Council Member Marjorie Velázquez - This Week in District 13

 

Dear Neighbor,

This week has been full of excitement, community, and of course, summer fun. My office recently hosted an event with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation to learn best practices to help remove spotted lanternflies. It was great seeing everyone come together to help rid of these pests just before National Night Out. Thank you to all who attended.

It has been a busy time for us at City Hall, working alongside the New York City Council Members to pass my bill, Int 31-C, also known as the Outdoor Dining bill. It has been a long road to get to this moment, but I am thankful for the support I received from my colleagues, local restaurants, and of course, the community. For more information about this bill, please scroll to the ‘Legislative Corner."‘

In this week’s email, you will find information about my office’s upcoming HPD In Your District event, City Parks Foundation’s Summer Youth Program and New York City Parks’ Flag Football, MTA fare and toll rates, job opportunities, and more. I’m also excited to share that the Empire State Development has extended its Covid-19 Capital Costs Tax Credit Program for businesses. To learn more about this initiative or to apply, scroll to ‘Commerce Corner.’  

To contact our office for additional information or concerns, please call us at  (718) 931-1721 or email us at District13@council.nyc.gov.

Wishing you all a safe and wonderful weekend.

Sincerely,

Council Member Marjorie Velázquez

Outdoor Dining is Here to Stay!

Orders up! For over a year, I have hard worked alongside my colleagues, restaurant labor advocates, and business owners to make outdoor dining permanent in our city. I am so proud of the steps we’ve taken to create an inclusive and equitable bill, meeting the needs of the different restaurants and eateries across our city. As the Chair of the Committee on Consumer and Worker Protection and a ‘foodie,’ I am proud to have advocated for our local businesses and look forward to seeing them thrive. Thank you to all who have played a role in this process - today, we made history! 

Customer Assistance Day & Mobile Office Hours

On Friday, August 18, from 10 AM to 2 PM, join me and Assembly Member John Zaccaro Jr., for our Customer Assistance Day with Con Edison at the Morris Park Library (985 Morris Park Avenue). This special Mobile Office Hours is for customers to meet with representatives from Con Edison to address any questions or concerns. Appointments are encouraged; walk-ins are welcome.

Register

HPD is Coming to District 13!

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD) will be in our community to assist residents with housing-related issues. HPD helps with the following topics, including but not limited to:

• Prepare to apply for affordable housing

• Understand your rights and responsibilities

• File a housing complaint

• Finance improvements and repairs

• Register your building

• Remedy a violation

Where to find us:

Saturday, August 19

• 10 AM to 5 PM - White Plains Road and Pelham Parkway South

• 11 AM to 3 PM - 3040 East Tremont Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461

Tuesday, September 5

• 10 AM to 5 PM - White Plains Road and Pelham Parkway South

• 10 AM to 5 PM - 3040 East Tremont Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461

Construction Advisory

Shore Road

The New York State Department of Transportation has announced a 24-hour lane closure, impacting the center westbound lane between Shore Road and Hutchinson River Parkway. This closure is necessary for reconstruction work and will take place until Friday, August 25.

August 7 - 11

• One lane will be closed eastbound between Hutchinson River Parkway and Shore Road from 10 Am to 3 PM for storm drainage installation

• One lane will be closed westbound between Shore Road and Hutchinson River Parkway from 10 Am to 3 PM. This closure is necessary to install traffic signals

August 7 - 13

• There will be a 24-hour, partial ramp closure, westbound ramp to southbound Bruckner Expressway (I-95). This closure is necessary for reconstruction work.

Whitestone Bridge

Please be advised there will be overnight construction at the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge requiring Queens-bound lane closures this weekend. There will be a single-southbound lane closure from Friday, August 4th at 11 PM through Sunday, August 6th, at 9 AM. In addition, a second lane will be closed from Friday, August 4th at 11 PM through Saturday, August 5th at 6 AM, and Saturday, August 5th from 11 PM through Sunday, August 6th at 7 AM.

No Parking

The NYC Department of Design and Construction has announced a ‘No Parking’ advisory for Pelham Parkway North Service Road between Eastchester Road and Bronx Park East, though Thursday, August 31, from 7 AM to 4 PM. This restriction is necessary to facilitate ‘end of construction’ work and is a moving operation.

