Bronx Man Convicted Of Robbery And Shooting Of Taxi Driver

 

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the conviction in Manhattan federal court of MARIO POWELL for the armed robbery and shooting of a cab driver in the Bronx on March 17, 2018.  The jury convicted POWELL following a four-day trial before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer.

According to the allegations in the Indictment and the evidence presented during the trial:

On March 17, 2018, POWELL took a cab from one neighborhood in the Bronx to another.  Upon reaching his requested destination, POWELL robbed the cab driver at gunpoint, obtained $23 from the cab driver, and shot the cab driver nine times.  POWELL fled the scene and was subsequently arrested on March 23, 2018.

POWELL, 33, of the Bronx, New York, was convicted of one count of Hobbs Act robbery, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of the use, carrying, and possession of a firearm, which was brandished and discharged, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The statutory minimum and maximum penalties are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant would be determined by the judge.  POWELL is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Engelmayer on October 3, 2023.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”) and the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), in particular, the Strategic Patterned Armed Robbery Technical Apprehension (“SPARTA”) Task Force, which is composed of agents and officers of the ATF and the NYPD

The Arabella At 4720 Third Avenue Tops Out Over Belmont, The Bronx

 

The Arabella at 4720 Third Avenue, a nine-story residential building in the Belmont section of The Bronx. Designed by Ismael Leyva Architects and developed by Vertical Community Development and Sioni Group, the structure will yield 165 market-rate and affordable units designed by Marin Architects as well as retail space and a collection of amenities in the podium. DeSimone Structural Engineers is the structural engineer, REAL New York is handling leasing and marketing, and OmniBuild Construction is the general contractor for the project, which occupies a trapezoidal plot bound by East 189th Street to the north, East 188th Street to the south, Washington Avenue to the east, and Third Avenue to the west.

The massive reinforced concrete superstructure towers over the neighborhood, rising from a podium that incorporates a tall void with columns supporting multiple terrace decks surrounding the residential volume. This upper portion features an irregular shaped massing with a sharp prow at the confluence of Third Avenue and East 189th Street. Framing work is currently progressing around the orderly grid of floor-to-ceiling windows, which should begin installation in the coming weeks.

Residential amenities will sit on the third level and include a fitness center, study rooms, a lounge, 24/7 security with access control systems throughout, and an outdoor terrace.

The site is located one block away from the Fordham University campus and the Metro-North station with access to Grand Central Terminal. The nearest subways are the B and D trains at the Fordham Road station to the west along the Grand Concourse. Nearby attractions include the Botanical Garden and the Bronx Zoo.

4720 Third Avenue’s anticipated completion date is slated for the second quarter of 2024. The number of affordable units has yet to be publicly disclosed by the developers.

Governor Hochul Announces Seasonal Opening of New York State Canal System

 

All Canal Locks and Lift Bridges Operating Today through October 11th

Free On the Canals Excursions Return with Expanded Offerings

Champlain Canal Celebrates Bicentennial

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the opening of the 2023 Navigation Season for the 524-mile New York State Canal system, kicking off the 199th consecutive opening of the historic waterways. Locks and lift bridges on the Erie, Champlain, Oswego, and Cayuga-Seneca Canals will operate daily today through October 11th, providing opportunities for boating, fishing, and sightseeing to tourists, canal enthusiasts and all New Yorkers.

"The historic waterways of the Erie Canal and canals across the state have been an integral part of New York's story that continues to support our local communities, small businesses and tourism," Governor Hochul said. "The Canal system is a hub of recreation and tourism, and as a longtime boater, I encourage all New Yorkers to explore the endless recreational opportunities and adventure available throughout the canal system."

To prepare for the navigation season, the New York State Canal Corporation undertook an essential annual winter maintenance program that helps to ensure Canal infrastructure remains safe, operable, and in a state of good repair. This winter, the Canal Corporation completed rehabilitation projects at Lock C-6 (Fort Miller), Locks E-4 and E-5 (Waterford), Lock E-10 (Cranesville), Lock E-17 (Little Falls), Lock O-8 (Oswego), Lock E-30 (Macedon), Lock E-32 (Pittsford), and Lock E-34 (Lockport). Additionally, other maintenance and construction projects were completed along the Glens Falls Feeder Canal, the Erie Canal at German Flatts, Delta Dam, Lock CS-4 (Waterloo), Lock E-27 (Lyons), the Macedon By-Pass Lock Chamber, the concrete embankment at Bushnell's Basin and the Great Embankment in Pittsford, the Park Avenue Lift Bridge in Brockport, and along the earthen embankments in western Monroe County and Orleans County. Canal Corporation staff also performed required maintenance on its tugboats and vessels as well as other operating machinery and infrastructure.

