Assemblymember John Zaccaro - My Statement on the Mayor's Proposed Budget Property tax Hike

MY STATEMENT ON THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET PROPERTY TAX HIKE

 

Criminal Illegal Alien from Mexico Shoots Charleston, SC Law Enforcement Officer in the Chest While Attempting to Evade Arrest

 

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released new information on Floriberto Perez-Nieto, a criminal illegal alien from Mexico responsible for shooting a police officer in Charleston County, South Carolina on February 11. He was previously convicted of illegal reentry.

Floriberto Perez-Nieto

According to local authorities, Sheriff deputies initially responded to the scene shortly after 9 p.m. on February 10 after receiving reports of shots fired on Johns Island, South Carolina. They were unable to locate the suspect, later identified as Floriberto Perez-Nieto.

Around 3 a.m. on February 11, deputies received another call from the same individual, who reported that the suspect had returned to the area.

Officers spotted the suspect's vehicle and attempted to pull Floriberto Perez-Nieto over. He tried to evade arrest and shot one of the officers in the chest. Deputies returned fire and Perez-Nieto was later pronounced deceased at the hospital. Fortunately, the officer who was shot in the chest was wearing body armor and was unharmed.

“This criminal illegal alien illegally obtained a firearm and nearly killed a law enforcement officer,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia Mclaughlin. “Thankfully, the officer’s body armor saved his life. There could have been quite a different tragic outcome for this officer and his family.”

Perez-Nieto was previously arrested after he illegally entered the U.S. from Mexico, at an unknown date and location, and without inspection by an immigration official. He was subsequently removed from the United States on February 20, 2019. He chose to commit a felony and illegally re-entered the country at an unknown date and time.

Mayor Mamdani Announces Opening of Upper East Side Early Childhood Education Center This Fall, Meeting Critical Demand in District

After years of delays under the prior administration, center will open in time for 3-K and Pre-K enrollment – quadrupling 3-K capacity and doubling Pre-K capacity in the ZIP code 

  

Families have until Feb. 27, 2026 to apply for Pre-K and 3-K  

TODAY, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced the long-anticipated opening of the District 2 Pre-K and 3-K Center at 403 E. 65th St. on the Upper East Side, adding more than 130 Pre-K and 3-K seats this September.   

  

First announced in 2022, the site was completed in July 2025 and remained unused under the prior administration despite community need. It will now open as the first standalone, city-run early childhood center in the 10065 ZIP code, underscoring the administration’s commitment to fixing the City’s 3-K system and delivering universal child care in New York City.   

  

“While New York City families waited anxiously for child care options near their homes, the last administration refused to move with the urgency this crisis demands and let the District 2 Pre-K and 3-K Center sit idle for months. No longer,” said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. “Today’s opening will create more than 100 new seats for children as soon as this fall, and marks the beginning of our work to deliver universal child care by first delivering accessible child care. In the wealthiest city in the world, no parent should be forced to choose between raising their child and keeping their job.”   

  

“Every child deserves access to high-quality early childhood education, regardless of their zip code or circumstances,” said Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels. “The opening of this 3-K and Pre-K center demonstrates our commitment to meeting families and communities where they are and providing the resources they need most. Early childhood education is the foundation for lifelong learning and success, and we’re working diligently to expand access across the city so that every family can give their child the strong start they deserve.”  

  

“This is a big win for families in our district,” said Speaker Julie Menin. “Community Board 8 and I have been pushing for this center to open because parents were promised high-quality, accessible early childhood seats and they deserve nothing less. I appreciate the Mayor’s quick action in opening this facility. The building has been ready, and families have been waiting. I’m glad we’re finally moving forward after the delays of the previous administration so children can walk through these doors in Fall 2026. Expanding 3-K and Pre-K access is about opportunity, affordability, and giving working families the support they need — which is why for years I’ve been championing the expansion of early childhood education and putting New York City on the path to universal childcare. I’ll continue fighting to ensure our district and all New Yorkers get the early childhood resources they were promised.”   

  

This announcement comes amid a citywide campaign encouraging families in every corner of the city to apply for 3-K and Pre-K seats. Through LinkNYC advertisements in multiple languages, engagement with multilingual media and digital content creators and partnerships with faith-based and community organizations, the City is urging every family to apply before the Feb. 27, 2026 deadline.  

