MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES ADVISORY BOARD TO HELP GUIDE CITY’S IMPLEMENTATION OF RACIAL JUSTICE CHARTER AMENDMENTS

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Mayor’s Office of Equity Commissioner Sideya Sherman today announced the launch of an advisory board on implementation of the Racial Justice Charter Amendments, voted into law during the November 2022 general election. These amendments — the first of their kind in the nation — added a statement of values to the city’s charter; required the city to establish a racial equity office and commission, as well as racial equity focused plans; and called for the city to measure the true cost of living for city residents. The advisory board will help ensure the city continues to lead the nation in innovative, racial equity work and carries out the city’s newly enshrined charter changes.

 

“Our city has come a long way in the fight for racial justice, but there is still much more work to do to end systemic inequity,” said Mayor Adams. “We are proud to announce the launch of this advisory board, which will help us apply the critical actions needed to these important initiatives. We are fully committed to advancing equity for New Yorkers from all backgrounds and walks of life.” 

 

“Today, with the launch of this advisory board, we are taking a historic step in breaking down barriers for New Yorkers of color," said First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright. “This administration is committed to working upstream and rooting out systemic inequities that have plagued our city for far too long. This advisory board will help us determine the best path to build lasting, sustainable change.”

 

“New Yorkers made a bold statement when they voted overwhelmingly to put racial justice and equity at the heart of the city government,” said Mayor’s Office of Equity Commissioner Sherman. “I am thrilled to partner with the advisory board to help make these charter amendments a reality and ensure our city is one where everyone has access, opportunity, and can thrive.”

 

“Having made history by voting overwhelmingly for racial justice and equity to be a charter-mandated government function and responsibility, New York City now leads the nation in taking formal steps to dismantle structural racism," said Jennifer Jones Austin, former chair, New York City Racial Justice Commission. “I am honored to work with Mayor Adams and his administration, and the newly formed advisory board on the buildout of the three historic measures that hold the promise of a more equitable and inclusive future for all New Yorkers.”

 

The advisory board will bring together 15 diverse leaders with significant experience successfully implementing large-scale change within government and with a proven commitment to racial equity. In collaboration with the Mayor’s Office of Equity, these leaders will tackle the structure, design, and development of the new, forthcoming office and commission, as well as the citywide racial equity plans and the true cost of living measure. 

 

The Mayor’s Office of Equity will convene monthly meetings with the advisory board to advise on these key priorities, as well as additional areas, including institutional reform to uphold and advance the New York City charter changes and recommendations for engaging New Yorkers. They will also focus on creating a process for reporting the true cost of living measure and suggesting ways to apply this information. 

 

The advisory board will consist of the following members: 

• Ana Bermúdez, former commissioner, New York City Department of Probation 
• Grace Bonilla, president & CEO, United Way of New York City 
• Fred Davie, senior strategic advisor to the president, Union Theological Seminary 
• Hazel Dukes, president, NAACP New York State Conference 
• Dr. Torian Easterling, MD, MPH, chief strategic and innovation officer, One Brooklyn Health; former First Deputy Commissioner & Chief Equity Officer, New York City Department of Mental Health & Hygiene  
• Jacques Jiha, director, New York City Mayor’s Office of Management and Budget 
• Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO & executive director, Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies
• Michael McAfee, president & CEO, PolicyLink 
• Melva Miller, CEO, Association for a Better New York
• Michael Nutter, former mayor, City of Philadelphia 
• Sherif Soliman, director, Mayor’s Office of Policy & Planning
• Udai Tambar, CEO, New York Junior Tennis & Learning  
• Phil Thompson, former New York City Deputy Mayor for Strategic Policy Initiatives
• Carl Weisbrod, former chairman, New York City Planning Commission 
• Jo-Ann Yoo, executive director, Asian American Federation

Biographies for advisory board members can be found online.

NYS Office of the Comptroller DiNapoli: SFY 2022-23 Tax Collections Outperform Projections; Fall Below Previous Year

 

Tax collections for State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2022-23 totaled $111.7 billion, $2.9 billion higher than the forecast released by the Division of the Budget (DOB) in the Amended Executive Budget financial plan at the beginning of March but $9.5 billion lower than the previous year, according to the March State Cash Report released today by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

The year over year decline was primarily due to a decline in Personal Income Tax (PIT) receipts resulting from a variety of factors including: a decline in year-end bonuses in the financial services industry, claiming of credits related to the Pass-Through Entity Tax (PTET), the acceleration of the final phase-in of the middle-class tax rate cuts, and financial market volatility over the course of 2022.    

