MAYOR ADAMS, DSNY COMMISSIONER TISCH’S STATEMENTS ON DEATH OF SANITATION WORKER

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Sanitation (DSNY) Commissioner Jessica Tisch released the following statements following the death of Richard Errico, a 19-year DSNY veteran who died in the line of duty. 

“Our thoughts are with Richard’s family, friends, coworkers, and everyone who knew and loved him,” said Mayor Adams. “I met with Richard’s family tonight and shared how deeply sorry I was for their loss. Richard kept our streets and communities safe and clean for more than 19 years, and we should all be keeping Richard and his family in our prayers. He, like 8,000 uniformed sanitation workers, went to work every day to make a difference in their communities. New York’s Strongest work tirelessly every day in incredibly difficult and physically taxing jobs. Too often, we don’t stop to thank them for all they do to make our city a better place for us all to live. Next time we see one of our trucks pass by or a sanitation worker keeping our neighborhood clean — let’s all give them the thanks and recognition they deserve.” 

“Tonight, our department mourns the loss of Sanitation Worker Richard Errico, a 19-year veteran who served the people of Douglaston, Littleneck, and Bayside as one of the Strongest,” said DSNY Commissioner Tisch. “He did it proudly. I ask all New Yorkers to pray for his family — for Carol, Brooke, Paige, and Tommy, as Mayor Adams and I did. May Richard’s memory be a blessing.”

Release of Body Worn Camera Footage from an Officer Involved Shooting that Occurred on September 15, 2024 in the confines of the 73rd Precinct

 

The NYPD is releasing today body-worn camera footage from an officer-involved shooting that occurred on September 15th, 2024 in the confines of the 73rd Precinct..

The video includes available evidence leading up to the incident as well as during the incident. The NYPD is releasing this video for clear viewing of the totality of the incident.

All NYPD patrol officers are equipped with body-worn cameras. The benefits of cameras are clear: transparency into police activity, de-escalation of police encounters and accountability for police officers, through an independent account of interactions between the police and the citizens they serve. Body-worn cameras serve as a vital part of ongoing efforts to increase trust between the police and all New Yorkers.

You can find the video here

Release of Body Worn Camera Footage from an Officer Involved Shooting that Occurred on May 26, 2024 in the confines of the 83rd Precinct

The NYPD is releasing today body-worn camera footage from an officer-involved shooting that occurred on May 26th, 2024 in the confines of the 83rd Precinct..

The video includes available evidence leading up to the incident as well as during the incident. The NYPD is releasing this video for clear viewing of the totality of the incident.

All NYPD patrol officers are equipped with body-worn cameras. The benefits of cameras are clear: transparency into police activity, de-escalation of police encounters and accountability for police officers, through an independent account of interactions between the police and the citizens they serve. Body-worn cameras serve as a vital part of ongoing efforts to increase trust between the police and all New Yorkers.

You can find the video here 

Speaker Adrienne Adams Delivers Opening Remarks at Land Use Committee Hearing on Affordable Homeownership Legislation

 

Speaker Adrienne Adams delivered opening remarks at the Council’s Committee on Land Use hearing on Introduction 958, her legislation that aims to increase affordable homeownership production in New York City.

Below are the Speaker’s full remarks as prepared for delivery.

Good morning.

Thank you to Chair Salamanca for leading today’s Committee on Land Use hearing, which includes Introduction 958, my legislation to increase the number of homeownership opportunities created by our city for New Yorkers. And thank you to everyone who has joined us today.

Affordable homeownership is key to promoting stable and economically healthy communities. It is integral to keeping working- and middle-class families in our city, especially at a time when it has become increasingly harder for them to remain here as a result of housing and childcare-related pressures.

I was fortunate to grow up in a home in Hollis, Queens. When it was time for my husband and me to put down roots and raise our family, we chose to buy a home in Jamaica. For my family, homeownership paved the pathway for us to stay in our community and to be part of investing in its success. That was the case for many families in my native Southeast Queens, and it is why I have advocated to protect and expand homeownership opportunities for New Yorkers who want to stay in their neighborhoods.

However, it has become far too unattainable for families to access similar opportunities previously afforded to live in this city and buy a home. The city’s median home price has more than doubled since 2000 when adjusted for inflation, and now stands at over seven hundred thousand dollars—putting homeownership out of reach for the majority of New Yorkers.

