Monday, February 1, 2016

New York City Public Advocate - Fighting for Children and Holding DOE Accountable









My fellow New Yorkers, 

Our City is responsible for providing a free and quality education to all children - including over 200,000 children with special education needs. 

But unfortunately, the City's Department of Education (DOE) is failing to properly track the needs of students with disabilities, resulting in a severe lack of services for these children and a loss of hundreds of millions worth of Medicaid revenue for the City. 

That's why this morning, I filed a lawsuit against DOE to force them to fix the broken computer system that is responsible for this failure to deliver basic services. 

I was joined this morning by Modisha, whose 6-year-old son has autism. He is supposed to receive services such as cognitive and behavioral therapy, all year round. He has gone weeks at a time without these services because of the failing system. 

This is our second lawsuit against DOE in six months regarding special education services. In August, we sued DOE for carrying children with disabilities to school on dangerously hot buses.

DOE has failed our children with disabilities for decades - ignoring pleas of parents, students, and teachers - and we will not stop fighting to get them the education, health, and safety they deserve. 
Sincerely,
Letitia James
New York City Public Advocate

KLEIN PASSES BILL BANNING VIOLENT SEX OFFENDERS FROM FAMILY SHELTERS



Five violent offenders still remain in shelters near families, young children
throughout New York City


ALBANY, NY - State Senator Jeff Klein passed legislation today (S.851) that would ban violent sex offenders from temporary emergency housing and family homeless shelters.

The bill, which would require that Level 2 and 3 sex offenders be placed in adult-only housing, passed the Senate unanimously (62-0), and would bring the shelter system up to speed with current public housing law, where sex offenders are already prohibited from residing.

“The city’s most vulnerable - children and young families seeking shelter - shouldn’t have to worry that they are at risk. While these families try to get back on their feet, the City is housing known violent offenders who have been convicted of preying on children – some as young as five and seven-years-old – right next door. If the city’s Department of Homeless Services continues to refuse to protect those most in need, then we will do so through state law. This legislation is necessary to ensure that our homeless families are not being preyed upon by sex offenders allowed to reside with them,” said Senator Klein.

After the release of a disturbing report last year, “Uncovering Sex Offenders in the New York City Family Shelter System,” Senator Klein revealed that nearly a dozen violent Level 2 and 3 offenders were residing in family shelters across the city. The report revealed that each offender had been hiding in plain sight - the offender’s publicly listed address was a family shelter. In one case, after a community in The Bronx railed against the residence of a sex offender in their family shelter, the offender was moved to another family shelter in Queens.

In February of 2015, the NYC Department of Homeless Services rushed to make a public announcement that the agency would move these dangerous individuals from housing where children reside. Despite this commitment, Senator Klein’s office recently learned that five of the offenders brought to light by his report continue to reside in the same family shelter they lived in last year, including the pedophile convicted of assaulting two young children.


Level 2 and 3 Offenders Still Residing in Family Homeless Shelters
Homeless Shelter
Address
Offender
Age of Victim
Henwood Family Residence
115 Henwood Place Bronx, NY 10453
Robert Brasier
13 years old
Cleveland Family Residence
1277 Morris Avenue Bronx, NY 10456
Henry Wren
Unknown
Seneca Houses
1215 Seneca Avenue Bronx, NY 10474
Jay Taylor
20 years old and 24 years old
Tilden Hall Family Residences
2520 Tilden Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11226
Darryl Jones
15 years old
Park Family Residences
154-00 Rockaway Blvd Jamaica, NY 11434
Warren Wilder
29 years old
Lincoln Atlantic

90-35 Van Wyck Expressway Jamaica, NY 11435
Joe Doveran
7 and 5 years old


Despite the fact that this vital legislation passed the Senate in 2011, 2013, 2014 and 2015, the Assembly has failed to pass it any year.

Kosova Independence Day Celebration 2/20/16



Celebrating 8 Years of Kosova 
Independence   
Save the Date! / Ruaje Daten! 

