CONSUMER ALERT: During National Poison Prevention Week, New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection Urges New Yorkers to Reduce Household Poisoning Risks

 

Accidental poisoning is leading cause of unintentional injury deaths.

Secretary Mosley: “Everyday household items like cleaning products, medications and personal care products can pose serious risks if not stored properly.”

As National Poison Prevention Week begins, the New York Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection is reminding New Yorkers of prevention measures to reduce poisoning risks. Established in 1961, National Poison Prevention Week was created to raise awareness of poison prevention and safety. According to the Center for Disease Control, poisoning is a significant problem in the United States and is the leading cause of unintentional injury deaths, surpassing motor vehicle crashes.

Accidental poisoning can happen to children, adults, and pets inside the home. This week is a good reminder to review potential hazards and secure poisonous substances to avoid unnecessary illness or tragedy. Everyday household items, such as cleaning supplies, cosmetic/personal care products, medications or faulty carbon monoxide alarms can pose serious harm if not properly stored or maintained.

“During National Poison Prevention Week, we encourage New Yorkers to take simple steps to make their homes safer,” said Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley. “Everyday household items like cleaning products, medications and personal care products can pose serious risks if not stored properly. From keeping these items out of reach of children and pets, carefully reading product labels for proper use instructions, and by maintaining working carbon monoxide alarms, families can help prevent accidental poisonings and protect their loved ones.”

State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “Curiosity and exploring are normal for children, yet should not be deadly. During National Poison Prevention Week, I encourage everyone to make sure hazardous items around the house are stored safely and out of reach of children and pets. Children are especially vulnerable to exposure to common household items like medications, household cleaners, pesticides and cosmetics. Millions of people are unintentionally poisoned every year, and children under the age of six are at the greatest risk. The Department remains committed to working with partner state agencies and New York’s dedicated Poison Control Centers to raise awareness and provide educational resources to help keep New Yorkers and their families safe.”

Follow these Poison Prevention Tips:

• Educate yourself about the risk: Read the labels of household items to understand the risk of exposure. Teach children to stay away from personal care and household products and use appropriate language—for example, never refer to medicines as candy, as that can be confusing to children.
• Keep poisons out of reach of children: Young children (under six) are at high risk of exposure. According to the National Poison Data System, cosmetics, personal care products, cleaning products and medicine lead the list of the most common exposures. Lock these items behind childproof locks or keep them out of reach and out of sight to prevent accidental exposure. In addition, beware of poisonous items that are confusing for children, such as items that resemble candy, juice or other edible products. Some common examples include:
• Laundry pods, dishwasher pods, or colored tablets, which may resemble candy.
• Colored cleaning fluids that look like juice. Always store household cleaners in their original containers and not in food containers or other bottles, where it may be difficult to distinguish what is in the container.
• All gummy medications, vitamins or gummies with CBD or THC.
• All items containing alcohol (mouthwash, perfumes, hand sanitizers, food extracts, etc.).

• Keep common household items out of reach of pets: Emergency vet visits caused by pets ingesting household items are common. Keep plants such as lilies and aloe vera out of reach of dogs and cats who can climb high. Rodenticides and insecticides can be especially harmful if the dead rodents or insects are consumed by a pet. Dogs and cats may also be attracted to the sweet taste of cleaning products, essential oils, sunscreen, and lotion, and some pets are quick to eat anything accidentally dropped on the ground, such as pills or bits of food. Remember to be mindful during family gatherings and parties when food is more plentiful and accessible. Even the most nutritious foods can be deadly for our furry family members. Such foods include:
• Chocolate
• Grapes
• Raisins
• Onions
• Garlic
• Xylitol (found in sugar-free gum)

• Reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning: Exposure to carbon monoxide results in thousands of emergency room visits every year. Consumers should make sure carbon monoxide alarms are installed on every level of the home and outside of sleeping areas, and that alarms are tested monthly.
• Clean your home safely: Reduce the risk of inhaling poisonous fumes from household cleaners. Open windows or turn on fans while using cleaning products. Never mix chemicals or household cleaners as this may create noxious gases. Spray products away from people and pets and use gloves to keep products away from the skin.
• Reduce poison risks outside the home: Pesticides can be dangerous even in small quantities, as they can be absorbed through the skin or inhaled. If using pesticides such as an insect killer or repellent, wear long sleeves, gloves and other protective clothing. Stay away from areas that have been sprayed with pesticides until the spray has dried for at least one hour. If your skin makes contact with pesticides, make sure to rinse the area with running water for 15-20 minutes. Remove and wash clothing after using chemicals.

