MAYOR DE BLASIO NAMES GABRIELLE FIALKOFF AS COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION

 

 Mayor de Blasio today appointed Gabrielle Fialkoff as the next Commissioner of the Department of Parks and Recreation. Fialkoff, a former Senior Advisor to the Mayor, brings more than 20 years of experience leading organizations and working across government, nonprofit, philanthropic, and business sectors. She will begin her role on Monday. Fialkoff succeeds outgoing Acting Commissioner Margaret Nelson, who will return to her role as Deputy Commissioner for Urban Parks Services and Public Programs.

 

“Gabrielle Fialkoff is committed to fighting inequality and has shown her dedication to providing opportunities for open space and outdoor recreation in neighborhoods that have often been overlooked, underinvested in, and disconnected from the possibilities New York City has to offer,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “She has a proven track record of bringing people together, aligning interests, and delivering results to ensure communities get the resources they deserve. She is a natural choice to lead the Department of Parks and Recreation as we guarantee a recovery for all of us.”

 

“In Gabrielle’s prior work with this administration, she pioneered a new approach to municipal government and philanthropy by establishing the Office of Strategic Partnerships,” said Vicki Been, Deputy Mayor of Housing & Economic Development. “Her work on programs like Building Healthy Communities and Connections to Care will be especially helpful as we continue to make the equitable investment in our parks a keystone of our recovery. I look forward to working with Gabrielle in her new role, and I want to thank acting Commissioner Nelson for her amazing work stewarding the agency these past few months.”

“I am thrilled to take on the role of Commissioner of the Parks Department and have the opportunity to work with its dedicated public servants who, through their enthusiasm, commitment, and hard work, make life better for all New Yorkers,” said NYC Parks Commissioner Gabrielle Fialkoff. “The pandemic has brought into the sharpest focus what an extraordinary resource the City’s parks can be for every New Yorker—they became our classrooms, our living rooms, our respite, and our peace of mind. Together we will continue the work of aiding the City's recovery and ensuring that every neighborhood has access to safe and vibrant open spaces. Thank you, Mayor de Blasio—it’s a privilege to serve the City of New York, and I’m honored to join the Parks team.”  

Fialkoff served as Senior Advisor to the Mayor from 2014-2018 where she established the Office of Strategic Partnerships to engage the private sector in the fight against inequality through high impact public private partnerships. Fialkoff launched Building Healthy Communities, a City initiative that created the first urban farms on public housing properties in the nation, built 50 mini soccer fields in underserved neighborhoods, expanded free exercise classes in parks and recreation centers, supported community gardens and brought together communities to participate in improving their health outcomes. 

 

She led initiatives such as The Center for Youth Employment, which delivered 100,000 yearly internships and summer jobs for young people, Computer Science for All, a public private partnership to bring computer science education to all NYC public school students, and put more than $420 million of private funding toward combating income inequality.

 

In March of 2020, Fialkoff temporarily returned to serve as Senior Advisor for COVID Relief Efforts to the Mayor, leveraging her crisis management experience and relationships to aid in the City’s pandemic response efforts. Prior to working in City government, Fialkoff had a successful business career, growing her fashion company from an early-stage business to become an industry leader. Earlier in her career she worked on the campaigns of President Bill Clinton in New York and Hillary Clinton’s historic first run for U.S. Senate. 

PUBLIC ADVOCATE'S STATEMENT ON RIKERS FEDERAL MONITOR CALLING FOR OUTSIDE INTERVENTION

 

"I thank the federal monitor for recognizing the need that I and others have seen – for state and federal outside support to help address the crisis on Rikers that has taken two lives in the last few days. The Mayor finally agreeing to visit Rikers next week, as a result of sustained pressure rather than his sense of duty, does not excuse his long absence in presence or leadership. The monitor is right that the city’s role in allowing this emergency to grow and its failure to respond with the necessary speed and scope have made it clear that additional personnel and resources are needed on the island as we work to simultaneously decarcerate and safely return staff to work. 

"Urgent aid from an outside entity is needed to restore and protect the health and safety of incarcerated people and staff alike. At the same time, care and caution is critical to ensure any outside presence alleviates, rather than adds to, the chaos and confusion inside. New personnel should be focused on medical, humanitarian, and administrative intervention. They must be incorporated with clear instructions and clear command structures to meet the clear need – not for carceral enforcement, but for disaster relief."

