OcasioCortez.com - Canvass for a Green New Deal tomorrow!

Tomorrow is Earth Day! 

To celebrate, Team AOC will be hosting a Green New Deal Canvass at Car-Free Earth Day in Queens, tomorrow from 11:30am – 3pm EDT — you can sign up here to join us!

Sign Up

We will be talking to neighbors about the Green New Deal, the resolution Alexandria just reintroduced in Congress to create millions of high-wage, union jobs transitioning our infrastructure and economy to net-zero carbon emissions within 10 years.

Our team will also be registering voters and recruiting new volunteers at this event. There will be environmental art projects, bike lessons, and activities for all ages!  

Can't make it to Queens? Currently, there are thirty-one locations across the city taking part in Car-Free Earth Day. Use this map to find an event near you: https://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/pedestrians/earthday.shtml

Happy Earth Day,

Team AOC

Assemblymember John Zaccaro - Earth Day 2023

 

Dear Friends, Our office is partnering with our community organizations  for a district clean-up in honor of Earth Day this Saturday,  April 22nd from 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM at Zimmerman  Playground. Please join my office and community  members as we work to keep our neighborhoods clean! There will also be an Earth Day Celebration this Saturday,  April 22nd from 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM at Loretto Park  hosted by the Morris Park BID and NYC Parks. We hope to  see you there and if you have any questions please contact  my community office at (718) 409-0109.

Two Men Sentenced for Conspiring to Provide Material Support to Plot to Attack Power Grids in the United States

 

Domestic Terrorism Plot was in Furtherance of White Supremacy

Two men were sentenced in federal court today to crimes related to a scheme to attack power grids in the United States in furtherance white supremacy.

Christopher Brenner Cook, 20, of Columbus, Ohio, and Jonathan Allen Frost, 24, of Katy, Texas, and West Lafayette, Indiana, each pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to provide material support to terrorists. Cook was sentenced was sentenced to 92 months in prison and Frost was sentenced to 60 months in prison. Jackson Matthew Sawall, 22, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was also charged and pleaded guilty in February 2022 in connection with the scheme and will be sentenced at a later date.

“These defendants plotted armed attacks against energy facilities to stoke division in furtherance of white supremacist ideology and now they are being held accountable,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Justice Department will not tolerate the use of violence to advance any extremist ideology and we remain determined to protect our communities from such hateful acts of terror.”

“At the root of every terrorist plot – whether foreign or domestic – is hate,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Parker for the Southern District of Ohio. “As a society, we must be vigilant against online radicalization, which is a powerful tool used by extremists to recruit both juveniles and adults.”

“The defendants in this case conspired to provide material support to terrorism by putting plans in place to damage America’s infrastructure, motivated by their adherence to racially or ethnically motivated violent extremist ideology,” said Assistant Director Robert R. Wells of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division. “When individuals move from espousing ideas to planning or committing acts of violence, the FBI will investigate and take action to disrupt their plans. Today’s sentencing demonstrates the commitment we have to working with our partners to bring violent extremists to justice and to protect our communities.” 

According to court documents, in fall 2019, Frost and Cook met in an online chat group. Frost shared the idea of attacking a power grid with Cook, and within weeks, the two began efforts to recruit others to join in their plan.

As part of the recruitment process, Cook circulated a book list of readings that promoted the ideology of white supremacy and Neo-Nazism. By late 2019, Sawall – a friend of Cook’s – joined the conspiracy and assisted Cook with online recruitment efforts, operational security and organization.

As part of the conspiracy, each defendant was assigned a substation in a different region of the United States. The plan was to attack the substations, or power grids, with powerful rifles. The defendants believed their plan would cost the government millions of dollars and cause unrest for Americans in the region. They had conversations about how the possibility of the power being out for many months could cause war, even a race war, and induce the next Great Depression.

In February 2020, the co-conspirators met in Columbus, Ohio, to further discuss their plot. Frost provided Cook with an AR-47 and the two took the rifle to a shooting range to train.

Frost also provided Cook and Sawall with suicide necklaces during the Columbus meeting. The necklaces were filled with fentanyl and were to be ingested if and when the defendants were caught by law enforcement. Both Cook and Sawall expressed their commitment to dying in furtherance of their mission.

