5 Current/Former MTA Employees Charged With Extensive Overtime Fraud

 

Extraordinary Overtime Hours for LIRR and NYC Transit Employees Fueled by Fraudulent Claims; Defendants Were Being Paid While at Home, on Family Vacations or Bowling

 Audrey Strauss, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, William F. Sweeney Jr., the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Carolyn Pokorny, Inspector General of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (“MTA OIG”), announced today the unsealing of complaints charging THOMAS CAPUTO, JOSEPH RUZZO, JOHN NUGENT, and JOSEPH BALESTRA, four current and former longtime employees of the Long Island Rail Road (“LIRR”), and MICHAEL GUNDERSEN, a longtime employee of the New York City Transit Authority (“NYC Transit”), with federal program fraud for submitting time reports falsely claiming to have worked hundreds of hours of overtime that they did not in fact work.  CAPUTO, RUZZO, NUGENT, and BALESTRA were charged in a criminal complaint unsealed today (the “LIRR Complaint”), and GUNDERSEN was charged in a separate criminal complaint unsealed today (the “NYC Transit Complaint”).  CAPUTO, RUZZO, NUGENT, BALESTRA, and GUNDERSEN are expected to be presented this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker.

Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said:  “These defendants, senior LIRR and New York City Transit employees, allegedly made themselves some of the highest-paid employees at the entire MTA by claiming extraordinary, almost physically impossible, amounts of overtime.  As alleged, those almost impossible claims were fueled by brazen, repeated fraud, including falsely claiming to be working overtime hours while the defendants were at their homes or, in some instances, bowling.  All New Yorkers ultimately bear the burden of fraud targeting our mass transit systems, and we will continue to work tirelessly to expose and prosecute those who engage in it.  Our investigation remains ongoing.”

FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said:  “Today we’ve arrested five individuals, all senior MTA employees, for their role in an incredibly blatant overtime fraud scheme.  In the case of at least one defendant, the excessive compensation he received from the MTA was equivalent to purportedly working 10 additional hours a day, every day, for 365 days.  The others weren’t far behind, collectively earning more than $1 million in overtime pay.  This type of double-dealing directly contributes to rising MTA fares for the average, hardworking commuter.  Today these individuals learned the end of this line is the federal courthouse here in Lower Manhattan.  If you or someone you know has additional information regarding this case, we want to hear from you.  You may reach us by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI.”

MTA Inspector General Carolyn Pokorny said: “These employees allegedly worked very hard – to steal MTA time and money, ignoring their duty to keep the tracks and rails safe for their fellow workers and riders.  For MTA employees who earn hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, it takes some nerve to steal overtime by only working a fraction of your shift – if at all. The situation underscores what our Office has been saying, again and again – the lack of management systems and controls at the MTA creates an environment where fraud could easily occur undetected – and it did, as alleged in these criminal complaints.  When employees are on the clock, management needs to know that they are actually working, and not – say, enjoying concerts in Atlantic City, vacationing at resorts, or competing in a bowling league.  In grateful cooperation with our law enforcement partners at the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and the FBI, MTA OIG continues to probe how these defendants allegedly succeeded in stealing so much overtime.”

According to the allegations in the LIRR Complaint and the NYC Transit Complaint (the “Complaints”):[1]

CAPUTO, RUZZO, NUGENT, BALESTRA, and GUNDERSEN each schemed to fraudulently receive thousands of dollars in compensation from the MTA by falsely claiming to have worked hundreds of voluntary overtime hours (and in the case of GUNDERSEN some regular time hours as well) that in fact they did not work.  The overtime pay the defendants claimed led to significant increases in their salary and led to them being among the highest-paid MTA employees, and in the case of CAPUTO, the highest-paid MTA employee in 2018.  The defendants frequently volunteered for overtime and then claimed to have been working lucrative overtime shifts at times when they were in fact at home or at other non-work locations, such as, in the case of CAPUTO, a bowling alley, or in the case of GUNDERSEN, family vacations.

The Defendants’ Employment at the MTA

The MTA runs North America’s largest transportation network, providing bus, subway and rail service to a population of more than 15 million people in New York City and the surrounding areas.  The MTA’s operating agencies include the LIRR, a commuter railroad providing service between Manhattan and locations on Long Island, and NYC Transit, which operates New York City subways and buses. 

