**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
March 14, 2012
Contact: Aja Worthy-Davis at (212) 788-7081
Council Member Letitia James Commends SAIC’s Return of $500M In Funds to the City of New York
Calls on the Administration to Use Funds To Restore Critical Budget Cuts
New York, NY— As we know, the charges against Citytime were outrageous— on December 15, 2010 four Citytime consultants were charged with embezzling $80 million from the City of New York through steering public funds to consulting firms who funneled the money to shell companies controlled by the consultants and their families. By the time federal investigators and the NYC Department of Investigation began looking into the program’s payroll fraud and abuse, the list of crimes became more unbelievable. By February 2011, three upper-level Citytime officials employed by project contractor, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) were dismissed from their positions.
And it soon became clear why such steps were taken— two officials soon plead guilty to criminal charges, and SAIC found one senior projects manager erroneously billed overtime hours. In fact, TechnoDyne, one of the largest subcontractors of Citytime, saw its executives flee the country after receiving federal indictments for their crimes. All this brought the number of people allegedly involved in Citytime corruption since last December to a whopping eleven, with federal prosecutors seizing more than $38 million in stolen funds from over 100 bank accounts hidden in international shell companies.
It is no wonder Mayor Bloomberg— on the eve of the expiration of the SAIC contract— rightfully saw fit to demand a $600 million refund from SAIC on behalf of the City of New York! In fact, today SAIC announced it would return $500.4 million in restitution and penalties in relation to Citytime. The settlement also requires that the United States District Attorney’s Office appoint an independent monitor for three years to review SAIC policies and practices.
“I congratulate the US Attorney and the administration for reclaiming these public funds on behalf of the City of New York,” said Council Member Letitia James. “The four years I have spent bringing attention to the mismanagement and unjustifiable costs of Citytime— and the work that has been done by Comptroller John Liu— has been integral to bringing these matters to light. I once called Citytime a ‘thief’s buffet’. Well today, we see that justice has been served. I furthermore hope the administration considers putting these public funds towards restoring the $53 million in cuts made to early childhood education last fiscal year, and the $60 million made in after-school programs.”
Council Member James has been a long-term opponent of the Citytime project, from her tenure of Chair of the Contracts Committee where she held two hearings on the project in 2008 and 2009, respectively. The Citytime disaster was recently described by United States Attorney Preet Bharara as ‘one of the largest and most brazen frauds ever committed against the City.’
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Showing posts with label contracts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label contracts. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
NYC Council To Vote TODAY on CM James’ Legislation To Require City Agencies To Report Cost Overruns On Large Private Contracts
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
March 13, 2012
Contact: Aja Worthy-Davis at (212) 788-7081
New York City Council To Vote on Council Member Letitia James’ Legislation To Require City Agencies To Report Cost Overruns On Large Private Contracts
Bill Is In Response To Administration’s Previous Lack Of Oversight, Ongoing Review Of Contracts
New York, NY— Last fall, Council Member Letitia James introduced legislation that would require City agencies to report to the New York City Council cost overruns on large contracts. The current legislation, Int. 707A-2011, would address construction and service contracts for capital projects with a minimum expenditure of $10 million. The bill would require additional oversight when such projects exceed the original cost by twenty percent or more.
Specifically, the Mayor would be required to notify the Council at two points in time— first, the Council would be notified of the initial request for a cost increase; and additionally, once the project extension or modification has taken place, the Council would be notified of any additional contract extensions or modifications that result in a 10% cost increase above the revised contract value.
During Council Member James’ tenure as Chair of the Contracts Committee, the committee held hearings on the outsourcing of public services to the private sector; as well as two oversight hearings on the Office of Payroll Administration’s City Time contract, which she criticized at the time as costly and poorly-managed. Since 2010, she has requested that the Council’s Contracts Committee investigate the Emergency Communications Transformation Program (ECTP) project and what was at the time a $286M contract request from the City of New York; the administrative layoffs of the New York City Deputy Sheriffs’ and the contracting out of their collection duties; the rising costs of the NYCAPS program; and more recently a $1.95M NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation contract with Navigat, a private consulting company.
“In the last five years, contract costs have increased at nearly twice the rate of overall budget spending, reaching over ten billion in spent public funds,” said Council Member Letitia James. “The vast majority of these expenditures go towards personnel and professional service contracts, and there has been considerable evidence that some of these contracts are poorly-managed and lack needed oversight. I hope this legislation strengthens the Council’s commitment to contracts review, and the overall goal of cutting costs and identifying savings.”
On October 31, 2011, the Contracts and Technology Committees discussed Int. 707 in a hearing entitled, “Managing NYC Government IT Contracts”. Additionally, in the last year Council Member Letitia James’ has introduced legislation that would create a New York City Chief Procurement Officer who would publish and submit to the Mayor, City Council, and City Comptroller an annual report detailing information on City contracts. She has also introduced legislation that would establish a task force on best practices in City procurement and disposal.
The New York City Council will vote on Int. 707A-2011 at the Stated Meeting on Wednesday, March 14, 2012, following a Contracts Committee vote earlier in the day.
###
March 13, 2012
Contact: Aja Worthy-Davis at (212) 788-7081
New York City Council To Vote on Council Member Letitia James’ Legislation To Require City Agencies To Report Cost Overruns On Large Private Contracts
Bill Is In Response To Administration’s Previous Lack Of Oversight, Ongoing Review Of Contracts
New York, NY— Last fall, Council Member Letitia James introduced legislation that would require City agencies to report to the New York City Council cost overruns on large contracts. The current legislation, Int. 707A-2011, would address construction and service contracts for capital projects with a minimum expenditure of $10 million. The bill would require additional oversight when such projects exceed the original cost by twenty percent or more.
Specifically, the Mayor would be required to notify the Council at two points in time— first, the Council would be notified of the initial request for a cost increase; and additionally, once the project extension or modification has taken place, the Council would be notified of any additional contract extensions or modifications that result in a 10% cost increase above the revised contract value.
During Council Member James’ tenure as Chair of the Contracts Committee, the committee held hearings on the outsourcing of public services to the private sector; as well as two oversight hearings on the Office of Payroll Administration’s City Time contract, which she criticized at the time as costly and poorly-managed. Since 2010, she has requested that the Council’s Contracts Committee investigate the Emergency Communications Transformation Program (ECTP) project and what was at the time a $286M contract request from the City of New York; the administrative layoffs of the New York City Deputy Sheriffs’ and the contracting out of their collection duties; the rising costs of the NYCAPS program; and more recently a $1.95M NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation contract with Navigat, a private consulting company.