Additional resources are offered through the American Association of Poison Control Centers page. The NYS Department of Health also offers resources through New York’s two poison control centers:

The Upstate New York Poison Control Center:

Location	Upstate Medical University The Upstate New York Poison Center 750 East Adams Street Syracuse, New York 13210
Counties Served	All counties in New York excluding New York City, Long Island and Westchester.
Telephone Numbers	Emergency TOLL-FREE: 1-800-222-1222 TTY: (315) 464-5424
Website Address	upstate.edu/poison

New York City Regional Poison Control Center:

Location	New York City Dept. of Health & Mental Hygiene 455 First Avenue, Room 123 New York, New York 10016
Counties Served	Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Manhattan, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester.
Telephone Numbers	Emergency TOLL-FREE: 1-800-222-1222 TTY: (212) 689-9014
Website Address	https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/poison-control.page

For any animal poison-related questions in New York State, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435), the Pet Poison Helpline (800-213-6680) or your veterinarian.

The New York State Department of Health has resources to help prevent unintended exposure at Poison Proof Your Home.

About the New York State Division of Consumer Protection

The New York State Division of Consumer Protection serves to educate, assist and empower the State’s consumers. Consumers can file a complaint with the Division of Consumer Protection at https://dos.ny.gov/consumer-protection.

For more consumer protection information, call the Division of Consumer Protection Helpline at 800-697-1220, Monday through Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm or visit the DCP website at https://dos.ny.gov/consumer-protection. The Division can also be reached via Twitter at @NYSConsumer or Facebook at www.facebook.com/nysconsumer.

MAYOR MAMDANI LAUNCHES $80M NYC FUTURE FUND, EXPANDING AFFORDABLE FINANCING FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

Updated program builds on 2025 pilot with lower loan minimums, reduced interest rates and more flexible repayment terms  

Applications open now at: nyc.gov/futurefund  

Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su and Department of Small Business Services (SBS) Commissioner Kenny Minaya announced the citywide launch of the revamped NYC Future Fund, a loan program designed to expand access to affordable financing for seasonal and growing small businesses. The program places a particular focus on better serving immigrant-, minority- and women-owned businesses that have long faced barriers to accessing capital.

“Small businesses are the backbone of New York City’s economy and the heart of our neighborhoods,” said Mayor Mamdani. “But many entrepreneurs – especially immigrant and working-class New Yorkers – have been locked out of the affordable capital they need to grow. Our revamped NYC Future Fund will change that. By lowering costs and expanding access, we are making sure small business owners across the five boroughs have the tools they need to grow and strengthen the communities they serve.”

The NYC Future Fund has been expanded to make financing more accessible to small businesses citywide. The Mamdani Administration strengthened the program by lowering borrowing costs, expanding eligibility to include businesses with lower operating revenue and making it easier for smaller businesses to access financing. Applications are available at nyc.gov/futurefund.

Based on feedback from the pilot, the NYC Future Fund now includes:

•    Lower Minimum Loan Size: Minimum loan amounts have been reduced from $100,500 to $25,000.

•    Reduced Interest Rate: Interest rates have been lowered from 9 percent to 7.5 percent.  

•    Flexible Repayment Terms: Monthly repayment rates have been reduced from a flat 9.5 percent of revenue to as low as 2 percent of monthly revenue, depending on loan size and business needs.  

•    Expanded Eligibility for Smaller Businesses: The minimum annual revenue required for eligibility has been lowered from $300,000 to $50,000. 

