TIMES, THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 2014 • 54 Mayor’s Pre-K Funding Wish Granted In New, On-Time State Budget Cuomo and legislative leaders for achieving “something truly extraordinary.” No tax increases were authorized with the UPK budget allocation. “With the investment announced today, this state has made a powerful and historic decision that will change the lives of tens of thousands of children,” de Blasio said. “We set out down this road nearly 18 months ago. Through ups and downs, we never wavered from our promise to the people of this city to expand full-day pre-K and afterschool for our children starting this September. Today that pledge became a reality.” Local Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan, chair of the Assembly Education Committee, praised the budget deal and the increased education funding in a statement Monday, Mar. 31. “Overall, this year’s final budget is a smart spending plan that significantly increases support for, and access to, high-quality educational opportunities for our students in each and every grade,” Nolan said. “It takes real, tangible steps toward restoring the Gap Elimination Adjustment, presses pause on implementation of the Common Core, protects student privacy and takes steps to eliminate trailers in New York City schools. Most importantly it puts our students first and supports New York's schools.” De Blasio also praised the state government for including in the budget rent subsidies which aim to “transition families out of our shelter system.” “This budget also recognizes the unprecedented homelessness crisis facing this city and our shared commitment to lift up people facing crisis,” the mayor added. “These new partnerships between the city and state will mean we can begin turning the tide and protecting our most vulnerable.” Other provisions in the budget agreement, as outlined in a press release from the Governor’s Office, include the following: • the elimination of a 5.9 percent income tax rate for all manufacturers and the introduction of a 20 percent real property tax credit for manufacturers who own or lease property in New York State; • an additional $150 million in economic development capital funding and $70 million in tax credits for businesses in the Regional Economic Development Councils created in 2011 to boost economic development statewide; • new anti-bribery and anticorruption laws to clean up state government; • a $9 million increase in resources for the Environmental Protection Fund; • legislation to combat against young drivers who send or read text messages while behind the wheel; • funding for the Commission on Youth, Public Safety and Justice to provide teenagers in the criminal justice system with alternatives to incarceration. The budget deal, however, was panned by some activists for leaving out funds to enact the DREAM Act, legislation to provide undocumented young students with college aid and for reducing public transit funding by $30 million. “It is highly disappointing that the New York State DREAM Act was not included in the state budget,” said Jazmin Cruz, a Brooklyn resident and member of Make the Road New York. “New York's leading elected state officials are ignoring the demands from our communities, and we plan to hold them accountable. We are going to continue fighting until the DREAM becomes a reality.” “The sacrifice of dedicated transit funds will mean less money available to provide subway, bus, Metro-North and Long Island Rail road service,” according to John Raskin of the Riders Alliance, a transportation advocacy coalition. “Taking away transit funding at the state level has a direct impact on levels of service, which still have not been restored to 2010 levels, and on fares, which continue to rise every other year.” -CONTINUED FROM PG. 8- Say Hospital Workers Stole Info From ER Patients illegal release of their personal information and medical records.” It is alleged that both Amador and Prawl—both employed as registrars in the emergency room of Jamaica Hospital Medical Center—each illegally accessed more than 250 different computer records of patient files, each containing, among other things, the patient’s Social Security number, date of birth, address, telephone number, and details regarding their injuries and medical treatment received in the emergency room at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. According to the charges, Amador, between Feb. 10, 2012 and Mar. 12 of this year, and Prawl, between Dec. 11, 2013 and Mar. 17, illegally accessed the personal identification information, including the Social Security numbers, and medical records, of patients seeking treatment in the emergency room. None of the patients was registered by Amador or Prawl and therefore they were not permitted to access the information. A sampling of the accessed files charged in the criminal complaints include the following: • On Feb. 10, 2012, at approximately 4:42 p.m., an individual whose full identity is known to the Queens District Attorney’s Office, hereinafter referred to as D.C., sought medical treatment at the emergency room of Jamaica Hospital for injuries suffered as a result of a car accident. Jamaica Hospital records further show that, at approximately 6:02 p.m., on Feb. 10, 2012, defendant Amador used her computer access login to access D.C.’s records of medical treatment, which also contained numerous items of D.C.’s personal identification information. Within two days of the emergency room visit, D.C. received a phone call from a person falsely claiming that she was calling from Jamaica Hospital and wanted to make sure that D.C. received follow-up medical treatment. D.C. also received a call from an attorney attempting to solicit D.C. as a client relevant to the injuries which caused the emergency room visit. • On Dec. 11, 2013, at approximately 4:06 p.m., inside of Jamaica Hospital, Prawl allegedly used her computer access login to access records of medical treatment, which also contained the personal identification information, of D.L., a person known to the Queens District Attorney’s Office. Those records also reveal that D.L. came to the emergency room for medical treatment on Dec. 11, 2013, at approximately 1:05 p.m., for injuries suffered as the result of a motor vehicle accident. According to Jamaica Hospital’s case investigation records, while D.L. was in the emergency room D.L. received calls from attorneys attempting to solicit business relative to the injuries which caused the emergency room visit. In addition, according to the case records, on Dec. 17, 2013, D.L. received a telephone call from a person falsely representing that they were affiliated with Jamaica Hospital, and they were outside D.L.’s residence to transport D.L. to outpatient therapy. The district attorney acknowledged the assistance and cooperation of Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in the investigation. The Hospital brought the situation to the attention of authorities. The investigation was conducted by Det. Armando Coutinho of the NYPD Identity Theft Squad, under the supervision of Lt. Ruperto V. Aguilar and the overall supervision of Inspector Gregory Antonsen, of the NYPD’s Financial Crimes Task Force, Deputy Chief Jeremiah Quinlan of the Special Investigations Division, Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce, Chief of Department Philip Banks III and Police Commissioner William Bratton. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Mary M. Lowenburg, chief of the Auto Crime and Insurance Fraud Unit, of the District Attorney’s Organized Crime and Rackets Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Gerard A. Brave, bureau chief, and Mark L. Katz, deputy bureau chief, and the overall supervision of Peter A. Crusco, executive assistant district attorney, Investigations Division, and Linda M. Cantoni, deputy executive assistant district attorney. It was noted that a criminal complaint is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. -CONTINUED FROM PG. 8- More Freight Train Upgrade Funds pilot upgrade project was a top transportation and environmental priority in the fiscal year 2013 and 2014 Assembly one-house budget led by Speaker Sheldon Silver. The budget request for this project was supported and signed by over 80 members of the Assembly, and received bipartisan support in both chambers of the legislature as an issue of environmental justice for communities disproportionately affected by diminished air quality. The continued funding for this project sets a clear public precedent of acknowledging the pressing need to combat pollution caused by antiquated locomotives, Hevesi noted. “With this additional state funding, and the first overhauled freight locomotive set to come on-line later this year, it is encouraging that great strides are being made to fight for, and protect, the health of countless families in the boroughs of New York and on Long Island,” Hevesi said. “Our success would not have been possible without bipartisan support from concerned legislators in both houses, Speaker Sheldon Silver, the New York League of Conservation Voters, my Senate colleagues, and the tireless efforts of the community activists in Civics United for Railroad Environmental Solutions (CURES). This funding further demonstrates that the voices of sustainability advocates have been heard and that clean rail transport is a priority for New York State.” “Today’s announcement is great news for the people of Queens, Brooklyn and Long Island,” said Marcia Bystryn, president of the New York League of Conservation Voters. “This funding will help clean the air and improve the quality of life for the countless residents who live near freight railways.” “Our vision of cleaner, quieter locomotives for the health and welfare of our neighborhoods is coming to fruition,” said CURES Co-Chair Mary Parisen. “We are elated with the acknowledgement for these necessary upgrades.” “The allocation of these vital funds is great news in our fight against pollution, as well as our efforts to improve air quality and better protect the environment,” said Rep. Grace Meng. “It is my hope that this money, and possible funding from the federal DERA program, will move us further down the road in our efforts to reduce harmful diesel emissions, and improve quality of life in our borough.” “I am very pleased to hear the news that the new state budget includes $3 million to be used to upgrade antiquated LIRR freight locomotive engines,” said Queens Borough President Melinda Katz. “This much needed upgrade will do a great deal to improve the lives of Queens residents and will be a benefit to the overall environment reducing unpleasant noise pollution generated by the existing engines.” “With the second consecutive year allocation of state funds for efficient train engines, state elected officials were able to work together, through the state budget, to directly address one of the most important environmental and quality of life issues to our constituents: the proliferation of air and noise pollution from the railroad,” said State Sen. Joseph Addabbo. “I am delighted that we have continued the process of bringing environmental relief to Middle Village and Maspeth with this new budget allocation. Again this year, as a member of the Joint Legislative Transportation Budget Conference Committee, I fought hard to make sure this funding was in the final budget we adopted this week,” said Assemblywoman Margaret Markey. “As public officials working together, we will continue to do what it takes to eventually replace all of the antiquated railroad engines that pollute our communities.” “This announcement is great news for millions of NYC residents who will soon be able to breathe a little easier,” said Assemblyman Mike Miller. “These important green locomotives will help clean our air and bring our aging fleets into the 21st century. I applaud the New York State legislature for their ongoing leadership in this fight.” “This announcement is great news for millions of city residents who will soon be able to breathe a little easier,” said City Council Member Elizabeth Crowley. “These important green locomotives will help clean our air and bring our aging fleets into the 21st century.” -CONTINUED FROM PG. 9- 104th Precinct Blotter Jessica Cilione, at 62nd Road and 69th Street, for driving with a suspended license, by P.O. Dowal. (Beat 13) Orlando Moscoso, at Seneca Avenue, for criminal possession of a weapon, by P.O. Martinez. (Beat 14) Kaymell McCullen, at 60th Avenue, for possession of burglar’s tools, by P.O. Cordoba. (Beat 13) Dean O’Bregon, at 56th Street, for false personation, by P.O. McCarren. Mar. 29: (Beat 3) Erik Samaniego, at Wyckoff and Myrtle avenues, for theft of service, by P.O. Lima. (Beat 4) Rafal Oltuszewski, at Palmetto Street, for theft of service, by P.O. Babayev. (Beat 12) Vaskea Gjika at 79th Street, for assault, by P.O. Hernandez. (Beat 3) Bryan Cisneros, at Wyckoff and Myrtle avenues, for theft of service, by P.O. Freeman. (Beat 3) Carlos Perguachi, at Cypress and Cody avenues, for DUI, by P.O. Shariff. Mar. 30: (Beat 8) Leonardo Ordonez, at Maurice Avenue and Long Island Expressway, for forcible touching, by P.O. Walsh. (Beat 3) Gregory Bostman, at Irving Avenue, for assault, by P.O. Sullivan. (Beat 5) Jeffrey Rodriguez, at Cooper Avenue, for DWI, by P.O. Dagnese. (Beat 5) Yolanda Melendez, at Myrtle Avenue, for assault, by P.O. Singh. * * * The 104th Precinct, located at 64- 02 Catalpa Ave. in Ridgewood, can be reached by phone at 1-718-386-3004. To report an emergency or a crime in progress, call 911 immediately. Quality of life matters, such as noise or a blocked driveway, should be reported to 311. -CONTINUED FROM PG. 11- IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY TO REGISTER TO VOTE! CALL 311 TO GET A REGISTRATION FORM
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