How much does it cost NYCHA to replace a lightbulb?
$708 in one case Page 9
Cops are looking for a group of men who threw a beef patty beat down inside a Golden Crust restaurant on Valentine’s Day.
At around 5 pm on February 14, a 28-year-old male customer was inside a Golden Crust at 2718 White Plains Road. Cops said the customer got into an argument with another man inside the takeout joint. Suddenly the man and his three friends began punching and kicking the customer about the face and body, cops said.
As the victim tried to shield himself from the blows, the attackers forcibly removed the victim’s backpack. The attackers then fled in two separate vehicles - a gray
four-door sedan and a black SUV.
Cops said the victim’s backpack contained electronics and clothing.
The victim was treated for his injuries at the scene by EMS.
The NYPD released video of the main suspect. He is described as a male who is 5
foot 10, and has a dark complexion and heavy build. He was last seen wearing glasses, a black jacket with a black hooded sweatshirt underneath, black sweatpants, and brown boots.
Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers
Hotline at 1-800-577TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782).
The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at https://crimestoppers. nypdonline.org/ or on Twitter @NYPDTips.
All calls are strictly confi dential.
By Dan Gesslein
A teenage girl is recovering after her and a friend were attacked by four women inside a Bronx store, the NYPD said.
At around 4 pm on January 26, a 15-year-old girl and a 17-year-old female were inside a store at 116 East Fordham Road when they got into a dispute with a group of females.
The argument came to a boiling point when the group of four women pounced. Cops said the women repeatedly punched and kicked the teens. As the teens tried to shield themselves from the blows, the attackers forcibly removed the victims’ property.
The attacking mob then ran out of the store and fled on Fordham Road towards the Grand Concourse.
The 15-year-old victim was taken to nearby St. Barnabas Hospital where she was treated for injuries to the face and body.
The NYPD released surveillance video of the four suspects. The first is described as a female with a dark complexion and a medium build. She was last seen wearing a black winter jacket and a white fur collar.
The second suspect is a female with a dark complexion, a medium build and long
black hair. She was last seen wearing a black bubble jacket.
The third suspect is a female with a dark complexion and a medium build.
She was last seen wearing a black winter jacket with a black fur collared hood. She also wore a pink shirt, gray sweatpants and pink slippers.
The last suspect is a female with a dark complexion. She was last seen wearing a green bubble jacket.
Anyone with information in regard to this incident is
asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at https://crimestoppers.nypdonline.org/ or on Twitter @NYPDTips.
All calls are strictly confidential.
The NYPD is searching for these women in connection with a group of women who assaulted two teens in the Bronx.
By Mayor Eric Adams
New York City was built on the backs of working-class New Yorkers; people like my mother, Dorothy Mae Adams, a single mother who worked multiple jobs to support my five siblings and myself. She sacrificed everything for us, and I know that there are thousands of New Yorkers doing the same today in our city for their families.
Those are the people we have been fighting for since day one of this administration. We’ve been clear that our mission has been to deliver those working-class New Yorkers a city that protects public safety, revitalizes the economy, and is more livable.
We’ve made our city safer, created 270,000 private-sector jobs, set a first-of-its-kind minimum wage for deliveristas, and worked with our brothers and sisters in labor to get them the pay and benefits they deserve.
We have broken affordable housing records — financing the most affordable homes in city history and connecting more New Yorkers to afford-
If your family earns $85,000 or less or you make $59,000 or less as a single filer, you can get your taxes done for free with NYC Free Tax Prep. New Yorkers can file their taxes for free at any one of our NYC Tax Prep locations across the five boroughs or online at getyourrefund.org/nyc.
able homes than any other year in our city’s history.
We drove down the cost of childcare for working parents, increased public school enrollment, boosted test scores, and revolutionized reading in our classrooms.
Jobs are up, crime is down, and our streets are cleaner, but we know the hustle is still real for so many across our city. That is why we are fighting to put money back into New Yorkers’ pockets — money they have earned and need to support their families.
We know that filing taxes can be overwhelming, so, this tax season, our administration is making it easier for New Yorkers to file.
