KRVC - Two Outdoor Concerts this Week!

 

Join us on Friday, June 21st

7-9pm

for Make Music Day New York

at Ewen Park

with John Pinamonti

Shannon Brown and Dan Asher

Bring chairs, a blanket and a picnic!

And... on

Sunday, June 23rd 5-7pm

we are thrilled to welcome back

Morrisania Band Project

on the beautiful, shady grounds of

Van Cortlandt House Museum

Shoutout to



Steve Catechis from Blackstone Bar and Grill. He called Sunday evening and redirected AMAZING Greek food from the St. Peter's Greek Festival. We dropped off to our friends at The Friendly Fridge BX. 5 full size trays will be distributed for lunch. Thank you Steve and St. Peter's for putting community first, always. 

If you have leftover food, please consider reaching out to get it redirected to Bronxites. #fightlocalhunger 

Two more weeks to see our current Gallery 505 Exhibit

Up next at Gallery 505

Attorney General James Announces Over $7.4 Million to the Finger Lakes Region and Over $4.7 Million to Central New York to Combat Youth Vaping Epidemic

 

Funds from $112.7 Million Settlement with JUUL for its Role in the Youth Vaping Epidemic

Money Will Help Young New Yorkers Quit Vaping and Support Anti-Vaping Programs

New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced more than $7.4 million for the Finger Lakes region and more than $4.7 million for Central New York from a historic $462 million multistate settlement that she secured from JUUL Labs Inc. (JUUL) for its role in the youth vaping epidemic that led to a dangerous rise in underage e-cigarette use nationwide. New York state will receive a total of $112.7 million through this settlement, which Attorney General James will distribute to every county, Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), and the five largest cities in the state to support programs that will help reduce and prevent underage vaping.

“Like the big tech companies that have fueled a mental health crisis among young people with their addictive products, JUUL marketed its dangerous and addictive vapes to children, putting millions at risk,” said Attorney General James. “Across our state, e-cigarette use among kids spiked after JUUL hit the market. I’m proud that my office ensured JUUL paid for the damage they did to young people. The funds we secured will help schools and communities in Central New York fight back against the youth vaping epidemic. I thank all of my partners in government for their partnership in this effort to protect our children.”

The Central New York funds will be split between the Syracuse City School District, and counties and BOCES in Central New York:

Counties

• Cayuga County will receive $397,684.96
• Cortland County will receive $276,771.10
• Madison County will receive $396,519.43
• Onondaga County will receive $1,452,272.89
• Oswego County will receive $582,809.54

School Districts / BOCES

• Syracuse City School District will receive $322,481.76
• Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES will receive $188,908.33
• Onondaga-Cortland-Madison BOCES will receive $857,352.80
• CiTi BOCES in Oswego will receive $299,339.81

The Finger Lakes region funds will be split between the Rochester City School District, and counties and BOCES in the Finger Lakes region:

Counties

• Genesee County will receive $366,507.72
• Livingston County will receive $345,540.78
• Monroe County will receive $2,293,677.54
• Ontario County will receive $530,263.71
• Orleans County will receive $275,118.86
• Seneca County will receive $236,510.67
• Wayne County will receive $481,411.55
• Yates County will receive $225,004.21

School Districts / BOCES

• Rochester City School District will receive $412,822.79
• Genesee Valley BOCES will receive $330,959.99
• Monroe 1 BOCES will receive $693,247.82
• Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES will receive $492,990.85
• Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES will receive $551,361.10

After JUUL launched in 2015, e-cigarette use among New York high school students skyrocketed. By 2019, the proliferation of vaping led to a national outbreak of severe vaping-related illnesses, with more than 2,500 hospitalizations. In October 2019, a 17-year-old male from the Bronx died due to a vaping-related illness, making him the first reported vaping-related fatality in New York, and the youngest vaping-related fatality in the United States.