CAPUTO, RUZZO, NUGENT, and BALESTRA are current or former LIRR employees.  CAPUTO was an LIRR employee responsible for track inspection until he retired on or about April 1, 2019.  RUZZO, who retired on or about October 1, 2019, and NUGENT and BALESTRA, who are still employed by LIRR, were all LIRR foremen during the relevant period. 

In addition to their regular duties, CAPUTO, RUZZO, NUGENT, and BALESTRA each volunteered to work and were assigned a number of lucrative overtime shifts during which they were required to, among other things, support third-party contractors working on construction projects on or around LIRR properties.  These voluntary overtime shifts were offered to LIRR employees in order of their seniority under the applicable union collective bargaining agreements, enabling CAPUTO, RUZZO, NUGENT, and BALESTRA to be assigned large numbers of voluntary overtime shifts due to their seniority.

GUNDERSEN is a current NYC Transit employee.  Since in or about 2015, GUNDERSEN has been a Maintenance Supervisor Level II, which requires him to, among other things, provide managerial-level oversight and support of Third Rail Contract Compliance and Circuit Breakers.

At all relevant times, CAPUTO, RUZZO, NUGENT, BALESTRA, and GUNDERSEN received hourly rates for their regular schedule, and were then entitled to be paid higher “overtime” rates – typically one and a half or two times the regular hourly rate, depending on the circumstances –  for additional hours worked.  At all relevant times, CAPUTO, RUZZO, NUGENT, BALESTRA, and GUNDERSEN were required to self-report their time.

The Defendants’ Excessive Overtime Claims

In 2018, CAPUTO was paid approximately $461,000 by the MTA.  Of that amount, approximately $117,000 comprised his base salary and other forms of compensation apart from overtime, while the additional approximately $344,000 was paid for overtime that CAPUTO ostensibly worked.  In total, this made CAPUTO the highest paid employee at the MTA during 2018 – higher than, for example, the Chairman of the MTA.

In 2018, CAPUTO claimed to have worked approximately 3,864 overtime hours, on top of 1,682 regular hours.  That is, if CAPUTO had worked every single calendar day in 2018 including weekends and holidays (although he did not), that would average out to approximately 10 hours of overtime every day for an entire year in addition to his regular, 40-hour work week.   

Similarly, RUZZO, NUGENT, BALESTRA, and GUNDERSEN also claimed to have worked and were paid for an excessive number of overtime hours in 2018.  Each of them was paid over $240,000 in overtime alone, putting each of them within the top 12 highest paid employees at the MTA during 2018.  These payments were based on reported amounts of overtime hours ranging from 2,918 to 3,914, which if the defendants had worked every calendar day in 2018 would average out to approximately 8 to 10 hours for every single day, in addition to the employee’s regular 40-hour work weeks. 

The Defendants’ Frequent Absences from Work

Staffers from the Office of the MTA Inspector General (“MTA OIG”) have worked with criminal investigators to perform a detailed review of the hours claimed to have been worked by the defendants in or around calendar year 2018.  This investigation, among other things, compared the time records for CAPUTO, RUZZO, NUGENT, BALESTRA, and GUNDERSEN with various records that established their true whereabouts, such as location information for their cellular phones, bank records, MTA building access card data, work and personal emails and social media records, and records from third parties such as a bowling alley where CAPUTO participated in bowling league games despite claiming to work an average of 10 hours of overtime every single day of 2018.

In sum, the MTA OIG’s investigation reflects that CAPUTO, RUZZO, NUGENT, BALESTRA, and GUNDERSEN were each absent from work for hundreds of hours, for which they falsely claimed to have been present and worked in time reports submitted to the MTA.  As a result, each received at least thousands of dollars in unjustified and fraudulently obtained compensation. 

For example, CAPUTO claimed to have worked, and was paid for, a regular shift from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on October 11, 2018, followed by an overtime shift at the West Side Yard in Manhattan (the site of a construction project in the vicinity of West 34th Street near the Hudson River) from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 a.m. on October 12.  However, CAPUTO’s phone records revealed that CAPUTO made several calls while in the vicinity of his residence in Suffolk County during his overtime shift on October 11, and records maintained by a bowling alley in Suffolk County revealed that he participated in a bowling league game beginning at 7:30 p.m. that night – i.e., hours into his shift.

