Weekly Update from Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato

 

Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato

Latest News from Councilwoman Marmorato! 

Welcome to our Weekly Newsletter! 

Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance 

Councilwoman Marmorato joined the Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance meeting to speak with residents of the Van Nest community.

Thank you to the Van Nest Neighborhood Alliance for hosting this meeting, it was a wonderful opportunity to engage with residents and hear their thoughts and concerns.

Meeting with NYPD 1st Dep. Commissioner Kinsella 

Councilwoman Marmorato met with First Deputy Commissioner Tania Kinsella at the District Office!

It was a pleasure to discuss important issues in District 13 and to hear her proactive insights on fighting crime and tackling key issues.

Thank you 1st Deputy Commissioner for your hard work and dedication in keeping our city and communities safe!

City Island Chamber of Commerce

114th Anniversary Dinner Dance

Councilwoman Marmorato joined the City Island Chamber of Commerce for their 114th Anniversary Dinner Dance where she presented honorees with citations to recognize all of the contributions of our small businesses in City Island.

Shout out to all of the honorees and to the City Island Chambers of Commerce for marking another successful year dedicated to supporting local businesses.

Throggs Neck Veterans Day Parade & Breakfast 

On Sunday, Councilwoman Marmorato commenced the Veterans Day weekend celebrations by proudly sponsoring this year's Veterans Day Breakfast. 

 

The Councilwoman had the privilege of presenting awards to our District 13 veterans to honor their patriotism, dedication, and service to our nation. 

 

Congratulations once again to all of our esteemed honorees. 

Veterans Day Parade

Councilwoman Marmorato joined the Throggs Neck community for their 40th Annual Veterans Day Parade at the Bicentennial Veterans Memorial Park.

Held on Sunday, this parade also commemorated the 249th Birthday of the United States Marine Corps. It was a fantastic event dedicated to honoring our veterans in D13.

Happy Birthday, Marines!

&

Thank you again to all of our Veterans for your service to our city, state, and country.

Meeting with Morris Park BID

On Tuesday, the Councilwoman attended the 6th Annual Meeting for the Morris Park Business Improvement District.    Huge shout out to the Morris Park BID for their dedication to the Morris Park community! Together, we can continue to strengthen our local businesses and provide them with the support they deserve.  Update: Padlocked Smoke Shops in D13

 Our work towards padlocking unlawfully operating smoke shops is ongoing! Above is a list of recent padlocked smoke shops in D13.

We greatly appreciate the help from our constituents that have reported illegal smoke shops operating in our District.

Scroll down to our QR code below to fill out our form to inform us about other illegal smoke shops in our community! 

CUNY Citizenship

Let us Know! Illegal Smoke Shops

Please let us know about illegal and unlicensed smoke shops operating within District 13!

Your Feedback on E-Scooters Matters! Report E-Scooters that are blocking sidewalks, fire hydrants, ADA-accessible entrances, or creating any other hazardous conditions in our community. Reach out to us at district13@council.nyc.gov Upcoming Events Councilwoman Marmorato | 718-931-1721|District13@council.nyc.gov

NYC PUBLIC ADVOCATE'S STATEMENT ON THE GOVERNOR'S NEW CONGESTION PRICING PLAN

 

"Finally, congestion pricing can go into effect. No version of the program is perfect, no version would make everyone happy, but a version of it needs to be in place. This modified program will raise less revenue and do less to reduce congestion, and the governor needs to answer for how to address those shortcomings.  

 

"Even at this reduced rate, congestion pricing will be an essential part of raising revenue for public transportation, reducing pollution, and easing traffic – but we knew that six months ago, before the inexplicable pause. We knew that through the decade spent advocating for and crafting the policy that I am glad will finally hit our streets soon. Moving forward, my office stands with the state in support of congestion pricing being implemented expeditiously and maintained to benefit New Yorkers, against obstacles that may arise. 

 

"It is clear why the governor is allowing the program to move forward now, and it’s also clear that given the future we face in January, our city and state will need much stronger leadership than has been shown – on this and other issues – in order to protect the gains we have made." 

