Over 300 Area Children Participated along with Live Animals

(Southampton, NY) The true meaning of Christmas was on display Wednesday as over 300 area children and their families participated in a retelling of the Nativity of Jesus Christ at the magnificent Basilica Parish of Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in Southampton.

All of the children in the parish whether they attended Our Lady of the Hamptons or Religious Education were welcome to participate in this lovely tradition. The pageant was directed by Jennifer Ferrantino, Religious Education Director for the Parish. Scores of parents and grandparents pitched in to design costumes and propos for the display. There were sheep, goats, a donkey, rabbits and hens for the children to pet.

The annual Christmas Pageant is always one of the most popular family events of the Advent Season and this year’s production with the addition of live sheep and donkeys was extra special.

Holyday Mass Schedule for Basilica Parish of Sacred Hearts of Jesus & Mary  

Many of the Masses will feature one or more of the Basilica’s glorious choirs

Christmas Eve, December 24

• 4:00 PM Family Mass Fr. Mike Vetrano
• 6:00 PM Fr. Joe Finnerty
• 8:00 PM Fr. Bill Gill
• 12 Midnight Candlelight Mass Fr. Mike Vetrano

Christmas Day, December 25

• 8:00 Fr. Ed Kiernan
• 9:30 Fr. Bill Gill
• 11:00 Fr. Mike Vetrano
• 12:30 Mass in Spanish

New Years Eve, December 31

• 5:00 PM Fr. Mike Vetrano

New Years Day, January 1

• 8:00 AM Fr. Bill Gill
• 12 Noon Fr. Paul Dahm

The Basilica Parish of Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary is located at 168 Hill Street, Southampton, New York 11968. For information call 631-283-0097 or email at parishoffice@shjmbasilica.org – www.SHJMBasilica.org

Photos by John Wegorzewski

Parishioner Beau Hulse

Pastor Father Mike Vetrano

The Main Altar aglow in candlelight

Gina Arresta, Religious Educator

Joanne Morse, Director of Music

The Crèche on Our Lay’s Altar

Edward Callaghan, Jennifer Ferrantino, Religious Education Director for the Parish, Father Mike Vetrano, Pastor

A little shepherd boy

The Children’s Choir

Nativity scene with Mary , Joseph and the Baby Jesus

Hark ! The Herald Angels Sing

The Three Kings Come to Worship

Close To $300 Million In Mortgage Forgiveness Will Go Directly To New Yorkers Struggling To Avoid Foreclosure

(NEW YORK) Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced a settlement with mortgage servicing giant Ocwen Financial Services over alleged improprieties by the company and its subsidiaries related to mortgage servicing and foreclosure practices. The national settlement, the result of a joint investigation by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, state banking regulators, and 49 state attorneys general, will bring more than $2 billion in relief to consumers in all 50 states. New York is expected to fare particularly well, with $292,716,793 in first-lien principal reductions going to homeowners across the state.

“While recent actions have brought much-needed relief to thousands of New Yorkers since the collapse of the housing market, far too many homeowners still face unnecessary challenges as they fight to stay in their homes,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “Today’s settlement with Ocwen, led by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and a coalition of states, will bring nearly $300 million in relief to homeowners across our state—a critical lifeline for New Yorkers who have lost their homes or are suffering through a burdensome process to keep them. From the 2012 National Mortgage Settlement and last month’s historic JP Morgan agreement to today’s $2 billion settlement with Ocwen, regulators are finally beginning to gain traction in delivering the kind of relief needed for homeowners harmed by the conduct of banks and lenders in recent years.”

The principal reductions will go to families who are in default or at imminent risk of default and whose homes are underwater. Thus, the benefits will be targeted to those who are most at risk and stand the greatest chance of avoiding foreclosure as a result of this relief. In addition to principal reductions for homeowners, the settlement will include cash payments to homeowners who lost their homes to foreclosure between 2009 and 2012 and a slate of servicing reforms aimed at improving customer service practices.

