Attorney General James Stops Text Message Scam Targeting Vulnerable New Yorkers Looking for Remote Job Opportunities

 

Scammers Sent Text Messages Claiming to Help Find Remote Jobs; Tricked New Yorkers into Depositing Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars in Cryptocurrency Accounts  

AG James Freezes $2.2 Million Worth of Cryptocurrency, Files Lawsuit to Recover Money for Defrauded New Yorkers 

New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit to recover $2.2 million worth of cryptocurrency held in digital wallets and stolen from New Yorkers and victims across the country in a remote job scam. An investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), together with the U.S. Secret Service and the Queens County District Attorney’s Office, found that scammers have been sending text messages offering fake online job opportunities that were actually a scheme to entice unsuspecting people to purchase and deposit stablecoins, a type of cryptocurrency, into those scammers’ digital wallets. The scammers promised victims compensation if they opened a cryptocurrency account, deposited cryptocurrency, and began reviewing products on fake websites that replicated legitimate brands. Through this action, Attorney General James is seeking to recover the frozen cryptocurrency for defrauded victims and require the scammers to pay penalties, restitution, and damages and permanently stop them from advertising or sending unsolicited text messages in New York.  

“Deceiving New Yorkers looking to take on remote work and earn money to support their families is cruel and unacceptable,” said Attorney General James. “Scammers sent text messages to New Yorkers promising them good-paying, flexible jobs only to trick them into purchasing cryptocurrency and then stealing it from them. The cryptocurrency that has been frozen thanks to my office will be available to help New Yorkers defrauded by this scam. I urge all New Yorkers to be cautious of text messages from unknown senders claiming to offer jobs or other opportunities, and to report any scams to my office.”

“Crimes of deception continue to evolve, driven by large windfalls stolen from unsuspecting victims,” said Patrick J. Freaney, Special Agent-in-Charge, United States Secret Service, New York Field Office. “While this cyber scam operated across multiple jurisdictions, crypto-tracing by the Secret Service in New York and its close partnership with the New York Attorney General’s Office resulted in the freezing of millions of dollars and brought disruption to this harmful operation.”

“Work scams that prey on those seeking legitimate employment not only rob victims of their hard-earned money but also shatter their trust in the job market,” said Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz. “In this case, the perpetrators used advanced technology to lure victims into depositing cryptocurrency and stole millions of dollars in the form of stablecoins. Based on a referral from the U.S. Secret Service, my Cryptocurrency Unit was able to identify and trace over $2 million in stolen crypto and identify the digital wallets where these coins were being held. Partnering with State Attorney General Letitia James’ Investor Protection Bureau, we were able to freeze the tokens to preserve victim funds while the Attorney General’s office seeks to recover the stolen millions. I want to thank the diligent prosecutors and investigators in my Cryptocurrency Unit and members of the Attorney General’s office for their outstanding work on this case. I also want to acknowledge Tether and Circle Internet Group, inc. for their crucial assistance.”  

The OAG investigation found that a network of scammers has been targeting people looking for remote jobs and tricking them into depositing money into cryptocurrency accounts as a way to start earning money. The scammers told victims who responded to unsolicited text messages that the jobs required them to review products online to help generate “market data” that would lead to sales. The victims were then told that to earn money they had to open accounts with a number of registered and licensed cryptocurrency platforms and had to maintain a cryptocurrency account equal to, or greater than, the price of the products they were reviewing. The victims were assured that they were not purchasing the products but that the account balances would help “legitimize” the data they were generating and that they would get their original payment back plus commission. Victims were also instructed to create and connect a crypto wallet to their working accounts to receive their compensation. 