The lack of affordable homeownership opportunities is pushing more and more working- and middle-class families to leave the city they love. This is leading us to lose the strength that diverse families contribute to our city.

Access to homeownership remains profoundly unequal based on race. While 42.5 percent of white households in New York City own their homes, only 28.3 percent of Black households and just 16.7 percent of Latino households are homeowners. These persistent disparities reflect the legacy of racial discrimination, including practices such as redlining, that perpetuate wealth gaps that impact our city today.

Our city’s Black population has declined by nearly 200,000 people over the past two decades, and the lack of opportunities to own a home is a major factor. It is deeply alarming. 

Neighborhoods in Southeast Queens, Central Brooklyn, and the Bronx have been havens for diverse homeownership that supports closing wealth gaps and mobility for working families. Yet, we are losing this.

To ensure our communities thrive, with the dream of owning a home remaining a possibility for residents today and for generations to come, our city must do more.

Part of the solution is my bill, which aims to at least double the pipeline of affordable homeownership opportunities throughout the city. We must dedicate more resources to build more affordable homes, support first-time homebuyers, and ensure homeowners can remain in their homes.

Introduction 958, which I first outlined in my State of the City address this year, would require the Department of Housing Preservation and Development to double its current rate of affordable home production, including new single-family, two-family, multi-family, co-ops, and downpayment assistance programs. It would also require that at least half of the subsidized homeownership units be newly constructed, in addition to the conversion of rental units into homeownership opportunities and down payment assistance programs.

I look forward to hearing about the City’s approach to creating new homeownership opportunities, how this legislation will impact that approach, and other feedback from stakeholders.

Thank you, and I will now turn it back over to Chair Salamanca.

Leader of $4M International Telemarketing Scheme Convicted

 

A federal jury in North Carolina convicted a man for his role in orchestrating a years-long telemarketing scheme that defrauded victims in the United States from a call center in Costa Rica.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Roger Roger, 40, of Costa Rica, led a fraudulent telemarketing scheme in which co-conspirators, who falsely posed as U.S. government officials, contacted victims in the United States to tell them that that they had won a substantial “sweepstakes” prize. After convincing victims, many of whom were elderly, that they stood to receive a significant financial prize, the co-conspirators told victims that they needed to make a series of up-front payments before collecting their supposed prize, purportedly for items such as taxes, customs duties, and other fees. Co-conspirators used a variety of means to conceal their true identities, including Voice over Internet Protocol technology, which made it appear as though they were calling from Washington, D.C., and other locations in the United States. Roger personally called victims from Costa Rica, using fake names and documents to trick the victims into believing they had won a sweepstakes prize. He also recruited and directed co-conspirators to mislead victims on the phone and to transmit victims’ payments from the United States to Costa Rica. The evidence at trial showed that Roger and his co-conspirators stole over $4 million from victims.

Roger was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, four counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and two counts of international money laundering. The defendant faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison on each of the conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and the wire fraud counts, because the jury found that these counts involved telemarketing that victimized at least 10 people over the age of 55, and 20 years in prison on each of the conspiracy to commit money laundering and money laundering counts. Sentencing will occur at a later date. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Dena J. King for the Western District of North Carolina; Inspector in Charge Tommy Coke of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Atlanta Division; Special Agent in Charge Karen Wingerd of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Cincinnati Field Office; and Special Agent in Charge Robert DeWitt of the FBI Charlotte Field Office made the announcement.

The USPIS Atlanta Division, IRS-CI Cincinnati Field Office, and FBI Charlotte Field Office investigated the case. The La Grande, Oregon Police Department and Union County District Attorney Victim Assistance Office provided valuable assistance. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs worked with law enforcement partners in Costa Rica to secure Roger’s arrest and extradition.

Trial Attorneys Andrew Jaco and Amanda Fretto Lingwood of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.

If you or someone you know is age 60 or older and has been a victim of financial fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311). This U.S. Department of Justice hotline, managed by the Office for Victims of Crime, is staffed by experienced professionals who provide personalized support to callers by assessing the needs of the victim and identifying relevant next steps. Case managers will identify appropriate reporting agencies, provide information to callers to assist them in reporting, connect callers directly with appropriate agencies, and provide resources and referrals, on a case-by-case basis. Reporting is the first step. Reporting can help authorities identify those who commit fraud, and reporting certain financial losses due to fraud as soon as possible can increase the likelihood of recovering losses. The hotline is staffed 7 days a week from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. ET. English, Spanish and other languages are available.