“In the last five years, contract costs have increased at nearly twice the rate of overall budget spending, reaching over ten billion in spent public funds,” said Council Member Letitia James. “The vast majority of these expenditures go towards personnel and professional service contracts, and there has been considerable evidence that some of these contracts are poorly-managed and lack needed oversight. I hope this legislation strengthens the Council’s commitment to contracts review, and the overall goal of cutting costs and identifying savings.”
On October 31, 2011, the Contracts and Technology Committees discussed Int. 707 in a hearing entitled, “Managing NYC Government IT Contracts”. Additionally, in the last year Council Member Letitia James’ has introduced legislation that would create a New York City Chief Procurement Officer who would publish and submit to the Mayor, City Council, and City Comptroller an annual report detailing information on City contracts. She has also introduced legislation that would establish a task force on best practices in City procurement and disposal.
The New York City Council will vote on Int. 707A-2011 at the Stated Meeting on Wednesday, March 14, 2012, following a Contracts Committee vote earlier in the day.
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Wednesday, November 2, 2011
CM James Introduces Legislation To Require City Agencies To Report Cost Overruns On Large Private Contracts
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE** November 2, 2011
Contact: Aja Worthy-Davis at (212) 788-7081
Council Member Letitia James Introduces Legislation To Require City Agencies To Report Cost Overruns On Large Private Contracts
Bill Is In Response To Administration's Lack Of Oversight, Ongoing Review Of Contracts
New York, NY- On November 3, 2011, Council Member Letitia James will introduce legislation that would require City agencies to report to the Council cost overruns on large contracts. Specifically, agencies would be required to notify the Council within seven business days when it authorizes a payment to modify or extend an original contract worth more than $1M, for an additional cost of $500,000 and/or more than 10% over the original contract price.
During Council Member James’ tenure as Chair of the Contracts Committee, the committee held hearings on the outsourcing of public services to the private sector (as it affected both municipal workers throughout the City of New York, and public costs for potentially unnecessary private labor); as well as two oversight hearings on the Office of Payroll Administration’s City Time contract, a payroll system that she’d criticized as being overly costly and difficult to manage.
In September 2010, after Council Member James’ chairmanship ended, she stood with Local 375 (DC 37) to halt any further rolling-out of the Citytime project. She later commended Comptroller John Liu for ending expansion of the project due to ballooning costs and unmet deadlines, as well as his imposing hard deadlines on incomplete work. She joined numerous elected officials in speaking out against the $80M embezzlement of public funds by City Time consultants in December 2010, and praised Mayor Bloomberg for rightfully demanding $600 million from Science Applications International Corporation (contractor of Citytime) for what had become a public disaster for the administration.
In March 2011, former Deputy Mayor Stephen Goldsmith wrote an op-ed in the New York Daily News on the outsourcing of technology positions to private contractors. In the article, Mr. Goldsmith asserted that the issue was not the outsourcing itself, but rather the administration’s need to place more attention towards employing City workers to perform these IT duties. He also announced administrative efforts to increase positions for municipal workers. Council Member James commended the administration for taking these initial steps.
"It is obvious that a lack of administrative oversight of contracted companies leaves the City vulnerable," said Council Member James. "Although I support the administration developing technology that simplifies and updates necessary functions, I do not support the administration handing over blank checks to private companies for IT projects."
The Citytime contract increased from a projected $68 million at its onset to more than $738 million, the Emergency Communications Transformation Program went from an initial $380 million to $666 million, and NYCAPS has ballooned from $66 million in 2002 to $363 million as of 2011.
###
Contact: Aja Worthy-Davis at (212) 788-7081
Council Member Letitia James Introduces Legislation To Require City Agencies To Report Cost Overruns On Large Private Contracts
Bill Is In Response To Administration's Lack Of Oversight, Ongoing Review Of Contracts
New York, NY- On November 3, 2011, Council Member Letitia James will introduce legislation that would require City agencies to report to the Council cost overruns on large contracts. Specifically, agencies would be required to notify the Council within seven business days when it authorizes a payment to modify or extend an original contract worth more than $1M, for an additional cost of $500,000 and/or more than 10% over the original contract price.
During Council Member James’ tenure as Chair of the Contracts Committee, the committee held hearings on the outsourcing of public services to the private sector (as it affected both municipal workers throughout the City of New York, and public costs for potentially unnecessary private labor); as well as two oversight hearings on the Office of Payroll Administration’s City Time contract, a payroll system that she’d criticized as being overly costly and difficult to manage.
In September 2010, after Council Member James’ chairmanship ended, she stood with Local 375 (DC 37) to halt any further rolling-out of the Citytime project. She later commended Comptroller John Liu for ending expansion of the project due to ballooning costs and unmet deadlines, as well as his imposing hard deadlines on incomplete work. She joined numerous elected officials in speaking out against the $80M embezzlement of public funds by City Time consultants in December 2010, and praised Mayor Bloomberg for rightfully demanding $600 million from Science Applications International Corporation (contractor of Citytime) for what had become a public disaster for the administration.
In March 2011, former Deputy Mayor Stephen Goldsmith wrote an op-ed in the New York Daily News on the outsourcing of technology positions to private contractors. In the article, Mr. Goldsmith asserted that the issue was not the outsourcing itself, but rather the administration’s need to place more attention towards employing City workers to perform these IT duties. He also announced administrative efforts to increase positions for municipal workers. Council Member James commended the administration for taking these initial steps.
"It is obvious that a lack of administrative oversight of contracted companies leaves the City vulnerable," said Council Member James. "Although I support the administration developing technology that simplifies and updates necessary functions, I do not support the administration handing over blank checks to private companies for IT projects."
The Citytime contract increased from a projected $68 million at its onset to more than $738 million, the Emergency Communications Transformation Program went from an initial $380 million to $666 million, and NYCAPS has ballooned from $66 million in 2002 to $363 million as of 2011.
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Friday, August 5, 2011
CM James’ Statement Regarding Resignation of Deputy Mayor Stephen Goldsmith
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
August 4, 2011
Contact: Aja Worthy-Davis at (212) 788-7081
Council Member Letitia James’ Statement Regarding Resignation of Deputy Mayor Stephen Goldsmith
(New York, NY)— After serving fourteen months with the administration of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor for Operations Stephen Goldsmith today publicly announced his resignation from this position.
