“House Republicans just voted to rip health care away from up to 1.8 million New Yorkers – all to bankroll giveaways for billionaires."
“Every New York Congressmember who backed this should be ashamed.”
Tuesday, February 25, 2025
Woman Pleads Guilty to Scheme to Defraud Elvis Presley’s Family
A Missouri woman pleaded guilty today in the Western District of Tennessee for her role in a scheme to defraud Elvis Presley’s family of millions of dollars and to steal the family’s ownership interest in Graceland, Elvis Presley’s former home in Memphis, Tennessee.
According to court documents, Lisa Jeanine Findley, 53, of Kimberling City, orchestrated a scheme to conduct a fraudulent sale of Graceland — using a fake company, forged documents, and false court filings — by falsely claiming that Elvis Presley’s daughter had pledged Graceland as collateral for a loan that she failed to repay before her death. Findley threatened to foreclose on Graceland and auction it to the highest bidder if Elvis Presley’s family did not pay or settle the claim against the estate.
Findley pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud. She is scheduled to be sentenced on June 18 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Taylor Fondren for the Western District of Tennessee, Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group, and Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office made the announcement.
The USPIS and FBI Nashville Field Office are investigating the case.
Single Day Border Apprehensions Hit 15-Year Low Under President Trump
“Under President Donald Trump, the days of open borders are over.”- Secretary Noem
Today, Secretary Noem announced on Saturday, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) encountered only 200 aliens at the U.S. Southern border. That is the lowest number of apprehensions in a single day in over 15 years.
These record low numbers come days after Secretary Noem launched a multimillion dollar nationwide and international ad campaign warning illegal aliens to stay out.
A statement from a senior DHS spokesperson is below:
“President Trump and Secretary Noem have sent a clear message to illegal aliens: do not come to our country. You will not be allowed in. And if you get in, we will hunt you down and deport you.
That message has been received. This weekend, we saw the single lowest apprehensions at the southern border in more than 15 years. This is yet another sign the President Trump’s commonsense immigration and border security policies are working.”
Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on Public Safety During Illegal Walkouts at State Correctional Facilities
Governor Hochul: “Let me be clear: the illegal actions being taken by a number of individuals is putting the entire state at risk. We need them back to work; this must end immediately.”
Hochul: “I understand there's a lot of frustration about the long hours. I have long stood with the corrections officers of this state… But, we have a situation right now, which is absolutely untenable, especially the fact that there were prisons left unguarded.”
I want to take a moment to address the illegal walkouts that are occurring at prison facilities all across the State of New York. Let me be clear: the illegal actions being taken by a number of individuals is putting the entire state at risk. We need them back to work; this must end immediately.
My administration has worked tirelessly over the last nine days to resolve this. In fact, we've brought in mediators requested by the union. The mediation started yesterday, it continues again today. We want to find out what the issue is, because the individuals who've walked out — in an unsanctioned strike, unapproved by the union — have yet to tell us the issues.
We've done everything we can to encourage them to get back to work. They know they are in violation of the New York State Taylor Law. They also are in violation of a temporary restraining order to return to work. We offered an amnesty period where they could go back to work, no questions asked. We also repealed a staffing memo that had been viewed as controversial. We also suspended portions of the HALT law, which requires a certain amount of time out and other activities that we do not have the staffing to implement.
I've also had to deploy 6,500 members of the National Guard to do the jobs of those who've walked out. That means that they've been taken either from their homes or critical assignments — whether they're protecting assets in New York City or elsewhere against terrorism.
We have tried hard to end this — I've had conversations with many, many leaders — but, we need a good faith effort to resolve this, starting now. I'm prepared to do that. I understand there's a lot of frustration about the long hours. I have long stood with the corrections officers of this state — more than, I'm going to guess, any other Governor — and say, “These conditions are hard.” I understand that. We need more of you on the job, I get that.
But, we have a situation right now, which is absolutely untenable, especially the fact that there were prisons left unguarded — think about that. The incarcerated population was left unguarded. There were people from other unions, people who work in health care, and the commissary, who were left unprotected by these actions.
Thank God for the National Guard that are in there doing work that they never anticipated, and the condition inside the prisons is stabilized. We've had to start legal proceedings against these individuals — not something I ever would want to do, but I have a law to enforce. We've also let them know that if you are striking, you’re AWOL. You no longer secure the right to have health benefits from the state, that goes away. Your legal proceedings have started. Your legal representation is not covered by the union because this is not sanctioned by the union, they will not pay for this.