  

As part of the City’s commitment to universal child care, and with funding provided by Gov. Kathy Hochul, Mayor Mamdani will roll out an initial 2,000 2-K seats this fall – the first time 2-K will be offered in New York City. Earlier this month, the City issued a new request for information (RFI) for 2-K and 3-K providers to deliver early child care services. It marks the first time in five years that providers have been invited to join the 3-K program.   

  

In the coming months, the City will continue expanding 3-K capacity for fall 2026, including by partnering with community-based and home-based child care providers.  

  

MAMDANI ADMINISTRATION ISSUES CITYWIDE “SUBSCRIPTION TRAP” COMPLIANCE WARNING TO NEARLY 200 GYMS

 

Action targets hard-to-cancel memberships and deceptive advertising 

Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) launched a compliance blitz, sending warning notices to 187 gyms and health clubs across the city including PureGym, Planet Fitness and Equinox.   

 

The letters urge businesses to comply with state law governing membership cancellations and with the city’s Consumer Protection law, which prohibits deceptive advertising, like bait-and-switch pricing, that makes cancellations intentionally difficult. This outreach follows Mayor Mamdani’s executive order directing DCWP to lead a citywide crackdown on hidden junk fees and subscription traps.  

  

“New Yorkers shouldn’t need a personal trainer to cancel a gym membership,” said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. “If a company makes it easy to sign up but nearly impossible to walk away, we will enforce the law and protect your time and your money.”  

  

“Going to the gym is good for your health, but having to jump through hoops to cancel an unwanted membership is a waste of your time and money,” said DCWP Commissioner Sam Levine. “Our citywide warning to gyms makes it clear that DCWP will not hesitate to take aggressive enforcement action against gyms using deceptive tactics that hurt consumers, as well as honest businesses playing by the rules.”  

  

Gyms often force consumers through cumbersome and unnecessary hoops in order to cancel unwanted memberships. For example, a gym may offer a membership for free that turns out to be a bait-and-switch scheme where New Yorkers incur fees unexpectedly after enrollment. Others impose unnecessary hurdles without clear disclosure or burdensome administrative requirements before honoring cancellation requests. In 2025, the Department received dozens of complaints from consumers struggling to cancel their gym memberships.   

  

Mayor Mamdani’s subscription traps executive order directs DCWP “to monitor, investigate, and enforce violations related to subscription tricks and traps,” including practices such as making cancellation of subscriptions or memberships intentionally difficult.   

NYS Office of the Comptroller DiNapoli: Stronger Oversight Needed for Social Adult Day Care Programs

 

An audit of Social Adult Day Care (SADC) programs found questionable Medicaid payments, safety risks and compliance problems, according to State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. On Feb. 9, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the arrest of two Queens men. They were charged with allegedly defrauding Medicare and Medicaid of $120 million by paying illegal kickbacks and bribes and submitting claims for services that were never provided. DiNapoli’s office had referred its audit findings and worked with law enforcement on the investigation.

“Many vulnerable New Yorkers rely on social adult day care services to help them stay in their own homes and communities. But without stronger oversight from the Department of Health, we risk both the well-being of these individuals and the misuse of taxpayer dollars,” DiNapoli said. “My audit found some providers allegedly abusing the system and committing fraud, and we worked with law enforcement to hold them accountable. Rooting out waste, fraud and abuse is a top priority of mine. Through our audits, investigations and law enforcement partnerships, we will continue to safeguard these essential programs, push for systemic changes and protect taxpayer funds.”

“Under the leadership of Governor Kathy Hochul and through the independent work of the Office of the State Comptroller and the Office of Medicaid Inspector General, New York State has among the strongest oversight and program integrity systems in the nation. Today’s announcement further reflects the strength of those efforts,” said New York State Commissioner of Health Dr. James McDonald. “This joint effort sends a clear message that the Empire State is committed to rooting out bad actors while ensuring the viability and sustainability of these vital Medicaid and Medicare programs. The Department remains committed to supporting critical health programs that deliver care to those who need it while also ensuring Medicaid dollars are being utilized efficiently through strong actions to prevent waste, fraud and abuse.” 

