sending the rats packing.”
As the citywide director of rodent mitigation, Corradi will lead and implement a unified strategy to reduce rats in neighborhoods across New York’s five boroughs, with a focus on innovative ways to cut off rats’ food sources, as well as through testing and deploying new technologies to detect and exterminate rat populations. Corradi will play a vital role in developing and executing the city’s rat mitigation efforts, harnessing both the expertise and operational capacity of several city agencies including the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks), the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), the New York City Department of Education (DOE), the New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY), and the New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS), in addition to different private sector partners.
Harlem Rat Mitigation Zone
As part of today’s announcement, Mayor Adams also announced four city agencies will invest $3.5 million starting in FY23 to launch the Harlem Rat Mitigation Zone — an accelerated rat reduction plan covering Community Boards, 9, 10, and 11, and which includes 28 NYCHA properties, 73 NYC Parks locations, nearly 70 DOE schools, and over 10,000 private properties. DOHMH, NYC Parks, NYCHA, and DOE will receive this funding to accelerate critical rat mitigation work in Harlem and to test new and emerging technologies to fight rats, including:
- 19 full-time staff and 14 seasonal staff to inspect, exterminate, and maintain or clean public spaces to prevent “mischiefs” of rats.
- New equipment, like tilt trucks, to better contain and manage waste and extermination supplies, such as bait, traps, sensors, fumigation machines (including Burrow RX and CO2 machines); Rat Ice; and exclusion methods, like wire lathe around structural rat burrows and landscaper fabric designed to keep pests out.
- Eight new “Rat Slabs” at NYCHA Douglass Houses and Johnson Houses, a rat mitigation tool to harden earthen floors and prevent rat burrowing.
As part of this work in Harlem, private properties will be inspected twice annually for rat-related violations, and issued violations accordingly. City locations will be inspected monthly. The city will also offer Harlem-specific rat academies in Community Boards 9, 10, and 11 in the coming months. New Yorkers can learn more about how to prevent rats at their properties at Rat Academies hosted by DOHMH. The best way for New Yorkers to prevent rats is to adhere to the following common-sense tips:
- Keep homes clean and secure trash:
- Store trash in containers and follow DSNY’s new trash set-out times to reduce the time that trash sits out;
- Do not feed wildlife; and
- Pick up after dogs.
- Destroy potential rat homes:
- Seal cracks or holes around buildings, sidewalks, and under doors;
- Keep green spaces around a property clean and maintained; and
- Cover or destroy earthen rat burrows (also known as rat holes.)
The newly established Harlem Rat Mitigation Zone.
Rodent Control Gift
The Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City also recently received a generous donation of over 1,000 Tomcat rodent control products, including 100 bait stations, 1,000 rat snap traps, and refillable bait for use in NYCHA, NYC Parks, and DOE gardens for use.
“We appreciate the opportunity to support New York City's mitigation efforts,” said Jodi Lee, vice president of controls, Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, which owns Tomcat. “Rodent control starts with preventive measures, such as removing access to water and food sources, and includes proven rodent control products for challenging settings. Tomcat's solutions are an effective tool in the fight to stem rodent infestations.”
Today’s announcement builds on historic investments in rat mitigation and cleanliness that the Adams administration has made, including the launch of ‘Get Stuff Clean,’ that invested $14.5 million to clean neglected spaces, ending New York City’s ‘5 o’clock shadow’ by drastically reducing the hours that black trash bags sit on the curb, and implementing the nation’s largest curbside composting program citywide.
About Kathleen Corradi
Kathleen Corradi brings over a decade of community engagement, program development, and facilities operations to the Adams administration at the first-ever citywide director of rodent mitigation. Spearheading sustainability, sanitation, rodent and pest mitigation, and space utilization projects, Corradi has dedicated her career to developing effective systems in service of a more equitable and resilient New York City.
Corradi began her career as an elementary teacher in Central Brooklyn and program lead at Brooklyn Botanic Garden. At the DOE’s Office of Sustainability, Corradi developed New York City’s Zero Waste Schools program, the nation’s largest zero waste program that reached over 350,000 students, and led the agency's rodent reduction efforts, coordinating and implementing pest mitigation plans across nearly 120 public schools that led to 70 percent compliance on the Neighborhood Rodent Reduction taskforce. Most recently she has served as DOE’s Queens Director of Space Planning, managing $500 million in capital development funds to optimize New York City public schools’ building utilization and ensure fair distribution of resources.
