Weekly News from State Senator Gustavo Rivera!

 

SENATOR RIVERA HOSTS THE 8TH SENIOR HEALTH FAIR & LUNCHEON!

This week, Senator Rivera hosted his Annual Senior Health Fair and Luncheon! More than 250 seniors joined the Senator and community partners at Lehman College for an afternoon filled with free health screenings, delicious food, raffle prizes, and a great musical performance by the Morrisania Project Band Project.

Senator Rivera wants to thank all of the sponsors and partners who made this event possible, and his District Office team for their diligent work in making this event a successful one. Senator Rivera is already looking forward to the next Senior Health Fair and Luncheon, coming July of 2025!

UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS & RESOURCES

8/15: SENATOR RIVERA'S ANNUAL BACK TO SCHOOL BACKPACK GIVEAWAY & RESOURCE FAIR

Senator Rivera shares the community's concerns about public drug use and syringe litter near the Kingsbridge Underpass, Poe Park, and nearby hot spots. There are local harm reduction providers who clean up the needles safely and who connect with users to help them with recovery, medical care, and basic needs.

Our team created this schedule and contact informational sheet in collaboration with the harm reduction organizations serving the Northwest Bronx so that neighbors can contact them to assist with issues near Kingsbridge Road and the Grand Concourse. If you have any questions, please contact our office at 718-933-2034 or grivera@nysenate.gov. 

UNTIL 8/30: FREE SUMMER MEALS FOR ANYONE 18 YEARS AND UNDER

Anyone 18 years old or younger can receive Free Summer Meals at select NYC Public Schools, parks, libraries, and more Meals are available until 8/30. You don't need to sign up. To learn the full list of locations, click here.

For every $2 spent at NYC farmers markets using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits on an EBT card, shoppers can get $2 in Health Bucks up to $10 per day. Health Bucks are coupons redeemable for fruits and vegetables at all 130+ NYC farmers markets. For farmers market locations and hours of operation, see the 2024 Farmers Market Map.

Van Cortlandt Park Alliance - MOVIE NIGHT: Into the Woods • Tuesday 7/30

 

Van Cortlandt Park Alliance and Horace Mann School Present: Starlight Cinema: Enchanted Forest   FREE • Movies in the Park • FREE Tuesday Nights Van Cortlandt Park Parade Ground 8:15-ish • Movies Begin at Last Light 7 PM • Music of 2014 7 PM • Movie-themed Crafts July 30: Into the Woods (2014)  August 6: The Princess Bride (1987)   Movies are FREE

Our Contact Information
Van Cortlandt Park Alliance
80 Van Cortlandt Park South, Ste. E1
Bronx, NY 10463
718-601-1460
http://vancortlandt.org

DEC Announces "Accessible Recreation" Theme for Latest Love Our New York Lands Photo Contest

Contest Accepting Photo Submissions through Aug. 31 to Highlight Keeping State Lands Welcoming to All 

On the 34^th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar launched a new ‘Love Our New York Lands’ photo contest highlighting removing barriers to public lands for New Yorkers of all ages and abilities. The winning images will receive prizes and be featured in statewide digital and print campaigns to increase awareness of principles and guidelines that encourage safe, accessible, respectful, inclusive, and sustainable use of public lands. 

“DEC is proud to support the Americans with Disabilities Act and is working every day to make more public lands accessible for visitors to enjoy and share with each other,” Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said. “I encourage everyone to check out the many DEC recreation features on the new Accessible Recreation Destinations Map and throughout the DEC website. Plan your next adventure or relaxing escape to nature and send us your pictures of welcoming all ages and abilities to share the outdoors.”

Each of the Love Our New York Lands contests will have a different theme. August’s theme is “Accessible Recreation” to highlight participation in camping, picnicking, fishing, boating, hiking, nature viewing, and other recreational opportunities for New Yorkers with disabilities, and people of all ages and abilities. Three winning pictures will be chosen that feature creative shots of the public enjoying these and other activities at accessible recreation sites across New York State.

