Governor Hochul Expands Health Care Coverage for 800,000 Kids in New York

Waiver Amendment Ensures Children Under Six Have Uninterrupted Coverage in Child Health Plus and Medicaid

Continuous Eligibility Waiver Will Promote Health Equity Throughout the State

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the state is now able to offer children under the age of six continuous eligibility in Child Health Plus and Medicaid. This change simplifies enrollment in these programs by reducing administrative burdens and ensures the youngest New Yorkers have consistent access to coverage through the age of six. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, the New York State Department of Health submitted a 1115 Medicaid Redesign Team waiver amendment that has been approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This approval follows through on the Governor’s commitment to enhance New York’s health care system, advance health equity and expand health care coverage.

“By expanding health coverage for 800,000 children across our state, we’re ensuring they have the uninterrupted coverage they need to lead full and healthy lives,” Governor Hochul said. “This waiver allows us to give families options when it comes to their children’s health care, and we will always go the extra mile to create a healthy future for our youngest New Yorkers.”

Governor Hochul’s dedication to ensuring quality health care across the state solidifies New York’s position in the growing list of states that provide continuous health insurance eligibility for children under six years old.

There are more than 800,000 children under the age of six enrolled in Medicaid and Child Health Plus who could benefit from this change.

As of September 2024, more than 2.5 million children under 18 years of age have been enrolled in Medicaid and Child Health Plus, making New York's one of the most expansive public health insurance programs in the country. Medicaid and Child Health Plus are available for enrollment throughout the year and provide comprehensive health benefits for the most vulnerable New Yorkers, including low-income families with children, seniors, children in foster care, pregnant women and people with disabilities.

The waiver amendment revises the state’s current MRT 1115 waiver by modifying existing eligibility criteria for children in Medicaid and Child Health Plus, to allow them continuous enrollment even if the child’s family circumstances change. Gaps in coverage for young children can be detrimental to their long-term health and well-being. These experiences can have negative long-term implications for children's mental and physical health, educational attainment, and financial security.

In receiving this approval, Governor Hochul has secured uninterrupted access to health insurance that will ensure children are connected to coverage and essential health care during their formative years, including important preventive and primary care services. This furthers the Governor’s strong commitment to putting New York at the forefront of progressive, compassionate health care.

More information about the MRT 1115 Continuous Eligibility waiver amendment can be found here.

More information and public comments for the MRT 1115 Continuous Eligibility waiver amendment can be found here.

Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation Opens Investigation into Civilian Death in Nassau County

 

The New York Attorney General’s Office of Special Investigation (OSI) has opened an investigation into the death of a civilian who died on November 22, 2024 following an encounter with members of the Nassau County Police Department (NCPD) in Wantagh, Nassau County.

On the morning of November 22, two NCPD officers were driving southbound on Wantagh Avenue in a marked NCPD vehicle when they struck a pedestrian at the intersection with Duckpond Drive North. The pedestrian was transported to a local hospital, where they were pronounced dead.

Pursuant to New York State Executive Law Section 70-b, OSI assesses every incident reported to it where a police officer or a peace officer, including a corrections officer, may have caused the death of a person by an act or omission. Under the law, the officer may be on-duty or off-duty, and the decedent may be armed or unarmed. Also, the decedent may or may not be in custody or incarcerated. If OSI’s assessment indicates an officer may have caused the death, OSI proceeds to conduct a full investigation of the incident.

These are preliminary facts and subject to change. 

Dominican National Sentenced for his Role in a Human Smuggling Event that Resulted in Child’s Death

 

A Dominican national was sentenced to nine years in prison for his involvement in a deadly human smuggling conspiracy in Puerto Rico.

According to court documents, Alcibades De Paz, 34, was one of the individuals at the helm of a vessel carrying non-citizens, including a three-year-old boy, from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico. The defendant operated the vessel during the human smuggling venture. When the vessel stopped functioning, the defendant aided in starting the engine and holding the throttle of the outboard engine of the boat towards the shore of Rincón, Puerto Rico, while evading law enforcement’s attempts to safely intercept the vessel. On Dec. 23, 2022, the vessel capsized as it reached the shoreline, leading to the death of a three-year-old child who was illegally being smuggled to the United States.

