COIB Settlements Announced

 

The New York City Conflicts of Interest Board (the “Board”) announces two settlements.

Misuse of City Time. A Sanitation Worker at the New York City Department of Sanitation (“DSNY”) also worked for a private delivery company. On 80 days, he reported working simultaneously at DSNY and at the delivery company, resulting in 67 hours and 52 minutes of overlapping time. To resolve his misuse of City time, the now-former Sanitation Worker agreed to pay a $3,500 fine. The Disposition is attached as “COIB Disposition (DSNY).”

 

Post-Employment Appearance Ban. A former Assistant Commissioner for the Bureau of Maternal, Infant & Reproductive Health at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (“DOHMH”) communicated on two occasions with her former agency on behalf of her new employer, the Good+ Foundation, within two months of leaving City service. In doing so, she violated the post-employment appearance ban, which prohibits most public servants from communicating, for compensation, with their former City agency for one year after leaving City service. To resolve her violations, the former Assistant Commissioner agreed to pay a $1,200 fine. The Disposition is attached as “COIB Disposition (DOHMH).”

Biweekly News from State Senator Gustavo Rivera!

 

SENATOR RIVERA JOINS LATINO DEMS FOR A COMMUNITY FIELD DAY!

Last month, the Latino Dems hosted their first Community Field Day St. James Park in partnership with Senator Rivera, Assembly Member Yudelka Tapia, and Council Member Pierina Sanchez. The event included a series of community soccer matches and provided fresh produce and non-perishable goods. Organizations like Theory 9, Hands Off NYC, CUNY Citizenship Now, Northern Manhattan Improvement Corporation (NMIC), Neighborhood Association-Inter-Cultural Affairs (NAICA), and the Dominican Bar Association were also in attendance to share information and valuable resources!

MOST RECENT INTERN CYCLE AT SENATOR RIVERA'S OFFICE!

Senator Rivera and his staff commend the interns from the most recent cycle for their hard work, growth, and leadership. They helped the team prepare for back-to-school pop-ups throughout the district, the main event held at St. James Park earlier in August, and backpack distributions to local organizations. They also provided valuable support with constituent services, media, and administrative tasks in the office. The team wishes them success during the fall semester!

SENATOR RIVERA JOINS THE INSTITUTE FOR FAMILY HEALTH'S COMMUNITY HEALTH FAIR

Thank you to the Institute for Family Health for inviting Senator Rivera to its annual Community Health Fair at the Walton Family Health Center, where constituents received valuable health and wellness resources. Senator Rivera was also available to speak with constituents about healthcare and policy.

Throughout the month of August, Senator Rivera distributed hundreds of bookbags and school supplies at a series of Back-to-School pop-up events for families across his district, by hosting and supporting several Back-to-School giveaway events organized by local community organizations.

Back-to-School event at Tracey Towers hosted by Ms. Jean Hill, alongside congressional candidate Darializa Avila Chevalier.

Bookbag distribution during the farmers market organized by the Riverdale Neighborhood House.

Giveaway organized by the Pelham Parkway Neighborhood Association.

Giveaway during the Ryer Youth Sports & Enrichment (RYSE) Basketball Tournament.

Team Rivera joins Fordham University during their 5th Annual Back-to-School celebration and backpack distribution!

Senator Rivera is honored to be recognized in Environmental Advocates NY’s 2026 Environmental Scorecard and to rank among the top 10% of state legislators who fought for environmental priorities this past session. His bill, S6892A, the Lead Pipe Replacement Act, would establish a statewide plan to replace New York’s lead service lines by 2037 and help protect our drinking water.

Check out EANY Scorecard!

TUESDAY 9/8: JOIN SENATOR RIVERA AT HIS BACK TO SCHOOL POP-UP GIVEAWAY IN VAN NEST PARK!

9/17: NEW YORK HEALTH ACT 101 WITH NYC DSA HEALTHCARE WORKING GROUP!

