MAYOR ADAMS TAKES DOWN CITY’S LONGEST-STANDING SIDEWALK SHED, SCAFFOLDING

 

409 Edgecombe Avenue, City Landmark, Had Eyesore Shed in Place for 21 Years

 

Removal Follows City Lawsuit Against Property Managers for Failure to Repair Building

 

Since Launching ‘Get Sheds Down’ Plan in July, Adams Administration Has Removed More Than 500 Sheds — Covering 11 Miles of Sidewalk Space

New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) Commissioner Jimmy Oddo today took down New York City’s longest-standing sidewalk shed at 409 Edgecombe Avenue, a city landmark, which had been up for 21 years. The safe removal of this shed comes after the city filed a criminal court case against the building’s property managers for their repeated failure to repair the building. Through the “Get Sheds Down” plan, the Adams administration has expediated the removal of sidewalk construction sheds and scaffolding while reimagining the future of pedestrian protection in New York City.

 

“For 21 years, residents of Harlem sacrificed public space and the beauty of a historical landmark because property managers repeatedly failed to do their job,” said Mayor Adams. “Today, we deliver 409 Edgecombe Avenue back into the hands of the Sugar Hill community and remain focused on continuing to safely remove the eyesores that are ugly sidewalk sheds and scaffolding across the five boroughs. With our ‘Get Sheds Down’ plan, we’re cutting red tape to help city government move faster and give our neighborhoods back to New Yorkers.”

 

“The pandemic proved how much our public spaces mean to our wellbeing — not just our legacy parks, but the public spaces right outside our front doors,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “Sidewalk sheds are necessary to keep people safe during active work, but they are also an eyesore — and they certainly shouldn't be old enough to go to a bar. We're thrilled to be able to return this space to Sugar Hill and we look forward to continuing the work across the city.”

 

“After a long wait, the residents of 409 Edgecombe Avenue are finally seeing a dual benefit to their homes: a safer entryway, and a view of their building’s façade,” said Deputy Mayor for Housing, Economic Development, and Workforce Maria Torres-Springer. “Property owners must assume responsibility for making repairs that protect residents and neighbors, and the city will continue our work on safe housing across the five boroughs.”

 

“The removal of this sidewalk shed was a long time coming, and I am proud of the work this department has done to doggedly pursue this case until the property owners were finally compelled to do the right thing,” said DOB Commissioner Oddo. “Sidewalk sheds serve a legitimate public safety role in our city, but not all sheds are the same. A shed installed as part of new construction is a sign of economic activity. A shed erected as part of necessary maintenance is an indication of compliance and responsible ownership. A shed kept up for years while delaying needed building repairs is selfish and unacceptable, and we will continue to do all we can to address these situations. As part of the administration’s ‘Get Sheds Down’ plan, we are working closely with our partners in the New York City Council on new legislation to refine our enforcement tools, so we can see more of these long-standing sheds taken off the street.”

 

“Sidewalks are critical public spaces, and, finally, the residents of 409 Edgecombe Avenue will regain full access to the public realm outside their front door,” said Chief Public Realm Officer Ya-Ting Liu. “No sidewalk shed should be up for 21 years, and the Adams administration and DOB are working to ensure that building owners start paying the public cost of having sidewalk sheds up for too long and remove them in a timely manner.”

 

“Get Sheds Down.” Credit: New York City Mayor’s Office

 

Since Mayor Adams launched the “Get Sheds Down” plan in July 2023, there are over 500 fewer actively permitted sidewalk sheds in New York City – sheds that had covered nearly 11 miles of New York City sidewalks. Additionally, since the plan was announced, the city has removed 75 long-standing sheds (sheds that have been up for over five years) from the streets. For decades, the rules governing construction sheds have incentivized property owners to leave them up for long periods of time instead of completing the critical façade work that is often the reason that the shed is required.

 

The administration has already advanced multiple efforts as part of “Get Sheds Down.” Earlier this year, DOB released technical guidance to help the industry understand revised rules and processes. DOB also issued a Request for Proposal to design firms looking for less obtrusive pedestrian protection, and is currently reviewing proposals received. Additionally, new rules went into effect allowing for art on sidewalk sheds and other temporary construction equipment.