On Aug. 27, De Paz pleaded guilty to one count of bringing certain aliens into the United States, resulting in death. In addition to his term of imprisonment, De Paz was ordered to serve three years of supervised release.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney W. Stephen Muldrow for the District of Puerto Rico; and Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Gonzalez-Ramos of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) San Juan made the announcement.

HSI San Juan investigated this case, with assistance from the Puerto Rico Police Bureau’s Joint Forces of Rapid Action and U.S. Border Patrol, Ramey Sector.

Landmark ‘City of Yes’ Housing Creation Plan Approved with $5 Billion Push

 

Sorry, NIMBYs: Your opposition to New York housing creation has just been drowned out by a resounding $5 billion of “Yes.”

A City Council subcommittee on Thursday approved Mayor Eric Adams’ plan to build 80,000 new homes over the next 15 years, lowering the cost of rent for New Yorkers amid one of the worst housing crises in city history. Dubbed “City of Yes for Housing Opportunity,” the rezoning proposal aims to spur the creation of affordable housing in all five boroughs, along with upgrades to critical infrastructure. The approval by the City Council Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises and Committee on Land Use was secured following a $5 billion pledge from the city and state.

According to the city, the proposal exceeds the housing creation total of all rezonings pushed out by the administrations of Michael Bloomberg and Bill de Blasio.

“Thanks to our shared commitment in building critically needed housing, we have reached an agreement on a historic plan that could open the doors to a little more housing in every neighborhood in our city,” Adams said in a statement on Thursday. “If passed, New York City will once again serve as a model to the nation on government’s infinite ability to take challenges head on, set forth a bold agenda, and get the job done.”

The plan, first announced in April, originally sought to facilitate more than 100,000 new housing units. It also included provisions for lifting the parking space requirement for new residential construction, which developers claim adds an undue cost burden, and for unrestricting property owners’ ability to create accessory dwelling units in spaces like basements, attics, and garages.

Thursday’s amended proposal involved concessions on all three points. Rather than dropping the parking requirement wholesale, it will instead divide it into three zones, preserving the mandate in boroughs like Staten Island and Queens where local lawmakers deemed it necessary. Further, accessory dwelling creation will remain restricted in many areas, particularly in historic districts and flood zones, but will be permitted in transit-proximate areas.

Despite the more than 20-percent reduction in its overall housing creation goal, the plan nevertheless marks the most significant improvement to the city’s zoning structure since 1961 and is poised to deliver much-needed breathing room to a rental market stifled by a razor-thin 1.4 percent vacancy rate.

Council members’ support for the proposal hinged on the provision of $4 billion from the Adams administration and the last-minute pledge by Governor Kathy Hochul to earmark another $1 billion of state funds from the 2025 budget, according to a report by Bloomberg.

“New York has a housing affordability crisis and there’s only one way out: build more housing,” Hochul said in a statement. “Now, we’re adding a $1 billion state commitment to support affordable housing in New York City. We need all hands on deck to build more housing and make New York more affordable for all of us.”

The Adams administration’s share of the contributions includes $1 billion for housing capital, $2 billion for infrastructure projects, and $1 billion in expense funding to cover tenant protection, voucher assistance, neighborhood planning, and more. If approved in the state budget, Governor Hochul’s commitment will provide $1 billion in housing capital over the next five years.

Following this week’s approval, the proposal will now go to a vote before the full City Council in December.

Governor Hochul Announces Crackdown on Impaired and Reckless Driving Through Thanksgiving Weekend

 

35,508 Tickets Issued During 2023 Mobilization

One of Several Annual Alcohol- and Drug-Related Enforcement Campaigns Funded by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee

Construction Closures Temporarily Suspended To Ease Holiday Travel

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that State Police and local law enforcement agencies throughout the State will increase patrols through Thanksgiving weekend, targeting impaired and reckless driving. The special enforcement period, an initiative funded by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, runs from Saturday, November 23 through Sunday, December 1 and will also target other unsafe driving behaviors like Move Over Law violations.

