State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli: Local Government Employment Outside NYC Fell By Nearly 39,000 Since 2007

 

Local Government Employment Outside

NYC Fell By Nearly 39,000 Since 2007

The number of full-time local government workers employed outside of New York City shrank 7.9% from 491,102 to 452,298 from 2007 through 2022, according to a report by State Comptroller DiNapoli. New York’s decline in local government employment stands in contrast to the nation as a whole, which saw a 2% increase in the number of full-time employees over this 15-year period. Local government workforce levels were most impacted by two key events during this time – the Great Recession of 2007-09 and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We all rely on local government employees for essential services such as education, public safety, health care, and much more,” DiNapoli said. “But local governments were hard hit by two major events, most recently the pandemic, that have taken their toll on staffing levels. Local officials must continue to meet the difficult task of balancing their budgets while making certain they have the staff in place to ensure critical services are there for their residents.”

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We’re Hiring for CSEA Positions Statewide! Join the Office of the State Comptroller’s 2,700+ public servants working to oversee and protect the use of tax dollars for New Yorkers and our communities. We have immediate openings for CSEA represented positions, including call center representatives and benefits examiners – no civil service exam required. CSEA members are vital and valued members of our team and we’re privileged that many choose to spend their entire career with us. In addition to membership with one of New York’s largest unions, we offer: Competitive salaries and benefits, including insurance options and paid time-off Continuing education and professional development Opportunities for advancement and much more!

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Binghamton Woman Charged With Stealing Deceased Father-in-Law's Pension Payments

A 58-year-old Binghamton woman, Joy LaBarr, was charged with stealing nearly $32,000 in New York State pension payments intended for her deceased father-in-law, State Comptroller DiNapoli and Broome County District Attorney Michael A. Korchak announced.

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State Comptroller DiNapoli Releases Audits

• Department of Motor Vehicles – Language Access Services
• Department of Health – Medicaid Claims Processing Activity October 1, 2022 Through March 31, 2023
• City University of New York – Course Offerings (Follow-Up)
• Office of Addiction Services and Supports – Oversight of Chemical Dependence Residential Services (Follow-Up)
• Department of Environmental Conservation – Oversight of New York State Forest Tax Programs (Follow-Up)
• Metropolitan Transportation Authority–Long Island Rail Road – Rolling Stock Programs Department – Selected Aspects of the M9 Rail Car Project Management (Follow-Up)
• State Education Department (Preschool Special Education Audit Initiative) – Handicapped Children’s Association of Southern New York, Inc. – Compliance With the Reimbursable Cost Manual
• Department of Health – Improper Managed Care Payments for Misclassified Patient Discharges

Municipal & School Audits

• Fillmore Central School District
• Hastings-on-Hudson Union Free School District
• Stafford Fire Department, Inc.
• Town of Baldwin
• Town of Berkshire
• Town of Hamburg

ALSO IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK

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• Report: 2007 recession, COVID-19 led to drop in local government workers in past 15 years

• DiNapoli radio interview with Paul Vandenburgh
  
  
• Governor Should Sign Bill To Make Public Contracts Comptroller Can’t Review
  
  
• Comptroller: 2 affordable Westchester co-ops face poor financial and physical conditions
  
  
• How to get your unclaimed money from New York State
  
  
• Woman accused of stealing $32,000 from dead father-in-law’s pension payments

Tom DiNapoli @NYSComptroller 

Permits Filed For 716 East 215th Street In Williamsbridge, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed to expand a three-story structure into a four-story residential building at 716 East 215th Street in Williamsbridge, The Bronx. Located between White Plains Road and Holland Avenue, the lot is near the Gun Hill Road subway station, serviced by the 2 and 5 trains. Joel Grunbaum of Newkirk Gardens LLC is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 55-foot-tall development will yield 8,638 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 17 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 508 square feet. The steel-based structure will also have a cellar, penthouse, and a 44-foot-long rear yard.

Leandro Nils Dickson Architecture is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits will likely not be needed as the project calls for a vertical expansion. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

CITY ISSUES TRAVEL ADVISORY, MAYOR ADAMS ADVISES NEW YORKERS TO PREPARE FOR A COASTAL STORM BRINGING HEAVY RAIN, DAMAGING WINDS, AND COASTAL FLOODING

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM) today issued a travel advisory for Sunday, December 17 and Monday, December 18. The National Weather Service (NWS) is monitoring a major coastal storm that will impact the area with a mix of moderate to heavy rain, strong to damaging wind gusts, and minor to moderate coastal flooding to the area Sunday into Monday. NWS has issued a High Wind Watch for Brooklyn and Queens for sustained winds of 25 to 35 mph and gusts up to 60 mph. NWS has also issued a Wind Advisory for Manhattan, Staten Island, and the Bronx for the same period for 20 to 30 mph winds with gusts up to 50 mph. Both the watch and advisory are in effect from 12:00 PM midnight to 12:00 noon Monday.

