(Long Island, NY) The sentencing of convicted arsonist Harry Fleischmann Jr. before Judge John Illiou in Riverhead has been adjourned a second time.

The new date is Friday, February 28 in the criminal courthouse in Riverhead.

Fleischmann, convicted of arson, burglary and criminal possession of a weapon charges, will be sentenced to 18 years in prison, Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota said.

Fleischmann started a fire in Eric Carver’s home to destroy evidence of his burglary of 156 Lake Drive in East Patchogue on December 27, 2012.

Carver was overseas when his house was broken into and nearly completely destroyed by fire. A New York State Trooper and member of the Air National Guard, Carver was on active duty at the time in Africa with the 106th Air Rescue Wing.

Fleischmann stole Carver’s off-duty handgun, some ammunition, a generator, and the homeowner’s Chevy S-10 pickup. He used gasoline he found in a backyard shed to start the house on fire, DA Spota said.

Trooper Carver is expected to attend the sentencing.

Decision Helps Curb Unfair Practices By High-Frequency Traders, Part Of Attorney General’s Effort To Combat “Insider Trading 2.0”; Schneiderman: Insider Trading 2.0 Erodes Confidence In The Markets And Unfairly Disadvantages Other Investors

(NEW YORK) Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today issued the following statement on the decision by Business Wire, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, to stop selling direct feeds of the information it distributes on behalf of clients to high-speed trading firms:

“Business Wire’s decision to voluntarily step forward and stop selling its clients’ information directly to high-speed traders is a tremendous victory for our effort to eliminate advance trading on market-moving information and a demonstration of Business Wire’s commitment to being a responsible industry leader. My office is committed to ensuring a fair, stable, and transparent market. That means cracking down on the bad actors and encouraging industry leaders to step forward and self-police their industry. High-frequency traders who drain the value out of market-moving information in the milliseconds before it becomes available to other investors erode confidence in our markets and skim from the rest of the investing public, which hurts the entire market. I strongly encourage other participants in this industry to follow the leadership of companies like Business Wire and join us in the effort to level the playing field between high-frequency traders and the rest of the investing public.”

In September 2013, Attorney General Schneiderman gave a speech to the Bloomberg Markets 50 Summit outlining what he called Insider Trading 2.0 – the practice of providing preferred, technologically sophisticated traders with early access to market-moving information. In his remarks, in addition to noting that his office would investigate companies that engage in Insider Trading 2.0, the Attorney General encouraged industry leaders to step forward to help root out the practice. Providing an example for others, Business Wire voluntarily stepped forward and recently terminated its contracts with all known high-frequency traders.

Business Wire helps publicly traded companies distribute press releases and mandatory financial disclosures, and its information distribution platform is designed to simultaneously publish this data for subscribers – such as members of the media and others in the financial community. This is an important service for Business Wire’s clients, who must comply with reporting obligations under federal and state securities laws (including federal Regulation FD) that require market-moving information to be released to all market participants at the same time.

High-frequency trading firms were taking advantage of the split-second difference between the time when Business Wire released information directly to high-frequency traders and other subscribers and the time when various news aggregators (such as Bloomberg, Dow Jones, and others) were able to receive and then deliver that information to the market more broadly. During that time lag, which lasted just a fraction of a second, high-frequency trading firms were able to trade on the information ahead of, and at the expense of, other investors.

Today’s announcement that Business Wire will terminate sales to high-speed trading firms follows the agreement Attorney General Schneiderman reached last month with BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, to end its practice of systematically surveying Wall Street analysts for their sentiments on firms it covers in order to obtain advance information.

Last year, Attorney General Schneiderman announced his office’s agreement with Thomson Reuters to end its practice of selling early access to consumer confidence data to high-frequency traders, pending the Attorney General’s investigation into that matter.

The Attorney General’s Insider Trading 2.0 initiative is led by the Office’s Investor Protection Bureau.

Suffolk County Departments of Labor, Social Services and Human Rights Commission will provide services on site

(Brentwood, NY) County Executive Bellone was joined by Legislator Monica Martinez, Javier Valdes, Co-Executive Director of Make the Road NY, the Departments of Social Services, Labor and the Human Rights Commission to announce on-site county services to be offered at Make the Road New York in Brentwood, NY.