SADC programs, which provide personal care and other services in a structured setting for adults with chronic illnesses or disabilities, are overseen by the Department of Health (DOH).

Key audit findings:

• Questionable Medicaid Payments. Auditors identified $285 million in questionable payments to SADCs for service dates after they were terminated from at least one of the six Managed Long-Term Care (MLTC) networks reviewed, including $28.5 million paid to a SADC terminated for cause, which can include fraud, waste or abuse.
• Improper Payments for Services Lacking Documentation. SADCs regularly use member sign-in sheets as proof that services were provided, but at three SADCs, one with two locations in Gravesend and Coney Island, Brooklyn; another in Flushing, Queens; and a third in Freeport, auditors found claims totaling $672,147 that were not supported by this method or any other.
• Certificate of Occupancy Irregularities. SADCs are required to have sufficient space for services and activities and prevent hazards to personal safety. Auditors found multiple issues with occupancy. An SADC in Gravesend that opened in 2018 was issued a violation in June 2022 for not amending a certificate of occupancy from the building’s prior tenant. At an SADC in Flushing with a legal capacity of 323 people, auditors identified 386 dates where it claimed attendance exceeded its capacity. For one day, the SADC submitted claims for services to 530 people, 207 over its legal limit, receiving $47,255 in payments for services provided that single day.
• Noncompliance in Assessments and Service Plans. SADC providers are required to complete an individual assessment of each person’s functional capacities and impairments prior to them being admitted to a program. Providers must also complete a service plan within 30 days of admission and then annually or if needs change. Auditors reviewed a judgmental sample of 15 members’ files and found incomplete or non-compliant assessments or service plans for 14 of the 15 members. They also found DOH did not review initial assessments or prior service plans during site visits.

DiNapoli’s audit made several recommendations to DOH, including:

• Review the $285 million in encounter payments made to SADCs for services provided after termination from an MLTC’s network, and determine an appropriate course of corrective action, including recoveries, prioritizing the $28.5 million paid to providers terminated for cause.
• Enhance monitoring of SADC services, including expanding the documentation reviewed during site visits; establishing uniform recordkeeping requirements to verify people receive services as outlined in their service plans; and using encounter claims data to identify occupancy violations.
• Notify all MLTCs of SADCs that are terminated for cause and ensure proper certificates of occupancy are in place before enrollment.

In its response, DOH officials outlined steps it is taking to address the audit’s findings. The agency’s response can be found in the audit.

Audit Department of Health: Medicaid Program: Oversight of Social Adult Day Care Programs.

Attorney General James Secures Sweeping Reforms Improving Access to Mental Health Care for EmblemHealth Members

 

OAG Investigation Found Widespread “Ghost Networks” That Prevented New Yorkers from Accessing Mental Health Treatment

EmblemHealth Will Pay $2.5 Million Plus Restitution to Consumers, Expand Mental Health Network, and Submit to Independent Monitoring

New York Attorney General Letitia James today secured more than $2.5 million from health insurer EmblemHealth (Emblem) after an Office of the Attorney General (OAG) investigation revealed the company repeatedly failed to ensure New Yorkers could access mental health care services. The investigation found that Emblem maintained inaccurate provider directories, overstated the availability of in-network mental health and substance use disorder providers, and failed to comply with state and federal behavioral health parity laws, leaving many New Yorkers unable to find timely, affordable care when they needed it most. Under today’s settlement, Emblem will pay $2.5 million in penalties and fees, provide restitution to members who were forced to pay out of pocket for mental health care, and implement sweeping reforms to improve access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment.

“As millions of New Yorkers struggle with anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders, ensuring access to quality, affordable mental health care is more essential than ever,” said Attorney General James. “Health insurers cannot mislead consumers with inaccurate provider directories while families are left without care. We are requiring Emblem to make meaningful changes so that New Yorkers can actually access the behavioral health treatment their insurance promises.”