Similarly, GUNDERSEN claimed to have worked, and was paid for, back-to-back overtime shifts from 4:00 a.m. on September 29, 2018 to 12:00 a.m. on September 30, 2018, and was paid for 20 hours of overtime during that period.  GUNDERSEN did not use any vacation time for this period, instead claiming in his time reports to be at work.  However, several weeks later, GUNDERSEN sent himself an email attaching three photographs with metadata showing the images were taken at 3:05, 3:28, and 3:30 p.m. on September 29, 2018 – i.e., in the middle of the shifts described above.  These photographs (one of which was posted to GUNDERSEN’s wife’s Facebook account) show GUNDERSEN and his family at a farm in Manalapan, New Jersey.  GUNDERSEN’s telephone records reflect that he engaged in two phone calls from the vicinity of Manalapan at 1:09 p.m. and 4:07 p.m. on September 29, 2018, also in the middle of the overtime shifts he claimed to have worked.

THOMAS CAPUTO, 56, of Holbrook, New York, JOSEPH RUZZO, 56, of Levittown, New York, JOHN NUGENT, 50, of Rocky Point, New York, JOSEPH BALESTRA, 51, of Blue Point, New York, and MICHAEL GUNDERSEN, 42, of Manalapan, New Jersey, are each charged with one count of federal program fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

The statutory maximum penalty is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants would be determined by the judge.

Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and MTA OIG, and encouraged anyone with any information regarding overtime fraud or abuse at the MTA to contact the MTA OIG at 800-MTA-IG4U (800-682-4448), online at mtaig.state.ny.us/ComplaintForm.aspx, or via email at Complaints@mtaig.org.

The allegations contained in the Complaints are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaints and the description of the Complaints set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

14 Defendants Indicted For Participation In Manhattan Drug Trafficking Organization

 

 Audrey Strauss, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) in New York, and Dermot Shea, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced the unsealing of an indictment charging KENNETH SPEARMAN, a/k/a “Big Man,” a/k/a “Big Fella,” a/k/a “Friend,” SHELDON CLARK, a/k/a “Sal,” ERIC GRANT, a/k/a “E,” SIRRON STAFFORD, a/k/a “Sherm,” CAMERON FRANCIS, a/k/a “Cam,” ISAIAH LEDGISTER, a/k/a “Pooch,” TRISTAN OLIVER, a/k/a “Jay,” JOSEPH CAMPBELL, a/k/a “JoJo,” ERIC GASTON, HARVEY FOSTER, a/k/a “Fresh,” MAURICE WOMACK, a/k/a “Moe,” REGINALD CLAXTON, a/k/a “Dread,” a/k/a “Reggie,” LAVELLE MAITLAND, a/k/a “Vee,” and RAY BOYD, a/k/a “Mustafa,” with participating in a conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine in the vicinity of Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard (also known as 7th Avenue) between approximately 120th Street and 123rd Street, in Harlem.  The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein.

Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said:  “As alleged in the Indictment, the defendants were responsible for selling large amounts of crack cocaine in Manhattan.  Thanks to the extraordinary work of our partners at NYPD and HSI, the defendants now face federal charges for their crimes.”

HSI Special Agent in Charge Peter C. Fitzhugh said:  “HSI and NYPD dismantled a criminal organization that allegedly trafficked and distributed heroin and cocaine while terrorizing our streets with violence and no regard for the welfare of our community.  Eradicating this ruthless syndicate will provide some relief to our neighborhoods, and is a step forward in an effort to safeguard our homeland.”

NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said:  “The NYPD is relentless in combating the kind of violent crimes alleged in this federal indictment, which tear at the fabric of life in New York.  I commend the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, and all of our partners, for their sustained focus in this important case.”

