Bronx Metro-North Station Area Study Monthly Update, May 2023

 

Monthly Bronx Metro-North Study Update

May 2023

What has the City been up to?

At the start of May, the Bronx Metro-North Station Area Study team began interviewing institutional and educational partners to learn more about workforce development needs in the Bronx. Thank you to everyone who took the time to speak with us. Your insights and experiences will help us all identify best practices for promoting Bronx-based employment and retention. 

Station Area Photo of the Week: Hunts Point

Photo of recent pedestrian and bike improvements underneath the Sheridan Ramp, connecting Hunts Point to Concrete Plant Park, as part of the Hunts Point Access Improvement Project.

Ongoing Outreach:

Thank you to the Morris Park Community Association for welcoming us to their meeting at the end of April! Coming up, we look forward to attending the next Allerton Homeowners Association meeting on June 1st, where we will discuss the planning work and speak about the study and future land use process.

Stay up-to-date on Planning Work:

Please visit the Bronx Metro-North webpage to see a summary of recommendations and past planning work. 

Stay up to date: 

• Mailing List: To make sure you’re up-to-date on planning work, please sign up for our mailing list at bmns@planning.nyc.gov.

• Remote Office Hours: Have additional questions or thoughts you’d like to share with us? We’d love to hear from you. Sign up for one-on-one remote office hours with the study team here: Sign up!  
• Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @nycplanning

NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF STATE REMINDS BUSINESSES OF NEW LAW TO PROTECT CONSUMERS FROM POTENTIAL GIFT CARD SCAMS

 

Effective June 20, 2023, New Law Requires Businesses to Post a Notice Warning Consumers About Potential Gift Card Fraud

Model Notice for Businesses Available Here

New York Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez today reminded businesses of a new law to protect consumers from potential gift card scams. Effective June 20, 2023, all businesses selling gift cards must display a notice at or near where any gift card or gift certificate is displayed or sold to caution consumers about gift card fraud. Requesting gift cards as payment has become increasingly popular with scammers as funds are nearly impossible to trace. According to the Federal Trade Commission in 2022, nearly 65,000 consumers filed a complaint related to gift card scams, equating to a total loss of $228.3 million.

“With the number of gift card scams on the rise, it’s more important than ever to educate consumers so they know that gift cards should only be used for gifts, not to make payments,” said New York Secretary of State Robert J. Rodriguez. “This new law requiring warning signage where gift cards are displayed or sold will help to reduce the success rate of these scammers and protect consumers’ hard-earned money.”

To address the growing prevalence of gift card fraud, this new law requires retailers and businesses to clearly post a notice at or near the gift card display or point-of-purchase to help increase public awareness of this scam and provide guidance to vulnerable customers if they believe they are being scammed. Gift card sellers are required to display these notices in an area that is visible to consumers and close to where the gift cards are displayed or the sale occurs.

The Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection has created and published model notices that gift card sellers can download and post to comply with this new law. Businesses are encouraged to access these downloadable signs and post them where they sell gift cards. These downloadable signs are available in three different sizes on the Division of Consumer Protection website.

Businesses may also create their own notice that includes the following guidance:

• Cautions the purchaser about pre-paid card scams.
• Instructs the purchaser on what to do if they suspect they might be a potential victim of such a scam.

Gift card scams can take many forms, but are often phone calls targeting consumers, particularly the elderly and immigrants, stating that they owe money and payment is required by gift card. Below are examples of different forms of gift card scams:

• A consumer received an email that appeared to be from eBay stating that the consumer needed to call to verify his account. The consumer called and was told that in order to complete the verification, he needed to purchase an eBay gift card and provide the code. The consumer recognized it was a scam and ended the call.
• A consumer purchased a puppy from a breeder advertising on Facebook Marketplace. The puppy was $2,000 + fees, but the breeder stated they didn’t take credit cards, so they instructed the consumer to purchase Visa gift cards and provide the numbers and PINs. The consumer purchased a total of $3,700 in gift cards to pay for the cost of the puppy, shipping, crate and insurance. The breeder then disappeared, and the consumer now realizes they were scammed out of $3,700.
• A consumer received a Facebook message from a friend stating they were stranded with flat tire and they needed money for the tow truck and a new tire. The “friend” asked if the consumer could purchase a $500 gift card for them and they would pay the consumer back. The consumer purchased the gift card and provided the number and pin, but then later found out the friend’s Facebook account had been hacked and the request for the $500 was a scam.
• A senior citizen received an email that appeared to be from his bank to authorize a large cash transfer to an account overseas. The man knew nothing of the transfer, and when he called the phone number in the email, he was told that the only way to stop the transfer was to overdraft his account so there would be no money to transfer out. The man was told to purchase $7,200 in gift cards and the bank would process them immediately to justify the overdraft. He purchased the gift cards and provided the account and pin numbers as instructed. The victim’s wife believed it was a scam and encouraged him to go into a bank branch to verify the information. He then learned it was a scam but, by that point, had already lost $7,200.

