NYC PUBLIC ADVOCATE HIGHLIGHTS UNLIVEABLE NYCHA CONDITIONS, CALLS FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN NEW REPORT

Today, after inspecting New York City Housing Authority developments in all five boroughs earlier this year, New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams has released a new report, How the Other Half Lives in Public Housing, highlighting the deplorable and often dangerous conditions at NYCHA and calling for several key changes in the nation’s largest public housing system. Recalling the 1890 book of the same name by Jacob Riis which took readers inside the city’s tenements, this report shines a harsh spotlight on the conditions faced by hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers. It details what the Office of the Public Advocate witnessed at the developments across the city, and offers recommendations at the city level to bring relief and support to NYCHA tenants.

“Over a hundred years ago, Jacob Riis shocked New York City when he exposed the conditions that children and families were living under in tenements throughout lower Manhattan,” said Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams. “Today, our report shines a spotlight and a camera flash on the conditions that tenants across our city face in public housing. It shows how the other half a million live, and how New Yorkers who form the backbone of our city are often confined to unacceptable and often even dangerous living situations. Every New Yorker deserves a safe, deeply affordable home, and I’m calling on my partners in government to make the urgent and systemic changes NYCHA needs to again be the best public housing in the United States. No one who has witnessed the conditions documented in our report can deny the need for immediate investment and reform.”  

The report first documents longstanding dangerous conditions at several different NYCHA developments leading to debilitating health conditions, unsafe apartments, and untenable quality of life. In Brooklyn, the Office of the Public Advocate met with a woman whose apartment was so overrun with mold, ACS forced her to enter a homeless shelter with her six children – then removed them from the shelter and told them to return to the infested unit. On Staten Island, a pest infestation had been allowed to fester for years and infect residents with rodent-based diseases.

Across the city, elevator outages plagued thousands of residents; water damage destroyed walls, ceilings, and floors; and heat and hot water disappeared in colder months. The Public Advocate met with dozens of tenants paying rent for uninhabitable homes. 

During visits to six different developments, the Office documented living conditions that were unsafe, untenable, and inexcusable. NYCHA’s tenants – including the thousands of children who call NYCHA home – deserve better from public housing, and New York City can and must make long-needed improvements.

Throughout the touring process, the Office of the Public Advocate heard a familiar story from tenants – that upon learning of the office’s imminent inspection, NYCHA conducted last-minute cleanups and papered-over, temporary “repairs.”  This is an unsustainable and inexcusable “system” of support. Repairs should be conducted based on tenant needs, not inspection schedules or media attention.

How the Other Half Lives in Public Housing also prescribes major changes at the local level to ensure that New York City’s public housing is safe, secure, and habitable. Among others, the report recommends that:

•   NYCHA should hire a proportional number of live-in supers to make repairs as needed
•   NYCHA should create an administrative process for residents who believe their work orders have been closed without repairs
•   Complaints to 311 must immediately trigger a city inspection process for NYCHA apartments and buildings

NYCHA has repeatedly been named the overall worst landlord in the city on the Public Advocate’s annual watchlist. How the Other Half Lives in Public Housing is a roadmap of where we are, how we got here, and what we can do to fix it; New York City can again have world-renowned public housing, and this report can be a key catalyst in that fight.  

Read the full report on fixing systemic failures and urgent NYCHA issues here. 

Attorney General James and California Attorney General Bonta Call on Credit Card Companies to Categorize Gun Sales to Help Combat Gun Violence

 

AGs Urge Companies to Categorize Gun and Ammunition Sales and Flag Suspicious Activity to Protect Communities

  New York Attorney General Letitia James and California Attorney General Rob Bonta today called on three of the largest credit card companies in the nation to do their part to help end illegal gun trafficking and tackle gun violence. In a letter, the attorneys general urged American Express, Mastercard, and Visa to create a merchant category code (MCC) for all gun sales and to flag suspicious activity, such as large purchases of guns or ammunition, for law enforcement agencies. Using MCCs to identify suspicious gun and ammunition purchases could help law enforcement agencies prevent gun violence and reduce the risk of gun trafficking. The attorneys general sent their letter ahead of a subcommittee meeting at the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) conference, which makes decisions on MCCs.