As alleged in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court and in other court papers and proceedings[1]:

From at least in or about November 2019 up to and including in or about November 2020, KENNETH SPEARMAN, a/k/a “Big Man,” a/k/a “Big Fella,” a/k/a “Friend,” SHELDON CLARK, a/k/a “Sal,” ERIC GRANT, a/k/a “E,” SIRRON STAFFORD, a/k/a “Sherm,” CAMERON FRANCIS, a/k/a “Cam,” ISAIAH LEDGISTER, a/k/a “Pooch,” TRISTIAN OLIVER, a/k/a “Jay,” JOSEPH CAMPBELL, a/k/a “JoJo,” ERIC GASTON, HARVEY FOSTER, a/k/a “Fresh,” MAURICE WOMACK, a/k/a “Moe,” REGINALD CLAXTON, a/k/a “Dread,” a/k/a “Reggie,” LAVELLE MAITLAND, a/k/a “Vee,” and RAY BOYD, a/k/a “Mustafa,” participated in a conspiracy to distribute 280 grams and more of crack cocaine in and around Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard (also known as 7th Avenue) between approximately 120th Street and 123rd Street, in Harlem. 

On or about November 3, 2020, in the same area, FRANCIS and two others robbed at gunpoint someone attempting to purchase narcotics and a firearm from FRANCIS.

KENNETH SPEARMAN, a/k/a “Big Man,” a/k/a “Big Fella,” a/k/a “Friend,” 45, SHELDON CLARK, a/k/a “Sal,” 55, ERIC GRANT, a/k/a “E,” 45, TRISTIAN OLIVER, a/k/a “Jay,” 43, ERIC GASTON, 36, REGINALD CLAXTON, a/k/a “Dread,” a/k/a “Reggie,” 57, LAVELLE MAITLAND, a/k/a “Vee,” 25, and RAY BOYD, a/k/a “Mustafa,” 57, were arrested yesterday and presented before United States Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker.  JOSEPH CAMPBELL, a/k/a “JoJo,” 27, was arrested yesterday and will be presented before Judge Parker today.  SIRRON STAFFORD, a/k/a “Sherm,” 43, CAMERON FRANCIS, a/k/a “Cam,” 20, ISAIAH LEDGISTER, a/k/a “Pooch,” 30, HARVEY FOSTER, a/k/a “Fresh,” 36, and MAURICE WOMACK, a/k/a “Moe,” 51, remain at large. 

Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding investigative work of HSI and the NYPD.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

[1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the description set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

NYS Division of Consumer Protection - CONSUMER ALERT: NYS DIVISION OF CONSUMER PROTECTION ALERTS CONSUMERS TO TEXT MESSAGING SCAMMERS IMPERSONATING STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES

 

Text Messaging Scams Claim Relief Money is Waiting

Consumers Stay Vigilant: Do Not Share Personal Information and Never Pay to Access Government Relief Payments

 The New York State Division of Consumer Protection (DCP) is today alerting New Yorkers to new text messaging scams seeking payments and sensitive personal information by offering fake grants, tax refunds, pandemic relief, and unemployment insurance payments.

“Throughout this public health crisis, scammers have been hard at work preying on unsuspecting New Yorkers,” said Secretary of State Rossana Rosado, who oversees the Division of Consumer Protection. “This latest batch of scams prey on New Yorkers seeking pandemic relief by spoofing official government agencies. I urge all New Yorkers to be extra diligent and follow simple steps to keep your money and personal information safe.”

New York State Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, “It is deplorable that these scammers are misrepresenting themselves during a pandemic to prey upon New Yorkers who need assistance in a time of crisis. New Yorkers must be more vigilant than ever in protecting their personal information and should never share their Social Security number or other personal identifiers over social media channels or via text messaging. Block & report these fraudulent accounts as soon as possible.”

New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker said, “While everyone is doing their best to stay informed throughout the pandemic response, unfortunately there are those who will seek to prey upon people during their most vulnerable time. As always, we must make it a habit to consider and verify the source of unsolicited promotions and monetary offers and keep personal information, including health information, protected.”

Scammers preying on consumers’ interest in pandemic relief programs are impersonating state and federal government agencies by enticing consumers to click on website links containing official-sounding text such as “pandemic stimulus relief,” “Treasury Department,” and “government payment.”  Consumers may also receive a phone call claiming they are a victim of identity theft and then receive the alarming text message, further confirming the “problem.”

After clicking the links from the text messages, consumers arrive at official looking websites designed to impersonate federal agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service or the Social Security Administration and New York State agencies, including the Department of Labor regarding unemployment payments or the Department of Health regarding contact tracing.  These sites solicit bank information and other sensitive personal details such as social security numbers, driver’s license numbers and bank account logins/passwords to enable the consumers to “accept payment.”