In this position, Deputy Mayor Goldsmith was integral to the development of “NYC Simplicity”, a comprehensive online system created to make City services more focused, innovative, and efficient. He was also involved with the updates to PlaNYC, the mayor’s comprehensive sustainability plan; as well as increased efficiency to the Department of Building’s construction approval process.
Deputy Mayor Goldsmith oversaw operational management during the Snow Blizzard of 2010, during which the administration failed to adequately respond to unplowed streets and overflowing garbage in many communities. At the time Council Member Letitia James, chair of the Council’s Sanitation Committee, joined many of her colleagues in chastising the administration for its poor response to the blizzard, as well as being out-of-touch with the conditions in outer boroughs. In April 2011, the City Council passed a legislative package with the intent of increasing intergovernmental communications and transparency during snow emergencies. Deputy Mayor Goldsmith was also heavily involved in the City’s contracting agreement, which has seen a number of high-profile errors related to poor management and insufficient oversight— the most visible being the CityTime disaster.
“I have always believed Deputy Mayor Goldsmith to be both hard-working and responsive,” said Council Member Letitia James. “I do not believe one man is responsible for the administration’s numerous blunders, and I sincerely hope he is not being punished for poor polling numbers. I look forward to working with Commissioner Holloway in his new capacity.”
Mayor Bloomberg has appointed Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Caswell F. Holloway to the Deputy Mayor for Operations position.
##
August 4, 2011
Contact: Aja Worthy-Davis at (212) 788-7081
Council Member Letitia James’ Statement Regarding Resignation of Deputy Mayor Stephen Goldsmith
(New York, NY)— After serving fourteen months with the administration of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor for Operations Stephen Goldsmith today publicly announced his resignation from this position.
In this position, Deputy Mayor Goldsmith was integral to the development of “NYC Simplicity”, a comprehensive online system created to make City services more focused, innovative, and efficient. He was also involved with the updates to PlaNYC, the mayor’s comprehensive sustainability plan; as well as increased efficiency to the Department of Building’s construction approval process.
Deputy Mayor Goldsmith oversaw operational management during the Snow Blizzard of 2010, during which the administration failed to adequately respond to unplowed streets and overflowing garbage in many communities. At the time Council Member Letitia James, chair of the Council’s Sanitation Committee, joined many of her colleagues in chastising the administration for its poor response to the blizzard, as well as being out-of-touch with the conditions in outer boroughs. In April 2011, the City Council passed a legislative package with the intent of increasing intergovernmental communications and transparency during snow emergencies. Deputy Mayor Goldsmith was also heavily involved in the City’s contracting agreement, which has seen a number of high-profile errors related to poor management and insufficient oversight— the most visible being the CityTime disaster.
“I have always believed Deputy Mayor Goldsmith to be both hard-working and responsive,” said Council Member Letitia James. “I do not believe one man is responsible for the administration’s numerous blunders, and I sincerely hope he is not being punished for poor polling numbers. I look forward to working with Commissioner Holloway in his new capacity.”
Mayor Bloomberg has appointed Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Caswell F. Holloway to the Deputy Mayor for Operations position.
##
Friday, July 1, 2011
CM James Commends Mayor Bloomberg On Demanding $600M Refund for Citytime Disaster
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
June 29, 2011
Contact: Aja Worthy-Davis at (212) 788-7081
Council Member Letitia James Commends Mayor Bloomberg On Demanding $600M Refund for Citytime Disasterr
New York, NY— The charges against Citytime were outrageous— on December 15, 2010 four Citytime consultants were charged with embezzling $80 million from the City of New York through steering public funds to consulting firms who funneled the money to shell companies controlled by the consultants and their families. By the time federal investigators and the NYC Department of Investigation began looking into the program’s payroll fraud and abuse, the list of crimes became more unbelievable. By February 2011, three upper-level Citytime officials employed by project contractor, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) were dismissed from their positions.
And it soon became clear why such steps were taken— two officials soon plead guilty to criminal charges, and SAIC found one senior projects manager erroneously billed overtime hours. In fact, TechnoDyne, one of the largest subcontractors of Citytime, saw its executives flee the country after receiving federal indictments for their crimes. All this brought the number of people allegedly involved in Citytime corruption since last December to a whopping eleven, with federal prosecutors seizing more than $38 million in stolen funds from over 100 bank accounts hidden in international shell companies.
It is no wonder Mayor Bloomberg— on the eve of the expiration of the SAIC contract— saw fit to demand a $600 million refund from SAIC on behalf of the City of New York!
“Mayor Bloomberg absolutely made the right decision in demanding a refund for this thief’s buffet,” said Council Member Letitia James. “I regret that he did not move to address this Citytime corruption when it first became apparent, perhaps it could’ve saved CUNY’s Vallone scholarship or DHS’ Advantage Program program, programs that offered options for low-income New Yorkers. Perhaps this money could’ve helped ease cuts to domestic violence services, criminal justice services, and city hospitals and health services. Allegations of greed and mismanagement were widespread for some time before the investigations proved them to be more than accurate.”
On September 2010, before any crimes were uncovered, Comptroller Liu announced his agreement with the administration to give SAIC a deadline of June 30, 2011 to complete all original work on the program. With the understanding that the delayed work would be completed, the program was allocated up to $32M for maintenance and support services alone. Around this time, Council Member Letitia James joined Local 375 (DC 37) in opposing the project. Council Member James cited what were at the time ‘accusations’ of administrative greed and mismanagement, as well as the ballooning costs of the program from an initial $68 million to what at the time was $700 million.
Council Member James has been a long-term opponent of the Citytime project, from her tenure of Chair of the Contracts Committee where she held two hearings on the project in 2008 and 2009, respectively.
###
June 29, 2011
Contact: Aja Worthy-Davis at (212) 788-7081
Council Member Letitia James Commends Mayor Bloomberg On Demanding $600M Refund for Citytime Disasterr
New York, NY— The charges against Citytime were outrageous— on December 15, 2010 four Citytime consultants were charged with embezzling $80 million from the City of New York through steering public funds to consulting firms who funneled the money to shell companies controlled by the consultants and their families. By the time federal investigators and the NYC Department of Investigation began looking into the program’s payroll fraud and abuse, the list of crimes became more unbelievable. By February 2011, three upper-level Citytime officials employed by project contractor, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) were dismissed from their positions.