 

The Adams administration is currently working with the New York City Council on legislation to allow for a wider variety of colors, improve oversight over shed construction and maintenance, and enhance enforcement strategies. In the coming months, the city plans to file more criminal court cases against property owners who have failed to make repairs to their buildings and kept sidewalk sheds in place for years.

 

In the 20^th century, 409 Edgecombe Avenue was an important site for Black political organizing, serving as a home to the NAACP and its executive secretaries, Walter White and Roy Wilkins, as well as W.E.B. DuBois and Thurgood Marshall. The shed at 409 Edgecombe Avenue was first erected in 2002 because of a local law requiring regular façade inspections for buildings over six stories. An engineer hired at the time by the owners found unsafe conditions around the brick and terra-cotta stone façade. For approximately 20 years, the property owner failed to make repairs, instead allowing the sidewalk shed to remain in place without work on the building progressing. In 2019, the city filed criminal charges against the building’s management company to compel them to move forward with the long-delayed repairs. The repair work began in earnest after charges were filed and were recently completed.

Founder Of Cryptocurrency Ponzi Scheme “IcomTech” Pleads Guilty

 

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today the guilty plea of DAVID CARMONA for his role in founding and promoting a large-scale cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme known as IcomTech.  CARMONA pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Rochon to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “IcomTech was a large-scale cryptocurrency scam founded by David Carmona that defrauded numerous investors.  Carmona and his co-defendants founded IcomTech on lies, and siphoned money away from victims at every opportunity.  Today’s guilty plea should send a clear message to those who engage in Ponzi schemes — whether in the cryptocurrency markets or elsewhere — that this Office is committed to rooting out fraud in all its forms and holding those responsible to full account.” 

According to the allegations in the Indictment and statements made in public court proceedings:

CARMONA started IcomTech in 2018, and MARCO RUIZ OCHOA — who pled guilty in September 2023 — was represented to be IcomTech’s CEO until 2019, when a new CEO replaced him.  IcomTech was a purported cryptocurrency mining and trading company that promised to earn its victim-investors (“Victims”) profits in exchange for their purchase of purported cryptocurrency-related investment products.  CARMONA and the other promoters of IcomTech, including his co-defendants OCHOA, JUAN ARELLANO, MOSES VALDEZ, and DAVID BREND, falsely promised their respective Victims, among other things, that profits from the companies’ cryptocurrency trading and mining would result in guaranteed daily returns on Victims’ investments.  In reality, IcomTech did not engage in cryptocurrency trading or mining for its Investors, and CARMONA and Icomtech’s other promoters used Victim funds to pay other Victims, to further promote the schemes, and to enrich themselves.

Icomtech promoters, including CARMONA, traveled throughout the United States and internationally where they hosted lavish expos and small community presentations aimed at luring Victims to invest in the schemes, including in the Southern District of New York.  During larger-scale events, IcomTech promoters presented on purported investment products and the compensation plan, encouraged Victims to invest as a means of achieving financial freedom, and boasted about the amount of money they were earning.  IcomTech promoters often showed up at larger-scale events in expensive cars and wearing luxury clothing as a way of exhibiting their purportedly legitimate success from IcomTech.  The atmosphere of these events was festive and designed to generate excitement about the schemes.

Victims invested in IcomTech by purchasing investment products from promoters using cash, checks, wire transfers, and actual cryptocurrency.  Following a Victim’s investment, a Victim would be provided with access to an online portal where the Victim could monitor the purported returns.  While Victims saw “profits” accumulate on the online portal, most Victims were unable to withdraw any of these so-called profits and ultimately lost their entire investments.  By contrast, IcomTech’s promoters, including CARMONA, siphoned off, in some cases, hundreds of thousands of dollars in Victim funds, which they withdrew as cash, spent on IcomTech promotional expenses, and used for personal expenditures such as luxury goods and real estate.

CARMONA worked with his co-defendant, GUSTAVO RODRIGUEZ, to build IcomTech’s website and online portal, where Victims were provided with personal accounts.  CARMONA and RODRIGUEZ discussed how to structure IcomTech’s compensation plan and investment products.  For example, RODRIGUEZ advised CARMONA on where CARMONA should set the purported daily returns on Victims’ investment packages and on the size of the investment packages that CARMONA should offer for sale.