Examples of text messages sent by scammers claiming to offer job opportunities

Scammers told victims to buy two types of stablecoins known as “USDC” and “USDT” using transparent purchases on registered, licensed, and centralized platforms, including Coinbase, Gemini, and Crypto.com. Victims were then tricked into sending their crypto to un-hosted digital wallets, which make the tokens harder to trace and the scammers impossible to identify or locate. Leaving centralized, registered, licensed platforms allowed the scammers to avoid “know-your-customer” safeguards and execute off-chain conversions from USDC to USDT that clouded the origin and movement of the cryptocurrency. Some scammers separately urged victims who encountered cryptocurrency platform limits to send them U.S. dollars directly using money services businesses, such as Wise, and promising to buy the cryptocurrency for them.

One New York victim was defrauded out of over $100,000 from the text message scheme. The victim received a text message offering remote work with “numerous benefits and flexible requirements.” The victim was promised a registration bonus and 25 percent commissions generated during a mandatory training period. A scammer, posing as a trainer, helped the victim set up a wallet on LBank, a cryptocurrency platform that allows users to buy, sell, and store their cryptocurrencies. Once the victim established a wallet, the scammer instructed the victim on how to connect the wallet to a “working account” and purchase and transfer stablecoins to the wallet in order to conduct product reviews. The working accounts and product reviews did not exist and took place on a false website the scammers used to impersonate a legitimate company. The victim’s stablecoins simply went to the scammers’ wallets.

When victims tried to pull out their money, the scammers then invented fees such as a “credit score improvement fee” or a “blockchain verification fee” or an “escrow fee” that required the victims to put in more cryptocurrency but never allowed them to withdraw anything. 

During the course of its investigation, OAG secured Tether Limited’s voluntary agreement and cooperation to freeze the stolen USDT, and the Queens County District Attorney’s Office secured a search warrant to freeze USDC stolen in the scam. Because the cryptocurrency has been frozen, it is available to be recovered and returned to the scammers’ victims under court approval.  

In the lawsuit, Attorney General James seeks to become the first government regulator to provide notice of litigation by depositing a nonfungible token (NFT) into the wallets used to steal the victims’ cryptocurrency. Service by NFT will provide the scammers with notice of the litigation by giving them a link to an OAG website containing all of the pleadings. No other state or federal regulator has served a lawsuit using this method before.   

Attorney General James encourages New Yorkers who believe they are a victim of a text message scam involving fake remote work job opportunities to file an online complaint with her office.

Attorney General James thanks the Queens County District Attorney’s Office for referring this matter and assisting OAG with the investigation and digital asset tracing.

Attorney General James also thanks the U.S. Secret Service for their assistance in this matter. 

Governor Hochul Details Statewide Response to Severe Weather and Other Naturally Occurring Events in 2024

Four Major Disaster Declarations Secured From President Biden

Snowstorms, Flooding, Tornadoes, Extreme Heat, Hurricanes, Wildfires, Drought and an Earthquake Played Prominent Roles in 2024 Emergency Response Activities

32 Tornadoes Top Previous Record of 25 Set in 1992

State Played Prominent Role Supporting Activities Surrounding More Than One Million Visitors for the Full Solar Eclipse

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that New York State responded to multiple severe weather-related emergencies and disasters throughout the past year. These included 32 tornadoes, five lake effect snow and winter weather events, eight days of extreme heat, an earthquake, flooding throughout the state caused by the remnants of Hurricane Beryl and Tropical Storm Debby, another August flooding event in Suffolk County, a drought and fall wildfires that burned in the eastern part of the New York for several weeks. The State received four major disaster declarations from President Biden related to these weather incidents. In addition, the State managed the response surrounding a full solar eclipse that brought unprecedented numbers of visitors to New York and provided support to the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida following Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

“Whether it’s wildfires, blizzards or anything in between, my Administration will always mobilize the full force of our emergency response capabilities to keep New Yorkers safe,” Governor Hochul said. “Thanks to constant training, advancements in scaling and accelerating our resources, and the selfless commitment of our first responders, we stand ready for whatever Mother Nature throws our way.”

