MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES PLACEMENT OF NEW HUMANITARIAN EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND RELIEF CENTER

 

 New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the transition of an emergency respite site into a new Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center at Austell Place in Long Island City as the number of asylum seekers currently in the city’s care approaches 60,000, and as more than 110,000 asylum seekers have arrived in New York City since last spring seeking shelter. This humanitarian relief center will provide a range of services, in addition to ensuring asylum seekers can reach their desired destination, if not New York City. The site at Austell Place was a vacant office building before being utilized as an emergency respite site. As asylum seekers have continued to arrive in New York City at an average rate of more than 2,400 every week, conditions on the ground required that the city transition the site to a large-scale congregate setting for single men. The humanitarian relief center will start by providing shelter for up to 330 single men, but, once expanded to full capacity, the site will host a total of almost 1,000 asylum seekers.

 

“With an average of more than 10,000 asylum seekers arriving in our city every month, and nearly 60,000 migrants currently in our care, New York City has stepped up to meet the challenge of this humanitarian crisis — but we need additional support to keep pace,” said Mayor Adams. “The transition of this site into a new humanitarian relief center at Austell Place is an important next step in our efforts to do our part, but, as we’ve said month after month, only more support from our state and federal partners and real policy change in Washington will truly address this crisis.”

 

“The opening of a new humanitarian relief center at Austell Place is a continued demonstration of the city’s efforts to support newly arrived asylum seekers,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “Now, more than ever, we need our state and federal partners to do their part to relieve pressure on New York City through a coordinated decompression strategy, increased financial support, and a faster pathway for asylum seekers to work and achieve independence. Our city has cared for over 100,000 people seeking asylum, largely on our own — and to make this response sustainable, we need greater state and national support.”

 

“New York City’s compassionate approach to the unfolding asylum seeker crisis provides a path forward for the rest of the country to follow, including states and the federal government,” said New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr. “We continue on that path with the opening of another Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center at Austell Place — where those arriving in this country having fled hardship will be cared for with the dignity and respect they deserve.”

 

“The Austell Place Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center is our city’s latest response to the humanitarian crisis that continues to unfold with an average rate of 2,400 individuals arriving in New York City asking for shelter each week,” said New York City Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol. “We continue to lead with compassion and resolve, while awaiting much-needed and overdue federal support and action on this national crisis.”

 

“With the number of asylum seekers seeking refuge in our city continuing to rise, NYC Health + Hospitals is stepping up once again with the placement of the new Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center at Austell Place in Long Island City, which will support these new arrivals with dignity and compassion,” said Ted Long, MD, MHS, senior vice president, Ambulatory Care and Population Health, NYC Health + Hospitals. “I want to thank the Department of Housing Preservation and Development for making this site available and the Adams administration for continuing to work tirelessly to meet the needs of the new arrivals by providing the range of services they need.”

 

Since this humanitarian crisis began, the city has taken fast and urgent action — opening 206 emergency shelters, including 15 other large-scale humanitarian relief centers already. The city has also stood up navigation centers to connect asylum seekers with critical resources; enrolled thousands of children in public schools through Project Open Arms; and launched the Asylum Application Help Center, which has already helped submit more than 3,000 applications for asylum. Earlier this spring, Mayor Adams released “The Road Forward: A Blueprint to Address New York City’s Response to the Asylum Seeker Crisis,” detailing how the city will continue to manage the influx of asylum seekers and advocate for support from federal and state partners.

 

Prolific Human Smuggler Extradited from Mexico to the United States

 

Extensive coordination and cooperation efforts between U.S. and Mexican law enforcement authorities culminated in the extradition of a human smuggler, who allegedly operated in Mexicali on the U.S.-Mexico border for several years as part of an international human smuggling conspiracy.

In March, Ofelia Hernandez-Salas, 61, was arrested in Mexico pursuant to a U.S. request for her extradition and surrendered by Mexico to U.S. authorities on Sept. 5 to face charges previously filed in the District of Arizona and unsealed in March. She is scheduled to make her initial appearance in federal court later today in Phoenix, Arizona.

“This extradition is the result of continued coordination between the Justice Department and our Mexican law enforcement partners to bring to justice human smugglers who exploit migrants’ desperation and undermine the rule of law,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “It is another example of the impactful work Joint Task Force Alpha is doing to disrupt dangerous criminal operations and dismantle transnational criminal organizations by pursuing their leadership — wherever they operate.”