(Roderick Pearson, Executive Director-Suffolk County Community Services, John Nieves, Department of Social Services, Javier Valdes, Co-Director, Make the Road NY, Rabbi Moss, Chairperson-Suffolk County Human Rights Commission, John O’Neill, Commissioner-Suffolk County Department of Social Services, Dr. Hafiz ur Rehman, Commissioner-Suffolk County Human Rights Commission, County Executive Steve Bellone, Jennifer Blaske, Executive Director of the Suffolk County Human Rights Commission, Legislator Monica Martinez, Karina Claudio, Lead Organizer-Make the Road NY, Carlos Reyes, Salvadorian Immigrant and member of Make the Road NY, Katherine Daniel, Assistant to the Commissioner of Labor, Licensing and Consumer Affairs, Gloria Maher, Suffolk County Department of Labor technician)

“Ensuring that all residents have access to County services is of the utmost importance to my administration,” said County Executive Steve Bellone.  “Today, we have the opportunity to do just that in the Brentwood and Central Islip communities.  We have created a county resource center in Brentwood that will be staffed one a week with representatives from the Departments of Labor, Social Services and the Human Rights Commission.  These services are made possible by the County’s collaboration with Make the Road NY, 1090 Suffolk Ave., Brentwood, NY.  I thank Legislator Monica Martinez for her continued advocacy and leadership in ensuring services reach those who are in need.”

The partnership with Make the Road NY developed over the past 6 months as Suffolk County is looking toward increasing access to county services by underserved communities.

Many residents of the  Brentwood and Central Islip communities have had limited access to County services in the past due to a variety of reasons ranging from language access, to a lack of awareness about what is available, to limited transportation allowing them to access County buildings where services are delivered. In an effort to ensure full access to all services available, Suffolk County’s Department of Social Services, Department of Labor, and Human Rights Commission will station representatives on site at Make the Road NY, a non-profit organization with strong ties to the  Brentwood and Central Islip community.

“As legislator of the 9th district, in collaboration with County Executive Steve Bellone and Make the Road New York, I feel extremely gratified to be able to bring one of my campaign platform points to fruition, stated Legislator Monica Martinez.   “Providing residents with a resource center, allows the community to access the Department of Labor, Department of Social Services and the Human Rights Commission at the heart of the community.  By bringing these services, it allows us to empower our community through education, skill building, and advocacy.   This accomplishment is tangible evidence that working together with the community, organizations, and elected officials, the 9th district has made and will continue to make progress.”

“Make the Road New York is proud to partner with Suffolk County to bring County services closer to the community,” stated Javier H. Valdes, Co-Executive Director of Make the Road NY “Hundreds of members of the Suffolk community come through our doors every week and will benefit from increased access to County services. Efforts like this show Suffolk County’s commitment to an open and accessible government for all.”

Description of Services

Every Thursday from 9am – 1 pm, Suffolk County will have a DSS representative and a DOL representative at Make the Road offices in Brentwood in order to educate and provide technical assistance in a location convenient to the community.

• DSS will offer on-the-spot food stamp enrollment and Medicaid enrollment as well as eligibility screening and referrals to public assistance (TANF). They will also provide referrals to shelters, transportation, and subsidized childcare to eligible residents as appropriate.

• DOL will offer on-the-spot resume and job search assistance as well as eligibility screening and referrals to vocational and work readiness training programs. They will also provide referrals to GED, Adult Basic Education, and English as a Second Language classes to eligible residents as appropriate.

In addition, the Human Rights Commission will be available to meet community members by appointment at the Make The Road site to discuss and offer assistance for any claims of unlawful discrimination.  All services will be available in English and in Spanish.

“As a resident of Central Islip and a member of Make the Road NY, I am really excited about the partnership that my organization and Suffolk County are launching today,” said Carlos Reyes, Salvadorian Immigrant and member of Make the Road NY.  “Many low income immigrants and individuals in my community need access to county services, and having these services at a place we trust and consider home is a great advantage.  Many people will be able to access services in their own language and at a place where they will feel comfortable regardless of who they are or where they come from.”