And I am so grateful to the law-abiding correction officers who are still showing up and want to get back to work in a normal setting. We will get there as soon as possible. These are difficult, difficult jobs. I know that, I know that. But people took an oath of office to protect the public. We have to get back to ensuring that that oath is kept. There's an enormous strain on our system right now. I encourage everyone to come back to work. We hear you with respect to the long hours. I'm working hard to address that, but we also have — as we've heard here in the city of Albany — recruitment issues. These are hard jobs; not everybody is signing up for them.
We're doing the very best we can. The prison population has declined by half over the last number of years. We're working hard to consolidate, making sure that we are maximizing every bed in our facilities. In fact, we're transporting members of the incarcerated population as we speak to take them to other facilities where I can protect them more readily.
So, that's where we are. That's the status. We're very engaged and look forward to a resolution as soon as possible.
Assemblymember John Zaccaro - Happening This Friday - FREE Food Giveaway Hosted by Assemblymember John Zaccaro, Jr.
Friends,
Join me on Friday, February 28th, for a FREE food giveaway at Zimmerman Playground. See our flyer below for details.
When: Friday, February 28, 2025
Time: 1:00PM
Where: Zimmerman Playground - 650 Britton Street
Please remember supplies are limited and this is a first come, first serve basis. Looking forward to seeing everyone on Friday afternoon.
Sincerely,
John Zaccaro Jr.
New York State Assembly
80th Assembly District
NYS Office of the Comptroller DiNapoli Warns Changing Fiscal Landscape Could Increase Budget Challenges for Local Governments
Recommends Prudent Budgeting and Transparency to Avoid Fiscal Cliff
The expiration of one-time federal pandemic aid, combined with state aid that has not kept pace with inflation and slower growth in local revenue may push some local governments closer to the edge of a fiscal cliff, according to a report released today by State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. The report provides an overview of these revenue sources and how they have affected local budgets in recent years.
“With pandemic aid coming to an end and uncertainty coming out of Washington, local governments need to shore up their fiscal foundations,” DiNapoli said. “By focusing on ensuring structural budget balance, using realistic revenue projections and multiyear planning, local governments will be better positioned to weather whatever financial challenges lay ahead. My office continues to support local governments by offering resources to help with financial planning and management.”
Federal Stimulus Aid
Local governments received federal pandemic aid through a variety of programs in 2020, 2021 and 2022. The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020 provided nearly $1 billion in targeted aid to five counties and one town in New York state, and another $1.5 billion to New York City at the start of the pandemic. Local governments outside of New York City received a total of $4.8 billion in financial relief from the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) in 2021 and 2022, which they were required to obligate by the end of 2024 and spend by the end of 2026.
Although federal aid traditionally represents the smallest portion of overall revenue for local governments, it was the fastest growing source of revenue during the pandemic – increasing more than 50% between 2019 and 2023, from $2.8 billion to $4.4 billion. Outside of New York City, counties received the most federal stimulus funds in terms of overall dollars, while ARPA funds represented 14.4% of total 2019 (pre-pandemic) revenues for cities, 5.3% for towns, 4.5% for counties and 3.2% for villages.
Excluding New York City, twenty cities (32.7%) received their first installment of ARPA funding in an amount that exceeded 10% of their 2019 total revenues, compared to 5.4% and 5.8% of villages and towns, respectively. ARPA payments in 2021 represented more than 30% of 2019 total revenues in the cities of Utica and Buffalo.
With these federal funds ending, some cities are taking measures to close structural budget deficits, including overriding the property tax cap to increase their tax levies. Local governments are at a greater risk of having a structural budget imbalance if the one-time aid was used for recurring costs, such as paying for personnel expenses or ongoing programs.
Other Revenue Trends Impacting Local Governments
DiNapoli’s report identified where local governments are facing other revenue pressures in addition to the end of federal pandemic aid which may require adjustments to avoid budget shortfalls.
Sales Tax - For most of 2021 and in part of 2022, local governments outside of New York City saw double-digit year-over-year percentage increases in local sales tax collections after experiencing a 19% decline during the height of the pandemic. Local government sales tax collections outside New York City totaled $2.85 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024, a decrease of over $21 million (0.7%) compared to the same quarter in 2023. This decrease marks a stark contrast to the post-pandemic surge in local sales tax collections. As seen throughout 2023 and 2024, sales tax revenue growth has returned to levels of growth typical of the pre-pandemic period, with moderate year-over-year increases. Local sales tax revenue outside New York City grew 7.5% from 2021 to 2022 but just 2.3% from 2022 to 2023.