In November 2019, Attorney General James sued JUUL for its deceptive and misleading marketing that glamorized vaping and targeted young people. In April 2023, Attorney General James secured the largest multistate agreement with JUUL and its former directors and executives for their role in fueling the youth vaping epidemic. JUUL misled consumers about the nicotine content of its products, misrepresented the safety and therapeutic value of its products by stating that they were safer than cigarettes, and failed to prevent minors from purchasing its products in stores across the country.

The settlement funds will be used for evidence-based measures to combat underage vaping and e-cigarette addiction. Counties and BOCES must dedicate the settlement funds they receive to programs in five categories:

• Public education campaigns to prevent e-cigarette use among young people.
• Community, school, and university-based anti-vaping programs.
• Vaping cessation services in communities, schools, and colleges.
• Enforcement of vaping laws and regulations.
• Public health research into e-cigarette use among young people and the effectiveness of anti-vaping programs. 
• In addition to paying New York $112.7 million, the settlement required JUUL to make significant changes to its sales and marketing tactics, including:
• Refraining from any marketing that targets youth, including using anyone under the age of 35 in promotional material or funding, operating youth education/prevention campaigns, or sponsoring school related activities.
• Limiting the amount of retail and online purchases an individual can make.
• Performing regular retail compliance checks at five percent of New York’s retail stores that sell JUUL’s products for at least four years.
• Treating synthetic nicotine as nicotine.
• Refraining from providing free or nominally priced JUUL pods as samples to consumers,
• Excluding product placement in virtual reality systems.
• Increasing funding to a document depository by up to $5 million and adding millions of relevant documents to the depository to inform the public on how JUUL created a public health crisis.

Bronx Man Convicted Of December 2021 Murder And Attempted Robbery In Aqueduct Park Walkway

 

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the conviction of RICARDO FERGUSON, a/k/a “Maybach,” for the December 5, 2021, murder of Robert Brown, Sr. inside of the Aqueduct Park walkway in the University Heights neighborhood of the Bronx.  FERGUSON shot Brown in the head and attempted to steal crack cocaine and money from Brown’s pockets during a dispute over drug sales.  The defendant was found guilty following a six-day trial before U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman.   

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Ricardo Ferguson murdered Robert Brown, Sr. by shooting him in the head in the middle of a New York City Park in broad daylight. Today’s conviction sends an important message to drug dealers who commit violent crimes that they will be apprehended and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”  

According to the allegations in the Indictment and evidence at trial:

FERGUSON and others participated in a conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine in the vicinity of the Aqueduct Park walkway in the University Heights neighborhood of the Bronx.  In the months leading up to the murder, FERGUSON and his co-conspirators threatened Robert Brown, Sr. because Brown had been selling bags containing larger quantities of crack cocaine than the other dealers in the park.  On December 5, 2021, FERGUSON and a co-conspirator attacked and attempted to rob Brown in the Aqueduct Park walkway.  During the attempted robbery, FERGUSON pulled out a gun and shot Brown in the head.  Brown was 63 years old at the time of the murder.

FERGUSON, 38, of the Bronx, New York, was convicted today of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; attempted Hobbs Act robbery, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; murder through the use of a firearm, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison; and using and carrying a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, which was brandished and discharged, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The statutory minimum and maximum sentences are prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.  FERGUSON is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Berman on October 9, 2024.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), the Special Agents and NYPD Task Force Officers from the Special Investigations Division assigned to the Southern District of New York, and the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area analysts.

Court Orders Colorado e-Cigarette Maker to Stop Selling Unauthorized Vaping Products

 

A federal court on June 11 enjoined a Colorado company and its owner from manufacturing, distributing or selling unauthorized vaping products.