Corradi earned Bachelor of Science in Biology from Eckerd College, and a Master of Science in Urban Sustainability from The City College of New York.
Corradi will report to Chief of Staff Camille Joseph Varlack, and will work closely with Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi and Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom.
“Today marks a new era in our battle against the scourge of rats in New York City,” said DOE Chancellor David C. Banks. “With the hiring of our first citywide director of rodent mitigation, we are taking a significant step forward in protecting the health and safety of our students both at home and at school. I am confident that under the leadership of the new rat czar, we will make great strides in controlling the rat population and creating a cleaner, more livable city for future generations of New Yorkers.”
“Rats are the sworn enemies of public health,” said DOHMH Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “DOHMH is proud to have a leading role in the city’s pest-fighting partnership, and we are confident that, together, we will drive these detested rodents from the five boroughs and take back our city. We are especially excited to have the rat czar’s leadership, and we welcome her to the frontlines of this critical battle for health and quality of life for all New Yorkers.”
“While we respect all creatures that call New York City home, managing the rodent population is vital to maintaining a healthy urban ecosystem,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “Kathy’s appointment as rat czar shouts, rather than squeaks, our city’s commitment to addressing this issue thoughtfully and effectively, and I look forward to working with her and our partner agencies to keep our city greenspaces safe and sanitary for all New Yorkers.”
“Improving our ability to substantially reduce the presence of pests, including rats, is not only a key component of our agreement with HUD, but also a critical part of enhancing conditions and quality of life for NYCHA residents,” said NYCHA Interim CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “The transformative work that has been underway at NYCHA goes hand-in-hand with these larger citywide mitigation efforts, as we all come together to combat rodent issues across the five boroughs.”
“Our commercial corridors should be thriving with businesses and shoppers, not rats,” said SBS Commissioner Kevin D. Kim. “Through our work on the Interagency Rat Task Force, and educating local businesses and community organizations about rat mitigation, SBS remains committed to tackling this quality-of-life and health issue. We look forward to working closely with Kathy.”
“Congratulations to Kathy Corradi on this historic appointment,” said Mayor’s Office of Operations Director Dan Steinberg. “It’s a trademark of the Adams administration to attack our city’s most intractable problems with new ideas, technology, and talent. The city's rat reduction agenda is bolder and more creative than ever thanks to the interdisciplinary work of the Rat Reduction Task Force. We’re thrilled to now have a dynamic leader at City Hall to drive this work into the future.”
“Mayor Adams has made it clear that the rats don't run this city, we do,” said DSNY Commissioner Jessica Tisch. “I'm looking forward to working with Kathy to send these pests packing!”
Announcing SAGE Equity Innovation Lab Grant Recipients for LGBTQ+ Aging Work
Six awardees throughout the U.S. will receive financial and technical support from SAGE
SAGE, the world’s largest organization dedicated to improving the lives of LGBTQ+ elders, is thrilled to announce the inaugural six recipients of its new Equity Innovation Lab program. An external selection panel chose The San Gabriel Valley LGBTQ+ Center, T.R.A.N.S., Hualapai Tribal Council Senior Services, Love Wins Food Pantry, and the radical healing lab out of a competitive array of organizations from elder communities across the country.
SAGE’s Equity Innovation Lab offers financial and technical support to multiply-marginalized and historically under-resourced LGBTQ+ elder communities nationwide. The program provides a $5,000 grant and year-long technical assistance. Additionally, SAGE will facilitate community-building opportunities to foster learning and build trust-based collaborations among the grant recipients.
“We are overjoyed to announce the SAGE Equity Innovation Lab grants to these remarkable organizations,” declared SAGE CEO Michael Adams, “With this program, we are taking a pivotal step towards empowering and uplifting marginalized LGBTQ+ elder communities nationwide.” Continued Adams, “wWe are deeply passionate about supporting community, elder-driven innovation by sharing resources and power to support initiatives emerging from particularly marginalized LGBTQ+ elder communities, and we’re excited to see how our Equity Innovation Lab can accelerate community-driven progress.”