“Thanksgiving kicks off the busiest travel season of the year, and we want everyone to reach their friends and loved ones safely,” Governor Hochul said. “I thank our troopers and local law enforcement for working on Thanksgiving and throughout the holidays to help keep our roads safe. I urge drivers to stay alert, stay sober, and move over when you see vehicles stopped on the side of the road.”

Major increases in traffic volume occur during the Thanksgiving holiday period. It is also a time of the year that is associated with increased alcohol use. During the 2023 Thanksgiving holiday period, law enforcement officers arrested 1,342 drivers for DWI, issued 7,656 speeding tickets and 970 tickets for distracted driving.

New York State Police Superintendent Steven G. James said, “A common threat on our roads that we continually fight is impaired and drunk driving. Traffic enforcement is imperative to everyone’s well-being and the goal of making this holiday a safe one. The New York State Police proudly joins our law enforcement partners in the ongoing effort to discourage, detect and apprehend impaired and drunk drivers.”

Construction Closures Suspended

In addition to increased impaired and distracted driving patrols, to help ease travel during the busy holiday weekend, temporary lane closures for road and bridge construction projects on New York State highways will be suspended beginning 6 a.m. on Wednesday, November 27 to 6 a.m. on Monday, December 2. This aligns with New York State’s Drivers First Initiative, which prioritizes the convenience of motorists to minimize traffic congestion and travel delays due to road and bridge work. Some work may continue behind permanent concrete barriers, or for emergency repairs.

Regardless of lane closures, drivers must follow the State’s Move Over Law, which was expanded in March to require drivers to slow down and move over for all vehicles stopped along the roadway. In 2024, two Thruway Authority employees were killed, and another was seriously injured in separate incidents while working on the Thruway when vehicles failed to move over. The Thruway Authority and New York State Department of Transportation urge motorists to stay alert while driving, slow down and move over when they see a vehicle on the side of the road. The lives of employees, roadway workers and emergency personnel are in their hands.

Text stops, including park-and-ride facilities, rest stops, service areas and parking areas along state highways, support the State's effort to reduce distracted driving. All text stops will remain open, providing locations where drivers can safely and conveniently use their phones and other mobile devices for calling, texting, navigating and accessing mobile apps. Texting while driving is especially dangerous, as it requires motorists to take their eyes off the road, hands off the wheel and mind off driving.

Co-Founders of Paycheck Protection Program Lender Service Provider Charged for COVID-19 Relief Fraud Scheme

 

An indictment was unsealed in the Northern District of Texas charging two co-founders of Blueacorn, a lender service provider, in connection with a scheme to fraudulently obtain COVID-19 relief money guaranteed by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

According to court documents, Nathan Reis, 45, and Stephanie Hockridge, 41, also known as Stephanie Reis, both of Puerto Rico and previously of Arizona, allegedly submitted false and fraudulent PPP loan applications on behalf of themselves and their businesses, including by fabricating documents that they submitted in their loan applications in order to receive loan funds for which they were not eligible.

The indictment also alleges that Reis and Hockridge, who are married, co-founded Blueacorn in April 2020, purportedly to assist small businesses and individuals in obtaining PPP loans. In order to obtain larger loans for certain PPP applicants, Reis and other co-conspirators allegedly fabricated documents, including payroll records, tax documentation, and bank statements. Reis and Hockridge allegedly charged borrowers illegal kickbacks based on a percentage of the funds received.

