Alessandra Biaggi = An update on Congressional maps.

 

By now, many of you know that the New York State Court of Appeals threw out the new Congressional and State Senate maps that were implemented earlier this year.

I’m reaching out today to personally explain how that changes the state of our race.

Here’s what’s next:

• First, a liaison appointed by the court will redraw the lines of the district. This will mean that the primaries will be pushed from June to August, with the date to be determined.
• Then, all candidates will have to re-do the process of petitioning to get on the ballot.

I know that this is a confusing update, and we’re still waiting for more information. I’ll make sure to share as soon as I know more.

But I want you to know that my commitment to bringing much-needed progressive representation and urgency to Congress hasn’t changed.

I got in this race because I believe in canceling student debt, protecting the right to an abortion, legalizing marijuana on the federal level, doing what it takes to reverse the impacts of climate change, healthcare for all, standing up to Republicans to protect voting rights and our democracy, and more. I am the most qualified, experienced, and committed candidate in NY-3. That remains as true today as it was last week, and I am moving full steam ahead.

Thanks for reading, and I’ll be in touch soon.

– Alessandra

EDITOR'S NOTE:

Senator Biaggi has said on television that she will not run for her senate seat, and intends to run for congress. 

We believe that the way NY3 was set up running from Westchester County, through the Bronx, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk Counties, that there is no way the Special Master can keep that proposed district intact. Will Senator Biaggi run in another congressional district? Would she run against Congressman Jamaal Bowman who currently holds her grandfather's old congressional seat?

Multi-State Freight Working Group Public Notice -May 12, 2022

The MAP Forum complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and federal Limited English Proficiency guidelines.  If you need special accommodations to participate in this meeting, or translation services, or American Sign Language, please contact public-info@dot.ny.gov  no later than Monday May 9th.

 

PUBLIC NOTICE

MULTI-STATE FREIGHT WORKING GROUP

Presentation on the Regional Freight Land Use Study

Thursday May 12, 2022

10:00 am – 11:00 am

The Multi-State Freight Working Group of the Metropolitan Area Planning (MAP) Forum announces a presentation on the Regional Freight Land Use Study on May 12, 2022, at 10:00 am. This virtual meeting will be available as a webinar:

 

https://meetny.webex.com/meetny/j.php?MTID=me8ed7b1f955089ef1f75a1ca6d944b0d

Thursday, May 12, 2022 10:00 am | 1 hour | (UTC-04:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)

Meeting number: 161 188 7786

Password: NYMTC123

Join by phone

+1-518-549-0500 USA Toll

Access code: 161 188 7786

 

The Regional Freight Land Use Study, funded through the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council, has been undertaken to assess the current mix of land uses related to goods movement in the multi-state New York City metropolitan region. The Study assessed the impacts on those land uses of changing business models among retailers and shippers as they develop, adapt, and deploy new technologies.  The Study evaluated local, regional, and national development pressures on freight-related and industrial land uses in the multi-state metropolitan region. This region includes the planning areas of the 10 Metropolitan Planning Organizations and Councils of Government in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania which comprise the Metropolitan Area Planning (MAP) Forum.

 

On May 12, 2022, the MAP Forum’s Multi-State Freight Working Group will present and discuss the preliminary findings of this study.

 

MEETING AGENDA

1.       Welcome and Meeting Objectives (10:00 am – 10:05 am)

2.       Presentation on the Regional Freight Land Use Study (with Q & A) (10:05 am – 10:45 am)

3.       Discussion of Preliminary Study Results (10:45 am – 11:00 am)

4.       Adjourn (not later than 11:00 am)

WILLIAMS ANNOUNCES ENDORSEMENTS FROM NYC COUNCIL & NYS ASSEMBLY MEMBERS ACROSS THREE BOROUGHS

A trio of progressive elected officials representing Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn announced their endorsement of NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams’ campaign for Governor today, including Assembly Members Yuh-Line Niou, Ron Kim and Council Member Shahana Hanif.