Sample of actual text messages:

Treasury Fund Payment: “You have received a direct deposit of $1,200 from COVID-19 Treasury Fund. Further action is required to accept this payment into your account.”

COVID Relief Grant: "The IRS has deemed you eligible for the current COVID relief grant sponsored by the Treasury Clearinghouse, you stand a chance of getting a minimum of $100000 for being a regular tax payer, agent Davies Gran has been assigned.  Click the link below"

Unemployment Claim: “You have pending claim of $1,200 from covid-19 TREAS 310 tax ref.  Further action is required to disburse funds. Click here to confirm payment method:"

Stimulus Help: "From IRS-GO: You are eligible - Register for COVID-19 Stimulus Help MSG#: 123455668"

Collaborating with New York State’s Division of Consumer Protection and several federal government agencies, telecommunications carriers have blocked thousands of these fake text messages using sophisticated algorithms to look for keywords, malicious activity, and other trends.  As the pandemic continues and the holidays approach, consumers should be mindful of increasing scam activity.

To prevent falling victim to these types of scams, please take note of the following tips:

• Do not click links in suspect texts or emails. These lead to convincing impersonation websites attempting to collect your sensitive personally identifiable information.

• Call the government agency directly to confirm communications, if you are concerned. 

• Hang up the phone immediately if someone unexpectedly calls claiming to be from any government agency and threatens police arrest, deportation or license revocation.

Additional information related to New York State agencies:

• Text messages from the New York State Department of Labor will only come from the number 468-311 OR via DocuSign. A DOL representative will never reach out directly through a text message. If someone claims to be a DOL representative over text, please block and alert the DOL. NEVER give your SSN over social media – we will NOT ask for this information on social media. The DOL urges anyone who believes they have been a victim of fraud to report it immediately at ny.gov/uifraud.

• NYS Department of Health may contact you as “NYS Contact Tracing” (518-387-9993). PLEASE answer the phone. Answering the phone will keep your loved ones and community safe. For more information on contact tracing: https://coronavirus.health.ny.gov/new-york-state-contact-tracing.

Additional information related to federal agencies:

• Federal agencies will typically first initiate contact with constituents via mail. Federal agencies do not request personal or financial information through text message or email and will not ask for credit card numbers over a phone call they initiate.
• Contact the agency directly
• Internal Revenue Service (IRS):1-800-829-1040
• Social Security Administration (SSA): 1-800-772-1213

If you encounter a marketplace problem or are concerned about a scam, you are encouraged to call or file a complaint with the Division of Consumer Protection. 

The New York State Division of Consumer Protection serves to educate, assist and empower the State’s consumers. The Consumer Helpline, 800-697-1220, is available to assist consumers Monday through Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm. Consumer complaints can be filed anytime online at the Division website, www.dos.ny.gov/consumerprotection. To view consumer alerts, consumers can visit https://www.dos.ny.gov/about/newsroom.html. The Division can also be reached via Twitter at @NYSConsumer or Facebook at www.facebook.com/nysconsumer.

RECOVERY AGENDA: CITY INVESTS $20 MILLION TO CREATE PANDEMIC RESPONSE INSTITUTE, STRENGTHENING LONG-TERM HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE

 

 Today, Mayor de Blasio announced the creation of the Pandemic Response Institute (PRI), a facility dedicated to preparing New York City and other jurisdictions for future health emergencies and epidemics. PRI will strengthen New York City’s health infrastructure, build on the success of the Pandemic Response Lab and recent experiences in epidemic response, and position the City as a global leader in research, innovation, and pandemic response.

 

This effort is part of the Administration’s long-term recovery agenda, which seeks to accelerate the City’s economic recovery by building on the network of premier hospital systems, world leading medical universities, and growing life sciences and tech sectors to make New York City the public health capital of the world.

 

“The Pandemic Response Institute will establish New York City as a global leader in public health training, research, and management,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “No city in the county has sacrificed more, or worked harder to keep COVID-19 at bay. It’s time to put those lessons to work – and move forward with bold ideas to keep New Yorkers healthy and jump-start our economic recovery.”

 

The City has identified an initial space at the Alexandria Center for Life Science to house the Pandemic Response Institute as it starts up and will aim to select an operator by mid-2021, with the goal of opening PRI by the end of 2021.