About Make the Road NY:

Make the Road New York (MRNY) builds the power of Latino and working class communities to achieve dignity and justice through organizing, policy innovation, transformative education, and survival services.

At our Suffolk County office, Make the Road New York provides crucial support services to members of the community.  Our culturally and linguistically competent staff provide legal assistance, naturalization clinics, ESL classes, health access services, and civic engagement opportunities.

Through our services about 300 come through our doors each week and we hold periodic clinics and drives periodically which draw many more.

(NEW YORK) The following statement is attributable to Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman on today’s ruling by the New York State Public Service Commission in the Consolidated Edison utility hearing, which requires the company to spend $1 billion to protect its systems while also holding rates steady:

“Hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers suffered from Con Ed electricity outages when Sandy hit New York State in 2012. Today’s ruling by the Public Service Commission is an important step toward ensuring that the widespread power outages left in the storm’s wake will not be repeated,” Attorney General Schneiderman said. “While holding the line on rates, Con Ed is required by the PSC ruling to invest $1 billion to protect its system from the consequences of severe storms and to engage in an in-depth study of its system’s vulnerability to climate change.

“My office played a key role in this proceeding, focusing attention on the real and increasing threat that climate change poses to Con Edison’s infrastructure and, ultimately, its customers,” Attorney General Schneiderman continued. “I am pleased that both Con Ed and the PSC listened, and the company has committed to taking actions necessary to ensure that New Yorkers continue to receive safe and reliable utility service in a time of increasingly extreme weather.”

The PSC ruling is the result of Consolidated Edison’s request, submitted in January 2013, for a rate hike for its electric, gas and steam customers and a proposed $1 billion “storm-hardening” plan to protect its system from the impacts of climate change.

Attorney General Schneiderman intervened in the case and, in testimony and briefs filed with the PSC, his office maintained that Con Edison’s initial storm-hardening plans failed to adequately address the risks posed by climate change, such as sea level rise, increased heat waves and precipitation. According to the latest report of the New York City Panel on Climate Change, sea levels in the New York City area could rise by up to 31 inches by the 2050s.

In addition to stabilizing rates over multi-year rate plans, today’s ruling includes a number of critical elements advocated by Attorney General Schneiderman. These include: requiring the immediate implementation of storm-hardening and resiliency projects and supporting an ongoing collaborative discussion among the parties on how to best evaluate risk to the system; developing a risk-cost benefit evaluation model to look at flood-protection design standards and other projects related to cost-effective storm-hardening; exploring additional resiliency initiatives such as distributed generation; increasing the replacement of leak-prone gas pipes; measuring methane losses in the company’s gas system, and facilitating the switch from highly polluting heavy heating oil to natural gas for building heating.

(Long Island, NY) On March 25, 2000, Louis J. Acompora died from a condition known as commotio cordis, which resulted from a blow to his chest while playing lacrosse during his first high school game. He was only 14 years old. This fatal condition quickly leads to sudden cardiac arrest. It is a poorly recognized and under reported event that affects healthy young athletes. Following Louis’ tragic death, the Louis J. Acompora Memorial Foundation has dedicated its mission to raising awareness among schools and other public institutions about the importance of owning automated external defibrillators (AED), a simple device that would have saved Louis’ life.

ANNOUNCING THE NEXT YOUTH HEART SCREENING EVENT
Heart Screen New York is a FREE program provided by the Louis J. Acompora Memorial Foundation and the Dominic A. Murray Memorial 21 Foundation. The next heart screening will be held at West Islip High School, One Lion Path, West Islip, NY on Saturday, March 15, 2014 from 9 AM to 3 PM. The goal of this collaborative effort is to increase awareness about sudden cardiac arrest in youth and the importance of cardiac screenings and early detection in youths.

ABOUT THE SCREENING
The screening is open to all students ages 12 to 24, regardless of the school they attend. Several leading cardiologists from area hospitals will be offering their services to the screening including Heart Screen New York’s Medical Director, Dr. Nicholas (Niko) Skipitaris of Lenox Hill Hospital; Pediatric Cardiologist Russell Schiff, affiliated with North Shore/LIJ Medical Group; and Daniel Montellese, an Interventional Cardiologist with Stony Brook Heart Associates of Long Island. Additional medical professionals and CPR instructions also volunteer their time and expertise at Heart Screen events.