Kirsten Keefe, senior attorney at the Empire Justice Center, said, “It is very exciting that this settlement will bring nearly $300 million in principal reduction to New York homeowners with mortgage loans serviced by Ocwen. Principal reduction has been a key piece missing from the housing recovery puzzle. The Attorneys General, the CFPB and the state banking regulators are to be commended for coming together to help break the logjam in the foreclosure crisis.” 

The settlement with the nation’s fourth-largest mortgage servicer is the result of a massive civil law enforcement investigation and initiative that includes state attorneys general, state mortgage regulators and the CFPB. The settlement terms address servicing misconduct by Ocwen and two companies later acquired by Ocwen, Homeward Residential Inc. and Litton Home Servicing LP. Ocwen specializes in servicing high-risk mortgage loans.

According to a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the misconduct resulted in premature and unauthorized foreclosures, violations of homeowners’ rights and protections, and the use of false and deceptive documents and affidavits, including robosigning.

The investigation also found Ocwen and its related companies engaged in improper servicing practices, including but not limited to: failing to apply payments made by borrowers accurately and in a timely manner; failing to maintain accurate account statements; charging consumers unauthorized fees for default-related services; and failing to provide accurate and timely information to borrowers seeking information about loss mitigation services.

The settlement brings additional hope for Winston and Norma Rose, a retired couple who have owned a home in East New York, Brooklyn, since 1959. Mr. Rose retired from his teaching job in the public school system in 1993. In 2007, he refinanced their two-family home in order to pay for necessary repairs. When their tenant started having trouble paying rent, the Roses reached out to their lender to seek a loan modification. They have been desperately trying to negotiate with the mortgage servicers ever since. This year, Ocwen took over the servicing of their loan, but the Roses are still struggling to get relief.

Mrs. Rose, 75, said, “For five years now, we have lived in fear of losing the only home we’ve ever known. The anxiety and frustration had taken a toll on us. We are hopeful that Ocwen Loan Servicing will be able to put an end to this nightmare.” 

Josh Zinner, co-director of the New Economy Project, said, “We thank the Attorney General for his ongoing efforts to hold banks and mortgage servicers accountable to communities. Abusive servicing practices have caused great harm to New York homeowners and communities for many years. We hope the focus on first lien principal reduction in this settlement means that most of the relief will go toward keeping people in their homes with affordable modifications.”

The Ocwen settlement does not grant immunity from criminal offenses and would not affect criminal prosecutions. The agreement does not prevent homeowners or investors from pursuing individual, institutional or class-action civil cases. The agreement also preserves the authority of state attorneys general and federal agencies to investigate and pursue other aspects of the mortgage crisis, including securities cases.

A copy of today’s consent order and the complaint can be read here and here.

(ALBANY, NY) A broad coalition of farming, conservation and environmental organizations today applauded Governor Andrew Cuomo approving legislation that will strengthen the state’s local-food economy and protect New York farms.

The Food Metrics Bill (S.4061/A.5102), sponsored by Sen. Patty Ritchie and Assemblywoman Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes, requires state agencies to establish a robust food purchasing, tracking and reporting system that will provide baseline data about money being spent on food and the geographic source of such food. The bill also lays the groundwork to encourage state institutions to buy more food grown on farms in New York. Governor Cuomo signed this legislation into law on Dec. 18, 2013. It was passed by the Senate on June 12, 2013, followed by the Assembly on June 20, 2013.

“Governor Cuomo’s approval of the Food Metrics Bill is a tremendous win for New York farms, for our state’s agricultural economy as well as for sustainable food,” said New York League of Conservation Voters President Marcia Bystryn. “This legislation will start New York along a path toward expanding markets for locally grown food within our own state – helping farms and increasing access to local, fresh food. Thank you, Governor Cuomo, and thank you to the state lawmakers and advocates who put in many hours of work to make today’s victory possible.”

“This legislation is good for farmers and eaters in New York,” said David Haight, New York State Director for American Farmland Trust. “We applaud Governor Cuomo and the State legislature for taking this important step forward in using state dollars to expand economic opportunities for farmers while improving the health of our citizens.”

“This signed legislation once again shows New York is making locally grown food a priority.  The initiatives that focus on the great things produced within our borders is an investment back into our rural communities,  and demonstrates that New York State is leading by example in supporting local farms. New York Farm Bureau would like to thank Governor Cuomo for his efforts to grow our agricultural economy upstate and on Long Island,” said Dean Norton, President of New York Farm Bureau.