In or about September 2018, CARMONA and OCHOA entered into a contract on behalf of IcomTech to purchase cryptocurrency mining equipment from a legitimate supplier and then began touting that investment as a means of generating interest among Victims to invest.  However, IcomTech did not meet its payment obligations to the supplier and never received any hardware.  Indeed, in or about July and August 2018, CARMONA admitted that his negotiations with the supplier were just for appearances and that he was just “using them.”  Even though RODRIGUEZ warned CARMONA that this would only work for a limited time before the supplier found out, CARMONA and OCHOA continued to promote IcomTech’s purported investment with the supplier.

At least as early as August 2018, Victims who attempted to withdraw money from their online portal accounts had difficulty doing so, and when they complained to promoters, they were met with excuses, delays, and hidden fees, if they were able to make any withdrawals at all.  Despite these complaints, IcomTech promoters, including CARMONA, continued to promote IcomTech and accept Victims’ investments.  As complaints mounted, IcomTech began offering a proprietary crypto-token for sale as a means of injecting liquidity into IcomTech.  Promoters of the schemes claimed that these tokens, known as “Icoms,” would eventually be worth a significant amount of money when they were accepted by companies for payment for goods and services.  This was false.  In reality, “Icoms” were essentially worthless and resulted in further financial loss to Victims.  By in or about the end of 2019, IcomTech stopped making payments to Victims and IcomTech collapsed.

CARMONA, 40, of Queens, New York, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

The statutory maximum sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.  

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of Special Agents from Homeland Security Investigations’ El Dorado Task Force.  Mr. Williams also thanked the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for their assistance.

If you believe you are a victim of the IcomTech fraud, updated information regarding the case and victims’ rights, as well as contact information for the victim witness coordinator is available here.

Three Men Charged in International Bribery and Money Laundering Scheme

 

A five-count indictment was unsealed on Wednesday charging a Georgia businessman, a former Honduran government official, and a former Florida resident for their alleged participation in an international scheme to pay and conceal bribes to Honduran government officials to secure contracts to provide uniforms and other goods to the Honduran National Police. 

According to court documents, Carl Alan Zaglin, 68, is the owner of a Georgia-based manufacturer of law enforcement uniforms and accessories, and made his initial appearance in federal court on Wednesday; Francisco Roberto Cosenza Centeno, 65, was the former Executive Director of the Comité Técnico del Fideicomiso para la Administración del Fondo de Protección y Seguridad Poblacional (TASA), a Honduran governmental entity that procured goods for the Honduran National Police; and Aldo Nestor Marchena, 50, was a resident of Boca Raton, Florida.

Between about March 2015 and continuing until about November 2019, Zaglin, Marchena, and others allegedly agreed to bribe Honduran government officials, including Cosenza, to secure contracts with TASA worth over $10 million. In exchange for the bribes, Cosenza and other Honduran government officials allegedly assisted Zaglin, Marchena, and others in obtaining contracts for the sale of uniforms and other goods for the Honduran National Police and securing payment on the contracts. Zaglin, Marchena, and their co-conspirators allegedly used the proceeds from the corrupt Honduran government contracts to make bribe payments to Honduran government officials. To promote the scheme and conceal the bribe payments, Zaglin, Marchena, Cosenza, and others allegedly laundered proceeds of the corrupt scheme through bank accounts and front companies in the United States and Belize. As alleged in the indictment, the conspirators sent over $166,000 to bank accounts controlled by Cosenza and another Honduran foreign official in furtherance of the scheme.

The defendants are all charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering. Cosenza and Marchena are also each charged with one count of money laundering and one count of engaging in transactions in criminally derived property. Zaglin and Marchena are also both charged with conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Zaglin is also charged with one count of violating the FCPA. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison on each of the money laundering offenses, 10 years in prison on the count of engaging in transactions in criminally derived property, and five years in prison on each of the FCPA-related offenses.  

Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Markenzy Lapointe for the Southern District of Florida, and Special Agent in Charge Anthony Salisbury of Homeland Security Investigations’ (HSI) Miami Office made the announcement. 

HSI’s Miami Office is investigating the case, with assistance from HSI’s Atlanta Office.

Trial Attorneys Peter L. Cooch and Anthony Scarpelli of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Eli S. Rubin for the Southern District of Florida are prosecuting the case. 

