CONSUMER ALERT: Attorney General James Warns New Yorkers to Be Mindful of Discriminatory Practices Targeting Jewish Communities Before Passover

 

 New York Attorney General Letitia James today issued a consumer alert urging New Yorkers to be mindful of potential discriminatory pricing practices at car washes in the days leading up to Passover. In previous years, there have been reports of car wash businesses in predominantly Orthodox Jewish communities in New York City raising prices by as much as 50 percent for Jewish customers seeking cleaning services close to Passover. In advance of Passover, many Jews clean their homes, cars, and other spaces to remove “chametz,” or leavened products, from these spaces because they are not eaten for the duration of the holiday. According to reports provided to the Office of Attorney General (OAG) from Assemblymember Simcha Eichenstein, some companies have advertised “specials” for car washing services related to Passover, but instead, charged higher prices to Jewish customers. Attorney General James also sent letters to two organizations representing car wash owners in New York to remind their members that any such business practice is illegal and should be reported to OAG.

“It’s shameful that we even have to warn Jewish communities about the possibility that companies would take advantage of them during the holidays,” said Attorney General James. “If we learn of any businesses engaging in such disgusting and antisemitic practices, we will not hesitate to take swift and serious legal action. No New Yorker should ever be forced to pay more for a service because of their religion, race, gender, or sexual orientation, and I urge anyone who has been a victim of this discriminatory behavior to report it to my office immediately.”

If you believe you were charged more for services because of your religion, race, or background, or know of businesses using these discriminatory practices, please file a complaint with OAG.

Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez - Newsletter

INAUGURATION

This month I celebrated my Inauguration, I was overwhelmed by all the love and support. For those of you able to make it, and those who have reached out, thank you for being part of memories I will never forget.

I appreciate your continued support and am excited to get to work serving the people of the Northeast Bronx!

UPCOMING EVENTS

VOTING for District 13’s Participatory Budgeting Projects will begin April 2nd and go through April 10th. Our office and Community Board 10 will be hosting in-person voting, and there will be additional pop up sites throughout the district to make voting accessible for all. To vote online visit, https://www.participate.nyc.gov/processes/ccdistrict13

Friends of the Hutchinson River Greenway Group will hold their first Greenway Cleanup on April 3rd at 9:30am. For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/1920502914814445

Grow NYC will be hosting a Stop N’ Swap in partnership with the Westchester Square BID on April 9th from 12:00pm-3:00pm at Owen Dolen Park, 2551 Westchester Ave, Westchester Square, Bronx.

SUNY Brooklyn Education Opportunity Center is offering tuition-free English courses for speakers of other languages. Visit www.sunybeoc.org to view eligibility requirements and and apply.

The Bronx Farmers Market is celebrating their 5th year anniversary, and are introducing an Intern & Mentoring program. Applicants should submit a 500 word essay on why they want to participate in the program to bronxfarmersmarket@gmail.com by March 31st.

The Department of Homeland Security announced the designation of Ukraine for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months. In partnership with CUNY Citizenship Now! the District 13 Office will be hosting an intake day on April 1, 2022 offering 1:1 consultations. Appointments are required, to schedule yours call 646-664-9400 or 212-652-2071

The NYC Health Department is releasing permits for mobile food vendors to operate Green Carts and Seasonal food carts and trucks. The “Green Cart or Seasonal Permit Waiting List Application Form,” and their translations are available online at nyc.gov/health/mobilefood or call311 and ask to have the form mailed to you.

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation & Development, the Neighborhood Initiatives Development Corp., and the District 13 office are hosting a Virtual Tenant Resource Fair on April 14th at 6pm, to join go to bit.ly/3Jd4mya. We will also be hosting a Virtual Owner’s Resource Fair on April 7th at 6pm, to join go to bit.ly/3liSI3z

IN THE NEWS

Outdoor Dining - Bloomberg CityLab + Pursuits

Ukranian Resturant Veselka Owner Shows Support for Proprosed Legislation - AMNY

Political Personalities with Skye Ostreicher - City & State

Mayor Adams and Chancellor Banks announce Summer Rising at Bronx Delta School - PoliticsNY

Bronx Council Members Introduce Participatory Budgeting - Bronx Times

Participatory Budgeting in NYC - The City

MAYOR ADAMS REAPPOINTS LORRAINE CORTÉS-VÁZQUEZ DEPARTMENT FOR THE AGING COMMISSIONER

 

 New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the reappointment of Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez as commissioner of the Department for the Aging (DFTA). As commissioner, Cortés-Vázquez will continue to work to advance DFTA’s mission to eliminate ageism, ensure the dignity and quality of life of older adults, and support caregivers. 

“Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez has dedicated her career as a public servant looking out for the needs of our city and aging population,” said Mayor Adams. “She has a proven record of championing to improve the quality of life of older New Yorkers, and I am proud to reappoint someone who will continue to work to ensure our seniors receive the support, services, respect, and dignity they deserve.”

 

“Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez has a proven record of a deep commitment to equity and dedication to underserved communities,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “She has shown this especially over the last two years, from ensuring consistent outreach and engagement with DFTA clients to continued resource delivery. New York City's older adult population is not only growing in size, but also in diversity. This is something to be celebrated as they contribute to the vibrancy of our city every day and deserve someone who is going to fight for services needed to age in place with dignity and opportunity. I look forward to continuing to work with Commissioner Cortés-Vázquez and supporting her work to uplift older adults across the city.”

 

“Serving older adults has been a life-long priority and privilege of mine and — now more than ever — as the pandemic begins its decline, ensuring older New Yorkers have access to quality community-based services necessary to support their recovery is critically important,” said Commissioner Cortés-Vázquez. “I thank Mayor Adams for the opportunity to continue to serve as commissioner. It is our mutual goal to keep New York among the most age-inclusive cities in the country.”

 

"Congratulations to our Department for the Aging commissioner,” said Jo-Ann Yoo, executive director, Asian American Federation. “Since her tenure began, she's been a champion of equity, recognizing that Asian American seniors have long been underserved. She has been an important listening ear to our community's concerns. We are grateful for her friendship and leadership."

 

“Commissioner Cortés-Vázquez has been a champion for New Yorkers 50-plus, and AARP New York is thrilled she will continue to lead the Department for the Aging,” said Beth Finkel, New York State director, AARP. “The commissioner has been a reliable ally in AARP New York’s fight to stop age discrimination and ensure older New Yorkers’ health and wellbeing are protected so they can age with dignity in their own communities.” 

 

“Commissioner Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez has been an involved and supportive leader to the programs and services that help older adults,” said Bill Dionne, executive director, Carter Burden Network. “She has been a strong advocate for older adults and for the programs that the Department for the Aging funds. Commissioner Cortés-Vázquez is an innovator who listens to and works with staff members from the Department for the Aging’s network. She also takes action when she sees a need. An example of this are the steps she took to improve the Department for the Aging’s budget when she recognized gaps in service. It has been wonderful to work with Commissioner Cortés-Vázquez.”

 

“We are excited that the mayor has recognized the great leadership of Commissioner Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez and has re-appointed her to the position at the Department for the Aging,” said Saeeda Dunston, executive director, Elmcor Youth & Adult Activities, Inc. “Our older adults deserve to have a fierce advocate like the commissioner, who led this vulnerable population and the agencies that serve them, during the difficult and scary times at the height of the global pandemic. She has worked to get equity in funding for communities of color and to assist with our older adults to age at home with their loved ones. Elmcor looks forward to partnering and supporting Commissioner Cortés-Vázquez as she has with us. We will continue to work together to bring quality services to our older adults in New York City.” 

 

“We are pleased and excited that Mayor Adams has reappointed Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez as commissioner, where she will continue her dedicated and transformational leadership of the New York City Department of the Aging,” said Frankie Miranda, president & CEO, Hispanic Federation. “Under her tenure, the DFTA has instituted best in class models of service and strengthened its outreach and programs for elderly Latinos and other multicultural communities.”

 

About Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez

 

Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez has over three decades of experience in the government, private, and non-profit sectors. Since April 2019, she has served as the commissioner for DFTA. She also serves on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Board and on the Board of Trustees for The City University of New York, the largest urban public university system in the world.

 

Previously, Cortés-Vázquez worked at AARP as the executive vice president for Multicultural Markets and Engagement, and as the president and CEO of the Hispanic Federation, a network for Latino organizations throughout the East Coast.

 

Cortés-Vázquez also served as New York’s 65th secretary of state.

 

Earlier in her career, Cortés-Vázquez served the city as bureau chief for Bureau of Program and Resource Development for DFTA for 14 years and managed the Fund for Aging Services, Inc., a public-private venture of DFTA.

 

Cortés-Vázquez obtained her undergraduate degree from Hunter College and earned a master’s degree from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. She is a Toll Fellow and has earned certificates from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and Columbia University’s School of Non-Profit Management.

 

Cortés-Vázquez will report to Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom.

Comptroller Lander, Council Members Cabán and Hanif Outline Steps for a Feminist Post-Pandemic Recovery

 

12-point agenda includes affordable childcare; flexible work scheduling; raising pay for human services workers, benefits for freelancers; addressing AAPI hate crimes, community safety and domestic violence interventions; reproductive health access, and more.

 New York City Comptroller Brad Lander and Council Members Tiffany Cabán and Shahana Hanif released a twelve-point agenda for a feminist recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic at the close of Women’s History Month.

“The Path Forward to a Feminist Recovery: Twelve Steps NYC Must Take To Advance Gender Equity in the Wake of the Pandemic,” brings the first comprehensive analysis of the gendered impacts of the pandemic in NYC, looking closely at labor force data to assess how the ensuing recession impacted women locally across race and ethnicity. Nearly 220,000 women dropped out of the New York City labor force between the first two quarters of 2020. As of the last quarter of 2021, women’s labor force participation rate in New York City has returned to pre-pandemic levels, but unemployment remains high, particularly among Black women. As of the fourth quarter of 2021, Black women, who comprise 22% of the labor force, now account for more than one in three women unemployed in the city.

Even as the job market returns to pre-pandemic levels, NYC’s recovery remains uneven. Many of the job opportunities which are available to women fail to offer wages sufficient to sustain families, employment protections to ensure stability, or health care benefits. Meanwhile, limited childcare accessibility makes it difficult to look for work altogether.

“Since COVID-19 hit New York City, women, and especially women of color, have been forced to bear the brunt of the economic and emotional toll. While millions worked from home, essential workers, overwhelmingly women of color, went to work in dangerous conditions unsure if they were bringing a deadly virus back home to their families,” said Council Member Shahana Hanif. “I’m proud to be a co-author of one of the first reports from our City that truly investigates the gendered impacts the pandemic has had on New York City. This is not just a critical lens to understand what has happened since March 2020 but also a roadmap to ensure our recovery is truly equitable and centers the most vulnerable New Yorkers. This report is a stark reminder of the deep-seated inequalities that existed before COVID-19 and a blueprint for how we can move forward.”

“A true recovery from this terrible pandemic means meeting people’s needs with feminist compassion and care, not just managing the fallout of their unmet needs with patriarchal punishment and control. This report charts the way forward with clear, viable solutions to the immense challenges we face as a city. Advancing gender equity in response to the gendered impacts of COVID 19 will make this city safer and healthier for all its residents, regardless of gender,” said Council Member Tiffany Cabán.

“Here’s the thing: a feminist recovery means a more thriving and equal city for all of us. The pandemic shined a harsh spotlight on the systemic sexism engrained deep in our economy, and then badly exacerbated it, especially for women and LGBTQ+ people of color – so it must serve as a wake-up call to take on persistent issues of gender equity in our workplaces, our homes, and our communities. When we build a city where everyone has access to care, where workers can support their families, where our streets are safe for women, especially in light of Asian hate crimes—that’s when we’ll have a city where everyone can thrive,” said Comptroller Brad Lander.

The pandemic compounded existing challenges, not just economically but also with respect to women’s safety at home and in their communities. In June 2020, shortly after widespread lockdowns went into effect, calls to New York City’s 24-hour domestic violence hotline, operated by Safe Horizon, were up 50% compared to 2019, and visits to NYC HOPE, the city’s domestic violence website, increased as well. At the same time the police killing of Breonna Taylor in March 2020 underscored the present threat of anti-Black violence while rising violence against East Asian women—including the deaths of Michelle Alyssa Go and Christina Yuna Lee in Manhattan—has acutely compromised Asian women’s ability to feel safe in their neighborhoods and city.

The policy brief lays out an actionable path forward to increase economic justice, health, and safety for women. The twelve recommendations include:

1. Expand Access to Affordable Child Care
2. Support Flexible Scheduling Policies
3. Invest in Quality Elder and Disability Care
4. Establish Universal Just Cause Protections
5. Support Workers in the Gig, Freelance, and Contingent Economy
6. Expand Opportunities for Worker Ownership and Employment in the Trades
7. Lift the Wage Floor and Support Human Services Workers
8. Increase Access to Safe, Affordable Housing for Survivors
9. Invest in Community Safety Strategies
10. Prevent and Respond to Rising Violence Against AAPI Women
11. Increase Access to Reproductive Health Care and Sexual Health Education
12. Expand Health Care Coverage and Increase Language Access

Read the full agenda report here.

My next all-virtual career fair series is coming up next month – and I want to make sure you have time to register and be part of it!

 The 2022 Virtual Career Fair will take place on both Wednesday and Thursday, April 20th-21st, from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM on both days. From healthcare, education, retail, government, and more, this career fair will have it all for both applicants and companies looking to adopt new talent – and this year, I’m proud to announce that this time I’ve dedicated a segment that caters to young professionals!

Here’s some important information you need to know:

• If you are an employer interested in participating in the Spring 2022 Virtual Career Fair, please fill out this registration form.
• If you are a job seeker wishing to sign-up for the career fair, you can do so by clicking here.
• Organizations are advised to RSVP by no later than April 14th, and job-seekers are strongly encouraged to prepare prior to the career fair with important materials such as their resumes to maximize their experience.

Be sure to bookmark the career fair tab on my website to stay up to date on everything related to this upcoming career fair – and be sure to sign up for my newsletter while you’re at it!

If you’re looking for a job, this is the opportunity for you – and I’m determined to help make it happen.

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Adriano Espaillat

Member of Congress

============================

 

Mi próxima serie de ferias de empleo totalmente virtuales se realizará el próximo mes, ¡y quiero asegurarme de que tenga tiempo para registrarse y ser parte de ella!

La Feria de Empleos Virtual 2022 se llevará a cabo el miércoles y el jueves, 20 y 21 de abril, de 10:00 a.m. a 5:00 p.m. en ambos días. Desde atención médica, educación, comercio minorista, gobierno y más, esta feria de empleos lo tendrá todo tanto para los solicitantes como para las empresas que buscan contratar nuevos talentos, y este año, ¡me enorgullece anunciar que esta vez he dedicado un segmento que atiende a jóvenes profesionales!

Aquí hay información importante que necesita saber:

·       Si usted es un empleador interesado en participar en la Feria de Empleo Virtual de la primavera de 2022, complete este formulario de registro.

·       Si busca trabajo y desea inscribirse en la feria de empleo, puede hacerlo haciendo clic aquí.

·       Se recomienda a las organizaciones que confirmen su participación (RSVP) a más tardar el 14 de abril, y se recomienda encarecidamente a los solicitantes de empleo que se preparen antes de la feria de empleo con materiales importantes, como sus currículos (resumes), para maximizar su experiencia.

Asegúrese de marcar la pestaña de la feria de empleo en mi sitio web para mantenerse actualizado sobre todo lo relacionado con esta próxima feria de empleo, ¡y asegúrese de suscribirse a mi boletín informativo mientras lo hace!

Si está buscando trabajo, esta es la oportunidad para usted – y estoy decidido a ayudar a que lo logre.

Atentamente,

 

 

Adriano Espaillat
Miembro del Congreso

Governor Hochul Announces $50 Million Available to Increase Student Access to Mental Health Services

 

$10 Million will be Distributed to Eligible School Districts Each Year

 Governor Kathy Hochul announced up to $50 million in available funding for school districts to improve student access to mental health resources and assist students who have experienced trauma that has impacted their education. A Request for Proposals has been issued by the New York State Office of Mental Health, who will administer the program.

"Young students have been particularly hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, suffering disruptions in their education, social lives and recreational activities and opportunities," Governor Hochul said. "I have heard the concerns from many parents and educators about the impact that COVID-19 has had on our children's well-being. This funding will help ensure that every student who has experienced trauma that has impacted their education can receive the necessary mental health resources they need and deserve."

A total of up to $10 million each year over five years will be available and distributed to eligible school districts. Awards shall not exceed $500,000 per applicant annually. Continued funding past the first year will be contingent on timely reporting, satisfactory progress in meeting chosen grant objectives, and the availability of funds.   

Proposals will be scored, and awards will be made to the highest scoring applications that meet the minimum scoring threshold until funds are exhausted or until there are no fundable applications remaining.  

Eligible proposals will achieve the following goals: 

Enhance access to mental health services: Enhancement of mental health staffing and use of a standardized tool to identify student needs are both proven interventions that enhance access to the strategies and supports that address the mental health of students.  

Implement integrated mental health supports: Promoting wellness and resilience within the school environment is crucial in supporting the mental health of students and families, particularly in the wake of the global pandemic.  

Strengthen partnerships with existing supports within the mental health system as well as the larger child-serving system: Enhancing coordination between school staff and community providers and identifying resources within and outside the school allows educators to understand the full range of services available and ensure students and their families have access to the full array of supports/services they need. 

More information about the Request for Proposals is available on the OMH website. 

New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, "By expanding and enhancing mental health resources in our schools, we have been able to greatly increase access to services for children and their families. OMH has invested significant resources for children and youth whose lives were turned upside down by the COVID-19 pandemic, and who are now impacted by anxiety, depression and trauma. The funding announced today by Governor Hochul will help us improve student access to mental health resources, and support our students as well as their families." 

MAYOR ADAMS ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF NEW MEMBERS TO RENT GUIDELINES BOARD

 

  New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced his appointment of two new members to the New York City Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) — Arpit Gupta as a public member and Christina Smyth as an owner member — reflecting his administration’s commitment to affordable housing and evidence-based policymaking. The appointments come ahead of the RGB’s first meeting of 2022.

 

“The Rent Guidelines Board is an essential component of our affordable housing infrastructure, and I am confident that my appointees today will be faithful stewards of the city’s rent stabilized housing stock,” said Mayor Adams. “My administration is committed to making decisions based on data, and I know these two appointees share that commitment and will serve New Yorkers well in their respective roles.”

 

“I am delighted to be appointed to the Rent Guidelines Board,” said Arpit Gupta. “The Rent Guidelines Board plays an important role in our city, and I am excited to help serve New York City. I have a strong commitment to keeping New York City affordable, while balancing the needs of all housing stakeholders.”

 

“Thank you, Mayor Adams, for this appointment to the Rent Guidelines Board,” said Christina Smyth. “Affordable, high-quality housing is crucial for all New Yorkers. The Rent Guidelines Board recognizes this endeavor. I welcome the opportunity to serve with my fellow board members to achieve balance and equanimity for all housing stakeholders.”

 

The RGB is mandated to establish rent adjustments for the approximately 1 million apartments and homes subject to New York City’s rent stabilization law. The board consists of nine members, all appointed by the mayor — two members are appointed to represent tenant interests, two members are appointed to represent owner interests, and the remaining five members are appointed to represent the general public.

 

About the New Board Members:

 

Arpit Gupta is assistant professor of finance at New York University Stern School of Business, where his research focuses on using large datasets to understand default dynamics in household finance, real estate, and corporate finance. His interests in policy research include real estate, housing, and land-use regulation, as well as transit, infrastructure, public finance, pedestrianization, and the management of urban street space. Mr. Gupta was the recipient of the 2016 Top Finance Graduate Award at Copenhagen Business School. He holds a B.S. in mathematics from the University of Chicago and a Ph.D. in finance and economics from Columbia Business School.

 

Christina Smyth, Esq. is the founder and owner of Smyth Law PC, a real estate law practice that represents multifamily residential building owners, operators, and management companies throughout Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. She is also an adjunct instructor at the New York University Real Estate Institute. Smyth has been a member of the Real Estate Services Alliance since 2011 and is a committee member of the New York State Bar Association’s Lawyers Assistance Program. She holds a B.A. in political science from Fordham University and a J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law.

Brooklyn Man Pleads Guilty to Insider Trading and Tax Evasion

 

Defendant Received Tip from a Company Insider and Concealed his Income from the IRS

 Jason Peltz pleaded guilty in federal court in Brooklyn to securities fraud and tax evasion in connection with an insider trading scheme in which Peltz executed securities transactions based on material nonpublic information (MNPI) from a company insider. The proceeding was held before United States District Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis. When sentenced, Peltz faces up to 25 years in prison, forfeiture of his ill-gotten gains, and restitution to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of over $1 million.     

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), and Thomas Fattorusso, Special Agent-in-Charge, IRS Criminal Investigation, New York (IRS-CI), announced the guilty plea.

“With today’s plea, Peltz admitted to trading on material nonpublic information about a publicly traded company to line his own pockets and also to lying about his income to avoid paying taxes on a substantial tax liability,” stated United States Attorney Peace.  “This Office will vigorously prosecute traders who seek to cheat the system, harm the investing public and undermine the integrity of our financial markets.  We will hold accountable those who lie to avoid paying their fair share of taxes.” 

Mr. Peace thanked the Securities and Exchange Commission, New York Regional Office, for their assistance during the investigation. 

“Plain and simple. It's illegal to use non-public information to buy and sell stocks. Doing so manipulates the markets and can have detrimental effects on the wallets of individuals who play by the rules.  But this defendant didn't stop there, he made significant financial gains and then claimed that he had no income in an effort to blatantly evade taxes,” stated IRS-CI Special Agent-in-Charge Fattorusso. 

In February 2016, Peltz obtained MNPI from an insider at Ferro Corporation (“Ferro”) about a potential takeover offer (the “Ferro Takeover Bid”). Peltz used that MNPI to:

• Profitably trade in Ferro in the brokerage accounts of two co-conspirators,
• Tip other individuals, each of whom also profitably traded on MNPI about the Ferro Takeover Bid, and
• Tip a reporter, who wrote an article making public the news of the Ferro Takeover Bid, which resulted in an increase in the price of Ferro’s stock.

Peltz and the Ferro insider each received significant financial benefits from other co-conspirators shortly after Peltz traded in those co-conspirators’ brokerage accounts, and Peltz continued to receive large payments from co-conspirators, as well as other benefits, as payment for his trading activity. Peltz directed that these payments be made to corporate and nominee bank and credit card accounts, in order to conceal his income from the IRS. Despite receiving such payments, in 2017 Peltz falsely swore under penalty of perjury to the IRS that he had been unemployed since December 2015 and had no income.