Permits Filed for 1992 Arthur Avenue in East Tremont, The Bronx

 

Permits have been filed for a four-story residential building at 1992 Arthur Avenue in East Tremont, The Bronx. Located between East 178th Street and East 179th Street, the lot is near the 174th Street subway station, served by the 2 and 5 trains. Orion Koci is listed as the owner behind the applications.

The proposed 50-foot-tall development will yield 7,388 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 13 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 568 square feet. The masonry-based structure will also have a penthouse and a 36-foot-long rear yard.

GRID Drafting and Consulting is listed as the architect of record.

Demolition permits have not been filed yet. An estimated completion date has not been announced.

Ex-Banker Pleads Guilty in $16M International Bribery and Money Laundering Scheme Involving Former Comptroller General of Ecuador

 

A Miami man pleaded guilty for his role in a multimillion-dollar international bribery and money laundering scheme.

According to court documents, John Christopher Polit, 43, a former banker, laundered the bribe proceeds paid for the benefit of his father, Carlos Ramon Polit Faggioni, the former Comptroller General of Ecuador, through the U.S. financial system and into various investments in South Florida. From approximately 2010 to 2015, Carlos Polit solicited and received bribe payments from Odebrecht S.A., the Brazil-based construction conglomerate, in exchange for using his official position to remove fines and not impose fines in order to benefit Odebrecht and its business in Ecuador. Additionally, Carlos Polit received a bribe from an Ecuadorian businessman in or around 2015 in exchange for assisting the businessman and his company in connection with certain contracts from the state-owned insurance company of Ecuador.

Between approximately 2010 and 2018, John Polit helped his father launder these bribe proceeds. John Polit caused the bribe proceeds to “disappear” by layering transactions through Panamanian accounts of intermediary companies and using Florida companies registered in the names of certain associates. John Polit used the laundered funds from his father’s bribery scheme to purchase and renovate real estate in South Florida and elsewhere and to purchase restaurants, a dry cleaner, and other businesses.

John Polit pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 30, 2025, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

On Oct. 1, Carlos Polit was sentenced to 10 years in prison following his April trial conviction.

Odebrecht S.A. pleaded guilty in December 2016 to conspiring to violate the anti-bribery provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in connection with a broader scheme to pay nearly $800 million in bribes to public officials in 12 countries, including Ecuador.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida; and Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami made the announcement.

The HSI Miami Field Office’s El Dorado Task Force is investigating this case. The FBI’s International Corruption Squad investigated the Odebrecht case and provided substantial assistance in this case.

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs also provided substantial assistance. The Justice Department thanks Ecuadorian law enforcement authorities for their assistance with the investigation.

Trial Attorney Jil Simon and Assistant Chief Alexander Kramer of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Senior Litigation Counsel Michael N. Berger for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case.

The Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting FCPA and Foreign Extortion Prevention Act matters. Additional information about the Justice Department’s FCPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa.

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson - Community Resources & Updates

 

Dear Neighbor,

 

Thank you for joining us for another week in review.

 

New York City is currently under a drought watch and we are urging our neighbors to help us in this effort to conserve our water usage. Please report any open fire hydrants or street leaks to 311, as one open hydrant can waste over 1,000 gallons of water per minute—resulting in a staggering 1.4 million gallons of drinking water lost every 24 hours. Every effort counts, and we all have a role to play in protecting our water supply. For additional water-saving tips, please visit https://www.nyc.gov/site/dep/water/water-saving-tips.page.

We also want to remind all eligible Bronx residents that the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) application is now open. This program helps low- and middle-income households, as well as older adults, lower their energy costs and keep their homes warm during the cold winter months. If you or someone you know may benefit from this important initiative, we encourage you to apply today at ny.gov/heat.

Lastly, we hope you will join us at 5:30 PM at the Bronx Music Hall as we celebrate Puerto Rican Heritage Month! The evening will include special performances and a celebration of the vibrant Puerto Rican culture in our borough. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our office at 718-590-3500 or email us at webmail@bronxbp.nyc.gov.