According to court documents, Hernandez-Salas allegedly conspired with other smugglers to facilitate the travel of large numbers of migrants into the United States from and through Bangladesh, Yemen, Pakistan, Eritrea, India, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Russia, Egypt, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico. Hernandez-Salas and co-conspirator Raul Saucedo-Huipio, 48, allegedly charged the migrants as much as tens of thousands of dollars to make the journey and directed the migrants where to unlawfully cross the border into the United States, including by providing them with a ladder to climb over the border fence. Hernandez-Salas and co-conspirators also allegedly robbed the migrants of money and personal belongings while armed with guns and knives. 

In June, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed corresponding sanctions on the Hernandez Salas transnational criminal organization. 

Saucedo-Huipio remains in custody in Mexico.

The indictments against Hernandez-Salas and Raul Saucedo-Huipio, and their subsequent arrests, were coordinated through Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). JTFA was created in June 2021 by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, in partnership with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas, to strengthen the Justice Department’s efforts to combat the rise in prolific and dangerous smuggling emanating from Central America and impacting our border communities. JTFA’s goal is to disrupt and dismantle human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico, with a focus on networks that endanger, abuse, or exploit migrants, present national security risks, or engage in other types of transnational organized crime.

“When international criminal organizations endanger economic migrants seeking a better life in America, an international response is required,” said U.S. Attorney Gary Restaino for the District of Arizona. “JTFA’s partnership with Mexico holds managers and organizers accountable for the criminal activities of cross-border smugglers.”

“This extradition is another testament to our global commitment to investigating, combating and dismantling human smuggling networks,” said Executive Associate Director Katrina W. Berger of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “HSI is dedicated to its law enforcement partnerships and mission, notably those accomplished through JTFA efforts, that seek to eradicate these crimes and bring those who propagate them to justice.”

HSI Yuma is investigating the case with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, FBI, and U.S. Marshals Service, working in concert with HSI Tijuana, INTERPOL, and the HSI Human Smuggling Unit in Washington, D.C. HSI also received substantial assistance from CBP’s National Targeting Center/Counter Network Division and OFAC.

JTFA Co-Director James Hepburn and Trial Attorney Patrick Jasperse of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Jennis for the District of Arizona are prosecuting the case.

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s arrest and extradition from Mexico. The Justice Department thanks its Mexican law enforcement partners, who were instrumental in arresting Hernandez-Salas, and the Mexican Attorney General’s Office and the Mexican Foreign Ministry for making the extradition possible.

Since its creation, JTFA has successfully increased coordination and collaboration between the Justice Department, DHS, and other U.S. law enforcement agencies, and with foreign law enforcement partners, including in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico; targeted those organizations who have the most impact on the United States; and coordinated significant human smuggling indictments and extradition efforts in U.S. Attorneys’ offices across the country. JTFA is comprised of detailees from southwest border U.S. Attorneys’ offices, including the Southern District of Texas, the Western District of Texas, the District of New Mexico, the District of Arizona, and the Southern District of California. Dedicated support for the program is also provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division that are part of JTFA, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Office of Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training; the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Section; the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section; the Office of Enforcement Operations; the  Office of International Affairs; and the Organized Crime and Gang Section. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, FBI, DEA, and other partners.

This investigation is also supported by the Extraterritorial Criminal Travel Strike Force (ECT) program, a partnership between the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and HSI. The ECT program focuses on human smuggling networks that may present particular national security or public safety risks or raise grave humanitarian concerns. ECT has dedicated investigative, intelligence, and prosecutorial resources. ECT also coordinates and receives assistance from other U.S. government agencies and foreign law enforcement authorities.

The charges contained in an indictment are merely allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Attorney General James Releases Statement on Settlement in Principle with Google

 

New York Attorney General Letitia James and a bipartisan group of attorneys general from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, have reached an agreement in principle with Google to settle one of three major antitrust lawsuits against the company for its anticompetitive conduct in the Google Play Store. The lawsuit was led by Attorney General James and the attorneys general of California, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Utah, who released the following statement:

“No company is too big to play by the rules, including Google. We brought this lawsuit because it is illegal to use monopoly power to drive up prices. We appreciate this bipartisan group of attorneys general who fought for a fair marketplace that encourages competition, innovation, and lower prices for consumers. We look forward to finalizing this agreement and sharing more details in the next 30 days.”

In July 2021, Attorney General James co-led a bipartisan coalition with the attorneys general of Utah, North Carolina, and Tennessee, in a lawsuit against Google alleging that the company used its monopoly power in the Android app market to inflate prices for paid apps and in-app purchases. Today’s agreement in principle will be finalized over the next 30 days, at which point the details will be made public.