“We thank Governor Cuomo for signing the Food Metrics Bill into law. This is an important first step in strengthening New York’s food and farm economy by enabling the state to make informed food purchasing decisions that, I believe, ultimately will lead to more, good New York-produced food on New York agency food service plates, something that will be good for New York farmers and eaters and the environment,” said Edwin A. Yowell, Northeast Regional Governor, Slow Food USA.

“Working farms are critical to the economy of the Hudson Valley and New York State, and ensuring a steady supply of fresh and healthy food. The Governor and Legislature’s commitment to establishing a robust food purchasing, tracking and reporting system is an important step toward sustaining regional agriculture and bolstering protection of the Hudson Valley and New York City’s Foodshed,” said Ned Sullivan, President, Scenic Hudson.

“This is a critical first step in having New York State support the purchasing of local foods. It will help local farmers, strengthen regional economies, and make us more aware of the carbon footprint of our food system,” said Mark Dunlea, Executive Director of the Hunger Action Network of NYS.

“This harnesses the state’s enormous purchasing power to help preserve the state’s farms, grow our regional economy, and put fresh, healthy food on more New Yorkers’ plates,” said Mark Izeman, Director of NRDC’s New York Program. “Hopefully this is but one big step forward on a path toward creating a truly sustainable regional food system.”

“Helping state agencies and institutions inside the Adirondack Park to purchase more food locally would reduce transportation costs and boost profitability for Adirondack farmers, while helping to safeguard the environment,” said Adirondack Council Executive Director William C. Janeway.  “Healthy, well-managed farms help protect open space and are an important component of a sustainable Adirondack Park. We are pleased that the Governor signed this bill.”

New York currently has no reliable data on the amount of food it purchases in- and out-of-state. Without a baseline to measure against, it is very difficult to scale up the consumption of local foods, a step which is of vital necessity to New York’s struggling agriculture industry. The benefits of buying local are numerous – it preserves disappearing farmland, it provides a boon to our local economy and it provides New Yorkers with fresher, healthier food.

The Food Metrics Bill mandates that state agencies establish a tracking and reporting program for all food they’re buying. It requires the Office of General Services and the Department of Agriculture and Markets to set guidelines for state agencies on increasing their purchase of local foods. Successful bidders on state food contracts would also have to provide the type, dollar value, and geographic origin of all their food to the procuring agency.

Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci is joined by Gail King during the Ronald McDonald House “Making A Difference” reception.

On Saturday, Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci (R,C,WF,I-Huntington Station) joined Gail King, Ms. Senior America 2009 and the host of ”MaKing A Difference with Gail,” and local residents to support the Ronald McDonald House in New Hyde Park’s “Making A Difference” reception. The annual event is a way to support the Ronald McDonald House, which serves as a home-away-from-home for families of seriously ill children undergoing critical medical treatment in area hospitals.

Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci is joined by Gail King during the Ronald McDonald House “Making A Difference” reception.

“The services and support provided to families by Ronald McDonald House are immeasurable and offer a helping hand to those in need,” said Lupinacci. “Families with ill children are often faced with the choice of staying near their child or traveling a great distance each day. The chance to use the Ronald McDonald house provides them the comfort of a home-away-from-home in their time of need. It was a pleasure to spend time with the people who make this possible each day, and I want to thank them for their efforts. I’m proud to support such an outstanding charity.”

The mission of The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island is to give comfort and shelter to families experiencing the pain of having a sick child in local hospital facilities. The home provides the parents and siblings of these children with a temporary haven in a secure and comfortable environment among other families sharing a similar burden. More information is available at: http://www.rmhlongisland.org.

DFS Issues Top Five Tips for Protecting Your Personal Information from Scammers During the Holidays and Year Round

(New York, NY) Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today issued a consumer alert to urge New Yorkers to protect themselves against identity theft during the busy holiday shopping season when that risk is especially high. As part of the consumer alert, the Department of Financial Services (DFS) released its “Top 5 Tips” for New Yorkers to safeguard themselves from falling victim to identity theft while shopping in-store and online.