And it soon became clear why such steps were taken— two officials soon plead guilty to criminal charges, and SAIC found one senior projects manager erroneously billed overtime hours. In fact, TechnoDyne, one of the largest subcontractors of Citytime, saw its executives flee the country after receiving federal indictments for their crimes. All this brought the number of people allegedly involved in Citytime corruption since last December to a whopping eleven, with federal prosecutors seizing more than $38 million in stolen funds from over 100 bank accounts hidden in international shell companies.
It is no wonder Mayor Bloomberg— on the eve of the expiration of the SAIC contract— saw fit to demand a $600 million refund from SAIC on behalf of the City of New York!
“Mayor Bloomberg absolutely made the right decision in demanding a refund for this thief’s buffet,” said Council Member Letitia James. “I regret that he did not move to address this Citytime corruption when it first became apparent, perhaps it could’ve saved CUNY’s Vallone scholarship or DHS’ Advantage Program program, programs that offered options for low-income New Yorkers. Perhaps this money could’ve helped ease cuts to domestic violence services, criminal justice services, and city hospitals and health services. Allegations of greed and mismanagement were widespread for some time before the investigations proved them to be more than accurate.”
On September 2010, before any crimes were uncovered, Comptroller Liu announced his agreement with the administration to give SAIC a deadline of June 30, 2011 to complete all original work on the program. With the understanding that the delayed work would be completed, the program was allocated up to $32M for maintenance and support services alone. Around this time, Council Member Letitia James joined Local 375 (DC 37) in opposing the project. Council Member James cited what were at the time ‘accusations’ of administrative greed and mismanagement, as well as the ballooning costs of the program from an initial $68 million to what at the time was $700 million.
Council Member James has been a long-term opponent of the Citytime project, from her tenure of Chair of the Contracts Committee where she held two hearings on the project in 2008 and 2009, respectively.
###
Thursday, May 26, 2011
CM James Addresses SAIC Dismissal of Citytime Manager for Corruption
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
May 26, 2011
Contact: Aja Worthy-Davis at (212) 788-7081
Council Member Letitia James Addresses SAIC Dismissal of CityTime Manager for Corruption
Cites History of Problems with Citytime Contract; Calls for A Cancellation of Existing SAIC Contracts Pending Further Review
(New York, NY)— On May 25, 2011, New York City Comptroller John Liu released important information related to the Citytime payroll project, which was the focus of a federal indictment in December 2010 due to the $80M in City funds embezzled by project contractors.
The Comptroller’s office received communication written to the Executive Director of the Financial Information Services Agency (FISA) by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), contractor of Citytime. FISA maintains various financial information systems for the City, such as its centralized accounting and budgeting system, payroll system, pension system, and personnel system. The communication stated SAIC’s notice of dismissal of Gerard Denault, the senior projects manager of Citytime.
The SAIC found that Mr. Denault violated company policies in relation to timekeeping practices within the project. For instance, he routinely billed hours to Citytime that he did not work.
“With the dismissal of Mr. Denault, we come to see that the greed that led to the 2010 Citytime fraud was not just the work of a handful of contractors, but the unfortunate result of a system that is poorly-managed and ill-supervised,” said Council Member James. “This project is a thief’s buffet. How much more evidence must we uncover before we put Citytime to rest, and take a long look at the way we handle private contracts throughout this City?”
Council Member James has been a longtime opponent of the Citytime project, spanning her tenure as Chair of the Council’s Contracts Committee, where she held two hearings on the project in 2008 and 2009. In 2010, she applauded Comptroller Liu on standing firm on his commitment to enact oversight to Citytime— giving SAIC a June 2011 deadline to complete long-delayed work, and ceasing further development of the project. Following the $80M embezzlement of City funds by Citytime contractors, Council Member James joined many of her colleagues in calling for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to cancel their existing contracts with SAIC until further review of Citytime’s timekeeping practices, management errors resulting in erroneous overtime payments, and exuberant project funding requests.
In light of Mr. Denault’s dismissal, SAIC has committed to refund $2,470,522, the amount he billed to the City. Furthermore, Comptroller Liu has called on the Department of Investigation to conduct a comprehensive review of other possible violations by SAIC.
##
May 26, 2011
Contact: Aja Worthy-Davis at (212) 788-7081
Council Member Letitia James Addresses SAIC Dismissal of CityTime Manager for Corruption
Cites History of Problems with Citytime Contract; Calls for A Cancellation of Existing SAIC Contracts Pending Further Review
(New York, NY)— On May 25, 2011, New York City Comptroller John Liu released important information related to the Citytime payroll project, which was the focus of a federal indictment in December 2010 due to the $80M in City funds embezzled by project contractors.
The Comptroller’s office received communication written to the Executive Director of the Financial Information Services Agency (FISA) by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), contractor of Citytime. FISA maintains various financial information systems for the City, such as its centralized accounting and budgeting system, payroll system, pension system, and personnel system. The communication stated SAIC’s notice of dismissal of Gerard Denault, the senior projects manager of Citytime.
The SAIC found that Mr. Denault violated company policies in relation to timekeeping practices within the project. For instance, he routinely billed hours to Citytime that he did not work.
“With the dismissal of Mr. Denault, we come to see that the greed that led to the 2010 Citytime fraud was not just the work of a handful of contractors, but the unfortunate result of a system that is poorly-managed and ill-supervised,” said Council Member James. “This project is a thief’s buffet. How much more evidence must we uncover before we put Citytime to rest, and take a long look at the way we handle private contracts throughout this City?”
Council Member James has been a longtime opponent of the Citytime project, spanning her tenure as Chair of the Council’s Contracts Committee, where she held two hearings on the project in 2008 and 2009. In 2010, she applauded Comptroller Liu on standing firm on his commitment to enact oversight to Citytime— giving SAIC a June 2011 deadline to complete long-delayed work, and ceasing further development of the project. Following the $80M embezzlement of City funds by Citytime contractors, Council Member James joined many of her colleagues in calling for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to cancel their existing contracts with SAIC until further review of Citytime’s timekeeping practices, management errors resulting in erroneous overtime payments, and exuberant project funding requests.
In light of Mr. Denault’s dismissal, SAIC has committed to refund $2,470,522, the amount he billed to the City. Furthermore, Comptroller Liu has called on the Department of Investigation to conduct a comprehensive review of other possible violations by SAIC.
##
CM James Testimony to DC37 On HHC Action Regarding Brooklyn Central Laundry
NYC Council Member Letitia James
Official Testimony to DC37 on 05/26/2011
“I thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony regarding the NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) Finance Committee Action on Contract with Consortium Sodexo, Unitex, and Nextra (“Sodexo”) to Operate Brooklyn Central Laundry.