State Aid - The Aid and Incentives for Municipalities (AIM) program represents the largest amount of unrestricted state aid to local governments. The State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2024-2025 Enacted Budget provides $715 million in AIM funding for all cities, towns and villages outside of New York City, or approximately the same amount that was appropriated in SFY 2011-12. When adjusting for inflation, AIM funding has declined nearly 30% over that same period, and is now worth less to local governments than what they received in unrestricted aid in 2004-05, the year before the AIM program started. In addition, $50 million in Temporary Municipal Assistance allocated in the SFY 2024-25 Enacted Budget for all AIM recipients is proposed in the SFY 2025-26 Executive Budget to continue for just one more year.
Property Taxes – For localities, property taxes continue to be one of the largest and most reliable sources of revenue, totaling $13.6 billion in local fiscal year 2023. However, there are statutory limits to how much a local government can raise in property tax revenue. Under the property tax cap, local governments are generally required to limit the growth of property tax levies to the lesser of 2% or the rate of inflation. Although the rate of inflation has been decreasing, it remains over 2%, setting the property tax cap at 2% for municipality fiscal years beginning in 2025. In addition, counties, cities and villages are limited in the overall revenue that can be raised through the property tax in any one year by the constitutional tax limit.
After receiving federal ARPA aid, some local governments reduced the amount of property taxes they levied. Overall, counties reduced their property tax levy by 1.2% or $75.7 million from 2022 to 2023, while cities outside of New York City raised their levy by 0.3% or $4.1 million during this same period. Towns and villages maintained a steady increase in their property tax revenue before and throughout the pandemic.
A Failure to File Annual Financial Reports Leaves Taxpayers in the Dark
The number of local governments that have failed to file timely annual financial reports [AFRs] has been increasing in recent years. For the local fiscal year ending in 2019, 142 (9%) of over 1,575 counties, cities, towns and villages failed to file AFRs on time. For fiscal year 2023, 233 (14.8%) had not filed AFRs by Aug. 31, 2024.
If a local government does not prepare and submit complete and accurate AFRs in a timely manner, it may call into question the effectiveness of the financial management and standing of a municipality, reduces transparency, and diminishes accountability for how funds were spent.
Without a timely-filed AFR, the Comptroller’s office is unable to issue a Fiscal Stress Monitoring System (FSMS) score to assess a local government’s financial condition. Recently, both the Village of Washingtonville (Orange County) and the City of Dunkirk (Chautauqua County), which have had problems filing recent AFRs, both needed state legislation to allow them to issue millions of dollars in deficit financing debt, a sign of extreme fiscal stress.
Recommendations
DiNapoli’s report recommends local governments:
- Ensure any ARPA funds are spent before the 2026 deadline.
- Identify any one-time revenues that were used for recurring purposes and find alternative revenue sources where needed.
- Communicate with taxpayers regarding the use of additional aid over the past few years.
- Engage in multi-year planning to better understand the implications of current revenue and expenditure actions for out-year budgets.
- Act quickly to ensure fiscal stability by continuously monitoring the current budget and adjusting as needed.
- Access the Comptroller’s Division of Local Government and School Accountability webinars, management guides and other publications to assist in developing a budget and maintaining proper accounting records.
Report
MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES PROGRESS ON $30 MILLION COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER, STRENGTHENING HEALTH CARE ACCESS TO FAMILIES IN UNDERSERVED FAR ROCKAWAY
State-of-the-Art Gotham Health Community Health Center Advances Mayor Adams’ Efforts Alongside Local Elected Officials to Strengthen Health Care Access and Equity on Rockaway Peninsula
New Center Will Provide Primary and Specialty Care, Women’s Health, Vision, Behavioral Health, Dental, Podiatry, and Imaging Services
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Dr. Mitchell Katz, New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) President and CEO Andrew Kimball, and Queens Borough President Donovan Richards today announced that construction is now underway on a new 22,000-square-foot Gotham Health community health center that will provide comprehensive health care services to residents of Far Rockaway, Queens. The state-of-the-art community health center will expand community members’ access to primary care, specialty care, women’s health, dental, vision, podiatry, radiology, and mental health services. The Adams administration has contributed $30 million to cover the cost of retrofitting the space and providing advanced medical equipment.
“As I said in my State of the City address last month, our goal is to make New York City the best place on the globe to raise a family, and keeping families healthy is essential to keeping families in the five boroughs,” said Mayor Adams. “For too long, lack of access to services has been a barrier to health care and opportunity for underserved communities here in Southeast Queens. With this facility, we are bridging the health care gap and investing $30 million to provide vital medical equipment for everyday New Yorkers.”
