MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS ON BUILDING FASTER, BETTER, MORE EFFICIENTLY AS GOVERNOR HOCHUL SIGNS ALTERNATIVE DELIVERY INTO LAW

 

New Report Shows Implementation of Capital Process Reform Task Force Recommendations, Saving Time and Taxpayer Dollars 

  

Thanks to Governor Hochul, New Contracting Tools Will Allow City to Cut Red Tape, Advance Projects Faster, Build Higher-Quality Projects That Create Opportunities for M/WBEs 

  

Comes After Mayor Adams, Building & Construction Trades Council Sign PLAs Enabling Faster, More Efficient Infrastructure Work, Ensuring Projects Create Good Union Jobs  

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released a new report showing significant progress in reforming how public infrastructure is constructed across the five boroughs and celebrated New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s signing of legislation last week that enables the city to cut red tape and deliver projects faster and more efficiently for New Yorkers. The report outlines how the city has fully implemented, or is in the process of implementing, 100 percent of the Capital Process Reform Task Force’s 39 recommendations, made in 2022, to more efficiently deliver public infrastructure across New York City. The legislation Governor Hochul signed today — sponsored by New York Senator Leroy Comrie and New York Assemblymember Ed Braunstein — will build on that progress by expanding the city’s ability to use progressive design-build and construction manager build — two contracting models which cut time-consuming and expensive steps out of the outdated design-bid-build model, resulting in faster, more efficient project delivery. Governor Hochul also signed legislation — sponsored by New York Senator Luis Sepulveda and New York Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar — which will allow New Yorkers to submit comments on procurements over $100,000 online as opposed to requiring an in-person hearing; this will save an average of 20 days on every applicable project timeline. 

  

“If it seems like city construction projects take forever, and your street has been cracked open for years on end, there’s a reason why: archaic rules here in New York, that have been eliminated nearly everywhere else in the country, mandate that we go at a snail’s pace,” said Mayor Adams. “New Yorkers deserve better — and thanks to our Capital Process Reform Task Force and Governor Hochul, we’re delivering just that. The legislation Governor Hochul signed will let us cut a full year off of hundreds of project timelines, saving taxpayers millions in the process. Our Task Force has found dozens of additional ways to help us build faster, better, and more efficiently, and we’re moving forward on all of their recommendations. This means more projects done on time, done on budget, and best of all — done.” 

  

“From the moment I took office, I have been focused on cutting red tape to speed up investment in our communities,” said Governor Hochul. “Signing alternative delivery into law allows the city to streamline projects, eliminating the unnecessary obstacles that stand in the way of creating more community investments and good-paying jobs.” 

 

 “As we make these common-sense reforms, the real winners are everyday New Yorkers. While they may never learn the names of the hard-working civil servants who made this possible or understand how long this journey took, they will see transformational civic projects being delivered faster, with less interruption to their lives,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “The old system of announcing a project — and then waiting years upon years — is finally a thing of the past.” 

  

 “A new era of great public works is becoming possible again for New York City,” said New York City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Commissioner Thomas Foley, national board chair, Design-Build Institute of America. “We have shown what we can accomplish when we get the tools we need: delivering world-class public buildings and infrastructure years faster through our inaugural design-build program and building critical facilities in record time for New Yorkers in emergencies. Thanks to this bill, it will no longer take an emergency to use common-sense tools like CM-build. We have already started laying the groundwork to expand our award-winning alternative delivery program to New York City’s libraries, cultural institutions, and critical resiliency infrastructure, and we look forward to releasing our first solicitations in early 2025.” 

  

“These reforms will help New York City complete large-scale infrastructure projects more quickly and at lower costs,” said New York City Department of Transportation Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez.  “Practices like design-build can transform the city’s construction process and help us build better for New Yorkers across the five boroughs. We are grateful for the leadership of Mayor Adams and Governor Hochul, and for the partnership at the state legislature for these tools to create a more efficient capital construction process.” 

  

“Building the infrastructure that will protect New Yorkers from our changing climate, including the flooding that threatens public safety and property, just got a tremendous boost that will cut costs and deliver the projects more quickly,” said New York City Chief Climate Officer and New York City Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala. “These new tools will be put to use on the ongoing $2.6 billion work to build a comprehensive drainage system in southeast Queens, as well as other sewer upgrade projects across the five boroughs that are critical to keeping New Yorkers safe.” 