The screening will consist of a heart health survey, heart sounds physical, ECG and Echocardiogram. To register for the free youth heart screening, visit www.stayclassy.org/heartscreennewyork.

ABOUT THE LOUIS J. ACOMPORA MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
Louis’ parents, John and Karen Acompora, came to realize his death could have been prevented if the school had owned a portable defibrillator. A defibrillator revives cardiac arrest victims with an electric shock to the chest. After Louis died, the Acomporas started a grassroots campaign to raise awareness among schools and other public institutions about the importance of owning AEDs. The Louis J. Acompora Memorial Foundation was founded to ensure that similar tragedies are prevented. The Foundation is committed to improving sports safety, with a special focus on placing AEDs in all schools and youth athletic organizations.

The Foundation worked closely with New York State Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg, who introduced legislation in May 2001 mandating that all public schools in the state be equipped with AEDs in their buildings and at all sporting events. A year later, after having unanimously passed in the State Assembly and Senate, Bill #A8779 was signed into law by Governor George Pataki on May 7, 2002. The next month, on June 24, Governor Pataki attended the Northport High School graduation ceremony to present Bill #A8779 which he proclaimed, “Louis’ Law.” For a wealth of information on the activities of the foundation, visit http://www.la12.org.

Failure to pass Public Assistance Integrity Act could cost New Yorkers $120 million

(Long Island, NY) Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci (R,C,WF,I-Huntington Station) today is calling on the Assembly Democrats to follow the State Senate’s lead and pass the Public Assistance Integrity Act (A. 2386). The legislation has already passed the Senate, but continues to sit dormant in the Assembly Social Services Committee. If the legislation is not passed and signed into law by February 22, New York State risks losing $120 million in federal aid toward welfare programs.

“The Public Assistance Integrity Act has been passed by my colleagues in the Senate repeatedly because it is common-sense legislation that will protect our tax dollars,” said Lupinacci. “Our temporary assistance programs provide those in need with the support they deserve to get back on their feet. This legislation simply protects the integrity of those programs so they are not abused or exploited by those with ill-intentions. Prohibiting the purchase of alcoholic beverages, tobacco products or lottery tickets with public assistance benefits that come from hard-earned tax dollars is just common sense.”

The Public Assistance Integrity Act results from a federal mandate signed by President Barack Obama which requires states to enact new regulations that protect public assistance benefits from abuse. Under the legislation passed by the State Senate, New York would prohibit the sale or purchase of alcoholic beverages, tobacco products or lottery tickets with public assistance benefits. New York would also ban the use of public assistance benefits by means of electronic benefit transfer (EBT) transactions at liquor stores, casinos or adult entertainment facilities.

Lupinacci and his colleagues have created a countdown clock in the hope of inspiring their Assembly Majority colleagues to take up the legislation before the deadline. The clock can be viewed online at: www.bit.ly/WelfareReformClock.

(Long Island, NY) Suffolk County Police today arrested a Central Islip woman for the killing of her newborn earlier this week.

Santos Elena Ruiz Solano gave birth to a girl on February 16 at 3 a.m. at 40 Shoal Drive in West Islip where she was employed as a live-in housekeeper.

The baby suffered traumatic injuries shortly after her birth and died at the scene. Ruiz Solano then placed the baby in a plastic bag and left the home.

Complications of child birth forced Ruiz Solano to seek medical care at a nearby hospital. The child was recovered from a nearby garbage can and given to hospital personnel, who called police.

Homicide Squad detectives charged Ruiz Solano, 26, of 375 Clift St, Central Islip, with Murder 2nd Degree. She will be held overnight for arraignment in First District Court in Central Islip on February 21.