In announcing the endorsements, Jumaane Williams said, “I’m honored to have the endorsements of three elected officials who are making a tremendous impact on our city and state. Their support comes at a critical time for the campaign, as voters are starting to see – and reject – what four more years of scandal and corruption in Albany would bring for New York. I’m excited to have their partnership to help us spread our message in the areas they represent in New York City and beyond.” 

Assembly Member Yuh-Line Niou said, "Jumaane Williams is the bold leader we need in Albany to make New York work for the people who make New York run, which is why I'm proud to endorse his grassroots campaign to be the next Governor of our state. Throughout his career as an activist elected official, Jumaane has demonstrated his commitment in fighting for the issues that matter most for working families and getting results. As Governor, he will bring a fresh approach to our executive branch to renew and recover New York while advancing justice and equity for all." 

Assembly Member Ron Kim said, "I'm proud to endorse Jumaane Williams to be the next Governor of the state of New York. He's spent his entire career, first as a tenant organizer then as a Council Member and now Public Advocate, fighting for the progressive values that help improve the lives of working families. He's the leader we need in Albany to push our state forward so that New York works for the many, not the few.

Council Member Shahana Hanif said, "Jumaane is an activist elected official who has been at the forefront of fighting for justice and equity for all New Yorkers. As a former Council Member, he successfully advanced legislation that directly improved the lives of working families, and as Public Advocate, he has passed more legislation in the City Council than all other Public Advocates combined. He has the experience and leadership we need in Albany as we renew and recover New York, and I'm proud to endorse him for Governor of this state."

A full list of organizations and elected officials who have endorsed Jumaane’s grassroots campaign can be found here.

BRONX DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE TO HOST 5 th ANNUAL CHILD SAFETY FAIR ON APRIL 30, 2022

 

Children and Parents Can Learn About Safety; Participate in Fun Activities

 Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced that her Office, along with the New York City Police Department, Safe Horizon, the NYC Administration for Children’s Services, and the New York City Fire Department, will host the fifth annual Bronx Child Safety Fair this Saturday.

 Children ages 3 to 13 years old and their families will hear from leading experts on safety issues, including bicycle safety, bullying prevention, tips on staying safe while surfing the Internet, safe sleeping for infants, and safe/unsafe touching. Participants can also obtain a free New York State Safe Child Identification Card, which is used by the New York State AMBER Alert and Missing Child Alert programs. Children and parents can also enjoy food, music, and fun activities.

 The fair will be held on Saturday, April 30, 2022 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the P.S. 5 Port Morris School, located at 564 Jackson Avenue and East 149th Street.

 District Attorney Clark said, “I am glad to host our annual Bronx Child Safety Fair, which will provide parents and children with important safety tips and life-saving information. The Fair will also be filled with food, music, and fun activities for kids to enjoy. Our mission is to keep our children safe and empower our communities to prevent harm. Thank you to all our partners who make the fair an informative, fun event.”

STATEMENT FROM BOROUGH PRESIDENT GIBSON ON MAYOR ADAMS’ FY`23 EXECUTIVE BUDGET

 

“In his first State of the City announcement, Mayor Adams outlined his Executive Budget with a renewed focus on public safety, economic development, youth empowerment, and other issues important to everyday New Yorkers. As we continue to work together towards creating an equitable recovery from COVID-19, it is up to us to work with our partners on the local, state and federal level to develop plans that will move our borough forward, and invest in our city`s future. It is important that the Bronx is included in any conversation around economic recovery and investment, and that is why, as Borough President, I was most pleased to hear about:

Environmental Equity: Mayor Adams’ FY`23 Executive Budget provides $488 million in capital funding for park improvement projects, including planting 20,000 trees annually on city streets in the years to come. I joined with my fellow Borough Presidents in pushing for the budget of the Parks Department to be 1% of the city`s budget and we are one step closer to achieving that goal with this announcement. Increasing the tree coverage in The Bronx and across the city will have numerous environmental effects, including: reducing heat, combating air pollution, and mitigating climate effects that cause floods and other natural disasters.

Hunts Point Produce Market: Mayor Adams is promising an investment of $140 million in capital funds beginning in FY`23 for the Hunts Point Produce Market, that will help revitalize the area and begin to undo the years of disinvestment that has negatively impacted the neighborhood. The Hunts Point Produce Market is a vital economic engine in our borough and deserves to have the resources and support to be successful.