Emblem covers approximately 1.5 million New Yorkers through commercial plans, Medicaid managed care, Child Health Plus, the Essential Plan, and New York City employee health plans. The OAG launched an investigation into Emblem in 2023 and conducted a secret shopper survey of mental health and substance use disorder providers listed in the company’s online directory. The investigation found that Emblem’s directories contained many errors, including listings for providers who were unreachable, no longer practicing, not accepting new patients, or not actually in the plan’s network. As detailed in Attorney General James’ report, Inaccurate and Inadequate: Health Plans’ Mental Health Provider Directories, OAG determined that more than 80 percent of surveyed behavioral health providers Emblem listed as accepting new patients were effectively unavailable – creating “ghost networks” of providers that exist on paper but not in reality. Emblem’s own surveys showed similar results.

As a result of OAG’s investigation, Emblem will pay $2.5 million in penalties, fees, and costs and establish a comprehensive restitution process to repay members who were wrongfully forced to pay out of pocket for mental health care services because they were unable to schedule an appointment with an in-network provider. In addition, Attorney General James is requiring Emblem to overhaul its policies and practices to ensure online provider directories are accurate and up to date. Emblem must:

• Correct listings within two business days of learning that information is incorrect or a provider is no longer accepting new patients;
• Put a link next to each provider listing that allows members and providers to report inaccurate listings directly;
• Require providers to verify directory information every 90 days and remove providers who fail to verify or are no longer available;
• Remove providers who have not submitted claims within the last 90 days from the directory unless they verify their continued participation;
• Implement new systems to track, monitor, and resolve complaints related to directory accuracy and access to care; and
• Conduct regular secret shopper surveys to assess access to care and publicly report the results.

If Emblem provides inaccurate provider directory information that leads a member to receive an unexpected out-of-network bill, the company must ensure the member pays only their usual copay or deductible.

In addition, Attorney General James is requiring Emblem to take steps to ensure members can access mental health and substance use disorder treatment appointments within specified time frames, including 24 hours for urgent care and 10 business days for an initial outpatient appointment. If a member is unable to secure a timely appointment with an in-network provider, Emblem must allow the member to see an out-of-network provider but only pay their in-network copay or deductible. The settlement also requires Emblem to develop and carry out a comprehensive behavioral health provider recruitment and retention plan to expand its network statewide and reduce administrative burdens on providers. An independent monitor will oversee the restitution process and Emblem’s compliance with these reforms.

Governor Hochul Announces Additional $150 Million in Financial Assistance for Municipalities Outside New York City

Governor Increases Temporary Municipal Assistance by $100 Million to All Cities, Towns and Villages Across the State

City of Buffalo to Receive an Additional $40 Million in Direct Aid

Rochester, Syracuse and Yonkers to Each Receive an Additional $10 Million

$20 Million in Funding Dedicated for Other Fiscally Distressed Municipalities

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced New York State will allocate an additional $150 million in financial assistance for municipalities outside New York City to assist in relieving immediate fiscal stress. This additional funding includes a $100 million increase in Temporary Municipal Assistance which will triple the amount of funding that all cities, towns and villages outside New York City receive from this aid stream. The funding is distributed proportionally to existing Aid and Incentives for Municipalities (AIM) funding - with the cities of Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Yonkers each receiving the maximum amount of an additional $10 million. The Governor also set aside an additional $30 million for the City of Buffalo, bringing the total new investment for the City of Buffalo to $40 million. Additionally, the Governor is also including $20 million for fiscally distressed local governments. These new investments build upon the previous Executive Budget proposals where the Governor included an additional $50 million in Temporary Municipal Assistance to help local governments minimize the burden on taxpayers.

“Having spent years in local government, I understand the unique challenges our local leaders are experiencing, which is why my Administration has worked closely with municipalities across the state to increase financial support from the State,” Governor Hochul said. “We want all of New York's municipalities to succeed, and this funding is crucial to putting all of our cities, towns and villages on stronger financial footing and allowing them to keep their residents safe and continue providing the vital services they rely on.”

Temporary Municipal Assistance

The Governor’s FY 2027 Executive Budget extends for one year the $50 million temporary program for cities, towns and villages. This program, which was initially authorized in FY 2025 for two years, provides general purpose aid for local governments. The Governor is now adding $100 million in additional Temporary Municipal Assistance to her Executive Budget proposal, tripling the total to $150 million for FY 2027. This funding builds on the State’s Aid and Incentives for Municipalities (AIM) program which provides state aid to cities, towns and villages outside of New York City.