“The financial position of the state remains on a solid footing, for now,” DiNapoli said. “While tax collections have exceeded projections, they were considerably lower than last year. Although easing, inflation continues to present challenges to economic growth. State policy makers should ensure that the enacted budget for State Fiscal Year 2023-24 commits additional resources to the state’s reserve funds to improve long-term financial stability.”

PIT collections totaled $58.8 billion, nearly $12 billion, or 16.9%, lower than prior year collections. PIT collections exceeded March Financial Plan projections by $454.6 million and by $11.8 billion from the Enacted Budget, as taxpayer behavior in response to the new PTET was contrary to DOB’s forecasts.

Consumption and use taxes, which includes sales tax, totaled $20.6 billion, exceeding the prior year total by $964 million or 4.9%. Collections were $50.2 million higher than the latest projections and $1 billion higher than initial projections. 

Business tax collections totaled $28.6 billion which was $891.8 million higher than the previous year, reflecting a 24.6% increase in corporate franchise taxes due to continued growth in corporate profits and a significant amount of audit receipts. This total includes $14.9 billion in PTET collections which were $1.5 billion, or 9%, lower than SFY 2021-22. Total business tax collections exceeded the latest projections by $2.2 billion and initial projections by $636.4 million. 

All Funds spending totaled $220.5 billion, which was $11.1 billion, or 5.3%, higher than last year. The General Fund ended the fiscal year with a balance of $43.45 billion, an increase of $10.4 billion from the opening balance. This includes $2.35 billion of federal funds from the American Rescue Plan State Fiscal Relief program. Actions taken by DOB at the end of the fiscal year include:

• Deposits of $2.75 billion and $183 million to the Rainy Day and Tax Stabilization Reserve Funds, respectively, $213 million lower than anticipated.
• $6.2 billion in debt service pre-payments.
• $920 million transferred to the retiree health benefit trust fund.
• The deferment of nearly $4 billion in Medicaid provider payments from March to April, including $1.8 billion of state share payments.

Report

March Cash Report

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Governor Hochul Officially Kicks Off Construction Season in New York State and Announces National Work Zone Awareness Week to Take Place from April 17 through 21

Work Zone Speed Monitoring Pilot Program Launches April 17, Building on Ongoing Efforts to Enforce Safe Driving in Work Zones and Protect the Lives of Highway Workers Across New York

NYSDOT and Thruway Authority Launch Public Awareness Campaign to Educate New Yorkers on the New Pilot Program in Work Zones

State Landmarks to Be Lit in Orange on April 19 with New Yorkers Encouraged to Wear Orange in Solidarity with New York's Highway Workforce

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the state will officially commemorate National Work Zone Awareness Week from April 17 through April 21 as construction season kicks off. The theme for 2023 is, "You play a role in work zone safety. Work with us!" As part of this commemoration aimed at protecting highway workers, an Automated Work Zone Speed Monitoring Pilot Program to help enforce speed limits in highway construction and maintenance work zones will officially launch on April 17, a joint initiative between the New York State Department of Transportation and the New York State Thruway Authority that builds upon ongoing efforts to better protect highway workers. A total of 30 speed violation monitoring systems that rely on RADAR technology will be positioned in active work zones along New York State highways - 20 on NYSDOT maintained roads and 10 on the New York State Thruway.

"As we officially kick off construction season in New York as well as National Work Zone Awareness Week, I thank highway workers across the state who put their lives on the line to maintain and enhance the roads that we all rely on every day," Governor Hochul said. "This new pilot program will be instrumental in encouraging safe driving habits in highway work zones and protecting the lives of those who help maintain a safe and reliable highway system."

New York State has experienced a rising number of work zone speed violations in recent years, resulting in numerous highway worker injuries and several deaths among state and contractor personnel. By launching the program during National Work Zone Awareness Week, an annual campaign recognized by the Federal Highway Administration since 2000, the state is further highlighting the importance of safe driving when encountering construction, maintenance and emergency operations along highways.

Automated Work Zone Speed Monitoring Pilot Program and Campaign

The Automated Work Zone Speed Monitoring pilot program was established by legislation signed into law by Governor Hochul. For the first 30 days of the pilot, speeding motorists will be issued warning Notices of Liability, with actual Notices being issued 30 days after the initial rollout. A technology operator for the program was selected following a competitive bidding process. Under the program, all vehicles detected violating the posted speed limit within a work zone by over an established threshold will be fined. License plate images and speed data collected will be sent to NYSDOT and the Thruway within a week, with violation fines issued to the vehicle's registered owner by mail. Vehicle owners who are New York State residents will receive notice in the mail within 14 business days of the violation instance, while those who live out of state will receive notice within 45 days. Images of the driver or contents of the vehicle will not be documented.