In June 2021, the Justice Department announced an Anticorruption Task Force to focus on investigations, prosecutions, and asset recoveries related to corruption in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador through the department’s FCPA enforcement program, counternarcotics prosecutions, and Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative. Anyone with information about corrupt actors in these countries who are violating U.S. laws or moving proceeds of their crimes in or through the United States may report the conduct in Spanish or English at combatiendocorrupcion@fbi.gov. Tips regarding possible corruption or movements of ill-gotten funds that are received through the email address will be reviewed by the Anticorruption Task Force. Tipsters who want to report suspicious or criminal activity can also contact the HSI Tip Line by calling (866) 347-2423. 

The Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting FCPA matters. Additional information about the Justice Department’s FCPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

Attorney General James Leads Multistate Coalition Calling for Expanded Access to Work Authorization for New Immigrants

 

AG James and Coalition of 19 Attorneys General Urge DHS to Expedite Process to Support Asylum-Seekers and Migrants

New York Attorney General Letitia James led a multistate coalition of 19 attorneys general calling on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to expedite and expand access to work authorization for newly arrived immigrants, especially asylum-seekers and migrants. In a letter to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, the coalition commends the Department’s efforts in September to remove barriers to securing work authorization, and requests additional action to protect new immigrants and make it easier for them to support their families by securing stable jobs. 

“New immigrants, so many of whom fled horrific circumstances in pursuit of a better life in America, deserve an opportunity to find good-paying, stable jobs,” said Attorney General James. “It is unconscionable that after all the suffering they’ve endured on their journey, they encounter bureaucratic roadblocks preventing them from pursuing the American dream. Asylum-seekers and migrants are particularly vulnerable to abuse and exploitation, and I thank my fellow attorneys general for joining this effort to ensure they are treated with dignity.” 

While many new immigrants, including those seeking asylum status, are eager to find employment to provide for themselves and their families, without work authorization they have been forced to rely on state and local safety net programs for food and shelter. As the coalition of attorneys general notes, the arduous process of obtaining work authorization leaves many immigrant families without stable housing and forces some to seek work in the underground economy, where they are targets for exploitation. 

Current work authorization applications often require expensive fees or complex fee waiver requirements, preventing a large portion of immigrants from even applying for the permit. Backlogs in the approval of work authorization permits have led to months-long wait times for approval. Migrants from regions such as Haiti have been disproportionately impacted, with their humanitarian parole status expiring before their work authorization is granted. Such structural barriers prevent these vulnerable populations from becoming self-sufficient and building stable lives in America.  

The coalition fully supports DHS’ previous measures to improve access to work authorization which included speeding up application processing and increasing the amount of time that work authorization permits are valid for. However, the coalition’s letter notes that additional measures are needed to eliminate the barriers new immigrants face in finding stable jobs to support themselves. The coalition recommends DHS take four additional steps to expedite access to work authorization:  

• Grant provisional work authorization to allow eligible parolees and asylum-seekers to work while their full application for work authorization is pending. 
• Eliminate application fees for those granted humanitarian parole and allow applications with a fee waiver to be submitted online. 
• Re-parole those awaiting work authorization to prevent the expiration of their parole status while attempting to obtain employment. 
• Streamline the application processes to make it easier for immigrants to apply for work authorization and for DHS to process applications. For example, the coalition recommends simplifying and translating the work authorization application form into multiple languages to make it more accessible for applicants.  

Joining Attorney General James in signing on to this letter are the attorneys general of Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai’i, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia. 

This action is the latest example of Attorney General James fighting for immigrant communities. In August, Attorney General James stopped a fraudulent immigrant assistance provider that was misleading and intimidating immigrants in Westchester County and New York City. Also in August, Attorney General James joined a coalition of attorneys general calling on DHS to expedite work authorization for immigrants. In March, Attorney General James co-led a coalition of 22 attorneys general to push back against the ongoing effort by Texas to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. In November 2022, Attorney General James sued a fraudulent Brooklyn property owner for cheating at least 20 immigrant families. In 2021, Attorney General James led a coalition of 16 states to stop deportations of undocumented immigrants and sued a bail bonds company that used deceptive and abusive tactics to prey on immigrants held in federal detention. In 2020, Attorney General James led a coalition of states successfully arguing before the Supreme Court in favor of keeping DACA in place. 