Subway Safety: These past few weeks, we have seen increased crime and violence on our trains and in our subway stations. That is why I commend Mayor Adams for including $55 million in his budget to expand the Behavioral Health Emergency Assistance Response Division (B-HEARD) initiative that will deploy mental health professionals to areas with increased need, including the South Bronx.

Summer Rising: Investment in our communities starts with investing in our youth, and Mayor Adams is doing just that with the Summer Rising initiative. This program, which will provide 110,000 students with opportunities this summer, on top of the expansion of The Summer Youth Employment Program, demonstrates a real commitment from Mayor Adams and his administration to ensuring our youth have access to resources and opportunities that support their mental, emotional and developmental learning. Many of our youth were forced into social isolation as a result of the pandemic, and we need to ensure they have access to Summer Rising, SYEP, Saturday Night Lights, and our Beacon and Cornerstone programs to heal from that trauma and safely build relationships with their peers.

Support for Unsheltered New Yorkers: Safe haven sites, stabilization beds, and drop-in centers are essential for providing critical support to unsheltered New Yorkers by ensuring they have access to wrap-around services that address their mental, emotional and physical needs. The Mayor is investing $117 million in his executive budget into 1,400 additional safe haven and stabilization beds, three additional drop-in centers with support services, and increased street outreach. I applaud Mayor Adams for this decision and I believe it could not come at a more crucial time for our city.

We have a lot of work ahead of us in the coming weeks, but I remain committed to working with Mayor Adams and his administration to advocate for the needs of our borough.”

Defendant Convicted of Defrauding American Express of More Than $4.7 Million

 

 A federal jury convicted Jasminder Singh of bank fraud and money laundering based on defrauding American Express of more than $4.7 million in charges for iPhone purchases and spending the fraud proceeds on a $1.3 million home and other luxury items.  Singh was convicted of bank fraud and unlawful monetary transactions. The verdict followed a one-week trial before United States District Judge Carol Bagley Amon.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the verdict.

“The jury determined that Singh was a fraudster who used American Express cards to purchase thousands of iPhones, racking up millions of dollars in charges and then spun a web of lies to avoid paying the bill and hide his ill-gotten assets,” stated United States Attorney Peace.  “After stiffing American Express, the defendant was living large, until today, when the bill for his crimes came due with today’s verdict.”

As proven at trial, Singh used four business entities that he created and controlled and 10 American Express credit cards in those entities’ names to purchase thousands of Apple iPhones that he then sold overseas for millions of dollars. Between November 2017 and December 2019, the defendant misrepresented to American Express his inability to repay more than $4.7 million in charges incurred from his purchase of iPhones in order to secure additional credit, and used a series of financial transactions to conceal the money he obtained from selling the purchased iPhones. The defendant used the proceeds from his fraudulent scheme to pay for personal expenses and purchase luxury items, including a $1.3 million home in cash in Fremont, California. The defendant made most of the purchases at Apple stores in Oregon and Washington.

The evidence at trial included financial and phone records, audio recordings, testimony from the defendant’s co-conspirator Mandeep Singh, and an FBI forensic accountant. Mandeep Singh pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy in March 2022 and is awaiting sentencing.

Owner of Pharmacies in Brooklyn and Queens Pleads Guilty in Health Care Fraud And Kickback Scheme

 

 Robert John Sabet, the owner of Brooklyn Chemists in Gravesend, Brooklyn, and Lucky Care Pharmacy in Flushing, Queens, pleaded guilty before United States Magistrate Judge Vera M. Scanlon to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and unlawfully spending the proceeds of his $6.8 million fraud.  When sentenced, Sabet faces up to 10 years in prison.

Kenneth A. Polite, Jr., Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Scott J. Lampert, Special Agent-in-Charge, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, New York Regional Office (HHS-OIG); Thomas Fattorusso, Special Agent-in-Charge, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, New York (IRS-CI); and Frank T. Walsh, Jr., Acting Medicaid Inspector General, New York State Office of the Medicaid Inspector General (OMIG), announced the guilty plea.