“New Yorkers should be particularly vigilant about protecting their sensitive personal information while shopping this holiday season,” said Governor Cuomo. “Scammers and identity thieves often use this busy time to prey on unsuspecting shoppers, so when you’re buying presents at a store or online, it is important to be aware and take precautions. I encourage consumers to review our top five tips to protect their financial information – it is a smart way to ensure an enjoyable and undisrupted holiday season.”

Benjamin M. Lawsky, Superintendent of Financial Services, said, “During the final shopping rush, consumers should keep a close eye out to help make sure they do not end up the victim of identity theft. Your sensitive personal information is a virtual treasure trove for scammers. If identity thieves get hold of that data, it could wreak havoc on your holiday season and cause lasting damage to your financial life.”

DFS today released the following “Top 5 Tips” for protecting against identity theft:

1. Safeguard Your Personal Information, Online and Off.

• Install a firewall and virus protection on your home computer to prevent hackers from obtaining personal identification and financial data from your hard drive or when you’re using the internet.
• Never send sensitive personal information, like credit card numbers, via email.
• Do not give out personal information over the phone unless you initiated the call or are absolutely certain with whom you are speaking.

2. Keep a Close Eye on Your Card at the Store.

• When you’re using a debit credit card at a store, keep a constant eye on your card and who is handling it. Be aware of “swipe and theft” scams using card skimmers. A skimmer is a machine that records the information from the magnetic stripe on a credit card to be downloaded onto a personal computer later.

3. Don’t Get Hooked by ‘Phishing’ Scams Online.

• Make sure that you are actually on the website you wish to be on – some online “phishers” create bogus sites that mimic real ones in order to capture shoppers’ personal information.
• When using email, be cautious about clicking on hyperlinks or attachments on unsolicited messages. Even emails that appear to be from familiar and trusted sources can be fraudulent.

4. Regularly Check Your Statements and Credit Reports.

• You should regularly check your bank and credit card statements for suspicious charges. (You can also have your bank or credit card company set up automatic email alerts for large or suspicious purchases.)
• You are entitled to a free credit report from each of the major credit reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion) annually, so request one free report every four months and check it carefully for signs of suspicious activity. You can request the reports online at www.annualcreditreport.com. Checking your credit report will not affect your credit rating.

5. Report Lost Cards or Suspicious Charges Immediately.

• If you realize you’ve lost your credit or debit card, report it immediately to avoid fraudulent charges.
• If you’re too late and become the victim of identity theft, report any suspicious activity and unauthorized charges immediately to all of your creditors, as well as the credit bureaus, and file a report with your local police.
• You can have the three credit bureaus place a 90-day fraud alert in your file so that you will be notified if somebody is reviewing your file.
• Request a “security freeze” be placed in your file at each of the three major credit bureaus, which prevents creditors from accessing your credit files to review your history, thus preventing any new credit from being opened for you, unless you authorize the agencies to allow access.

For further suggestions on how to safeguard your identity from scammers, please visit http://www.dfs.ny.gov/consumer/idtheft.htm.

New Yorkers should also be aware of the risks of providing sensitive personal information to online payday loan companies and lead generation firms, which the Cuomo Administration is currently investigating. The information consumers provide to these companies may be passed along or sold to other companies, and even scammers, without your knowledge. Additionally, New Yorkers should know that payday loans are illegal in New York State.

Drivers To Receive Nearly $750,000 In Restitution For Overcharges By Taxicab Companies; Formal Collaboration By Attorney General And New York City Taxi And Limousine Commission (TLC) Will Protect Taxicab Drivers’ Earnings

(NEW YORK) Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman and Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) Commissioner David Yassky today announced an agreement with Evgeny “Gene” Freidman, and four taxicab companies owned in part by Freidman, to pay $746,406 in restitution to drivers who were charged rates higher than the legally permissible amounts to lease cabs and medallions, as well as $500,000 in fines. With control through his companies of more than 880 medallions, Freidman oversees one of the five largest fleets in New York City.