NYC Comptroller Lander Declines to Approve $432 Million DocGo Contract for Work on Asylum Seeker Emergency

 

Contract returned to Dept. of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD) due to outstanding concerns about controversial vendor hired to provide shelter services to new arrivals in New York City and upstate

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander announced he declined to approve a $432 million contract with DocGo, Inc (formally known as Rapid Reliable Testing NY LLC), the first time during Comptroller Lander’s term that his office has done so regarding an emergency contract. Lander returned the contract to the Department of Housing & Preservation Development (HPD) citing numerous concerns associated with vendor selection, vendor responsibility, fiscal capacity and subcontractor selection.

Since January 1, 2022, the Comptroller’s Bureau of Contract Administration (BCA) has registered over 30,000 contracts submitted by City agencies, registering 98.8% and returning just 0.22% (fewer than 75) to contracting agencies as a result of procurement concerns. In addition, during the same time period, BCA approved all of the other 303 emergency contracts submitted by the Administration, including 69 emergency contracts for asylum seeker related services.

“My office did not make this decision lightly. After a careful review, we are declining to approve this contract due to numerous outstanding concerns,” said Comptroller Brad Lander. “The agency’s contract submission to our office fails to describe how the $432 million price tag was reached. There was little evidence to show that this company has the experience to provide the services it has been contracted for. Contradictory information was provided regarding their fiscal capacity and serious questions were raised about the integrity and responsibility of this vendor and their subcontractors. After thorough review, we are returning the contract to HPD and encouraging them to reconsider whether this vendor is appropriate for the services described.”

Read the full letter Lander sent to HPD Commissioner Adolfo Carrión Jr.

Governor Hochul Signs Legislation to Support Workers by Protecting Employees From Mandatory Political and Religious Meetings, Strengthening Wage Theft Penalties, and Increasing Benefits for Injured Workers

 

Legislation (S4982/A6604) Prohibits Employers From Disciplining Employees Who Opt Not to Participate in Meetings on Political and Religious Matters

Legislation (S2832-A/A154-A) Will Allow Prosecutors to Seek Stronger Penalties Against Employers Who Steal Wages from Workers

Legislation (S1161-A/A2034-A) Increases Minimum Weekly Compensation for Individuals Who Receive Workers’ Compensation Benefits

 Governor Kathy Hochul today signed a package of legislation to support, protect, and expand benefits for New York workers. Governor Hochul signed legislation (S4982/A6604) to prohibit employers from disciplining employees that opt not to participate in meetings about the employer’s political or religious views. The Governor signed legislation (S2832-A/A154-A) to make wage theft a form of larceny and allow prosecutors to seek stronger criminal penalties against employers who steal wages from workers. The Governor also signed legislation (S1161-A/A2034-A) to increase the minimum benefits for workers' compensation to better protect low wage workers who are injured and cannot work.

“This legislation will help to ensure that all New Yorkers receive the benefits and protections that allow them to work with dignity,” Governor Hochul said. “My administration is committed to making our state the most worker-friendly state in the nation, and I thank the bill sponsors for their partnership in our mission to establish the strongest and most robust protections right here in New York.”

New York Attorney General Letitia James said, “Everyone deserves a safe workplace where they are treated with dignity and respect. The legislation being enacted today will help protect workers across the state, particularly immigrants and other vulnerable New Yorkers who are often the likeliest victims of employer abuses like wage theft and discrimination. From now on, prosecutors will have the tools they need to stop perpetrators of wage theft who steal billions of dollars from New Yorkers every year. I want to thank Governor Hochul for enacting these important measures, Assemblymember Cruz, Senator Breslin, and all the other elected officials for their leadership in sponsoring this legislation, and our partners in organized labor for tirelessly championing these issues.”

Legislation (S4982/A6604) expands protections of employee’s freedom of speech and conscience, further prohibiting employers from disciplining employees who opt not to participate in meetings sponsored by the employer concerning the employer’s views on political and religious matters.

MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO COMBAT CAR THEFTS IN NEW YORK CITY

 

Plan Includes Dedicated Vehicles in Each Precinct to Identify and Track Stolen Vehicles

 

Office of Public Safety, Small Business Services to Work with Automobile Dealers and NYS DMV to Enhance Educational Efforts for Vehicles Owners

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced a comprehensive new plan to crack down on auto thefts throughout the five boroughs. Despite an overall decrease in major crime so far this year, grand larceny auto (GLA) is up approximately 19 percent through August, driven primarily by an increase in the theft of certain Kia and Hyundai models that is not only impacting New York City but the entire nation. That trend — driven in large part by viral social media videos — emerged in the city in September 2022, spiked three months later, and continues to the current day. Mayor Adams’ plan, announced today, includes new enforcement strategies, enhanced collaboration with private and public sector partners, and education efforts by the Mayor’s Office of Public Safety, the New York City Police Department (NYPD), and New York City Small Business Services (SBS).