Fines through the pilot program will be issued as follows:

1. $50 for first violation
2. $75 for second violation
3. $100 for third and subsequent violations within 18 months of the first violation

Unpaid fines may result in a vehicle registration hold where drivers will not be able to renew their registrations without first paying their fines. Owners may contest a violation within 30 days of when they received notice. As required by law, 60 percent of the funds collected by NYSDOT and the Thruway Authority through the program will supplement work zone safety projects.

The State Department of Transportation and the Thruway Authority are also launching a comprehensive public awareness campaign to include various advertising and social media opportunities that target drivers across the State. The campaign will utilize billboard advertisements, broadcast and streaming radio, Waze and more to highlight to the new program and improve motorist compliance with traffic safety laws in highway work zones. More information about the pilot program can be found here.

Operation Hardhat

A State Police crackdown on work zone violations will also be taking place during National Work Zone Awareness Week, April 17 through April 21, 2023 as part of the ongoing "Operation Hardhat" initiative, which highlights the importance of safe driving practices in active construction and maintenance work zones across the state. State Troopers will be dressed as highway maintenance workers in active highway work zones on highways across New York where State Department of Transportation and Thruway Authority employees will be performing maintenance and construction activities. DOT, State Police and the Thruway Authority plan to partner on additional unannounced enforcement efforts in construction zones throughout the State during the remainder of the construction season which typically concludes in October.

Troopers will be present within the work zones to identify motorists who disobey flagging personnel, speed through the work zone, or violate the state's Move Over Law, which applies to both emergency and maintenance vehicles. In 2022, a total of 3,062 tickets were issued during Operation Hardhat details, surpassing the total of 2,336 tickets issued in 2021.

Lighting of Landmarks

The landmarks to be lit in recognition of Go Orange Day include:

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

Recognizing and understanding signs leading up to and within a work zone is essential for the safety of all drivers and roadside workers. Maintenance crews across the state work alongside fast-moving traffic each day, knowing their lives depend on drivers being alert, patient and cautious. It is critically important that motorists eliminate distractions, pay attention to driving and move over for workers. As construction season continues, maintenance and work crews will continue to be out on the road performing repairs and improvements to ensure roads are safe for motorists. All travelers should be prepared to reduce speeds and to be alert when passing through work zones.

For more information about National Work Zone Awareness Week, click here.

U.S. Attorney Announces Arrest Of Bronx Woman For Threatening To Shoot Up A New Rochelle Restaurant And Sports Bar On A Saturday Night

 

Jayleen Mota Threatened to Shoot Up A Popular Nationwide Chain Restaurant and Sports Bar in New Rochelle on a Saturday Night

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York,  Michael J. Driscoll, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Robert Gazzola, the Commissioner of the New Rochelle Police Department (“NRPD”), announced that JAYLEEN MOTA was arrested on April 16, 2023, and charged via a criminal Complaint filed in White Plains federal court with making threatening interstate communications, in which MOTA threatened to shoot up a popular nationwide chain restaurant and sports bar located on LeCount Place in New Rochelle on Saturday night.  MOTA will be presented in White Plains federal court later today before United States Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Actual or threatened gun violence cannot be tolerated.  Simply put, those who place the public in fear by engaging in or threatening the use of violence will be held accountable.  This Office commends the swift action of the New Rochelle Police Department and the FBI in quickly tracking down this threat.”

FBI Assistant Director in Charge Michael J. Driscoll said: “As alleged, Ms. Mota sent a series of text messages in which she threatened to commit a mass shooting at a crowded New Rochelle restaurant.  Communicating threats like those we allege she made can waste valuable law enforcement resources and cause unnecessary alarm in our communities.  Today’s charges should serve as a reminder for all that the FBI takes these types of threats seriously, and there will be consequences for those who make them.”

NRPD Commissioner Robert Gazzola said: “I want to commend the New Rochelle Police detectives, members of the Westchester County Department of Public Safety's Real Time Crime Center, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney's Office.  They worked quickly and diligently to identify and arrest the individual who allegedly made threats of mass violence directed at a local New Rochelle restaurant.  It is a testament to the professional cooperation that exists in law enforcement today.  The New Rochelle Police Department does not tolerate such acts and will make every effort to identify and arrest anyone making such threats.”

As alleged in the Complaint filed today:[1]

On April 15, 2023, the NRPD received a call from an individual (“Caller-1”) who had received an initial text message from an unknown person, later identified as MOTA, threatening to “shoot[] up” a popular nationwide chain restaurant and sports bar located on LeCount Place in New Rochelle (the “Victim Restaurant”).  The text message further stated that there would be a “massacre” and “lots of people are going down.”  A subsequent text message stated that “[t]odays a busy night because of the game DON’T TAKE ME AS A JOKE lots of people will die DON’T CALL THE STORE AND RUIN MY PLANS I’m gonna make the news.”