 

The launch also includes a targeted five-borough outreach campaign focused on communities that have historically faced the greatest barriers to affordable financing. 

 

“The NYC Future Fund shows what government can do when it listens to small businesses and acts on what it hears,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su. “These city-backed loans are designed to meet the real needs of businesses and expand fair access to the capital they need to grow.” 

 

“The revamped NYC Future Fund is a major milestone in the city’s efforts to tear down the barriers to financing that too many small businesses have faced for too long,” said SBS Commissioner Kenny Minaya. “By offering more loan options, lower interest rates, and flexible repayment terms, the city – working alongside our CDFI partners – is expanding access to capital at a time when the affordability crisis is putting real strain on entrepreneurs. Through the leadership of Mayor Mamdani and Deputy Mayor Su, we are delivering a people-first economic justice agenda focused on making life easier for the small businesses that support our neighborhoods and the vibrant city we all live in and love.” 

 

The NYC Future Fund is a public-private partnership between the City of New York and local Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), including Community Reinvestment Fund, USA (CRF), Accompany Capital, Grow America and Pursuit, to support long-term growth for small business owners.

 

Mayor Mamdani and Commissioner Minaya also appeared in a video promoting the program online and encouraging small businesses to apply for NYC Future Fund loans. 

 

SBS piloted the program with philanthropic support that JPMorganChase provided to CRF, along with funding from TD Bank. The pilot delivered a combined $1.2 million to four small businesses. 

 

Attorney General James Leads Bipartisan Coalition Suing Predatory Lender OneMain for Scheme to Trap Consumers in Debt

 

AG James Leads 12 Other Attorneys General in Suing OneMain for Tricking Borrowers into Adding Expensive and Useless Add-Ons to Loans

Tens of Thousands of New Yorkers Impacted by OneMain’s Abusive Tactics

New York Attorney General Letitia James led a bipartisan coalition of 12 other attorneys general in suing OneMain Financial (OneMain) for illegally misleading its customers and trapping tens of thousands of borrowers in expensive loans with hidden costs. OneMain advertises itself as a lender that provides loans to consumers in need, including those with poor credit. Attorney General James and the coalition allege that OneMain exploits its vulnerable customers by loading their already high-cost loans with expensive and often useless additional products like insurance policies. OneMain adds these products to consumers’ loans without their knowledge or by misleading them about the products’ terms and costs. As a result, customers are charged hundreds or thousands of dollars more for their loans than they expect. In a vicious cycle, consumers are often forced to refinance into more expensive loan packages in order to keep up with payments to OneMain, at which point OneMain misleads them again and packs more products into their loans. Attorney General James and the coalition are seeking court orders to stop OneMain’s misleading and abusive practices and to collect restitution for consumers who were cheated.

“OneMain targets people who are already struggling financially, saddling them with hidden fees and misleading loans to trap them in even more debt,” said Attorney General James. “These predatory tactics are driving up costs for working families across New York and the country. I am taking action to stop OneMain’s illegal and abusive business model and get New Yorkers their money back.”

OneMain is one of the largest non-bank installment lenders in the United States, with more than 1,300 branches across 44 states. OneMain markets itself as a lender but ambushes its customers with expensive add-on products for its loans. These include credit insurance products that claim to pay the loan off if consumers die, lose their jobs, or are injured, as well as non-credit products like home and auto membership clubs.

In many cases, OneMain adds these additional policies to the loan without consumers’ consent. OneMain buries the terms and conditions of these products in a stack of paperwork and rushes consumers through the loan closing to ensure that they do not understand what is in their loans. If borrowers refuse these add-ons or express concerns, OneMain employees pressure them to accept the terms. In some cases, OneMain charges the consumer for add-ons even if they decline them. As a result, customers are left with loan terms they do not understand and end up paying for products they do not want, have any use for, or even know they have.

When customers do learn about the add-on products, OneMain misleads them about the cost. OneMain never tells the customer how much the add-on products will cost once interest is applied until after the loan has been closed. The products are expensive, often costing customers hundreds or thousands of dollars more than they expect to pay. Sometimes customers are even charged more for these add-on products than they are for the money they borrow. 

