Former Congressman Stephen Buyer leveraged his privileged position as a corporate advisor to twice use his clients’ material nonpublic information to commit insider trading. Buyer’s conviction underscores this Office’s commitment to detect and hold accountable those who break our insider trading laws just to make a buck.
Threat of Widespread Power Outages in Impacted Areas Due to Heavy, Wet Snow and Gusty Wind; Hazardous Travel Conditions Expected for Monday Evening Through Wednesday Morning
Governor Hochul Deploys Additional State Agency Personnel and Assets to Impacted Regions, Activates New York National Guard in Advance of Storm to Assist State's Response in Capital and Mid-Hudson Regions
Beginning 8 p.m. Monday Night All Tandem and Empty Tractor Trailers Banned from I-87 Exit 17 to I-90 Exit 36 and Length of Berkshire Spur from I-87 Exit 21B to Massachusetts Border, Similar Restrictions Will be in Effect on Additional Interstates
Governor Hochul Advises No Unnecessary Travel in Impacted Regions, Particularly on Tuesday When Visibility Will Be Extremely Limited
Governor Kathy Hochul today deployed additional assets and personnel to several regions expected to be impacted by a significant snowstorm beginning Monday night and continuing through Wednesday. Widespread areas of the Capital Region, Central New York, Mid-Hudson, Mohawk Valley and North Country Regions could see up two feet of snow during this time period. Higher elevations in the Capital and Mid-Hudson regions, where the most accumulations of snow are expected, could receive up to three feet of snow by Wednesday morning. The Western New York and Finger Lakes regions may see up to 8 inches or more of snow by Wednesday. For these regions, heavy, wet snow will begin Monday night and gusty winds up to 45 mph on Tuesday will increase the chances of power outages and related impacts. New York City and Long Island are expected to receive up to two inches of snow, but will mostly experience rain which may cause minor coastal flooding.
The Governor will declare a State of Emergency that goes into effect at 8 p.m. on Monday, and includes Albany, Broome, Cayuga, Chenango, Columbia, Cortland, Delaware, Dutchess, Essex, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Lewis, Madison, Montgomery, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Orange, Oswego, Otsego, Putnam, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Schuyler, Seneca, Sullivan, Tioga, Tompkins, Ulster, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Yates and contiguous counties.
"New Yorkers should prepare now for a multi-day event that will bring up to three feet of snow in certain parts of the Capital Region and Mid-Hudson region," Governor Hochul said. "State agencies spent the weekend preparing emergency response assets, my team is in constant contact with local officials, and we have activated the National Guard to assist with emergency response. This storm will create hazardous road conditions through Wednesday morning, and I encourage New Yorkers in impacted regions to stay home and avoid any unnecessary travel to allow plow crews to do their job."
New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, "The forecasted snow totals for this winter storm keep increasing, and the weight of the snow combined with 45 mph wind gusts will almost certainly bring down tree branches and power lines. New Yorkers should plan for two to three days straight of hazardous winter weather starting tonight. Only travel if absolutely necessary, and keep your phones and other devices charged in case you need to call for assistance during a power outage."
In preparation for the storm, the New York State Thruway Authority will ban all tandem and empty tractor trailers beginning Monday, at 8 p.m. from I-87 exit 17 (Newburgh - Scranton - I-84) to I-90 exit 36 (Watertown - Binghamton- I-81) and the length of the Berkshire Spur (I-87 exit 21B to the Massachusetts border).
Additionally, in coordination with New York State Police and the Thruway Authority, NYSDOT has issued the following commercial vehicle restrictions:
Multiple winter storm warnings and advisories are in effect for the entire eastern part of New York State, north of New York City. Coastal flood advisories have been issued Long Island, the Bronx and Queens through Tuesday morning. Additional warnings and/or advisories may be issued. For a listing of weather alerts in your area, visit your area's National Weather Service website.
Agency Preparations and Resources
The Division is prepared to deploy the following assets and shelter supplies from the State's stockpiles, if necessary:
The need for additional resources will be re-evaluated as conditions warrant throughout the event.
To ensure a quick response to potential incidents, DOT will have tow trucks pre-staged on I-90 between Exits 5 and 6 and on the Northway near the Twin Bridges, as well as parts of I-84, I-684, Route 17 and I-81.
Regional crews are currently engaged in snow and ice response activities and preparations. All residency locations will remain staffed for 24/7 operation throughout the duration of the event and priority cleanup operations. All available equipment is ready to deploy. Fleet mechanics in affected areas will be staffing all main residency locations 24/7 to perform repairs and keep trucks on the road. Statewide equipment numbers are as follows:
For real-time travel information, motorists should call 511 or visit www.511NY.org or the mobile site at m.511ny.org, New York State's official traffic and travel information source.
