13 Members And Associates Of A Transnational Criminal Organization Charged In Federal Court With Firearms And Narcotics Offenses

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, William F. Sweeney Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and Richard Conway, Chief of the Port Chester Police Department, announced the unsealing of an Indictment charging CRISTIAN FERNANDEZ, JOHNNY FERNANDEZ, JESUS GONZALEZ, JUAN HERNANDEZ, JUAN PABLO RENDON-INZUNZA, NICOLE MAISONET, GABRIEL ORTIZ, a/k/a “Bebe,” MARIA ROLON, EDGARDO RUIZ, a/k/a “Roro,” HECTOR SANCHEZ, a/k/a “Tito,” GILBERT TORRES, FABIOLA VEGA, and JOHN VIEIRA, a/k/a “John-John,” with firearms and narcotics offenses.  The defendants have been charged as a result of their membership and participation in a transnational criminal organization that trafficked in firearms and narcotics, including heroin and methamphetamine.  Nine defendants were arrested or taken into federal custody on these charges today in various locations throughout the United States, namely Maryland, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York.  ORTIZ, who is in custody on state charges in Rochester, New York, will be transferred to federal custody as soon as possible.  ROLON, GONZALEZ, and INZUNZA have not been arrested to date. 

Six of the defendants – CRISTIAN FERNANDEZ, JOHNNY FERNANDEZ, JUAN HERNANDEZ, GILBERT TORRES, FABIOLA VEGA, and JOHN VIEIRA – were arraigned before United States Magistrate Judge Lisa Margaret Smith in White Plains federal court.  Three other defendants –EDGARDO RUIZ, NICOLE MAISONET, and HECTOR SANCHEZ – will be presented in federal courts in Maryland and Massachusetts. 

U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “As alleged, these defendants operated a nationwide drug distribution network to push heroin and methamphetamine onto U.S. streets.  Thanks to the dedicated work of the FBI and Port Chester Police, these defendants are behind bars and face significant prison time for their alleged crimes.”

FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr. said:  “The members of this criminal organization created a spider web of illegal drug sales, moving their drugs from south of the border and crisscrossing the states allegedly attempting covering their tracks.  These are the types of operations contributing to the deadly epidemic of overdoses in our country, indiscriminately killing people of all ages and races.  The FBI Westchester County Safe Streets Task Force and our law enforcement partners have created such a vital working relationship that we are having a significant impact in stopping the flow of illegal drugs at the source.” 

Port Chester Police Chief Richard Conway said:  “I'm very proud our Department’s role in this investigation, which is perhaps the largest scale operation we have ever undertaken. Today’s arrests represent an example to us all of what can be accomplished when agencies work together.”

According to the Indictment[1] unsealed today in White Plains federal court:

From 2017 to 2018, in the Southern District of New York and elsewhere, CRISTIAN FERNANDEZ, JOHNNY FERNANDEZ, JESUS GONZALEZ, JUAN HERNANDEZ, JUAN PABLO RENDON-INZUNZA, NICOLE MAISONET, GABRIEL ORTIZ, MARIA ROLON, EDGARDO RUIZ, HECTOR SANCHEZ, GILBERT TORRES, FABIOLA VEGA, and JOHN VIEIRA participated in a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances.  The criminal organization trafficked in both heroin and methamphetamine.  As part of the criminal organization, CRISTIAN FERNANDEZ and FABIOLA VEGA possessed firearms in furtherance of their narcotics trafficking and, together with co-defendants HERNANDEZ, RUIZ, and TORRES, participated in a conspiracy to deal in firearms without a license between 2017 and 2018.

The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided in the attached table for informational purposes only, as any sentencings of the defendants will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and the Port Chester Police Department.  Mr. Berman also thanked the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Westchester County Police Department, and the Peekskill Police Department for their assistance in this investigation. 

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.                                                     

United States v. Cristian Fernandez, et al.

