Politics

Biaggi, Dinowitz Bill Expanding Vote-by-Mail Now Signed by Governor

By SÍLE MOLONEY
As part of a set of legislative election reforms to address voting problems that arose in the June 23 primary election, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed bill S8015D into law on Aug. 20 which will temporarily expand New York voters’ ability to vote by mail in upcoming elections, including the presidential election in November, and other elections taking place in 2021.   The new law temporarily alters the definition of “illness” with respect to absentee voting eligibility to include “risk of contracting or spreading a disease that may cause illness to the voter, or to other members of the public,” such


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Montefiore Food, Mask and Hand Sanitizer Giveaway at Westchester Square Campus

By JOSÉ A. GIRALT
On Aug. 14, in the Parkchester section of the Bronx, associates from Montefiore Westchester Square Campus were joined by State Sen. Luis Sepulveda, Assembly Member Michael Benedetto, and Council Member Mark Gjonaj to distribute masks, hand sanitizers, and lunch to the local community at their Raymond’s Avenue location.   Lunch was provided by Montefiore cafeteria staff, and information on the importance of going to the ER for health emergencies was distributed to those in attendance, including information about how the staff at Montefiore are keeping Westchester Square COVID safe for their community. Thank you to our healthcare heroes at @MontefioreNYC


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Steve Bannon and ‘We Build The Wall’ Fundraisers Charged with Defrauding Donors

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Audrey Strauss, the Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Philip R. Bartlett, inspector-in-charge of the New York field office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”), announced the unsealing of an indictment on Aug. 20 charging Brian Kolfage, Stephen Bannon, Andrew Badolato, and Timothy Shea for their roles in defrauding hundreds of thousands of donors in connection with an online crowdfunding campaign known as “We Build the Wall” that raised more than $25 million.   The defendants were arrested this morning, Aug. 20. Kolfage will be presented today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Hope T. Cannon


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Four Charged in $19M Fraudulent Invoicing Scheme Targeting Amazon’s Vendor System

By SÍLE MOLONEY
Audrey Strauss, the acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Peter C. Fitzhugh, special agent-in-charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), announced the indictment and arrest on Aug. 19 of Yoel Abraham, Heshl Abraham, Zishe Abraham, and Shmuel Abraham, who are brothers, on charges of engaging in a scheme to systematically defraud Amazon.com, LLC, (“Amazon”), an online retailer and e-commerce platform.   Through the course of the scheme, the defendants manipulated Amazon’s vendor system in attempts to fraudulently induce Amazon to pay for goods that Amazon had not ordered. In executing


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NYS Legislature to Hold Hearing on Impact of Tropical Storm Isaias on New York State

By SÍLE MOLONEY
The New York State legislature will hold a virtual hearing on the impact of Tropical Storm Isaias on New York State on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020. On Aug. 4, the storm hit New York with heavy rain, tornadoes and winds gusting up to 70 miles per hour.   Isaias left hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers without power across New York City, Long Island, Westchester, Rockland, the Hudson Valley and other areas of the state within the service territories of PSEG-Long Island, Con Edison, Orange and Rockland, National Grid, Central Hudson, New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG) and other


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After Lengthy Count, Torres Wins 15th Congressional District Primary

By Síle Moloney
  After a lengthy ballot count, which included an unprecedented number of absentee ballot votes, City Councilman Ritchie Torres has emerged victorious among 11 candidates in New York City’s 15th district congressional democratic primary race, winning 32.2 percent of the votes. The win, which was announced on Aug. 4, brings Torres one step closer to becoming the first LGBTQ Afro-Latino member of Congress if he wins the general election in November.   Incumbent Congressman, José Serrano (D), who was first elected in 1990, did not seek re-election for the South Bronx seat, and is due to retire in the coming


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Schumer: Executive Orders Omit Funding for New York School Reopening, Testing & Tracing

By SÍLE MOLONEY
On Monday, Aug. 10, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer highlighted what he called some of the glaring deficiencies in President Donald Trump’s announced ‘Executive Orders’ that he said are cause for serious concern amid the public health and economic crisis caused by the coronavirus. Schumer said President Trump’s actions yesterday “totally” leave out money for state and local governments—from New York City, to Long Island and beyond.   He also said the orders totally exclude money for schools to reopen safely, a New York priority. Finally, Schumer warned the orders leave out testing, tracing and treatment of the coronavirus itself. Schumer


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1,452 Bronx Households Still Without Power 6 days after Tropical Storm Isaias

By DAVID GREENE
  Con Edison is slowly restoring power to the 21,655 customers in the Bronx who were left without it after Tropical Storm Isaias passed through the area on Tuesday, Aug. 4. The National Weather Service reported sustained winds in the area of 30 to 40 miles per hour, which brought down large trees on top of parked vehicles, houses and power lines.   Power outages were reported in Morris Park, Pelham Parkway, Bay Plaza, Kingsbridge, Williamsbridge and Riverdale. One resident of Williamsbridge reported that the lights went out Tuesday, briefly came back on Thursday night August 6, went off again


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First Climate Justice Working Group Meeting on Aug. 13 & DEC Celebrates 50th Anniversary

By SÍLE MOLONEY
  The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), 13-member Climate Justice Working Group will hold its initial meeting on Thursday, Aug. 13 at 3 p.m. Established under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (2019), the Group is tasked with establishing criteria for identifying disadvantaged communities to reduce co-pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions, compile regulatory impact statements, and manage the allocation of investments pursuant to the Act.   The Act is among the most ambitious climate laws in the world and requires New York to reduce economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent by 2030, and no less than


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