DEADLINE 9/10: UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY FELLOWSHIP 2026-27

The New York Metro Chapter of Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP NY Metro) is pleased to announce that applications are now open for our Universal Healthcare Legislative Advocacy Fellowship (UHLAF) 2026-2027 session. This fellowship is designed to engage health workers, students, and advocates who are interested in participating in healthcare reform advocacy. The curriculum is structured to cultivate practical skills that are not only valuable for advocating for the NY Health Act - New York’s state-level single-payer bill - but are also readily transferable to other advocacy campaigns and organizing work. This fellowship runs as a cohort, so we ask people to commit to attending all (or most) of the sessions. We value being able to build community between participants and with PNHP NY Metro members during this fellowship to strengthen our clarity, competence, connection, and commitment together for health justice. The fellowship will run from October 2026 through April 2027 via Zoom. Monthly sessions are generally on the first Thursday of each month, from 7:30pm to 9:00pm. Topics range from Albany’s legislative structure and politics to relational organizing and storytelling skills. The sessions will incorporate presentation, group discussion, work in small groups and in-session homework review. Participants are expected to contribute approximately 5 hours per month from October to April, with a slight increase in March in preparation for Lobby Day and its aftermath.  For Lobby Day, participants will focus on key districts across New York state and will be responsible for researching, preparing and coordinating a planning meeting with lobby team participants for a lobby meeting with a legislator. Lobby Day date is TBA (usually in mid-to-late March) and is in-person in Albany. It will include the NY Health Act and a slate of additional health justice related legislation. Tentative Session Schedule, all sessions are via Zoom 10/8/26 7:30-9:30pm 10/22/26 7:30pm-8:30pm 11/5/26 7:30pm-9:00pm 12/3/26 7:30pm-9:00pm 1/7/27 7:30pm-9:00pm 1/21/27 7:30pm-8:30pm 2/4/27 7:30pm-9:00pm 2/18/27 7:30pm-8:30pm 2/25/27 7:30pm-8:30pm TBD Two March Dates* 4/8/27 7:30pm-9:00pm In between sessions, there may be optional Study Group Hours - an open one-hour space for the cohort to discuss, process, and build community - perhaps akin to office hours or small group discussion. These will be informal - for example, you can talk about items that have been “bike racked” during sessions, connect with other individual members, role play with your team before Lobby Day, lead a workshop session of your own making. The director or other mentors will be available at these gatherings. We welcome students, health workers, and a broad variety of health justice advocates from across New York to apply, as we strive to create an interdisciplinary, diverse cohort. Any questions about the fellowship or this application can be directed to YuLing Koh Hsu, Director of the Universal Healthcare Legislative Advocacy Fellowship: yuling@pnhpnymetro.org. Acceptance announcements will be emailed on Wednesday September 23, 2026.

Apply Here!

DEADLINE 9/14: WEST BRONX COMMUNITY SAFETY PARTNERSHIP - APPLY NOW!

Now in its third year, The We Are The Bronx Fellowship Against Hate (WATBFAH) is more than a professional development opportunity — it’s a call to action and an opportunity to learn, connect and lead. Organized by Riverdale Y in partnership with JCRC-NY, the Mayor’s Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes (as part of the PATH-Forward initiative), and the offices of Assemblymember Jeffrey Dinowitz and Councilmember Eric Dinowitz, this fellowship is designed for those who are ready to lead with purpose, courage, and collaboration. Why Apply? This transformative fellowship brings together a diverse cohort of mid- to senior-level leaders from Bronx-based nonprofits, faith communities, and government agencies — people who are on the front lines in their neighborhoods and communities.  Through a series of dynamic workshops, inspiring speakers, interactive site visits, and a powerful overnight journey to Washington, DC, fellows will gain tools, strategies, and relationships that amplify their impact. Each session will spotlight a different Bronx neighborhood, and a different community that calls the Bronx home, ensuring participants experience the borough’s full richness and complexity — all locations will be accessible via public transit. Participants will also have access to seed funding to design and launch a community-focused initiative that fosters unity, addresses bias, and creates real change across communities that is organized by all of the fellows, together.

Sign-up for Fellowship

Application Timeline Applications Open: Monday, August 17, 2026 Applications Due: Friday, December 11, 2026 Rolling Interviews: December 14–17, 2026 Acceptance Letters Sent: Friday, December 18, 2026

Release of Body Worn Camera Footage from an Officer Involved Shooting that Occurred on August 16, 2026 in the confines of the 7th Precinct

 

The NYPD is releasing body-worn camera footage from an officer-involved shooting that occurred on August 16, 2026, in the confines of the 7th Precinct.

The video includes available evidence leading up to the incident as well as during the incident. The NYPD is releasing this video for clear viewing of the totality of the incident.

You can find the video here 

Comptroller Levine Unveils 2026 Edition of the Employer Violations Dashboard Tracking Companies Violating Key Labor Laws

Dashboard Released Ahead of Labor Day Highlights Employers with Worst Violations of Workers' Rights in 2025  

The Office of New York City Comptroller Mark Levine released the 2026 edition of the Employer Violations Dashboard – a tool that consolidates data from federal, state, and city enforcement agencies – to identify employers who violated key labor laws across the five boroughs.  