CHARGE	DEFENDANTS	MAXIMUM PENALTIES
Count One Narcotics Conspiracy	CRISTIAN FERNANDEZ JOHNNY FERNANDEZ JESUS GONZALEZ JUAN HERNANDEZ, JUAN PABLO RENDON-INZUNZA NICOLE MAISONET GABRIEL ORTIZ, a/k/a “Bebe” MARIA ROLON EDGARDO RUIZ, a/k/a “Roro” HECTOR SANCHEZ, a/k/a “Tito” GILBERT TORRES FABIOLA VEGA JOHN VIEIRA a/k/a “John-John”	As to defendants CRISTIAN FERNANDEZ, GONZALEZ, INZUNZA, ORTIZ, RUIZ, SANCHEZ, VEGA: Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison As to defendants JOHNNY FERNANDEZ, HERNANDEZ, MAISONET, ROLON, TORRES, and VIEIRA: 40 years in prison with a mandatory minimum of five years in prison
Count Two Conspiracy to Deal in Firearms without a License	CRISTIAN FERNANDEZ JUAN HERNANDEZ EDGARDO RUIZ, a/k/a “Roro” GILBERT TORRES FABIOLA VEGA	Five years in prison
Count Three Firearms Offense	FABIOLA VEGA	Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of five years in prison
Count Four Firearms Offense	CRISTIAN FERNANDEZ	Life in prison with a mandatory minimum of five years in prison

 [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

New York City Pharmacy Owner Pleads Guilty To Committing $8.5 Million Fraud On Medicare And Medicaid

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that SAJID JAVED, an owner and operator of nine different pharmacies in the New York City area, pled guilty to participating in a health care fraud scheme that used his pharmacies to submit more than $8.5 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare and Medicaid.  JAVED was arrested in 2016 as part of an unprecedented nationwide sweep led by the Medicare Fraud Strike Force, resulting in criminal and civil charges against more than 300 individuals for their alleged participation in health care fraud schemes involving approximately $900 million in false billings.  JAVED pled guilty in Manhattan federal court before the Honorable Vernon S. Broderick. 

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “As he admitted in court today, Sajid Javed fraudulently billed Medicare and Medicaid more than $8.5 million for drugs that were never actually dispensed. He did this by inducing others to forego their prescription medications for kickbacks. This scheme not only put patients at risk, it also contributed to the multibillion-dollar theft of federally funded public health care subsidies.”

According to the Complaint and the Superseding Information filed in Manhattan federal court, and statements made in connection with JAVED’s guilty plea:

While owning and operating nine different pharmacies in Brooklyn and Queens, JAVED perpetrated a multimillion-dollar scheme to defraud Medicare and Medicaid programs by seeking reimbursement for prescription drugs that were never distributed to customers.  From January 2013 through July 2015, JAVED obtained more than $8.5 million in reimbursements from Medicare and Medicaid for prescription drugs that his pharmacies never actually dispensed to customers.  JAVED tricked Medicare and Medicaid into paying these reimbursements by obtaining prescriptions from individuals who were willing to forego delivery of the medications in exchange for a share of the reimbursements.  JAVED offered to pay, and in fact paid, such kickbacks in furtherance of the unlawful scheme.           

JAVED, 47, of Fresh Meadows, Queens, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.  The maximum potential sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

JAVED is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Broderick on August 24, 2018, at 2:30 p.m.

Mr. Berman praised the investigative work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General.

5 Members Of Slip-And-Fall Scheme Charged With Defrauding New York City-Area Businesses And Their Insurance Companies Of More Than $31.7 Million

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, William F. Sweeney Jr., the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), and James P. O’Neill, the Commissioner of the New York City Police Department (“NYPD”), announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging PETER KALKANIS, BRYAN DUNCAN, KERRY GORDON, ROBERT LOCUST, and RYAN RAINFORD with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, mail fraud, and wire fraud in connection with a scheme to obtain fraudulent insurance reimbursement and other compensation for fraudulent slip-and-fall accidents.  The Indictment also charges PETER KALKANIS with one count of aggravated identity theft.  The five defendants were arrested earlier this morning and will be presented today before United States Magistrate Stewart D. Aaron in Manhattan federal court.  The case has been assigned to United States District Judge Laura Taylor Swain.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “As alleged, these defendants employed one of the oldest plays in the fraudster handbook – the fake slip-and-fall routine – to develop a network of ‘fall victims’ to obtain an astonishing $31 million in fraudulent insurance and compensation payouts.  Allegedly, some of the ‘victims’ went as far as having unnecessary surgery to increase the likelihood of a higher settlement.  Today, however, these defendants’ fraud careers are over, and they will be forced to answer for their alleged crimes.”

