|
Victim was Found Bludgeoned to Death in Her Bedroom
Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced that a Bronx man has been sentenced to 24 years in prison and five years post-release supervision for fatally beating his mother with a baseball bat in their apartment in the Hunts Point neighborhood of the Bronx.
District Attorney Clark said, “It’s unfathomable that someone would kill their own mother in such a brutal way. The defendant will be spending decades behind bars for this horrific attack. We stand with the family of the victim who lost a loving mother and grandmother.”
District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Steven Castro, 43, last of Seneca Avenue, the Bronx, was sentenced on April 21, 2023, to 24 years in prison and five years post-release supervision by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Ralph Fabrizio. The defendant pleaded guilty to first-degree Manslaughter on March 21, 2023.
According to the investigation, in the early morning hours of October 28, 2020, inside the defendant’s apartment where he lived with his mother, Carmen Aponte, the defendant repeatedly struck her in the head with a baseball bat, killing her. Castro told investigators he hit his mother multiple times with the bat and then tossed the weapon into a nearby river. He told police that he was jealous that his mother was giving gifts to his brother’s children and not his own. He told investigators he felt like the black sheep in his family.
District Attorney Clark thanked the 41st Precinct Detective Squad and Bronx Homicide Squad for their work on the case.
New York City Has Reduced Childhood Lead Exposure by 93 Percent Since 2005
New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released “Taking the Lead on Lead” — a report highlighting the city’s efforts in the fight against lead exposure. The report provides updates from every city agency with lead-related compliance requirements to proactively monitor and mitigate lead exposure. It serves as a measure of progress since “LeadFreeNYC” — the city’s roadmap to eliminating childhood lead exposure — was released in 2019. Of the 46 commitments made in LeadFreeNYC, 42 are completed or ongoing, and the remaining four are currently in progress. Mayor Adams also today appointed Jasmine Blake as the city’s new citywide lead compliance officer to monitor different city agencies’ ongoing lead compliance and reporting and continue interagency coordination and communication.
“Keeping New Yorkers and their families safe is the most important work we do as a city, and that work includes protecting our children from the dangers of lead exposure and lead poisoning,” said Mayor Adams. “Thanks to these efforts and the intensive work of our city agencies, lead exposure in children has been reduced by 93 percent since 2005, but there is still more work to be done. We have made great strides in public health and safety, and we will continue to work hard toward our goal of a lead-free New York City.”
“New York City has long been and must remain a leader in protecting children from lead-based paint hazards,” said Chief Housing Officer Jessica Katz. “Taking the Lead on Lead shows that there is nowhere more aggressive than New York City in eliminating lead exposure. Using housing policy to improve public health is a key tent pole of the Adams administration’s housing and homelessness blueprint. Through a whole-of-government approach, we will strengthen our fight against lead and keep New Yorkers, especially children, lead-free.”
“Being aggressive in our efforts to detect and combat lead is a central focus of our 2019 agreement with HUD, and a critical aspect of ensuring that public housing is safe for the New Yorkers who live there,” said New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) Interim CEO Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “NYCHA has diligently worked to demonstrate leadership by creating best practices as we continue to test tens of thousands of apartments and utilize available resources to ensure that hazards are being abated. The PACT program also requires that NYCHA’s partners test and abate lead via removal in all units, which ensures residents live in a lead-free unit when the developments are modernized. The health of the Authority’s families remains our top priority.”
“The New York City Department of Environmental Protection takes great pride in delivering high-quality, lead-free drinking water to nearly 10 million New Yorkers every day,” said Chief Climate Officer and New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala. “I thank Mayor Adams for his dedication to achieving a LeadFreeNYC, as we continue the important work of assisting homeowners in removing any remaining lead water service lines so they can continue to enjoy the best tap water in the world for generations to come.”
“Research has shown that for every dollar spent on lead prevention, up to hundreds of dollars are saved in future costs,” said New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “The work we do to screen for lead in children — as well as to investigate, mitigate, and enforce against hazardous conditions — benefits children, families, and communities throughout their lifetimes. This is public health at its best, and the administration’s continued leadership in this field will keep our city at the forefront of lead prevention and protect future generations of New Yorkers.”