As part of the alleged scheme, Reis, Hockridge, and others expanded Blueacorn’s operations through lender service provider agreements (LSPAs) with two lenders. Under the LSPAs, Blueacorn collected and reviewed PPP applications from potential borrowers on behalf of the lenders and worked with the lenders to submit applications to the SBA in exchange for a percentage of the fees that the SBA paid to the lenders for approved PPP loans. Blueacorn also had a program called “VIPPP” in which Hockridge and others offered a personalized service to help potential borrowers complete PPP loan applications. Reis and Hockridge allegedly recruited co-conspirators to work as VIPPP referral agents and coach borrowers on how to submit false PPP loan applications. In order to obtain a greater volume of kickbacks from borrowers and percentage of lender fees from the SBA, Reis, Hockridge, and their co-conspirators submitted PPP loan applications that they knew contained materially false information.

Reis and Hockridge are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each count.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton for the Northern District of Texas; Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; Special Agent in Charge Chris Altemus of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Dallas Field Office; Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery (SIGPR) Brian Miller; Special Agent in Charge John Ellwanger of the Western Division, Office of Inspector General for the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (FRB-OIG); and Inspector General Hannibal “Mike” Ware of the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG) made the announcement.

FBI, IRS-CI, SIGPR, FRB-OIG, and SBA-OIG investigated the case.

Acting Assistant Chief Philip Trout of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section, Trial Attorneys Elizabeth Carr and Ryan McLaren of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS), and Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Weybrecht for the Northern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.

MLARS’s Bank Integrity Unit investigates and prosecutes banks and other financial institutions, including their officers, managers, and employees, whose actions threaten the integrity of the individual institution or the wider financial system.

The Fraud Section leads the Criminal Division’s prosecution of fraud schemes that exploit the PPP. Since the enactment of the CARES Act, the Fraud Section has prosecuted over 200 defendants in more than 130 criminal cases and has seized over $78 million in cash proceeds derived from fraudulently obtained PPP funds, as well as numerous real estate properties and luxury items purchased with such proceeds. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/ppp-fraud.

In May 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Justice Department in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The task force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, visit www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Justice Department’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Second Former NYCHA Superintendent Convicted Of Bribery And Extortion Offenses At Trial

 

In the Second Trial Following a 70-Person Takedown in February 2024, Hector Colon, a Former New York City Housing Authority Superintendent, Was Convicted of Bribery and Extortion for Accepting Cash From NYCHA Contractors in Exchange for Awarding Contracts

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Jocelyn E. Strauber, the Commissioner of the New York City Department of Investigation (“DOI”); William S. Walker, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”); Vicky Vazquez, the Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General (“HUD OIG”); and Jonathan Mellone, the Special Agent in Charge of the Northeast Region of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General (“DOL-OIG”), announced that HECTOR COLON, a former New York City Housing Authority (“NYCHA”) superintendent, was convicted of bribery and extortion under color of official right for taking thousands of dollars from contractors in exchange for awarding those contractors no-bid contracts or approving payment on previously awarded contracts at NYCHA developments for approximately three years.  The verdict followed a four-day trial before U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Corruption is an insidious crime—difficult to detect, corrosive in its effect on government agencies, and damaging to the public’s trust in government institutions.  As a NYCHA Superintendent, Hector Colon abused his position of public trust by demanding thousands of dollars of bribes from contractors, betraying his duty to NYCHA residents, the City of New York, and taxpayers.  The jury’s unanimous verdict sends a clear message that those who use their public offices for personal gain will be held accountable.” 

DOI Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber said: “When public servants demand payoffs from vendors providing services to the New York City Housing Authority, they drive up the cost of those services, diverting valuable resources from the residents of public housing.  This suspended NYCHA employee stands convicted by a jury for this criminal conduct, joining 59 convicted colleagues, among the 70 who have been charged.  And to date, NYCHA has implemented 11 of DOI’s 14 recommendations intended to thwart employees who would use positions of trust to enrich themselves at the expense of New Yorkers that NYCHA serves.  I thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and our federal law enforcement partners for their commitment to protect public resources and to hold accountable those public servants who abuse their authority.”  