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney Jr. said:  “The intentional misrepresentation of an accidental slip and fall, and the subsequent defrauding of businesses and insurance companies, is a reprehensible crime in and of itself.  But perhaps the most shocking allegation revealed today is the fact that additional incentives were offered for participants to undergo surgery in order to receive payment for their involvement. One thing is for sure – the alleged activity carried out by Kalkanis and his co-conspirators was no accident, and neither are our charges today.”

As alleged in the Indictment unsealed today in Manhattan federal court[1]:

Since 2013, the defendants have been engaged in a widespread fraud scheme through which the defendants defrauded businesses and insurance companies by staging slip-and-fall accidents and filing fraudulent lawsuits arising from those staged slip-and-fall accidents.  The fraud scheme participants recruited individuals to stage slip-and-fall accidents at particular locations throughout New York City and to claim that they injured themselves as a result of their accidents.  The recruited patients were directed to claim that they had injured themselves and to seek medical treatment. 

After the staged slip-and-fall accidents, recruited patients were referred to specific attorneys who would file lawsuits against the owners of the accident sites and/or insurance companies of the owners of the accident sites (the “Victims”).  The lawsuits did not disclose that the recruited patients had deliberately fallen at the accident sites or, in some cases, had not fallen at all.  During the course of the fraud scheme, the defendants, together with others known and unknown, attempted to defraud the Victims of at least $31,791,000.

The recruited patients were also instructed to receive ongoing chiropractic and medical treatment from certain chiropractors and doctors.  The fraud scheme participants advised the recruited patients that if they intended to continue with their lawsuits, they were required to undergo surgery.  As an incentive to getting surgery, the recruited patients were offered a payment after they completed surgery as well as a percentage of any settlement payment from their lawsuit. 

KALKANIS, a former chiropractor, was the organizer and leader of the scheme.  As alleged in the indictment, KALKANIS paid his co-defendants to recruit patients into the scheme and transport the patients to medical and attorney appointments.  KALKANIS also organized the recruited patients’ legal and medical appointments, and assisted in procuring the funding for the recruited patients’ medical treatment and lawsuits.

DUNCAN, GORDON, LOCUST, and RAINFORD helped recruit patients into the fraud scheme, transported patients to medical and legal appointments, identified potential accident sites, and coached recruited patients on faking their injuries. 

KALKANIS, 70, Queens, New York, DUNCAN, 30, Queens, New York, GORDON, 34, Queens, New York, LOCUST, 52, Brooklyn, New York, and RAINFORD, 28, Queens, New York, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of mail fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  KALKANIS is also charged with one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a two year mandatory prison sentence.  The maximum potential sentences and minimum sentence in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencings of the defendants will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the FBI and the NYPD.  Mr. Berman also thanked the National Insurance Crime Bureau for their assistance in the investigation. 

The charges contained in the Indictment and Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.       

 [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Indictment, and the description of the Indictment set forth herein, constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

Third Co-Founder Of Cryptocurrency Company Charged In Manhattan Federal Court With Scheme To Defraud Investors

  Robert Khuzami, the Attorney for the United States, Acting Under Authority Conferred by 28 U.S.C. § 515, and William F. Sweeney Jr., the Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced the arrest of RAYMOND TRAPANI, a/k/a “Ray,” a co-founder of a cryptocurrency company called Centra Tech, Inc. (“Centra Tech”), and the unsealing of a criminal complaint charging TRAPANI with securities fraud and wire fraud offenses in connection with a scheme to induce victims to invest more than $25 million in investments through material misrepresentations and omissions in connection with an initial coin offering.  TRAPANI was arrested this morning and will be presented in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.  Two other Centra Tech co-founders, Sohrab Sharma, a/k/a “Sam Sharma,” and Robert Farkas, a/k/a “RJ,” a/k/a “Bob,” were arrested earlier this month based on a criminal complaint charging them with the same crimes.

Deputy U.S. Attorney Robert Khuzami said:  “As alleged, Raymond Trapani conspired with his co-defendants to lure investors with false claims about their product and about relationships they had with credible financial institutions.  While investing in virtual currencies is legal, lying to deceive investors is not.”