You are cordially invited to join Assemblyman 
Mark Gjonaj and numerous Albanian-American 
organizations as we celebrate the 

8th Anniversary of  
Kosova Independence  
Saturday, February 20, 2016
12:00pm5:00pm

Maestros Caterer's
1703 Bronxdale Avenue
Bronx, NY 10462

Tickets are $25.00 each - 
Sponsorships Available
Please RSVP by contacting (347) 671-4355

Bronx Assemblyman endorses Adam for Congress!



  Bronx Assemblyman Jose Rivera has endorsed Adam Clayton Powell for Congress.  My friend, this is huge!
 
Assemblyman Jose Rivera is a well-respected public official who has represented the Bronx for over 30 years as a City Councilman, State Assemblyman and as the Democratic County Leader.  He is known as a fierceless advocate on behalf of his constituents and others in the various causes he has pursued over the years.
 
Assemblyman Jose Rivera declared:  "I've known Adam and have worked with him for over 20 years.  I saw this young man get elected to the NY City Council in 1991.  We served together in the City Council and in the State Assembly and so I have witnessed his passion and dedication to our communities.  When others were turning their backs on us, Adam was always there.  He was there to fight for the release of the Puerto Rican political prisoners.  He was there to fight for the people of Vieques and even went to jail for civil disobedience in an effort to stop the U.S. Navy from bombing that island.  Eventually, the Navy left and today the people of Vieques live in peace thanks to Adam Clayton Powell.  I have seen this young man grow.  Adam has the experience, the energy, and the commitment to represent all of us in the United States Congress."

Upcoming Feb. Events at JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center



  On Tuesday, Feb. 9th, the Annabella Gonzalez Dance Theater will present a program of modern and classical dance at 1:00 PM. Shannon Maynor  will perform the Plum Ferry solo from The Nutcracker. AGDT preserves and interprets Mexican folklore through dance. A nutritious kosher lunch of BBQ chicken breast or egg salad, brown rice pilaf, kale and fruit will be served at 12:15 PM followed by the dance program at 1:00 PM. Refreshments will be served. 
Recommended Senior Meal Contribution: $2.50 and $2.00 for event Non-senior Meal Fee: $5.00 and Event Fee: $3.00 Contact JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center office at 718-549-4700 for meal reservations by Fri. Feb. 5th. 

  On Thursday, Feb. 11th, join conductor Cesare Civetta for a “Tribute to Jack Benny,” a multimedia presentation on the life of one of the most beloved comedians of the 20th century. Civetta will share rare footage and little known details about the great entertainer. Lunch of lemon salmon or turkey salad, zucchini rice pilaf, winter blend vegetables will be served at 12:15 PM followed by the presentation at 1:00 PM. Recommended senior meal contribution is $2.50 and event contribution: $2.00.Non-senior Meal Fee: $5.00 and Event Fee: $3.00. Refreshments will be served. Contact JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center office at 718-549-4700 for meal reservations by Tues. Feb. 9th. 

  All meals at JASA Van Cortlandt Senior Center are catered by Mauzone (kosher) Meal Service. We offer a daily alternate choice of main dish. Call the senior center office to request the alternative meal option from 9:30 – 10:30 AM. Refreshments are served at all special events. 
  
  We are located on the first floor of the Van Cortlandt Jewish Center at 3880 Sedgwick Ave. Take the Bronx #1, 2 or 10 bus to the intersection of Sedgwick Ave. and Van Cortlandt Ave. West. For more Information, please call the center office at 718-549-4700.

Assemblyman Dinowitz Announces State Tax Forms Are Now Available in His Community Office



  Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz announced that New York State tax forms are now available to be picked up at his district office. Constituents are invited to stop by Assemblyman Dinowitz’s office on 3107 Kingsbridge Avenue between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, to receive a form, free of charge.