 

“Violent crime is down in New York, but this administration isn’t going to stop there. Today, we are announcing bold action that takes a 360-degree approach to combatting car thefts in New York City,” said Mayor Adams. “This comprehensive plan focuses on enforcement, education, partnerships, and outreach to help us leave car thefts in the dust. Our administration is serious about New Yorkers’ safety, and today we are taking control of the wheel to bring down car thefts — sending a clear message that if you steal a vehicle in New York City, you will be held accountable.”

 

“Car thefts are more than just stolen property; they represent a shattered peace of mind, financial hardship, and a loss of freedom,” said Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Philip Banks III. “We are coming at this issue from both sides – education and enforcement – so that no New Yorker has to suffer the consequences of having their vehicle stolen. We’re putting would-be car thieves on notice, we’re arming car owners with the information they need to protect themselves, and together we will put an end to these trends.”

 

“The NYPD’s plan to combat the rise in vehicle thefts is another product of our focused vision for a safer New York City,” said NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban. “We will never stop fighting for victims — this is what New Yorkers expect from their police department, this is what they deserve, and this is what we are going to deliver.”

 

“A safer city means a stronger economy,” said SBS Commissioner Kevin D. Kim. “By building stronger partnerships between city government and local businesses, we can tackle the auto theft challenge from all angles and help New Yorkers avoid being the next target in this nationwide wave of thefts. SBS stands ready to spread the message and help educate business owners contribute to our mission to make New York the leader in halting auto theft.”

 

Every NYPD precinct now has a dedicated GLA radio motor patrol car outfitted with two mobile license plate readers that will be on patrol 24/7 and will serve as a liaison to the existing detective squads within the confines of each precinct. Additionally, the NYPD has assigned a GLA coordinator within its Crime Analysis Unit to enhance data collection on stolen or lost vehicles and arrest tracking.

 

The newly deployed GLA response vehicles will scan known active hotspot locations and recovery locations within their command to identify potential stolen vehicles and reduce response times by patrol cars when responding to calls for stolen vehicles. To further the NYPD’s GLA investigative efforts, officers deployed to GLA response vehicles will:

• Enhance the quality of GLA investigations by increasing evidence collection through broader video recovery and greater canvassing of potential witnesses following a car theft.
• Ensure near real-time notifications are made to the NYPD’s interconnected license plate readers’ alert system following a confirmed report of a vehicle theft, enabling the NYPD’s more than 250 license plate readers throughout the city to provide department-wide updates on a stolen vehicle’s location and trigger a swift response.
• Receive advanced training to ensure proper charges are made against arrestees, including the removal of desk appearance tickets being issued for GLAs.
• Utilize license plate readers to proactively scan impound lots, scrap yards, and known hot-spot areas for stolen vehicles.
• Increase surveillance of recovered vehicles after the NYPD’s evidence collection team processes potential evidence in the event that a perpetrator returns to the vehicle.

 

In line with the NYPD’s precision policing strategies, the collaborative new plan includes enhanced investigative tactics and the assignment of additional investigators to gather, analyze, and operationalize intelligence to combat car theft. The added personnel will aid in the Auto Crime Unit’s work to discern trends in vehicle-related crimes, identify and suppress recidivism, and stop the kind of violent crimes that are being facilitated by the use of stolen vehicles. The Auto Crime Unit’s intelligence sharing — across NYPD bureaus and all five boroughs — will enable the NYPD to better identify patterns, hone in on problematic conditions and locations, and develop timely, intelligence-driven deployment plans to knock down auto theft where it occurs.

 

In line with Mayor Adams’ overall approach to utilizing state-of-the art technology to enhance public safety operations, the Auto Crime Unit will continue to utilize all of the tools at its disposal and work in real time with the NYPD’s Auto Larceny Units in the field to assure successful outcomes and a safer city.