According to the allegations in the criminal Complaint unsealed in Manhattan federal court against TRAPANI:[1]

After TRAPANI worked with Sharma and Farkas at a luxury car rental company called “Miami Exotics” in Florida, the three of them co-founded a company called Centra Tech that claimed to have developed a debit card, the “Centra Card,” that purportedly allowed users to spend cryptocurrency to make purchases at any establishment that accepts Visa or Mastercard.  In approximately July 2017, TRAPANI, along with Sharma and Farkas, began soliciting investors to purchase unregistered securities in the form of digital tokens issued by Centra Tech, through a so-called “initial coin offering” or “ICO.”  As part of this effort, TRAPANI and his co-conspirators, Sharma and Farkas, in oral and written offering materials that were disseminated via the internet, represented: (a) that Centra Tech had an experienced executive team with impressive credentials, including a purported CEO named “Michael Edwards” with more than 20 years of banking industry experience and a master’s degree in business administration from Harvard University; and (b) that Centra Tech had formed a partnership with Bancorp to have Bancorp issue Centra Cards licensed by Visa or Mastercard, among other claims.  Based in part on these claims, victims provided more than $25 million in investments for the purchase of Centra Tech tokens. 

The claims that TRAPANI and his co-conspirators, Sharma and Farkas, made to help secure these investments, however, were false.  In fact, the purported CEO “Michael Edwards” and another supposed member of Centra Tech’s executive team are fictional people who were fabricated to mislead investors, and Centra Tech had no relationships with Bancorp, Visa, or Mastercard.

On or about September 29, 2017 – the date on which the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced that it filed a civil complaint charging a company called “RECoin” and its founder, among others, with defrauding investors in an unregistered offering of securities styled as an initial coin offering – Sharma asked TRAPANI and Farkas to remove certain materials from Centra Tech’s website that contained “fufu,” or fake information, about Centra Tech’s purported relationship with Visa because, according to Sharma, “I rather cut any fufu . . . Now . . . Then worry . . . Anything that doesn’t exist current . . . We need to remove.”  Later that day, Sharma text messaged TRAPANI and Farkas that “Sec just shut down REcoin . . .  Read the article . . . We gotta clean up every single thing that we can’t do . . . And can’t offer today.”  Shortly thereafter, TRAPANI responded that RECoin “were pitching a straight security,” to which Sharma wrote “Yea . . . I know . . . But [still] fraud can be a word thrown around.”

In a separate action, the SEC filed civil charges against TRAPANI.  Earlier this month, the SEC also filed civil charges against Sharma and Farkas.  

TRAPANI, 27, is a resident of Florida.  TRAPANI is charged in a four-count criminal complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud, which carries a maximum potential sentence of five years in prison; one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum potential sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of securities fraud, which carries a maximum potential sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum potential sentence of 20 years in prison.  The maximum potential sentences in this case are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the judge.          

Mr. Khuzami praised the work of the FBI and thanked the SEC for its assistance.

The allegations contained in the Complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

 [1] As the introductory phrase signifies, the entirety of the text of the Complaint and the description of the Complaint set forth herein constitute only allegations, and every fact described should be treated as an allegation.

BP DIAZ CELEBRATES ISRAELI INDEPENDENCE DAY

On Thursday, April 19, 2018, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. in conjunction with The Hebrew Institute of Riverdale -“The Bayit,” hosted the borough’s annual celebration to commemorate the independence of Israel.

The event, which marks the 70th anniversary of the independence of Israel, included a barbecue dinner, inflatable rides, puppet show, entertainment, music and much more.

Above - Rabbi Steven Exlier of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale receives a proclamation from Deputy Bronx Borough President Marricka Scott-McFadden. 

Below - Rabbi Exlier poses with local elected officials Councilman Andrew Cohen Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Deputy Bronx BP Scott-McFadden, State Senator Jeff Klein, and Richard Federman representing Congressman Eliot Engel. 

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. had four events to attend in a span of three hours in Manhattan and the Bronx. The Deputy BP will occasionally stand in for the BP when more than one event is held at the same time or when the BP is ill. 