Statewide equipment numbers and resources are listed below:
The Thruway (I-87/I-90) will ban all tandem and empty tractor trailers beginning Monday, March 13 at 8 p.m. from I-87 exit 17 (Newburgh - Scranton - I-84) to I-90 exit 36 (Watertown - Binghamton- I-81) and the length of the Berkshire Spur (I-87 exit 21B to the Massachusetts border).
Variable Message Signs and social media are utilized to alert motorists of winter weather conditions on the Thruway.
The Thruway Authority encourages motorists to download its mobile app which is available for free on iPhone and Android devices. The app provides motorists direct access to real-time traffic information, live traffic cameras, and navigation assistance while on the go. Motorists can also sign up for TRANSalert e-mails which provide the latest traffic conditions along the Thruway.
This includes the following supplemental external contract resources:
Department staff will track utilities' work throughout the event and ensure utilities shift appropriate staffing to regions that experience the greatest impact and ensure they make contract resources available to the other State Utilities once they have cleaned up their service territories.
If your service is interrupted, visit the DPS Utility Service Interruptions website for tips.
Safety Tips
Travel
Some of the most important tips for safe driving include:
Power Outages
Report an Electric Outage
Heating Safety
For more Winter safety tips, visit https://dhses.ny.gov/safety. For all non-emergency service needs in New York State before, during or after a storm, call 211 or visit 211nys.org.
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced the annual statewide ban prohibiting residential brush burning begins March 16 and runs through May 14. Since 2009, DEC has enforced the annual brush burning ban to prevent wildfires and protect communities during heightened conditions for wildfires.
“This winter was warmer and drier than most, but regardless of the winter weather, we are always at a greater risk of wildfires in the spring,” Commissioner Seggos said. " This ban helps protect our communities, natural resources, and the Rangers and other firefighters who extinguish the fires. We’re encouraging all New Yorkers to think about safety first, before starting a potentially dangerous fire.”
Even though some areas of the state remain blanketed in snow, warming temperatures can quickly cause wildfire conditions to arise. Open burning of debris is the single-largest cause of spring wildfires in New York State. When temperatures warm and the past fall's debris and leaves dry out, wildfires can start and spread easily, further fueled by winds and a lack of green vegetation. Each year, DEC Forest Rangers extinguish dozens of wildfires that burn hundreds of acres. In addition, local fire departments, many of which are staffed by volunteers, all too often have to leave their jobs and families to respond to wildfires caused by illegal debris fires. DEC will post the Fire Danger Map for the 2023 fire season on DEC's website once there is a moderate risk anywhere in New York.
New York first enacted strict restrictions on open burning in 2009 to help prevent wildfires and reduce air pollution. The regulations allow residential brush fires in towns with fewer than 20,000 residents during most of the year, but prohibit such burning in spring when most wildfires occur. Backyard fire pits and campfires less than three feet in height and four feet in length, width, or diameter are allowed, as are small cooking fires. Only charcoal or dry, clean, untreated, or unpainted wood can be burned. People should never leave these fires unattended and must extinguish them. Burning garbage or leaves is prohibited year-round in New York State. For more information about fire safety and prevention, go to DEC's FIREWISE New York webpage.
Some towns, primarily in and around the Adirondack and Catskill parks, are designated "fire towns." Open burning is prohibited year-round in these municipalities unless an individual or group has a permit from DEC. To find out whether a municipality is a designated fire town or to obtain a permit, contact the appropriate DEC regional office. A list of regional offices is available on DEC's website.
Forest Rangers, DEC Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs), and local authorities enforce the burn ban. Violators of the State's open burning regulation are subject to criminal and civil enforcement actions, with a minimum fine of $500 for a first offense. For search and rescue, reporting a wildfire or illegal activity on state lands and easements, call 1-833-NYS-RANGERS (1-833-697-7264). To report environmental law violations, call 1-844-DEC-ECOs (1-844-332-3267).
‘Alternative to Detention’ Programs Provide Supervision & Support to Youth At Risk of Entry to the Juvenile Justice System
Program Includes Access to Vocational, Educational & Social Programming That Promotes Positive Behaviors & Healthy Relationships
The New York City Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) today announced the three organizations recommended for awards to operate the NYC Family Court Alternative to Detention (ATD) programs: Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services (CASES), which will serve youth in Manhattan and the Bronx; Justice Innovation Center (JIC), which will serve youth in Queens and Staten Island; and Good Shepherd Services, which will serve youth in Brooklyn. ATD programs allow youth charged as juvenile delinquents in Family Court to remain at home with supervision and support while their case is pending, in lieu of entering a juvenile detention facility. The ATD programs have the capacity to serve up to 310 youth annually.
“Many young people in New York City just need a helping hand, and as someone who made mistakes as a young man, I know that juvenile detention is not always the best solution for young New Yorkers who might have made a mistake,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “Today’s announcement of the awards for the Alternative to Detention programs will allow our staff to focus on keeping young people at home in their community and connect them to services that will help put them on the path to a brighter future.”
“Today’s announcement is an important step to support young people across the city that are justice-involved,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “These programs will help keep families together and provide sustained services for young people and their families as they work to establish a positive path forward. Thank you to our partner providers, to ACS, and to MOCJ for their work to make these supports available to young people and families in all five boroughs.”
“As part of the mayor’s vision to achieve safety, equity and justice by going upstream, these Alternative to Detention programs provide youth with the services and supports they need in their communities. We at ACS know that when we invest in youth and surround them with positive opportunities, they thrive,” said Administration for Children’s Services Commissioner Jess Dannhauser. “We are pleased that ATD programs will be part of our continuum of services and look forward to working with CASES, JIC and Good Shepherd Services to improve outcomes for New York City’s youth.”
Starting July 1, 2023, ATD programs will transition from the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ) to ACS. ACS oversees a large part of the juvenile justice continuum, including intensive family therapeutic services, mentoring, secure and non-secure juvenile detention, and residential options for young people placed on Family Court cases (Close to Home). The addition of ATD programs will extend the menu of diversion services ACS can offer to youth in the Family Court system.
The ATD programs will provide individualized supervision and support to youth while avoiding admission to juvenile detention for youth who are safely able to remain in the community. The programs reduce recidivism and ensure they return to court for appearances. Youth involved in the ATD programs are connected to age appropriate vocational, educational and social programming, and have access to internships, stipends and other needed support. Overall, the program will promote positive behaviors, healthy relationships and problem-solving skills.
Walkthrough of 160 Water Street Demonstrates Need for More Flexible Rules That Could Help Turn Vacant Offices Into 20,000 New Homes
Albany Can Take Action to Tackle City’s Affordable Housing Crisis With Affordable Housing Incentive Programs, Removal of Housing Restrictions, and Rental Assistance Funding for NYCHA Residents
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Councilmember Justin Brannan today toured 160 Water Street, an office building being converted to housing in Lower Manhattan, to highlight the need for investments and policy changes in the Fiscal Year 2024 state budget that would help create and preserve more affordable housing in the five boroughs.
“Last year, we declared that New York City would lead the way on affordable housing in America by becoming a ‘City of Yes,’” said Mayor Adams. “But we’ve said from the beginning that we cannot solve this problem without help from the state. We need this year’s budget to include programs that make it easier to convert offices into homes, incentives for the construction and preservation of affordable housing, assistance for NYCHA tenants, and a host of other investments that will make New York more affordable for working families. Working with our partners in Albany, we can take the next major step towards providing quality housing for all New Yorkers.”
“Our administration has rolled out an ambitious housing agenda that would speed up new construction and allow more affordable housing to be built in every part of the city,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic and Workforce Development Maria Torres Springer. “Now, we need our partners in Albany to give us the tools to go even farther, so we can meet our moonshot goal of creating 500,000 additional homes over the next decade. We are grateful to Governor Hochul for including so many of our housing priorities in her executive budget, and to Speaker Adams and Councilmember Brannan for partnering with us on a strategy to convert more unused office buildings to affordable housing. We can solve this housing crisis, but only if we all work together.”
“Our housing crisis demands creative solutions to ensure all New Yorkers have the safe, stable homes they deserve,” said Chief Housing Officer Jessica Katz. “As New York City continues its economic recovery post-COVID, we have an opportunity to build more mixed-use communities with the live, work, and play features of a 24/7 neighborhood. The Office Adaptive Reuse Task Force gave us the playbook, and it’s time for our colleagues in Albany to approve the tools to bring these new homes online.”
“With a high rate of vacancy in offices, and an urgent need to create housing, we are advancing the right plan for the right moment,” said New York City Department of City Planning Director and City Planning Commission Chair Dan Garodnick. “We need to make it easier for underutilized offices to convert to housing and, for the first time, actually incentivize permanent affordability in the process.”
Mayor Adams highlighted several key programs under consideration in Albany, including:
These and other changes are essential to reaching Mayor Adams’ “moonshot” goal of 500,000 new homes in the next decade to create a more affordable, equitable, and prosperous city.
160 Water Street is one of the few office buildings able to convert into homes under New York’s restrictive rules for conversions. Earlier this year, Mayor Adams released the New York City Office Adaptive Reuse Study — developed following the passage of Local Law 43 sponsored by Councilmember Brannan — with 11 recommended changes to state laws and city zoning requirements that would extend the most flexible conversion regulations to an additional 136 million square feet of office space.
Permits have been filed for a four-story residential building at 2301 Beaumont Avenue in Belmont, The Bronx. Located between East 183rd Street and East 187th Street, the lot is near the West Farms Square-East Tremont Avenue subway station, serviced by the 2 and 5 trains. Sokol Beci of NY Plumbing & Heating Corp. is listed as the owner behind the applications.