Complementing many recent accessibility improvements and initiatives, DEC launched a new interactive Accessible Recreation Destinations Map designed to showcase wheelchair-accessible features at DEC education centers, campgrounds and day use areas, waterway access sites, and trails, among other features. DEC also created a new Mobility Device Reservation Pilot Program for qualified individuals with disabilities to reserve and use an electrically powered wheelchair device free of charge to access the Camp Santanoni Historic Area in Newcomb, Essex County. DEC’s Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Civil Rights helps ensure compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act, among other requirements, and can provide more information about accessible recreation opportunities statewide.

Prizes will be awarded to the winning photo entries. Photos will be judged on the following criteria: originality; artistic composition; technical quality; and whether the photograph showcases inclusivity in people enjoying New York’s outdoor activities safely and responsibly.

Accessible Recreation photo submissions should be emailed to social@dec.ny.gov by Aug. 31, 2024, with the subject line “Accessible Rec.” The photographer’s full name, the DEC land where the image was taken (reference land name, location, and UID code listed in the Accessible Recreation Destination Map pop-up, if applicable), and Instagram/social media handle should also be included. DEC may use photos of facilities featured in a variety of publications and outreach materials, including the Accessible Recreation Destinations Map.

June Contest Winners

DEC received more than 200 entries from the June “Pride” theme highlighting the importance of sharing State lands with all New Yorkers, including the LGBTQIA+ community, and ensuring a safe and welcoming space. The seven winning color spectrum entries were submitted by:

PINK: Stephanie Buckley

RED: Joey Priola

ORANGE: Karyn Libretto

YELLOW: Tony Colasurdo

GREEN: Jack Kearney

BLUE: Jack Kearney

INDIGO/VIOLET: Joey Priola

View the winning photos on DEC’s Flickr page.

New York State has many wonderful opportunities to get outside and enjoy activities year-round, including birding and wildlife viewing; warm-weather adventures like swimming, biking, and horseback riding; cold-weather pursuits such as skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling; and even more challenging adventures like geocaching or rock and ice climbing.

The Love Our New York Lands campaign, launched in 2020 by DEC and State Parks, encourages all users of state-owned lands to recognize that these lands are shared by ALL of us, our families, and our neighbors, and we all need to take care of them. The campaign includes guidance on Leave No Trace™ principles so that visitors can do their part to help ensure these special places are protected for future generations. Love Our New York Lands encourages visitors to be respectful of other visitors in these shared spaces. Visitors are asked to share trails, treat people with kindness, and leave things as they found for others to enjoy. Visitors are encouraged to think of themselves as responsible for helping protect these irreplaceable destinations for future generations. More information is available on DEC’s website.

This contest further supports Governor Kathy Hochul's “Get Offline, Get Outside” initiative, which was launched earlier this month to encourage New York’s kids and families to put down their phones and computers, take a break from social media, enjoy recreation and outdoor social gatherings by putting their mental and physical health first.

Governor Hochul Celebrates the Grand Opening of 150th Conditional Adult-Use Retail Dispensary

 

$421.2 Million in Sales Highlight Rapid Growth and Market Expansion

53 Percent Of Licenses Awarded To Social And Economic Equity Applicants; 37 Percent Minority-Owned, 39 Percent Women-Owned

Governor Kathy Hochul announced New York has reached a significant milestone in the growth of the legal cannabis industry. New York State is pleased to recognize the opening of the 150th Adult-Use Retail Dispensary (CAURD), The Robinson’s Dispensary, located in Albany, NY. New York currently has 150 adult-use cannabis retailers — including storefronts and temporary delivery-only (TDO) locations — open and operating across the State, with more anticipated to open soon. These retailers represent a diverse mix of CAURD licensees with storefronts and providing delivery services, as well as adult-use dispensaries co-located with existing medical dispensaries. The growth of the cannabis industry in New York is reflected in the rapidly growing retail sales figures, with total sales reaching $421.2 million. Notably, sales surged to $71 million in June alone, indicating a thriving market.

“As New York expands the most equitable cannabis market in the nation, my administration remains committed to building a safe industry for all New Yorkers that will grow our small business community,” Governor Hochul said. “New dispensaries continue our mission of strengthening our legal market while at the same time helping to push out the bad actors who skirt our laws and undermine all we are trying to accomplish. The grand opening of The Robinson’s Dispensary is an incredible achievement for the State of New York and is a part of many more milestones to come.”