MAYOR DE BLASIO ANNOUNCES CENTRAL PARK, WORLD’S MOST ICONIC GREENSPACE, WILL BECOME PERMANENTLY CAR-FREE

Center Drive, Terrace Drive, East Drive and West Drive will be permanently closed to cars; Decision will return park to its original purpose as a recreational space

  In advance of Earth Day 2018, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that Central Park, the world’s most iconic greenspace, will become entirely car-free. Beginning on June 27, 2018, the day after the conclusion of public school classes and the first day outdoor pools are open across the city, the last sections of the park’s loop drives that remain open to cars will be permanently closed to them, returning the park to its original use as an urban refuge and recreation space. More than 42 million visitors flock to Central Park each year. Returning the park’s loop road to walkers, joggers and cyclists will reduce air pollution in the park and improve safety. It also signals New York City’s commitment to prioritizing people over cars in its premier public spaces.

Mayor de Blasio designated Prospect Park’s loop drive as permanently car-free this past January. Both of the city’s iconic 19th century Olmstead and Vaux parks will now share that status.

“Our parks are for people, not cars. For more than a century, cars have turned parts of the world’s most iconic park into a highway. Today we take it back. We are prioritizing the safety and the health of the millions of parents, children and visitors who flock to Central Park,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

"Like many New Yorkers, I count on Central Park to give me a much-needed dose of nature, and so I applaud the de Blasio administration for taking this important step. Making one of the most famous greenspaces in the world a little greener in honor of Earth Day is the perfect way to celebrate our planet. Summer in the city is going to be that much better now,” said City Council Speaker Corey Johnson.

“Today we proudly announce that Central Park will be car free,” said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg.   “As with Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, which went permanently car-free earlier this year, the change will be welcome news to pedestrians, cyclists and those who love our parks.  We thank the Mayor for his leadership, and congratulate the advocates who fought for decades to make this day a reality. We look forward to the celebratory ride this summer.”

“Central Park is not just one of New York’s favorite parks – it’s one of the most-beloved, most-recognized parks in the entire world. Now, we’re making history by demonstrating just how clean, accessible, and safe an urban park can be,” said Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP.

Cars have used Central Park’s scenic loop drive for more than a century. Reductions in the hours during which cars are permitted began in the 1960s. Most recently, in 2015, Mayor de Blasio had announced that all park drives north of 72nd Street would be car-free. Northbound car traffic has continued to be permitted on Center Drive from 7am-7pm on weekdays, and southbound traffic has continued on West Drive, Terrace Drive and Center Drive from 8am-10am on weekdays.

The transverse roadways at 97^th, 86^th, 79^th and 65^th Streets are not affected by these changes. They were built into the park’s original design as fully-separated, below-grade streets to accommodate thru-traffic.

DOT, NYC Parks, NYPD and the Central Park Conservancy are coordinating on this transition. DOT analysis shows that traffic increases on surrounding areas is expected to be minimal. To help enforce this change, the NYPD will make additional Traffic Enforcement Agents available at local intersections. As the car-free hours take effect, DOT will closely monitor conditions to better accommodate traffic changes, as well as implement additional changes if necessary.

Mayor de Blasio, Comptroller Stringer, Pension Fund Trustees Launch Next Step in Comprehensive Effort to Divest from Fossil Fuels

NYC pension funds issue RFI to solicit input from wide-range of experts in unprecedented effort

RFI follows vote by NYCERS, TRS, and BERS to begin process of divestment from fossil fuel owners

  Mayor Bill de Blasio, Comptroller Scott M. Stringer and trustees of the New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS), the Teachers Retirement System (TRS), and the Board of Education Retirement System (BERS) today announced the next significant step toward achieving a first-in-the-nation goal of divestment from fossil fuel reserve owners. Launching one of the most significant and comprehensive divestment effort in the world to date, NYCERS, TRS, and BERS, which together represent 70 percent of the total assets of the City’s $193 billion pension funds, issued a Request for Information (RFI) to gather input and recommendations from a wide range of experts to determine a prudent strategy to divest from fossil fuel owners within five years. The RFI seeks insights from a variety of fields to ensure divestment from fossil fuels is conducted in a responsible way that is fully consistent with fiduciary obligations.

“New York City is standing strong for our planet and pensioners with this next step towards divestment,” said Mayor de Blasio. “The future is about clean energy and cleaner air as we continue fighting climate change. I thank Comptroller Stringer and Trustees for their leadership as we take important steps towards divesting from fossil fuels.”