Regional breakdowns of total Temporary Municipal Assistance for cities, towns and villages included in Governor Hochul’s FY 2027 Executive Budget proposal include:

• Capital Region: $17.2 million
• Central New York: $20.4 million
• Finger Lakes: $18.1 million
• Long Island: $6.3 million
• Mid-Hudson: $31.2 million
• Mohawk Valley: $13.0 million
• North Country: $4.0 million
• Southern Tier: $8.2 million
• Western New York: $31.7 million

Updated total TMA funding for FY 2027 includes:

• City of Buffalo: $15 million
• City of Rochester: $15 million
• City of Syracuse: $15 million
• City of Yonkers: $15 million
• City of Niagara Falls: $6.2 million
• City of Utica: $5.6 million
• City of Albany: $4.4 million
• City of Troy: $4.3 million
• City of Schenectady: $3.9 million
• City of Binghamton: $3.2 million
• City of Rome: $3.2 million
• City of Mount Vernon: $2.5 million
• City of New Rochelle: $2.2 million
• City of Lackawanna: $2.2 million
• City of White Plains: $1.9 million
• City of Auburn: $1.7 million
• City of Newburgh: $1.6 million
• City of Watertown: $1.6 million
• City of Jamestown: $1.6 million
• City of Elmira: $1.6 million
• City of North Tonawanda: $1.5 million
• City of Poughkeepsie: $1.5 million
• City of Long Beach: $1.1 million

The rest of the updated TMA totals for all New York municipalities can be found here: https://www.budget.ny.gov/pubs/archive/fy27/ex/local/aim/fy27tma-ex30.pdf

$30 Million Additional Aid for the City of Buffalo

The $30 million for Buffalo is pursuant to a plan where this funding will be pledged to close the city’s budget gap while minimizing any additional burdens on taxpayers and maintaining public safety.

$20 Million for Financially Distressed Municipalities

An additional $20 million in funding is for severely financially distressed cities, towns and villages. To be eligible for this funding, municipalities must opt in to receive a comprehensive review through the Financial Restructuring Board for Local Governments.

Justice Department Seeks to Terminate Federal Oversight of Cleveland Police Department

 

Today, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the City of Cleveland jointly filed a motion to terminate the 2015 police consent decree in the case of United States v. City of Cleveland, marking the parties’ recognition of more than a decade-long, successful effort to reform the Cleveland Division of Police (CDP). CDP now has resolved the DOJ’s 2014 findings about constitutional policing. CDP has implemented court-approved policies and training covering use of force, searches and seizures, misconduct investigations, community policing, and other areas — all resulting in contemporary assessments showing CDP now polices Cleveland constitutionally.

“We are proud to stand by the men and women of CDP as we take this significant step to end federal oversight and return control of local law enforcement to the City of Cleveland,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.  “We believe the City and CDP have demonstrated their commitment to constitutional policing, and it is time for Cleveland to fully utilize CDP’s resources to protect Clevelanders from crime.”

“For more than a decade, the Monitoring Team’s assessments have shown the tremendous strides that CDP has made to ensure constitutional policing, thereby increasing the community’s trust,” said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “The Division’s officers should be proud of what they have accomplished. As a valuable law enforcement partner, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work closely with CDP to reduce gun violence and drug trafficking, and to keep dangerous gang activity off the streets. We appreciate the dedication of these men and women in uniform and the hard work they do each day in their mission keep the people of Cleveland safe.”

On March 14, 2013, the DOJ announced the initiation of an investigation into CDP under the Violent Crime and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, 42 U.S.C. § 14141 (Section 14141) focused on allegations of excessive force by CDP officers. That investigation determined that structural and systemic deficiencies and practices — including insufficient accountability, inadequate training, ineffective policies, and inadequate engagement with the community — contributed to the use of unreasonable force by CDP officers, in violation of the Constitution and Federal law. The U.S. District Court incorporated the parties’ agreed reforms into a consent decree issued on June 12, 2015. Now, the parties have asked the Court to end that consent decree while leaving in place the reformed structures to ensure ongoing constitutional policing.

The Special Litigation Section of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, Civil Division jointly handled the investigation and litigation of this matter.