“New York City’s public hospital system provides care to New Yorkers without exception, including where they live,” said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Dr. Katz. “The opening of the Gotham Health community health center in Far Rockaway will make critical primary and specialty care services readily available to residents of the peninsula, who for too long have needed to travel elsewhere to access the care they need. We are thankful to Mayor Adams and Queens Borough President Richards whose advocacy and investment made the construction of this clinic a reality.”
“The construction of the Gotham Health center in Far Rockaway will bring critical health care services to a historically underserved community,” said NYCEDC President and CEO Kimball. “NYCEDC is thrilled to have helped facilitate funding for this health center as a continued commitment to our Downtown Far Rockaway Roadmap for Action. We look forward to working together with NYC Health + Hospitals and Queens Borough President Richards to support the Far Rockaway community.”
“This new clinic expands access to high quality, affordable health care for the Far Rockaway community,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health CEO Michelle Lewis. “With both primary and specialty care services, we are ensuring that patients are able to receive comprehensive, coordinated care. This clinic reflects our commitment to health equity and our mission to provide exceptional care for all New Yorkers.”
“It's been a decade since I convened the Downtown Far Rockaway Working Group to lead the groundbreaking $288 million rezoning of this incredible community, and the dividends this initiative continues to pay in this community are astounding. I couldn't be prouder to have worked tirelessly alongside so many government and community partners to deliver this critical investment in the health of Far Rockaway families, as we bring the days of deliberate disinvestment in this neighborhood to an end,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “For far too long, families on the peninsula have experienced higher rates of numerous diseases, but the high-quality, comprehensive preventative care offered at this $30 million new NYC Health + Hospitals facility represents a massive step forward in making Far Rockaway a healthier and stronger community. The residents this clinic will serve deserve nothing less than the best.”
The new community health center — located at 1720 Village Lane in Far Rockaway — is expected to open in 2027, and is strategically designed to bridge health care gaps in Far Rockaway, where community members have historically had limited access to care. Borough President Richards played a crucial role advocating for the center and ensuring it will provide comprehensive health services and promote health equity for the Far Rockaway community.
The facility will offer a full spectrum of primary care services, including:
- Preventive and general medical care to support the overall well-being of individuals and their families.
- Pediatric health care to promote the growth and development of children from infancy through adolescence.
- Women’s health and maternity services to provide comprehensive gynecological, reproductive, prenatal, and postpartum care.
- Mental and behavioral health support to address community members’ emotional, psychological, and psychiatric needs.
- Chronic disease management for conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.
- Comprehensive podiatry care, including treatment for diabetic foot conditions and other foot health concerns.
- Vision screenings and eye care for diagnosing and managing common vision issues.
- Complete dental care, including routine exams, professional cleanings, and oral health treatments.
- Advanced diagnostic imaging, featuring CT Scans, DEXA|Bone Density Scan, ultrasounds, and 3D mammography to provide precise medical evaluations.
The Adams administration has prioritized helping New Yorkers live longer, healthier lives with its HealthyNYC initiative, which aims to extend the average life expectancy of New Yorkers to 83 years by 2030. Increasing access to quality, preventative health care can help screen for cancers and manage chronic diseases.
This new community health center fulfills a core commitment of NYCEDC’s “Downtown Far Rockaway Roadmap for Action” and Mayor Adams’ “Rebuild, Renew, and Reinvent: A Blueprint for New York City’s Economic Recovery.”
CONSUMER ALERT: THE NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF STATE’S DIVISION OF CONSUMER PROTECTION OFFERS TIPS TO HELP AVOID UNWANTED TELEMARKETING CALLS
Encourages Consumers to Register Phone Numbers with Do Not Call Registry and File a Complaint When They Receive an Unwanted Telemarketing Call
Newly Enacted “Seinfeld Law” Requires Telemarketers to Provide Certain Information Within the First 30 Seconds of a Call
Secretary Mosley: “Every consumer should take the time to put their phone number on the Do Not Call Registry and report any instance of an unwanted telemarketing call so we can track down bad actors and take legal action against them.”
The New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection is providing tips to help New Yorkers combat unwanted telemarketing calls. Consumers are encouraged to register their phone numbers with the Do Not Call Registry and to file an individual complaint each time they receive an unwanted telemarketing call after registering for more than 31 days.
On January 1, 2025, New York State enacted the so-called Seinfeld law, named after the hit comedy series “Seinfeld,” to help protect consumers from potentially deceptive telemarketing practices while promoting transparency and accountability in the telemarketing industry. The new law requires telemarketers to identify themselves in the first 30 seconds of an unsolicited phone call, including their name, the company they represent and why they are calling. Callers must also give the person they’re calling an option to be added to their company’s “do not call” list, as well as disclose if the call is being recorded.