  

“From public restrooms to recreation centers, NYC Parks maintains a network of vital living infrastructure that helps New Yorkers get active, connect with their neighbors, and enjoy all the mental and physical health benefits of time outside,” said New York City Department of Parks and Recreation (NYC Parks) Commissioner Sue Donoghue. “Thanks to design-build contracting, we’re able to provide these resources to New Yorkers faster and more efficiently. With projects like the new Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center in East Flatbush, which will provide an affordable place to work up a sweat, and our investments in resiliency and greenway access along Manhattan’s East Side waterfront, alternative delivery is helping us make our city more accessible, green, and livable.” 

   

“New Yorkers feel the impact of inefficient public construction every day, from delayed library and playground projects to years-long street closures.  It doesn’t have to be like this,” said New York City Chief Delivery Officer Alison N. Landry, AIA. “Two years ago, the task force made a commitment to change the entire capital project delivery system to modernize aging infrastructure and meet demands of a changing climate. We're implementing every single recommendation, with common-sense changes to save time and money while enabling agencies to build more efficiently, collaboratively, and inclusively. With the laws signed by Governor Hochul, we'll modernize the contracting process and shave years off projects like library renovations and resilient infrastructure.  I am proud to share the work we’re doing to build better and grateful to the committed partners working across and outside government to put these improvements into practice, delivering results for New Yorkers.” 

  

The Capital Process Reform Task Force was formed by Mayor Adams in April 2022, and it is led by Deputy Mayor Joshi and Chief Delivery Officer Landry. It is comprised of a group of leaders representing the construction industry, labor, and minority- and women-owned business enterprises (M/WBEs) and tasked with undertaking a top-down review of the city’s capital process and recommending reforms, from project initiation to closeout. The reforms recommended by the task force and implemented by the city are improving scoping and planning, cutting down project initiation time, removing redundant reviews from procurement, increasing M/WBE participation, managing projects more effectively, cutting down on change orders, standardizing and streamlining invoicing and payment, improving the delivery of projects for libraries and cultural institutions, and supporting implementation of a citywide capital project tracker. 

  

Specific reforms include:    

•   Consolidating design and construction procurements that, historically, were required to be separate, per state law, and added years to project timelines. The task force has already begun implementing its limited existing authority to consolidate those two procurements into one for permissible projects through design-build delivery; the legislation signed by Governor Hochul today greatly expands the city’s authority to avoid that archaic procurement process. 

•   Enabling electronic bidding, modernizing the bidding process towards a single digital system to submit and track construction bids that, historically, were required to submit paper bids — a resource-intensive and error-prone process. The task force championed a 2023 law that enables electronic bidding.  

•   Identifying obsolete and conflicting requirements related to invoicing and payment processes that, historically, required city agencies to have different processes, making it difficult for contractors that work across agencies. The changes by city capital agencies are being made based on the task force’s recommendation, and these agencies are now engaging with each other and industry stakeholders to share those updates before a new, unified process formally launches next year.  

  

DDC’s pilot design-build program has already accelerated and improved generational projects across New York City. The new $141 million Shirley Chisholm Recreation Center that DDC is building for NYC Parks will offer a host of programming and amenities to encourage learning, recreation, and community and civic engagement, including multipurpose rooms; a gymnasium; a walking track; a media lab; an indoor swimming pool; fitness, strength, and cardio rooms; and a teaching kitchen. Using design-build, DDC anticipates completing the project at least two full years faster than originally planned and with a savings of at least $2.4 million. The $92 million Mary Cali Dalton Recreation Center in Staten Island is also being built using design-build and is anticipated to be completed at least two years faster. 

  

The report comes after Mayor Adams secured two Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) with the Building & Construction Trades Council of Greater New York (BCTC) last week that will cover more than $1 billion in construction projects throughout the term of the agreements, including generational infrastructure improvements in Willets Point. These historic agreements will allow $800 million in planned infrastructure projects across the city to be completed using design-build delivery. The PLAs will also allow the city to complete capital projects more effectively and efficiently, connect more underserved New Yorkers to quality union career and apprenticeship opportunities through community hiring, and strengthen the city's commitment to M/WBEs. Finally, the PLAs establish the framework for future negotiations with the BCTC for upcoming PLAs that could cover as much as $50 billion of future capital construction projects.  