Upon arriving in Columbus, Sawall and Cook purchased spray paint and painted a swastika flag under a bridge at a park with the caption, “Join the Front.” The defendants had additional propaganda plans for their time in Ohio, but they were derailed during a traffic stop, during which Sawall swallowed his suicide pill but ultimately survived.

Court documents detail that Cook and Frost continued to travel together after their Ohio meeting, and drove to Texas in March 2020. Cook stayed in different cities with various juveniles who he was attempting to recruit for their plot.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica W. Knight for the Southern District of Ohio and Trial Attorney Justin Sher of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting this case.

DEC Announces Spring Turkey Season Opens May 1

 

Season Now Includes Suffolk County Hunting Opportunities

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced that spring turkey season opens May 1, in all counties north of the Bronx-Westchester County boundary and, new for 2023, in Suffolk County on Long Island (Wildlife Management Unit 1C).

"Opening a spring turkey season on Long Island is a success story for wildlife conservation," Commissioner Seggos said. “After their translocation to Long Island in the 1990s, turkey numbers in Suffolk County increased to a level where these birds can now be responsibly and sustainably harvested through recreational hunting. DEC encourages turkey hunters throughout the state to act responsibly, follow regulations, and adhere to the cardinal rules of hunting safety for a safe and enjoyable season afield."

In addition to the new opportunities on Long Island, another change that went into effect last fall allows shot sizes as small as Number 9 for turkey hunting. This regulatory change affects both the spring and fall seasons statewide. The change was made to modernize regulations as technology has advanced over the years to increase the down-range effectiveness of smaller shot sizes. 

Spring turkey harvest in New York averages about 18,000 birds and varies based on the number of participants and turkey productivity in previous springs. This spring, improved turkey harvest is expected compared to last year. Hunters prefer to take toms (2+ year-old birds) typically producing a two-year lag between summer productivity and spring take.

Overall, turkey populations are lower now than a few years ago due to below-average reproductive success two of the last four years. However, improved turkey productivity in 2020 and 2022 means a greater proportion of toms available to hunters this spring compared to last year.

Other Important Details for the Spring Turkey Season, May 1-31:

• Hunting is permitted in most areas of the state, except for New York City and Nassau County;
• Hunters must have a turkey hunting permit in addition to their hunting license;
• Shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to noon each day;
• Hunters may take two bearded turkeys during the spring season, but only one bird per day and no more than one bird per season in Wildlife Management Unit 1C (Suffolk County);
• Hunters may not use rifles or handguns firing a bullet. Hunters may hunt with a shotgun or handgun loaded with shot sizes no larger than Number 2 or smaller than Number 9, or with a bow or crossbow (except crossbows may not be used in Westchester or Suffolk counties);
• Successful hunters must fill out the tag that comes with their turkey permit and immediately attach it to any turkey harvested;
• Successful hunters must report their harvest within seven days of taking a bird. Call 1-866-426-3778 (1-866 GAMERPT), or report the harvest online at DEC's Game Harvest Reporting website; and
• For more information about turkey hunting in New York, see the 2022-23 Hunting and Trapping Regulations Guide or visit the "Turkey Hunting" pages of DEC's website.

Hunt Safe, Hunt Smart!

While statistics show that hunting in New York State is safer than ever, mistakes are made each year. Every hunting-related shooting incident is preventable. DEC encourages hunters to use common sense this season and remember what they were taught in their DEC Hunter Education Course including:

• Point your gun in a safe direction;
• Treat every gun as if it were loaded;
• Be sure of your target and beyond;
• Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot; and
• Stalking stinks! Sit with your back against a tree or other object wider than your shoulders and call birds to you.

A hunter education class is required for all hunters. To find a hunter education class in your area, visit DEC's Hunter Education Program website or call 1-888-HUNT-ED2 (1-888-486-8332).