The fact that a defendant has been charged with a crime is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Defendants are entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the prosecution to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Bellone: launch of App will help response times for residents experiencing sudden cardiac arrest; Phone app to empower CPR-trained residents to provide life-saving assistance

(Holbrook, N.Y.) Suffolk County Executive Steven Bellone joined Fire Rescue Emergency Services (FRES) Commissioner Joe Williams along with members of the Suffolk County EMS, the Suffolk County Joint Chiefs Association, the Regional Emergency Medical Services Council at the Holbrook Fire Department to announce the implementation of the Suffolk County PulsePoint App today. The new service, funded through federal grants, is the first municipal phone application on the East Coast that empowers CPR-trained residents to provide life-saving assistance to those in cardiac arrest.

County Executive Steve Bellone, Joe Williams Commissioner of FRES, John Jordan, Deputy Commissioner of FRES, Robert Delagi, Director Suffolk County EMS and Public Health Emergency Preparedness, Suffolk County Joint Chiefs Council

“Suffolk County will continue to utilize the latest technological advances to provide life-saving assistance to our residents,” said County Executive Bellone. “With hundreds of residents and emergency management personnel signed up in the first 24-hours, I ask any and all CPR-trained residents to download the application, sign-up for the service and join those who are already users of this life saving service.”

“This is about unleashing the potential of trained citizenry to respond to incidents of cardiac arrests if paramedics cannot arrive in time,” said FRES Commissioner Joe Williams. “This is a worthwhile initiative that will save lives.”

Available on the Apple and Android App store, Suffolk County’s PulsePoint App alerts CPR-trained bystanders to victims of sudden cardiac arrest that may require CPR. An interactive map feature directs users to the nearest location of an Automatic External Defibrillator as well.

When a 911 call is received by Suffolk County’s FRES reporting someone unconscious, unresponsive and likely needing CPR, FRES will dispatch emergency resources as they normally do, but in addition integrated PulsePoint software will send an immediate alert to CPR-trained residents.

“Hundreds of residents have downloaded the application in the first 24 hours,” said Joel Vetter, Coordinator of Suffolk County’s FRES. “We expect tens of thousands to sign-up in the next 30 days which represents an immediate impact on response times to victims of cardiac arrest.”

“This new technology will be a life-saving tool that will assist first responders,” said Jay Egan, Chairman of the Suffolk County Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services Commission. “The location of thousands of Automatic Defibrillator’s are available to users in this location-aware application.”

According to the American Heart Association (AHA) more than 1,000 people die each day from Sudden Cardiac Arrest in the United States. Different from a heart attack, sudden cardiac arrest is caused when the heart’s electrical system malfunctions and the heart stops working properly. CPR or AED use helps restore the heart’s normal rhythm. Health experts state that bystander CPR is a critical link in the chain of survival and has been shown to more than double a victim’s chance of surviving cardiac arrest.

After downloading the application, residents should click accept “Terms and Conditions,” enter the agency “Suffolk County” or the zip code, and then click enable “CPR” notifications.

About Pulse Point
PulsePoint is a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation with a mission to assist citizens who are trained in CPR to save lives. Through the use of modern, location-aware mobile devices, PulsePoint is building applications that work with local public safety agencies to improve communications with citizens and empower them to help reduce the millions of annual deaths from Sudden Cardiac Arrest. More information can be found at www.pulsepoint.org.

PSC Acts to Encourage Developers to Site Projects Within Existing ROWs

(Albany, NY) The New York State Public Service Commission (Commission) today commenced a proceeding to develop an expedited, 10-month review process for future transmission projects that can be built wholly within existing utility or State-owned rights-of-way. This new proceeding stems from Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s call in his 2014 State of the State address to expedite these type of transmission projects citing the need foster upgrades to an aging infrastructure and address congestions problems that cost electric customers across the state hundreds of millions of dollars in excess electricity costs annually.

“The creation of an expedited process to build needed transmission lines in existing rights of way will help maximize the value of in-state power generation resources, which in turn will lower energy costs in New York and help consumers better manage energy bills,” said Commission Chair Audrey Zibelman. “Our process will be designed to incent transmission developers to use technology and ingenuity to achieve required expansion of our electric transmission system while minimizing land use and community impacts. Our transmission initiatives, coupled with ongoing efforts to expand distributed generation and smart grid technologies, will result in lower cost and higher quality electricity service to consumers.”