Launched on Labor Day in 2024 and updated annually, the Comptroller’s Employer Violations Dashboard tracks private employers’ violations of a range of workplace laws, including health and safety violations, wage theft, prevailing wage violations, illegal interference with unionization efforts, and discrimination and harassment.  

“New York City has a rich history in the labor movement to secure hard-fought rights,” said Comptroller Mark Levine. “The Employer Violations Dashboard is an essential tool to hold bad actors accountable and help working New Yorkers understand who does or does not foster a healthy work environment.”  

The Comptroller’s Bureau of Labor Law compiles labor violations investigated by government agencies and provides detailed information on offenses committed by private sector employers, including some contracted by public entities, within New York City between 2024-2025. The information can be searched by violation or by employer, and the full dataset is available for download. 

The Employer Violations Dashboard most notably highlights employers with the most frequent and severe violations. Last year, employers cited for being the worst in New York City for violating federal, state, and city laws included Starbucks, Amazon, Door Dash, among others (Listed alphabetically): 

Alba Services, Inc., a company specializing in demolition and carting that along with its owner and affiliates, entered into a $1.5 million settlement with the New York State Office of the Attorney General for nearly a decade of worker exploitation and abuse affecting over 700 employees.  

Amazon had the highest number of open Unfair Labor Practices (ULP) claims for the full period encompassed by the Dashboard, from 2020 to 2025. The e-commerce company had 197 alleged ULPs in 75 open cases, including scores of allegations of illegal interference in union organizing. 

Americare, a licensed home care services agency, had the largest wage and hour legal settlement with the Attorney General’s Office last year, paying $45 million to more than 10,000 current and former employees.  Americare failed to pay home health aides the full compensation they were entitled to over a six-year period under the New York State Wage Parity Act. 

Champion Electrical Mechanical Builder Corp. reached a settlement with the Comptroller’s Office for failure to pay prevailing wages to six workers on public work construction projects and for falsifying payroll records. The settlement totaled $295,901.08, including interest and civil penalties, and the contractor is barred from bidding on or being awarded public works contracts with the City of New York for five years. 

Door Dash had the largest state-level settlement for deceptive tipping practices after its $16.75 million agreement with the Attorney General’s Office. An investigation found that DoorDash used customer tips to offset the base pay it had guaranteed to its delivery drivers.  

Fresh & Co. was ordered by the New York City Commission on Human Rights to pay a worker $45,000, plus an additional $60,000 in civil penalties, for failing to prevent sexual harassment at one of the locations. In this case, the worker had been routinely verbally and sexually harassed by a staff member in a supervisory role. 

INS Handbags, Inc. and its owner paid more than $200,000 to a former employee after the Commission on Human Rights determined it forced the pregnant worker into a less safe retail location over her objections, wrongfully terminated her because of her pregnancy, and failed to distribute legally mandated notices regarding workplace rights. 

JAB Industries Inc., a construction company that works on both commercial and residential properties, failed to address an excavation hazard on a construction site in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bushwick, leading them, in 2025, to receive the two most severe violations for workplace safety tracked in the Dashboard – one violation from the federal government’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the other from the New York City Department of Buildings.  

Starbucks was required to pay $38.9 million in restitution and civil penalties to over 15,000 workers for violations of the Fair Workweek Law in what became last year’s largest settlement with the New York City Department Consumer and Worker Protection. The coffee company was noncompliant with many aspects of the Fair Workweek Law, including not providing its employees at more than 300 locations with stable and predictable schedules, not giving employees the opportunity to pick up additional hours, and failing to  state a performance-related reason when shifts were reduced by 15%. Last year, Starbucks also had three violations in two closed ULP cases related to bad faith bargaining and illegal discharge of workers.

You can view the Employer Violations Dashboard here: https://comptroller.nyc.gov/services/for-the-public/employer-violations-dashboard/about-the-dashboard/

Illegal Alien from Georgia Charged for Conspiracy to Launder Proceeds of $1.3B Health Care Fraud Scheme

A federal grand jury in the District of Massachusetts returned an indictment charging Erekle Gugava, 33, an illegal alien from Georgia, with conspiracy for laundering proceeds in connection with a $1.3 billion health care fraud scheme.