For more guidance to inform and empower New York consumers purchasing gift cards and gift certificates, please review the Division of Consumer Protection December 2022 consumer alert, which clearly outlines gift card fee prohibitions and expiration date limitations. Businesses and consumers are encouraged to learn more about available resources on the Division of Consumer Protection’s website.

About the New York State Division of Consumer Protection

The New York State Division of Consumer Protection provides resources and education materials to consumers on product safety, as well as voluntary mediation services between consumers and businesses. The Consumer Assistance Helpline 1-800-697-1220 is available Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm, excluding State Holidays, and consumer complaints can be filed at any time at www.dos.ny.gov/consumer-protection.

For more consumer protection tips, follow the Division on social media at Twitter: @NYSConsumer and Facebook: www.facebook.com/nysconsumer.

Illegal Agents Of The PRC Government Charged For PRC-Directed Bribery Scheme

 

John Chen and Lin Feng Allegedly Furthered the PRC Government’s Transnational Repression Campaign Against the Falun Gong by Bribing a Purported IRS Official

 Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Merrick B. Garland, the Attorney General of the United States, Lisa O. Monaco, the Deputy Attorney General, Matthew G. Olsen, the Assistant Attorney General for National Security, Christopher A. Wray, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), Paul Abbate, the Deputy Director of the FBI, Michael J. Driscoll, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the FBI, Donald Alway, the Assistant Director in Charge of the Los Angeles Field Office of the FBI, and J. Russell George, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (“TIGTA”), announced the unsealing of a Complaint charging JOHN CHEN, a/k/a “Chen Jun,” a U.S. citizen and former citizen of the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”), and LIN FENG, a PRC citizen, with acting and conspiring to act in the United States as unregistered agents of the PRC Government, conspiring to bribe and bribing a public official, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.  The charges in the Complaint arise from CHEN and FENG’s alleged participation in a PRC Government-directed scheme targeting U.S.-based practitioners of Falun Gong — a spiritual practice banned in the PRC.  CHEN and FENG were arrested in the Central District of California and will make an initial appearance later today before Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Pedro V. Castillo.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said: “The Chinese government has yet again attempted, and failed, to target critics of the PRC here in the United States.  We allege the defendants in this case attempted to bribe someone they thought was an IRS agent in order to further the Chinese government’s campaign of transnational repression in the United States.  But the individual they attempted to bribe was in fact an undercover law enforcement agent, and both defendants were arrested this morning.  The Justice Department will continue to investigate, disrupt, and prosecute efforts by the PRC government to silence its critics and extend the reaches of its regime onto U.S. soil.  We will never stop working to defend the rights to which every person in the United States is entitled.”

Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco said: “The Department of Justice continues to expose the Chines government’s brazen attempts to perpetrate transnational repression, this time through attempted bribery.  As highlighted by today’s arrests and charges of conspiracy, bribery, and money laundering, we will not tolerate efforts by the PRC or any foreign government to intimidate, harass, or undermine the rights and freedoms enjoyed by all who live in the United States.”

Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen said: “The Department of Justice continues to expose the Chinese government’s brazen attempts to perpetuate transnational repression, this time through attempted bribery.  As highlighted by today’s arrests and charges of conspiracy, bribery, and money laundering, we will not tolerate efforts by the PRC or any foreign government to intimidate, harass, or undermine the rights and freedoms enjoyed by all who live in the United States.”

FBI Director Christopher A. Wray said: “China’s government has once again shown its disregard for the rule of law and international norms.  The FBI will not tolerate CCP repression – its efforts to threaten, harass, and intimidate people – here in the United States.  We will continue to confront the Chinese government’s efforts to violate our laws and repress the rights and freedoms of people in our country.”

FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate said: "No other nation poses as severe a threat to the democratic values of the United States as the government of the People's Republic of China.  The FBI will not stand by as the PRC attempts to weaponize our institutions and programs and attack the rights of those on U.S. soil.  Any attempt to repress or harass individuals runs directly counter to the ideals our nation was founded upon, and it simply will not be tolerated.  The FBI and our partners remain committed to confronting the illegal conduct of the PRC government that threatens our national security and freedom."

FBI New York Assistant Director in Charge Michael J. Driscoll said: “We allege Chen and Feng, acting on behalf of the Chinese government, attempted to execute a scheme to manipulate a United States government official to repress individuals opposed to the People’s Republic of China.  This appears to be another example of the Chinese government’s willingness to disregard the laws and freedoms of the United States as they attempt to harm anyone with views they oppose.  The FBI will continue to be resolute in protecting people from repressive actions.”

FBI Los Angeles Assistant Director in Charge Donald Alway said: “The alleged activity is antithetical to fundamental American values, and those who practice transnational oppression on behalf of the Chinese government must be held accountable.  The FBI will continue to invest resources to protect the rights of Americans and those who come to live, work, and study in the United States.”

TIGTA Inspector General J. Russell George said: “The attempt to undermine the integrity of our tax administration system is disturbing.  The individuals who thought they could do so have learned a hard lesson.  The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration is committed to protecting the Nation’s tax system.  I want to thank our law enforcement partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their efforts.”

According to the allegations contained in the Complaint unsealed today in White Plains federal court:[1]

From at least approximately January 2023 to May 2023, CHEN and FENG worked inside the United States at the direction of the PRC Government, including an identified PRC Government official (“PRC Official-1”), to further the PRC Government’s campaign to repress and harass Falun Gong practitioners.  The PRC Government has designated the Falun Gong as one of the “Five Poisons,” or one of the top five threats to its rule.  In China, Falun Gong adherents face a range of repressive and punitive measures from the PRC Government, including imprisonment.                        

As part of the PRC Government’s campaign against the Falun Gong, CHEN and FENG allegedly engaged in a PRC Government-directed scheme to manipulate the Internal Revenue Service’s (“IRS”) Whistleblower Program in an effort to strip the tax-exempt status of an entity run and maintained by Falun Gong practitioners (“Entity-1”).  After CHEN filed a defective whistleblower complaint with the IRS (the “Chen Whistleblower Complaint”), CHEN and FENG paid $5,000 in cash bribes, and promised to pay substantially more, to a purported IRS agent who was in fact an undercover officer (“Agent-1”) in exchange for Agent-1’s assistance in advancing the complaint.  Neither CHEN nor FENG notified the Attorney General that they were acting as agents of the PRC Government in the United States.

In the course of the scheme, CHEN, on a recorded call, explicitly noted that the purpose of paying these bribes, which were directed and funded by the PRC Government, was to carry out the PRC Government’s aim of “toppl[ing] . . . the Falun Gong.”  During a call intercepted pursuant to a judicially authorized wiretap, CHEN and FENG discussed receiving “direction” on the bribery scheme from PRC Official-1, deleting instructions received from PRC Official-1 in order to evade detection, and “alert[ing]” and “sound[ing] the alarm” to PRC Official-1 if CHEN and FENG’s meetings to bribe Agent-1 did not go as planned.  CHEN and FENG also discussed that PRC Official-1 was the PRC Government official “in charge” of the bribery scheme targeting the Falun Gong.

As part of this scheme, CHEN and FENG allegedly met with Agent-1 in Newburgh, New York, on May 14, 2023.  During the meeting, CHEN gave Agent-1 a $1,000 cash bribe as an initial, partial bribe payment.  CHEN further offered to pay Agent-1 a total of $50,000 for opening an audit of Entity-1, as well as 60% of any whistleblower award from the IRS if the Chen Whistleblower Complaint were successful.  On May 18, 2023, FENG paid Agent-1 a $4,000 cash bribe at John F. Kennedy International Airport as an additional partial bribe payment in furtherance of the scheme. 