Tips for a Successful and Safe Turkey Hunting Season

• Don't stalk. More than half of turkey hunting injuries happen when one hunter stalks another;
• Always assume any call or footsteps you hear are from another hunter. Don't shoot until you clearly see the whole turkey and know its sex;
• If you see another hunter, talk to them clearly, and don't move. Never wave or use a turkey call to alert another hunter;
• Turkeys are tough. You need to be close before you shoot (30 yards or closer is best). You need to get a clear head and neck shot. Do not try to shoot the turkey in the body or when they are flying;
• Smaller shot, Number 4, 5, and 6, work better than larger shot, due to denser shot patterns;
• When calling, sit still with your back against a big tree, to hide you from turkeys and stalkers;
• Never wear turkey colors -- red, white, or blue;
• Wear hunter orange when going in or out of the woods and when walking around to make yourself more visible to other hunters;
• When sitting still waiting for a turkey, put hunter orange on a tree near you to alert other hunters to your presence; and
• If you take a turkey or carry a decoy, wrap it in hunter orange.

Buy Sporting Licenses Online

Sporting licenses may be purchased online at any time and anglers may use their privileges immediately by simply carrying their transaction number (DEC-LS#) with them while afield. Anglers, hunters, and trappers may also use the HuntFishNY mobile app to display an electronic copy of their license. The HuntFishNY app is available for download through the Apple App or Google Play stores. Back tags and carcass tags must still be mailed, and customers should allow 10-14 days for receipt of their tags. Please visit our website for more information about sporting licenses.

Citizen Science Opportunity: DEC Seeks Turkey Hunters for Ruffed Grouse Drumming Survey

Turkey hunters can record the number of ruffed grouse they hear drumming while afield to help DEC track the distribution and abundance of this game bird. To get a survey form, go to DEC's website or call (518) 402-8883. To participate in DEC's Summer Wild Turkey Sighting Survey or other wildlife surveys, visit the "Citizen Science" page of DEC's website.

Attorney General James and Multistate Coalition Take Action to Stop Violent Domestic Abusers from Obtaining Guns

 

New York Attorney General Letitia James and a multistate coalition took action to prevent individuals who are under a domestic violence restraining order from accessing guns and to protect governmental authority to impose these protections. In an amicus brief filed in the United States Supreme Court, the coalition of 25 attorneys general urged the Supreme Court to hear the case United States v. Rahimi. In this case, the defendant, Zakey Rahimi, was under a domestic violence restraining order in Texas for assaulting and shooting a firearm at his girlfriend, which legally barred him from possessing guns under both state and federal law. Rahimi was subsequently involved in multiple shootings and was indicted for possession of a firearm while under a domestic violence restraining order. He challenged the federal statute and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit issued an opinion earlier this year holding that the Second Amendment prohibits disarming persons under orders of protection for domestic violence. The coalition of 25 attorneys general is asking the Supreme Court to hear the case and overrule the lower court.

“It is common sense that people who are under active restraining orders for domestic violence should not be able to get guns,” said Attorney General James. “This is a basic protection that states and the federal government have long imposed, and the efforts to undo this law will have grave consequences for survivors of domestic abuse, law enforcement, and the general public. States must have the ability to protect our communities from gun violence and prevent dangerous people from getting guns.” 

Federal law bars people subject to domestic violence restraining orders from possessing firearms. In addition to the federal law, nearly every state in the country has enacted a law limiting access to firearms for those subject to domestic violence restraining orders. The coalition argues that the appeals court ruling puts at risk domestic violence victims who may be harmed or killed by their abusers, and hampers both the federal government and states in their efforts to protect their residents’ safety. 

The attorneys general argue that statutes of this sort are both constitutional and lifesaving. Studies have shown that such measures reduce homicides of both intimate partners and law enforcement officers. An abuser is five times more likely to murder his or her intimate partner if a firearm is in the home. In the United States, 80 percent of these homicide victims are women, and pregnant women and women of color are disproportionately the targets of intimate partner violence.

Joining Attorney General James in filing this amicus brief are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the District of Columbia.  