I was dismayed to learn that the HHC’s Finance Committee voted on May 10, 2011 to recommend to the Board of Directors to vote to award a contract to Sodexo, a global food and facilities management corporation. This contract would result in the elimination of over 180 union-represented positions at the Brooklyn Central Laundry and in linen units in HHC facilities.
Today, I join many other elected officials, as well as District Council 37 (DC37), in urging the HHC Board of Directors to postpone this vote, and take the time to review DC37’s counter proposal.
My understanding is that Sodexo, based in France, has engaged in unfair labor practices in the past. In fact, the U.S. Marine Corps cancelled part of their catering contract with Sodexo in February 2011[1]. The contract— originally worth $150M per year over an eight year period, totaling $1.2B— was cut after negative publicity from the U.S. Service Employees International Union (SEIU) in regards to union bashing and poor working conditions.
The Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), which provides audits and financial advice regarding Defense Department contracts, generated over 80 audit reports for Sodexo's contracts, but the Marine Corps redacted virtually all useful information— including very basic information such as how much they paid to Sodexo each quarter to perform the contract.
It is questionable that the HHC would be so eager to contract with Sodexo considering a spotty record on contractual matters and workers-rights. Furthermore, it is my understanding that Sodexo plans to move many of these existing positions to Rochester, which would mean a loss of jobs for City employees.
For these reasons, I urge further review and consultation regarding this contracts, specifically in relation to the economic impact in Central Brooklyn due any potential loss of jobs."
Sincerely,
Letitia James
Member of the City Council
Official Testimony to DC37 on 05/26/2011
“I thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony regarding the NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) Finance Committee Action on Contract with Consortium Sodexo, Unitex, and Nextra (“Sodexo”) to Operate Brooklyn Central Laundry.
I was dismayed to learn that the HHC’s Finance Committee voted on May 10, 2011 to recommend to the Board of Directors to vote to award a contract to Sodexo, a global food and facilities management corporation. This contract would result in the elimination of over 180 union-represented positions at the Brooklyn Central Laundry and in linen units in HHC facilities.
Today, I join many other elected officials, as well as District Council 37 (DC37), in urging the HHC Board of Directors to postpone this vote, and take the time to review DC37’s counter proposal.
My understanding is that Sodexo, based in France, has engaged in unfair labor practices in the past. In fact, the U.S. Marine Corps cancelled part of their catering contract with Sodexo in February 2011[1]. The contract— originally worth $150M per year over an eight year period, totaling $1.2B— was cut after negative publicity from the U.S. Service Employees International Union (SEIU) in regards to union bashing and poor working conditions.
The Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA), which provides audits and financial advice regarding Defense Department contracts, generated over 80 audit reports for Sodexo's contracts, but the Marine Corps redacted virtually all useful information— including very basic information such as how much they paid to Sodexo each quarter to perform the contract.
It is questionable that the HHC would be so eager to contract with Sodexo considering a spotty record on contractual matters and workers-rights. Furthermore, it is my understanding that Sodexo plans to move many of these existing positions to Rochester, which would mean a loss of jobs for City employees.
For these reasons, I urge further review and consultation regarding this contracts, specifically in relation to the economic impact in Central Brooklyn due any potential loss of jobs."
Sincerely,
Letitia James
Member of the City Council
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Metrotech Board Votes on Management Agreement with DBP; Bookkeeping Issues Outlined in Comptroller Audit Report
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
May 9, 2011
Contact Amyre Loomis at (718) 260-9191, (646) 201-8183
MetroTech Board Votes on Management Agreement with DBP - Despite City’s Uncovering of Bookkeeping Issues in recent Audit Report on Downtown Brooklyn Partnership’s Financial and Operating Practices
(Brooklyn, NY) - The text below is from an audit of the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership (DBP) that was posted today by the Office of the New York City Comptroller. This report is issued on the heels of Forest City Ratner having received the 51% Board support (last Friday) required to call a special session of the MetroTech Board, which is scheduled for tomorrow morning. The special session will consider adoption of the MetroTech BID budget for Fiscal Year 2012, as well as the MTBID entering into a management agreement with the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, Inc.
“Ironically, the NYC Comptroller’s audit of DBP reveals that the Partnership has poor bookkeeping (including timekeeping and tracking of private contributions) and some procurement issues, which leads one to ask why would the MetroTech Board vote to give DBP more responsibility, if the organization already has problems (outlined below) managing the Court-Livingston and Fulton Mall BIDs? It is my hope that MetroTech Board members are fully aware of the NYC Comptroller’s audit findings before their meeting,” said Council Member James.
Audit Report: http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov/bureaus/audit/audits_2011/05-09-11_FN11-068A.shtm
Audit Findings and Conclusions:
Our review found that DBP lacks adequate controls to substantiate its payments to salaried employees. Specifically, our audit noted that DBP did not properly administer its employees’ work hours and leave records. Additionally, DBP does not have proper procedures and records to support the private contributions it receives. Without adequate procedures for the solicitation and collection of these funds, DBP cannot accurately determine its total amount of contributions. This ultimately affects the City’s ability to determine the appropriate amount of contract funds it awards to DBP. DBP also did not always comply with the procurement and reporting requirements of its City contract.
Based on our findings, we recommend that DBP:
§ Ensure the timekeeping system reflects employees’ work hours and time and attendance records to ensure effective tracking of employees’ absences.
§ Develop and maintain a list of private contributors and establish procedures to properly support and account for revenue from private contributions.
§ Adhere to the procurement requirements outlined in Section 6.02 of the contract.
§ Submit timely programmatic and financial reports to the Deputy Mayor’s Office in accordance with its contract with the City.
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May 9, 2011
Contact Amyre Loomis at (718) 260-9191, (646) 201-8183
MetroTech Board Votes on Management Agreement with DBP - Despite City’s Uncovering of Bookkeeping Issues in recent Audit Report on Downtown Brooklyn Partnership’s Financial and Operating Practices
(Brooklyn, NY) - The text below is from an audit of the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership (DBP) that was posted today by the Office of the New York City Comptroller. This report is issued on the heels of Forest City Ratner having received the 51% Board support (last Friday) required to call a special session of the MetroTech Board, which is scheduled for tomorrow morning. The special session will consider adoption of the MetroTech BID budget for Fiscal Year 2012, as well as the MTBID entering into a management agreement with the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, Inc.