“We know that the future is with big ideas in clean energy, not with big polluters, and we believe that a green economy is a thriving economy. Today’s historic action reflects our commitment to growing our funds for pension fund beneficiaries and protecting our planet,” said New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer. “Mayor de Blasio has been an incredible partner as we break new ground and forge a new path in this age of climate change. I thank him for his leadership, as well as the trustees for their partnership and focus on our fiduciary obligations to ensure a healthy retirement – and a healthy earth – for the hundreds of thousands of City workers and retirees we serve.”

  

In January, NYCERS, TRS, and BERS passed a joint resolution submitted by Mayor de Blasio and Comptroller Stringer to begin analyzing ways to divest from fossil fuel owners. The RFI issued today is the first major step toward achieving the groundbreaking goal of divestment within five years in a way that fulfills the fiduciary duties of the pension funds. In order to protect the long-term interests of the Systems’ beneficiaries and determine the most effective way to safeguard the Systems from the economic and investment risks of climate change, the RFI will collect advice, information and analysis from leading experts. Insights from experts in a variety of fields will be used to develop the Request for Proposal (RFP) for services to determine the path toward unwinding investments in fossil fuel owners from the pension fund portfolio. People who have backgrounds in investment, finance, legal, scientific and environmental policy, among others fields will be engaged, with responses due on June 1, 2018.

Those who respond to the RFI may be selected to make oral presentations to the Trustees and staff to allow greater understanding and discussion of their recommendations. After the Bureau of Asset Management (BAM) and the Mayor have fully reviewed all responses from the RFI, the Bureau will begin to develop and then issue the Request for Proposal (RFP) for services to create a strategy for divesting from fossil fuel owners.

To view the RFI, click here.

Comptroller Stringer serves as the investment advisor to, and custodian and a trustee of, the New York City Pension Funds. The New York City Pension Funds are composed of the New York City Employees’ Retirement System, Teachers’ Retirement System, New York City Police Pension Fund, New York City Fire Department Pension Fund and the Board of Education Retirement System.

In addition to Comptroller Stringer, the participating New York City Pension Funds’ trustees are:

New York City Employees’ Retirement System: Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Representative, John Adler (Chair); New York City Public Advocate Letitia James; Borough Presidents: Gale Brewer (Manhattan), Melinda Katz (Queens), Eric Adams (Brooklyn), James Oddo (Staten Island), and Ruben Diaz, Jr. (Bronx); Henry Garrido , Executive Director, District Council 37, AFSCME; Tony Utano, President Transport Workers Union Local 100; Gregory Floyd, President, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 237.

Teachers’ Retirement System: Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Appointee, John Adler; Chancellor’s Representative, Raymond Orlando, New York City Department of Education; and Debra Penny, Thomas Brown and David Kazansky, all of the United Federation of Teachers.

Board of Education Retirement System: Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza; Mayoral: Issac Carmignami, T. Elzora Cleveland, Vanessa Leung, Gary Linnen, Lori Podvesker, Stephanie Soto, Benjamin Shuldiner, Miguelina Zorilla-Aristy; Michael Kraft (Manhattan BP), Debra Dillingham (Queens BP), General Chacon (Bronx BP) and Peter Calandrella (Staten Island BP); and employee members John Maderich of the IUOE Local 891 and Donald Nesbit of District Council 37, Local 372.

NEW YORK CITY’S AIR IS CLEANER THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN SINCE MONITORING BEGAN

DOHMH’s annual survey shows continued improvement in air quality

  In recognition of Earth Day on Sunday, the Mayor announced the release of DOHMH’s latest New York City Community Air Survey (NYCCAS) results, which found continued improvements in air quality. The report highlights significant progress toward the Mayor’s OneNYC goal of achieving the cleanest air of any large U.S. city by 2030. The report also found that New York City’s air was the cleanest it has ever been since monitoring began in 2008. NYCCAS is the largest ongoing urban air monitoring program of any U.S. city. The survey can be found here.

“Since the dawn of the industrial revolution, New Yorkers have not been able to breathe air this clean,” said Mayor de Blasio. “We are making significant strides in reducing air pollution to help protect the health of everyone in our city. That said, there is still much more work to do to bring down pollution in some parts of the city, where it disproportionately affects already vulnerable communities.”