In order to ensure that drivers retain at least a minimal amount of take-home pay, TLC rules – first enacted in 1996 – limit the amount of money drivers may be charged for leasing taxicabs and medallions. Today’s agreement is the first settlement of its kind by the Attorney General under these “lease cap rules,” following a September 2013 agreement between the Attorney General and TLC to collaborate on enforcement of those rules. Several other investigations under that collaboration remain ongoing.

“Taxicab drivers are not only an international symbol of New York City, they are also among the hardest-working New Yorkers,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “Today’s agreement is the first major step in enforcing lease cap rules that protect workers and their already modest take-home pay. I’m confident that our new partnership with the TLC will continue to increase compliance in this important area.” 

David Yassky, Commissioner of the TLC, said, “It is unconscionable to cheat hardworking taxi drivers out of their earnings — which aren’t very much to begin with. Today’s enforcement action should send a clear message to the taxi industry that violation of our driver-protection rules will not be tolerated.”

The Freidman companies involved in today’s agreement are 28th Street Management, Inc.; Downtown Taxi Management, LLC; Tunnel Taxi Management, LLC; and Woodside Management Inc. As agents for medallion owners, these companies control more than 880 medallions out of the total 13,231 medallions currently in existence in New York City.

Because of the extremely high cost of purchasing a medallion for a yellow cab (as much as $2.5 million for a pair of medallions at the most recent sale in November 2013), most taxicab drivers do not own their medallions. Instead, they lease medallions, and often vehicles as well, on a daily or weekly basis. NYC taxicab drivers are generally not employees and are therefore usually not covered by minimum wage, overtime, or many other labor laws.

The TLC lease cap rules, among the few workplace protections for drivers, limit the dollar amount drivers may be charged, and also strictly limit add-on charges that can be imposed upon drivers. Taxicab drivers earn income from fares collected over the course of a shift, minus the amounts they must pay to medallion owners or agents for leases and add-on fees. Overcharges by owners or agents chisel away at drivers’ limited income.

To better enforce the lease cap rules, in 2011, the TLC formed the Lease Cap unit and devoted resources to the investigation and prosecution of driver complaints against owners and agents who were charging drivers more than the legal amount for the lease of taxicabs. To date, the Lease Cap unit has investigated over 250 driver complaints and successfully prosecuted 55 cases resulting in $109,594.34 in restitution paid to drivers and $314,978 in imposed fines. In addition to the agreement announced today, earlier this week a medallion owner was found guilty of retaliating against a driver for alleging overcharges with the TLC. The medallion owner was fined a total of $20,000, while the drivers under that medallion were awarded $10,000.

In 2012, the TLC estimated that the average driver income after paying the lease fee, sales tax, gas expenses, and fees was approximately $125 per day — before drivers paid Social Security and other taxes. However, drivers’ workweeks often consist of five to seven shifts of 12 hours each, and unlike employees covered by the labor law, taxi drivers do not receive any overtime pay. Taking into account the extensive weekly hours commonly spent driving, taxicab drivers’ pay often barely reaches the rate that would be required for a minimum wage employee with the same working schedule.

The Freidman Companies routinely overcharged drivers in several ways from at least January 1, 2012. In some instances, they collected lease rates from drivers that simply exceeded the lease cap amounts. They also collected several types of impermissible add-on fees and charges, including a “shift excess time surcharge” fee of $3.50 per shift as well as vehicle registration, commercial motor vehicle and TLC inspection fees.

The Attorney General’s agreement requires the Freidman companies to pay restitution to drivers and to appoint an internal compliance officer to help the companies follow the law going forward. In addition, the Attorney General and the TLC will regularly review the companies’ driver receipts and other documents to ensure compliance. If those reviews reveal material violations, the companies must hire an independent external compliance officer to ensure future compliance.

Bhairavi Desai, founder and executive director of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, said, “Imagine having a job you can’t do without and a boss that stole from your paycheck every week. After decades of overcharges, which left drivers impoverished and demoralized, this enforcement action by the Attorney General’s Office and the TLC gives us the first level of economic protection against a brutal leasing system where drivers labor long grueling hours without guaranteed income, only fixed expenses. This enforcement sends a signal to the industry that compliance will be enforced, and just as resoundingly, it sends a signal to drivers that we are second-class citizens no more.” 