THIS SUNDAY! 2021 LONGWOOD FESTIVAL VOL. 2

 

THIS SUNDAY! 2021 LONGWOOD FESTIVAL VOL. 2 This Sunday, September 26th from 12pm - 6pm we will be hosting our 2021 Longwood Festival, Vol. 2!. Join us for a fun-filled day with performances from George Lamond, Los Hermanos Moreno and our featured headliner, El Bachatero LUIS VARGAS! See flyer below for more details. See you there!

99 Days and Counting

 

Another day is gone and I have only ninety-nine days left in office. At least I didn't hear those pesky reporters ask me 'Mayor de Blasio, when are you going to visit Rikers Island'. I'll go when I want to go, when we get staffing up to a safe level, and the guards can control the jail.

I have to start packing now, because it will take that much time for me and Charlene to remove all the things we want to keep from Gracie Mansion. You know Charlene and I had a good eight years in Gracie Mansion and I expect to take much of the fond memories.

Amazon Releases Workforce Demographic Data Following Push by Comptroller Stringer and NYC Funds

 

 Amazon has publicly released the company’s EEO-101 workforce demographic data for 2019 and 2020 following a concerted push by New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer and three New York City Retirement Systems. The Consolidated EEO-1 Report is the “gold standard” for diversity disclosure and will enable investors to evaluate the performance of portfolio companies in terms of their ability to hire, retain, and promote employees of color and women. Amazon last released its EEO-1 report in 2016.

“This information is critical for transparency and shareholders,” said Comptroller Stringer. “Amazon’s public disclosure of its workforce demographic data will help investors better understand the company’s labor practices, identify areas for improvement, and benchmark diversity performance. The release of this data brings us another step closer to ensuring companies’ commitment to equity and diversity, but we have more to do. We will continue to hold corporate America accountable and set the tone for EEO-1 disclosure across U.S. public companies.”

As of July 31, 2021, the New York City Pension Funds’ have $2.38 billion invested in Amazon.

In July 2020, Comptroller Stringer and the New York City Employees’ Retirement System, the Teachers Retirement System of the City of New York and the New York City Board of Education Retirement System called on S&P 100 companies to match their public statements in support of racial equality, diversity and inclusion with concrete action by publicly disclosing their annual EEO-1 workforce demographic data. Prior to the launch of the Comptroller’s campaign, only 14 S&P 100 companies disclosed their Consolidated EEO-1 Report.  The Comptroller and three NYC funds subsequently submitted shareowner proposals to two initially unresponsive companies, and to a third company as a continuation of an historical previous engagement.  As of today, a substantial majority of S&P 100 companies disclose, or have committed to disclose their EEO-1 data, including 67 S&P companies that have begun or committed to disclose as a result of the push made by Comptroller Stringer and the NYC Funds:

!00 Bottles of Beer on the Wall, or Days and Counting

 

That's right, I have one hundred days left in office. Will you pesky reporters stop asking me when I am going to go to Rikers Island. In one hundred and one days when I am out of office.

Next month it will be City Hall in Brooklyn, or should I save that for my last week in office. That way I won't have far to go when I leave office. There is only one thing I love more than Brooklyn, and that is Boston and the Red Sox. At least tomorrow I have no media availability and will not have to sit through those pesky reporters questions. Mayor de Blasio, when are you going to visit Riker's Island. My answer should be when it becomes the runway for 747's to land on as they finally can land at Laguardia Airport.

MAYOR DE BLASIO NAMES ANITA LAREMONT AS CHAIR OF THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION

 Mayor Bill de Blasio today appointed Anita Laremont as the next Chair of the City Planning Commission and Director of the Department of City Planning (DCP). Laremont, who has served as the Executive Director of the Department of City Planning since 2018, will begin her role immediately. Laremont succeeds outgoing chair Marisa Lago, who was tapped by the Biden Administration to join the U.S. Department of Commerce.

“Anita Laremont brings vision and experience to the City Planning Commission, and she will be a tireless fighter for more equitable, inclusive, and dynamic neighborhoods across the five boroughs,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “She has an extraordinary record of success at the Department of City Planning, and I know she will continue that legacy of service to her city in this new role.”