Lane Closures

The NYC Department of Design and Construction has announced a ‘Lane Closure’ advisory on Pelham Parkway Westbound Main Road and Eastbound Main Road between Boston Road and Stillwell Avenue through Thursday, August 31, from 7 AM to 4 PM. This restriction is necessary to facilitate roadway reconstruction and is a moving operation.

Virtual Rat Academy Webinar

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Pest Control Services team has announced its Virtual Rat Academy, sponsored by the Neighborhood Rat Reduction Initiative. This event will be on Tuesday, August 15, from 3 PM to 5 PM. This event is free and open to the public.

Register

LEGISLATIVE CORNER

August 3 Stated Meeting

During this week’s New York City Council Stated Meeting, the Council voted in favor of several pieces of legislation, focused on the quality of life, higher education, and outdoor dining. Below is information about the bills passed, which I am a sponsor.

Prime Sponsor

• Int 31-C - A Local Law to amend the New York city charter and the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to granting licenses and revocable consents for sidewalk cafes and roadway cafes, to repeal subchapter 6 of chapter 2 of title 20 of such administrative code, relating to granting licenses and revocable consents for sidewalk cafes, to amend section 2 of local law number 114 for the year 2020, relating to the establishment of a permanent outdoor dining program, in relation to the commencement of such program, and to amend section 1 of local law number 77 for the year 2020, relating to establishing a temporary outdoor dining program, in relation to the expiration of such program.

Co-Sponsor

• Res 237 - A - Resolution calling on the New York State Legislature to pass, and the governor to sign, the Fair College Admissions Act (A.1423-A/S.1470-A), which would prohibit legacy admissions preferences at undergraduate institutions in New York State

• Int 5-A - A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to records of lead-based paint investigations

• Int 6-A - A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the remediation of lead-based paint in dwelling units in multiple dwellings

• Int 384-A - A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to the creation of an office of the homeowner advocate within the department of housing preservation and development

• Int 689-A - A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to elimination of permit and or filing fees for green building projects undertaken on one to three family homes

• Int 750-A - A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the proactive identification and inspection of multiple swellings where children are at risk of lead poisoning

#SkipTheStuff - Official Notice

On July 31, 2023, New York City Local Law 17-2023 went into effect.

• Food service establishments providing take-out or delivery will only provide utensils, condiment packets, napkins, or extra plates for take-out or delivery, when requested by the customer

• Online ordering and delivery apps default will be not providing utensils, condiments, napkins, and plates.

• Delivery and courier services may not provide these items unless such items are requested by the customer

*These restrictions do not apply to self-serve stations inside a food service establishment*

NYC Restaurant Week

NYC Restaurant Week reservations are now open! Starting Monday, July 24 through Sunday, August 20, enjoy feasting at select restaurants across the five boroughs with special prix-fixe menus. Grab your friends and family, and enjoy an incredible meal from one of many local eateries. To find participating restaurants, explore menus, and book your table, click the link below.

Learn More

New York State’s Use of Federal Roadway Funds Overlooks Key Climate and Transportation Safety Goals, NYC Comptroller’s Report Reveals

 

Report also praises City for directing funds toward safer, more sustainable transportation projects

The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), the bipartisan infrastructure law passed by Congress, is bringing a large infusion of federal funding into New York City, but a new report from the New York City Comptroller’s Office reveals that New York State’s funding decisions fail to prioritize transportation safety, state-of-good-repair, and climate priorities, instead favoring highway expansion projects.  

The State has broad discretion on how and where to spend its “formula funding,” which makes up the bread and butter of IIJA funds. While the City has dedicated its much smaller share of formula-funded roadway projects to address bicycle, pedestrian, safety, and sustainability goals, the State is spending roughly half of the roadway formula funds it is allocating for New York City on widening highways. The report highlights the need for New York State to follow other states (including California, Colorado, and Minnesota) in adopting performance standards for project selection to ensure that federal funding is used to reduce emissions, improve street safety and maintain a state of good repair.  