“Credit card companies categorize purchases on nearly everything from groceries to gas to clothing, but no category exists for the multi-billion-dollar gun and ammunition industry,” said Attorney General James. “Categorizing gun sales can help us work with our partners in police departments to combat gun violence and save lives. This is a common-sense solution that credit card companies can implement to help keep New Yorkers, and all Americans, safer.”

“We must use every tool in our toolbox to combat the deadly threat of gun violence,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta. “That means everyone in this country, including credit card companies, has an important part to play in our fight to save lives and combat senseless violence. Today, two of the largest states, with two of the strongest firearms safety laws, are standing together to call on credit card companies to create a spending category that would help law enforcement better identify terrorism and gun trafficking. This has never been more urgent — people are dying from gun violence each and every day. Preventing gun violence is on everyone: from law enforcement to business leaders to community members.”

MCCs exist for nearly every purchase from groceries to airline sales, but currently none exist for gun sales. Credit card companies are in a unique position to help law enforcement prevent gun violence. Several mass shooters in recent years have used credit cards to buy their weapons. Gun violence kills more than 40,000 Americans annually and is the leading cause of death for children and teens.

MCCs are four-digit codes, which classify merchants by the nature of their businesses. Credit card companies already use MCCs to flag concerns like money laundering or terrorism. Financial institutions and payment networks — including Visa, Mastercard, and American Express — use the ISO standard to assign MCCs to merchants in order to determine interchange rates, assess transaction risks, and generally categorize payments. MCC codes range from general to highly specific — for example, while electric razor stores, tent stores and leather goods stores all currently have unique codes, there is no unique code for brick-and-mortar gun stores: gun and ammunition retail outlets are instead classified as “miscellaneous” or “sporting goods.”

The ISO’s Registration and Maintenance Management Group (RMMG), whose members represent senior industry experts, include representatives from major credit card companies such as American Express, Mastercard, and Visa. These representatives evaluate applications for new merchant categories and may vote to approve the category if the following criteria are met:

•   The merchant category is reasonable and substantially different from all other merchant categories currently represented in the list of code values;
•   The merchant category is separate and distinct from all other industries currently represented in the list of code values;
•   The proposal describes a merchant category or industry, and not a process;
•   The minimum annual sales volume of merchants included in the merchant category, taken as a whole is, $10 million; and
•   Sufficient justification for the addition of a new code is found.

On July 6, 2021, Amalgamated Bank applied to ISO for a new category code for standalone gun and ammunition retail stores, but their application was denied by the RMMG that October. Amalgamated Bank then filed an appeal of its initial application on November 23, 2021, only to be denied again in February of 2022. On June 21, 2022, Amalgamated Bank once again applied to the ISO for a new MCC. The attorneys general urges the RMMG, including its representatives from credit card companies, to approve the application.

Governor Hochul Announces State Police and Local Law Enforcement to Crack Down on Impaired and Reckless Driving this Labor Day Weekend

State Police, Local Law Enforcement Announce Participation in the National "Drunk Driving, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" Campaign Through Labor Day

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that State Police and local law enforcement will be out in force through Labor Day weekend as part of the national "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over" DWI campaign. The enforcement period begins on Friday, September 2, 2022 and runs through Monday, September 5, 2022.

"Drunk and impaired driving is an irresponsible choice that leads to needless and devastating tragedies every year," Governor Hochul said. "As many New Yorkers prepare to travel for Labor Day weekend, I urge all motorists to drive responsibly and plan for a safe ride home. Stay alert, and don't get behind the wheel if you've been drinking so you can enjoy the weekend without endangering yourself or others."

Labor Day weekend traditionally results in heavy traffic volumes throughout the state. Unfortunately, this increased flow of traffic brings with it increased accidents, serious injuries and fatalities.

Since the holiday weekend is marked by increased travel and alcohol consumption, law enforcement officials across the country have chosen to jointly participate in the campaign. The State Police goal is to maximize DWI enforcement efforts to ensure motorists are not needlessly injured or killed by intoxicated or drug impaired drivers during this time.

New York State Police Superintendent Kevin P. Bruen said, "Curbing drunk driving is a major law enforcement priority. The State Police and our law enforcement partners urge everyone to have a plan for a safe ride this Labor Day weekend. Our objective is to stop those impaired drivers from putting the keys into the ignition and to make sure everyone has a safe holiday weekend."

New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner and Governor's Traffic Safety Committee Chair Mark J.F. Schroeder said, "It just takes a moment to plan ahead when you finalize your plans for this end of summer long weekend to make sure you reach your destination safely. Plain and simple - be smart, and don't be reckless and put yourself and others on our roads at risk."