 

“Anita is one of the smartest, savviest, most dedicated public servants I’ve had the pleasure of working with,” said Vicki Been, Deputy Mayor of Housing and Economic Development. “New Yorkers are fortunate to have her at the helm as we move forward on key planning initiatives that will keep our city on a path to an equitable recovery for all.”

 

“I am honored to be named Chair of the City Planning Commission and Director of the Department of City Planning, where I lead teams of talented data, environmental, legal and tech experts, planners and urban designers, and so many others, as we continue the urgent work of bringing New York City back from this deadly pandemic. My deep appreciation goes to Mayor de Blasio, Deputy Mayor Vicki Been, my staff at DCP and my fellow commissioners, all of whom pour their heart and soul into advancing the twin goals of equity and sustainability for all New Yorkers,” said Anita Laremont.

 

Laremont first joined DCP as General Counsel in 2014. Before that, Laremont was a partner in the law firm of Harris Beach PLLC, where she had a real estate, land use and government agency practice. Laremont previously served for more than 16 years as General Counsel of the Empire State Development Corporation (ESDC), New York State’s primary economic development entity. While at ESDC, Laremont was involved with numerous large-scale economic development and land-use projects in New York City and throughout the state, including transformative projects such as the 42nd Street Development Project, Brooklyn Bridge Park and Governors Island.

 

Laremont has served as a Trustee of the Citizens Budget Commission, and as Co-Chair of its Economic Development Committee. She is a member of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, the State Bar and the American Bar Association. Among a number of board affiliations, she currently serves as First Vice-Chair and Chair of the Development Committee at Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Gardens in Staten Island, where she resides.

 

Laremont is a magna cum laude graduate of Mount Holyoke College, and received her J.D. from the New York University School of Law, where she was a Root Tilden Scholar.

CONSUMER ALERT: Attorney General James Seeks to Protect New Yorkers’ Wallets by Urging ShrubBucket Customers to File Bankruptcy Claim

 

Affected Consumers Should File Priority Claim by This Coming Monday, September 27, 2021

 New York Attorney General Letitia James today issued an alert, urging New York customers of ShrubBucket to immediately file a claim in the company’s ongoing bankruptcy proceedings if they are owed money for undelivered services or products. ShrubBucket — an internet company based out of Ithaca, New York that sells plants, shrubs, and trees — filed for bankruptcy on June 18, 2021, but continued to wrongfully accept deposits from consumers up to a week prior to its bankruptcy filing. Consumers who were affected are encouraged to file a priority claim by this coming Monday, September 27, 2021 to secure a refund.

“As New Yorkers continue to recover and rebuild from the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential that companies meet their obligations to consumers and do not dig themselves out of a hole by preying on customers,” said Attorney General James. “ShrubBucket knew it could not deliver services to New Yorkers, but still thought it could hedge some of its losses by charging for products days before the company filed for bankruptcy. All ShrubBucket customers who made a purchase but were not provided what was being advertised are encouraged to file a priority claim immediately to secure their refunds. My office is committed to rooting out fraud.”

ShrubBucket — which operated out of facilities in New York, Ohio, New Jersey, and Connecticut — personally delivered products to consumers’ homes at a lower cost than retail stores. The company filed for bankruptcy on June 18, 2021, yet continued to accept deposits from consumers as recent as a week prior to its bankruptcy filing. After receiving multiple complaints regarding the company’s practices, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) began an investigation. Upon review of ShrubBucket’s bankruptcy filing, the OAG found that more than 2,000 consumers paid deposits in May of 2021, but the company never fulfilled its orders or provided refunds.

As ShrubBucket undergoes bankruptcy proceedings, the OAG encourages any affected consumers to file a 507(a)(7) priority claim to secure their refund. The last date to file proofs of claim is this upcoming Monday, September 27, 2021.

If consumers previously filed proofs of claim for products that were paid for and never received, then they should file an unsecured priority claim. Consumers who have already filed unsecured claims but did not file a 507(a)(7) priority claim may amend their filing. To amend a claim, individuals will need to check the “yes” box in response to question number 4 and input their claim number (if known) to show that this is an amended claim. Additionally, they will also need to input the claim amount in response to question number 7 and check “yes” in the second box (labeled “up to $3,025...”) in response to question number 12 and input the amount on that line. 

All proofs of claim should be completed and mailed to: United States Bankruptcy Court, James M. Hanley Federal Building, 100 South Clinton Street, Room 315, PO Box 7008, Syracuse, NY 13261-7008.