“Each year, constituents ask me when up-to-date state tax forms will be available again in my office,” said Assemblyman Dinowitz. “While New York residents are encouraged to file their taxes online, some may not have access to a computer or may otherwise prefer to mail their forms. I welcome those constituents to stop by my office to pick up a form and get an early start on their taxes!”

Current versions of the most frequently requested state tax forms will be available upon request. Constituents should know which forms they need prior to their arrival.

AM Dinowitz Denounces Unnecessary Con Ed Rate Hike, Vows Major Push to Pass Utility Consumer Advocate Legislation



  Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz has released a statement denouncing Consolidated Edison Inc.’s recently proposed rate hike that would increase costs to ludicrous new heights for countless New Yorkers and local businesses. Additionally, the Assemblyman announced he will be making his bill creating the independent Office of the Utility Consumer Advocate (A. 180) a top priority for the legislative session once again.

The rate hike proposed by Con Edison would increase the average electricity customer’s bill by 4.5%, while the average gas customer would see an 8.2% increase. If approved by the Public Service Commission, the increase would take effect on January 1, 2017.  According to Con Ed, average New York City residential customer using 300 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month would see a bill increase from $78.52 per month to $82.63 per month. A typical residential customer using natural gas for heating would see an average monthly bill increase from $142.31 to $153.30.

“I wish I could be surprised at this sort of proposal from Con Ed,” said Assemblyman Dinowitz who chairs the Assembly Committee on Consumer Affairs, “however it’s not surprising at all and I’m afraid this is just what New Yorkers have come to expect from Con Ed – high costs, low quality service, and no accountability. Add to that the astounding lack of representation that consumers have during rate hike proceedings and it is easy to see how New Yorkers pay the highest utility costs in the continental United Stated. That is why I have sponsored a bill creating the independent Office of the Utility Consumer Advocate (A. 180).”

New York’s utility consumers are currently represented by the Public Service Commission and the Utility Intervention Unit; however, neither entity is independent nor has a responsibility to advocate solely on behalf of ratepayers. Assemblyman Dinowitz’s legislation would protect consumers by creating a Utility Consumer Advocate office to ensure ratepayers are properly represented in regulatory proceedings at both the state and federal level.

“The UCA would help level the playing field between powerful utility providers and New York families to ensure transparency and accountability at a time when New Yorkers pay some of the highest utility rates in the nation,” said Mr. Dinowitz. “This legislation aims to give those most impacted by high utility costs a seat at the table, saving them a considerable amount of money when it comes to their utility bills. The establishment of a UCA will not only give New York consumers an active voice, but also increase oversight in how utility rates are set and services are provided.”

Under Assemblyman Dinowitz’s legislation, the office of the UCA would be required to submit an annual report to the governor and the Legislature – which would be made available to the public – containing information regarding proceedings the UCA participated in and the outcomes of those proceedings. Additionally, the report would include estimated savings to residential utility consumers which resulted from intervention by the UCA, as well as policy recommendations and changes to the law that will benefit consumers. In states where such offices exist, residential consumers have seen drastic savings on their utility costs in comparison to the amount of funding these offices require in order to operate. The UCA would be appointed by the governor, subject to Senate confirmation and serve a term of six years. Currently, 40 states and the District of Columbia have some sort of independent consumer advocate office. New York is the largest state without any such office by far.

"New York City residents regularly pay the highest electric rates in the nation - more than twice the national average - and Con Ed now wants over half a billion dollars more, or $636 million, to deliver electricity and gas to customers' homes. Con Ed's proposal for a 9.5 percent electric increase and 13.4 percent gas increase on that portion of the bill state regulators control, the delivery charge, is simply too much. Over half of city Generation X and Baby Boomer voters, including two thirds of African-Americans and Hispanics, are already concerned about being able to pay their utility bills, according to a 2015 AARP survey,” said Beth Finkel, State Director of AARP for New York State. “This is another example of why AARP continues to support Assemblyman Dinowitz's legislation to have New York join 40 other states by establishing a strong, independent advocate for who can fight for utility consumers when unaffordable rate hikes are on the table."