This amicus brief is part of Attorney General James’ ongoing efforts to address gun violence throughout New York and across the nation. On Saturday, April 29, Attorney General James, together with partners in local law enforcement, will host New York’s first ever statewide gun buyback event, with nine individual regional events throughout the state. Last month, Attorney General James and the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force took down a firearm and drug trafficking operation that illegally sold guns, including ghost guns and assault weapons, in New York City. The takedown recovered 19 firearms, including 12 ghost guns. In March, Attorney General James secured a court order banning 10 gun distributors from selling and shipping ghost gun parts into New York. In December 2022, Attorney General James and the task force removed 57 illegal firearms, including 51 ghost guns, as part of a 438-count indictment against three individuals. In June 2022, Attorney General James sued 10 those national gun distributors for bringing ghost gun parts into New York. In November 2022, Attorney General James sent cease and desist orders to 39 ammunition sellers demanding that they stop shipping ammunition directly to New York and warned them of serious legal consequences if they continue to violate New York’s law. Additionally, through her gun buyback program, Attorney General James has been able to remove more than 4,000 guns from New York communities since 2019.

Business Owner Sentenced To 60 Months In Prison For Defrauding Medicare Of $8 Million Through Claims For Durable Medical Equipment

 

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that MATTHEW TAYLOR WITKOWSKI was sentenced to 60 months in prison for conspiracy to commit health care fraud by fraudulently trafficking in orders for durable medical equipment such as back, knee, and elbow braces.  WITKOWSKI previously pled guilty to the conspiracy charge and was sentenced today before United States District Judge Denise L. Cote.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Matthew Taylor Witkowski faced justice for illegally selling orders for durable medical equipment and thus bilking Medicare out of more than $8 million.  This sort of fraud substantially harms the Medicare program — and will not be tolerated.”

According to statements made in court and publicly filed documents in this case:

From at least August 2019 through the date of his arrest in July 2022, WITKOWSKI and his co-defendant, Christopher Margait, engaged in a scheme to defraud Medicare by illegally obtaining and selling fraudulent written orders for goods and services paid for by Medicare, particularly including for durable medical equipment (“DME”).  Using a business that he jointly owned and operated with Margait, and a call center that WITKOWSKI owned and operated in the Dominican Republic, WITKOWSKI illegally generated and purchased fraudulent written orders for DME and then sold those fraudulent orders to pharmacies and DME suppliers, including suppliers in New York City.  Those pharmacies and DME suppliers then used those fraudulent orders as the basis for more than $8 million in fraudulent claims to Medicare.  Many of these fraudulent orders used names and personal health information of actual Medicare beneficiaries, without the beneficiaries’ authorization or prior knowledge.  Many of these fraudulent orders also contained professional information of doctors and other healthcare providers enrolled in the Medicare program, as well as the purported electronic signatures of these providers, which were falsified and created without the authorization or knowledge of these providers.

During the course of the scheme, WITKOWSKI and Margait received more than $4 million in illegal kickbacks from DME suppliers, who made these payments to True Prospects Marketing, Inc., a company controlled by WITKOWSKI and Margait, and to Sales Drive Marketing LLC, a company owned and controlled by WITKOWSKI.

WITKOWSKI, 38, a U.S. citizen who resided in the Dominican Republic, pled guilty on January 19, 2023, to a single count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.  In addition to the prison sentence, WITKOWSKI was sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay forfeiture of $4,065,995 and restitution of $8,131,990 to the Medicare program.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding investigative work of the Office of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Governor Hochul Announces Major Milestone to Advance Infrastructure for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Electric Vehicles

 

Follows Governor’s 2023 State of the State Address Directive to Remove Barriers for Electric Vehicle Development

Underscores Commitment to Reducing Transportation Emissions Which Make Up Nearly 30 Percent of State Greenhouse Gas Emissions

 In celebration of Earth Week, Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that the New York State Public Service Commission has initiated a proceeding to implement policies and develop programs related to medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicle charging infrastructure and planning. The proceeding will also begin the process for proactive investment in the utility infrastructure required to serve transportation electrification. In addition, the initiative will prioritize medium- and heavy-duty charging infrastructure investments in disadvantaged communities.

“It is critical that we invest in supportive infrastructure to get more electric vehicles on streets across New York and reduce harmful vehicle emissions,” Governor Hochul said. “With today’s PSC decision, we are spurring innovation and advancing our nation-leading climate goals by making it easier for New Yorkers and businesses to go electric.”

The Public Service Commission’s action follows Governor Hochul’s 2023 State of the State address directive to identify and remove the barriers to deploying charging infrastructure for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.