Drivers can expect to see sobriety checkpoints during the campaign, along with more Troopers on major highways during the campaign.

In addition to the DWI checkpoints and patrols, Troopers will also be watching for distracted or impaired drivers, vehicle occupants who are not properly buckled up, and drivers that are violating the Move Over Law.

Troopers will be using both marked State Police vehicles and Concealed Identity Traffic Enforcement (CITE) vehicles as part of the operation. The CITE vehicles allow Troopers to more easily identify motorists who are using handheld devices while driving. These vehicles blend in with everyday traffic but are unmistakable as emergency vehicles once the emergency lighting is activated.

This initiative is partially funded by the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC). The GTSC and the New York State STOP-DWI Foundation remind motorists that their "Have a Plan" mobile app is available for Apple, Droid and Windows smartphones. The app enables New Yorkers to locate and call a taxi service and program a designated driver list. It also provides information on DWI laws and penalties, and a way to even report a suspected impaired driver.

During Labor Day weekend in 2021, Troopers arrested 196 people for driving while impaired, issued 10,701 total tickets, and investigated 661 crashes, which resulted in four fatalities.

MAYOR ADAMS APPOINTS DAWN TOLSON, TREY MOYNIHAN AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS OF MAYOR’S OFFICE OF CITYWIDE EVENT COORDINATION AND MANAGEMENT, MAYOR’S OFFICE OF SPECIAL PROJECTS AND COMMUNITY EVENTS

 

New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the appointments of Dawn Tolson as the executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Citywide Event Coordination and Management (CECM) and Trey Moynihan as executive director of the Mayor's Office of Special Projects and Community Events (MOSPCE).

 

“From block parties to parades, to movies in the park and marathons, a New York City event is an experience and the team we’re building will help to ensure we can engage as many New Yorkers as possible in fun, new, and exciting events,” said Mayor Adams. “I look forward to seeing the creativity that Dawn and Trey will bring to the team as they help us ‘Get Stuff Done’ for New Yorkers and make our city the premier event place we know it to be.”

 

“Our administration is committed to hiring the best of the best and Dawn and Trey fit that mold,” said Chief of Staff Frank Carone. “I’m proud to welcome Dawn and Trey to our team and I’m excited for their new energy and bright ideas for our city’s events.”

 

About Dawn Tolson

Dawn Tolson has been appointed executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Citywide Event Coordination and Management and Street Activity Permit Office (SAPO).

 

For the past three years, Tolson has been the executive director of Gracie Mansion, working with the Gracie Mansion Conservancy, the Historic House Trust, and the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation to maintain the historical aspects of Gracie and run all events out of “The People’s House.”

 

Tolson previously served as the executive director of SAPO, where she oversaw the permitting of high-profile events across New York City and modernized SAPO policies and procedures, as well as updated permitting rules and administrative protocols.

 

Tolson reports directly to Chief of Staff Frank Carone.

 

About Trey Moynihan

Trey Moynihan has been appointed executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Special Projects and Community Events (MOSPCE).

 

For nearly three decades, Moynihan has been an events producer and development professional at the heart of the arts and cultural special event planning community in New York City, previously leading in the cultivation and stewardship of the corporate membership and special events programs for the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian. In this role, Moynihan collaborated with diverse, strategic partners to organize individual, corporate, and donor-related functions; benefit fundraisers and galas; exhibition openings; theatrical performances; film screenings; conferences; community engagement events; and virtual or hybrid SME programming at several dozen integral venues throughout the city, including the Asia Society, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Central Park, Lincoln Center Theater, the Statue of Liberty, the Queens Museum, and Wave Hill.

 

Moynihan reports directly to Chief of Staff Frank Carone. 

 

Kick off your shoes and dance on the lawn of Van Cortlandt House Museum to West African Drumming! Dance with Yahaya Kamate and Kamate Traders. FREE!   Kamate is a teaching artist with our friends at the Bronx Arts Ensemble.   Enter the park at Broadway and W. 246th Street.   RSVP Now.

Tickets on Sale for Hike-toberfest

Van Cortlandt Park Alliance
80 Van Cortlandt Park, Ste. E1                             
Bronx, NY 10463
718-601-1460
http://vancortlandt.org