“The bipartisan infrastructure law is a monumental achievement, bringing desperately needed funds to invest in New York City’s transportation infrastructure, including historic investments in mass transit. Unfortunately, New York State’s lack of performance standards results in projects that expand highways, rather than repair our aging infrastructure, improve safety and accessibility, and reduce emissions. Albany needs to follow City Hall’s lead in channeling these precious federal funds toward safer and more sustainable modes of transportation, and with a stronger emphasis on local hiring,” said Comptroller Brad Lander. 

One bright spot of the report’s findings is that 58% of the State’s IIJA funds will go toward public transit, making New York the only state to receive more federal funds for transit than roadways. Almost half of the State’s transit funding will go toward the second phase of the Second Avenue Subway expansion and the Gateway Hudson Tunnel Project, two large and complex projects vital to the region’s transit network. 

Most of the remaining statewide IIJA funding is dedicated to highway formula-funded projects, which can be used for a wide range of projects including traditional highway-building, state-of-good-repair work, street safety improvements, and active transportation. The State is empowered to determine how formula funds are spent and how much to pass through to local municipalities. However, without performance standards and clear visibility into the decision-making process, a significant amount of federal funds are being directed toward projects that do not align with the City and State’s policy goals. 

The $1.3 billion project to widen the Van Wyck Expressway encapsulates this priority clash. When the expressway was built in 1950, Robert Moses refused to include space for a future transit option, to save less than $2 million. The current project entails adding and widening lanes of the highway to reduce car travel times to John F. Kennedy International Airport, which may bring temporary benefit for drivers but will have long-lasting health and climate impacts. This project, as well as other large highway construction projects overseen by NYSDOT within the five boroughs which are likely to increase greenhouse gas emissions, are incompatible with the City’s climate goals.  

The City of New York is receiving some money to spend on projects of its own selection, both through a suballocation of the State’s formula funds, and by applying for competitive grants under IIJA. New York City has aggressively applied for competitive grants to advance sustainability and transportation objectives and received awards for major projects like the New York City Greenway Expansion Plan, the Delancey Street Road Diet, and the Hunts Point Intermodal Facility.  

The City of New York has also moved aggressively to take advantage of new IIJA provisions that allow for targeted hiring to local residents. Mayor Adams issued Executive Order 22 establishing a new office to ensure that New York City residents are hired for the good jobs created by these infrastructure projects. The State has not yet publicly announced plans for targeted or local hiring on its IIJA projects.  

The report’s recommendations address these issues and aim to maximize the potential benefits of IIJA funding for New York City: 

• New York State should establish performance standards for transportation projects to align them with climate change, street safety, state-of-good-repair and equity goals. By setting clear and ambitious performance standards, New York can prioritize projects that contribute to sustainability, safety, and accessibility, ensuring federal funds are utilized effectively. 

• Increase transparency in the funding relationship between the State and City to better plan and budget for capital improvements. Clear guidance from NYSDOT on the exact amount of funding passed onto the City will enhance budgeting and planning efforts for capital projects. 
• Adopt overdue reforms to the City’s capital process through State legislation and City implementation to accelerate the delivery of infrastructure projects in New York City, improving efficiency and cost-effectiveness. By streamlining bureaucratic procedures and adopting the recommendations of the Capital Projects Reform Task Force, the City can expedite infrastructure projects and maximize the impact of federal funding. 
• Advance local and targeted hiring to leverage the IIJA’s authorization for local hire provisions and create good jobs for New Yorkers. Supporting employment opportunities for economically disadvantaged candidates and prioritizing local hiring can ensure that the benefits of infrastructure projects reach the communities that need them most. 
• New York City and State should improve tracking and spending of IIJA capital projects to enhance transparency and inform project delivery improvements. Establishing a centralized and comprehensive tool to track IIJA funding will not only increase transparency but also guide improvements in project delivery processes. 

“The comptroller’s report makes crystal clear how much New York has been able to achieve with federal infrastructure funding but also how far we have to go to spend it all consistent with our values,” said Danny Pearlstein, Policy & Communications Director at Riders Alliance. “Riders will continue to hold our leaders accountable for making the most of available resources to deliver fast, frequent, reliable and accessible public transit service for millions of New Yorkers, commuters and visitors.” 