  

Governor Hochul Signs Legislation Expanding Legal Protections in Domestic Violence Cases

 

Melanie's Law S.6288/A.6026 Allows Courts To Issue Orders of Protection to Immediate Family Members or Household Members of Named Victims, Regardless of Age

S.6288/A.6026 Closes Loophole That Limited Protections to Children Under 18

Governor Kathy Hochul today signed legislation expanding protections in domestic violence cases in criminal and family court. This legislation recognizes that domestic violence does not just impact a person who is or was in an intimate relationship with an abuser — it impacts their family and household members as well. Under this legislation, all family and household members will be afforded the same process in court, including the ability to obtain an order of protection. Previous laws only allowed unrelated children under the age of 18 to be included on the adult family member’s order of protection. Additionally, this legislation will allow these family and household members to file family offense petitions in Family Court. Today’s action, on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, expands on Governor Hochul and the Legislature’s commitments to keeping all New Yorkers safe and combating domestic violence.

“Melanie Chianese should be standing with us today, along with countless New Yorkers lost at the hands of senseless and preventable acts of domestic violence,” Governor Hochul said. “By signing Melanie’s law, we are committing New York State, our law enforcement and our legal system to the fundamental principle that every person deserves to be protected.”

Melanie’s Law is named after Melanie Chianese, who was tragically killed by her mother’s ex-boyfriend while he was awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to a domestic violence felony. Melanie’s mother, Cheryl Chianese-Cavalli, was able to get orders of protection for herself and Melanie’s four-year-old son, but Melanie was ineligible because she was 29. Governor Hochul was joined at the signing by Melanie’s mother. Melanie’s Law recognizes the importance of protecting those close to a victim, as in many cases, those who harm will use any method to establish power and control over their partner, including hurting those who matter most to them.

The New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence is the country’s only cabinet-level executive state agency dedicated to the issue of gender-based violence. Follow OPDV on Facebook, Instagram and X.

The Division of Criminal Justice Services provides critical support to all facets of the State’s criminal justice system, including, but not limited to: training law enforcement and other criminal justice professionals; analyzing statewide crime and program data; providing research support; and managing criminal justice grant funding. Follow DCJS on Facebook, Instagram and X.

New York's Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline is available 24/7: 800-942-6906 (call), 844-997-2121 (text) or @opdv.ny.gov (chat). OVS Resource Connect also allows individuals to find state-funded victim assistance programs in their community by their specific need or concern.

Court Sides with NYC Comptroller: COVID Subway Cleaning Crews Must Be Paid Prevailing Wages

 

The New York City Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) ruled that MTA New York City Transit Authority’s contracts covering hundreds of workers who cleaned subway cars during the COVID-19 pandemic were subject to prevailing wage requirements. OATH found that the work of cleaning and disinfecting subway cars qualifies as “building service work” under Article 9 of the New York Labor Law. The case will now proceed to a trial at OATH over the underpayment amount owed to workers and any civil penalty that should be assessed against the contractors.

New York City Transit (NYCT) entered into contracts with private cleaning services to conduct deep cleaning and disinfecting work of subway cars at subway stations during the height of the pandemic. The Office of the Comptroller sued two of the companies, Fleetwash, Inc. and LN Pro Services, LLC, in February 2024 after the conclusion of a multi-year investigation for their failure to pay prevailing wages to employees. NYCT joined the contractors in claiming that the work was not subject to prevailing wage requirements, arguing that even though the subway cars were cleaned while they were in the stations, it did not qualify as building service work.

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander released the following statement about OATH’s ruling:

“At the height of the pandemic, the MTA contracted with cleaning companies to hire low-wage workers, who risked their own health to clean and disinfect the subway cars that we relied on to get New York City moving again. It’s outrageous that they tried to cheat these workers out of the prevailing wages they were owed under state law. This legal finding is an important step to getting subway cleaners the fair wages they deserve.”