Building on New York’s nation-leading investments in utility programs, totaling over $1 billion, that support transportation electrification, Governor Hochul directed the Department of Public Service (DPS) to launch a proceeding that will identify and remove the barriers to the efficient and timely deployment of the charging infrastructure needed to electrify New York’s medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. Pollution from these vehicles has disproportionately impacted disadvantaged communities where air quality is a public health issue, such as Hunts Point in the Bronx where more than 15,000 diesel trucks operate every day. As part of this proceeding, DPS will consider revisions to utility electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure planning to encourage proactive investments in high priority locations, especially in disadvantaged communities and Clean Air Act non-attainment areas.

Public Service Commission Chair Rory M. Christian said, “I applaud Governor commitment to create a cleaner environment. The PSC recognizes the importance of the electrification of the transportation sector in the attainment of New York State’s climate goals. To advance these goals, the PSC has implemented policies to incentivize the development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure and programs. Thus far, the focus of these policies has largely been on light-duty passenger EVs, such as sedans, pickup trucks, and SUVs. To ensure a holistic approach that supports the decarbonization goals codified in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act), the PSC is commencing this proceeding to address the electrification needs of the State’s medium- and heavy-duty EV sector.”

With the PSC’s decision, DPS, the staff arm of the PSC, will develop at least one whitepaper later this year to launch development of a medium- and heavy-duty program and proactive planning process, which will be subject to public notice and comment, before potential PSC action. DPS will convene several technical conferences over the next 6 months to obtain stakeholder input in advance of issuing a whitepaper.

While the exact scope of this proceeding will be developed with the aid of interested stakeholders, EV infrastructure investments will prioritize disadvantaged communities, including those in Clean Air Act non-attainment areas that bear a disproportionate burden of pollution from trucks and buses. Additionally, the proactive planning process will ensure the grid infrastructure is prepared to enable the growing EV charging needs across New York State.

The PSC’s decision today builds upon prior Commission actions on infrastructure development and innovative rate design to support New York’s transportation electrification efforts. This includes the $701 million EV Make-Ready program that provides incentives to fund the grid infrastructure and customer-side work necessary to make sites ready for EV charging, which includes a minimum of $206 million allocated toward equitable access and benefits for disadvantaged communities. The Department is currently undertaking a midpoint review of this program and issued a whitepaper on March 1, 2023 with a number of recommendations for potential revisions and expansion of this program.

While the make-ready program helps offset the upfront cost of the EV charging infrastructure, the Commission has also adopted beneficial rates and managed charging programs to help lower utility bills for residential and commercial electric vehicle charging. The managed charging programs provide incentives or bill credits for participants who can shift their charging to the most beneficial times for the grid. Residential customers may enroll in voluntary time-of-use rates and the EV Phase-In Rate provides an alternative to traditional demand-based rates for commercial EV customers. The EV Phase-In Rate is designed to reduce the impacts of demand charges on the operating costs for EV charging stations by starting with a time-of-use rate when utilization is low and blending in the demand charge as station usage increases. The utilities are required to file proposed tariffs for the EV Phase-In rate in July and are in the process of implementing a 50 percent demand charge discount that will go into effect on a faster timeline and remain in effect until the EV Phase-In rate becomes available. The EV Phase-In rate is expected to result in electricity costs that are at least 30 percent less expensive than the equivalent cost of gasoline, using today’s prices.

New York State's Nation-Leading Climate Plan

New York State's nation-leading climate agenda calls for an orderly and just transition that creates family-sustaining jobs, continues fostering a green economy across all sectors and ensures that at least 35 percent, with a goal of 40 percent, of the benefits of clean energy investments are directed to disadvantaged communities. Guided by some of the nation's most aggressive climate and clean energy initiatives, New York is on a path to achieving a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70 percent renewable energy generation by 2030, and economy wide carbon neutrality by mid-century. A cornerstone of this transition is New York's unprecedented clean energy investments, including more than $35 billion in 120 large-scale renewable and transmission projects across the state, $6.8 billion to reduce building emissions, $1.8 billion to scale up solar, more than $1 billion for clean transportation initiatives, and over $1.8 billion in NY Green Bank commitments. These and other investments are supporting more than 165,000 jobs in New York's clean energy sector in 2021 and a 2,100 percent growth in the distributed solar sector since 2011. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality, New York also adopted zero-emission vehicle regulations, including requiring all new passenger cars and trucks sold in the State be zero emission by 2035. Partnerships are continuing to advance New York's climate action with nearly 400 registered and 100 certified Climate Smart Communities, nearly 500 Clean Energy Communities, and the State's largest community air monitoring initiative in 10 disadvantaged communities across the state to help target air pollution interventions and combat climate change.