“The IIJA has brought about unprecedented investments in transit and infrastructure projects like the Gateway Program, electric buses, new subway rolling stock, and state-of-good-repair work,” said Vanessa Barrios, Manager of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiative at Regional Plan Association. “RPA’s research has found that approximately $9.5 billion of the $16 billion received by the states of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut have gone towards road and bridge infrastructure. This contradicts the climate goals set by the states and makes it less likely we will reach a more sustainable future. Allocating funding currently slated for highway widenings and expansions to improving transit access and pay dividends for generations to come. Thank you to Comptroller Lander for shining a light on this incredibly important topic.”

“New York State residents want their communities to be inclusive and vibrant. Public transit, like trains and buses, and accessible walking and bike routes, give us a healthy, clean, and affordable way for everyone to get around, said Haley Richardson, Director of Communications at TransitCenter. “But for too long, NYSDOT has funneled enormous sums towards expanding roads while neglecting transit, biking and walking projects. With a record-amount of money currently flowing to New York State from the IIJA, it’s time for NYSDOT to change the ‘norm,’ and set new transportation goals that will give all of us more affordable and varied ways of getting around. At a critical moment for the climate, Comptroller Lander’s welcome new report outlines how New York State can do our part to lower transportation emissions, all while making our air cleaner and our streets safer.”  

“Reinvent Albany welcomes Comptroller Lander’s analysis and recommendations for increasing the transparency of the federal funding split between the State and City, and ensuring a historic boost in federal funds are best used to meet the state’s climate goals,” said Rachael Fauss, Senior Policy Advisor at Reinvent Albany. “If spent wisely, the enormous federal IIJA infrastructure grants can provide huge public benefits and New Yorkers deserve to know exactly how they are being used.” 

“The 2021 Infrastructure Bill provides the largest infusion of funds for improving and modernizing infrastructure in nearly 100 years,” said Felicia Park-Rogers, Director of Regional Infrastructure Projects at Tri-State Transportation Campaign. “As the Comptroller’s important new report points out, it is critical for city, state, and region to pivot how we spend these funds by moving away from destructive 20th Century planning methods and towards planning for a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable 21st Century. The recommendations in this report point the way, it is incumbent on decision makers to adopt them.” 

Governor Hochul Announces $739 Million Kew Gardens Interchange Project Honored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

 

NYSDOT Project Earns Regional Award in 2023 America’s Transportation Awards Competition in “Best Use of Technology & Innovation, Large Project” Category

View Video on Interchange’s Completion Here

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that a major project recently completed by the State Department of Transportation has been honored with an award in the 2023 America’s Transportation Awards competition. The Kew Gardens Interchange was named a winner of the Northeast Association of State Transportation Officials region in the “Best Use of Technology & Innovation, Large Project” category. This year, 36 state transportation departments participated in the competition, nominating 81 total projects. The award was presented at the NASTO Annual Meeting on July 11 in Wilmington, DE.

“The Department of Transportation’s Kew Gardens Interchange project was a massive undertaking that utilized innovation and technology to improve the transportation infrastructure in Queens, all while reducing bottlenecks and helping keep traffic moving," Governor Hochul said. "To be recognized on a national level for this work is a testament to our efforts to make the lives of New Yorkers better. I thank the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials for this recognition and send my sincere congratulations to the entire New York State Department of Transportation team for their hard work on this project.”

Sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), AAA, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the America’s Transportation Awards competition recognize the projects and programs that make their communities better places to live, work, and play. Now in its 16th year, the awards help to showcase why transportation infrastructure is so vital.

The $739 million Kew Gardens Interchange project in Queens, which was completed in late 2022, revamped one of the metropolitan area’s most heavily traveled corridors, creating faster travel times, safer merging and exiting, and more reliable connections for the hundreds of thousands of commuters, travelers, and local businesses who use it daily to reach the John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and other key destinations throughout the region. The Kew Gardens Interchange project also recently earned a National Recognition Award in the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Engineering Excellence Awards competition, which was announced by Governor Hochul in April 2023.

The Best Use of Technology & Innovation category recognizes new technology and/or creative/innovative solutions implemented by a state department of transportation as part of a transportation project. Overall, there were three categories for the awards: Operations Excellence, Quality of Life/Community Development, and Best Use of Technology & Innovation.