Some of these locations also offer tax services for self-employed New Yorkers, including freelance workers, gig workers, and small business owners.
And a number of New York City Health + Hospitals locations are also offering free, in-person and virtual tax prep for eligible New Yorkers. Select sites offer support in Spanish, Chinese, and Bengali, and virtual tax preparation is available in Spanish as well, so New Yorkers from different backgrounds can get their taxes filed for free.
New Yorkers can schedule an appointment at a NYC Free Tax Prep location in advance at nyc.gov/taxprep and
must bring identification and proof of income to their appointment. For virtual services, New Yorkers can upload their documents and meet virtually with a tax preparer to review their tax return before submission.
Free tax prep is another simple and straightforward way our administration is making sure working-class New Yorkers get their fair share, and it is the easiest way to get the maximum tax credits and the full refund you deserve.
Putting money back into your pockets is also exactly why our administration went to Albany to secure the first increase in the city’s Earned Income Tax Credit in 20 years — to ensure that New Yorkers get to keep the money that helps them pay for the essentials like bills, rent, and food.
Our administration will continue working every day to ensure working-class New Yorkers can keep their fair share, and this tax season, we’re making it easier than ever to do so.
By David Greene
Police are looking for the driver who struck and killed a bicycle rider in Melrose, before fleeing the scene.
According to police the incident was reported at 5:57 a.m. on February 23, at the intersection of Melrose Avenue and East 161 Street.
An unnamed police official told the Bronx Voice, "The 24-year-old male bicyclist was removed by EMS to NYC Health and Hospitals / Lincoln, where he was pronounced deceased.”
The police official continued, "Further investigation by the NYPD Highway District's Collision Investigation Squad determined that a Jeep Grand Cherokee was traveling southbound on Melrose Avenue and approached the intersection of East 161 Street with a green traffic signal. The bicyclist was traveling eastbound on East 161 Street and traveled through a steady red signal."
Police say the Jeep Cherokee struck the bike rider in the intersection and fled the scene.
Police identified the victim as 24-year-old Thierno Balde, 24, of Townsend Avenue
in the Mt. Hope section of the borough.
Citizens App video showed police stopped next to a vehicle with visible frontend damage. Citizens App user "QueensNewsNow" claimed that the victim was a delivery driver, and the striking vehicle was a Jeep Land Rover with Pennsylvania plates that was abandoned at the intersection of East 158 Street and Melrose Avenue. Police offi cials could not immediately confi rm or deny these claims.
Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at https:// crimestoppers.nypdonline. org/ or on Twitter @NYPDTips.
All calls are strictly confi dential.
By Greg B. Smith
How much does it cost NYCHA to change a lightbulb? In one case, more than $708 per bulb.
That’s the rate the housing authority paid one vendor, who submitted a total bill of $4,250 to replace six LED bulbs and covers at Throggs Neck Houses in The Bronx, according to records reviewed by THE CITY.
Another vendor billed NYCHA $4,985 to replace one door to a compactor room. Yet another charged $4,875 to put in slip resistant rubber treads on a stairway with 15 steps — a cost of $325 per step.
When law enforcement officials arrested 70 current and former NYCHA workers on bribery charges earlier this month, they identified small no-bid contracts for apartment repairs, awarded to select vendors in exchange for cash to superintendents, as the source of corruption.
What prosecutors didn’t say was that many of the bills submitted by the vendors who win these so-called “mi-
cro contracts” raise serious questions about whether NYCHA wound up paying them hundreds of thousands — or even millions — of taxpayer dollars in inflated costs over the years.
All of these bills had one thing in common, a review of contract data by THE CITY found.
The vendors sought compensation as close to the maximum allowed at the time on each contract, regardless of the work performed.
“Micro contracts” have a built-in incentive for vendors to bill for just below the maximum allowed — $5,000 until late 2019, $10,000 since — no matter what the scope and value of the task at hand is.
Often the invoices contradicted themselves, with contractors demanding the same amount for different levels of the same work, THE CITY found.
One vendor charged $4,950 to replace 48 LED bulbs and light covers in the Robinson Houses in East Harlem. The same vendor then charged nearly the same amount ($4,980) to replace just 12 LED bulbs and covers at the Throggs Neck Houses in the Bronx. Weeks earlier that same vendor charged slightly less ($4,250) to replace just six LED bulbs and covers at Throggs Neck.