MAYOR ADAMS HOSTS CITY OF NEW YORK’S FIRST NOWRUZ CELEBRATION

 

Mayor Eric Adams: What a crowd. What a crowd. And everyone says that you know how to throw a party. Last year, I was so proud to march in the Persian Day Parade, and I was the first New York City mayor to do so. And by doing so, I was acknowledged to be the Persian mayor. So I'm also the first Persian mayor. One of the real indicators of the contribution to the city, whenever we host these events, I scan the crowd for the uniformed personnel. And when your sons and daughters provide safety to our city, it really shows your true investment in the city. And I see men and women from the New York City Police Department, Department of Correction, and other law enforcement agencies. There is no higher contribution to a city than safety. Safety is our prerequisite to prosperity and it's how we prosper.

 

But here in our administration, not only do we have men and women in the law enforcement community that are providing a vital role, but the person who shapes my voice, who allows me to do the things I'm doing. When you pick up the paper and you read that I said something, he actually said it. My press person is from the community. Fabien Levy is here. 

 

And so I really want to thank all of you and welcome you to the People's House and Nowruz Mubarak, and much fortune and good luck to you. And it's an honor to celebrate Nowruz here at Gracie Mansion. And think about what it stands for. It's a culture. It stands for those things that are important: hope, renewal, and unity. Hope, renewal, and unity. Any society that's void of hope is void of a vision of tomorrow because hope allows us to not remain in where we are, but to see where we are going.

 

And Nowruz is a way of saying to us, no matter what challenges that are around us, as long as we ensure that we have the spirit of hope, we can overcome any obstacle. The absence of hope is the absence of opportunity is the absence of progress. And then renewal. Nothing personifies the energy and feeling of renewal more than what we came through with the global pandemic that took the lives of so many of our loved ones. No matter who we are, we could all close our eyes and think about the individuals that we lost during the pandemic. But they would want us to come on the other side of the pandemic with a sense of renewal. And renewal is what we're seeing in the city, the recovery of 99 percent of the jobs we lost pre-pandemic. Businesses are open. Our city is becoming safer because of the men and women who ensure that we remove the dangerous items from our streets. And that renewal is real and it's part of what we will always stand for.

 

And finally, unity. New York City represents unity. The diversity of this city, I am always mystified. In one given day, I can sit in a sukkah, I can attend a shiva, I can go to a mosque and sit down and enjoy Ramadan, I can celebrate Passover, Easter, I can come at Gracie Mansion and cap it off by having a Nowruz celebration. This is what we talk about when we talk about unity when we break down those barriers that really prevent us from really enjoying our most potent weapon and that is our diversity. That is who we are. And the unity of this holiday, of this cultural celebration is what I really enjoy the most. Even as borough president, we would celebrate Nowruz, and we are doing it now continuously as I'm the mayor. Back then as borough president, I celebrated as merely as an African American. Now as the mayor, I can celebrate it as a Persian.

 

So, this ancient tradition go back so far. You think about the different countries that acknowledge. From Iran to Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, which I enjoy so much, Kurdistan, where I'm going to be visiting all of my stans, Uzbekistan, and many others. I'm going to see them all. The consul generals of those different countries have always treated me with a level of receptivity and warmness, the food, the enjoyment. And I just really want to say thank you. You are a community that believes in the things I believe in. You believe in family, you believe in operating and supporting small businesses, and you believe in public safety. We see eye to eye. And I want to encourage you to make sure that every family member who's eligible to do so register to vote, because the silent majority is being overrun by the boisterous minority. A small number of people have hijacked what we stand for. And it's time for us to send a clear message that the things we stand for are the things this country stands for. So, thank you so much, and I wish you a great victorious Nowruz celebration. Thank you.