After all regional meetings have taken place over the summer, the three highest scoring projects from each region will be named the “Top 12” and will go on to compete for the top two national prizes. The Grand Prize is chosen by an independent panel of judges while the People’s Choice Award is determined by the public through online voting. Winners will be announced at the AASHTO Annual Meeting in Indianapolis this November.

New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “The transformative Kew Gardens Interchange project has led to less congestion and enhanced safety while improving climate resiliency and promoting multi-modal transportation. This award belongs to all the dedicated women and men of the New York State Department of Transportation who make projects like this possible and who’s focus is to advance safe transportation for all. Our sincere thanks to America’s Transportation Awards - it is an honor to have the Kew Gardens Interchange recognized as a transformative, climate-conscious projects that has changed a transportation system for the better, in Queens and beyond.” 

Visit americastransportationawards.org to learn more about this year’s nominees, including the Kew Gardens Interchange.

Move-Ins Begin At 2856 Webster Avenue, Affordable Housing Complex In Bedford Park, The Bronx

 

Douglaston Development is now welcoming the first wave of tenants at 2856 Webster Avenue, a 188-unit affordable housing property in The Bronx. Located in the Bedford Park neighborhood, all of the units are reserved for seniors earning up to 50 percent Area Median Income.

“We’re thrilled to begin welcoming residents to 2856 Webster Avenue, providing much-needed senior affordable housing to the Bronx community,” said Jeffrey E. Levine, founder and chairman of Douglaston Development. “We are proud of the work completed alongside our project and community partners to bring this initial phase to fruition and look forward to continuing to work together throughout Phase II of the project.”

The 12-story building topped out in July 2022. In addition to affordable units, the building also houses a 12,000-square-foot Cherry Valley supermarket and a community facility offering on-site social services. The latter is operated by the Fordham Bedford Housing Corporation, an organization that serves underrepresented families in the Northwest Bronx.

Douglaston Development is also working on a second phase of the Webster Avenue development, a 277-unit affordable project. Located at 2868 Webster Avenue, the building will also comprise 8,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space, which is expected to be leased to another grocer.

MAYOR ADAMS’ STATEMENT ON RIGHT TO SHELTER HEARING HELD TODAY

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams released the following statement following today’s court conference in Callahan v. Carey regarding the right to shelter:

“As we’ve known since the early days of this crisis, this is not just a New York City emergency, but a crisis that requires support from the state and federal governments. We need all of our partners to step up and treat this crisis like the emergency that it is, instead of abandoning New York City to provide shelter and care for more than 95,000 asylum seekers by ourselves. As we have been warning for months, our shelter system has buckled as its population has more than doubled in a single year. Unless the state and federal governments fulfil their obligations to join us and do more in supporting asylum seekers, scenes like the one that broke our hearts outside The Roosevelt may sadly become more common, despite the best efforts of thousands of dedicated public servants to find space for hundreds of new asylum seekers every day, in a city already facing a severe housing shortage.”

Edward Mullins, Former President Of NYPD Sergeants’ Union, Sentenced To Two Years In Prison For Stealing Union Funds

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that EDWARD MULLINS, the former President of the Sergeants Benevolent Association (“SBA”), the union that represents all current and former sergeants of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), was sentenced to two years in prison in connection with a scheme to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from the SBA through the submission of fraudulent expense reports. MULLINS pled guilty on January 19, 2023, before U.S. District Judge John G. Koeltl, who imposed today’s sentence.  

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “For years, Edward Mullins abused his position as the head of the SBA to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from the pockets of hard-working NYPD sergeants.  Mullins publicly vowed to protect the interests of the thousands of active and retired sergeants that he represented.  But behind the scenes, Mullins stole from the SBA and its members, treating the SBA as his personal piggy bank.  In doing so, Mullins disgraced his uniform, broke the law, and undermined the public’s trust in law enforcement.  As this sentence demonstrates, no one — not even high-ranking union bosses — is above the law.”