HSI Special Agent in Charge William S. Walker “This guilty verdict — the second successful trial following HSI’s sweeping task force investigation into bribery and extortion amongst NYCHA personnel — underscores the importance of collaboration among law enforcement partners in protecting and serving New Yorkers.  The pervasive corruption exemplified by Colon’s conduct continues to be brought to light, and HSI New York’s Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force is proud to have played a role uncovering the exploitation of an underserved community for personal gain.”

HUD OIG Special Agent in Charge Vicky Vazquez said: “Colon took advantage of his position of trust and engaged in a deplorable bribery and kickback scheme to enrich himself.  Moreover, he violated the fair process for awarding government contracts, putting the integrity of HUD programs at risk.  HUD OIG remains steadfast in its commitment to working with our prosecutorial, law enforcement, and oversight partners to aggressively pursue individuals who engage in activities that jeopardize HUD programs.”

DOL-OIG Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Mellone said: “Suspended NYCHA superintendent Hector Colon abused his position to extort contractors in exchange for no-bid construction contracts that violated the requirements of federal law.  This conviction sends a clear message that public corruption will not be tolerated.  We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate those who corruptly exploit federally funded governmental programs at the expense of American taxpayers.”

According to the evidence presented in court during the trial:

NYCHA is the largest public housing authority in the country, providing housing to New Yorkers across the City and receiving over $1.5 billion in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) every year.  When repairs or construction work at NYCHA housing require the use of outside contractors, services must typically be purchased via a bidding process.  However, when the value of a contract was under a certain threshold, designated staff at NYCHA developments, including superintendents, could hire a contractor of their choosing without soliciting multiple bids.  With either type of contract, a NYCHA employee needed to certify that the work was satisfactorily completed in order for the contractor to receive payment from NYCHA.

COLON, a superintendent at multiple NYCHA developments in Manhattan between 2019 and 2021, including Harlem River Houses, Fort Washington Houses, and Drew Hamilton Houses, demanded and received cash in exchange for NYCHA contracts by either requiring contractors to pay up front in order to be awarded the contracts or requiring payment after the contractor finished the work and needed COLON to sign off on the completed job.  COLON typically demanded approximately 10% of the contract value—between $500 and $1,000 depending on the size of the contract—or a flat bribe of $1,000 for signing off on invoices for completed work.  In total, COLON demanded and received thousands of dollars in bribes in exchange for hundreds of thousands of dollars in NYCHA contracts.

Of the 70 individual NYCHA employees charged with bribery and extortion offenses in February 2024, 58 have pled guilty, and two have been convicted after trial.

If you believe you have information related to bribery, extortion, or any other illegal conduct by NYCHA employees, please contact OIGNYCHA@doi.nyc.gov or (212) 306-3356.  If you were involved in such conduct, please consider self-disclosing through the SDNY Whistleblower Pilot Program at USANYS.WBP@usdoj.gov.

COLON, 46, of the Bronx, New York, was convicted of one count of federal program bribery, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and one count of extortion under color of official right, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

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

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the New York City Department of Investigation, U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), the HUD Office of Inspector General, and DOL-OIG, which work together collaboratively as part of the HSI Document and Benefit Fraud Task Force, as well as the special agents and task force officers of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (“OCDETF”) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles criminal organizations using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

Weekly News from State Senator Gustavo Rivera!

 

This week, Senator Rivera attended Bronx Community Board 6's monthly General Board meeting. At the meeting, he provided community updates, spoke about his priorities for the upcoming legislative session, and presented awards to District Manager Rafael Moure-Punnett and Chair Evonne Capers for their impact on the local community.

New York State Parks is looking to fill Park Ranger positions statewide for the 2025 Summer season. Park Rangers serve as ambassadors for the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. They help oversee a variety of environments including campgrounds, tourist attractions, beaches, marinas, trails, park offices, and more!

Park Ranger job duties range from responding to calls for assistance to proactively engaging with visitors in the parks and helping to maintain a safe environment for all. If you have a passion for the outdoors and love to connect with people, this could be the job for you! Apply before December 31. 

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