“We’ve all been on the receiving end of annoying and unwanted telemarketing calls, and too many New Yorkers don’t know that there are tools available to help make them stop,” said Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley. “Every consumer should take the time to put their phone number on the Do Not Call Registry and report any instance of an unwanted telemarketing call so we can track down bad actors and take legal action against them. These efforts, combined with the State’s new ‘Seinfeld Law,’ will help further our progress toward limiting the scourge of scam calls to New Yorkers and preventing fraudulent telemarketing scams.”
The Do-Not-Call (DNC) Registry is designed to stop companies from promoting their goods and services by making unwanted sales calls to potential customers. The DNC Registry allows you to register your landline and cell phone numbers in one central database to limit the telemarketing calls you receive. Once you register your phone number, telemarketers have up to 31 days from the date you register to stop calling you. Registering your phone number does not prohibit all businesses from calling you. Calls from or on behalf of political organizations, charities and telephone surveyors are exempt, as are companies with which you have an existing business relationship, unless you ask them to place your number on their own do-not-call list.
TIPS TO HELP COMBAT UNWANTED TELEMARKETING CALLS:
- Register on the Do Not Call list: Register your phone number on the National Do Not Call Registry with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Seventy five percent (75%) of New Yorkers have registered their number in the DNC Registry. To register:
- Visit DoNotCall.gov
- Call 888-382-1222 (TTY 1-866-290-4236) from the number you want to register
- Beware of Unintentionally Consenting to Telemarketing Calls: Even if your number is listed on the Do-Not-Call Registry, telemarketers are permitted to contact you when you request the call. Telemarketers may try to lure consumers into consenting to telemarketing calls. For instance, when you are looking for information online, make sure you read the fine print below any click boxes. These may include references to “marketing partners” that you are “agreeing” to receive calls from with one click of your mouse. While New York requires an express request to contact from a telemarketer, these websites may nonetheless lead to multiple unwanted contacts.
- File a complaint if you receive unwanted telemarketing calls after registering for more than 31 days: Registering your phone number on the DNC Registry is only the first step towards bringing these calls to an end. The next step is to file a complaint for every unwanted call. File a Do Not Call complaint online at the Registry’s website or by calling 1-888-382-1222 (TTY 1-866-290-4236). For tips on how to file a Do Not Call complaint, please review the guidance provided on our website.
- Enter every unwanted call separately when filing a complaint: As part of the complaint process, it is important that New Yorkers submit individual complaints for each unwanted call. Each unwanted call is one complaint. If you receive five unwanted calls, please submit five separate complaints. Provide as much information as you can as this helps the Division of Consumer Protection to track down the caller.
- Register unwanted “Robocalls”: If you received a call that used a recorded message instead of a live person (known as a “robocall”), you can also file a complaint whether or not your number is on the Registry.
BEWARE OF SCAM CALLS:
- Watch out for calls from scammers: Not all calls are from legitimate companies. Scammers will try to impersonate legitimate companies, government entities, utilities and even charities. Common scam calls often involve tech support, debt collection, student loan repayment, the IRS or law enforcement. If you suspect the call may be a scam, simply hang up or end the call immediately.
- Protect personal information: Never give out personal or financial information to an unsolicited caller. Ask callers to send you information in the mail or contact them separately through their official, publicly listed phone number or website.
- Avoid Pressing “1”: Pressing any number confirms your number is active. Even if the prompt says, "press 1 to be removed from the list," pressing any number can still signal to a possible scammer that your number is valid and could result in more calls.
- Be wary of too-good-to-be-true offers: As always, if the offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Calls claiming you won a free prize, medical device, lottery or vacation are likely scams.
THE IMPORTANCE OF FILING COMPLAINTS
The Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection enforces New York’s telemarketing law. In 2024, New Yorkers logged a total of 109,692 telemarketing complaints with the Federal Trade Commission. By filing a complaint, New Yorkers help the Division track down and identify violators of the Do Not Call law and take legal action against the businesses making those unwanted, unsolicited and often annoying telemarketing phone calls. Businesses can be fined up to $20,000 per violation by the New York Department of State and may be subject to additional fines by the FTC and Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The Division uses the consumer complaints to take enforcement action against the violators, and the more complaints filed by New Yorkers, the higher the fine that may be levied.
The New York State Division of Consumer Protection provides voluntary mediation between a consumer and a business when a consumer has been unsuccessful at reaching a resolution on their own. The Consumer Assistance Helpline 1-800-697-1220 is available Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm, excluding State Holidays, and consumer complaints can be filed at any time at www.dos.ny.gov/