According to court documents, Sabet conspired to bill Medicare and Medicaid for expensive prescription drugs that were not eligible for reimbursement because they were not needed or not dispensed, and because they were dispensed in connection with kickbacks. As part of the conspiracy, Sabet and others paid kickbacks and bribes to customers to convince them to fill prescriptions at his pharmacies, and paid customers cash in exchange for the ability to bill Medicare and Medicaid for over-the-counter health care-related products on their behalf. Sabet used proceeds of the scheme to purchase luxury goods and a 2020 Porsche Taycan worth over $250,000.

Attorney General James Recovers $175,000 in Stolen Wages for Manhattan Pizzeria Workers

 

Gotham Pizza Failed to Pay its Workers Minimum Wage and Overtime Pay

  New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced that she has recovered $175,000 for employees of Gotham Pizza who were cheated out of their pay. Attorney General James’ investigation found that between 2016 and 2019, Gotham Pizza and its owner Michael Shamailov knowingly and intentionally failed to pay at least 10 employees proper minimum wage, overtime pay, and tips at its three locations in Manhattan.

“No matter how you slice it, fair pay is not a suggestion — it’s the law,” said Attorney General James. “For years, Gotham Pizza took advantage of its hard-working employees by failing to pay them for their work. I am proud to recover the money they have long been owed and cheated, and I will always fight to ensure New Yorkers get their fair piece of the pie.”

Gotham Pizza currently has three New York City locations: 1443 York Avenue (Upper East Side), 1667 First Avenue (Yorkville), and 144 Ninth Avenue (Chelsea).

The Office of the Attorney General’s (OAG) investigation revealed that from 2016 to 2019, at least 10 employees were paid under minimum wage, between $6 to $10 per hour when they should have been paid $11 to $15. In addition, they were never paid any overtime after working more than 40 hours per week and did not receive full tips. Gotham Pizza’s actions violated the Minimum Wage Order and New York labor laws, which require all employers to pay covered employees the applicable minimum wage and any legally required overtime rate for all hours worked over 40 hours in a workweek.

The agreement requires Gotham Pizza to pay a total of $175,000 to the 10 workers. Gotham Pizza must also provide OAG with compliance reports containing payroll information for its employee to ensure their cooperation with the law. Additionally, OAG will conduct spot interviews with Gotham workers to confirm that wages are being consistently and properly paid. If Gotham Pizza fails to comply with the terms of the agreement or fails to provide the workers the compensation required, OAG reserves the right to bring a civil action.

The OAG's Labor Bureau enforces worker-protection laws that protect workers from wage theft and other exploitation and investigates alleged violations of minimum wage, overtime, prevailing wage, and other labor laws throughout the state. If anyone has questions or believes that they have been a victim of wage theft or other labor law violations, please contact OAG at 212-416-8700 or Labor.Bureau@ag.ny.gov.

The agreement announced today marks Attorney General James’ most recent efforts to crack down on wage theft. Earlier this month, Attorney General James secured nearly $900,000 for more than 200 NYCHA construction workers who were underpaid by Lintech Electric. In March 2022, she announced agreements with two home health agencies for cheating employees out of wages and submitting false Medicaid claims. That same month, she secured an agreement with Sanford Apt. Corp (Sanford), a cooperative residential apartment building in Flushing, Queens that refused to pay its superintendents for their work.

“As the former Commissioner of the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, I made it a priority to protect our city’s workers,” said New York City Council Member Julie Menin. “This is intolerable that Gotham Pizza has violated worker-protection laws and paid below the minimum wage. I applaud Attorney General Letitia James for being proactive in pursuing businesses that are conducting wage theft and exploitation of its workers.”

“While making sure others ate, these workers had food stolen from their own table,” said New York City Council Member Erik Bottcher. “Fortunately for all New Yorkers, we have Attorney General James making sure that wage theft and worker exploitation does not go unpunished. I’m grateful to her and everyone at the Office of the Attorney General, especially the Labor Bureau, for their incredible work on behalf of our state.”