“Making homes healthy and lead-safe is always on our minds at HPD, because our children deserve to grow up without the threat of lead exposure,” said New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr. “In our fight for a LeadFreeNYC, we’re calling on all property owners and residents to join us in taking quick and aggressive action against lead hazards, like peeling paint in the home, so we can keep every child safe from lead poisoning.”
“New York City has always been at the forefront of fighting childhood lead exposure, and this latest report demonstrates our commitment to furthering this work,” said Citywide Lead Compliance Officer Jasmine Blake. “Under this new position, we will be able to improve interagency communication, strengthen our lead-related programs, and monitor compliance with city, state, and federal laws to better protect all New Yorkers.”
Investing in Public Housing
Since LeadFreeNYC was released in 2019, NYCHA has overhauled its anti-lead strategy to make it one of the most effective and aggressive public housing lead programs in the nation. Using $77 million in city capital and federal Community Development Block Grant funding, NYCHA will test 77,000 apartments for lead paint using New York City’s new, more protective threshold. That new standard is 0.5 milligrams of lead per square centimeter of paint (as compared to the previous standard of 1 milligram per square centimeter). NYCHA will first focus on apartments with children under six years old.
Under this new threshold, NYCHA launched an abatement program to address lead-based paint issues in these apartments. That abatement program, which requires extensive levels of work, is supported by $1.4 billion in city capital funds and offers temporary relocation to residents while their apartments are being stripped of lead. Additionally, whenever a NYCHA household moves out, the city tests those apartments and remedies any lead issues before new residents move in. Further, the city is providing $673 million in capital funding towards the comprehensive modernization program at NYCHA’s Saint Nicholas Houses and Todt Hill Houses, which will include lead abatement as a part of the larger renovations.
Protecting New Yorkers in Private Homes
HPD has implemented at least 10 major changes since LeadFreeNYC was released in 2019. Notably, HPD has expanded the application of Local Law 1 — which governs lead enforcement — to include rental units in one- and two-family homes, as well as apartments where children under six spend more than 10 hours per week (as opposed to just locations where they reside). And now that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has approved a device that can test for lead at lower levels, HPD enforces this new standard to make sure that families are as safe as possible.
HPD has also stepped-up enforcement and litigation efforts against landlords who are failing to meet lead-related obligations. One agreement with a major landlord, resulting from HPD litigation, resulted in $82,500 in civil penalties and a consent order to correct over 80 lead-based paint violations across six Brooklyn buildings impacting 285 homes, as well as complying with all other lead-based paint requirements. HPD also seeks enforcement in conjunction with the New York City Department of Law and the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants.
Addressing Elevated Blood Lead Levels and Expanding Outreach to Partners, Caregivers, and Providers
DOHMH has developed a comprehensive approach to address elevated blood lead levels in children and adults and to reduce lead hazards in homes and communities. In March 2022, DOHMH further reduced the blood lead level for intervention from five micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL) to 3.5 mcg/dL or higher, which aligns with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s current reference level. In October 2022, the New York City Board of Health updated the Health Code to codify this intervention level. DOHMH has also dramatically expanded its efforts to engage with partners, caregivers, and providers, to ensure that they have the information they need to address lead. These efforts include:
Drinking Water and Lead Service Lines
New York City’s drinking water is delivered lead-free from the city’s upstate reservoirs and distribution system. However, lead could potentially absorb into drinking water through a home’s lead water service line. Although lead water service lines were banned in 1961, some older homes may still have them connecting their house to the city’s water main in the street. To protect New Yorkers, DEP carefully monitors and treats the city’s drinking water to minimize the amount of lead that could be absorbed from lead pipes and plumbing fixtures. In 2022, DEP completed a pilot program to assist 600 low-income homeowners in replacing privately-owned lead service lines at no cost to them. Based on that pilot, DEP has submitted federal grant applications for millions of dollars, which would allow DEP to dramatically expand these free replacements in environmental justice communities. DEP also provided nearly 10,000 free lead test kits to New Yorkers in 2022.
About Jasmine Blake
Jasmine Blake will take on the role of citywide lead compliance officer while continuing to serve as chief of staff in the office of the chief housing officer, which sets the Adams administration’s housing strategy and oversees NYCHA, HPD, New York City Housing Development Corporation, the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants, and the Mayor’s Office of Housing Recovery Operations. Blake has 15 years of government, political, and strategic communications experience.