“Ironically, the NYC Comptroller’s audit of DBP reveals that the Partnership has poor bookkeeping (including timekeeping and tracking of private contributions) and some procurement issues, which leads one to ask why would the MetroTech Board vote to give DBP more responsibility, if the organization already has problems (outlined below) managing the Court-Livingston and Fulton Mall BIDs? It is my hope that MetroTech Board members are fully aware of the NYC Comptroller’s audit findings before their meeting,” said Council Member James.
Audit Report: http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov/bureaus/audit/audits_2011/05-09-11_FN11-068A.shtm
Audit Findings and Conclusions:
Our review found that DBP lacks adequate controls to substantiate its payments to salaried employees. Specifically, our audit noted that DBP did not properly administer its employees’ work hours and leave records. Additionally, DBP does not have proper procedures and records to support the private contributions it receives. Without adequate procedures for the solicitation and collection of these funds, DBP cannot accurately determine its total amount of contributions. This ultimately affects the City’s ability to determine the appropriate amount of contract funds it awards to DBP. DBP also did not always comply with the procurement and reporting requirements of its City contract.
Based on our findings, we recommend that DBP:
§ Ensure the timekeeping system reflects employees’ work hours and time and attendance records to ensure effective tracking of employees’ absences.
§ Develop and maintain a list of private contributors and establish procedures to properly support and account for revenue from private contributions.
§ Adhere to the procurement requirements outlined in Section 6.02 of the contract.
§ Submit timely programmatic and financial reports to the Deputy Mayor’s Office in accordance with its contract with the City.
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Friday, March 25, 2011
CM James Responds To Deputy Mayor Goldsmith Daily News Op-ed; Outsourcing IT Jobs
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
March 25, 2011
Contact: Aja Worthy-Davis at (212) 788-7081
New York, NY— “On Thursday, March 24, 2011, the New York Daily News covered an op-ed by New York City Deputy Mayor Stephen Goldsmith concerning the outsourcing of IT positions to private contractors.
Deputy Mayor Goldsmith asserted that the issue at hand was not the outsourcing itself, but rather that the administration needed to place more attention towards employing City workers to perform IT duties. It seems plain to me that if City workers could be trained to perform these IT duties for less money, then much of this outsourcing constitutes unnecessary and wasteful spending.
That said, training City workers to perform contracted IT duties, and strengthening oversight of contractors, are excellent steps to addressing the ballooning costs of City contracting positions well within the scope of municipal workers. I commend the administration for taking positive steps in centralizing the City’s data server, as well as using public workers to manage the City’s wireless network and Business Express tool.
In fact, the Emergency Communications Transformation Program (ECTP) project, and the $286M contract that was originally proposed to New York City Comptroller John Liu, is a fair example of where the administration needs to increase oversight. The ECTP project seeked to upgrade the City’s 9-1-1 system by establishing two unified 9-1-1 emergency call center systems.
As was the issue with the Citytime contract, the cost of the ECTP project mushroomed from an initial $380M to $666M without significant changes. In fact, six years after the ECTP contract was originally awarded, the Brooklyn 9-1-1 Center was still not fully operational and one year behind schedule. For these reasons, Comptroller Liu’s rejected renewal of the contract for $286M, citing such issues as lack of transparency over time and expense billing arrangement, multiple layers of subcontractors, and significant cost overruns. On March 15, 2011, Comptroller Liu registered a $95M fixed-price contract for the project, with an agreement of increased communication with his office on ongoing budget matters.
If the administration is truly committed to addressing the oversight and management of private contractors, then there must be a mechanism in place to examine these contracts before they reach the Comptroller’s desk.
Again, I commend the administration on taking initial steps to address the fiscal and transparency issues associated with private contractors, and I hope that the outsourcing of positions other than IT will be addressed. I also hope that these administrative changes will include the recommendations of the Council’s Committee on Contracts as well as unions. I look forward to working together to address these issues.”
###
Contact: Aja Worthy-Davis at (212) 788-7081
Council Member Letitia James Releases Statement In Response To Deputy Mayor Stephen Goldsmith's Daily News Op-ed On Outsourcing IT Jobs
Commends Efforts to Increase Positions for City Workers, Cites Additional Need for Oversight
Deputy Mayor Goldsmith asserted that the issue at hand was not the outsourcing itself, but rather that the administration needed to place more attention towards employing City workers to perform IT duties. It seems plain to me that if City workers could be trained to perform these IT duties for less money, then much of this outsourcing constitutes unnecessary and wasteful spending.
That said, training City workers to perform contracted IT duties, and strengthening oversight of contractors, are excellent steps to addressing the ballooning costs of City contracting positions well within the scope of municipal workers. I commend the administration for taking positive steps in centralizing the City’s data server, as well as using public workers to manage the City’s wireless network and Business Express tool.
In fact, the Emergency Communications Transformation Program (ECTP) project, and the $286M contract that was originally proposed to New York City Comptroller John Liu, is a fair example of where the administration needs to increase oversight. The ECTP project seeked to upgrade the City’s 9-1-1 system by establishing two unified 9-1-1 emergency call center systems.
As was the issue with the Citytime contract, the cost of the ECTP project mushroomed from an initial $380M to $666M without significant changes. In fact, six years after the ECTP contract was originally awarded, the Brooklyn 9-1-1 Center was still not fully operational and one year behind schedule. For these reasons, Comptroller Liu’s rejected renewal of the contract for $286M, citing such issues as lack of transparency over time and expense billing arrangement, multiple layers of subcontractors, and significant cost overruns. On March 15, 2011, Comptroller Liu registered a $95M fixed-price contract for the project, with an agreement of increased communication with his office on ongoing budget matters.
If the administration is truly committed to addressing the oversight and management of private contractors, then there must be a mechanism in place to examine these contracts before they reach the Comptroller’s desk.
Again, I commend the administration on taking initial steps to address the fiscal and transparency issues associated with private contractors, and I hope that the outsourcing of positions other than IT will be addressed. I also hope that these administrative changes will include the recommendations of the Council’s Committee on Contracts as well as unions. I look forward to working together to address these issues.”