“The latest New York City Community Air Survey shows that we are on the right track as air quality continues to improve, but there are still neighborhoods with poor air quality that can exacerbate respiratory disease,” said Health Commissioner Mary T. Bassett.  “Mayor de Blasio’s OneNYC initiative is bringing us closer to our goal of ensuring that all New Yorkers are not susceptible to developing serious health problems caused by pollutants and that all residents are breathing the same clean air.”

NYCCAS shows seasonal trends in air pollution levels from winter 2008-2009 through fall 2016. It highlights sources that contribute to high levels of pollutants in New York City neighborhoods and provides maps of neighborhood air pollution levels by year. 

NYCCAS findings:

·         Annual average levels of fine particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, nitric oxide and black carbon have declined 28 percent, 27 percent, 35 percent and 24 percent, respectively.

·         The largest declines have been observed for sulfur dioxide due to City and State heating oil regulations,including the City’s efforts to phase out residual heating oil  – wintertime average levels have declined by 95 percent.

·         Summertime average ozone levels have remained stable.

·         High levels of fine particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, and nitric oxide continue to be observed in areas of high traffic density, building density, and industrial areas. These pollutants have been linked to adverse health outcomes, including an exacerbation of cardiovascular and respiratory disease.

·         Higher sulfur dioxide levels are observed in areas with remaining residual oil boilers.

·         Ozone levels are higher in the outer boroughs, specifically in areas that are downwind of high emissions density. Meanwhile, areas with fresh combustion emissions reduce the concentration of ozone.

The Health Department, in collaboration with Queens College of the City University of New York, samples air quality with monitoring units mounted on lampposts 10 to 12 feet off the ground. The monitors include an air pump and filters to collect fine particulate matter, while samplers mounted on the outside of unit absorb the gaseous pollutants nitric oxide, sulfur dioxide, and ozone. Laboratory analysis determines the amount of pollutants collected and their concentration in the air.

In 2015, Mayor de Blasio signed into law the most sweeping update to the City’s Air Pollution Control Code in 40 years. The revisions to the Code deleted outdated provisions and focused new standards on pollution sources that have had little or no emissions control requirements, including commercial char broilers, fireplaces, food trucks, and refrigeration vehicles. These sources, viewed as a whole, emit a significant amount of particulate matter.

“As the federal government works to weaken environmental protections, New York City demonstrates the value of local action to improve air quality,” said Daniel Zarrilli, New York City's Senior Director of Climate Policy and Programs and Chief Resilience Officer. “Today’s announcement is great news for every New Yorker and highlights our success in reducing emissions and improving public health.”

“Clean air is one of the most important factors of public health and quality of life,” said Mark Chambers, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability.  “Transitioning to electric vehicles, throwing out less waste, and using less energy continue the work of making our air the cleanest it has been in half a century.”

“The use of heavy heating oil was one of the most serious contributors to air pollution in New York City and, with significant input from a variety of stakeholders, we developed sensible regulations that helped 5,300 buildings switch to a cleaner fuel resulting in significantly healthier air for all New Yorkers,” said DEP Commissioner Vincent Sapienza. “Under Mayor de Blasio’s leadership, New York City is delivering on our commitment to be a sustainable city and a leader in environmental stewardship.”

About the New York City Community Air Survey 

The de Blasio administration, through the Health Department’s NYCCAS and its OneNYC plan, is prioritizing the reduction of emissions and air quality improvement citywide. Among the many initiatives, in February 2016, the de Blasio administration and the Department of Environmental Protection announced that the 5,300 buildings which used the most polluting heating oil (No. 6 oil) in 2011 converted to a cleaner fuel as of December 31, 2015. This change has greatly reduce building emissions of sulfur dioxide and fine particles that contribute to premature deaths and hospital admissions from cardiovascular and lung disease. In September 2015, Mayor de Blasio launched the NYC Retrofit Accelerator, which provides free, personalized advisory services for building owners and operators to make energy efficiency improvements to their buildings. The program will prioritize assistance to buildings in high-poverty neighborhoods that are still using No. 4 heating oil, which also causes harmful pollution.