NYCHA approved all of
these payments, apparently without noticing the differences in scope of work.
One vendor charged $4,945 to install 860 square feet of drop ceiling in one building in the Jefferson Houses in East Harlem, then charged $4,945 to install just 630 square feet in another Jefferson building. That meant NYCHA paid $5.75 per square foot for tile in one building, and $7.84 per square foot in another building — all within the
same development.
NYCHA Was Warned
Several years ago investigators with the independent monitor overseeing NYCHA began red-flagging these suspicious expenses, notifying NYCHA and in some cases referring some vendors to law enforcement.
The scope of this potential taxpayer ripoff is not known and has, to date, not been made part of the bribery cas
By Fengwei Zou, MD, Cardiology Fellow, Montefiore Health System
In the rhythm of life, our hearts play the most crucial role. But have you ever felt your heart is racing too fast or beating irregularly? Have you experienced new onset fatigue and shortness of breath that is limiting your everyday life?
Atrial Fibrillation, or AFib, is a condition that can disrupt the heart’s natural cadence and affects millions of people around the globe. In recognition of American Heart Month, let's explore AFib, its prevalence, symptoms, and the cutting-edge treatments provided by the Electrophysiology and Cardiac Arrhythmias team right here in the Bronx at Montefi ore.
Atrial Fibrillation is a heart condition where
the upper chambers of the heart, the atria, beat irregularly and often too fast. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 12.1 million Americans will be affected by AFib by 2030. This condition can lead to serious complications, including stroke, heart failure, and other heart-related issues.
While some people may not experience any symptoms of AFib, common symptoms include palpitations, shortness of
breath, fatigue, and dizziness. Recognizing these signs early is crucial for prompt intervention and preventing potential complications.
Safeguarding Your Heart: AFib, Stroke, and the Crucial Role of Blood Thinners
AFib not only disrupts your heart's rhythm but also elevates the risk of stroke. The irregular heartbeat in AFib can lead to blood clot formation, posing a serious stroke threat. Recognizing this,
it is crucial for patients suffering from AFib to take blood thinners as prescribed by their provider. These medications play a vital role in preventing clots, signifi cantly reduc-
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 ing the risk of strokes.
Re-Establishing Harmony: Restoring Your Heart's Rhythm to Normal
Our team of specialists at Montefi ore, led by the world-renowned Dr. Luigi Di Biase, is at the forefront of AFib management. Our team brings innovative solutions to our patients, including these approaches to restoring normal heart
rhythm:
1. Cardioversion:
A procedure to restore the heart's normal rhythm using electrical shocks in a controlled setting with medications to make patients relaxed and comfortable.
A quick and effective method performed by skilled professionals. Patients go home the same day.
2. Atrial Fibrillation Ablation:
An advanced procedure targeting the source of erratic heartbeats.
Minimally invasive, offering long-term relief for many patients.
Patients normally go home the same or the next day.
3. Cutting-Edge Technology:
Montefi ore is known for
pioneering the integration of the latest advancements and participating in the newest clinical trials for AFib.
Left atrial appendage closure device is a breakthrough for patients unable to tolerate blood thinners.
Our innovative approach ensures that even those with unique challenges can benefit from cutting-edge
technology, enhancing the journey to restore your heart's harmonious rhythm. Your Heart Deserves the Best
Don't let AFib dictate the rhythm of your life. Our team can help you take the next step towards a healthier heart. Every heartbeat matters and your heart deserves the very best. We are here to make it possible.
-es brought by the Manhattan U.S. Attorney Damian Williams and the city Department of Investigation.
On Feb. 6th they announced criminal charges against 55 current and 15 former NYCHA staff, in the single largest federal bribery charges filed in one day, alleging they took $2 million in bribes in exchange for handing out hundreds of small no-bid contracts worth $13 million.
NYCHA has justified the use of these no-bid contracts to expedite responses to a huge backlog of repair requests from tenants, reasoning that engaging the competitive bidding process slows down getting the job done.
