News, updates and more from NYC Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Jr.

 

BACK TO SCHOOL DISTRIBUTIONS AT MICHELANGELO AND BRONX RIVER HOUSES

 

I was proud to hold another Back to School distribution with the Michelangelo and Bronx River Houses, where we handed out 100s of backpacks and school supply kits to Bronx children.

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DISTRIBUCION DE REGRESO A LA ESCUELA EN MICHELANGELO Y BRONX RIVER HOUSES

Tuve el orgullo de realizar otra distribución de Regreso a la Escuela con Michelangelo y Bronx River Houses, donde entregamos cientos de mochilas y kits de útiles escolares a los niños del Bronx.

NYC COUNCIL COMMITTEE HEARINGS

 

Roundup of the Committee on Sanitation and Joint Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and Committee on Oversight and Investigation hearings that I attended at New York City Council.

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AUDIENCIAS DEL COMITÉ DEL CONSEJO DE LA
CIUDAD DE NUEVA YORK
 

Resumen de las audiencias del Comité de Saneamiento y del Comité Conjunto de Transporte e Infraestructura y del Comité de Supervisión e Investigación a las que asistí en el Concejo Municipal de Nueva York.

BRONX ANTI-RAT DAY OF ACTION

 

I joined members of Mayor Eric Adams’ Administration, Bronx Community Board 2, and members of the Bronx community to take action against rats during the ‘Bronx Anti-Rat Day of Action’. 

In addition to tackling litter, we also took steps to care for our streets and trees so we can help better mitigate the rat problems that we’ve been experiencing in our community.

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DÍA DE ACCIÓN ANTI-RATAS DEL BRONX
 

Me uní a miembros de la administración del alcalde Eric Adams, la Junta Comunitaria 2 del Bronx y miembros de la comunidad del Bronx para tomar medidas contra las ratas durante el "Día de acción contra las ratas del Bronx".

Además de abordar la basura, también tomamos medidas para cuidar nuestras calles y árboles para poder ayudar a mitigar mejor los problemas de ratas que hemos estado experimentando en nuestra comunidad.

HAPPY HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH!

 

Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to reflect on the influence and contributions that Hispanic and Latino Americans have had on our country’s culture and history. 

As we embark on this year’s celebrations, I would like to commemorate the diversity of the large Hispanic and Latino communities that I am honored to represent in the South Bronx.

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¡FELIZ MES DE LA HERENCIA HISPANA!
 

El Mes de la Herencia Hispana es un momento para reflexionar sobre la influencia y las contribuciones que los hispanos y latinoamericanos han tenido en la cultura y la historia de nuestro país.

Al embarcarnos en las celebraciones de este año, me gustaría conmemorar la diversidad de las grandes comunidades hispanas y latinas que tengo el honor de representar en el sur del Bronx.

2023 FIESTA DE FLORES!

 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS:

I am proud to be partnering with the New York Botanical Garden to present to you the 2023 Fiesta De Flores celebration in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. 

*Admission is FREE - however, as space will be limited, RSVP’s are REQUIRED.*

https://www.nybg.org/event/fiesta-de-flores/

I hope to see you there!
 

¡FIESTA DE FLORES 2023!

MARCA TUS CALENDARIOS:

Estoy orgulloso de asociarme con el Jardín Botánico de Nueva York para presentarles la celebración de la Fiesta De Flores 2023 en honor al Mes de la Herencia Hispana.

*La entrada es GRATUITA; sin embargo, como el espacio será limitado, se REQUIERE confirmar su asistencia.*

Visit our District Office at:  1070 Southern Boulevard Bronx, New York 10459 (718) 402-6130 salamanca@council.nyc.gov

New Jersey Construction Company Operator Pleads Guilty to Tax Crimes and Bankruptcy Fraud

 

A New Jersey man pleaded guilty to tax evasion, employment tax crimes, aiding the filing of false tax returns and making false statements in bankruptcy.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Zeki Donuk, of Landing, operated a construction business first under the name Titan Builders LLC and later as Titan Steel Construction LLC (collectively, “Titan”). From at least 2016 through 2019, Donuk cashed checks payable to Titan instead of depositing them into business bank accounts. Donuk concealed the cashed checks and did not report them either as gross receipts on Titan’s corporate tax returns or as income on his or his wife’s personal returns.

As part of his plea, Donuk admitted that from the third quarter of 2016 through the third quarter of 2017, he also did not collect, account for or pay over to the IRS employment taxes withheld from employees’ wages, despite a legal obligation to do so. For those quarters, Donuk also did not file quarterly employment tax returns on behalf of the businesses.