 

Today’s plan also includes an unprecedented proactive educational strategy to help combat GLAs throughout New York City. Mayor Adams, Deputy Mayor for Public Safety Banks, and SBS Commissioner Kim convened a group of representatives of the auto dealer industry, including the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association (GNYADA), to implement strategies that will educate vehicle owners and consumers throughout the five boroughs. Efforts include:

• Proactively educating consumers about car thefts and encouraging new vehicle owners to install tracking devices in their automobiles at the time of sale as an effective and affordable anti-car theft measure.
• Partnering with the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association and Spectrum TV to roll out a new public service announcement with important information and safety tips to prevent car thefts.
• Conducting educational outreach at auto shows and events throughout the city, including at the New York International Auto Show.
• Utilizing robocalls from Mayor Adams and NYPD Commissioner Caban to New Yorkers in hotspot precincts about the importance of locking vehicles and not leaving keys in them unattended.
• Placing large billboards with educational information on them for vehicle owners near hot-spot locations.

 

Additionally, the NYPD has partnered with the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles to proactively notify owners of specific vehicle makes and models that crime trends indicate are being targeted for GLAs so they can take steps to protect their property. This outreach will include both digital and door-to-door contact with important educational information.

 

The plan also calls for enhanced collaboration between all relevant law enforcement and community partners to achieve reductions in auto theft. As part of the administration’s upstream efforts to prevent car thefts, the NYPD will work closely with violence interrupters, school administrators, New York State Family Court, and the New York City Department of Probation to conduct proactive outreach to individuals with multiple recent arrests for GLAs, as well as conduct home visits of juveniles with multiple car theft arrests, to proactively deter future involvement with GLAs. Conducting outreach to young people is critically important as more than half (51.4) percent of those arrested for GLAs since September 2022 have been under the age of 18 and 88.4 percent are under the age of 25.

 

Earlier this year, Mayor Adams, the NYPD, and the Association for A Better New York (ABNY) announced the donation of 500 Apple AirTags by ABNY to the city for distribution to the public in an effort to crack down on the uptick in GLAs. New Yorkers with an AirTag — which is a quarter-sized bluetooth tracker designed by Apple to help people keep tabs on valuables or frequently lost items — or other similar inexpensive item can hide these devices in their vehicles and allow them to track down an automobile if stolen.

 

Additionally, in June, Mayor Adams and the New York City Department of Law announced that the city joined ongoing national litigation against car manufacturers Kia and Hyundai in an effort to hold the two companies accountable for refusing to equip certain models of both cars with standard anti-theft measures following an uptick in car thefts. That suit is ongoing.

 

“The retail automobile industry in metro New York is pleased to partner with the mayor and commend him for taking a leadership role on this important issue, and we are committed to working together through the Auto Show and our 400+ local franchised new car retailers wherever we can,” said GNYADA president Mark Schienberg.

Housing Lottery Launches For 1230 Prospect Avenue In Foxhurst, The Bronx

 

The affordable housing lottery has launched for 1230 Prospect Avenue, an eight-story mixed-use building in Foxhurst, The Bronx. Designed by Badaly Architects and developed by Chris Miele, the structure yields 17 residences. Available on NYC Housing Connect are six units for residents at 130 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $46,286 to $198,250.

Residents will have access to a shared laundry room, bicycle parking, storage, package lockers, and an outdoor recreational space on the second floor. Units come with intercoms, hardwood floors, air conditioning, valet trash, and name-brand kitchen appliances, countertops, and finishes. Tenants are responsible for electricity, which includes heat.

At 130 percent of the AMI, there are two studios with a monthly rent of $1,350 for incomes ranging from $46,286 to $146,900; three one-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $1,680 for incomes ranging from $57,600 to $165,230; and one two-bedroom with a monthly rent of $2,350 for incomes ranging from $80,572 to $198,250.

Prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than September 15, 2023.

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson - Community Resources & Updates

 

Dear Neighbor,

 

Thank you for joining us for another week in review. 

We hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend!

Our team had a great time at the West Indian American Day Parade in Brooklyn on Monday. Our Caribbean and West Indian Community have contributed so much to our city, and it was an honor to join with members of the Bronx Delegation to celebrate them!

 

As we prepare for a heatwave and the hottest day of the year, we encourage everyone to limit outdoor activity wherever possible. To find a cooling center near you, please click here.

We also want to wish all of our students, teachers, principals, and school faculty a happy new school year! We know our children are in good hands and we wish you all the best in this next chapter.

Lastly, Governor Kathy Hochul recently announced two neighborhood revitalization programs: the Downtown Revitalization Initiative and New York Forward Program. Both programs are reimbursement grants that cover the costs of capital projects like public art installation, storefront improvement, community Wi-Fi and more. For more information about the program and how to apply, click here. The application deadline is September 8^th.

 

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our office at 718-590-3500 or email us at webmail@bronxbp.nyc.gov.

 

In partnership,

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson