VCJC News & Notes 12/20/24

 

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center

News and Notes

Here's this week's edition of the VCJC News and Notes email. We hope you enjoy it and find it useful!

Reminders

Shabbos

1. Shabbos information is, as always, available on our website, both in the information sidebar and the events calendar.
   Here are the times you need:  
   Shabbos Candles Friday 12/20/24 @ 4:13 pm
   Shabbos morning services at 8:40 am.  Please join the services if you can do so safely. Services will be held in the DAILY CHAPEL on the ground floor.
   Shabbos Ends Saturday 12/21/24 @ 5:17 pm
   If you require an aliyah or would like to lead services, read from the torah or haftorah please speak to one of the gabbaim.
    

2. Save the date!
   Celebrate the Festival of Lights at the Van Cortlandt Jewish Center!
   Monday, December 30, 2024, at 7:00 PM
   Van Cortlandt Jewish Center, 3880 Sedgwick Avenue, Bronx, NY 10463 Take the stairs or elevator to the first floor.

   Join us for a joyous evening of tradition and community as the Van Cortlandt Jewish Center hosts its annual Chanukah Celebration on the night of the 6th Candle!

   What to Expect:
   Musical Entertainment: The talented Chaim Zadok will delight us with festive music.
   Delicious Refreshments: Savor traditional latkes and jelly donuts, free for all attendees.
   Exciting Raffles: Try your luck! Raffle tickets are just $1, with plenty of fantastic prizes to win.
   FREE ADMISSION: This event is open to everyone—families, friends, and neighbors are all welcome!

   For more information, contact us at 718-884-6105

   Come and share in the spirit of Chanukah with music, food, and fun for the whole community!

   Happy Chanukah!

   
   

Our mailing address is:

Van Cortlandt Jewish Center

3880 Sedgwick Ave

Bronx, NY 10463

Fruit Juice Manufacturing Company and its Former President Plead Guilty to Food Safety Crimes

 

The former president and primary owner of the now-closed fruit juice manufacturer Valley Processing Inc. (VPI) in Sunnyside, Washington, pleaded guilty this week to two misdemeanor charges related to the manufacture and sale of tainted fruit juice products in violation of federal food safety laws.

Mary Ann Bliesner, 83, pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor counts under the Federal Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act (FDCA), including failing to register a food facility with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Bliesner also pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor FDCA violation in connection with failing to prevent and correct VPI’s introduction of adulterated grape juice concentrate into interstate commerce, including grape juice concentrate that was delivered to a customer for use in the National School Lunch Program. VPI pleaded guilty to conspiracy to introduce adulterated and misbranded fruit juice into interstate commerce, including selling tainted fruit juice to customers. Bliesner and VPI agreed to pay a criminal forfeiture amount of $742,139 as proceeds of their criminal conduct.

In pleading guilty, VPI admitted that it conspired to distribute tainted and potentially unsafe apple and grape juice to customers in the United States and abroad between October 2012 and June 2019. VPI admitted that it misrepresented to customers the age and quality of VPI’s products. VPI admitted that it blended grape juice concentrate, which was stored outside the VPI facility for years and exposed to the elements, with newer grape juice concentrate, and sold the resulting blended grape juice product to unsuspecting customers as if it were new product. VPI sold at least some of this contaminated product to customers who provided grape juice for the National School Lunch Program, which provides free or reduced-cost lunches to children.

Bliesner and VPI admitted that they failed to register a food facility, known as the “Grape Road Facility,” with the FDA. Bliesner and VPI used the Grape Road Facility to store earlier seasons’ unsold grape juice concentrate, sometimes for years, in large concrete vats that were not properly covered or cooled. Bliesner and VPI admitted that product stored at the Grape Road Facility was adulterated, unsafe and unfit for consumption. According to VPI’s plea agreement, during a May 2018 FDA inspection, employees placed caution tape over the entrance to the room at the Grape Road Facility with the concrete storage vats. VPI employees then told FDA investigators that the facility was unsafe to enter and that it contained no juice or juice products. According to the VPI plea agreement, FDA investigators later learned about the vats and, after entering the room, observed grape juice concentrate that testing later confirmed was contaminated with bird and rodent feces, fur, insects, decaying remains of animals, mold, yeast and other contaminants. FDA inspectors also observed and photographed a live rat walking across the hardened crust that had formed on top of the grape juice concentrate.  

In November 2020, the United States filed a civil complaint in federal court seeking to enjoin Bliesner and VPI from producing, storing or selling juice or juice products. In January 2021, Bliesner and VPI agreed to a consent injunction barring Bliesner and VPI from processing, manufacturing, preparing, packing, holding or distributing any type of food without first notifying and receiving approval from the FDA. VPI subsequently closed. Bliesner and the company no longer manufacture or sell juice products. In September 2022, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Bliesner and VPI with 12 counts of fraud and food safety crimes.

“Protecting the safety of American’s food supply is essential,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department of Justice will take action whenever appropriate to ensure the individuals and companies that produce our food maintain safe facilities and tell the truth to their customers and the FDA.”

“Bliesner and her company, Valley Processing, produced juice in filthy and unsafe conditions, mis-labeled that product, and then sold it to the National School Lunch Program that serves low-income school children,” said U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref for the Eastern District of Washington. “School children deserve safe and nutritious food. Nothing is more important that the health and safety of our children. I commend the excellent work by investigators with the Food and Drug Administration and prosecutors in my office who uncovered and stopped this conduct and are protecting our public health.”

“Companies that mislead consumers and the FDA by selling adulterated products manufactured and stored under insanitary conditions place the public health at risk,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert Iwanicki of the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Los Angeles Field Office. “In this case, the company’s actions put at risk the health of consumers, including schoolchildren, who consumed the fruit juice. FDA will continue to pursue and hold accountable those who attempt to subvert our regulatory processes at the expense of consumer safety.”

Bliesner and VPI will face a sentencing hearing on March 26, 2025. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations investigated the case.

Trial Attorney James Hennelly and Senior Trial Attorney David Gunn of the Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dan Fruchter and Devin Curda for the Eastern District of Washington are prosecuting the case.

For more information about the enforcement efforts of the Consumer Protection Branch, visit their website at www.justice.gov/civil/consumer-protection-branch.

Attorney General James Provides Tips for New Yorkers to Protect Their Privacy When Using Mobile Phone Messaging

 

New York State Attorney General Letitia James issued a consumer alert urging New Yorkers to protect their privacy when using mobile phone messaging. The FBI and other federal agencies recently warned Americans of coordinated attacks on U.S. telecom wireless networks that may have allowed hackers to intercept texts and other messages. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) is encouraging New Yorkers to take steps to protect themselves from these types of attacks. 

“New Yorkers expect that their private text messages will be protected,” said Attorney General James. “As we face a warning of coordinated attacks on our wireless networks, every New Yorker should be informed about this situation and empowered with the information they need to keep themselves safe and their messages private. I urge everyone to remain vigilant and protect their personal information by following our important tips.”

Mobile apps that encrypt messages are a good way for users to protect themselves. Encryption is the process of scrambling a message to make it unreadable before it is sent. When the message arrives on the mobile device of the recipient, it can then be unencrypted and read by the intended recipient.  

Attorney General James recommends New York consumers follow these tips for selecting and using messaging apps to better protect their privacy: 

• Remember that most text messaging, including SMS, is not encrypted and therefore could be read by an attacker that gets access to your provider’s network.  
• If possible, use a messaging app that utilizes encryption. When selecting a messaging app, make sure you understand what other information the app may collect or send, such as your location and profile picture, and whether that information is also encrypted.
• If you have to text, you should avoid sending sensitive information, such as account numbers, medical information, or sensitive photos, and be suspicious of anyone who asks you to do so.

Statement by NYC Comptroller Lander on Mayor Adams’ Vision Zero Rollbacks

 

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander responds to the rise in injuries and deaths caused by the abandonment of Vision Zero policies by Mayor Eric Adams. THE CITY’s recent reporting showed a spike in car crashes caused by New York City Police Department chases, injuring 315 people and killing 7 people. Meanwhile, the Adams Administration allowed Lander’s Reckless Driver Accountability Act to expire while putting nothing in its place. Traffic crashes killed 193 people and seriously injured another 2,338 more during the first nine months of 2024, higher than eight of the past ten years.

“Mayor Adams has abandoned Vision Zero, and more people are dying and being seriously injured in traffic crashes as a result. Almost every day, a New Yorker is killed in a crash on our streets. And things are worst in the Bronx and Queens, where serious injuries are up more than 20% from 2022.

“We already knew that the Adams Administration has utterly failed to meet its commitments to install new bike lanes, bus lanes, intersection daylighting, and other measures proven to reduce crashes and save lives.

“This week, we learned that under Mayor Adams, the NYPD is engaging in dangerous, TV-style car chases with shocking frequency — and seven people have died and 315 more have been injured as a result. The NYPD’s unprecedented spike in car crashes exacerbates lawlessness and disorder on our streets and achieves nothing to change driver behavior or keep New Yorkers safe.

“Meanwhile, the Mayor allowed the Reckless Driver Accountability Act – whose creation I spearheaded in the City Council to hold the most dangerous drivers accountable – to expire with nothing to replace it. New data out this week shows that holding reckless drivers accountable works. The Center for Justice Innovation’s new study examined the impact of its Driver Accountability Program, the model for my legislation, and the results are clear: participants in the program were consistently less likely to reoffend.

“We need a Vision Zero reset that prioritizes public safety, better infrastructure, and proven tools for reducing crashes. That means fulfilling the vision of the Streets Master Plan, reviving and strengthening the Reckless Driver Accountability Act, reducing reckless car chases by the NYPD, and taking a targeted, data-driven approach that lowers rates of traffic violence and saves New Yorkers’ lives.”

Advancing Housing Opportunities: Governor Hochul Announces Deal to Create Nearly 1,400 New Homes with 404 Permanently Affordable Units on Manhattan's Far West Side

HDSN To Be the First Housing Development in New York City To Exceed 12 Floor Area Ratio in Over 60 Years

$1.35 Billion Mixed-Use Project To Be Developed by Minority-Owned Business Partnership ‘Hudson Boulevard Collective’ Following Competitive Selection

Proposed Development Will Also Feature Permanent Home of Nonprofit Climate Museum and Hotel To Support New York’s Busiest Convention Center at Javits

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the selection of the Hudson Boulevard Collective — a partnership of BRP Companies, BXP, The Moinian Group and Urbane Development, with minority-owned businesses representing 31 percent of the development team — as the conditionally designated entity to create a transformative $1.35 billion mixed-use project at 418 Eleventh Avenue in Manhattan, also known as "Site K" of the Jacob K Javits Convention Center. This development represents the first project in New York City to be permitted to build to a residential Floor Area Ratio above 12.0, a zoning reform that allows more homes to be built made possible by Governor Hochul's housing reforms enacted in the FY 2025 Budget. Following an exhaustive competitive procurement process, the proposed development HDSN, pronounced "Hudson", would create 1,349 residential units, including 404 permanently affordable homes, across from the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. The ongoing construction plan is phased to prioritize the residential component and expedite the delivery of much-needed housing. This project marks a significant step forward in increasing the supply of housing to address New York's housing crisis while creating a vibrant new destination on Manhattan's Far West Side.

"This transformative development embodies our vision for New York's future — creating affordable homes, advancing our climate goals and generating economic opportunity for all New Yorkers. By utilizing the new residential density provisions we secured in last year's budget, HDSN demonstrates how smart policy changes can unlock substantial affordable housing developments," Governor Hochul said. "This project is an example of how thoughtful development can tackle our housing crisis while building vibrant, inclusive communities. New York is once again leading the way in showing what is possible when we think boldly about our cities' future."

As one of the last remaining state-owned parcels in Manhattan, Governor Hochul made housing — and the creation of affordable residential units — a top priority for 418 Eleventh Avenue's future use. Under the Governor’s leadership, Empire State Development reissued a Request for Proposals in July 2023 that reflected both the surrounding community’s interests and advanced the state’s housing and economic development goals. Led by ESD’s professional real estate, legal, and procurement teams, the competitive review process included a comprehensive analysis of each proposal and interviews with all qualified respondents. The construction of housing with an emphasis on maximizing the number of affordable units was the primary consideration for awarding this project. Selection criteria also included each development teams’ experience and financial strength and their proposals’ commitment to building community space and facilities, streetscape improvements, and ability to generate new economic activity to support the Javits Center with high-quality lodging.