New York Power Authority Acting President and CEO Justin Driscoll said, "As we approach the third century of the Canal's operation, we envision a system that celebrates its iconic past and is revitalized for future generations. We recognize that the Canal system continues to serve as an economic engine for Upstate New York, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to its continued success." 

The free On the Canals excursions program returns this year with new and expanded opportunities to experience the outdoors along the Canal corridor and Empire State Trail. This program, now in its fourth year, has driven substantially increased tourism along the Canal waters and Canalway Trails and last year attracted more than 13,000 participants. Excursions this year include expanded accessible offerings allowing individuals of all abilities the opportunity to recreate safely, plus boat, kayaking, and walking tours, en plein air painting, water safety courses, pollinator hikes, birding, cycling, and yoga along the canal. The On the Canals website lists all the excursions as they become available over the summer and early fall. 

Along the Champlain Canal, the Canal Corporation has once again joined forces this season with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to implement a rapid response plan to mitigate the potential spread of the round goby, an aquatic invasive species, to the Lake Champlain Basin. To learn more about these efforts and how you can assist in the preservation of the waterway for generations to come, please visit here.

All New York residents and visitors have a role to play in protecting state waters from invasive species. Visit DEC's website for more tips on how to clean, drain, and dry watercraft, fishing gear, and other equipment and for more information about New York's Watercraft Inspection Steward Program.

Permits Filed For 874 Home Street In Crotona Park East, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a four-story residential building at 874 Home Street in Crotona Park East, The Bronx. Located at the intersection of Home Street and East 169th Street, the lot is within walking distance of the Freeman Street subway station, serviced by the 2 and 5 trains. Michael Fredericks of FQuad LLC is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 47-foot-tall development will yield 7,383 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 11 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 671 square feet. The concrete-based structure will also have a cellar, penthouse, and a 30-foot-long rear yard.

Badaly Architects is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits will likely not be needed as the lot is vacant. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

Justice Department Statements on District Court Ruling Enjoining American Airlines and JetBlue’s Northeast Alliance

 

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter for the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division issued the following statements regarding the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts’s ruling in favor of the Justice Department and the Attorneys General of six states and the District of Columbia in their civil antitrust lawsuit to stop the Northeast Alliance between American Airlines and JetBlue:

“This decision is a win for Americans who rely on competition between airlines to travel affordably,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department will continue to protect competition and enforce our antitrust laws in the heavily consolidated airline industry and across every industry.”

“We are pleased with the court’s decision. The outcome of this litigation recognizes the value of competition in the airline industry,” said Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division. “We are grateful to our state law enforcement partners and the dedicated and talented Antitrust Division staff that investigated and tried this important case.”

The court’s decision follows a multi-week trial that began in September 2022. The Justice Department sued to stop American Airlines and JetBlue from continuing the Northeast Alliance. The Northeast Alliance is a series of agreements between American Airlines and JetBlue through which the two airlines have consolidated their operations in Boston and New York City. The court ruled that JetBlue and American Airlines’ decision to stop competing in Boston and New York, where they are major players, violated Section 1 of the Sherman Act because it increased fares and reduced choice for American travelers in many domestic markets for scheduled air passenger service.

NYC Agencies Can Learn from Human Resources Administration’s Language Accessibility, Finds Comptroller Lander Audit

 

As part of an ongoing effort to oversee language accessibility at City agencies that provide services to the public, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander recently audited the New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA)’s benefits access centers. The audit found that HRA generally complied with the translation standards prescribed by relevant laws and guidelines, and that non-English Language Preference clients were largely satisfied with how the agency met their language needs.

The audit team surveyed 100 non-English Language Preference (NELP) constituents on their satisfaction with the HRA’s translations and assessed the HRA’s compliance with language requirements. In particular, auditors heard from survey respondents that HRA displayed effective signs notifying constituents of available language services, staff were well prepared to use language cards to identify needed translation services, and telephonic interpretation worked well. Overall, NELP respondents said HRA staff were informative, communicative, and able to assist with basic services.

The Comptroller’s Office encourages all City agencies to prioritize language access compliance and follow HRA’s lead in providing accessible materials and services to all residents.

“Language should never be a barrier to accessing necessary City services,” said Comptroller Brad Lander. “All of New York’s agencies should strive to emulate the HRA’s best practices because every New Yorker deserves equal access to essential public information that impacts their daily lives. Providing materials in the myriad of languages New Yorkers speak and read will strengthen relationships between City agencies and the diverse communities that define New York.”