The proposed 57-foot-tall development will yield 12,519 square feet designated for residential space. The building will have 20 residences, most likely rentals based on the average unit scope of 625 square feet. The masonry-based structure will also have a cellar, penthouse, and six enclosed parking spaces.
Node Architecture Engineering Consulting is listed as the architect of record.
Demolition permits were filed early 2022. An estimated completion date has not been announced.
The Bronx Jewish Center at Pelham Parkway held a very successful Purim Party where it was standing room only to see Jewish Standup Comedian Eli Lebowicz. On hand to help Rabbi Saadia Pewzner celebrate the Purim holiday were new State Assemblyman John Zaccaro Jr. and Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez.
Traditional Purim food was served, Rabbi Pewzner read from the Megillah, and many people came in purim costumes. Purim is a Jewish holiday which commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from Hamen, an official of the Achaemenid Empire who was planning to have all of Persia's Jewish subjects killed as recounted in the Book of Esther.
Work Beginning This Week Will Create Two New Plazas, Shared Streets, and Two-Way Bike Lane on Broadway Between West 25th Street and West 32nd Street
Project Delivers on Commitments in Mayor Adams’ State of the City Address and “Making New York Work for Everyone” Action Plan
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez today kicked off construction on a new phase of the administration’s “Broadway Vision” plan, which will create new public spaces and make streets safer between Madison Square and Herald Square in Manhattan. This phase of the plan will deliver two new plazas, shared streets, and a two-way bike lane on Broadway from West 25th Street to West 32nd Street. The subsequent phase will deliver permanent capital improvements along Broadway from West 21st Street to West 33rd Street.
The work beginning this week marks a new phase in the Adams administration’s comprehensive Broadway Vision plan to create safe, vibrant public spaces along Broadway from Union Square to Columbus Circle. This phase of the project delivers on a portion of the $375 million commitment to create new public spaces from Mayor Adams’ State of the City address less than two months ago and follows an initiative in Mayor Adams and New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s “New New York” action plan.
“Two years ago, the pandemic devastated Midtown and our business districts, but it gave us the opportunity to reimagine our public spaces,” said Mayor Adams. “Beginning this week, our Broadway Vision will come to life with vibrant, new public spaces and safer streets from Madison Square to Herald Square. Midtown is back, and New York City is back.”
“Broadway Vision is one of the most significant public space transformations in the heart of Manhattan. It will improve quality of life and traffic safety, while boosting foot traffic, which is key to our city’s economic recovery,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi. “I thank the creative and hardworking team at DOT for turning this ‘vision’ into a concrete reality.”
“I am excited that work is getting underway to give more space along this iconic corridor to pedestrians and cyclists,” said DOT Commissioner Rodriguez. “Through our Broadway Vision plan, DOT is creating a people-first Broadway, connecting from Union Square to Columbus Circle, and we look forward to redesigning the next section between Madison Square and Herald Square. This effort will not only further reduce reliance on vehicles and support safe, sustainable transportation, but will also improve our quality of life, bolster our economy, and protect our environment.”
Map of work beginning this week from Madison Square to Herald Square. Credit: New York City Department of Transportation
Rendering of Greeley Square after capital construction work is completed. Credit: “New” New York Panel
Once repaved, the street will include several traffic-calming treatments and public space enhancements, including:
In partnership with the Flatiron NoMad Partnership, the city will permit outdoor dining at restaurants in the plaza areas between 25th Street and 27th Street.
Milling and paving work will take place over the coming several months with markings, signage installation, and signal work, as well as the addition of planters and street furniture. The project is expected to be completed this summer, with capital improvements to follow. Emergency access will be maintained throughout the corridor during the entire duration of the project and after it is completed.
“Public spaces are vital to New Yorkers’ quality of life and our city’s economic vitality, and the Broadway Vision plan is another key element of the public realm strategy called for in the ‘New’ New York plan,” said New York City Economic Development Corporation President and CEO Andrew Kimball. “Broadway Vision will catalyze the effort to revitalize Midtown as a thriving live, work, and play district, and I look forward to working with the mayor, the Department of Transportation, and the community to make this vision a reality.”
“‘Making New York Work for Everyone’ recommended creating a world-class network of public space in Midtown, as part of reimagining New York City’s business districts as vibrant, 24/7 live-work-play destinations,” said “New” New York Panel Executive Director Julie Stein. “The dramatic improvements of the Broadway Vision plan will transform this critical corridor into a grand promenade connecting Madison Square to Herald Square. It will help make the district more attractive as a residential neighborhood, safer and more inviting for commuters, and more functional for workers who highly value open area spaces in their office neighborhoods.”