 

PRI will advance research, training, and innovation on outbreak detection, investigation, and management. Specifically, it will focus on the following areas:

 

• Building new technologies and systems that detect, track and monitor health issues, particularly those that signal vulnerabilities to disease outbreaks.
• Advancing research on cutting-edge diagnostics and therapeutics, as well as the latest science on outbreak modeling.
• Training public health, business, and community leaders in all aspects of pandemic prevention and management, and the roles that they each can play in future health emergencies.
• Piloting new community-based partnership models that build local-level health infrastructure, improve emergency preparedness, and advance health outcomes across all communities.

 

Given the critical importance of laboratory diagnosis to tracking COVID-19 and safely re-opening the city, the near-term home of PRI will be near the Pandemic Response Lab. This investment will strengthen the city’s health infrastructure and allow for important collaboration as PRI advances research and new innovations related to outbreak detection, investigation, and management.

 

The City will also convene a meeting in early 2021 to gather insights and expertise from public health and community leaders to inform PRI’s design and priority activities.

 

"Investing in public health is critical, both to ensure that the City is as well prepared as possible for the next health emergency and to help spur the City’s economic recovery," said Deputy Mayor for Housing and Economic Development Vicki Been. "The Pandemic Response Institute builds on our existing health expertise, deep and diverse talent pool, and premier academic, research and innovation institutions to position New York City at the forefront of emergency response and preparedness, while also pioneering models to improve community health and health equity and fostering good-paying jobs in the life-sciences industry."

 

"Public health is an investment, not a cost,” said Senior Advisor Dr. Jay Varma. “It’s an investment in our physical safety, our economic prosperity, and in justice, ensuring that health and opportunity are available to all. The Pandemic Response Institute will strengthen the City's resilience and help position it as the public health capital of the world."

 

“Creating a stronger city means investing in our health infrastructure and ensuring we’re prepared for the next health crisis,” said James Patchett, president and CEO of New York City Economic Development Corporation. “This institute will not only position New York City as a leader in pandemic response, it will foster research and partnerships that improve health outcomes across the five boroughs, drive innovations that advance public health, and develop the City’s talent pool so we remain a hub for life sciences and public health for years to come.”

 

“The lessons we’ve learned during the COVID-19 pandemic – and other health emergencies – must inform future responses,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Dave A. Chokshi. “New York City can harness its expertise to serve the nation with this center for training and research.”

 

A BRONX REPUBLICAN TALE: PROMISES MADE, PROMISES KEPT

 

Bronx Republican Success By the Numbers:

Highest Vote Total for a Presidential candidate in the Bronx since 1988

Chairman Rendino: Republican Progress in Deep Blue Hispanic Bronx Communities is the Roadmap to Future Success for the New York City GOP

 In just four years, the Republican Party has made dramatic in-roads in the Bronx. After taking over as Chairman of the Bronx Republican Party in 2016, former 9/11 firefighter Mike Rendino has led the organization to major successes including an 18% voter registration increase and the highest vote total for a GOP presidential candidate since 1988, due in large part to major gains in majority-Latino communities, like the deep-blue South Bronx.

Bronx Republican Chairman Mike Rendino said, “Four years ago I reluctantly accepted the role of Chairman after my predecessor stepped down for health reasons. When I started this journey I promised not only to improve the Bronx Republican Party, but to grow it. I am proud to say that we have kept that promise.

“We grew our party with outreach into nontraditional Republican populations in the Bronx and holding meetings in deep blue Democrat areas. We remained loyal to our base, our Republican principles and our traditional strongholds, while at the same time working to expand our coalition of like-minded New Yorkers by focusing on small business and public safety -- issues that resonate, in particular, with hispanics, who now make up 58% of the population of the Bronx. Our progress in deep blue hispanic Bronx communities is the roadmap to future success for the New York City Republican Party." 

BY THE NUMBERS:

In just 4 years we increased Republican voter enrollment by 18% from 37,190 to 43,992

Four years ago we fielded candidates in just 6 of 16 State Assembly and Senate campaigns. This year we fielded candidates in 14 of the 16 Bronx seats with every candidate more than doubling votes totals from 4 years ago, including tripling the past vote total in one district. 