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Monday, February 28, 2011
CMs James, Viverito, and Local/Federal Elected Officials Join Unions In Support of Wisconsin Workers
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
FEBRUARY 27, 2011
CONTACT: Joe Taranto, Council Member Viverito’s Office
Aja Worthy-Davis, Council Member James’ Office
(212) 788-7081, aworthydavis@council.nyc.gov
NEW YORK ELECTED OFFICIALS HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE IN SOLIDARITY WITH WISCONSIN WORKERS, UNIONS AND LEGISLATORS
New York, NY – More than a dozen federal, state and city elected officials representing communities throughout the City of New York gathered today on the steps of City Hall to stand in solidarity with the workers, labor unions and their colleagues in government Wisconsin as they continue their arduous fight against crippling budget cuts and union busting. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, in an unprecedented attack on our nation’s middle class public sector workforce, has proposed to strip unions of their collective bargaining rights. Attendees of the press conference, which also included representatives from SEIU 32BJ, hailed their Democratic colleagues in government, who have courageously stood up to the governor by keeping the Legislature from acting on a bill that would eliminate hard-won protections for teachers and other state workers. The struggle in Wisconsin is one that may set the stage for other efforts to undermine labor unions and workers’ rights in other states, including the state of New York.
“We have gathered here today to thank our Democratic colleagues in government for their courage in standing up to Governor Walker’s attempts to dismantle Wisconsin workers’ collective bargaining rights,” said Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito. “As we heard in the prank call made to Governor Walker, his actions are part of a clear, concerted and coordinated national attack against the working class and labor unions. What we are seeing in Wisconsin will have reverberating effects throughout the United States, and that is why we stand in solidarity with all of the workers, unions and elected officials in this struggle for justice.”
"I stand strong with the unions and elected officials of Wisconsin in saying no to this attack on working families through a blatant act of union-busting," said Council Member Letitia James. "The City of New York stands in solidarity with Wisconsin worker's collective bargaining rights."
"Collective bargaining is not the cause of deficits in Wisconsin nor any other state in our country. This attack on unions is just an attempt to use the public's economic insecurity and fears to eliminate a fundamental American principal that belongs to all working people. If we didn't have the unions we wouldn't have the middle class as we do today," said Congressman Charles Rangel. "Thanks to their struggles, common sense ideas once unacceptable -- the 40-hour work week, the eight-hour day, the minimum wage -- are now considered basic. Instead of trying to scapegoat unions and pit workers against each other, leaders should be bringing people together so that they can address the serious challenges that we face as nation."
The proposal by Governor Walker would not only have most state workers cover more of their health care premiums and pension contributions, but would also limit collective bargaining to wages only, and even then, if a negotiated wage increase is beyond the inflation rate, it would leave that increase up to the voters. This proposed change to collective bargaining sets a new standard in a state government’s efforts to engage in union busting. The unions have proposed a compromise whereby workers would contribute more to health care and pensions, but the Governor has refused to negotiate further.
“We must fight back against the special interests that are trying to destroy the fundamental rights of working Americans. The times we are in call for shared sacrifice, but Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is cynically using a budget deficit to eradicate the right of workers to bargain collectively.
For him and other ideologues, this is about grinding a political axe, not about closing a budget gap. Here in New York, we stand with our brothers and sisters in Wisconsin and for the belief that we must work with stakeholders to responsibly solve our fiscal challenges,” said Public Advocate Bill de Blasio.
"When politicians demagogue about public servants, their pensions, collective bargaining or other hard earned benefits, it is our democracy that is being attacked," said Senator Bill Perkins. "This must stop! Tax the rich!!"
The Wisconsin Assembly has already passed the budget proposed by Governor Walker, including the removal of collective bargaining rights. However, the proposal still requires Senate approval. To prevent the Senate from reaching the quorum necessary to hold a vote on the budget, the 14 Democratic members of the Wisconsin State Senate fled to neighboring Illinois over a week ago, and have yet to return. Even under immense pressure, these senators have remained steadfast in opposing efforts to take away collective bargaining rights from public sector unions.
“The collective gains of workers in the last half century were the reward of hard fought negotiations with agreement on both sides that our country’s workers should be able to support and better themselves and their families.
What we are seeing in Wisconsin is an assault on that idea, and an attempt to roll back the clock on worker’s rights,” said Assemblyman Robert Rodriguez. “I stand in solidarity with our Democratic colleagues in government because I know this is not a budget issue. It is a wake up call that even the social contract between government and its citizens is in peril. It’s up to us to demonstrate what true family values are.”
"I stand here today with my fellow NY Legislative Colleagues and Union Leader Representatives to unite and support our fellow Wisconsin public union workers in protesting a move to severely curtail their collective bargaining rights", said Assemblyman David Weprin. "The recent Wisconsin Assembly's passage of Governor Walker's proposal to "strip" public workers of their collective bargaining rights is unconscionable."
State legislatures across the country, including Ohio, Indiana, Tennessee, Illinois, California, Michigan, Alaska and Iowa are considering proposals that would also limit or significantly alter the collective bargaining rights state employees and public sector unions. Right here in New York City, the Mayor has proposed changes to our pension system for public employees and tenure system for teachers. The growing anti-union tenor among some elected officials throughout the U.S. makes the struggle in Wisconsin all the more important.
“I applaud our fellow Democrats in Wisconsin for their unwavering stand against massive budget cuts and the unfair targeting of union workers,” said Council Member Margaret Chin. Governor Walker’s proposal is a strike to the core of what it means to be a unionized worker in this country. Labor unions fought long and hard for the right to collectively bargain with their employers. I know it hasn’t been easy for Wisconsin Democrats to leave their jobs -- and their homes -- but it is worth the sacrifice to protect dignity and democracy in the workplace. Budget cuts that take aim at teachers, the public sector, and the working middle class are unacceptable. I stand behind our Democratic colleagues in government and thank them for their courage while under attack.”
“Using our current economic situation to take away the benefits middle class workers have fought so hard for is unjust and potentially devastating to our communities," said Council Member Daniel Dromm. “That is why we must stand in solidarity with the workers of Wisconsin and support the efforts of the elected officials that have stood up for their rights. The governor of Wisconsin needs to understand that unions have a right to organize and protect the very futures they have worked so hard to secure. He must realize that balancing the books on the backs of Wisconsin’s hardest working people will only serve to destabilize the very bedrock of the economy.”
Today’s press conference is the latest in a series of rallies held in New York City and in cities and states throughout the United States to show support for the workers, unions and Democratic elected officials of Wisconsin.
“Educating our kids, keeping our neighborhoods safe, assisting seniors and the most vulnerable among us are noble jobs – so important that we’ve organized ourselves into a democracy and agreed to pay collectively for these public services. Demonizing the people who provide them – as though they are to blame for what ails us – is not only an attack on workers, but an attempt to demonize the idea of government, and undermine the social contract,” said Council Member Brad Lander.