In partnership,

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson

IN THE COMMUNITY

We honor and salute our Bronx veterans and all those who have served our country.

This month, we proudly stand with Council Member Eric Dinowitz in recognizing November as Veterans Appreciation Month in the Bronx. Together, we’re committed to supporting our veterans and raising awareness of the challenges they face, especially those living with disabilities, as highlighted in our press conference last year with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.

Thank you to our veterans for your bravery, sacrifice, and service.

Last month, we hosted yet another Health Bucks tabling event! We had a great time partnering with Harvest Home at Hunts Point, connecting with our community, and sharing resources for fresh, healthy food access.

Yesterday's DiVA Talk at Monroe College explored 'What’s Next?'—a powerful discussion on Domestic Violence, Advocacy, Poverty, and Politics, bringing together voices for change and action. A special thank you to the incredible organizations that made yesterday's DiVA Talk possible: Monroe University – School of Criminal and Social Justice, Montefiore Einstein, Safe Horizon, Violence Intervention Program, Palms Upon My Hands, and Not on My Watch, Inc. Your dedication to addressing Domestic Violence, Advocacy, Poverty, and Politics is truly appreciated!

UPCOMING EVENTS

COMMUNITY EVENTS

MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES OPENING OF NEIGHBORHOOD SATELLITE COMMAND IN COLLEGE POINT, QUEENS

 

109th Neighborhood Satellite Command Will Increase Personnel and Decrease Response Times Throughout Flushing, College Point, and Whitestone Neighborhoods 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Police Department (NYPD) Interim Commissioner Thomas G. Donlon announced the opening of the 109th Neighborhood Satellite Command in College Point, Queens. The new neighborhood satellite command effectively divides the 109th Precinct into two response zones, enabling NYPD personnel to respond from a decentralized location — effectively allowing officers to more swiftly respond to emergencies and 911 calls as they help New Yorkers in need in high-demand locales. The satellite command will utilize existing space at the NYPD’s Police Academy and will have an additional 54 police officers and 12 supervisors assigned to it. 

 

“The community spoke, and we listened — and now, we are putting the needs of working people first with the opening of the 109th Neighborhood Satellite Command in College Point,” said Mayor Adams. “The launch of this neighborhood satellite command will help improve emergency response times in a precinct that faces unique challenges due to its geographic size and population density. By adding additional personnel and enhancing operational capabilities, we are creating a safer environment for the residents of College Point, Flushing, and Whitestone, and showing that government can work for working-class New Yorkers. The satellite command not only reflects a commitment to community safety but demonstrates the importance of how the community plays a pivotal role in keeping the public safe.”   

 

“The men and women of the 109th Precinct are excited to broaden their reach in northern Queens in support of the NYPD’s overarching public safety mission,” said NYPD Interim Commissioner Donlon. “The creation of this new neighborhood satellite command will enhance our ability to serve the community and contribute to the ongoing decrease in crime and disorder, which has already seen a nearly 5 percent drop in this command this year. We are grateful to the community leaders who advocated for this solution, as we are confident that it will not only instill a sense of safety in New Yorkers, but also actively promote their well-being.” 

 

During a 2023 meeting with “We Love Whitestone,” a local community organization, residents articulated their frustration of delayed emergency response times. As a result of that meeting, Mayor Adams convened a dedicated 911 advisory response time committee that analyzed data, patterns, and trends related to emergency response. The committee found that the geographic layout of the precinct — which spans a large area — exacerbates response times and that the distance officers travel from the current precinct — located in Flushing — to the more remote College Point and Whitestone neighborhoods, contributes to the delay in response. 

  

Recognizing this critical challenge, the committee proposed the establishment of a neighborhood satellite command at the New York City Police Academy, located within the College Point neighborhood.  

