PUBLIC ADVOCATE WILLIAMS - STATEMENT ON PASSAGE OF MARIJUANA JUSTICE RESOLUTIONS

New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams released the following statement today after the City Council approved two resolutions, of which he was the prime sponsor, focused on Marijuana Justice Reform. They include  Res. 0641, which would expunge the records of all city misdemeanor marijuana convictions, and Res. 0296, which adds the unlawful possession of marijuana and criminal procession of marijuana in NYCHA facilities to the 4th and 5th degrees to its list of overlooked offenses.

"New York lags far behind states across the country in enacting a marijuana justice platform, but the passage of today's resolutions in the City Council sent a clear message that the time for Albany to act is now. For far too long our city has witnessed how disciplinary actions and criminal penalties for marijuana possession disproportionately affect low income communities and communities of more color.  My resolutions passed today demand that we right those wrongs by expunging records of those whose lives have been ruined by a conviction and protecting against NYCHA residents losing their homes because of marijuana usage. It is time to stop treating marijuana with inordinate hysteria and apply common sense to our laws.

"I would also like to thank all of those who are now vocally advocating for this cause I've long championed, and I urge Albany to act."

Speaker Johnson and Public Advocate Williams Release Results of Bus and Subway Rider Surveys

  City Council Speaker Corey Johnson joined newly elected Public Advocate Jumaane Williams to share the results of two transit rider surveys Speaker Johnson conducted as Acting Public Advocate. The results – available online here – revealed firsthand insights on the types of frustrations New Yorkers face when navigating our subways and buses. Speaker Johnson and Public Advocate Williams vowed to keep fighting for better transportation options for all five boroughs.

“It’s no secret that I’ve had a lot to say about the City’s mass transit system recently, but I think it is vital that the voices of the riders never get left out of conversations on how to solve our mass transit crisis,” said Council Speaker Corey Johnson. “New Yorkers who ride the subways and buses every day know better than most that something needs to change, and I hope their answers to these surveys add to the chorus of voices around our City and throughout our state calling for big ideas and serious solutions to get our trains back on track and our buses moving again. I will never stop fighting to make it easier to get around our City and I will always do so with the concerns of subway and bus riders in mind.”

“The survey results reinforce what many of us experience everyday— the MTA is broken and New Yorkers are ready to see significant improvements,” said Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. “I’d like to thank Speaker Johnson who conducted a five borough transit tour during his time as acting Public Advocate to gather these results, and urge the state to make the capital investments needed to get New Yorkers where we need to go on time.”

In January and February, City Council Speaker and Acting Public Advocate Corey Johnson initiated a unique exercise to hear from transit riders about their commutes by conducting two citywide transit surveys. The first focused on subways and the second survey on buses. These surveys, which were available in six different languages, were conducted throughout the City’s train stations and bus stops. The Speaker and Acting Public Advocate and his staff focused on a different borough each day.

Over 10,000 people took part in the subway survey and over 6,000 took part in the bus survey.

The mass transit system has been a growing source of frustration for New Yorkers, many of whom rely on subways and buses as their primary means of transportation. 

Interesting takeaways included:

55% of subway survey respondents saying they experience subway delays a few times a week and 27% saying they experience delays every day;

The delays are lasting significant amounts of time, with 47% of subway survey respondents saying the delays they experience are approximately 10-20 minutes long and 11% saying their delays are approximately 20-45 minutes long;

The greatest concerns for bus riders were infrequent service, lack of reliability, and multiple buses arriving at once (bunching);

Only 6% of bus riders are very satisfied.

The full results of both surveys can be found online here.