More than 25% of New York City residents over the age of five are not proficient in English. Recent legislation sought to improve the language accessibility of City services, requiring agencies that provide direct or emergency services to translate documents into the 10 most common languages, provide interpretive services, and train workers on language access policies. The ten mandated languages for translation are Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Bengali, Haitian Creole, Korean, Arabic, Urdu, French, and Polish.

The audit recommended that HRA provide professional translations for Bengali, Urdu, French, and Polish on the ACCESS HRA website portal where residents can apply for SNAP or cash assistance benefits. In their response to the audit, HRA explained that they are aware of the issue and will improve the translations on the web portal by June 2024. The Comptroller’s Office encourages HRA to address its translation issues as soon as possible and will follow up with the agency at a later date.

The Comptroller’s Office is seeking input from New Yorkers who faced difficulties in accessing City services due to language barriers. The Comptroller’s Office launched a language access form that would allow residents to submit instances of problems with translation or language assistance services at agencies.

Read the full report here. New Yorkers can submit language access complaints to the Comptroller’s Office here.

Governor Hochul speaks in front of a crowd of Union workers in Buffalo

 

FY 2024 Budget Raises Minimum Wage to $16-Per Hour Upstate by 2026, Ties Future Wage Increases to Inflation

Adds $391 Million for New York's Emergency Rental Assistance Program to Support Thousands More Tenants and Families, Including Public Housing Residents and Section 8 Voucher Recipients

Expands Empire State Child Credit to Children Under Four, Supporting Nearly 630,000 Additional Children

Includes Nation-Leading Climate Measures that Provide Labor Protections and Project Labor Agreements

 Governor Kathy Hochul today highlighted FY 2024 Budget investments to support workers in Western New York and make the state more affordable. The Budget includes investments to address the affordability crisis by raising the upstate minimum wage to $15-per-hour in 2024, followed by $0.50 annual increases in 2025 and 2026 and tying future increases to the Consumer Price Index; expanding the Emergency Rental Assistance Program to support thousands more renters, including public housing residents and Section 8 voucher recipients; enhancing the Empire State Child Credit to cover children under the age of four; and supporting New York's green economy workers. Governor Hochul was joined by leaders of organized labor and local elected officials at today's announcement.

"Labor is in my DNA — that's why I prioritized historic investments in my Budget to support workers here in Western New York and across the State, while addressing the rising costs of living," Governor Hochul said. "These investments will ensure that New York families can access the jobs, child care, and resources they need to thrive, and we will never waver in our efforts to build a more livable and more affordable New York."

The cost of living for working families in New York State has risen significantly in this year alone. A recent Ford Foundation report found that 50 percent of all working-age New Yorkers are struggling to afford their basic needs. Latino/a, Black, and immigrant New Yorkers, as well as households with children are disproportionately impacted by the increased cost of living. In response, Governor Hochul fought to implement transformative measures in the FY 2024 Budget to deliver economic security to New Yorkers.

The transformative initiatives and investments included in the Budget to support workers and make New York more affordable include:

• Increasing New York's minimum wage to $16-per hour upstate and $17-per-hour downstate by 2026, then tying future wage increases to the three-year moving average of the CPI-W for the Northeast Region — the best regional measure for inflation — to make sure New Yorkers' paychecks reflect the rising cost of living
• Adding $391 million to New York's Emergency Rental Assistance Program to support additional tenants and families, including public housing residents and recipients of federal Section 8 vouchers
• Investing $50 million in a Homeowner Stabilization Fund to finance home repairs in 10 communities across the state that have been identified as having high levels of low-income homeowners of color and homeowner distress
• Expanding the Empire State Child Credit to include children under four years of age, which will provide $179 million in total support for over 525,000 low and middle-income taxpayers by covering nearly 630,000 additional children
• Increasing public assistance recipients' access to education and training opportunities by eliminating the requirement for education to be combined with other activities after 12 months of post-secondary education
• Mitigating of the public assistance "benefits cliff" by disregarding income earned by recipients through workforce training programs and for six months after job entry, eliminating a key barrier to workforce participation for low-income New Yorkers
• Creating the Youth Jobs Connector program to provide robust educational support and job training to unemployed and underemployed young people ages 16 to 24 and prepare them for the job market
• Securing nation-leading climate measures, including building decarbonization, a path forward on an affordable cap and invest program, and advancing renewable energy development, that include provisions for labor protections and project labor agreements
• Providing $400 million of relief to New Yorkers experiencing high electric bills as well as lowering energy burdens through electrifications and retrofits

Council Member Marjorie Velázquez - What's Happening in District 13

 

Dear Neighbor,

Our Family Summer Series has been a wonderful addition to our community, and tonight, we will gather for a special viewing of Top Gun: Maverick in Throggs Neck. For those joining us this evening, don’t forget to bring a chair or blanket and your favorite people!   