 

“With significant rainfall and high winds predicted for this Sunday into Monday, we want to remind New Yorkers to be alert, keep checking the forecast, and stay prepared,” said Mayor Adams. “If you have loose things outside, now is a good time to secure them, before the winds start. People in low-lying and poor drainage areas should take extra precautions. And today is a great day to clear your catch basins, to make sure the rain ends up in the sewers and not in our basements and streets. As always, the best way to stay safe is to stay informed — so sign up for Notify NYC to get the latest up-to-date information, directly from the city.”  

 

“As the holiday season continues, New Yorkers commuting or traveling this week should be aware of and prepared for potential travel delays and other impacts due to the forecasted severe weather beginning Sunday night into Monday morning,” said NYCEM Commissioner Zach Iscol. “We're closely coordinating with city agencies and utilities to mitigate any disruptions, and to respond swiftly to any incidents. For New Yorkers near the coast, please be particularly vigilant about potential coastal flooding. Please allow for extra travel time and consider using public transportation. I encourage everyone to sign up for Notify NYC for real-time updates as we work to keep our city safe and informed during these festive but potentially challenging weather conditions.”

 

Light rain is expected to begin Sunday morning, becoming increasingly likely in the early afternoon. Periods of moderate to heavy rainfall will continue Sunday night into Monday morning, resulting in the potential for widespread minor flooding. Thunderstorms with heavier downpours and localized flash flooding cannot be ruled out. Heavy rain may cause prolonged disruptions to transportation, particularly for the Monday morning commute, and minor flooding of basements, first floor buildings, and underground infrastructures. Heavy rain may coincide with the high tides overnight, exacerbating flood conditions along the coast. A total of 2 to 3 inches of rain with locally higher amounts will be possible. Major rainfall flooding is not expected.

 

Winds will be breezy during the day tomorrow but will ramp up quickly a few hours prior to midnight and will continue to increase overnight. The period of strongest winds is expected from early Monday morning to around mid-morning, with gusts of up to 60 mph possible in Brooklyn and Queens, particularly along the coastline. Elsewhere, wind gusts of up to 50 mph are expected across the western and interior portions of the city. The strongest gusts may occur with thunderstorms and heavier downpours. Scattered downed tree limbs and isolated instances of uprooted trees may cause power outages. Poorly secured objects, including holiday decorations, may be damaged or blown away.

 

Coastal flooding is likely during high tides late tomorrow night into Monday, with higher water levels expected during the second high tide. Widespread minor flooding with one to two feet of inundation is probable late tomorrow night in the New York Harbor and Jamaica Bay. The threat of widespread moderate coastal flooding with 2 to 2.5 feet of inundation is increasing for the Monday afternoon high tide, with the highest water levels expected in southern Queens. Locally major flooding cannot be ruled out. Flooding may result in closed roadways, inundated properties, and flood-damaged vehicles. Peak tide times on Monday will be between 12:00 midnight and 1:00 AM and again between 12:00 noon and 1:00 PM. In addition, large breaking waves along Atlantic-facing beaches may cause dune erosion and over washes. 

 

New York City Emergency Management, in response to the forecasted weather, has activated the city's Flash Flood Emergency Plan, and coordinated calls with the National Weather Service, partner agencies, as well as infrastructure companies. New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) crews have been checking flood-prone locations to ensure the functionality of catch basins and drainage infrastructure, with additional personnel scheduled for Sunday and Monday. DEP is also prepared to manage stormwater with cleaned and inspected Bluebelts and monitor flooding on arterial highways. The New York City Department of Transportation is prepared to monitor road conditions at its Traffic Management Center and coordinate with sister agencies for flood conditions, while also assisting in clearing catch basins to prevent roadway flooding.

 

In addition, the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) maintains 111 water-trained rescue units, equipped for various water rescues, and 143 ladder companies with chainsaws for potential wind and tree events. FDNY's Special Operations Command is prepared with high-axel vehicles for high water navigation and additional chainsaw-equipped units. The New York City Department of Sanitation will be checking and servicing hundreds of catch basins citywide, with equipment ready to assist in tree-related incidents, especially if the Downed Tree Taskforce is activated. The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation is on alert to monitor tree conditions, ready to activate the Downed Tree Task Force if necessary. These efforts across multiple city departments reflect a unified and proactive approach to ensuring safety and minimizing the impact of severe weather conditions.