FOLLOWING THRIVE NYC HEARING, WILLIAMS CALLS FOR FUTHER ACTION TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES

OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC ADVOCATE FOR THE CITY OF NEW YORK JUMAANE D. WILLIAMS New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams today sent the following letter to Mayor Bill de Blasio, First Lady Chirlane McCray and Commissioner James P. O'Neill after the New York City Council's Committee on Finance held a hearing focused on ThriveNYC. March 26, 2019 To Mayor Bill de Blasio, First Lady Chirlane McCray and Commissioner James P. O'Neill, As you may know, mental health issues and access to adequate care and resources are of paramount importance to me, both personally and in my capacity as Public Advocate. I know that you share this commitment, and I have been glad to see investments made toward improving these services- in healthcare, in law enforcement, and in community outreach. However, as has been discussed in reporting and in public hearings over the last several days, there are a number of areas where I believe more clarity and greater prioritization are required. With regards to ThriveNYC, it is clear that the intentions of the program, and its breadth, are positive. I do believe though, as was made clear in the hearing today, there are many unanswered questions and unresolved issues regarding the focus of the various programs and their metrics. In the hearing, it was stated that all of Thrive is focused on serious mental illness. I believe that we have to do a better job of separating out providing services for acute mental illness and general mental health- both are extremely important to address, and I do believe Thrive can and is addressing both, but they cannot be conflated. To do so is harmful to both the issues and the ability to collect meaningful metrics on the program. It was also left unresolved when the final report would be made available regarding the recommendations of the Crisis Prevention and Response Task Force. After the administration denied for so long the need for such a task force, I was glad to see it convened and to weigh in with my own experiences and prescriptions, but it is time for results to be finalized so that policy can be built around those recommendations. Both the creation and the discussions of the task force relate directly to police interactions, and this is an area where the city has profoundly failed many people experiencing mental health crises. It was recently reported that despite the administration's promise to provide all officers with crisis intervention training in 2015, in the years since only about a third of active officers have received this training. The overwhelming majority of officers still lack this critically important and sometimes life-saving training. I was glad to see the administration commit to further and faster training for 16,000 officers, but I believe that not a single officer in the field should go without this training. We are all in agreement that crisis intervention training is invaluable, so we must correct this deficit as quickly as possible. Police officers are real people, with real, difficult jobs. Yet as a city, we often seem to ask officer to have  have superhuman abilities. They are real people, with real, difficult jobs. Yet as a city, we often seem to ask officers to have superhuman abilities, we give them too much to do. I firmly believe that not every emergency calls for a police response, and that we should be developing alternatives that allow officers to focus with greater intention on specific responsibilities. At the same time, as long as our city calls upon the police force to respond to mental health crises, we must at a bare minimum give them the tools to do so safely and effectively- for both the officer and the individual in distress. Mental health is a crucial concern for New York City and the individuals within it who face a broad spectrum of issues with a varying degree of severity. What unites them all is the need for a robust, wholistic response that removes stigma and fear in favor of understanding and treatment. I look forward to moving with resolve toward this common goal and the solutions that enable it. Sincerely,   Jumaane D. Williams Public Advocate for the City of New York

VAN NEST NEIGHBORHOOD ALLIANCE–MONTHLY MEETING–MONDAY APRIL 1, 2019–7:00PM

New York Hispanic Clergy Organization's 2019 Annual Banquet

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

By Councilman, Rubén Díaz Sr.

District 18 Bronx County, New York

You should know that the New York Hispanic Clergy Organization will celebrate its 31st Annual Banquet on Saturday, April 13, 2019, at Maestro’s Caterers, located at 1703 Bronxdale Avenue in Bronx County from 1:00pm to 4:00 pm

You should also know that more than 800 people including ministers, dignitaries, community leaders, and other guests will gather to recognize the work of five members of the clergy who have distinguished themselves for their commitment, dedication, and service to their community.

This year The New York Hispanic Clergy Organization’s will recognize the outstanding work and commitment of: Bishop Dario Reyes, Sister Doris Rivera, Rev. Dr. Israel Suarez, Rev. Nidia Peña, and Sister Nilka Agosto.

Ladies and gentlemen, these recognition will be presented to these five individuals for their work on behalf of their community and humanitarian services to their neighbors in times of need:

For more information, please contact Silvia Soriano at 718-924-7318.

I am Council Member Rev. Ruben Diaz and this is what you should know.

49th Precinct Council Meeting

   The 49th Precinct Council met last night at the Beth Abraham Center on Allerton Avenue. Captain Natiw arrived a little late as he was coming from an incident on Pelham Parkway just east of Williamsbridge Road. Four people in two cars went to Jacobi Hospital with injuries suffered from a road range incident between the four people. There were no arrests, and no major injuries, just some bruises and bruised egos. 

  When asked about two recent stabbings in the White Plains/Pelham Parkway area Captain Natiw said they were related to students from the Columbus Campus. In one incident a student was stabbed with an umbrella, and in the other a knife was used to stab the other person. When asked about gangs in the area of the Pelham Parkway Houses Captain Natiw said that gang prevention teams by the NYPD were on top of that issue. He spoke of the Private sanitation incident between two competing companies in which a fight occurred, and one driver sped away hitting fourteen parked cars. The driver of the truck was identified as Manuel Matias and he is wanted for the assault of the other driver, and reckless driving by hitting fourteen parked cars. call the 49th Precinct at 718-918-2038 with any information. a photo of the suspect is on the 49th Precinct Facebook page. 

YONKERS MAN SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR EXECUTION-STYLE SHOOTING

Defendant Found Guilty of Second-Degree Murder

  Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark today announced a Yonkers man has been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison for the fatal shooting of a 23-year-old Bronx man. 

 District Attorney Clark said, “The defendant knew the victim and shot him execution-style over a previous dispute, and will now spend many years in prison. This act of senseless gun violence has destroyed the lives of two young men.” 

 District Attorney Clark said the defendant, Michael Canaj, 25, of 6 Ramsen Road, Yonkers, N.Y., was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Martin Marcus on March 22, 2019. The jury found the defendant guilty of second-degree Murder on January 18, 2019.

 According to the investigation, shortly after midnight on December 31, 2012 at 2324 Boston Road, the defendant shot Erion Mecani, 23, multiple times, causing his death. The defendant and the victim had a disagreement two years prior to the shooting, when the defendant stole the victim’s car and wrecked it while driving it. The defendant had promised to pay the victim for the damages, but instead shot him. Mecani was found dead with two gunshot wounds in the head in his father’s car about an hour after the incident.

 District Attorney Clark thanked to Detective Steven Smith of Bronx Homicide and United States Marshals Service Analyst John Heintz for their assistance in the case.

Owner Of Medical Technology Company Sentenced To 30 Months In Prison For Evading Taxes On Over $21 Million In Business Income

  Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that LEWIS STAHL, the owner of a Manhattan medical technology company, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for evading federal income taxes on more than $21 million in business income, which resulted in a loss to the U.S. Treasury of more than $6.3 million in taxes due and owing.  STAHL pled guilty to one count of tax evasion on September 27, 2018, before U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams, who imposed today’s sentence.  

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “Lewis Stahl flagrantly evaded paying taxes on his business income, denying the federal government more than $6 million in taxes.  Knowing full well that he was committing a crime, Stahl will spend time behind bars for his wrongdoing.”

According to the Information to which STAHL pled guilty, court filings, and statements made in public court proceedings:

STAHL is an experienced businessperson who owns and operates a Manhattan medical software company (the “Medical Technology Company”) that develops and sells medical software applications.  The Medical Technology Company holds itself out as a provider of “computer ready” and “fully mobile” applications that allow physicians to prescribe medications and to order and view diagnostic information, lab results, and cardiology/radiology images.

Between 2010 and 2014, the Medical Technology Company earned more than $32 million in gross income.  Less business expenses, these earnings resulted in over $21 million in business income to STAHL, which he accessed by using business bank accounts and business credit cards.  STAHL used this money to fund the purchase of personal items for himself, such as clothing, jewelry, watches, real estate rentals, country club benefits, and a firearms collection.  Prior to 2015, despite earning this business income from the Medical Technology Company, STAHL deliberately avoided filing tax returns, and did not report any of the income to the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”). 

In March of 2015, an IRS revenue agent (the “IRS Revenue Agent”) contacted STAHL regarding his failure to file for the tax years 2010 through 2014, and asked STAHL to address the situation by filing delinquent Forms 1040 for those years (the “Delinquent Returns”).  Shortly thereafter, STAHL retained a certified public accountant (the “Accountant”) to file the Delinquent Returns for STAHL.  STAHL told the Accountant that he had failed to file tax returns in the past because he had payroll tax problems with the IRS and “stuck his head in the sand.”  He also told the Accountant that he did not have any personal bank accounts in his name because he believed the IRS would seize any such accounts.  STAHL further stated to the Accountant, falsely, that he was a “W-2” employee only of the Medical Technology Company, that his W-2 income was his only income, and that he had no ownership interest in the Medical Technology Company.  In truth and in fact, STAHL had an ownership interest in the Medical Technology Company, and had earned over $21 million in business income from the company, well beyond the income of a few hundred thousand dollars that was reflected on his W-2s.

The Accountant subsequently filed the Delinquent Returns for STAHL, which, as a result of the lies that STAHL told the Accountant, were false and fraudulent.  Specifically, the Delinquent Returns falsely claimed that STAHL’s total income was $38,652 in 2010; $7,115 in 2011; $84,615 in 2012; $100,000 in 2013; and $100,000 in 2014.  The Delinquent Returns further falsely reported that STAHL did not receive any business income in any of these years, and failed to include a Schedule C detailing the significant amount of business income that STAHL earned from the Medical Technology Company.  STAHL’s failure to report over $21 million in business income to the IRS – first by deliberately failing to file returns, and then by causing the false Delinquent Returns to be filed by the Accountant – resulted in a loss to the IRS of over $6.3 million in taxes due and owing. 

In addition to the prison term, Judge Abrams ordered STAHL, 63, of Boca Raton, Florida, to serve three years of supervised release, and to make court-ordered restitution to the IRS. 

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division in this case.