I’m also happy to share that our ‘Education & Youth’ section has been updated with information on educational programming provided by PBS/THIRTEEN, the Summer Shakespeare program, M.S. 101's special presentation of “Seussical Jr," and more. This is a great opportunity to support our local students in the arts.

In this week’s email, you will find information regarding community resources and events, including the NYC Department of Transportation’s upcoming workshops for “Reimagining the Cross Bronx,” the MTA Mobile Sales Van, and more. For those interested in learning about upcoming events, please scroll to ‘What’s Happening in District 13’ and ‘Save The Date.’ 

In the meantime, if you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, please call us at  (718) 931-1721 or email us at District13@council.nyc.gov.

Wishing you all a beautiful and joyous weekend.

Sincerely,

Council Member Marjorie Velázquez

Family Day at Ferry Point Park

Making memories is the best part of our Family Summer Series, and on Sunday, May 28, families will come together for an afternoon of life, fun, and laughter at this year’s Family Day at Ferry Point Park! This year’s activities include games, bounce houses, face painting, an obstacle course, and more! We are also happy to announce that Assurance Wireless will be on-site, providing free smartphones and cellular service to qualifying individuals as a part of the Federal Lifeline Assistance program. Please note that enrollment is available to qualifying individuals. If you would like to apply for the Federal Lifeline Assistance program, please bring proof of: income, recent program participation, household participation in public assistance programs (i.e. Medicaid, SNAP, SSI). Please note that accounts are limited to one per household.   Location: 503 Balcom Avenue (enter at the corner of Dewey Avenue) Bringing the MTA to You! Next Friday, May 26, the MTA Mobile Sales Van will be at 3033 Middletown Road from 1 PM to 3 PM. This is a great opportunity to ask questions regarding your MetroCard, apply for a reduced fare rate, and so much more. Don’t forget to swing by - the van won’t be back until the end of June! Parks Foundation - Summer Activity Calendar City Parks Foundation has announced that online registration is now available for this summer’s sports programs! We are excited for this incredible program to be back in the district this year, and encourage anyone who is interested in Senior Fitness (Tennis and Yoga) or Youth Track and Field, to register. This year’s program will take place at Pelham Bay Park (Middletown Road and Stadium Avenue). For more information or to register, follow the links below. How to Register Youth Summer Track Program Senior Fitness - Yoga Senior Fitness - Tennis Construction & Repair Advisories Pelham Parkway Lane Closure The NYC Department of Design and Construction has announced lane closures on Pelham Parkway Eastbound Main Road between White Plains Road and Stillwell Avenue. This closure  will continue through Friday, May 26 and take place between 9 PM and 5 AM. This lane closure is necessary to facilitate the catch basin repair and roadway reconstruction. Please be advised this is a moving operation and there will only be restrictions to those specific areas where the work is occurring. Community Meeting: Improving Bufano Park This Tuesday, May 23 at 6 PM, the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation will host a community meeting centered around the future of the Bufano Park Basketball Courts and Multipurpose Play Area. This is a great opportunity to share your ideas and provide feedback that will help shape our community. If you would like to participate, please register below; registered participants will receive the Zoom link by 5 PM on May 23. Register Cannabis Law and Tax Law Updates As a part of New York State’s FY 2024 budget, Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation to increase the civil and tax penalties for unlicensed and illicit sales of cannabis throughout New York State. This is the first step to addressing the proliferation of smoke shops in New York City. The legislation (Article VII ELFA, Part UU, 2023) enables the Office of Cannabis Management and the Department of Taxation and Finance to curb the sale and/or gifting of cannabis from the many unlicensed storefronts, trucks, and stands. But what else does it mean, and what should you expect?  The OCM Enforcement Bill empowers OCM to: Seize cannabis found in unlicensed businesses Assess civil penalties (Tax and OCM fines/penalties) against unlicensed businesses to eliminate the economic incentive of operating an unlicensed cannabis business Seek court-ordered injunctions, closing orders, and the removal of commercial tenants to ensure unlicensed businesses cannot continue to operate in violation of state law, and to incentivize landlords to make sure tenants are in compliance with the state law Direct OCM to continue its work informing the pubic of risks of patronizing unlicensed businesses and to encourage cannabis consumers to patronize the state’s growing legal market Establish selling cannabis and cannabis products without a license as a Class A misdemeanor Empower the Department of Taxation and Finance to conduct regulatory inspections of businesses selling cannabis and issue fines if warranted Establish a new tax fraud crime for when a cannabis business willfully fails to collect or remit required cannabis taxes, or knowingly posses for sale cannabis on which tax is required to be paid but has not paid Please contact our office to report any unlicensed tobacco and/or cannabis sales in the district. SAVE THE DATE