The following six awardees were selected to receive support from SAGE’s Equity Innovation Lab:
The San Gabriel Valley LGBTQ Center in California has developed a plan to enhance support for its elder community members, particularly those in rural areas. Their peer support programs play a crucial role in this effort by creating a culturally and geographically competent resource list that addresses the specific needs of LGBTQ+ elders in rural communities. The Center also intends to expand its peer support services, both in-person and online, to provide more opportunities for LGBTQ+ elders to connect and receive support.
T.R.A.N.S., led by activist Tanya Walker, is a project that assists houseless and formerly homeless trans elders in New York City. T.R.A.N.S has identified BIPOC and TGNC communities as the most impacted and therefore aims to provide support specifically for members of these communities. The project will plan and host an intergenerational masquerade event that brings community members together and helps connect them to resources. By creating this safe and supportive environment, T.R.A.N.S. hopes to address the unique challenges faced by trans elders in New York City, particularly those who are homeless or formerly homeless. Through these efforts, T.R.A.N.S aims to empower and uplift community members and ensure their voices and needs are heard.
The Hualapai Tribal Council Senior Services, headquartered in Peach Springs, Arizona, is a group that supports and unites tribal elders and they will leverage the program to extend its support to LGBTQ+ elders. The project recognizes this community’s unique challenges and needs, particularly those tribal LGBTQ+ elders who live in rural areas. The organization will use the grant for various activities and initiatives to create a supportive and inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ tribal elders. In particular, the program will initiate a Talking Circle for LGBTQ+ elders to connect with each other and LGBTQ+ youth, engage in storytelling, and access resources offered by Hualapai Tribal Council Senior Services. Additionally, outreach efforts are conducted to engage and involve the elders in the community while also discussing the historical trauma experienced by the LGBTQ+ tribal community.
Golden Rainbows of Illinois South, Inc. (GRIS) aims to support rural LGBTQ+ people in southern Illinois. GRIS conducts outreach, hosts educational and social events, and works on legislation to help raise awareness about the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ elders in rural communities. Guided by elder LGBTQ+ community members, GRIS uses grant funding to organize and host a resource and information summit. The summit, and subsequent survey and roundtable discussion, will identify areas for improvement and encourage the inclusion of LGBTQ+ specific policies throughout their community. Moreover, the summit will also allow GRIS to update a much-needed resource guide for the aging LGBTQ+ population.
The Love Wins Food Pantry will utilize support from SAGE’s Equity Innovation Lab to understand the nutritional needs of BIPOC LGBTQ+ elders in New York City. Love Wins Food Pantry prides itself in creating a safe space for LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming people especially, but they eagerly help all those in need. The organization understands that not all people are comfortable going to church-based food pantries, so they operate out of an LGBTQ+ bar, Friends Tavern, in Jackson Heights, Queens – one of New York City’s most ethnically diverse neighborhoods – to meet the needs of BIPOC LGBTQ+ elders.
The radical healing lab is embarking on a project to bridge support and intercommunal relationships with and for queer elders of color in Chicago, Illinois. The project’s goal is to create a safe and inclusive space where BIPOC and TGNC elders can come together and share their experiences, challenges, and wisdom with younger members of the community. By fostering intergenerational connections, the project aims to support the well-being and resilience of queer elders of color.
“There is nothing more powerful than supporting elder LGBTQ+ communities already doing the work and aspiring to do more,” said Elise Hernandez, Director of Research and Impact at SAGE and head of the program. “I’m excited to see these groups take their critically needed and innovative projects to the next level and to help uplift their knowledge and insights so others can learn from them.”
SAGE is dedicated to creating a world where LGBTQ+ elders can live with dignity, honor, and respect. Learn more about the SAGE Center of Excellence and SAGE’s Equity and Innovation Lab at http://sageusa.org/excellence.
ABOUT SAGE:
SAGE is the world’s oldest organization dedicated to advocacy, services, and innovations to ensure lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer and/or questioning (LGBTQ+) elders everywhere age with the dignity and respect they deserve. Founded in 1978, SAGE offers supportive services and consumer resources to LGBTQ+ older people and their caregivers, advocates for public policy changes, provides education and technical assistance for aging providers and LGBTQ+ community organizations through its National Resource Center on LGBTQ+ Aging, and cultural competency training through SAGECare. SAGE is headquartered in NYC with collaborative partnerships across the United States and globally. Learn more at sageusa.org.