New York State Office of Cannabis Management Acting Executive Director, Felicia A.B. Reid said, “We are thrilled to celebrate this significant milestone in New York's cannabis industry. OCM’s commitment to building a strong market rooted in equity and the possibility of opportunity ensures that communities across the State can participate and flourish. The Robinson family’s story is a testament to progress, the power of partnership and OCM’s dedication to economic development aimed at creating an inclusive and robust cannabis community. The State has surpassed the Social and Economic Equity (SEE) goal set out in the Cannabis Law by awarding 53 percent of licenses to social and economic equity applicants. Within that group, 37 percent are minority-owned businesses and 39 percent are women-owned businesses.”

The State has also almost doubled the percentage of majority minority-owned dispensaries nationwide. As of July 2024, 37 percent of NY's adult-use dispensaries are majority minority-owned; nationwide, only 19 percent are majority minority-owned. Similarly, 20 percent of NY’s adult-use open dispensaries are majority Black-owned, compared to 2 percent nationwide. About 50 percent of New York’s open dispensaries are Minority- and/or Women-Owned Businesses, underscoring the State's commitment to inclusivity and accessibility.

Owned by experienced entrepreneur and Albany County legislator Mark A. Robinson, the business aims to better serve local New Yorkers seeking legal, tested, and safer cannabis products. Robinson is passionate about making a positive impact on the community through his budding venture. Following the grand opening event, Robinson’s Dispensary opened its doors to the public, offering a diverse range of New York State-grown and processed cannabis products to adult consumers. The event was attended by community leaders and stakeholders, who came together to support this landmark addition to New York's burgeoning cannabis sector.

Discover one of the 150 New York State dispensaries near you today!

Two Men Plead Guilty To Acting As Illegal Agents Of The PRC Government And Bribery

 

John Chen and Lin Feng Furthered the PRC Government’s Transnational Repression Campaign Against the Falun Gong by Bribing a Purported IRS Official

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that JOHN CHEN and LIN FENG pled guilty to acting as unregistered agents of the government of the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”) and bribing an Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) agent in connection with a plot to target U.S.-based practitioners of Falun Gong — a spiritual practice banned in the PRC.  CHEN pled guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrew E. Krause and is scheduled to be sentenced on October 30, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Nelson S. Román.  FENG pled guilty before Judge Krause and will be sentenced on October 31, 2024, before Judge Román. 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “John Chen and Lin Feng brazenly attempted to bribe an undercover agent they believed to be an IRS agent here in the United States on behalf of the PRC Government in order to harass and intimidate the Falun Gong, a target of PRC repression.  Efforts such as this to repress free speech by targeting critics of the PRC in the United States will not be tolerated.  This Office remains committed to thwarting malicious transnational repression attempts by foreign influences on American soil.” 

According to Indictment and other court documents:

From at least approximately January 2023 to May 2023, CHEN and FENG worked inside the United States at the direction of the PRC Government, including an identified PRC Government official (“PRC Official-1”), to further the PRC Government’s campaign to repress and harass Falun Gong practitioners.  The PRC Government has designated the Falun Gong as one of the “Five Poisons,” or one of the top five threats to its rule.  In China, Falun Gong adherents face a range of repressive and punitive measures from the PRC Government, including imprisonment.

As part of the PRC Government’s campaign against the Falun Gong, CHEN and FENG engaged in a PRC Government-directed scheme to manipulate the IRS’s Whistleblower Program in an effort to strip the tax-exempt status of an entity run and maintained by Falun Gong practitioners (“Entity-1”).  After CHEN filed a defective whistleblower complaint with the IRS (the “Chen Whistleblower Complaint”), CHEN and FENG paid $5,000 in cash bribes, and promised to pay substantially more, to a purported IRS agent who was, in fact, an undercover officer (“Agent-1”) in exchange for Agent-1’s assistance in advancing the complaint.  Neither CHEN nor FENG notified the Attorney General that they were acting as agents of the PRC Government in the United States.