But NYCHA has been repeatedly warned that it wasn’t properly scrutinizing these contracts and the work by the selected vendors. DOI specifically cautioned that this lack of oversight allows vendors to claim payments far above the cost of the work they were doing.
Paying inflated costs cuts further into NYCHA’s overall spending at a time when the authority management
face enormous financial pressures as they struggle to bring NYCHA’s deteriorating portfolio of 175,000 apartments up to snuff.
In the fall of 2021 after nine NYCHA contractors were arrested following an undercover sting by DOI, then-DOI Commissioner Margaret Garnett pointed out what she saw as a built-in incentive to inflate bills created by the use of these no-bid contracts.
At the time, the cutoff for a NYCHA micro-contract had been moved from under $5,000 to under $10,000, and the bribes paid by the contractors were always a percentage of the contract amount — usually 20%. That created an incentive for the NYCHA bureaucrat taking the bribe to make his bribe bigger by approving contracts as close as possible to the maximum allowed.
“What we’ve also seen
is when anything under $10,000 doesn’t have much oversight there’s a lot of incentive to just say that this job which is a one hour job is actually a $7,000 job,” Garnett told THE CITY. “If the bribe is keyed off the price of the work, everyone has an incentive to inflate as long as it’s under $10,000.”
Sometimes the contrived nature of these bills was obvious.
In one eight-month period of 2019, TEENUSA Construction, a contractor from Richmond Hill, Queens, won 29 micro-contracts for the same amount ($4,851) even though the jobs were at different developments and involved a wide variety of tasks.
Remove and replace three damaged stairwell doors at Throggs Neck Houses in the Bronx:
$4,851.
Replace 20 LED bulbs and covers at Whitman Houses in Brooklyn: $4,851.
Install new 1,090 square feet of vinyl commercial tile at the Williamsburg Houses in Brooklyn: $4,851.
Reached Friday by THE CITY, Adnan Lodhi, president of TEENUSA, asked a reporter to call back in three hours and he would answer questions about his firm’s micro-contracting track record. When THE CITY called back as requested, no one picked up the phone number NYCHA lists as Lhodi’s contact number. THE CITY left a message that was not returned.
All of these suspicious invoices were submitted in plain sight, and yet NYCHA approved all of them — raising questions about a lack of oversight that has triggered alarm
bells about potential corruption over the last five years.
This lack of oversight, it appears, was the catalyst for this culture of corruption. In September 2019, shortly after THE CITY highlighted the micro-contract potential for corruption, an employee who’d worked for several vendors who’d received hundreds of these contracts reached out to investigators working for Bart Schwartz, the independent monitor who oversees NYCHA. The informant told the monitor’s team that he’d worked for three companies, including TEENUSA, and described a systematic kick-back scheme between vendors and NYCHA superintendents and assistant superintendents.
He said he started as a worker for one vendor but later became a “mar
-keter” for them, visiting NYCHA developments to solicit micro-contract work. He described a cottage industry unique to NYCHA because of what he deemed a lack of quality assurance. Because managers were getting kickbacks, they had zero incentive to question the quality of work they were paying for.
The informant claimed that many of the contractors did not have the required skills to plihood of fraud and shoddy work. Three years later in a report released last week, the monitor noted that work “completed to industry standard remains a hurdle for NYCHA staff and the contractors they engage.” They placed the blame for this squarely on “a lack of supervision and oversight of vendors and NYCHA staff.”
The day of the federal takedown, DOI Commissioner Jocelyn Strauber called for increased scru-
tiny of vendors put on the pre-qualified list, recommending to NYCHA that these vendors submit to an integrity review of their work histories conducted by NYCHA and DOI before they can be put on the PQL. TEENUSA, for example, is on NYCHA’s most recent pre-qualified list for carpentry work.
Strauber made 14 reform recommendations, including reprising the three recommendations NYCHA rejected in 2021. That includes removing responsibility for awarding small contracts from superintendents, establishing standard cost estimates for 15 typical types of goods and service that serve as templates when awarding these contracts so vendors aren’t charging different amounts for the same work.
NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt says the agency is committed to adopting all 14 of DOI’s recommendations, although some will
take longer than others to take effect.