In 2019, Donuk made false statements on documents he filed in a personal bankruptcy case. Specifically, he concealed from the bankruptcy court that he owned a vacation property in Pennsylvania, had signatory authority over certain bank accounts, owed tax debts to the IRS and operated his construction business as Titan Builders and Titan Steel.

U.S. District Judge Esther Salas for the District of New Jersey set sentencing for Jan. 4, 2024. Donuk faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count of tax evasion, failure to account for and pay employment taxes and bankruptcy fraud, and a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each false return. He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey made the announcement.

IRS-Criminal Investigation, the FBI and the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration are investigating the case.

Attorney General James Scores Major Victory for Small Businesses Harmed by Predatory Lender

 

Richmond Capital Required to Cancel Tens of Millions of Dollars in Debt and Repay Thousands of Small Businesses Nationwide for their Predatory Loans

New York Attorney General Letitia James secured a major court victory against three merchant cash advance companies, Richmond Capital Group, Ram Capital Funding, and Viceroy Capital Funding (the Richmond companies) and their principals, Jonathan Braun, Tzvi Reich, Robert Giardina, and Michelle Gregg, for harming small businesses through high-interest loans and undisclosed fees. The lawsuit filed by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) alleged that the Richmond companies’ merchant cash advances, which are a form of short-term, high-interest funding for small businesses, were in fact illegal, high-interest loans with astronomical and illegal rates. The court order requires the Richmond companies to cancel the debt owed by thousands of small businesses nationwide and to repay all interest and overcharges collected, totaling tens of millions of dollars.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and of all the challenges they face to stay open, predatory lenders shouldn’t be one of them,” said Attorney General James. “This decision will bring relief to thousands of small business owners in New York and across the country who were cheated by Richmond Capital. Small business owners were trying to get up on their feet when Richmond Capital crushed them with predatory loans that buried them in harmful debt. Richmond Capital will finally pay the price for the harm it caused for thousands of small businesses nationwide.”

In June 2020, Attorney General James sued Richmond Capital Group, Ram Capital Funding, and Viceroy Capital Funding for a variety of offenses that were harming small businesses in New York and throughout the nation. Attorney General James found that the Richmond companies were illegally loaning money to small business owners at astronomically-high interest rates, fraudulently charging undisclosed fees, debiting excess amounts from merchants’ bank accounts, and illegally obtaining judgments against merchants by filing false affidavits in New York State courts. In one example, the Richmond companies loaned $10,000 to a small business and required its owner to pay back $19,900 within 10 days, through daily payments of $1,999. As a result of the large daily payments and the short, 10-day repayment term, the annual interest rate for the merchant cash advance, including fees, came close to 4,000 percent — almost 250 times the legal interest rate. 

The court decision requires Richmond Capital to stop collecting on its outstanding debt and to repay thousands of small businesses the unfair interest they had to pay. In order to determine the full amount of restitution, the Richmond Capital is required to provide an accounting and full history of monies collected.

MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES CITY HALL, OTHER CITY BUILDINGS TO BE LIT YELLOW IN HONOR OF FALLS PREVENTION AWARENESS WEEK

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced that City Hall and other municipal buildings will be lit yellow tonight as part of Falls Prevention Awareness Week for older adults. Falls Prevention Awareness Week is an annual event observed in early fall to raise awareness about the serious harm trips and falls can cause to older adults.

 

“Since day one, our administration has been proud to put policies in place that ensure older New Yorkers can live independently and safely,” said Mayor Adams. “Falls Prevention Awareness Week is an opportunity for us to come together as a city and inform our older residents about the ways they can keep themselves safe and prevent themselves from falling, while simultaneously continuing to be a national example of how to be an age-inclusive city.”

 

“As part of making New York City the most age-inclusive city in the world, this week we are recognizing Falls Awareness Prevention Week,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “Whether you yourself are an older adult or know a loved one who is, there are many safe, effective steps to take to limit the risk for falls. Reach out to the Department for the Aging and local community organizations to learn more about these strategies and help us keep every older adult that calls New York City home safe and healthy.”

 

“Lighting up City Hall and other municipal buildings across the city yellow tonight for Falls Prevention Awareness Week shows Mayor Adams’ commitment to making New York City the model age-inclusive city across the nation,” said New York City Department for the Aging Commissioner Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez. “When an older adult falls, it is not just the injuries that have a detrimental effect on the individual — there are also aftereffects that can have serious consequences. Fortunately, older adults can learn how to prevent falls, and I encourage them to participate in the activities being offered at older adult centers this week and throughout the year.”

 

This year, Falls Prevention Awareness Week will take place between Monday, September 18 and Friday, September 22. Nationally, about 36 million older adults fall each year, and 3 million of them are treated in emergency departments because of an injury related to a fall. Over the course of the week, community organizations across the city will be hosting events providing residents with tips for older adults on how to prevent falls.