Governor Hochul Updates New Yorkers on Nation-Leading Actions to Address Opioid and Overdose Epidemic

 

Under Governor Hochul’s Leadership New York has Distributed Opioid Settlement Funds To Impacted Communities Faster Than Any Other State

$6 Million Investment Supporting Mobile Medication Units in High-Needs Areas

$20 Million Investment Supporting Development & Training for Addiction Services Specialists

Governor Kathy Hochul highlighted New York State as a national leader in combatting the devastating effects of opioid addiction, leading the nation in providing opioid settlement funding directly to impacted communities statewide. Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York has distributed opioid settlement funds to impacted communities faster than any other state. Recent actions to address the opioid and overdose crisis include ensuring all $192 million in first-year Opioid Settlement Funds were allocated by August 2023. Throughout the past year, New York State, led by the Office of Addiction Services and Supports and Department of Health, has distributed hundreds of millions of dollars to support a full continuum of prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery services designed to increase access to help and support in every area of the state.

“I know how devastating it is watching a loved one navigate addiction, and how important it is to expand and enhance these services so that everyone is able to access the help and support they need,” Governor Hochul said. “We are distributing historic amounts of funding to address this crisis, including through the opioid settlement fund, which is allowing us to hold opioid manufacturers and distributors responsible for the role they have played in this crisis.”

Preliminary data shows more than 6,300 overdose deaths in New York State in 2022, with opioids involved in more than three-quarters of those deaths. To address this crisis, New York State is continuing to expand and enhance services to every area of the state, allowing all New Yorkers to access individualized services that best meet their needs.

Opioid Settlement Funding

In late October 2023, Governor Hochul announced that New York is leading the country with the pace and volume at which it is getting opioid settlement funding to organizations and local governments providing services in their communities. To date, New York State has made available all $192.8 Million available from the first year of settlement agreements with opioid manufacturers. This funding is supporting a variety of prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery initiatives to help New Yorkers impacted by the opioid and overdose crisis.

Initiatives supported through this funding include support for local governments, funding for supportive housing programs, expansions to treatment, including facilitating easier access to medication for addiction treatment (MAT) and other comprehensive addiction services, funding for recovery initiatives including recovery centers, outreach and engagement services to connect high-need individuals and populations with harm reduction and treatment services, prevention programs, and support for syringe exchange programs, drug user health hubs, increased telemedicine services particularly in rural areas of NYS, and the provision of harm reduction services to priority populations such as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), LGBTQ+, formerly incarcerated individuals, pregnant and parenting individuals, veterans, older adults and adolescents who use drugs. Additional information about these and other initiatives, and the status of settlement fund spending is available on the Opioid Settlement Fund Tracker on the OASAS website.

New York State is receiving more than $2 Billion through various settlement agreements with opioid manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies that were secured by Attorney General Letitia James. A portion of the funding from these settlements will go directly to municipalities, with the remainder deposited into a dedicated fund to support prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery efforts to address the ongoing opioid epidemic.

The same legislation that established the dedicated fund also created the Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board, which is tasked with making recommendations on how settlement dollars should be allocated to best serve those in need. Board members issued their first recommendations on November 1, 2022, identifying the expansion of harm reduction services and treatment as top priorities. The Board issued its second report on November 1, 2023.

Mobile Medication Units

In 2023, the first Mobile Medication Units (MMUs) began operation. These programs provide medication assessment, administration, and testing services to people in their own communities, and are designed to reach those who face barriers accessing brick-and-mortar locations. There are currently two operational MMUs in New York City, with several more set to begin operation statewide in the coming months.

OASAS has awarded $5.5 million in federal Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) supplemental funds to support the development of these programs across the state. MMUs offer services that include admission assessments and medication induction, medication administration and observation, toxicology tests, and other medical services. The development of MMUs is made possible by a DEA rule change, allowing them to be operated by existing Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) providers.

Overdose Prevention

In the last year, the OASAS launched a new online ordering system for fentanyl test strips, xylazine test strips, and naloxone. More than 3.2 million fentanyl test strips and 2.9 million xylazine test strips have been ordered across the state through this initiative. These lifesaving resources are available to all New Yorkers, free of charge. The State Health Department has also distributed 873,000 fentanyl test strips and 340,000 xylazine test strips in the last year.