NYCHA and DOI are already collaborating on creating a more aggressive vetting protocol for the pre-qualified lists, and creating a new staffing model that removes superintendents and assistant superintendents from awarding small contracts.
NYCHA expects to begin recruiting and training new workers to handle this task in the central of-
fice.
NYCHA has created the list of 15 typical goods and services such as the cost of installing LED bulbs and laying down vinyl tile and is now determining the typical costs of this work that vendors will be expected to adhere to. And per DOI’s suggestion, going forward upper management outside of the development where the work is being performed will review all
documentation and inspect the work.
Finally NYCHA has begun installing signs at all developments with a pretty straightforward reminder: “Offering, giving and/or accepting bribes, gratuities, and/or gifts is a criminal offense under federal and New York State law.”
They expect all the signs will be up by the close of business Monday.
We’re always on the lookout for venues to hold that special event and be well catered for. Here are suggestions in the greater Bronx/ Westchester area…
MANSION ON BROADWAY, 139 North Broadway, White Plains 914-949-6900
Housed in an historic building in the heart of Westchester County, just off the Cross Westchester Expressway, loaded with the charm of a bygone era! It has undergone a multi-million-dollar renovation and refurbishing, and it is operated by a creative culinary team ready to make your special event most memorable.
Dynamic proprietor Michael Pasqualini has restored the Mansion to its original glory with modern amenities. A bar/lounge is available. Whether you are planning a corporate meeting, or any kind of event for up to 200 guests, Michael Pasqualini invites you to a tour and taste of the premises by advanced reservation. Pasqualini collaborated with celebrity chef Todd English as exclusive caterers for Blade, a private
jet company working out of Westchester County airport. Ample parking. www.mansiononbroadway.com
CONSTELLATION DINING PAVILLIONS at NYBG!
Ever since restaurant rock star Stephen Starr took over the catering and food service concessions at New York Botanical Garden, now known as Constellation Culinary Group, hungry visitors have been taking note. They operate themed Dining Pavilions throughout the park and near the Enid Haupt Pavilion: the casual Pine Tree Café and a more formal dining room with waiter service called Hudson Garden Grill serving an eclectic American menu with locally sourced ingredients. Outdoor patio seating in season. Check it out online: www.nybg.org/visit/dining/ MARIO’S RESTAURANT, 2342 Arthur Ave., Bronx 718-584-1188
Since 1919 five generations of the Migliucci family have been working the front and back-of-the-house making sure patrons are well served. Proprietor Regina Migliucci has been
doing a fi ne job welcoming her many guests. This restaurant has a landmark 100-plus year history full of colorful chapters. Step inside and you are transported to the ‘old world’. To many, the fl avorful sauces and dishes produced in Chef Massimo’s kitchen are
the stuff of Italian ‘foodie heaven’. Enjoy their signature marinated carrots as a starter, delicious Spiedini, Hot Antipasto for 2 or more, your favorite Parm, Osso Buco, or Braciole. Private party facilities. Free parking lot valet service. www. mariosarthurave.org
TORCELLO RISTORANTE, 2382 Boston Post Road, Larchmont 914-833-1118
Imer Rraci and his veteran team have reimagined the former La Riserva, a lovely setting for the Italian classics. Named after an island off the coast of Venice, Chef
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Avni turns out such winning dishes as: colorful Mozzarella Caprice; Eggplant Rollatini; Rigatoni Bolognese in a meat sauce; Risotto Di Funghi with porcini; Veal Martini; classic Rack of Lamb; and delicious Pollo Torcello, topped with applewood bacon and melted fresh mozzarella in a light bourbon mushroom sauce. Rraci had spent years working for the former Giambelli in Manhattan, and Valbella in Old Greenwich, CT. Open 7 days for dinner starting at 4 p.m. Happy Hours. Bar/cocktails. Free parking. www.torcellolarchmont.com
ISLE, 660 White Plains Road, Eastchester 914-961-7800
From the same well-heeled crew that has been serving patrons at Mulino’s of Westchester in White Plains for the past 35 years comes Mulino’s at Lake Isle, a major state of the art multi-sectioned catering facility that underwent a multi-million-dollar renovation on the grounds of Lake Isle Country Club. Louis Gigante, proprietor of Mulino’s Restaurant, and Louis Gigante Jr. are in charge. When operating at full throttle Mulino’s at Lake Isle can accommodate up to 300 guests for all types of catered events and functions. Gigante, their contemporary a la carte restaurant, serves daily. Splashy bar/lounge.