Starting on January 13, significant snowstorms lasting several days brought multiple feet of lake effect snow to parts of Western New York and the North Country. Before the storm, Governor Hochul activated the State’s Emergency Operations Center in Albany and mobilized 100 soldiers and airmen with 25 vehicles from the New York National Guard to provide general support to Western New York.

From March 22-23, a winter storm brought snow and ice to the Capital Region, producing ice accumulations up to three-quarters of an inch across the Capital Region and snowfall totals of two or more feet in Washington and Saratoga counties.

On April 5, a 4.8 magnitude earthquake occurred in New Jersey, followed by more than two dozen aftershocks that prompted State agencies to conduct inspections of infrastructure to ensure public safety. These included the Department of Transportation, the Department of Public Service, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the New York Power Authority.

The first heatwave of the year occurred between June 18-21 with the highest, “feels-like” temperature of 110ºF recorded at the Essex New York State Mesonet site. The hottest days occurred between July 15-17 with temperatures peaking statewide on July 16. In response, State agencies including the Department of Health, Office of Children and Family Services, Department of Agriculture and Markets and other agencies conducted activities to ensure the health and safety of New Yorkers.

New York State also experienced a record number of 32 confirmed tornadoes in 2024, which touched down in locations across the State from Eden to Rome to Long Island, topping the previous record of 25 in 1992. In July alone, there were 23 which was the most confirmed tornadoes in one month for New York State.

Serious flooding affected several regions across the State due to localized storms and the remnants of hurricanes and tropical storms, including Hurricane Beryl on July 10, Tropical Storm Debby on August 9 and storms causing record rainfall and widespread flooding in Suffolk County from August 18-19. Each of these storms resulted in a Major Disaster Declaration, including two for Tropical Storm Debby. This was due to the work of several State agencies who engaged with local governments to recover from the storms, including the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, the Department of Transportation, New York State Police, Thruway Authority and the National Guard.

New York State experienced statewide drought conditions in 2024 due to a historic lack of precipitation. Central Park and LaGuardia Airport all recorded their driest Octobers on record, and Islip Airport recorded its driest September and October ever. On Nov. 18, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) issued a statewide drought watch and a drought warning was declared for 15 Hudson Valley, New York City and Long Island counties for the first time since 2016 due to a significant shortage of rainfall and declining levels of streamflow and groundwater. During this year’s drought, New York State agencies aided several municipalities experiencing water shortages. As of Jan. 3, 2025, all counties returned to statewide drought status to normal. Information about drought conditions are available on DEC’s website.

In the fall, New York State helped battle wildfires that raged in Orange and Ulster counties and across the New Jersey State line. The NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control coordinated the response and worked with 427 fire departments statewide who sent 1,325 firefighters, nearly all of them volunteers, to help extinguish the blaze. More than 30 DEC Forest Rangers, wildland firefighters and other support personnel and firefighters from Montana and Colorado also assisted in fighting the fires.

Finally, in late November and early December, Western New York and the North Country regions experienced lake effect snow events that resulted in multiple feet of snow.

In response to these weather events, working with our federal partners, Governor Hochul secured four major disaster declarations for severe storms and flooding events, and nine U.S. Small Business Administration declarations offering low-interest loans to impacted communities. In November, Governor Hochul secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant Declaration from FEMA to provide federal funding that would cover some costs associated with efforts to combat wildfires.

In addition to weather events, the State planned and orchestrated multiagency event and public safety operations for the total solar eclipse on April 8, that included an influx of nearly one million visitors to primary viewing locations including Niagara Falls and the North Country. Governor Hochul convened an Interagency Task Force comprised of nearly two dozen State agencies and authorities who collaborated for 18 months to prepare for the event, ensuring everyone could safely enjoy the eclipse.