Vincent Alvarez, President of the New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, said, “The notion that these medallion owners would rob hardworking cab drivers of their wages is yet another example of the greed that continues to force working men and women into poverty. Today’s decision is a real step in the right direction toward protecting workers’ wages from greedy business owners who opt to put profits over people.” 

This case was referred to the Attorney General’s Office by the TLC. 

The case was handled by Assistant Attorney General Elizabeth Wagoner, Special Assistant Attorney General David Ross, Special Assistant Attorney General Jason Gonzalez, Special Counsel Patricia Kakalec, and Labor Bureau Chief Terri Gerstein, under the supervision of Executive Deputy Attorney General for Social Justice Alvin Bragg.

A copy of today’s agreement can be read here.

Organization works to promote adult literacy in central Long Island

(Long Island, NY) Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci (R,C,WF,I–Huntington Station) recently joined students in the Opening Word Program in Huntington Station.

The program works to promote adult literacy among immigrant women in central Long Island. Lupinacci was invited to tour the facility and meet the students and teachers involved in the program. Lupinacci used the visit as a chance to meet and thank the students who recently wrote him letters.

Assemblyman Chad Lupinacci addresses students in the Opening Word Program at St. Hugh’s Church.

“The Opening Word program provides adult immigrants across Long Island with the language foundation they need to integrate and excel in our communities,” said Lupinacci. “It was a pleasure reading their letters and I was incredibly happy to have the opportunity to address the students today. Talking to them about the role of the Assembly and addressing their concerns and questions on issues like immigration, housing and crime were tremendously insightful. It’s especially exciting to see their interest in civic engagement.”

The Opening Word works to promote adult literacy in central Long Island. The program teaches the English language to immigrant women who are often undereducated and underemployed. By teaching English to those eager to learn, the program helps them live as productive members of society in the United States.

Ten Pallets of MRE’s and Ten Pallets of Water Shipped to the Philippines Today

(Yaphank, NY) County Executive Bellone was joined by Suffolk County FRES staff, Philippine General Counsel, and members of the Suffolk County Asian American Advisory Board to announce the donation of six thousand MRE’s and ten thousand bottles of water to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan.

(Belinda Pagdanganan, Suffolk County Asian American Advisory Board, Ramon Villongco, Chairman of the Suffolk County Asian American Advisory Board, Czareena Dotchev, LI Deputy Regional Director for Senator Schumer, Joe Williams, Suffolk County FRES Commissioner, County Executive Bellone, John Jordan, Suffolk County FRES Deputy Commissioner, Maria DeLeon, Philippine General Counsel of New York, Zaldy Patron, Philippine Deputy Counsel General, Ed Schneyer, Dir. Of Emergency Preparedness Suffolk County, Librada Carrol, Office of Constituent Affairs Nassau County Executive’s Office)

“Today, we are here to announce the shipment of much needed supplies to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan,” said County Executive Bellone.  “As the country continues search and recovery in the midst of catastrophic damage and human suffering, Suffolk County has donated surplus supplies of MRE’s and water. I am happy to be in a position to assist those who are truly suffering from the devastating effects of Typhoon Haiyan.”

“I would like to personally thank Belle Pagdanganan and Ramon Villongco from the Suffolk County Asian American Advisory Board for reaching out to FRES regarding surplus supplies and for securing a company, ABS-CBN Foundation to ship the supplies free of charge.  Their continued commitment to serving all of the residents of Suffolk County is to be commended.

Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines in early November. It was the deadliest Philippine typhoon on record, killing over 6,000 people in that country alone.

DFS Approves Esurance Initiative That Allows Parents to Install Device in Their Cars That Limits Cell Phone Use When Car Is in Motion

(NEW YORK, NY) Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced today that his Administration has approved a new program from the insurer Esurance, which allows policyholders to install a device free of charge in their cars that helps prevent teens from texting and calling while driving. The initiative, which was reviewed and approved by the Department of Financial Services (DFS), lets parents choose to create customized “block lists” that can stop specific cell phone activities when the car is in motion.