OneMain’s exploitative practices trap borrowers in cycles of debt, requiring them to take out additional loans to keep up with payments. Customers who try to refinance or extend the terms of their loans are misled again and are often saddled with new add-on products, driving up their costs.

Attorney General James and the coalition allege that OneMain’s practices violate state and federal consumer protection laws, including New York’s laws against illegal, fraudulent, deceptive, unfair, and abusive conduct and false advertising. With this lawsuit, Attorney General James and the coalition are seeking restitution for consumers who were unlawfully charged for these products, penalties, and disgorgement of all unlawful profits. The lawsuit also seeks a court order preventing OneMain from continuing its illegal practices and ordering OneMain to withdraw any negative information reported to credit agencies that may affect its customers’ credit scores and to abandon any legal proceedings against customers related to their add-on products.

Joining Attorney General James in filing this lawsuit are the attorneys general of Colorado, Maryland, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

 

Friends,

Our Job Fair Expo is taking place THIS SATURDAY, March 21st, from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM at MS 80. Whether you are a recent graduate, looking for a career change, or seeking a new opportunity, this is the place to speak with experts and connect with organizations looking for talented, qualified individuals in our community.

To register, please use the QR code in the flyer below or click here.

Job Fair Details:

When: March 21, 2026 - THIS SATURDAY

Time: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Where: MS 80 - (149 E. Mosholu Parkway)

Please bring copies of your résumé and be ready to step into your future career.

If you have any questions, please contact our office at 718-409-0109 or email district80@nyassembly.gov.

Looking forward to seeing you at our March Job Fair Expo!

Yours truly,

John Zaccaro, Jr.

Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson - JOIN US: Dominican Heritage Month Celebration

 

Maryland Man Sentenced for Mailing Threatening Communications to Jewish Institutions and Civil Rights Violations

 

The Justice Department  announced that Clift Seferlis, 55, of Garrett Park, Maryland, was sentenced today by United States District Court Judge Mark A. Kearney to 37 months in prison, 3 years supervised release, $40,000 fine, and a $2,200 special assessment for mailing threatening communications targeting Jewish institutions and organizations.

According to court documents, Seferlis previously pleaded guilty to 17 counts of mailing threatening communications and eight counts of obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs arising from threats sent to Jewish organizations and entities.

“For more than a year, the defendant terrorized Jewish communities across the country, robbing his victims of their peace and security,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon. “The defendant’s sentence should be a warning to all that religious-based terror will not be tolerated in this country.”  

“Threats directed at religious institutions are attacks not just on those communities but on the freedoms guaranteed to all Americans,” said U.S. Attorney Metcalf. “Individuals who attempt to intimidate or terrorize others because of their faith will face the full force of federal law.”

As admitted in court filings, from at least March 2024 through at least June 2025, the defendant used the United States mail to send at least 40 letters and two postcards to more than 25 Jewish institutions and organizations, including synagogues, Jewish museums, community centers, schools, nonprofit organizations, and a Jewish delicatessen located in multiple jurisdictions. Many of these written communications threatened to destroy physical buildings and/or injure individuals.

The threatening communications were intended to intimidate recipients and interfere with congregants and others in the enjoyment of their free exercise of religious beliefs.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, including FBI Philadelphia and FBI Baltimore, and the United States Postal Inspection Service, with assistance from additional law enforcement partners. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Dubnoff for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Trial Attorney Taylor Payne of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

Attorney General James Calls for Passage of Legislation to Protect New Yorkers from Predatory Pricing Schemes

 

One Fair Price Package Would Ban Surveillance Pricing and Electronic Shelf Labels in New York