More than 200 emergency management staff members from numerous State agencies responded to help our neighbors in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida following Hurricanes Helene and Milton in October and November. Team members included staff from the National Guard, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, Department of Transportation, Department of Environmental Conservation, New York State Police, Thruway Authority, Agriculture and Markets, Office of Information Technology Services, New York City and Ulster and Montgomery counties.

State Agency Response

Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services: New York State's Office of Emergency Management (OEM) demonstrated its comprehensive response capabilities throughout 2024, coordinating 16 State Emergency Operations Center activations and managing numerous field deployments with local partners. The NYS Incident Management Team conducted seven deployments throughout 2024 and OEM coordinated 14 interstate mutual aid missions, demonstrating New York's ability to manage both local emergencies and support multi-state operations.

New York State Department of Public Service

In addition to the approximately 5,500 utility workers typically available statewide to engage in damage assessment, response, repair and restoration efforts across New York State, as necessary, New York utilities brought in more than 35,000 contract workers to assist with the roughly 2.7 million electrical outages that occurred during storm events in 2024. Agency staff tracked utilities' work throughout the events and ensured utilities shifted appropriate staffing to regions that experienced the greatest impact.

New York State Department of Transportation

DOT was out in force responding to emergency situations throughout 2024, including eight severe lake-effect snowstorms with two that coincided with Buffalo Bills home games in January and November; and a long-duration spring storm that spread snow, heavy rain and flooding across various parts of the State. The Department also inspected and ensured the State’s critical infrastructure was safe after earthquakes rattled the region in April and June; and provided statewide logistics, traffic and emergency preparedness support during the Total Solar Eclipse in April; cleanup efforts in the wake of a devastating tornado in Rome; and emergency repairs on the State highway system in the North Country, the Southern Tier, Western New York and the Finger Lakes Region following heavy rains caused by Tropical Storm Debby and Hurricane Helene. In addition, the Department assisted other agencies with responses to wildfires in the Catskills and downed trees on the Narrow Islands of Lake George.

New York State Thruway Authority

From heavy snow and rain to a once in a lifetime total solar eclipse, the Thruway Authority has consistently responded throughout the year swiftly and efficiently ensuring the safety of the hundreds of millions of drivers that rely on the Thruway system each year. Thruway crews work around the clock to maintain the Thruway by delivering on the safety and reliability that its customers have come to expect and are always ready at a moment's notice to deliver on that mission. Through it all, the Thruway Authority’s top priority is the safety of our employees and customers.

New York State Police

State Police members provided law enforcement and search and rescue resources to significant events throughout New York and the southeastern United States during 2024. The major snow events of January 13 and 14 in Western New York and March 22 and 23 in the Capital region, and the most recent fall and winter lake effect storms. The April 8 total eclipse required statewide traffic management and law enforcement response with State Police providing resources for both. Serious flooding events in July and August caused by tropical storms required resources including specialized swift water teams to rescue residents trapped by flooding. State Police Emergency management and swift water rescue resources responded to North Carolina to assist residents affected by severe flooding caused by Hurricane Helene. Patrol personnel and Aviation assets, including Unmanned Aerial Systems, were deployed for the entirety of the wildfire outbreaks during October and November.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Throughout 2024, DEC responded to countless emergency incidents, issued expedited environmental authorizations after storms, and in conjunction with the State Department of Health, kept New Yorkers informed when air quality concerns arose. DEC’s Emergency Management Unit and other agency emergency responders joined 32 multi-agency incidents including lake effect snow storms, the solar eclipse, tornadoes in Rome, unprecedented rainfall on Long Island and multiple requests from North Carolina for Hurricane Helene. In October and November alone, DEC staff responded to 46 wildland fires including the 5,304-acre Jennings Creek wildfire in Orange County. DEC also responded to 10,450 spills of petroleum and other hazardous materials calls across the State. During severe weather events that could immediately threaten life, health, property or natural resources, DEC issues emergency authorizations to ensure a prompt response to the emergency in question. In 2024, DEC issued 182 Emergency Authorizations to help communities rebuild, mostly due to storm-related emergencies. DEC, in conjunction with DOH, issue Air Quality Health Advisories when DEC meteorologists predict levels of pollution, either ozone or fine particulate matter (PM2.5), are expected to exceed an Air Quality Index (AQI) value of 100. The AQI was created as an easy way to correlate levels of different pollutants to one scale, with a higher AQI value indicating a greater health concern. In 2024, DEC issued 25 Air Quality Health Advisories - 22 for ozone. Three advisories were issued for particulate matter as a result of wildfire smoke. New York State also released the Extreme Heat Action Plan to help plan for and address the dangers and impacts of extreme heat on New Yorkers, particularly those in disadvantaged communities who are most likely to experience extreme heat’s harmful health effects.