The 72-story East Tower of HDSN will deliver one of the largest mixed-income housing developments in the neighborhood. Of its 1,349 residential units, 30 percent — 404 apartments — will be permanently affordable, ensuring long-term housing stability for hundreds of New York families across different income levels. The affordable component includes units for middle-income New Yorkers earning up to 130 percent of Area Median Income (AMI) and workforce housing for those earning an average of 60 percent AMI. The affordable units will be integrated throughout the building, and residents provided equal access to all amenities. The residential unit mix includes studios, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom units, all featuring in-unit washers and dryers as well as central heating and cooling.

The 28-story West Tower will strengthen New York City's convention and tourism infrastructure with a flagship hotel development. The tower will feature a 455-room full-service hotel, providing accommodations across multiple price points. The hotel component includes amenities designed to support the Javits Center's operations, including ballroom space, meeting rooms, pre-function areas, food and beverage venues, flexible informal meeting spaces, a fitness center, and outdoor amenities including a rooftop overlooking the Hudson River.

The development's five-story podium will establish a nexus of cultural, educational, and community facilities anchored by the permanent home of the Climate Museum, North America's leading museum dedicated to climate change and climate solutions. Occupying 24,000 square feet across three floors, it will feature exhibition spaces, an action center, and educational facilities. The museum will feature ClimateTech programming, hosted in partnership with NYSERDA to support entrepreneurs developing innovative climate solutions through manufacturing planning resources, mentorship programs, and workshop spaces.

The community hub will also advance workforce development and wellness initiatives through two key partnerships. Emma's Torch is slated to operate a 4,000-square-foot restaurant and training facility, providing paid culinary training and job placement services to refugees, asylees, and survivors of human trafficking through its intensive 10-week apprenticeship program. Complementing these facilities, a state-of-the-art 60,300-square-foot Life Time fitness and wellness center will provide comprehensive health and wellness programming across four floors, including an outdoor swimming pool and roof terrace, serving both residents and the broader community. Included in the building will be a 5,000-square-foot portion of the development reserved for future community programming options.

Aligning with New York State's nation-leading climate goals, HDSN will target LEED Gold certification and incorporate energy-efficient building systems and advanced water management, including greywater recycling and stormwater reuse for irrigation, and will utilize sustainable materials throughout construction. In addition, the Climate Museum plans to pursue Living Building Challenge Certification and net-zero carbon operations. These initiatives position HDSN as a model for environmental leadership and sustainable urban development.

The HDSN development will create significant long-term economic opportunities for New York State through construction and permanent job creation. The project is expected to generate thousands of construction jobs over its multi-year development period, followed by hundreds of permanent positions across hospitality, retail, cultural institutions, and building operations. The hotel will particularly strengthen New York City's tourism economy by expanding accommodation options for Javits Center convention attendees, helping to attract more large-scale events and conferences to the city.

The project's commitment to community extends beyond economic impact through thoughtfully designed public spaces. Hudson Boulevard Collective has designed extensive public space improvements that will transform the pedestrian experience along 35th Street. These enhancements include new landscaping, seating areas, and improved lighting that will create seamless connections between the Javits Center, Bella Abzug Park, and the broader Hudson Yards district. The project's location offers exceptional public transportation access, with direct connections to the 7 subway line, M34 crosstown bus, and a short walk to Moynihan Train Hall and Penn Station.

The proposed project will be sponsored by the New York Convention Center Development Corporation, a subsidiary of Empire State Development, under a General Project Plan. It will be required to undergo environmental review under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) and will be presented for public review and comment prior to its final consideration and approval.

Governor Hochul’s Housing Agenda

Governor Hochul is committed to addressing New York’s housing crisis and making the State more affordable and more livable for all New Yorkers. As part of the FY25 Enacted Budget, the Governor secured a landmark agreement to increase New York’s housing supply through new tax incentives for Upstate communities, new incentives and relief from certain state-imposed restrictions to create more housing in New York City, a $500 million capital fund to build up to 15,000 new homes on state-owned property, an additional $600 million in funding to support a variety of housing developments statewide and new protections for renters and homeowners.

As part of the FY23 Enacted Budget, the Governor announced a five-year, $25 billion Housing Plan to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide, including 10,000 with supportive services for vulnerable populations, plus the electrification of 50,000 homes. More than 45,000 homes have been created or preserved to date.

Last August, Governor Hochul also announced the Pro-Housing Communities Program. Pro-Housing Community certification is a requirement for localities to access up to $650 million in State discretionary funding. To date, more than 250 communities have been certified, including New York City.