State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli's Weekly News - Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

 

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

State Comptroller DiNapoli’s Hispanic Heritage Month event was a celebration of the rich cultural contributions and achievements of the Hispanic and Latino communities in New York. The event, held in New Rochelle on Tuesday, served as an opportunity to recognize the vital role Hispanic and Latino individuals play in shaping the State’s economy, culture and society.

Honorees were: 

• José Alvarado, Westchester County Legislator District 17 

• Yadira Ramos-Herbert, Mayor, City of New Rochelle 

• Maria Kercado, President Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), Westchester Chapter, AFL-CIO and Executive Vice President, Retired 1199 SEIU, UHWE 

• El Centro Hispano, Inc. 

“We can see the influence of the growing Hispanic community everywhere we look. Just under a third of the immigrants in the State are of Hispanic descent. By highlighting stories of success and community leadership we honor the diversity and resilience of our communities while reaffirming our commitment to fostering inclusivity and equity for all New Yorkers. Their success is a continued reminder of the lasting impact Hispanic individuals and communities have had on our country,” DiNapoli said.

Watch Video

Supporting Community Banking in

Historically Underserved Communities

State Comptroller DiNapoli and Department of Financial Services Superintendent Harris announced the approval of Community District 9 as a Banking Development District (BDD) and presented $35 million in New York State deposits to Ponce Bank’s Westchester Avenue Branch. The BDD program, administered by the Department of Financial Services, supports the establishment of bank and credit union branches in areas across the State where there is a demonstrated need for banking services.

“We are proud to provide $35 million in public funding to Ponce Bank to improve community banking in the Soundview, Parkchester and Castle Hill neighborhoods of the Bronx,” DiNapoli said. “This is a smart, sound investment to ensure more financial services are available to help increase access to capital, supporting personal wealth, home ownership, entrepreneurship and jobs.”

As of September 17, 2024, the State Comptroller’s office had deposits totaling approximately $530.3 million in 14 banking institutions that have opened branches in BDDs across the State. Banks can apply for the program through the Department of Financial Services.

Read More

Watch the Video

SED Needs To Improve Oversight of School Districts' English Language Learners Programs

The State Education Department (SED) needs to improve its oversight and work to remove barriers to ensure school districts are providing the required services for students learning English, according to an audit released by State Comptroller DiNapoli. The audit examined whether SED was adequately overseeing if school districts outside New York City were providing the required services to English Language Learners.

Read More

State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli Statement on MTA's Release of Its 2025-2029 Capital Program

“The MTA’s proposed $68.4 billion 2025-2029 Capital Program is the largest in the MTA’s history, but it will still leave many needs unaddressed. As the MTA moves forward with the program it must be fully transparent on how the projects it has chosen to prioritize are the right ones to improve safety, frequency and reliability of service. This will help underscore the importance of the work to the MTA’s funding partners as they examine the proposal," DiNapoli said. 

Read More

Local Sales Tax Collections Up 3.8% in August

Local sales tax collections in New York State increased by 3.8% in August compared to the same month in 2023, according to data released by State Comptroller DiNapoli. Overall, local collections totaled $1.85 billion for the month, up $68 million year over year.

Read More

New York City Man Charged with Stealing Over $50,000 in Pension Benefits Meant for Deceased Sister-in-Law

A 69-year-old Manhattan man, Randy Ray, was arrested for allegedly stealing more than $50,000 in pension benefits meant for his deceased sister-in-law, State Comptroller DiNapoli announced.

Read More

Audits

• Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance
• New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board
• State Education Department
• Office of Children and Family Services
• Office of General Services
• Department of Health

ALSO IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK

_{Note: Some news links may require a paid subscription.} 

• NY state funds help Bronx small businesses thrive

• Audit reveals gaps in English learner programs across New York school districts

• Report: $115 billion needed to keep MTA running over five years

• The Capitol Connection - New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli

• NYS Comptroller report shows higher education sector boost

Post of the Week
Tom DiNapoli @NYSComptroller 

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.