Prior to joining the Adams administration, in March 2022, Blake managed the affordable housing portfolio for BerlinRosen as vice president for public affairs.
She first worked with lead compliance monitoring at NYCHA, where she was the deputy chief communications officer and oversaw the public management and engagement for the Authority while it established NYCHA’s first lead compliance program.
Blake holds a Bachelors in Government and European Studies from the University of Texas at Austin and a Masters in Global Communication from George Washington University.
Secure Storage Gives Survivors of Sexual Assault Ability to Receive Medical Care, Consent to Evidence Collection and Time to Decide if They Want to File a Police Report
State Office of Victim Services Established the Facility to Comply with the State Law that Requires Unreported Kits to be Stored for 20 Years from the Date of Collection
Governor Hochul Directs State Landmarks to be Illuminated Blue, Green and Purple Tonight, April 24
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the opening of a State facility to store sexual offense evidence collection kits that have not been released to law enforcement custody. Secure storage gives individuals who have been sexually assaulted the ability to get medical care, consent to forensic evidence collection and time to decide if they want to file a police report. The State Office of Victim Services established the facility to comply with the state law that requires unreported kits to be stored for 20 years from the date of collection. Capital Region, Mohawk Valley and Western New York hospitals are the first to notify survivors that their kits will be transferred and how they can track them. Hospitals in the state’s remaining regions will follow that process in the coming months.
“New York State remains committed to supporting survivors of sexual assault in every way possible,” Governor Hochul said. “This new State facility will be a critical tool to help deliver support and justice, while providing a strong foundation for victims to heal and alleviate some of the pressure they may feel when it comes to legal timelines.”
New York State Office of Victim Services Director Elizabeth Cronin said, “Access to timely medical care following a sexual assault is critical. It allows an individual to seek treatment and medication, and other services and support that may help them decide whether to report the incident to police. If they are not ready to involve the criminal justice system, preserving forensic and other evidence also increases their options, and the secure storage of kits allows them the time and space to decide the next steps that are best for them.”
Office of Victim Services Director Elizabeth Cronin joined state agency colleagues, medical professionals, victim advocates, law enforcement and other professionals at Albany Medical Center this morning to discuss the facility’s operations and to educate survivors that hospitals must make a concerted effort to contact them before their kits are transferred. This notification allows individuals to decide whether to transfer their kit to the facility, notify law enforcement about the incident, or consent to having their kit disposed. Hospitals across the state have approximately 10,000 kits in storage.
Located in the Capital Region, the facility is secure, climate controlled and designed to ensure the integrity of potential evidence. It began accepting kits in mid-January 2023 and to date, Albany Medical Center and Glens Falls Hospital, both members of the Albany Med Health System, have transferred 525 items to the facility: 277 sexual offense evidence collection kits, 83 drug-facilitated sexual assault kits and 165 other items such as clothing and bedding. The facility’s current capacity is 17,400 items and will increase to 26,600 items once renovation of a second storage wing is complete.
Prior to sending kits to the facility, hospital staff must be trained on the electronic system for logging and tracking kits and other items, and the victim notification portion of the system. Office of Victim Services staff are currently onboarding hospital staff in the Capital Region, Mohawk Valley and Western New York so they can transfer kits and other items to the facility and notify survivors. Hospital staff in Central New York, Long Island and the North Country are scheduled to receive the training in May. Office of Victim Services will train hospital staff in New York City in August, and they will train hospital staff in the Finger Lakes, Mid-Hudson and Southern Tier in November.
Governor Hochul also directed the following state landmarks to be illuminated blue, green and purple tonight, April 24, in recognition of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and to honor victims and survivors and recognize the professionals who support them:
The state Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) provides Sexual Offense Evidence Collection Kits, and Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault Kits, at no cost to hospitals and medical facilities. DCJS, in partnership with a multidisciplinary team of professionals, recently updated the kits to streamline the evidence collection process, make it less invasive and extend the timeframe for obtaining forensic evidence from 96 hours to 120 hours. DCJS also must establish an electronic system that will allow survivors to track their kits from the point they are collected by law enforcement and subsequently sent to a crime lab for testing. That system is expected to be fully operational by 2025.