New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

OPRHP staff were fully engaged to safely welcome unprecedented visitation to the State park system in April for the total solar eclipse. Nearly one million visitors gathered from April 6-9 at New York State Parks to witness the eclipse, an increase in attendance of more than 45 percent compared to the same days in 2023. On April 8 alone, New York State Parks welcomed more than 326,500 visitors, a 52 percent jump in attendance compared to the year before – and 12 State parks reached full capacity. In November, Park Police, emergency management staff and operations crews responded to Orange County for the Jennings Creek wildfire in Sterling Forest State Park. The fire burned a total of 5,304 acres in New York and New Jersey – including 3,021 in New York. Dariel Vasquez, an OPRHPemployee, was fatally injured while supporting the work to create a fire line. Throughout the year, OPRHP arranged for a total of 65 standby sawyer crews to be prepared to assist with storm cleanup for 12 separate storm events.

New York State Department of Health

With climate change comes extreme weather and the State Health Department is concerned about the impacts on public health, particularly vulnerable populations. During extreme heat periods, the State Health Department took a number of steps to promote the safety of all New Yorkers and especially those most at risk. The Department distributed guidance to all hospitals and nursing homes as well as to hosts of public events with more than 5,000 people in attendance. The Department engaged community-based organizations and other funded providers to increase access to cooling centers and safe spaces during the extreme heat. The Department also checks with health care facilities during and after snowstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes and floods to ensure they have access to staffing and supplies. Hurricane Helene crippled a North Carolina based major manufacturer and supplier of intravenous solutions for hospitals and dialysis fluids, impacting these medical supplies across the country. The Department worked with health care facilities across the State to monitor availability of these lifesaving and life-preserving solutions to limit the impacts of shortages.

New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets

Provided critical information, including preventative measures, to help mitigate the effects of extreme heat on farm workers and farm animals, which is available here. The Department also worked closely with partners at The New York Extension Disaster Education Network (NY EDEN) at Cornell University to monitor any potential impacts and response to the extreme heat and co-hosted an informational webinar on extreme heat for the agricultural community alongside the New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health.

New York State Office of Children and Family Services

The agency took a number of actions to ensure activities at residential centers, detention programs and congregate care programs were conducted in a safe manner during the heat. Actions included checking cooling equipment, ensuring proper amounts of water were available and consumed, rescheduling activities and meetings and identifying staff and clients with a higher risk of being affected by heat. The agency also provided guidance to child care programs and groups associated with the Commission for the Blind statewide.

New York State Office for the Aging

NYSOFA and Area Agencies on Aging provide important information, outreach and assistance to older adults in advance of winter storms, extreme heat events, or other emergencies. As part of its outreach efforts, the aging network has partnered with a community engagement platform, Blooming Health, to enhance connections with thousands of older adults and caregivers, including emergency notifications and resource information that is delivered in multiple languages through text message, voice calls or email.

 

This Week at KRVC - Art Opening, Clothing Drive & More!

 

COMING UP AT KRVC

Celebrate the exhibit opening of It's Everywhere, a solo exhibition by Lisa Fella.

Lisa is a long-time Riverdale resident. 