In a complaint filed on June 6, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, the government alleged that Boosted LLC, also known as Boosted E-Juice, and its owner, Cory Vigil, violated the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act by introducing or delivering for introduction into interstate commerce adulterated and misbranded tobacco products. According to the complaint, the defendants manufactured and sold electronic finished nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) products, including finished e-liquids. The complaint alleged that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned the defendants that their products, including flavored e-liquids sold as “Dragon Fruit Coconut Milkshake,” “Horchata Milkshake” and “Raspberry Milkshake,” were adulterated and misbranded because they lacked the required marketing authorization order from FDA. The government also alleged that despite repeated FDA written warnings, the defendants continued to illegally sell their flavored e-liquid products online.

The defendants agreed to settle the lawsuit and be bound by a consent decree of permanent injunction. The order entered by the court permanently enjoins the defendants from directly or indirectly manufacturing, distributing, selling, and/or offering for sale any new tobacco product that has not received marketing authorization from FDA. The court also ordered the defendants to destroy ENDS products in their custody, control, or possession.

The injunction against Boosted is the first enforcement action finalized since the Justice Department and FDA announced the creation of a federal multi-agency task force to combat the illegal distribution and sale of e-cigarettes. To date, the FDA has authorized the sale of 23 specific tobacco-flavored e-cigarette products and devices. These are the only e-cigarette products that currently may be lawfully marketed and sold in the United States.

“The illegal distribution of unauthorized vaping products poses a serious public health threat, particularly to youth,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Justice Department will use all available criminal and civil authorities to bring new enforcement actions in coordination with our task force partners.”

“Those who disregard the law are responsible for the consequences, and today’s action is further demonstration of FDA working with our federal partners to hold those who break the law accountable,” said Director Brian King, Ph.D., M.P.H., of FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP). “This latest action brought by the FDA and DOJ shows how we’re taking an ‘all government’ approach toward addressing illegal e-cigarettes in this country.”

Trial Attorney Michael J. Murali of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch handled the case, with assistance from Assistant Chief Counsel Sarah Rosenberg of FDA’s Office of the Chief Counsel.

Additional information about the Consumer Protection Branch and its enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch.

Claims made in a complaint are allegations that, if a case were to proceed to trial, the government would be required to prove by a preponderance of the evidence.

Statement from NYC Comptroller Brad Lander on Competitive RFPs for Asylum Seeker Services

 

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander released the following statement:

“After two years, it is good to finally see the Adams Administration move toward replacing expiring emergency contracts for asylum seeker services with vendors selected through a competitive bid process. Competitive bidding leads to better prices, better oversight, and better vendors.

“For many months, my office has called out the overuse of no-bid emergency contracts. Last July, we issued a memo to City agencies regarding cost containment procedures for emergency procurement, noting that even within emergency contracting, agencies are required to utilize as much competition is practicable. In September, we rejected the Administration’s $432 million no-bid contract with DocGo, a for-profit medical staffing company with no experience providing shelter or services for asylum seekers.

“In November, our contracts team comprehensively examined the pitfalls of emergency procurement. When these pitfalls were not addressed, we revoked the blanket prior approval for asylum seeker contracts that we had previously extended in December.

“This February, our auditors compared the top four for-profit staffing contracts being used to provide onsite services to asylum seekers and found that they were not only expensive, but provided inconsistent services across the different shelters.

“When the Adams Administration agreed earlier this spring to end the DocGo contract, we agreed to work with them to expedite the competitive RFP being announced today. While we are encouraged by this step forward, we continue–as we have been doing for over a year–to call on the Administration to prioritize outcomes such as work authorization, employment, and moves to stable housing that it has neglected to date, as we found in our recent investigation of the 60-day shelter eviction rule.

“In Buffalo, a new contract with Jewish Family Services of Western New York is to replace the City’s DocGo contract for far less money than we were paying DocGo. The new contract utilizes a ‘refugee resettlement’ model that provides 9-to-12 months of legal services, support for authorization applications, case management, workforce development and jobs placement, and housing assistance. There is good reason to believe this model will be more cost effective and have better outcomes for helping individuals and families transition to self-sufficiency. We should deploy this model in New York City as well; I hope the Administration will utilize today’s RFP to do so.