The State Health Department has the most comprehensive overdose prevention program in the country, with more than 1,000 registered programs and 5,155 overdose prevention sites. In 2023, 404,592 naloxone kits were distributed by these programs. Through the above-mentioned OASAS online ordering mechanism, an additional 70,000 naloxone kits have been distributed. For those looking to learn how to use naloxone, OASAS offers virtual naloxone trainings, which are open to the public, and educate individuals on how to recognize an overdose, respond by administering naloxone, and what to do after naloxone is given.

Of additional significance, in September 2023, under Governor Hochul, major commercial pharmacies began carrying the medication both online and in stores, as the FDA approved over the counter naloxone.

In May 2023, the State Department of Health's Office of Drug User Health established four drug checking programs operated by Department-funded Drug User Health Hubs. This care initiative is providing information to individuals on the content of their drugs. The current programs are located in the Southern Tier, Central New York, the Capital Region and on Long Island. More programs are set to commence shortly.

The Department of Health has also expanded funding for Drug User Health Hubs located throughout NYS, allowing agencies to expand services to additional locations, extend hours, hire additional staff and peers, and implement additional services including mental health, reproductive health services, sexually transmitted infection screenings as well as primary care.

Workforce Support

Supporting the addiction workforce across the state also continues to be a top priority. Following back-to-back COLA increases in each of the last two budgets, OASAS also provided funding to support additional workforce related initiatives.

More than $13 million in opioid settlement funds were made available for individuals pursuing a bachelor's degree in Addiction Studies or the education requirements for an OASAS credential at Alfred State College, Stony Brook University, and Empire State University.

In addition, $7.8 million in federal SAPT supplemental funds was also made available for a new fellowship program at four medical schools in the state. This innovative addiction workforce training initiative, which is the first of its kind in New York State, is enabling 83 New York State fellows with professional healthcare experience to gain educational training and development to best meet the needs of New Yorkers impacted by addiction.

Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics

Governor Hochul is also dramatically expanding Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, which provide comprehensive services and coordinate care across behavioral health, physical health, and social service systems. Earlier this year, New York State awarded $3.5 million to establish seven new clinics in New York City and six in other regions, with an additional 13 clinics to be funded next year.

New York State has instituted an aggressive, multi-pronged approach to addressing the overdose epidemic, and created a nation-leading continuum of addiction care with full prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction services. The state has worked to expand access to traditional services, including crisis services, inpatient, outpatient, and residential treatment programs, as well as medication to treat addiction, and mobile treatment and transportation services.

Governor Hochul was a member of the NYS Heroin and Opioid Task Force, which in 2016, recommended new, non-traditional services, including recovery centers, youth clubhouses, expanded peer services, and open access centers, which provide immediate assessments and referrals to care. These services have since been established in numerous communities around the state and have helped people in need access care closer to where they live.

The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports oversees one of the nation’s largest substance use disorder systems of care with approximately 1,700 prevention, treatment and recovery programs serving over 731,000 individuals per year. This includes the direct operation of 12 Addiction Treatment Centers where our doctors, nurses, and clinical staff provide inpatient and residential services to approximately 8,000 individuals per year.

New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week HOPEline at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369).

Bronx Chamber of Commerce - Bronx Business News You Can Use

Upcoming Events, Legislative News, Grant Opportunities, & More Please view/allow images in your email program so you don't miss a thing!

(Friday) Extra, Extra Click here for this week's video: Brookyn Chamber of Commerce Honors Fellow Chamber Presidents at Their 2023 Winter Gala Bronx Chamber Staff Holiday Party SBRN Team Visits Local Businesses in Kingsbridge Area after Fire  Legislation & Advocacy New York Council Bills Up For Approval Upcoming Events The International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York 2024 March 3rd - 5th 2024

Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce Honors Fellow Chamber Presidents at their 2023 Winter Gala

Congratulations Are In Order Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce President Randy Peers honored our Bronx Chamber president, Lisa Sorin, along with the following Chamber of Commerce presidents: Linda Baran (Staten Island), Thomas Grech (Queens), and Jessica Walker (Manhattan) during their 2023 Winter Gala. For more about this amazing night, Click Here