In the course of the scheme, CHEN, on a recorded call, explicitly noted that the purpose of paying these bribes, which were directed and funded by the PRC Government, was to carry out the PRC Government’s aim of “toppl[ing] . . . the Falun Gong.”  During a call intercepted pursuant to a judicially authorized wiretap, CHEN and FENG discussed receiving “direction” on the bribery scheme from PRC Official-1, deleting instructions received from PRC Official-1 in order to evade detection, and “alert[ing]” and “sound[ing] the alarm” to PRC Official-1 if CHEN and FENG’s meetings to bribe Agent-1 did not go as planned.  CHEN and FENG also discussed that PRC Official-1 was the PRC Government official “in charge” of the bribery scheme targeting the Falun Gong.

As part of this scheme, CHEN and FENG met with Agent-1 in Newburgh, New York, on May 14, 2023.  During the meeting, CHEN gave Agent-1 a $1,000 cash bribe as an initial, partial bribe payment.  CHEN further offered to pay Agent-1 a total of $50,000 for opening an audit of Entity-1, as well as 60% of any whistleblower award from the IRS if the Chen Whistleblower Complaint were successful.  On May 18, 2023, FENG paid Agent-1 a $4,000 cash bribe at John F. Kennedy International Airport as an additional partial bribe payment in furtherance of the scheme. 

CHEN, 71, of Chino, California, and FENG, 44, a PRC citizen and resident of Los Angeles, California, each pled guilty to one count of acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and one count of bribing a public official, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New York and Los Angeles Field Offices and Counterintelligence Division and the Office of the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration.  Mr. Williams also thanked the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, Counterintelligence and Export Control Section for their assistance.

United States Sues National General Holdings Corp. and Subsidiaries for Falsely Placing Insurance on Hundreds of Thousands of Borrowers’ Vehicles

 

The United States has filed a civil complaint under the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery and Enforcement Act (FIRREA) against National General Holdings Corp. and its subsidiaries, National General Insurance Company, National General Lender Services Inc. and Newport Management Corporation (National General), alleging that, for over a decade, National General erroneously force-placed its Collateral Protection Insurance (CPI) product on vehicles financed through Wells Fargo, despite borrowers already having insurance through other carriers.

“Companies must deal fairly and honestly with consumers,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “This lawsuit demonstrates that the department will use all of the tools at its disposable to protect the American public against deceptive and fraudulent business practices.”

“This complaint alleges a long-running scheme to defraud hundreds of thousands of car buyers,” said U.S. Attorney Eric G. Olshan for the Western District of Pennsylvania. “For years, these defendants saddled ordinary Americans, including residents of this district, with allegedly unnecessary insurance, leading to dire real-world consequences like repossessed vehicles and other unwarranted collection activities. This enforcement action reinforces an important message: our office, together with our law enforcement partners, will take decisive action to combat fraud in the insurance industry, protect consumers and hold companies accountable for their wrongdoing under federal law.”  

The government’s complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, alleges that, from at least 2008 and through the latter part of 2016, National General systemically failed to accurately track whether cars financed by Wells Fargo had the requisite insurance coverage from an outside carrier, and thereby knowingly or recklessly force-placed its own, much costlier CPI on at least 655,000 vehicles that already had outside insurance. In particular, the United States alleges that National General’s tracking efforts were deficient for a variety of reasons, including that National General repeatedly mailed letters seeking insurance information to borrowers at addresses that had previously been returned as undeliverable; in many instances, National General made no phone calls to insurance carriers, agents or borrowers to obtain outside insurance information, despite internal requirements to make a certain number of phone calls; and National General often failed to match insurance information in its possession to financed vehicles.

According to the complaint, National General knew for years that its so-called tracking system was wholly ineffective and that it was routinely imposing force-placed CPI on hundreds of thousands of borrowers in error. National General allegedly received thousands of complaints from borrowers and tracked and reported, both internally and to Wells Fargo, its high “false placements” rates throughout the relevant period.

The complaint further alleges that, as a result of falsely placing CPI, borrowers were charged duplicative and unnecessary CPI premiums in connection with their loans, often without adequate notification to the borrowers. The United States also contends that National General’s conduct had a range of additional negative consequences for borrowers, including improper charges for late fees and interest, negative effects on credit scores and improper repossession of some financed vehicles.