“It’s encouraging to see programs that give parents new tools to help stop their sons and daughters from texting while driving,” said Governor Cuomo. “A combination of inattention and inexperience has far too often produced tragic results for teenage drivers. That’s why my Administration will continue to do everything it can to discourage distracted driving and help parents better protect their children on the highways.”

Benjamin M. Lawsky, Superintendent of Financial Services, said, “I applaud Esurance for using innovative technology to discourage texting while driving, which could help prevent accidents and save lives. That’s a step toward keeping not only teen drivers, but everyone else, safer on the roads. We encourage other insurers to consider using this type of technology – known as ‘telematics’ – to help reduce distracted driving and hold down premiums over the long term.”

Under Esurance’s new voluntary program, policyholders may install an in-car device into their teen’s car that, in conjunction with an Esurance app installed on their teen driver’s phone, can limit the use of text, email, application usage, and phone calls while driving (with the exception of 911). The device can also monitor driving behavior, including speeding, hard braking, fast acceleration, and other activities. Parents can log onto an Esurance web portal to customize the device and review their teens’ driving habits.

“We are pleased that Governor Cuomo, Superintendent Lawsky, and the State of New York have approved our teen driver safety program,” said Esurance President and CEO Gary Tolman. “Esurance DriveSafe can empower parents with smart, innovative technology to help their teens become safer, more responsible drivers.”

Governor Cuomo has taken a number of steps to enhance the safety of New York roads and discourage texting while driving. He has:

• Directed the DMV to increase the number of points earned against a person’s driving record for convictions for cell-phone related infractions.
• Signed a law that raises the penalties for young and new drivers caught texting-while-driving to the same severity as the penalties for speeding and reckless driving.
• Designated 91 “Texting Zones” on the New York State Thruway and state highways to give drivers a pull-off area to park and use their phones.

The Governor has also worked to increase awareness among drivers about the dangers of texting-while-driving. Statistics show that texting and using a cellphone while driving is a growing trend, whereas alcohol-related driving has declined.

• From 2005 to 2011, there has been an approximately 143% increase in cell phone-related crashes in New York State. In that same time period, there has been an approximately 18% decrease in alcohol-related crashes in New York State.
• In 2011, there were 25,165 fatal and personal injury crashes involving distracted driving in New York, compared to 4,628 caused by alcohol-related driving.
• In New York State, the number of tickets issued for texting-while-driving (30,166) approached the number of DWI/DWAI arrests (43,954) in 2012. In fact, between 2011 and 2012, there was a 234% increase in the number of tickets issued for texting while driving. In the same time period, there was a 4% decrease in the number of DWI/DWAI arrests.

Esurance is providing the device free of charge to policyholders with teen drivers 15-19 years of age who are listed on the policy. Policyholders can obtain more information about the program – including vehicle and phone compatibility – by contacting Esurance.

For more safe driving tips and information for teens and their parents, visit the website of the Office for the Younger Driver at http://dmv.ny.gov/youngerdriver/. More information can also be found by visiting dmv.ny.gov http://dmv.ny.gov/ and http://www.safeny.ny.gov/.

Fake Lawyer Michael Schorr Pleads Guilty To Felony Charges For Defrauding Unsuspecting Clients And Judges; Now Faces Up To 7 Years In Prison; Schneiderman: My Office Will Seek Justice For The Victims of Those Who Defraud The Public

(NEW YORK, NY) Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the felony conviction of fraudster Michael Schorr, who conned judges and stole from unsuspecting clients by passing himself off as a licensed attorney. Schorr pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the Third Degree (a class “D” felony), before Judge Charles H. Soloman in New York County Supreme Court. For four years, Schorr held himself out as a lawyer in New York, and defrauded more than seven victims out of more than $15,000 in legal fees. Schorr faces up to 7 years in prison when he is sentenced February 25.

“Phony lawyers preying on our unsuspecting immigrants – people who are in desperate need of sound legal advice – and stealing their hard earned money are criminals,” Attorney General Schneiderman said. “By repeatedly making false representations to judges about his status and soliciting clients into believing he could help them at their immigration proceedings, this man scammed his clients and jeopardized their livelihoods at a particularly vulnerable point. My office will seek justice for the victims of those who defraud the public.”