New York Continues to Lead the Nation in Consumer Protection

New York Attorney General Letitia James, together with Senate Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris, Senator Rachel May, Assemblymember Michaelle Solages, and Assemblymember Emérita Torres, today rallied with the United Food and Commercial International Workers Union (UFCW) Local 1500, the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union (RWDSU), and AARP New York to call for the passage of the One Fair Price Package. The One Fair Price Package consists of two bills that would protect New Yorkers from surveillance pricing – an unfair pricing scheme in which companies use personal data to set individualized prices for consumers. The One Fair Price Act, sponsored by Assemblymember Torres and Senator May, would ban surveillance pricing in New York. The Protecting Consumers and Jobs from Discriminatory Pricing Act, carried by Deputy Majority Leader Gianaris and Assemblymember Solages, would ban the use of electronic shelf labels and prohibit surveillance pricing in grocery stores and pharmacies.  

“When New Yorkers place an order online or go to the grocery store, they should be able to trust that they are seeing the same prices as everyone else, not an individualized price set by an algorithm,” said Attorney General James. “At a time when New Yorkers are already facing higher prices everywhere they look, we must use every tool available to us to protect New Yorkers and keep costs down. I am grateful to Deputy Majority Leader Gianaris, Senator May, Assemblymember Torres, and Assemblymember Solages for their partnership in fighting to ban surveillance pricing and keep New York affordable.” 

“As Americans are struggling to afford basic necessities, corporations are collecting our personal data to extract every cent they can to pad their pockets,” said Senate Deputy Leader Gianaris. “We cannot allow corporate abuse of New Yorkers, and that starts by addressing the predatory practice of surveillance pricing. I want to thank Attorney General James and my colleagues for working to tackle this burgeoning form of corporate great and protect consumers.”

Surveillance pricing, sometimes called algorithmic pricing, occurs when companies use individuals’ private data to set unique prices for different consumers, and often results in consumers paying more for essential products. Online platforms collect thousands of data points about every consumer, from their usual purchases to when they receive their paycheck or benefits, to even how long they hover over a product online. Companies then use this information to inform pricing algorithms that continuously update to estimate the highest price a consumer is likely willing to pay at any given moment. As a result, two shoppers could visit the same website at the same time and see two different prices for the exact same product.  

Research shows that surveillance pricing is already impacting everyday purchases. A recent study involving hundreds of shoppers ordering groceries online found that 74 percent of grocery items were offered to consumers at multiple different prices, and some items were offered at up to five different prices at the same time.  

Surveillance pricing is not limited to shopping online. Electronic shelf labels (ESLs) allow companies to change prices in-store, so that one shopper could buy a gallon of milk at one price while another shopper would pay more for the same gallon later that same day. ESLs not only harm consumers trying to make ends meet while prices continue to rise, but they also threaten the livelihoods of grocery store workers, as they could eliminate the work of grocery clerks.  

The bills in the One Fair Price Package would protect New York consumers and their families by banning surveillance pricing that uses personal data to set individualized prices for consumers and ensure that it’s the products that have prices, not the people. 

• The One Fair Price Act(S.8623/A.9349) will ban surveillance pricing and prohibit the use of consumers’ personal data to set individualized prices to ensure New Yorkers are charged the same price for the same product. 
• The Protecting Consumers and Jobs from Discriminatory Pricing Act(S.8616/A.9396) will protect consumers and workers alike by prohibiting the use of ESLs and surveillance pricing in grocery stores and pharmacies. 

The One Fair Price Package will authorize OAG and impacted New Yorkers to bring civil cases for penalties and restitution against companies or retailers that use surveillance pricing. These bills have been introduced in the State Senate and Assembly, and Attorney General James will work with legislative leaders and the bills’ sponsors to advance the legislation and ensure it is signed into law, so New York consumers are protected from this predatory practice.  

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR MAMDANI ON THE RELEASE OF LEQAA KORDIA

 

In response to the news of the release of Leqaa Kordia from federal detention, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani released the following statement.

In my meeting with President Trump last month, we discussed ICE’s actions at Columbia University. I asked that the federal government release Leqaa Kordia and drop the cases against four others.

I am grateful that Leqaa has been released this evening from ICE custody after more than a year in detention for speaking up for Palestinian rights.