According to the Information filed in the case and other filings and statements made in court:

The SBA is the fifth-largest police union in the United States with its headquarters located in lower Manhattan.  The SBA’s membership consists of all active and retired sergeants of the NYPD with approximately 13,000 members.  From 2002 until October 2021, EDWARD MULLINS served as President of the SBA.

Beginning in 2017, MULLINS devised a scheme to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from the SBA.  MULLINS used his personal credit card to pay for meals at high-end restaurants and to purchase luxury personal items, among other things, and then submitted false and inflated expense reports to the SBA, representing that his charges were legitimate SBA expenditures when, in fact, they were not.  MULLINS’s expense reports were fraudulent in at least three ways.  First, MULLINS routinely included meals on his expense reports that were not SBA-related.  Second, MULLINS routinely inflated the costs of his meals – whether SBA-related or not  – thereby taking more money from the SBA.  Third, MULLINS took certain expenses from his credit card statements, including clothing and supermarket expenses, and recategorized them as SBA-related meals, thereby obtaining even more money from the SBA.

MULLINS’s fraudulent expenses were paid through the SBA’s Contingent Fund, which was funded primarily through annual dues paid by SBA members.  In total, between 2017 and 2021, MULLINS stole at least $600,000 from the SBA through the filing of hundreds of fraudulent expense reports.

In addition to his prison term, MULLINS, 61, of Port Washington, New York, was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to make restitution to the SBA in the amount of $600,000.  MULLINS was also ordered to forfeit $600,000.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) and the FBI/NYPD Public Corruption Task Force. 

Attorney General James Announces the Convictions of Crew Linked to Over 200 Commercial Burglaries

 

Six Individuals Linked to Burglaries in 11 Counties Sentenced for Stealing More Than $3 Million Dollars in Cars, Merchandise, and Cash

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the convictions of six members of a crew responsible for over 200 burglaries of car dealerships, cellular phone stores, and ATM businesses located in the Lower Hudson Valley, New York City, and on Long Island. The crew of Willie Baines, Josepher Cartagena, Brandon Collazo-Rivera, Justin Herrera, Douglas Noble, and Alexander Santiago, all of Bronx County, allegedly stole cars, cellular phones, merchandise, and cash valued at more than $3 million, including at least 54 vehicles. The convictions were the result of a 13-month joint investigation by the Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) Organized Crime Task Force (OCTF), the New York City Police Department’s (NYPD) Auto Crime Unit, and 29 local and county police departments.

“The six individuals convicted and sentenced went on a crime spree that impacted businesses and residents throughout downstate New York,” said Attorney General James. “These burglars left a trail of broken glass, smashed businesses, and dangerous high-speed chases in their wake. I thank my partners in local law enforcement for their coordination and support as we took down this dangerous crew. Our communities are safer now that these six individuals have been brought to justice.”

“This is one of those cases that highlights the extraordinary cooperation across multiple police departments and agencies in the New York Metropolitan area,” said NYPD Police Commissioner Edward A. Caban. “The NYPD Auto Crime Unit is proud to have worked with the New York State Attorney General and all the other departments involved in bringing this brazen burglary crew to justice.”

During the 13-month investigation, the theft crew was connected to over 200 commercial burglaries in 11 downstate counties, including Nassau County, Suffolk County, Queens County, Kings County, Richmond County, Bronx County, Rockland County, Westchester County, Orange County, Putnam County, and Dutchess County, in addition to burglaries in Connecticut and New Jersey. The six individuals, Willie Baines, Josepher Cartagena, Brandon Collazo-Rivera, Justin Herrera, Douglas Noble, and Alexander Santiago stole cars, cellular phones, merchandise, and cash valued at more than $3 million, including at least 54 vehicles. The investigation revealed that members of the theft crew would travel to neighborhoods that contained several car dealerships and cell phone stores, often burglarizing several stores in one night. In the automobile dealership burglaries, members of the crew would smash the large windows at the front of the building, locate boxes in the dealership that contained key fobs, and then drive vehicles they were able to start right through the broken windows. In the cell phone and ATM store burglaries, members of the crew would smash the glass front doors, enter the stores’ showrooms and offices, and steal as much merchandise and cash as they could carry out.