The Office of Victim Services directly reimburses medical providers for the cost of a forensic rape exam (FRE) if an individual does not have private health insurance or chooses not to use their private health care insurance for the examination. This measure is an exception to the agency’s payer of last resort rule and provides for the personal privacy of victims. The Office of Victim Services also accepts FRE claims in lieu of police reports, which enables individuals to seek financial assistance and reimbursement from OVS for other expenses related to the crime.
OVS funds and supports 239 victim assistance programs statewide that provide essential services, such as crisis counseling, support groups, case management, emergency shelter, civil legal help and relocation assistance, among other assistance, to victims and survivors of sexual assault and other crimes, and their families. Individuals may visit ovs.ny.gov/connect to find these programs, which provide services at no cost and regardless of whether an individual has reported the crime to police. New York State’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline also is available for confidential support and advocacy 24/7: 800-942-6906 (voice), 844-997-2121 (text) and opdv.ny.gov (chat).
Dear Neighbor,
The Office of the Bronx Borough President, in collaboration with the New York State Department of Labor (DOL), invites you to attend an exciting job fair! Our goal is to connect Bronx Borough community members with exceptional job opportunities. This job fair is open to the public, and we encourage all job seekers to attend. You'll have the chance to meet with employers, learn about businesses and organizations, and showcase your skills and experience. We have 34 businesses partnering on this Job Fair and some of them are looking to hire onsite.
The job fair will take place on Thursday, April 27th, from 10 am-3 pm, at the Bronx Borough Hall (Rotunda), located at 851 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY, 10451. Don't forget to bring copies of your resume or business cards to share with businesses.
Register for this event by April 24th, by filling out the information this form: Join us for the Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson & NY Department of Labor Job Fair (office.com). We look forward to seeing you there!
In partnership,
Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson
|
|
New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released the following statement after the Police Benevolent Association (PBA) voted to ratify the contract agreement by an overwhelming majority, with 97.69 percent voting in favor of the contract. The contract will provide wage increases, retroactive to 2017 and going through 2025, ranging from 2.25 percent to 4.00 percent over the contract period, and provides a new pilot program that will allow officers to test working extended tours of 10- and 12-hour shifts:
“The men and women of the NYPD put their lives on the line each and every day to keep our city safe — and we’re proud that the PBA contract ratified today recognizes the unique contributions and sacrifices that members of service make on behalf of all New Yorkers. This contract offers fair wage increases, provides for greater flexibility for our officers, and boosts the salary schedule for starting officers to ensure they are fairly compensated. We thank Office of Labor Relations Commissioner Renee Campion and PBA President Pat Lynch for their relentless efforts to reach this historic agreement.”
The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) and the New York State Department of Health (DOH) today announced the launch of the Buprenorphine Assistance Pilot Program to assist New Yorkers with the cost of buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD).
Bupe-AP will cover the cost of buprenorphine for eligible uninsured and under-insured individuals with no out of pocket costs for their medication. Buprenorphine is used to help manage OUD involving substances such as heroin, fentanyl, and prescription opioids, and decreases the risk for opioid-related mortality (overdose).
OASAS Commissioner Chinazo Cunningham said, “Cost should not be a barrier to accessing life-saving medications. This benefit will help ensure equitable access to critical buprenorphine treatment, and will undoubtedly help to reduce overdose deaths.”
NYS DOH Acting State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “Ensuring fair access to this lifesaving medication is another step toward providing compassionate care for New Yorkers who are struggling with opioid use disorder. This partnership demonstrates the state’s dedication to addressing the harm caused by the opioid epidemic and prioritizes treatment and the use of safe, effective medication that will ultimately save lives.”
The Bupe-AP pilot program will be managed by the DOH AIDS Institute’s Office of Uninsured Care Programs (UCP) working in partnership with the NYSDOH Office of Drug User Health. The pilot program will utilize UCP’s existing pharmacy benefit management system, allowing access to over 4,300 pharmacies currently enrolled.
The Program will allow for select OASAS and DOH programs to roll-out the benefit, make modifications as necessary and expand to additional agencies in the future. Programs will be required to utilize guidelines to identify those patients who meet eligibility criteria. Opioid Stewardship funds will be utilized to cover the cost of medication as well as staff time to process the claims.
New York State has instituted an aggressive, multi-pronged approach to address the overdose epidemic, comprised of a nation-leading continuum of prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction services. This comprehensive system includes crisis services, inpatient, outpatient, and residential treatment programs, mobile treatment and transportation services, as well as medication for substance use disorder.