CHEN, 70, of the PRC and Los Angeles, California, and FENG, 43, a PRC citizen and resident of Los Angeles, California, are each charged with one count of conspiring to act as an agent of a foreign government without notifying the Attorney General and to bribe a public official, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; one count of acting as an agent of a foreign government without notifying the Attorney General, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison; one count of bribing a public official, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison; and one count of conspiring to commit international money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. 

The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI’s New York and Los Angeles Field Offices and Counterintelligence Division and TIGTA.  Mr. Williams thanked the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, Counterintelligence and Export Control Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California for their assistance.

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

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

Governor Hochul Announces New Actions to Drive Down Growing Presence of Illicit Drug Xylazine and Prevent Overdoses

 

Free Xylazine Test Strips Available Throughout New York State

New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports Webpage Educates Public on Xylazine and Overdose Response

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced new actions to address the spread of xylazine in New York State, including a new effort to supply free xylazine test strips through the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports and Office of Mental Health programs, as well as directly to the public. Xylazine is a non-opioid sedative found in the unregulated drug supply with potentially harmful health impacts, especially when added to illicitly manufactured fentanyl. Xylazine is not responsive to naloxone, leading to complicated fentanyl overdoses. Additional educational information about xylazine is now available on the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports website.

“Xylazine is a dangerous drug that can cause serious health complications, including overdose deaths, and New York State continues to take aggressive measures to address this growing threat,” Governor Hochul said. “These new efforts will save lives and bring much needed resources to communities that continue to experience the ongoing impact of this crisis.”

The new ordering system will enable providers and New York State residents to order test strips through a partnership with NY MATTERS, and will ensure an ongoing supply of this important harm-reduction tool across New York State. These test strips are designed to detect the presence of xylazine that has been mixed in with other substances, such as cocaine or heroin.

The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) is also making xylazine test strips available to its network of Outreach and Engagement Services providers across the State and through its ongoing training programs. These efforts are being supported through New York State’s Opioid Settlement Fund and through a federal State Opioid Response Grant. To access ordering information, providers can visit the OASAS harm reduction webpage.

Xylazine is a depressant typically used in veterinary settings, and not intended or approved for human use. While it is often mixed with fentanyl, xylazine is not an opioid, and therefore is not responsive to naloxone. However, much like opioids, it is increasingly found in the unregulated drug supply across the country, in particular in the northeast. As such, it’s been designated an emerging threat by the federal government. Xylazine can additionally complicate fentanyl overdoses or cause prolonged, heavy sedation, as well as skin wounds which may require amputation in severe situations.

New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports Commissioner Dr. Chinazo Cunningham said, “The presence of xylazine is a growing concern and action needs to be taken to address this issue. We are working to get important harm reduction tools into the hands of providers and individuals impacted by addiction, which strengthens our efforts to keep New Yorkers safe.”

New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “Xylazine is an extremely dangerous drug that has been linked to an growing number of overdose deaths across the nation. Increasing the availability of Xylazine test strips will help us to save lives, and I urge all OMH licensed providers to take advantage of this resource being offered by OASAS and NY Matters.”

“Increasing the availability of xylazine test strips is vital to reducing the number of deaths associated with this deadly drug,” Acting State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. “The New York State Department of Health thanks Governor Hochul for her commitment to combating this crisis, working hard to prevent opioid-related tragedies, and to the health and wellbeing of all New Yorkers and their families.”

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer said, “Xylazine is a horrific drug that has worsened the overdose epidemic in communities across New York, which is why I sounded the xylazine alarm and called for action to combat this public safety and health crisis. The Biden administration responded and designated xylazine as an ‘emerging threat.’ I applaud Governor Hochul for also taking action by supplying free xylazine test strips throughout the state. I will continue working with both federal and state leaders to expand access to prevention, treatment, and recovery services to combat the growing threat of xylazine and will not stop fighting until law enforcement and public health agencies have the resources they need to stop the illicit flow of this drug and keep our communities safe.”

OASAS is continuing to educate providers and the general public on how to recognize and respond to the prevalence of this substance. In addition to the new informational page for the public, the agency recently issued guidance to providers and released a new training program regarding the risks of xylazine. The xylazine test strip program follows the creation earlier this year of a new ordering system for providers to obtain fentanyl test strips and naloxone and is part of OASAS’ efforts to expand harm reduction services throughout New York State.

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, 2022, 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 New York State 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.