“My office will continue to conduct strong oversight of City procurement, to ensure vendor integrity, cost containment, quality services, and effective outcomes, in this and other areas.”

Governor Hochul Announces Hundreds of Illicit Storefronts Shut Down by the New York State Task Force, Leading to a Surge in Sales for Legal Retailers

 

State Agencies Closed 114 Stores Since Launch of the Cannabis Enforcement Task Force; Localities, Including New York City, Report an Additional 400 Closures Due to New Legislation Signed By Governor Hochul

Legal Retailers in Enforcement Areas Reported a 27 Percent Increase in Sales From the First Week of May to the First Week of June, Nearly Seven Times Higher Than the Previous Month-Over-Month Data

State Enforcement Agencies Reported More than $29 Million Worth of Illegal Product Seized

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that in just 3 weeks, more than 100 illicit storefronts across the state were shut down by the New York State Cannabis Enforcement Task Force. The State’s commitment to shutting down these unlicensed cannabis storefronts has directly contributed to a 27 percent increase in legal cannabis sales in areas impacted by the Task Force’s enforcement activities.

“We are committed to building the strongest, most equitable cannabis market in the nation,” Governor Hochul said. “In order to advance that goal, we promised to expedite the closure of unlicensed cannabis storefronts, and I’m here today to say: we’re getting it done.”

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said, “For too long, illegal cannabis shops have contributed to a feeling that anything goes on our streets, but not anymore. After working with Governor Hochul and our partners in Albany to give local municipalities the power we needed to weed out this illegal activity, we launched 'Operation Padlock to Protect,' which is already seeing stunning results. In a matter of weeks, we have shut down nearly 400 smoke shops, seized $13.3 million in illegal products, and imposed more than $30 million in fines and penalties. Our work will protect children, keep our streets safe, and contribute to the thriving legal market that New York deserves.”

In April, Governor Hochul unveiled new initiatives to shut down illicit cannabis operations and protect the legal marketplace as part of the FY25 Enacted Budget. The plan provides the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) and local municipalities with new authority to act against illicit storefronts and those who enable them. The initiatives are the strongest set of policies enacted thus far to tackle the illicit cannabis marketplace.

On May 21, Governor Hochul launched the Cannabis Enforcement Task Force. The Task Force, led by the State Police First Deputy Superintendent, is a major statewide effort to coordinate staff from several agencies to combat the illicit cannabis market. Through collaboration between the State Police, OCM, and other State agencies, the Task Force is equipped to tackle the full scope of illegal cannabis activity. The Task Force has worked with landlords to evict illegal dispensaries, and works to penalize landlords who fail to take steps to evict tenants after they are informed they are operating illegally.

The State’s commitment to shutting down these unlicensed cannabis storefronts has had a direct impact on the legal cannabis industry. Since May 21, when the Task Force was launched, 114 illegal cannabis stores have been padlocked. In addition, the OCM reports that $29,306,247 worth of illegal substances was seized from these stores and legal cannabis sales are up 27 percent since May for stores close to the padlocked locations.

OCM is committed to the Governor’s vision of an equitable cannabis market and reports that the Social and Economic Equity (SEE) program continues to promote inclusivity and opportunity within the industry. Currently, 54 percent of new applicants are SEE candidates. The breakdown includes 39 percent minority-owned business, 39 percent women-owned business, 9 percent service-disabled veteran-owned businesses, 8 percent distressed farmers, and 6 percent communities disproportionately impacted, highlighting the diversity and inclusivity of New York's evolving cannabis landscape. This dynamic progress demonstrates the State’s unwavering dedication to creating a fair, equitable, and thriving cannabis industry in New York State.

To date OCM has opened 135 legal dispensaries throughout the state. View the list of licensed dispensaries selling cannabis products grown by NY farmers and tested, packaged, and labeled in accordance with New York State’s regulated system.