FIRREA authorizes the Attorney General to bring a civil action for penalties for violations of certain criminal predicate offenses — as established by a preponderance of the evidence — that involve financial institutions or particular government agencies. The United States’ complaint alleges that National General violated FIRREA by committing the predicate acts of mail fraud, wire fraud and bank fraud.

The Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch (Fraud Section) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania handled the matter. The United States is represented in this matter by Trial Attorneys Lindsay DeFrancesco and Laura Hill of the Civil Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Fischer for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

The claims asserted against defendants are allegations only. There has been no determination of liability.

Attorney General James Secures $86 Million Multistate Settlement in Principle with Indivior for Its Role in the Opioid Crisis

 

New York Attorney General Letitia James announced an $86 million multistate settlement in principle with opioid manufacturer Indivior for its role in driving the spread of deadly opioid addictions across New York and the country. Indivior produced buprenorphine-based products to treat opioid use disorder, which can feed opioid addictions when abused and cause further harm. As Attorney General James and a multistate coalition of attorneys general allege, Indivior inappropriately targeted its sales to dangerous prescribers – including doctors running pill mills. Indivior also failed to monitor suspicious orders, causing its products to be inappropriately prescribed and used to fuel, rather than treat, opioid addictions. 

“When companies like Indivior exploit those in the thralls of addiction for profit, their behavior must be stopped,” said Attorney General James. “As a result of our work to hold Indivior accountable, they will end their destructive practices and provide new resources to invest in opioid addiction treatment, prevention, and education that will help save lives in New York. I will continue to ensure the companies that profited from this addiction crisis pay for the harm they perpetuated.” 

The settlement in principle announced today will provide $86 million to participating states over five years, which will be used for opioid addiction treatment, recovery, and prevention programs.

The settlement in principle was negotiated by Attorney General James and the attorneys general of Illinois, Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia in coordination with an executive committee consisting of the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, and Vermont. 

In 2019, Attorney General James filed the nation’s most extensive lawsuit against opioid distributors and manufacturers for their role in the opioid epidemic. Since then, Attorney General James has recovered more than $2.7 billion to support New York opioid abatement, treatment, and prevention efforts from companies including Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Publicis Health, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson, Mallinckrodt, Allergan, Endo, McKesson, Cardinal Health, and Amerisource Bergen. Attorney General James has also led multistate coalitions in reaching settlements for billions of dollars with CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart for their role in failing to properly regulate opioid prescriptions. Additionally, Attorney General James, co-led a coalition of nearly every attorney general in the nation in delivering more than $573 million — more than $32 million of which was earmarked for New York state — toward opioid treatment and abatement in an agreement and consent judgment with McKinsey & Company.

DOC DASHBOARD UPDATE: NYC Comptroller Releases New Monthly Data on Department of Corrections

 

The New York City Comptroller’s Office released its monthly update to the Department of Corrections (DOC) Dashboard, available here. 

Key Monthly DOC metrics show:  

• DOC housed 6,432 individuals as of July, 72 more people than in June. 
• 2,014 individuals entered DOC custody in June, 70 fewer people than in May.  
  • DOC discharged 1,892 people in June, 159 fewer people than in May.  

• The average length of a person detained in DOC custody was 99 days in June, three fewer days than the average stay in May.  
• In June, the average percentage of staff who were out sick was 7%, a 1% increase from May. In June, the average percentage of staff who were on medically restricted leave was 5%, remaining the same as May.  
• Incidents of violence in June increased in every category:  
  • 73 recorded assaults, 10 more than in May.  
  • 588 fights, 13 more than in May.  
  • 24 slashings and stabbings occurred, 7 more than in May.  
  • DOC staff allegedly blocked medical personnel from treating Charizma Jones, a Bronx woman incarcerated on Rikers Island, who died after being released from DOC custody.  

The Comptroller’s dashboard, first published in August 2022, monitors pervasive issues in the City’s jails, including staff absenteeism, missed medical appointments, and incidents of violence among detained people and staff. It also tracks the jail population every month and length of stay. The Comptroller’s office publishes data to this dashboard monthly to provide increased transparency and accountability over the City’s jail system. 

View the DOC Dashboard here.