The theft crew would often wait for the police to respond to a burglary alarm, and then engage in high-speed chases from the crime scene which posed additional risks for law enforcement and the surrounding community. This behavior led law enforcement to dub the investigation “Operation Redline” in reference to the redline on speedometers and the extreme speeds the burglars would achieve as they fled crime scenes. Investigators from OCTF and NYPD were able to identify the six individuals charged in the case through the review of video surveillance recordings, data from cellular telephones, license plate reader data, and information provided by numerous county and local police departments. A search of the residences of two of the individuals led to the recovery of thousands of dollars in stolen cell phones and key fobs from car dealerships. Additionally, several of the defendants posted photographs on various social media outlets posing with some of the stolen vehicles, and displaying large quantities of cash. Many of the social media posts occurred just minutes after the crimes, allowing investigators to connect the stolen property seen in the posts to specific burglaries and defendants.

Some examples of those posts are displayed below:

The six defendants were charged with various counts of Grand Larceny in the Second Degree (Class C felony), Grand Larceny in the Third Degree (Class D felony), and Burglary in the Third Degree (Class D felony). All of the defendants have pled guilty to felony charges and all of the individuals received prison sentences. The defendants and their convictions are listed below:

• Josepher Cartagena, 27, pled guilty to Grand Larceny in the Second Degree.
• Brandon Collazo-Rivera, 26, pled guilty to Grand Larceny in the Second Degree.
• Douglas Noble, 29, pled guilty to Grand Larceny in the Second Degree.
• Alexander Santiago, 28, pled guilty to Grand Larceny in the Second Degree.
• Justin Herrera, 23, pled guilty to Burglary in the Third Degree.
• Willie Baines, 47, pled guilty to Attempted Burglary in the Third Degree.

The charges in the indictments were the result of a joint investigation by OAG’s OCTF and NYPD’s Auto Crime Unit. In addition, Attorney General James would like to thank Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly and U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut Vanessa Roberts Avery for their valuable participation in this investigation.

The investigation involved the cooperation of numerous local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, and Attorney General James acknowledges the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force, New Haven, Connecticut and Westchester County, New York Field Offices, and the Eastern District of New York and District of Connecticut U.S. Marshal Service. Attorney General James also thanks her partners in local law enforcement for their close coordination, including the Nassau County Police Department, Suffolk County Police Department, Westchester County Police Department, Amityville Police Department, Floral Park Police Department, Blauvelt Police Department, Village of Hempstead Police Department, Yonkers Police Department, Mount Pleasant Police Department, New Rochelle Police Department, White Plains Police Department, Greenburgh Police Department, Tarrytown Police Department, Mamaroneck Police Department, Orangetown Police Department, Clarkstown Police Department, Ramapo Police Department, Spring Valley Police Department, Ramsey Police Department, Newburgh Police Department, Washingtonville Police Department, Chester Police Department, New Windsor Police Department, and Poughkeepsie Police Department. Additionally, Attorney General James thanks police departments from New Jersey for their coordination in this investigation, including the Hackensack Police Department, Passaic Police Department, Denville Police Department, and Eatontown Police Department.

The investigation was jointly led by NYPD Auto Crime Unit’s Detective Brian DeMasi and OCTF Detectives Luis Flores and David Walsh. Detective DeMasi is under the supervision of Sergeant John Hansen, and the overall supervision of Inspector Robert LaPollo. Detectives Flores and Walsh are under the supervision of Supervising Detective Bradford Miller and the overall supervision of Deputy Chief Andrew Boss. The OAG Investigations Division is led by Chief Investigator Oliver Pu-Folks.

Statement From Governor Hochul on Train Derailment in Montgomery County

 

"I have been briefed on the train derailment in Montgomery County where several tanker cars came off the tracks this morning and have directed State personnel to provide all necessary assistance to local emergency response officials. The New York State Police, Office of Fire Prevention and Control and Department of Transportation officials are onsite to monitor the situation, assist with the response and manage traffic. At this time, there are no injuries reported and no spills have been detected. Rail traffic has been stopped which will impact Amtrak passenger service, and Route 5 has been closed in both directions. Our top priority is ensuring all railroad workers and nearby motorists are safe and that Amtrak service is restored as quickly as possible."