Bronx Chamber Staff Holiday Party

The Bronx Chamber Team celebrates the holidays at The Havana Room in Thoggs Neck. . The Havana Room is an upscale indoor and outdoor private event space perfect for intimate receptions, celebrations, and more

The Chamber Team offers Resources to Businesses Destroyed by a Fire in Kingsbridge

The Bronx Chamber of Commerce and Small Business Resource Network share emergency resource materials with business owners in the Kingsbridge section of the Bronx where a row of businesses was destroyed from a fire in their neighborhood. For more information, email @Sbrn@bronxchamber.org

LEGISLATION & ADVOCACY

Introduction 563 would add a right to file a private civil action to the Earned Safe and Sick Time Act (ESSTA). This bill would allow employees who are alleging a violation of their rights under ESSTA to commence a civil action in any court of competent jurisdiction within two years from the date that they knew or should have known of the alleged violation. Introduction 632-A would amend the City’s Human Rights Law to prohibit housing discrimination on the basis of criminal history in New York City, with limited exceptions for certain crimes that are considered “reviewable.” Landlords, owners, agents, employees, and real estate brokers would be prohibited from accessing information about an applicant or potential applicant’s criminal history except for this reviewable criminal history, and any criminal background check process must follow the fair housing process outlined in the bill. Landlords, owners, agents, or brokers who receive criminal history other than the legally reviewable information must be able to show that they did not rely on such information in taking any adverse action against an applicant for housing. Introduction 586-A would require the NYPD to publicly report on all police-civilian investigative stops. For more information about the these and all of the bills, Click Here

‘TIS THE SEASON! WITH SOME HELPFUL SHOPPING TIPS FROM DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AND WORKER PROTECTION Last week the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) Commissioner Vilda Vera Mayuga issued annual Holiday Shopping Tips to help consumers navigate this holiday season. With these helpful multilingual tips, New Yorkers will be able to avoid seasonal scams and overspending while also learning how to create a budget and be smarter shoppers.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

NYC Funds Finder NYC's Department of Small Business Services (SBS) and Next Street announced the launch of a new platform connecting small businesses with trusted resources they need to open, grow, and maintain their business. The user-friendly platform – NYC Funds Finder is where small businesses can review funding options, including loans and grants, and request free 1-on-1 financing assistance from the SBS team.  NYC Funds Finder is a partnership between SBS and Next Street and the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth. Next Street Scale, the platform that powers NYC Funds Finder, was created to address the hurdles that small businesses, especially those run by women and minorities, face in accessing the resources required to grow their business and build wealth.

M/WBE Certification Unlocking Opportunities The Bronx Chamber of Commerce is proud to partner with NYC SBS to help guide you through the application process of getting certified as a Minority/Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE). This certification program, offered by NYC Small Business Services, is a critical initiative aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion in government contracting and procurement processes. The program seeks to create opportunities for businesses owned and operated by minority individuals and women, ensuring they have fair access to government contracts and economic opportunities, opens your business up to increased opportunities from New York City agencies, free advertising in the NYC Online Directory of Certified Businesses, mentorship programs and workshops, networking events, and more. The City has committed to awarding $16 billion in contracts to M/WBE certified organizations over the next decade--don’t miss out! Are you eligible? (Qualification checklist below) Business is legally authorized to transact business in New York City Business has been in operation for at least one year Business is more than 51% minority and/or woman owned

LOSS PREVENTION TECHNOLOGY SURVEY Loss Prevention Technology Survey, The Bronx Chamber of Commerce and our partners have issued a brief survey titled, "The Future is Here for Retail Theft Prevention." The survey seeks to understand business needs in the area of retail loss prevention. Take the Survey - Click Here

UPCOMING EVENTS

Reserve Your Spot

The International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York 2024 March 3rd - 5th from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Jacob Javits Center 429 11th Ave NY NY The International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York is a once-a-year event that focuses on serving the food service industry in the Northeast. Vendors offer you the opportunity to see the best in the restaurant and food service industry, from the newest food trends to the best technology to fit your restaurant and everything in between. This is your opportunity to find the latest and greatest for your operation. This is a ticketed event, for pricing and more information, Click Here

Reserve Your Spot

For the complete Bronx Chamber Events Calendar, featuring educational workshops, networking events and other opportunities hosted by the Chamber, its members, & partners, please visit and bookmark our website events calendar link in your browser - new events are added weekly!