 

For access to timely and accurate updates, New Yorkers should sign up for the City’s emergency alert system Notify NYC and follow NYC Emergency Management on social media.

 

Safety Tips

•  Allow for extra travel time. New Yorkers are urged to use public transportation. 
• If you must drive, drive slowly. Use major streets or highways for travel whenever possible. 
• If you live in a basement apartment in a flood prone area, prepare to move to higher ground.
• Do not drive into flooded streets or enter flooded subway stations.
• Check on friends, relatives, and neighbors, especially older adults and people with disabilities, access and functional needs, or health conditions. Help them to prepare if needed.
• Stay informed. Before and during an emergency, the city will send emergency alerts and updates to New Yorkers through various channels, including Notify NYC. Sign up for emergency notifications at gov/NotifyNYC or call 311. You can also follow @NotifyNYC on Twitter.

  

For more safety tips, visit NYC.gov/SevereWeather. New Yorkers are encouraged to sign up for Notify NYC, the city’s free emergency notification system, to stay informed about the latest weather updates and other emergencies. Notify NYC is available in 14 languages, including American Sign Language. To learn more about the Notify NYC program or to sign up, visit NYC.gov/NotifyNYC, call 311, or download the free Notify NYC app for your Android or Apple device. You can now text to 692-692, using the code NOTIFYNYC, NOTIFYNYCESP (Spanish), and NOTIFYFRE (French) to be instantly enrolled to receive the highest priority, verified alerts across all the five boroughs. You can also follow @NotifyNYC or @nycemergencymgt on Twitter.

 

FLORIDA MAN INDICTED IN NY’S FIRST USE OF INVESTIGATIVE GENETIC GENEALOGY TO SOLVE COLD CASE RAPES

Using DOJ Grant to Bronx DA, New DNA Technology Employed That Led to Suspect in Sex Assaults from 2000, 2001 

 Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and New York City Police Commissioner Edward A. Caban today announced that a Florida man has been charged in separate indictments for raping a woman in the Bronx and a woman in Manhattan two decades ago, after new DNA technology linked him to the brutal attacks. These are the first sexual assault cases in the state solved with Investigative Genetic Genealogy.

 District Attorney Clark said, “After all these years, we are finally providing justice for two women who survived terrifying attacks. Our Bronx victim said she had been waiting more than 20 years to hear that her alleged rapist was caught. I thank the Manhattan DA’s Office and the NYPD, and my Forensic Science Unit for their relentless efforts for these women. Investigative Genetic Genealogy will help solve all sorts of cold cases, not limited to murders, and hold perpetrators accountable. It will also help to name our unidentified homicide victims so their relatives can have closure.”

 District Attorney Bragg said, “DNA is a powerful tool to solve cold cases and secure justice for survivors even decades after a crime takes place. Alongside our partners in law enforcement, we never give up on seeking accountability – particularly for such horrific and violent allegations as these. I thank the Bronx D.A.’s Office and the NYPD, as well as the prosecutors in my office, for pursuing answers with such determination while centering survivors throughout.”

 Commissioner Caban, “Investigations may grow colder with the passage of time, but these indictments prove that the best detectives in the world do not ever forget victims and the justice rightfully owed to them. I commend and thank for their skilled dedication to this critical work our NYPD forensic genetic genealogist, investigators, and criminologists, as well as New York City’s chief medical examiner and everyone involved in these cases from the Manhattan and Bronx district attorneys’ offices.”

 According to court documents and statements made on the record in court, on May 23, 2000, a 27-year-old woman came home to her Midtown apartment and discovered a man inside. He allegedly forced her into her bathroom, tied her arms and feet with a wire hanger, and raped her. A DNA profile developed from evidence in the survivor’s subsequent rape kit was indicted in 2005 by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office as “John Doe.”

 According to the investigation, on a day in December 2001, the defendant allegedly entered the 21-year-old victim’s apartment in the Bronx while she was sleeping. He allegedly covered the victim’s face and bound her with a wire hanger and raped her. The survivor’s rape kit generated a donor profile, which matched the donor profile from the Manhattan case.