We also recruited the Bronx's very own John Cummings and put together the team that raised over 11 million dollars in what turned out to be one of the most expensive house races in the country. The Bronx is Ground Zero for the war on Socialism, and John's wildly successful fundraising operation and vigorous campaign against AOC helped our entire slate of candidates, including President Trump.

This election cycle, we achieved the highest vote total for a Republican Presidential candidate in the Bronx since 1988. Incredible, considering the Bronx had a very different demographic 32 years ago. The Bronx is now 58% Hispanic and the Republican Party has made huge in roads in the community, while the Democrats continue to ignore the needs of this constituency.

Because of the work we've done over the past 4 years, President Trump outperformed Bronx Republican voter registration, which is less than 6% and received over 15%. The President did better in the Bronx than even in his home county in Manhattan, where he received 12%.

Chairman Rendino concluded, “As Bronx Democrats laid down their arms at ground zero in the war against socialism, Bronx Republicans engaged and fought back with blue collar conservatism. We fought, and we won over working class voters of all ethnicities throughout the Bronx. As the New York City Board of Elections certifies the 2020 election results, I am proud to report that the promise I made 4 years ago has been kept.”

Bronx Republican Party 

3029 Middletown Rd, Bronx, NY 10461

EDITOR'S NOTE:

Donald Trump in 2020 won fifteen election district in three different assembly districts, compared to winning twelve election districts in just two assembly districts in 2016.

80th A.D. ED's 3 and 19.

81st A.D. ED 31.

82nd A.D. ED's 1,2,3,42,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,and 49.

KRVC - Visit Santa on Johnson Avenue on December 13th!

 

Visit Santa on Johnson Avenue! Between West 235th &236th Streets .  Join us to celebrate Riverdale again on Sunday, December 13th!  ______ **Please note that due to weather the program may need to be  modified. Those decisions will be made each week to ensure the  safety and success of our staff, participants and community  members.** Email Tracykrvc@gmail.com for more information www.krvcdc.org

NYS Office of Mental Health Issues Request For Proposals to Continue Work of Project Teach

 

Program Helps Expand Access to Behavioral Health Services for Children, Adolescents, and Families

 The NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH) has issued a Request for Proposals to continue and enhance the work of Project TEACH (Training and Education for the Advancement of Children’s Health).  Project TEACH creates collaborations between primary care providers, such as pediatricians, and behavioral health care providers. This allows primary care providers to better address their patients’ mild to moderate mental health concerns and provide mental health services to children, adolescents, and their families.

Access to consultation and collaboration with child and adolescent psychiatrists is a strategy that is supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the National Institute for Health Care Management.

In addition, the RFP will expand the Maternal Mental Health Initiative which provides maternal health providers with access to consultation, training and assistance with referral and linkage around maternal mental health issues.  

OMH Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “Through Project TEACH we are increasing access to behavioral health services for children and their families, which is especially important now, as we deal with the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on so many families across the State.  Project TEACH has also helped pregnant women and new mothers overcome maternal depression, which when identified and treated early, leads to better health outcomes for mothers and children.”

Project TEACH is comprised of three interrelated services for primary care providers: it increases access to psychiatric consultations from child and adolescent mental healthcare specialists, links primary care physicians and their patients with appropriate community-based services and provides training for primary care providers.

The RFP provides for an award of up to $17 million for a five year contract beginning July 1, 2021 to coordinate Project TEACH services which include development of specialty consultation services, development and delivery of training programs that would be available throughout the state, maintenance of the statewide Project TEACH website and marketing and promotion of the program.

Founded in 2010, the mission of Project TEACH is to strengthen and support the ability of primary care providers to deliver care to children and families who experience mild-to-moderate mental health concerns. Project TEACH educates and supports primary care providers to integrate care for mild-to moderate behavioral health concerns into primary care for children and adolescents, ages 0 to 21.

By increasing access to behavioral health care for children, Project TEACH has been especially valuable in areas that have historically been underserved. Access to care for children is essential to achieving good health care outcomes and pediatric primary care providers have an essential role in identifying and treating behavioral health problems in children.

In a National Examination of Child Psychiatric Telephone Consultation Programs' Impact on Children's Mental Health Care Utilization, children from states with statewide child psychiatry telephone access programs were significantly more likely to receive mental health services than children residing in states without such programs.  Project TEACH is helping to mitigate the shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists and promote more equitable access utilizing the network of primary care providers.