Release of Body Worn Camera Footage from an Officer Involved Shooting that Occurred on May 12, 2024 in the confines of the 67th Precinct

 

The NYPD is releasing today body-worn camera footage from an officer-involved shooting that occurred on May 12th, 2024 in the confines of the 67th Precinct..

The video includes available evidence leading up to the incident as well as during the incident. The NYPD is releasing this video for clear viewing of the totality of the incident.

All NYPD patrol officers are equipped with body-worn cameras. The benefits of cameras are clear: transparency into police activity, de-escalation of police encounters and accountability for police officers, through an independent account of interactions between the police and the citizens they serve. Body-worn cameras serve as a vital part of ongoing efforts to increase trust between the police and all New Yorkers.

You can find the video here

Attorney General James Announces 180 Guns Turned in at Amsterdam Gun Buyback

 

New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced that 180 firearms were turned in at a community gun buyback event in Amsterdam hosted by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) and the Amsterdam Police Department. This event was part of Attorney General James’ ongoing effort to combat gun violence and keep New Yorkers safe. In addition to the guns turned in at the Amsterdam event, Attorney General James secured an additional 82 firearms from a community gun buyback event in Saranac Lake, bringing the total number of guns secured today to 262. To date, Attorney General James has removed more than 7,662 guns from New York communities since taking office in 2019.

“Every gun taken off our streets and out of our homes is a potential tragedy averted,” said Attorney General James. “Gun buyback events empower members of local communities and nearby regions to turn in their firearms and be part of the solution against gun violence. Through strong partnerships with local law enforcement, my office has been able to run successful gun buyback programs throughout New York state, and has helped local communities remove more than 7,662 firearms. I thank the City of Amsterdam’s Police Department, and all of our partners in today’s gun buyback event, for their commitment to helping safeguard New Yorkers.”

Today’s buyback event in Amsterdam resulted in 180 guns being turned in, including 17 assault weapons, 100 handguns, and 47 long guns. Following today’s gun buyback events held in Amsterdam and Saranac Lake, Attorney General James has helped remove more than 7,650 guns out of New York communities.

“Thank you to the New York State Attorney General and our local law enforcement partners for spearheading the recent gun buyback program in Amsterdam,” said Montgomery County Sheriff Jeffery T. Smith. “This initiative not only promotes community safety but also fosters a collaborative spirit in our fight against gun violence. Together, we are making our neighborhoods safer for all.”

“The Gloversville Police Department is proud to be part of the effort to reduce gun violence in our communities,” said Gloversville Police Chief Michael F. Garavelli. “We have seen a dramatic increase in the number of illegal firearms taken off our streets in the past five years by our officers. Even small cities and rural communities are not immune from illegal firearms, privately made firearms or “ghost” guns as they are commonly referred to, and the senseless violence that comes with them. This is the first time that this area has had any type of gun buyback program, but we hope it is successful and not the last.”

“This gun buyback event was only possible because of the strong partnership between local law enforcement and the Office of the Attorney General,” said Amsterdam Police Lieutenant Joseph E. Spencer. “The work that goes into organizing and executing a gun buyback event is all worth it when we see dozens of dangerous weapons being turned in by members of the community, and we are all safer as a result. I applaud Attorney General James for making gun buyback events like this a priority for her office and team.”

Ahead of Climate Week, Governor Hochul Announces Additional $5.4 Million in Urban and Community Forestry Grant Awards to 17 Projects Across the State

 

Inflation Reduction Act-Funded Projects Plant Trees and Increase Community Forest Resiliency in Disadvantaged Communities

Planting Projects Will Contribute to Governor’s ‘25 Million Trees by 2033’ Goal

Governor Kathy Hochul announced an additional $5.4 million in grant awards for Urban and Community Forestry Grants funded through the Federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The funding expands on $7.1 million awarded on July 25, increasing expected project outcomes and reach, and bringing the total amount awarded to $12.5 million. The awards support Governor Hochul’s 2024 State of the State initiative to plant 25 million trees by 2033, recent commitments through the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act, and other New York State investments to expand tree canopy and cultivate greener, healthier communities.