 A three-year, $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance to the Bronx District Attorney’s Office to solve cold cases was used to fund Investigative Genetic Genealogy. This entails taking crime scene evidence and sending it to a private laboratory to develop a profile which is used to search for consumer DNA databases for genetic relatives who consented to assist law enforcement. Using the suspect’s DNA found at the scenes, a family tree was developed by NYPD’s Forensic Laboratory, and those results helped identify the defendant as Jancys Santiago, 48.

 Santiago, formerly of the Bronx and currently of Groveland, Fla, was extradited from Florida and arraigned on the “John Doe” indictment on Thursday, November 9, 2023, in Manhattan Supreme Court. He was remanded.

  DA Clark thanked Detective James Barrenger of the NYPD Special Victims Division DNA Cold Case Squad, for his extensive work on the investigation,. DA Clark thanked the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, and the University of Central Florida Police Department for their assistance.

An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.

THE NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF STATE’S DIVISION OF CONSUMER PROTECTION URGES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO RECALL A TOY KNOWN AS THE SPEED STRIKER REMOTE CONTROL CAR

 

Speed Striker Toy Contains High Lead Levels that Are Dangerous to Children 

Secretary Rodriguez said: “This toy poses a hazardous risk to our kids and should not be on store shelves. I urge Five Below to voluntarily pull the item from its shelves and the federal government to immediately take steps necessary to issue a recall of this product”

Follow the New York Department of State on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for “Tuesday’s Tips” – Practical Tips to Educate and Empower New York Consumers on a Variety of Topics  

The New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection (DCP) urges the Federal government to issue a recall of the Striker Remote Control Car toy, and for Five Below stores to remove the toy from its shelves immediately. Research and testing found the bottom of this toy car contains 2.5 times the allowable paint and surface coating lead level established by the federal Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). The Division is also seeking to warn holiday shopping consumers about the health hazards the lead paint found on the Striker Remote Control Car presents to children.

“During this holiday shopping season, we need to make sure the toys we are buying our children are safe,” said New York State Secretary of State Robert Rodriguez. “This toy poses a hazardous risk to our kids and should not be on store shelves. I urge Five Below to voluntarily pull the item from its shelves and the federal government to immediately take steps necessary to issue a recall of this product.” 

The DCP conducts product research and testing and enforces New York’s Children’s Product Safety and Recall Effectiveness Act. Product testing found the Speed Striker Remote Control Car contains a 230 parts per million (ppm) total lead content in the white coating on the code and print on the bottom of the car. This lead level is 155% above the federal CPSIA limit of 90 ppm for the presence of total lead content in paints and surface coatings, in violation of CPSIA Section 101 & 16 CFR 1303.

The toy Speed Striker Remote Control Car was purchased at Five Below and is distributed by 1616 Holdings, Inc.

The DCP contacted the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to request a national recall of the Speed Striker Remote Control Car containing lead and asked Five Below to remove the toy from its shelves and discontinue its sale. The DCP also contacted the distributor 1616 Holdings Inc. requesting it cease the distribution and sale of the Speed Striker Remote Control Car in New York State and nationwide.

If anyone has the Speed Striker Remote Control Car at home, they can dispose of it by simply throwing it in the garbage, or they can choose to set it aside in a safe area and await any future recall instructions, which may or may not include a refund component.

Hazards in children’s products are often latent and unfortunately not known until someone is hurt. Accordingly, the DCP urges consumers to follow simple safety tips when shopping to best ensure the toys purchased are safe for children:

• Always purchase age-appropriate toys.
• Read labels carefully and take note of all warnings.
• Keep toys in good condition and dispose of broken toys or repair them right away.
• Make sure any fabric toys are labeled as flame-resistant or flame-retardant.

Lead is a chemical substance often used in production of painted toys, furniture, and toy jewelry; cosmetics; food or liquid containers; and plumbing materials.^[1] According to the New York State Department of Health, lead is a metal that can harm children when it gets into their bodies. Lead can harm a young child’s growth, behavior, and ability to learn. It can also cause anemia, kidney damage and hearing loss. ^[2] The Speed Striker Remote Control Car contained 230 ppm of lead, well above the federal limit of 90 ppm. (for more information on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention, please click here). https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/lead/

Consumers who identify a recalled product in the marketplace, or require more information about toy safety and recalls, are urged to call the Consumer Assistance Hotline: 1-800-697-1220. Consumer complaints can be filed at any time at www.dos.ny.gov/consumer-protection. The Division can also be reached via Twitter at @NYSConsumer or Facebook at www.facebook.com/nysconsumer.