In his 2014 State of the State Address, Governor Cuomo called for an expedited approval process for ‘smart’ transmission projects that do not require the acquisition of new rights-of-way from private landowners. The Commission concurs that such projects, which are not likely to have significant land use impacts, may be appropriate for the streamlined review that is envisioned.

In his address, Governor Cuomo called on the Commission to reduce the time required to evaluate such transmission proposals in order to provide a clear financial incentive for the development of transmission projects that respect community interests and can be implemented quickly using existing rights-of-way and State-owned assets. As envisioned, the new process, when implemented, would apply only to projects that do not require permanent expansion of the right-of-way “envelope” with wider corridors or taller towers.

Commission staff will examine how existing regulations can be adjusted to allow for an expedited review of appropriate projects. In addition, staff will define eligibility requirements for the expedited treatment and will provide process recommendations to ensure eligible applications can be processed in a 10-month period. Because practical experiences and concerns of developers, communities, landowners, and other governmental agencies are critical, staff will hold a technical conference and consult with stakeholders to help refine the revised process.

In a separate, but related action, the Commission today directed administrative law judges overseeing the Alternating Current (AC) Transmission Upgrade proceeding to establish a process by which competing developers in the initiative could submit new or modified proposals that make greater use of existing transmission corridors.

Transmission congestion costs New York consumers hundreds of millions of dollars each year. Upgrading the system to reduce such congestion could enhance system flexibility and efficiency, reduce environmental and health impacts associated with electricity production, increase supply diversity, promote lower cost generation in upstate areas, and mitigate potential problems arising from generator retirements.

The AC Transmission Upgrade proceeding seeks to develop at least 1,000 MWs of new transmission capacity, and initially required each project, standing alone, to provide that capacity. As a way to encourage developers to consider the possibility of staying within the existing rights-of-way, the Commission has modified the criteria to accept project proposals that provide less than 1,000 MWs of additional transfer capability.

This modification will allow developers to propose alternatives that maximize the use of the existing rights-of-way even if the individual project is not able to achieve the 1,000 MW transfer capability. The Commission instructed the administrative law judges to devise a process for considering these new alternatives without lengthening significantly or at all the overall schedule for completing the AC upgrade initiative.

The Commission’s decisions today, when issued, may be obtained by going to the Commission Documents section of the Commission’s Web site at www.dps.ny.gov and entering Case Numbers 14-T-0017 [Developing an Expedited Process for Siting Transmission on Existing Rights-of-Way] or 13-E-0488 [Alternating Current Transmission Upgrades – Comparative Proceeding] in the input box labeled “Search for Case/Matter Number”. Many libraries offer free Internet access. Commission orders may also be obtained from the Commission’s Files Office, 14th floor, Three Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12223 (518-474-2500). If you have difficulty understanding English, please call us at 1-800-342-3377 for free language assistance services regarding this press release.

(Queens, NY) On Monday, March 10, 2014 at 6:30pm Queens Council on the Arts mixes up dance and food in the second Moveable Feast Artist Dinner Series which will raise money for a stop gap scholarship fund.

The Moveable Feast Artist Dinner features Senses Transport, a performed participatory meal that transports those in attendance to a world of heightened senses with Performing Artist Emily Berry and Chef Gianna Cerbone-Teoli.

Participants experience all five senses as they are moved through a multi-course meal that places them in the performance space with dancers, a violinist, and a chef. This is a rare opportunity to get up close and personal interactions with artists as they take you on a journey of the senses!

The funds will support scholarships for our students participating in the High School to Art School Portfolio Development Program. You are giving underserved high school juniors and seniors the ability to attend nationwide art colleges by literally closing the gap of their financial assistance for their 1st year of school!

Monday, March 10, 2014 at 6:30pm

Manducatis Rustica Restaurant
46-33 Vernon Boulevard
Long Island City, NY 11101

Admission: $150
(buy tickets)

The mission of the Queens Council on Arts is to foster, and develop the arts in Queens County and to support individual artists and arts organizations in presenting their cultural diversity for the benefit of the community.

For more information visit: www.queenscouncilarts.org