In addition, DOH recently launched a new harm reduction campaign that advises individuals to avoid using opioids and other drugs alone, and to know that, in case of an overdose, calling 911 will not result in a possession charge. Persons who use drugs are encouraged to carry naloxone and know how to administer this life-saving medication. More information about the new harm reduction campaign can be found at https://www.health.ny.gov/
OASAS also continues to support expansions to harm reduction services across New York State, including expanding access to medication for addiction, naloxone, and other services to support overall health and well-being of people impacted by addiction. More information about the OASAS Bureau of Harm Reduction and available services and resources can be found at https://oasas.ny.gov/harm-
New Yorkers who want assistance for themselves or their loved ones with their substance use or gambling can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369).
Funding will Enable Providers to Establish Comprehensive Integrated Outpatient Treatment Programs Designed to Increase Access to the Full Continuum of Services for Opioid Use Disorder
Grants Awarded through New York State's Opioid Settlement Fund
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the awarding of over $5.8 million to providers across New York State to establish comprehensive integrated outpatient treatment programs for addiction. This funding is being distributed through the State's Opioid Settlement Fund.
"Countless lives have been impacted by the opioid and overdose epidemic here in New York," Governor Hochul said. "As individuals, families, and communities across the state continue to feel the impact of this crisis, we are working to meet the ongoing need for treatment services, and will continue our comprehensive effforts to help ensure no more lives are lost to addiction."
Comprehensive integrated outpatient treatment programs provide more opportunities to access person-centered comprehensive services, including medication treatment for opioid use disorder. These programs are designed to address the ongoing need for integrated treatment by centralizing these services in one location. Programs receiving this funding will operate both an outpatient treatment program and an opioid treatment program (OTP) at the same site.
New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports Commissioner Chinazo Cunningham said, "These new programs will allow more people to receive important help and support for addiction, including medication treatment, all under one roof. Thanks to the funding provided through the Opioid Settlement Fund, we are continuing to expand and enhance our services to give more New Yorkers a chance to access these important services closer to home."
State Senator Nathalia Fernandez said, "I am happy that we are seeing the Opioid Settlement Fund be used in such precise and effective ways. Having integrated treatment in one location will not only help our patients to receive critical services but it will also help providers and medical staff with the resources they need to save lives and treat addiction more successfully."
The following 12 providers are receiving funding through this initiative to establish programs in the listed counties.
Central New York
Finger Lakes
Long Island
Mid-Hudson
New York City
North Country
Southern Tier
Western NY
New York State is receiving more than $2 billion through various settlement agreements with opioid manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies that were secured by Attorney General Letitia James. A portion of the funding from these settlements will go directly to municipalities, with the remainder deposited into a dedicated fund to support prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery efforts to address the ongoing opioid epidemic.
The same legislation that established the dedicated fund also created the Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board, which is tasked with making recommendations on how settlement dollars should be allocated to best serve those in need. Board members issued their first recommendations on November 1, identifying the expansion of harm reduction services and treatment as top priorities.
New York State has instituted an aggressive, multi-pronged approach to addressing the overdose epidemic, and created a nation-leading continuum of addiction care with full prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction services. The state has worked to expand access to traditional services, including crisis services, inpatient, outpatient, and residential treatment programs, as well as medication to treat addiction, and mobile treatment and transportation services.
Governor Hochul was a member of the NYS Heroin and Opioid Task Force, which in 2016, recommended new, non-traditional services, including recovery centers, youth clubhouses, expanded peer services, and open access centers, which provide immediate assessments and referrals to care. These services have since been established in numerous communities around the state and have helped people in need access care closer to where they live.
The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports oversees one of the nation's largest substance use disorder systems of care with approximately 1,700 prevention, treatment and recovery programs serving over 731,000 individuals per year. This includes the direct operation of 12 Addiction Treatment Centers where our doctors, nurses, and clinical staff provide inpatient and residential services to approximately 8,000 individuals per year.
If you, or a loved one, have experienced insurance obstacles related to treatment or need help filing an appeal for a denied claim, contact the CHAMP helpline by phone at 888-614-5400 or email at ombuds@oasas.ny.gov.