Emily Chang, Agency Attorney and Amy Luo, Supervising Attorney led the litigation in Office of the Comptroller v. LN Pro Services, LLC & Fleetwash, Inc., OATH Index No. 2376/24 and 2377/24. Cordie McCann and Rudolpho Donawa conducted the underlying investigations, and Ilona Stadnicka and Xiaoyue Lin performed the audits. Claudia Henriquez, Director of Workers’ Rights, oversees the Bureau of Labor Law.

If you have worked on a prevailing wage project and believe your employer has violated the law, you can file a complaint with the Comptroller’s Office here

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams Announces Anticipated Resignation From The Southern District Of New York

 

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, who has served as the chief federal law enforcement officer in the district, announced today his intention to resign his position as United States Attorney, effective 11:59 p.m. on December 13, 2024.  Edward Y. Kim, who currently serves as Deputy United States Attorney, will become the Acting United States Attorney upon his departure.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Today is a bittersweet day for me, as I announce my resignation as United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. It is bitter in the sense that I am leaving my dream job, leading an institution I love that is filled with the finest public servants in the world.  It is sweet in that I am confident I am leaving at a time when the Office is functioning at an incredibly high level – upholding and exceeding its already high standard of excellence, integrity, and independence.  That success is due to the career attorneys, staff members, and law enforcement agents of this Office.  Working with them during my tenure has been a privilege of a lifetime.  They are worthy custodians of this Office’s tradition of doing the right thing, the right way, for the right reasons.  They are patriots.  They are my family.  And I will miss them dearly.

I thank President Biden for nominating me as United States Attorney, and Attorney General Garland for leading the Department and supporting the Southern District of New York during my tenure.  It has been an honor to serve the American people.”

Florida Telecommunications and Information Technology Worker Sentenced for Conspiring to Act as Agent of Chinese Government

 

Ping Li, 59, of Wesley Chapel, Florida, was sentenced to 48 months in prison today for conspiring to act as an agent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) without notification to the Attorney General. Li was further ordered to pay a fine of $250,000 and to serve three years of supervised release.

According to the plea agreement and other court filings, the PRC’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) is in charge of civilian intelligence collection for the PRC. The MSS often uses “cooperative contacts” located in countries outside of the PRC in furtherance of their intelligence goals, which include obtaining information concerning foreign corporate or industrial matters, foreign politicians or intelligence officers, and information concerning PRC political dissidents residing in those countries. These cooperative contacts assist the MSS in a variety of ways, including by conducting research on topics of interest to the PRC that can be used to further the MSS’s mission.

Li is a U.S. citizen who immigrated to the United States from the PRC. At various times, Li worked for a major U.S. telecommunications company and an international information technology company.

Li admitted that, from at least as early as 2012, he served as a cooperative contact working at the direction of officers of the MSS to obtain information of interest to the PRC government. Li obtained a wide variety information at the request of the MSS, including information concerning Chinese dissidents and pro-democracy advocates, members of the Falun Gong religious movement, and U.S.-based non-governmental organizations, and reported that information to the MSS. Li also provided the MSS with information obtained from his employer. Li used a variety of anonymous online accounts for the purpose of communicating with the MSS, and traveled to the PRC to meet with the MSS.

For example, in August 2012, an MSS officer requested that Li provide information about practitioners of Falun Gong and pro-democracy advocates in the United States. Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a religious movement that originated in the PRC in the 1990s. Falun Gong is not one of the five religions formally recognized by the PRC government, and it has been banned since 1999. Its adherents both in China and abroad are of particular interest to the PRC government because of Falun Gong’s advocacy of ideas deemed subversive to the PRC government. Less than a week after receiving this request, Li sent the name and biographical information of an individual affiliated with Falun Gong residing in St. Petersburg, Florida.

In March 2015, an MSS officer requested information from Li about branch offices that Li’s employer, a major U.S. telecommunications company, had opened in the PRC. Li responded with the requested information three weeks later.

In March 2017, an MSS officer requested a training instruction plan from Li. In April 2017, Li responded indicating that he had uploaded materials to an online account that he shared with the MSS officer and asked the MSS officer to delete the materials after reading them.

In May 2021, an MSS officer requested information from Li concerning hacking events targeting U.S. companies, including a widely publicized hacking of a major U.S. company by the Chinese government. Within four days, Li responded with the requested information.