Letters of Intent to Bid on the RFP are due by December 14, and questions from bidders on the RFP are due by December 28. Proposals are due by February 1, 2021 OMH anticipates announcing the award by February 5, 2021.  More information can be found on the OMH website at: https://omh.ny.gov/omhweb/rfp/2020/teach/project-teach-rfp.pdf

STATEMENT FROM MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO ON THE NORTH BROOKLYN PIPELINE PROJECT

 

 Mayor Bill de Blasio today joined with advocates and elected officials to call on National Grid to halt the North Brooklyn Pipeline project.

“Climate change is an existential threat to our city and we must transition quickly to clean energy. Today, I am voicing my opposition to National Grid’s North Brooklyn Pipeline because we cannot justify the environmental impacts on the largely Black and Brown residents of Brooklyn associated with an unnecessary pipeline expansion. Racial and environmental justice go hand-in-hand, and National Grid has failed to clearly demonstrate that this pipeline is needed to keep New Yorkers warm and safe. I am calling on them to withdraw this project immediately," said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

 

“Our climate crisis demands an end to new fossil fuel infrastructure, here in New York City and around the globe,” said Daniel Zarrilli, NYC's Chief Climate Policy Advisor. “Even in this moment as federal climate leadership is poised to re-emerge, it is clear that cities like New York will need to continue raising their climate ambitions. Earlier this year, Mayor de Blasio signed a ground-breaking executive order opposing new fossil fuel infrastructure serving our city and we are following through on that pledge. That’s why we are divesting our pensions from fossil fuels, investing billions into job-creating climate solutions like solar, wind, and hydro, and fighting destructive projects like the Williams pipeline and the North Brooklyn pipeline that are undermining our future.”

 

“With the Mayor’s announcement against National Grid’s fracked gas pipeline, there is now unanimous opposition from local city, state, and federal elected officials and tens of thousands of New Yorkers in the affected areas from Brownsville to Greenpoint. So far National Grid has ignored the will of the people and continued construction, but New York City is united against their plans to lock us in to decades of raising our rates for more fossil fuels, pollution, and climate chaos for their private profit. We look forward to continuing our work with the Mayor’s office as we operationalize the Executive Order to end the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure, like the LNG facility at the apex of the North Brooklyn Pipeline,” said Kim Fraczek, Director, Sane Energy Project, a co-founding member of No NBK Pipeline Coalition.

 

“We have to prioritize lower income communities of color that have been stripped of resources and exploited for profit for too long. We’re calling on our elected officials to fight this pipeline with sustainable love through environmental practices. Restorative justice includes environmental justice for the Black and Brown communities. Going forward, we must foster bold solutions that would prevent projects like the Metropolitan Reliability Infrastructure (North Brooklyn Pipeline) from ever being constructed in this neighborhood.  We need more investments in sustainable development, green spaces, clean energy and processes that reflect social inclusion and equity for our community. Brownsville is not a sacrifice zone," said Gabriel Jamison, a founding member of the Brownsville Residents Green Committee.

 

“Mayor de Blasio’s opposition to the North Brooklyn fracked gas pipeline is welcome news and yet another clear signal that New Yorkers will never allow National Grid to double down on fossil fuels. It’s obvious that we must not build infrastructure that will lock us into decades of ruinous reliance on fossil fuels. We’re proud to stand united with Mayor de Blasio and New Yorkers from all five boroughs in opposition to the North Brooklyn Pipeline and all other new fossil fuel projects,” said Alex Beauchamp, Northeast Region Director at Food & Water Watch, a member of the No NBK Pipeline Coalition.

 

“As a Brownsville resident and Sandy survivor, it’s good to see the City oppose this polluting project. It’s time to go off fracked gas. It makes no sense to build entirely new gas infrastructure, and then let National Grid stick all of us with the bill,” said Rachel Rivera, a member of New York Communities for Change. 

 

“People power stopped the Williams fracked gas pipeline. People power secured an executive order from the mayor of the biggest city in USA banning new fossil fuel infrastructure. Now the mayor is seeing that forward, clearly opposing the unnecessary and risky North Brooklyn pipeline. It's time for National Grid to wake up and realize the future is in renewables, not yet more losing attempts at building new fracked gas infrastructure,” said Dominique Thomas, lead organizer, 350.org.