Thank you to all those who dropped off coats on Sunday at our coat drive. We also thank the volunteers, like Rich, for braving the cold for our community.

Coats are getting redirected to the Belmont section of The Bronx. 

DEC ANNOUNCES SUMMER CAMPS REGISTRATION OPENS MARCH 23, 2025

 

Families Encouraged to Register Early for Camps

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar announced that online registration for the 2025 Summer Camps program will open Sunday, March 23, 2025, at 1 p.m. Parents and guardians can register youth for a week of camp, manage their account, and complete required forms and waivers through a link from the DEC Summer Camps webpage. Guardians are encouraged to register early since weeks fill up quickly and are advised to monitor the webpage for upcoming announcements on 2025 camp forms.

“At DEC’s summer camps, youth have the opportunity to take part in a variety of lessons and workshops to develop outdoor skills, learn about nature and wildlife, and build a foundation for lifelong environmental stewardship,” Interim Commissioner Mahar said. “We encourage families to sign up early for these great opportunities and for sponsors to support the next generation of conservationists.” 

Now in its 78^th year, the DEC Summer Camps program offers week-long adventures in conservation education for children ages 11 to 17. DEC operates four residential camps for kids: Camp Colby in Saranac Lake (Franklin County); Camp DeBruce in Livingston Manor (Sullivan County); Camp Rushford in Caneadea (Allegany County); and Camp Pack Forest in Warrensburg (Warren County). Opening of specific camps is dependent on staff availability.

Camp Rushford will offer five weeks of programing for children ages 11 to 13, and two weeks for 14- to 17-year-olds. Camp Colby will operate five weeks of camp for 11- to 13-year-olds, and two weeks for campers ages 14 to 17. Camp DeBruce will offer six weeks for kids ages 11 to 13, and one week for 14- to 17-year-olds. Camp Pack Forest will host children ages 11 to 13 for three weeks, and 14- to 17-year-olds for four weeks with one Outdoor Adventure Week. Individual campers are limited to one week of camp registration. If spots at camps are still available after May 24, campers will be allowed to sign up for additional weeks. The complete schedule of camp weeks and ages is available on the Summer Camps website Camp Weeks and Availability.

At camp, kids will have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of outdoor adventures and are encouraged to try new things. Activities may include fishing, birding, fly-tying, archery, canoeing, hiking, camping, orienteering, and hunter safety education.

DEC campers engage in fun, hands-on activities and outdoor exploration focused on local field, forest, and freshwater aquatic ecological principles. Campers might collect insects in a field, use nets in a stream, investigate soil composition, measure tree sizes, or practice taking field notes and writing in journals. Trips to nearby State lands might include kettle bogs, State Parks, fish hatcheries, or nature museums.

One hunter education program of gun, bow, or trapping is offered at each camp during four of the camp weeks. Class size is limited for hunter education programs and campers must sign up during registration and complete required homework in advance. Registered campers will receive booklets prior to their session at camp.

Camp Pack Forest will offer an Outdoor Adventure Week during Week 4 (July 20 - 25). DEC encourages teens ages 14 to 17 who love being outdoors to sign up for this popular program that will help deepen their enjoyment and widen their horizons. During this week, campers will develop hands-on outdoor skills that go above and beyond the traditional camp week. In addition to typical camp activities, campers may be engaged in team- and trust-building activities, forestry, citizen science, conservation science, and more. Guest DEC and natural resource professionals will introduce campers to a variety of career options.

All four camps will offer seven one-week sessions (Sunday to Friday) beginning June 29, 2025. One week of camp is $350 per child for 2025, and includes lodging, meals, trips, and a camp t-shirt. This significant value for a week-long overnight camp is supplemented by assistance from New York State to help make camps and the education benefits they provide affordable for more New Yorkers.