The Attorney General’s 35-count indictment, filed last May, charged Schorr with felony grand larceny and scheme to defraud, among other charges. Schorr, of Valley Cottage in Rockland County, misrepresented himself as an attorney to clients and potential clients and appeared in United States Immigration Courts at 201 Varick Street and 26 Federal Plaza in Manhattan. He filed false and forged documents with the courts stating that he was a licensed attorney in good standing in New York. Schorr, 72, used two attorney registration numbers belonging to other attorneys with valid licenses and made up a third registration number.

The defendant solicited and represented many victims in court who believed that he was an attorney and trusted him to provide legal advice in matters of the utmost importance to them. According to the indictment and statements made by the prosecutor at his arraignment, Schorr not only stole his victims’ money but also gave them poor legal advice. The result was that many cases needing to be re-opened. Schorr’s alleged victims include many from Brazil and at least one Israeli and one Mexican citizen.

Schorr appeared on multiple occasions in the federal immigration and other courts pretending to be a lawyer and representing his “clients” in removal and criminal proceedings. In one instance, when a federal judge told Shorr there was no record of him being a registered attorney, Schorr falsely stated that he had been licensed as an attorney in New York since 1967.

Schorr, who was ordered held without bail at his arraignment, is a second felony offender, having previously been convicted of Attempted Identity Theft in the First Degree (a Class “E” felony) in New York County in 2007. He will be sentenced to 3 ½ to 7 years in prison on this second felony conviction.

Attorney General Schneiderman thanked the United States Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review and the United States Department of Homeland Security, Division of Immigration and Customs Enforcement for their valuable assistance. The Attorney General also thanked the New York State Police and the New York State Unified Court System, Office of Court Administration.

EOIR Director Juan P. Osuna said, “We are pleased to see the New York Attorney General Office’s dedication to investigating and prosecuting fraudulent legal service providers. Bad actors such as Mr. Schorr harm the integrity of immigration proceedings and the lives of those they defraud. The Executive Office for Immigration Review looks forward to continuing its partnership with the New York Attorney General Office’s and others in law enforcement to continue the fight against notario fraud.”

James T. Hayes Jr., special agent in charge of ICE-HSI in New York, said, “Mr. Schorr stole tens of thousands of dollars from unsuspecting immigrants in our community, by falsely claiming to be a lawyer while providing poor legal representation to so many looking to be part of the American dream. HSI and its law enforcement partners will continue to dismantle fraud schemes that target the vulnerable and undermine the integrity of our immigration system.”

New York State Police Superintendent Joseph D’Amico said, “This guilty plea today once again demonstrates the hard word of law enforcement partners focused on the same goal; holding those who break our laws, accountable. The victims in the case put their trust in a man posing as an attorney. They deserved better. I commend and thank the State Attorney General’s Office for their commitment to investigating and prosecuting those who prey on the unsuspecting public.”

Attorneys must be licensed in the State of New York by the New York State Unified Court System, Office of Court Administration. If possible, before meeting or retaining an attorney, consumers should confirm his or her license on the OCA website here.

If you are seeking legal representation outside of New York State, contact that state’s licensing authority to confirm that the person is in fact licensed to practice in that jurisdiction.

The investigation was handled by Investigator Sixto Santiago, under the supervision of Supervising Investigator Kenneth Morgan, Deputy Chief of Investigations John McManus and Chief Dominick Zarella. Assistant Attorneys General Dariely Rodriguez and Jessica Attie of the Civil Rights Bureau, under the supervision of Bureau Chief Kristen Clarke and Executive Deputy Attorney General for Social Justice Janet Sabel, also participated in the investigation. The criminal case is being prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Joseph G. D’Arrigo, with the aid of Legal Analyst David Lisante, of the Criminal Enforcement and Financial Crimes Bureau, and under the supervision of Deputy Bureau Chief Stephanie Swenton, Bureau Chief Gary Fishman and Executive Deputy Attorney General for Criminal Justice Kelly Donovan.