Attorney General James Sues UnitedHealth and Amedisys to Stop Merger That Threatens Senior Care Nationwide

 

UnitedHealth Group’s Acquisition of Top Competitor Amedisys Would Likely Decrease Quality and Increase Prices for Millions of Medicare Patients

AG James Joins DOJ and Three Attorneys General Suing to Block Merger

New York Attorney General Letitia James joined three attorneys general and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in suing UnitedHealth Group (United) and Amedisys, Inc. (Amedisys), two of the nation’s largest providers of home health and hospice services for seniors, to block United’s acquisition of Amedisys that could threaten the quality of critical health care services for millions of seniors. United and Amedisys are each other’s top competitors in many home health markets across the country, including in certain areas in upstate New York. The competition forces both companies to improve the quality of their services and keep costs low, and also incentivizes them to offer higher pay and benefits to attract workers. As the lawsuit alleges, United’s acquisition of Amedisys would violate antitrust laws by eliminating this competition, leaving vulnerable patients and their families with worse care and higher prices, and result in lower pay and benefits for the nurses who provide these critical services.   

“Quality home health and hospice services provide essential care to seniors where they are most comfortable – in their homes, surrounded by their family and loved ones,” said Attorney General James. “Competition among health care providers helps ensure both patients and the workers who care for them are treated fairly and with dignity. United’s acquisition of Amedisys would limit how seniors can get care, allowing United to raise prices and cut corners without fear of losing customers. I have always stepped up to stop harmful mergers that hurt consumers and workers, and I will continue to take action to protect vulnerable seniors and the thousands of workers who care for them.”

Millions of seniors across New York and the country rely on home health and hospice services to stay in their homes as they receive essential medical and end-of-life care. Home health workers provide skilled nursing and therapy services for seniors managing chronic conditions like heart failure, Alzheimer’s, and dementia. Hospice workers provide critical end-of-life care that allows patients to live out their final days comfortably and provide social services, counseling, and other assistance to patients’ families. As demand for home health and hospice rises as the U.S. population ages, these services are becoming increasingly valuable and essential for millions of American families.

Recent acquisitions and mergers of health care providers have reduced the number of competing providers and led to the formation of a handful of powerful nationwide companies, including United and Amedisys. United, one of the largest companies in the nation, is ubiquitous in the health care sector. United is not only the largest provider of commercial health insurance in the nation, but through its subsidiaries it is also the largest single employer of physicians. United provides numerous primary and specialty care services, is one of the largest pharmacy benefits managers in the nation, and is one of the largest health care technology and service vendors. 

Competitive markets for home health and hospice services are crucial for ensuring patients receive quality care. Both United and Amedisys recognize this dynamic. As the lawsuit illustrates, United and Amedisys take active steps to improve the quality of their services and reduce their prices to attract customers. For example, both United and Amedisys have invested heavily in developing programs aimed at managing specific conditions, such as heart failure or respiratory diseases, in order to attract more patients. The loss of Amedisys as a competitor removes a significant constraint on United’s ability to increase prices or reduce its offerings, including in New York facilities.  

The competition between United and Amedisys also benefits the thousands of nurses who work in home health or hospice care. The two companies compete to offer better pay and benefits to attract top talent. As alleged in the lawsuit, both United and Amedisys offer their employees sizeable bonuses to keep them from leaving for a competitor and tailor their benefits packages – including health insurance, disability insurance, paid leave, and 401(k) matches – to outdo each other. As the lawsuit argues, allowing United to acquire Amedisys would severely reduce this competition for labor and the need to provide quality pay and benefits. 

With this lawsuit, Attorney General James, DOJ, and the coalition of attorneys general seek a court order blocking the merger of United and Amedisys, as well as $13 million in civil penalties for Amedisys’ failure to comply with records requests as part of seeking approval for the merger.

Joining Attorney General James and DOJ in the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Illinois, Maryland, and New Jersey. 

Ukrainian National Involved in Scheme to Export Dual-Use High Precision Jig Grinder to Russia Sentenced to 33 Months in Prison

 

Stanislav Romanyuk, 39, a citizen of Ukraine last residing in Estonia, was sentenced to 33 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for his role in a scheme to violate U.S. export laws and regulations by attempting to smuggle a dual-use export-controlled item to Russia.