“Investing in community green space is a significant step towards revitalizing our cities and towns, and ensuring a sustainable, resilient future for all New Yorkers,” Governor Hochul said. “These investments will help to provide cleaner air and water to every corner of our state, and move us closer to achieving our climate goals.”

Funded projects represent a collaborative effort between local governments, not-for-profit organizations, and community groups to create more equitable and resilient urban forests in the face of increased storms and extreme heat driven by climate change. Projects are focused in disadvantaged communities and include initiatives to engage with the public in tree planting and stewardship efforts, and increase tree canopy in public open space and along roadways. The efforts align with Governor Hochul’s broader conservation and environmental agenda, including enhancing existing open spaces and land preservation goals, supporting the state’s ambitious climate goals, and advancing environmental justice statewide.

The grants are administered through the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Urban and Community Forestry program, which works to increase public awareness of the importance of trees and helps communities create healthy forests while enriching quality of life for residents.

Funding for this grant is made available through the state allocation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service through the IRA. The USDA Forest Service is allocating this funding to support projects in disadvantaged communities to increase and maintain a healthy urban canopy and equitable access to trees and the benefits they provide. The Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry program authorizes funding for a broad range of activities, such as urban wood utilization, urban food forests, extreme heat mitigation and workforce development.

New York State is celebrating the 16th annual Climate Week from September 22-29, 2024. The projects included in this announcement support New York’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, make communities more resilient, drive action to tackle climate change and advance environmental justice, ensure affordability as part of the clean energy transition, and create new jobs and opportunities for future generations.

The 17 awarded projects receiving additional funding are listed below by region:

Capital Region

Albany County

• City of Albany Department of General Services: $456,705 additional, for a total of $876,965; Community Forest Management Plan Implementation

Greene County

• Village of Athens: $237,335 additional, for a total of $577,968; Community Forest Management Plan Implementation

Rensselaer County

• City of Troy: $64,800 additional, for a total of $382,400; Community Forest Management Plan Implementation

Central New York

Onondaga County

• City of Syracuse: $414,858 additional, for a total of $910,141; Community Forest Management Plan Implementation

Finger Lakes

Genesee County

• City of Batavia: $306,218 additional, for a total of $758,950; Ash Tree Management in Disadvantaged Communities

Monroe County

• City of Rochester: $399,250 additional, for a total of $598,875; Community Forest Management Plan Implementation

Mid-Hudson Valley

Ulster County

• City of Kingston: $240,824 additional, for a total of $732,375; Community Forest Management Plan Implementation

Westchester

• City of New Rochelle: $6,600 additional, for a total of $41,600; Ash Tree Management in Disadvantaged Communities

New York City

The Bronx

• Woodlawn Conservancy Inc.: $727,962 additional, for a total of $1,201,354; Community Forest Management Plan Implementation
• Natural Areas Conservancy Inc.: $467,510 additional, for a total of $862,168; Ash Tree Management in Disadvantaged Communities

Brooklyn

• Big Initiatives Incorporated: $843,709 additional, for a total of $1,251,166; Community Forest Management Plan Implementation – Stewardship of Street Trees
• The Evergreens Cemetery Preservation Foundation: $415,000 additional, for a total of $915,000; Community Forest Management Plan Implementation

Manhattan

• The Green-Wood Cemetery: $100,000 additional, for a total of $598,035; Community Forest Management Plan Implementation
• Randall’s Island Park Alliance Inc.: $353,520 additional, for a total of $851,262; Community Forest Management Plan Implementation

North Country

Clinton County

• Clinton County Soil and Water Conservation District: $231,325 additional, for a total of $460,947; Ash Tree Management in Disadvantaged Communities

Jefferson County

• City of Watertown: $150,000 additional, for a total of $550,000; Community Forest Management Plan Implementation

Western New York

Chautauqua County

• City of Dunkirk: $35,867 additional, for a total of $158,313; Community Forest Management Plan Implementation

To further progress New York’s climate goals, Governor Hochul’s 2024 State of the State address established a goal of planting 25 million trees statewide by 2033 — a $47 million effort supported by the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act and the FY25 Enacted Budget. The goal will invigorate the state’s tree planting efforts through multi-year annual grants to municipalities to plant trees in support of resilient reforestation and urban forests, modernize DEC’s Colonel William F. Fox Memorial Saratoga Tree Nursery and engage the next generation of environmental stewards.