In addition to inviting guardians to register children to participate in the DEC environmental education Summer Camps program, sporting clubs, civic groups, and environmental organizations are encouraged to sponsor one or more children for a week at camp. Information about becoming a sponsor and managing sponsor accounts is available at Sponsoring Youth to Camp on DEC’s website.

For more information, please visit the DEC’s website, email EducationCamps@dec.ny.gov, visit “NYS DEC Summer Camps” on Facebook or write to DEC Camps, 3rd Floor, 625 Broadway, Albany, New York 12233-4501.  

The New Bronx Chamber of Commerce - Don't miss out on January Events

 

Your January Guide to Bronx Chamber Events

From workshops to networking events - here is what's coming up!

SUN	MON	TUE	WED	THU	FRI	SAT
			1 BXCC Office Closed	2	3	4
5	6	7	8 Villa Maria Academy Open House Begins	9	10	11
12	14	14 BXCC New Member Breakfast	15	16	17	18
19	20 MLK Day BXCC Office Closed	21	22	23 BXCC VISIONS & VINO	24	25 Villa Maria Academy Open House Ends
26 	27	28	29	30 BXCC Financial Literacy Series	31

January Events – Dive In & Register Today!

Visions & Vino January 23, 2025 6:00pm-8:00pm Join the Bronx Chamber of Commerce to create your vision board for the new year, connect with fellow entrepreneurs, and toast to new opportunities ahead. $20 Chamber Members $40 Prospective Chamber Members McDermott’s Pub 2634 E Tremont Ave, Bronx, NY 10461 Register Today! New Member Breakfast January 14, 2025 A few times a year, the Bronx Chamber welcomes new members with a special breakfast to help them get acquainted with our team and leadership. This is a great opportunity to meet key staff, learn about the resources available, and connect with fellow members.  *Invite Only Financial Literacy Series In Partnership with Chase Bank and Council Member Marmarato January 30, 2025 Stay tuned for more details to come! Stay Connected & Get Involved! Don’t miss out on the chance to network, learn, and grow with the Bronx Chamber of Commerce this month. Register for our events today and be part of what’s happening in the Bronx! For more information or questions, feel free to reach out to us at events@bronxchamber.org

Statement by NYC Comptroller Lander in Response to Mayor Eric Adams’ State of the City

 

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander released the following statement following Mayor Eric Adams’ 2025 State of the City:

“Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me; fool me on 3K, the 30-day shelter limit, and the 300 days it takes the Adams Administration to register a contract, and it’s time for new leadership at City Hall.

“New Yorkers know that our city is neither safer nor more affordable. Mayor Adams said today: ‘There are two types of Americans, those who live in New York City, and those who wish they could.’ He forgot to complete the sentence: ‘those who wish they could afford it.’ Unfortunately, more and more New Yorkers are in the latter category.

“New Yorkers want honest, effective leadership, not pomp and circumstance and empty promises. They want a Mayor who is focused on their problems, not his own.

“City government must work better for New Yorkers.”

NYS Office of the Comptroller State Comptroller DiNapoli Statement on 2025 State of the City Address

 

New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli released the following statement on New York City Mayor Eric Adams' 2025 State of the City address:

“New York City is in a better financial position than a year ago, enabling the initiatives proposed today to make the city more affordable for working-class New Yorkers,” DiNapoli said. “The new proposals must be carefully managed and monitored to ensure they benefit the New Yorkers they are meant to serve and be sustainably funded and efficiently delivered. The city should also leverage improving finances to increase its rainy-day reserves to protect essential services because economic and fiscal uncertainty loom and having a substantial rainy-day fund will help the city weather any future storms. We’ll be monitoring the proposals closely as the Mayor presents his budget, and we’ll issue an analysis.” 

Reports & Fiscal Tracking Tools

Review of the Financial Plan of the City of New York

New York City Agency Services Update

Asylum Seeker Spending Report

Update on New York City Staffing Trends (May 2024)

New York City Industry Dashboards

New York City Agency Services Monitoring Tool