 

In addition to City Hall, the following municipal buildings will be lit up starting tonight at sundown:

• Bronx Borough Hall: 851 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10451
• The David N. Dinkins Manhattan Municipal Building: 1 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007
• Staten Island Borough Hall: 10 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, NY 10301

Permits Filed For 633 East 230th Street In Wakefield, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a seven-story residential building at 633 East 230th Street in Wakefield, The Bronx. Located between Carpenter Avenue and White Plains Road, the lot is two blocks south of the 233rd Street subway station, serviced by the 2 and 5 trains. Joel Brody is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 70-foot-tall development will yield 17,034 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 25 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 681 square feet. The concrete-based structure will also have a 46-foot-long rear yard and 13 open parking spaces.

Lester Katz of DXA Studio is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits were filed in June 2022 for the two-story residential building on the site. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

Western Union Remission Fund Distributes Approximately $40M to Victims in the United States and Abroad

 

The Justice Department announced that the Western Union Remission Fund began a distribution of approximately $40 million in funds forfeited to the United States from the Western Union Company (Western Union) to approximately 25,000 victims located in the United States and abroad. These victims stand to recover the full amount of their losses.

This is the first distribution in the second phase of the Western Union Remission distributions. The first phase of distributions paid more than $365 million to over 148,000 victims, all of whom received full compensation for their losses. The Justice Department anticipates authorizing more distributions for victims in the coming months.

The second phase of the Western Union Remission was opened in March 2022 to provide victims who had not filed petitions in the first phase of distributions an opportunity to file for remission. The Justice Department continues to accept petitions for remission from those victimized by the scheme. 

“The latest distribution of the Western Union Remission Fund compensated thousands more victims harmed by predatory schemes,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Victim assistance is a primary goal of the Department’s Asset Forfeiture Program, and this latest distribution is a testament to the impact asset forfeiture can have in compensating and making victims whole.”

“This distribution of $39.6 million to thousands of victims to compensate them for their losses demonstrates our commitment to hold all responsible parties accountable and to ensure justice for the victims who were financially harmed,” said U.S. Attorney Gerard M. Karam for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. “We thank our law enforcement partners who continue to work tirelessly on behalf of the victims.”

“The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) is committed to protecting victims of fraud and will continue to investigate those perpetrating such schemes,” said Postal Inspector in Charge Christopher Nielsen of the USPIS Philadelphia Division. “This $39 million disbursement to 25,000 victims brings the total disbursed to over $404 million to over 174,000 victims in the Western Union Remission process. We would like to thank our partners in this extraordinary effort especially the Justice Department’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section.”

In 2017, Western Union entered into a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) with the United States. Pursuant to the DPA, Western Union acknowledged responsibility for its criminal conduct, which included violations of the Bank Secrecy Act and aiding and abetting wire fraud, and agreed to forfeit $586 million, which has been made available to compensate victims of the international consumer fraud scheme through the remission process. Western Union simultaneously resolved a parallel civil investigation with the Federal Trade Commission.

In this scheme, fraudsters targeted consumers, including seniors, through multiple scams. Three specific scams directed towards seniors include the grandparent scam, where the fraudster would pose as the victim’s relative in need of immediate money to avoid personal harm, lottery, or sweepstakes scams; where the fraudster would tell the victim that they had won a large cash prize but had to pay fees such as taxes to claim the prize; and romance scams, where the fraudster would pose as an online love interest and request funds for a visit or for another purpose. In each of these scams, the fraudsters convinced their victims to send money through Western Union.

Certain owners, operators, or employees of Western Union agent locations were complicit in the schemes. Western Union aided and abetted the fraud scheme by failing to suspend or terminate complicit agents and by allowing them to continue to process fraud-induced monetary transactions. Western Union fulfilled its obligations under the DPA and the court granted the motion to dismiss the information.

The Justice Department, through the Asset Forfeiture Program, works diligently to restore lost funds to victims of crime and acknowledges the significant assistance of the USPIS Philadelphia Division’s Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Office in the Western Union remission. The victim compensation payments in the Western Union case would not have been possible without the extraordinary efforts of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section and the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, the Central District of California, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and the Southern District of Florida. The FBI Los Angeles Field Office, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations Philadelphia, the Federal Reserve Board and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Office of Inspector General, and the Department of the Treasury Office of Inspector General provided valuable assistance.

More information about the Western Union Remission Fund and its compensation to victims is available at www.WesternUnionRemissionPhase2.com. Further questions may be directed to the Western Union Remission Administrator by phone at (855) 786-1048 or by email at info@WesternUnionRemissionPhase2.com.