"New York is facing a crisis of affordability, where working families are falling farther and farther behind on their energy bills,” said Elizabeth Jorgensen Council for the Public Utility Law Project (PULP). “When Con Edison, the most expensive electric utility in the Continental United States, seeks to raise its rates by hundreds of millions of dollars like it did last Friday, it makes a bad situation worse for low-income and fixed-income New Yorkers."

“New York is one of the only states without an independent Utility Consumer Advocate, and New Yorkers across the state are paying the price for it,” said Assemblyman Dinowitz. The price of gas and oil in the U.S. right now is as cheap as it’s been in over a decade, and yet Con Ed has the gall to ask its customers for an 8.2% increase? This is absurd. How is a senior on a fixed income supposed to pay an additional 4.5% in electricity costs? How is a minimum wage worker making $8.75 an hour supposed to pay an extra $10.99 just to heat their apartment?”

Sunday, January 31, 2016

Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman - Ticket Industry Abuses, IRS Scams & More


AG banner_NEW









Uncovering Abuse In The Ticket Industry

Ever wondered why you’ve had trouble purchasing tickets to see your favorite performer? A new report issued by the Attorney General has answers. The wide-ranging, three year investigation found that consumers are often prevented from accessing tickets at affordable prices – or even accessing them at all. Pre-sale tickets, high fees and ticket bots which snatch up tickets that are subsequently sold at higher prices all make the ticketing industry a fixed game. This investigation is just the beginning of the Attorney General’s efforts to create a level playing field in the ticket industry.

Protecting New Yorkers Against Scams

New Yorkers should be wary of telephone scammers posing as officials from the Internal Revenue Service. The Attorney General recently received an uptick in complaints on these scams, which often target seniors, students, and first-generation Americans. The scam typically involves a caller holding themselves out as an IRS agent or representative from the Attorney General’s office inquiring about a past due tax balance that is owed. The caller will state that unless the debt is paid immediately, a team of officers will come to the victim’s home that day to arrest the victim. New Yorkers should remember that IRS and legitimate government agencies never demand payment by phone. If you think you are being scammed, remember that you can always say no and hang up the phone. The Attorney General urges anyone who thinks they have been the victim of fraud to immediately contact his office. 

Protecting Medicaid Against Fraudulent Billing

A Capital Region transportation company will repay Medicaid more than $1 million for overbilling the program. Over several years, Advantage Transit Group submitted reimbursements for transportation services that were not rendered. Many New Yorkers rely on Medicaid for essential health care services, and when companies take advantage of the program, it burdens taxpayers and patients alike. The Attorney General will continue to identify abuses and put Medicaid money back where it belongs.

Stopping Abuse Of Nursing Home Residents

The Attorney General announced the arrest of a Buffalo area social worker for allegedly pushing a nursing home patient to the ground. The alleged incident, caught on video surveillance, shows Susan Sanborn pushing the resident and then kicking the resident’s legs out of the way of the exit door as she left the unit. It is charged that Sanborn did not wait with the resident for medical assistance and did not return to check on the wellbeing of the resident. The Attorney General will not tolerate anyone being abused by those responsible for their care. 

Battling Public Corruption

With Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, the Attorney General announced the guilty plea of Robert Wiesner, the former Security Director for the Monroe County Water Authority, for working with others to rig the bidding process for a multi-million dollar public works contract in Monroe County.  Wiesner and other individuals were initially charged with a scheme to rig the bidding process for a number of multi-million dollar public works contracts in Monroe County.  Wiesner admitted that he acted in concert with others between March 2008 and approximately October 2013, to rig the bidding process of Monroe County for a $212 million public safety contract.
Have a question, comment, or complaint? Click here. You can also learn more about the various initiatives of the Attorney General's office by visiting our website at ag.ny.gov