In March 2022, an MSS officer requested information from Li concerning Li’s new employer, an international information technology company, as well as materials relating to cybersecurity training. That same day, Li sent the requested information about his employer as well as materials relating to cybersecurity training.

In June 2022, an MSS officer requested information from Li concerning an individual who, according to the officer, had resided in the PRC but fled to the United States, and the officer provided Li with the name and suspected residential address in the United States of that individual. That same day, Li responded with information about the owners of that residential address.

Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg for the Middle District of Florida, and Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells of the FBI’s National Security Branch made the announcement.

The FBI investigated the case.

News, updates and more from NYC Council Member Rafael Salamanca, Jr.

 

THE WEEK IN REVIEW 

THANKSGIVING TURKEY DISTRIBUTION TO OUR COMMUNITY IN BRONX COUNTY

 With Aidan by my side, we successfully ended week one of the turkey distributions, courtesy of @baldorfood, @The Point, and @bxcommunityboard2’s Annual Turkey Giveaway! Over 700 turkeys and boxes of groceries were handed out. Shout out to @funkflexthedj for swinging by and helping out.

 Next, we made our way to Boston Secor Houses to show the Northern Bronx some  and distributed over 150 turkeys alongside their Tenant Association Board.

 Ended the afternoon distributing over 300 turkeys at the heart of the South Bronx with family, friends, and #TeamSalamanca.

Follow me to see day after day how we distribute turkeys around our community in Bronx County.

THANKSGIVING TURKEY DISTRIBUTION TO OUR COMMUNITY IN BRONX COUNTY! DAY #1

 #TeamSalamanca had a strong start to our 2024 Turkey Distributions, handing out over 250 bags of produce and turkeys to #Bronxites at the BronxWorks community center! 

 

 To our co-sponsors, Hunts Point Produce Market, Freddy Perez Jr., and 

BronxWorks, for their continued dedication to helping our community this holiday season. 
 
 stay tuned to my social media pages to follow along as we continue our weeks of giving and for information on our upcoming distributions! 

THANKSGIVING TURKEY DISTRIBUTION TO OUR COMMUNITY IN BRONX COUNTY! DAY #2

 #TeamSalamanca spent Day #2 of our #Thanksgiving Turkey Distributions in beautiful Co-Op City.

Thank you to the River Bay Board of Directors and their volunteers for helping us hand out 200 turkeys and to all of the residents who came out to celebrate the start of the holiday season with us!

THANKSGIVING TURKEY DISTRIBUTION TO OUR COMMUNITY IN BRONX COUNTY! DAY #3

Day #3 of our #Thanksgiving give back, #TeamSalamanca made multiple stops throughout the #Bronx to distribute 500 turkeys!

 First, we stopped at the Michelangelo Apartments, where @amanda_bx84 and @freddyperez8045 joined us to distribute 125 turkeys to residents.

 Next, we made our way to @pugsleyprep to distribute 100 turkeys alongside the Bharati Foundation, @bharatikemraj, @bronxfoundation, @grubhub, @spreadingl0ve__, and @metroplushealth.

 We wrapped up our day partnering with @jzforny & @zaid.nagi for a Turkey Distribution event in Morris Park.

THANKSGIVING TURKEY DISTRIBUTION TO OUR COMMUNITY IN BRONX COUNTY! DAY #4

Day 4 of our #Thanksgiving turkey  distributions saw #TeamSalamanca begin at Fordham Hill Oval, where we teamed up with their Shareholders and handed out over 250 turkeys!

 Next up was Lafayette Estates, where we teamed up with @cmamandafarias and @emeritatorresny to hand out 250 turkeys!

 To wrap up our day, we joined the 41st Precinct Community Council to distribute 400 turkeys to the South ⠀ with @phippshouses and @phippsneighborhoods.

We are very grateful to our sponsors for helping our community through their donation of these turkeys.

 I have to give the biggest shout-out to the #HuntsPointMeatMarket #HuntsPointCooperative for donating 600 turkeys, as they have consistently done every year.

Email Council Member Salamanca

Visit our District Office at:  1070 Southern Boulevard Bronx, New York 10459 (718) 402-6130 salamanca@council.nyc.gov

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.