Governor Hochul Celebrates New York’s Statewide Pay Transparency Law as Groundbreaking Legislation Takes Effect

 

Law Requires Employers with Four or More Employees to Include the Minimum and Maximum Annual Salary or Hourly Range for Compensation in Any Job Advertisement

Builds on Governor’s Commitment to Supporting and Empowering New York Workers

Public Comment Period Now Open for Proposed Regulations for the New Law

 Governor Kathy Hochul today celebrated New York’s groundbreaking pay transparency law, which takes effect today. The landmark legislation, which Governor Hochul signed into law last year, requires businesses across New York State with four or more employees to include compensation ranges in all advertisements for job, promotion, and transfer opportunities. The legislation underscores New York's commitment to addressing wage disparities and promoting transparency in compensation practices across the state and builds on the Governor’s commitment to supporting and empowering workers.

“With the implementation of our pay transparency law, New York is once again at the cutting edge of promoting fairness and equity in the workplace,” Governor Hochul said. “Wage disparities have deepened inequality in our state for far too long and put countless workers – particularly women and people of color – at a disadvantage. I was proud to sign this legislation to help level the playing field across our state, and I will continue to work with the Legislature on solutions to support, protect, and empower workers until we finally close the wage gap in New York.”

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, "Transparency in compensation is not merely about numbers—it's about fairness, empowerment, and the recognition of every individual's worth. This law is a monumental step in ensuring that every New Yorker has the information they need to make informed career decisions, fostering an environment where equity isn't just an ideal but a daily practice."

The law requires all job, promotion or transfer opportunities physically performed, at least in part, in the State of New York to include a range of pay when advertised. This applies to any opportunities that are performed outside the state, including remote or telecommuting opportunities, that report to a supervisor, office or other work site in New York State. Pay ranges must consist of the minimum and maximum annual salary or hourly compensation believed in good faith to be accurate at the time of posting. Employers must also clearly state if a position is commission-based. This law marks a significant step towards leveling the playing field, ensuring that employees have access to vital compensation information, and empowering them to make informed decisions about their careers.

A pay transparency fact sheet and FAQ document are available on the NYSDOL website with additional information and guidance on the new law. Proposed regulations for the new law were published in the State Register on September 13, 2023. The public has 60 days to review and comment on the regulations.

Governor Hochul’s dedication to fostering transparency, fairness, and equity in the workplace was reinforced by a recent report from the New York State Department of Labor on the Gender Wage Gap. The report indicated women in New York’s workforce earned 88.2 cents for every dollar earned by men in 2021.

As part of the Pay Transparency Law's enforcement, NYSDOL holds the authority to ensure compliance, and individuals are encouraged to file complaints if job advertisements do not contain compensation ranges. NYSDOL is committed to a strong enforcement and penalty structure for those employers that refuse to comply.

NYSDOL will actively engage stakeholders and create helpful guidance to educate 500,000 businesses, workers, and job seekers as it conducts the public outreach campaign required by this new law. After a period of focused outreach to businesses, the Department will utilize complaint data to determine if patterns of non-compliance emerge in certain industries or certain regions of the state.

Governor Hochul remains committed to supporting workers across New York State and has taken several recent actions to expand employment opportunities, strengthen workers’ rights, and protect workers from abuse and exploitation by their employers. A list of recent labor accomplishments is available here.

New Renderings Revealed For The Arabella At 4720 Third Avenue In Belmont, The Bronx

 

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

The main rendering depicts The Arabella clad in a mix of glass and metal paneling with an earth-toned color palette. Expansive glass walls enclose the corners of the podium and are surrounded by a checkerboard pattern of square tiling and dark columns. Glass railings line the top of the podium, followed by an orthodox grid of windows for the residential levels. This upper portion rises with an irregular shaped massing with a noticeably sharp prow at the confluence of Third Avenue and East 189th Street. The elevators, staircases, and mechanical equipment are housed in an external core clad in brown paneling that matches the color of the trim work dividing the windows.

Outdoor terrace space will have lounge seating, cabanas, landscaping, and outdoor games including shuffleboard and ping pong.

The below renderings depict the interior amenity spaces such as the fitness center that opens onto an outdoor terrace, and an indoor residential lounge with access to a separate terrace.

The fitness center.

The indoor lounge.

Interiors of the units can be seen below.

An open kitchen layout.

A bedroom.

A bedroom.

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

The Arabella’s anticipated completion date is slated for the second quarter of 2024. The first model apartments will be ready to view this fall, while the number of affordable units has yet to be publicly disclosed by the developers. More info can be found on their website at arabellabx.com.