That same day, the NRPD received a call from a second individual (“Caller-2”) who had received an identical text message from an unknown person threatening to “shooting[] up” the Victim Restaurant and commit a “massacre,” stating, “lots of people are going down.”

The NRPD took the phone number from which the text-message threats were sent and traced the number back to MOTA.  On the evening of April 15, 2023, pursuant to a search warrant, the FBI and New Rochelle Police searched MOTA’s apartment and found both MOTA and the cellphone from which MOTA sent the threats.  After informing MOTA of her Miranda rights, she consented to being interviewed and admitted that she had sent text messages threatening to shoot up the Victim Restaurant to five individuals.

MOTA, 21, of the Bronx, New York, is charged with making threatening interstate communications, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.  

The maximum potential penalty is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative efforts of the NRPD and the FBI’s Westchester Safe Streets Task Force, which consists of investigators and analysts from the FBI and other New York state and local agencies.

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

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

Bronx Chamber of Commerce - Cannabis - What do you know about it?

 

Register - Click Here Join the Bronx Chamber of Commerce, NYC Department of Small Business Services, the NYS Latino Cannabis Association, ConBUD NY, the Bronx Cannabis HUB, and the Bronx Community Foundation as we discuss cannabis and its impact on our health, businesses, and economy. The evening includes a fireside chat, networking, bites, and cocktails. For the complete Bronx Chamber Events Calendar, featuring educational workshops, networking events and other opportunities hosted by the Chamber, its members, & partners, please visit and bookmark our website events calendar link in your browser - new events are added weekly!

Attorney General James Urges Supreme Court to Protect Veterans’ Rights

 

AG James Joins Bipartisan Coalition of 34 Attorneys General to Support Veterans’ Access to the Post 9/11 GI Bill Benefits They Earned

 New York Attorney General Letitia James called on the United States Supreme Court to grant review in Rudisill v. McDonough, a case involving veterans’ rights and access to educational benefits under federal law. As part of a bipartisan coalition of 34 attorneys general, Attorney General James called on the Supreme Court to hear the case which seeks to remedy the fact that decorated U.S. Army veteran James Rudisill is currently being denied his Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits.  

“Our veterans stepped up to protect our freedoms and safety, and we owe them a debt of gratitude that can never truly be repaid,” said Attorney General James. “The petitioner in this case, U.S. Army veteran James Rudisill, like thousands of other veterans, served our nation with distinction, and he has earned the educational benefits provided through the Post-9/11 GI Bill. I am proud to work with this bipartisan group of attorneys general to try and right this wrong before more veterans are denied the benefits they deserve.” 

James Rudisill is a decorated United States Army veteran of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. After his first tour, Mr. Rudisill used educational benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill to successfully complete his undergraduate degree and returned to the U.S. Army as a commissioned officer. Mr. Rudisill served his country bravely and received one of the military’s highest honors, the Bronze Star, for his service. Following his third tour of duty, Mr. Rudisill was accepted into the Yale Divinity School, with a goal of returning to the armed forces, as a chaplain. Mr. Rudisill sought to use expanded educational benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, but was denied the ability to do so by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on the ground that he was entitled only to the more limited benefits under the Montgomery program.  

After exhausting administrative remedies, Mr. Rudisill appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which upheld the VA’s decision in both a panel decision and a decision by the full court. The Post-9/11 GI Bill was intended to help members of the armed forces who served on or following September 11, 2001, pay for school or job training. If the Federal Circuit’s decision is not addressed by the Supreme Court, it could have the effect of denying thousands of veterans of the benefits they earned while serving in the United States Armed Forces.  

NYGOP Executive Vice Chair John Burnett responds to Hakeem Jeffries

 

NYGOP Executive Vice Chair John Burnett released the following statement in response to House Democrat leader Hakeem Jeffries' past comments comparing Black Republicans to "House Negroes:"

 

“America - like every person – was born with a sinful stain, but that sin does not define our destiny. American values of freedom, hard work, individual responsibility, and upward social mobility are timeless. The path of American redemption is filled with promises unlocked through perseverance, an unwavering belief in oneself, and compassion toward each other.

 

"Rep. Jeffries' comments were regressive when he made them, and he still fuels a divisive climate by insulting members of the Black community with different opinions. He should apologize. The Honorable Mr. Jeffries is a representative from Brooklyn - my birthplace. In the familiar words of Biggie Smalls, Jeffries should spread love; it’s the Brooklyn way."