According to court documents, Gugava was a money launderer for the transnational criminal organization (the Organization) responsible for the largest health care fraud case ever prosecuted by the Department of Justice, as uncovered by Operation Gold Rush. The Organization, based in Russia and elsewhere, orchestrated a multi-billion-dollar health care fraud and money laundering scheme to target, exploit, and steal from Medicare and other health insurers

“Fraud networks cannot function without people willing to launder and transmit their proceeds — and deterring those facilitators is essential to safeguarding taxpayer resources,” said Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division. “As alleged in this indictment, Gugava allegedly helped facilitate a massive fraud on the American people by moving stolen proceeds through domestic and international financial channels. This indictment reflects our resolve to hold all participants in fraud networks accountable for their conduct.”

As alleged in charging documents, Gugava purportedly owned ND Medical Solutions LLC (ND Medical), a durable medical equipment (DME) company located in Pennsylvania, between February and July 2025. During the limited five-month span of Gugava’s purported ownership, ND Medical submitted at least $1.3 billion in fraudulent DME claims to Medicare, private health insurance companies that contracted to provide Medicare supplemental insurance policies, private employer-sponsored plans, and other insurers. These insurers paid ND Medical approximately $6.5 million.

As part of the scheme, Gugava facilitated the deposit and transfer of fraud proceeds. Among other things, he opened several bank accounts in the name of ND Medical — for which he was the sole signatory — and deposited checks from Medicare supplemental insurers and other health insurers into the ND Medical bank accounts. The funds were then ultimately transferred to various overseas bank accounts for the benefit of the Organization.

As alleged in charging documents, the fraudulent claims relied, in part, on the stolen identities of citizens from Massachusetts, across New England, and throughout the United States to justify the fraudulent billings. Many of these individuals, including elderly and disabled Americans, reported their concerns to Medicare and its contractors after receiving explanation of benefit forms that reflected them purportedly receiving DME that they did not in fact receive, that was purportedly prescribed by doctors whom they had never visited, and purportedly delivered from ND Medical — a DME company with which they were unfamiliar.

As further alleged, the Organization exploited the United States’ financial system by depositing insurance reimbursement checks from the fraud. The health care fraud proceeds were particularly susceptible to laundering because they originated from legitimate sources — Medicare and established private insurance carriers — giving the funds the initial appearance of legitimacy. 

Banking Surveillance Image of Gugava on Feb. 24, 2025, Related to ND Medical Bank Account Opening

Banking Surveillance Image of Gugava on June 9, 2025

Gugava is charged with one count of money laundering conspiracy. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division; U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley for the District of Massachusetts; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Special Agent in Charge Roberto Coviello; FBI Special Agent in Charge Wayne A. Jacobs; U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Boston Division Acting Inspector in Charge Justin Page; IRS Criminal Investigations Special Agent in Charge Thomas E. Demeo; Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeff Grimming of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New England; and U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (DOL-EBSA) Regional Director Kelly M. Lawson made the announcement.

HHS-OIG, FBI, USPIS, IRS, HSI, and DOL-EBSA are investigating the case.

Deputy Chief Kevin Lowell, Assistant Deputy Chief Jim Hayes, and Trial Attorneys Tiffany Wynn and Sarah Rocha of the National Fraud Enforcement Division’s Health Care Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Cleary for the District of Massachusetts are prosecuting the case.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (Fraud Division). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.

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

DEC ADVANCES NEXT PHASE OF LANDMARK EFFORT TO EXPAND WATER QUALITY PROTECTIONS IN NEW YORK CITY WATERS WITH PROPOSED NEWTOWN CREEK RECLASSIFICATION

 

Department of Environmental Conservation

Efforts Highlight Unprecedented Collaboration Between New York State DEC and New York City DEP to Improve Some of the States Most Polluted Waters 

Proposal Builds on State’s Multi-Year Initiative to Achieve More Uses in Marine Waters 

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton announced the next milestone of an unprecedented and ongoing collaboration to elevate water quality and ecological health in New York City’s saline (or marine) waters, ensuring future generations will inherit cleaner, safer waterways. This week, DEC submitted a proposal to upgrade waterbody classification regulations that strengthen water pollution and public health protections in Newtown Creek.

“This proposed reclassification is a significant positive announcement in a series of recent State efforts to protect water quality in and around New York City,” New York State DEC Commissioner Lefton said. “Thanks to Governor Hochul’s record investments in clean water, a waterway like Newtown Creek, previously known more for pollution than recreation, will eventually be home to boaters excited to get out on the water.” 

"The NYC Department of Environmental Protection is working hard to improve water quality in the New York Harbor and the results are showing, whether it’s upgraded classifications for water bodies such as Newtown Creek and the Harlem River, or the resurgence of wildlife such as whales and dolphins and even beavers,” New York City DEP Commissioner Lisa F. Garcia said.  “With renewed commitment from the Mamdani Administration, we look forward to continuing the collaboration with DEC to make our local waters cleaner and safer for all New Yorkers."  