According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning in 2018, Romanyuk, who operated Estonia-based BY Trade OÜ, conspired with Vadims Ananics and Eriks Mamonovs, both citizens of Latvia who operated the Latvia-based corporation CNC Weld. Romanyuk, Ananics, and Mamonovs violated U.S. export laws and regulations with individuals in Russia and a Russian company to smuggle to Russia a 500 Series CPWZ Precision Jig Grinder that was manufactured in Connecticut.

A jig grinder is a high-precision grinding machine system that does not require a license to export to European Union countries, but does require a license for export and reexport to Russia because of its potential application in nuclear proliferation and defense programs. Romanyuk and his co-conspirators knew that the jig grinder could not be exported from the United States to Russia, and they did not apply for, receive, or possess a license of authorization from the U.S. Department of Commerce to export or reexport the jig grinder to Russia, as required by the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), which restrict the export of items that could make a significant contribution to the military potential of other nations or that could be detrimental to U.S. foreign policy and national security.

In April 2019, Romanyuk brokered the sale of the jig grinder from By Trade OÜ to a Russian company using funds wired to it from the Russian company to purchase the jig grinder from Sapphire Universal LLP, a company in Latvia. Sapphire Universal, which Romanyuk knew was in the business of obtaining dual-use items from the United States for sale in Russia, used CNC Weld as the claimed recipient and end-user of the jig grinder because no license was required to export the jig grinder to Latvia from the United States. In August 2019, to finalize the purchase of the jig grinder, Ananics and others traveled to Bridgeport, Connecticut, where Ananics informed the sellers that the jig grinder was being purchased for the benefit of CNC Weld. In September 2021, Romanyuk provided a false statement to Estonian authorities about the jig grinder transaction in order to cover up his involvement in this scheme.

U.S. authorities, working with Latvian authorities, intercepted the jig grinder in Riga, Latvia, before it was to be shipped to Russia. Approximately $826,000 in funds involved in the purchase of the jig grinder were subsequently forfeited, and a substantial portion of the forfeited funds were transferred to Estonia to provide aid to Ukraine.

Romanyuk was arrested on June 13, 2022, in Estonia. On May 23, he pleaded guilty to international money laundering conspiracy. He has been detained since his arrest. Ananics and Mamonovs pleaded guilty to related charges.

Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, Assistant Secretary for Export Enforcement Matthew S. Axelrod of the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security, Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells of the FBI’s National Security Branch, and U.S. Attorney Vanessa Roberts Avery for the District of Connecticut, Special Agent in Charge Michael J. Krol of Homeland Security Investigations in New England made the announcement.

The Homeland Security Investigation (HSI) Field Offices in New Haven and the Hague, Netherlands; HSI Counter Proliferation Mission Center; U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement in Boston and Portland, Oregon; FBI; and Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation investigated the case. The Prosecutor-General’s Office of the Republic of Latvia, the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Estonia, Latvian Tax and Customs Police, Estonian Tax and Customs Board, and the Latvian State Police assisted in the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Konstantin Lantsman, Stephanie Levick, and Daniel George for the District of Connecticut and Trial Attorney Brendan Geary of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section prosecuted the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance.

This case is being prosecuted through the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Program and is being supported by OCDETF’s International Organized Crime Intelligence and Operations Center (IOC-2). OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations through a prosecutor-led and intelligence-driven approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Additional information about OCDETF can be found at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

The investigation was coordinated through the Justice Department’s Task Force KleptoCapture, an interagency law enforcement task force dedicated to enforcing the sweeping sanctions, export controls, and economic countermeasures that the United States, along with its foreign allies and partners, has imposed in response to Russia’s unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine. Announced by the Attorney General on March 2, 2022, and under the leadership of the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, the task force will continue to leverage all of the department’s tools and authorities to combat efforts to evade or undermine the collective actions taken by the U.S. government in response to Russian military aggression.