www.giganterestaurant.com
MAMMA FRANCESCA, 414 Pelham Road, New Rochelle 914-636-1229
When Nick DiCostanzo was growing up on the Island of Ischia on the Coast of Naples in Italy, his earliest memories where of the simple seaside meals he would enjoy with his family, farmto-table and of course sea-totable. As proprietor of Mamma Francesca for nearly 40 years, located on the banks of Long Island Sound with 6-story views of the ‘Queen City’s’ seafaring boat clubs, this culinary philosophy still holds true, albeit with a sprinkling of contemporary taste. There are private and semi-private party facilities for up to 100 guests and catering packages to suit your needs. Robust Italian/American specialties include fresh Manicotti, Calamari Fritti, Ischia Salad, Chicken Parmigiana, Misto Frutti di Mare. Rabbit Cacciatore, too. Daily Happy Hours. Off-premises catering. Woodburning pizza oven. Free parking. www.mammafrancesca.com
JACK’S BAR & KITCHEN, 219 Main St., Eastchester 914-652-7650
A hotspot in southern Westchester. Owner Shane Clifford and his friendly crew have delicious finger foods and generous main courses coming out of Chef Brendan Donohoe’s modern Irish American kitchen. Great Burgers; decadent Short
Rib Mac N’ Cheese; Jack’s Meatballs; Seared Scallops; Chicken Curry; Pizzas out of their woodfired oven; Berkshire Pork Chop; and Grilled Lamb Sliders. Their hearty full Irish Breakfast at brunch is a winner. Semi-private party area. Open 7 days for lunch, dinner & weekend brunch. Full take-out. www. jackseastchester.com
ARTIE’S STEAK & SEAFOOD, 394 City Island Ave., Bronx 718-885-9885
There are three dining rooms, each with its own atmosphere, along with a bustling bar/lounge. Private parties and meetings for up to 75 guests. ArtEvents, their off premise catering arm, can help you create a special function right in your home or office. Owner Spiro Chagares and his staff offer patrons an inspired melding of traditional and contemporary dishes served
with flair. Sit back in one of several dining areas and enjoy such changing specialties as: hearty Seafood Chowders; Smoked Salmon Roll-Ups; Wood Grilled Jumbo Shrimp and Scallops; hunks of tender Short Rib; a massive Zuppa Di Pesce; tender Oven Roasted Rack of Lamb; Chardonnay Poached Salmon with seafood; and fresh Lobster prepared in a variety of styles. Craft beers. Free parking. www.artiescityisland.com
CIAO, 5-7 John Albanese Place, Eastchester 914-779-4646
A major renovation has contemporized the dining area and private party/meeting rooms. There is now a handsome enclosed deck. Zef Deljevic and his team offer generous platters of Italian/American cuisine served with gusto. Open kitchen specialties include Hot Anti-
pasto for two, three or more, loaded with delectable fruits of the sea; fresh Arugula Salad with goat cheese, marinated Portobello mushrooms, sprinkled with balsamic vinegar; house made Pappardelle with fresh tomato, basil and chunks of fresh mozzarella. From the grill come such hefty cuts as: Broiled Veal Chop, Black Angus Shell Steak , Sausages Frioli served with peppers (hot or sweet), mushrooms, onions and sliced potatoes; and Pork Chops with vinegar peppers. Pizzas, too. Enhanced catering facilities available upstairs and downstairs. Open 7 days a week. Major credit cards. Free and valet parking. www.ciaoeastchester. com
(Morris Gut is a restaurant consultant and former restaurant trade magazine editor. He has been tracking and writing about the food and dining scene in the Bronx and Westchester for over 30 years. He may be reached at: 914235-6591. E-mail: gutreactions@optonline.net)