The proposal will be available for public comment in the State Register and on DEC’s website on September 16, 2026, and marks the next milestone that builds upon decades of progress towards cleaner waterways in and around New York City (NYC). Opportunities for recreation in saline waters have been historically limited due to pollution from sewage via combined sewer overflows (CSO), a problem common to most large cities in the Northeast. 

Since 1974, DEC has worked closely with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to limit CSOs and greatly improve water quality. This includes more than $5 billion already spent by DEP on CSO capture and green infrastructure projects, and an additional $5.9 billion in DEP’s current 10-year capital plan. The CSO storage tunnel planned for Newtown Creek will capture an estimated 867 million gallons per year of CSO – a 72% reduction - at a cost to DEP of $3.4 billion to complete.

The proposed reclassification of Newtown Creek from Class SD to Class I adds protections for secondary contact recreation (boating), based on the latest United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommendations, and enhances protections for aquatic life propagation. The reclassification reflects the findings of extensive technical evaluations, including a Use Attainability Analysis (UAA) prepared by DEP in consultation with DEC and consistent with EPA guidance. This action considers current waterbody uses, ongoing environmental improvements, and the unique characteristics of this urbanized waterway with legacy pollution to establish appropriate water quality goals and guide future restoration efforts. 

Newtown Creek is a waterway largely influenced by a long history of industrial activities and maritime operations, with legacy pollution related to those activities compounding the influence of CSOs. The proposed reclassification focuses on the waterbody’s brighter, cleaner future, adding protections for recreation and aquatic life. The new protections for secondary contact recreation (boating) considered public input and results of a 2022 Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) showing that secondary contact recreation (boating) was the prevailing public use of the waterbody.  

The proposal would also add additional, more stringent water quality requirements to protect aquatic life communities within the creek. The proposed classification would establish the strongest protections for Newtown Creek to date and allow DEC to further reduce pollutant inputs, and safeguard progress already made toward improving water quality in the creek. DEC will continue to reevaluate the creek to analyze the improvements achieved by ongoing projects. This announcement demonstrates DEC’s commitment to setting protective goals for New York’s waters and our efforts to revise such goals to make meaningful improvements into the future. 

Since launching the saline waters reclassification effort in July 2022, DEC initiated a series of regulatory updates that amend key water quality standards and classifications in State environmental regulations. These landmark regulatory changes comprise the most significant water quality upgrades in New York’s saline waters in decades and together move the State’s saline waters towards the Clean Water Act’s (CWA) objective of waterways that support recreation and aquatic life. 

• Step one was the ANPRM, released July 27, 2022, that solicited data from the public on how they used NYS’s saline waters for fishing and recreational purposes. The ANPRM informed DEC of waters where recreational activities were being practiced and identified where water quality standards (WQS) and/or classifications may need to be upgraded to match those practiced uses. This novel and collaborative public outreach initiative informed waterbody-specific, data-driven decisions that focus on aligning waters with practiced uses and continued progress towards CWA goals.  
• Step two, adopted October 2023, added new water quality standards based on the best available science and EPA criteria recommendations to protect the primary contact recreation (swimming) and secondary contact recreation (boating) best uses identified by the public during the ANPRM. 
• Step three and beyond, including this proposed rulemaking, aims to reclassify waterbodies based on data received during the ANPRM and other data available to DEC. Reclassification aligns water quality protection goals to the best uses, and creates clear targets for water quality improvement projects. 
• DEC originally identified 54 waterbody segments with classifications that did not align with current uses and/or CWA goals; a rule adopted in October 2025 reclassified 30 of those segments.  
• Building on this momentum, the proposed rule announced today will address the one Newtown Creek segment and includes a comprehensive UAA as supporting documentation for the reclassification, following guidance from USEPA.  
• The subsequent rulemakings will address the remaining 23 segments and include UAAs, water quality standard variances, or other tools for waters that do not satisfy CWA goals. This work will help identify the highest attainable uses for waters while ensuring that future classifications are grounded in sound science and reflect both environmental conditions and ongoing restoration efforts.  

The full text of the proposed regulatory amendments and supporting documentation will be available on DEC’s website September 16 and can be requested by mail: NYSDEC, 625 Broadway, Albany NY 12233-3500, ATTN: Gwendolyn Wynkoop, by calling (518) 402-8194, or via e-mail at WQSrulemakings@dec.ny.gov. Details on the November 16 and November 19 public hearings will also be available on DEC’s website upon the start of the public comment period.