"This legislator in New York City salutes her brothers and sisters in Wisconsin who are taking a stand for the principal of collective bargaining and the rights of public employees," said Council Member Rosie Mendez.
"We all understand that the country is going through tough economic times and we all have to share the burden, but Governor Scott Walker's effort to slip in the destruction of collective bargaining rights is an actual assault against working people. Healthy labor relations lead to better working conditions, wages, and quality of life. To turn on 100 years of strong union organizing under the guise of economic hard times is unconscionable. I stand with Wisconsin's public workers, unions, and other elected officials as we fight to save the rights of working people. Our leaders have now found the fortitude to show their dislike for the working class and poor people of this country. If we lose in Wisconsin, it's the beginning of the end of collective bargaining everywhere," said Council Member Jumaane Williams.
The attendees of the press conference were also joined by Hector Figueroa, Secretary Treasurer of 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union.
With more than 120,000 members along the East Coast, including 70,000 in New York, 32BJ SEIU is the largest property services local union in the country.
"The attacks on public workers in Wisconsin and around the country are not motivated by fiscal concerns alone. They are part of an unprecedented campaign against all middle class families and working people. Union busting masquerading as balancing the budget is still union busting,” said SEIU 32BJ Secretary Treasurer Hector Figueroa. “Rebuilding our economy should be about strengthening our middle class and not attacking the institutions that protect standards for working families."
##
Elected Officials Present: Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito (D-Manhattan/Bronx)
Council Member Letitia James (D-Brooklyn)
Congressman Charlie Rangel (D-Manhattan)
Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-Manhattan)
State Senator Bill Perkins (D-Manhattan)
Assembly Member David Weprin (D-Queens)
New York City Comptroller John Liu
Council Member Margaret Chin (D-Manhattan)
Council Member Daniel Dromm (D-Queens)
Council Member Brad Lander (D-Brooklyn)
Council Member Jumaane Williams (D-Brooklyn)
Council Member Steve Levin (D-Brooklyn)
Council Member James Van Bramer (D-Queens)
Council Member Mark Weprin (D-Queens)
Assembly Member David Weprin (D-Queens)
New York City Comptroller John Liu
Council Member Margaret Chin (D-Manhattan)
Council Member Daniel Dromm (D-Queens)
Council Member Brad Lander (D-Brooklyn)
Council Member Jumaane Williams (D-Brooklyn)
Council Member Steve Levin (D-Brooklyn)
Council Member James Van Bramer (D-Queens)
Council Member Mark Weprin (D-Queens)
Council Member Deborah Rose (D-Staten Island)
SEIU 32BJ Secretary Treasurer Hector Figueroa
SEIU 32BJ Secretary Treasurer Hector Figueroa
Monday, January 3, 2011
CM James Shares Predictions for 2011!
Council Member James on steps of City Hall at CityTime Press Conference.
"Now that 2011 has ushered in, the following are a few predictions for the New Year--
Number one: the amount of theft related to the CityTime scandal will exceed $100 million stolen from New York City taxpayers, and will be the largest fraud on record in the City’s history (I first sounded the alarm two years ago as Contracts Committee Chair).
Number two: within the 35th Council District we are members of a united community, and therefore will provide even safer, more nurturing and stimulating environments for children, both at home and within schools. We will help the least among us, and when we see something, we will always say something in an effort to protect neighbors and ourselves.
Number three: dancing will remain in my life, for exercise purposes and as an artistic outlet. I truly enjoyed dancing to raise funds for arts education in December - http://teamtish.blogspot.com/2010/12/cm-james-dances-at-stars-of-ny-dance.html."
Council Member Letitia James
35th District, Brooklyn
Friday, December 17, 2010
CMs James, Mark-Viverito, Williams, and Dromm Hold Press Conference To Condemn $80M Embezzlement of NYC Funds; 12/17 TODAY; 3PM; City Hall
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
December 17, 2010
Contact: Aja Worthy-Davis at (212) 788-7081
Council Members Letitia James, Melissa Mark-Viverito, Jumaane Williams, and Daniel Dromm Hold Press Conference To Condemn $80M Embezzlement of City Funds By Citytime Contractors
Call On Administration To Cease Outsourcing Municipal Jobs Without Proper Oversight of Contractors; Urges MTA To Reconsider $120M SAIC Contract
New York, NY— On Wednesday, December 15, 2010 four Citytime consultants were charged with embezzling $80Million from the City of New York through steering public funds to consulting firms who funneled the money to shell companies controlled by the consultants and their families. Ironically, Citytime is a timekeeping system used by some City agencies to monitor payroll fraud and abuse. Currently, Science Applications International Corp (SAIC) is the main contractor for the Citytime timekeeping system.
Council Member Letitia James has been a long-time critic of the Citytime project, which has been rife with accusations of administration and management errors that have seen consultants such as the accused paid exuberant prices. In opposition to the operational mismanagement— as well as the ballooned cost of the project ($68 million projected at its onset to more than $738 million)— Council Member James joined Local 375-DC 37 the Civil Service Technical Guild at a press conference in September 2010 to call on a freeze to any further rolling-out of the project, and a full assessment to be performed on the project. Following the press conference, New York City Comptroller John Liu announced that an agreement had been reached with the administration to give SAIC a June 2011 deadline to complete original work on the project before receiving minimal funding for maintenance and support services.
Following yesterday’s events, Comptroller John Liu called for an emergency session of the Payroll Administration Board of Directors and further urged the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to take care in selecting a SAIC as the final contractor for its new radio communications system.
“I applaud the federal prosecutors for this indictment, but it should not have taken this amount of time to expose,” said Council Member Letitia James. “The fact that this complex scam was able to take place under the radar of the administration is proof of just how out-of-control the greed of some consultants has become. It is time to stop using public funds to continue these poorly managed, poorly supervised private enterprises. The City must stop outsourcing jobs without having the resources or inclination to manage the contractors.”
“This scandal highlights the dangers of the Bloomberg administration’s over-reliance on private contracts,” said Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito. “The extent and duration of this embezzlement calls into question the administration’s commitment to truly scrutinize the private contractors and consultants that are getting rich off of taxpayer dollars. In the wake of this news, it is time that we examine these large contracts even more closely, instead of sitting back and waiting on the federal government to find other instances of corruption.”
"I am outraged that the money that was supposed to be going to consultants working with the CityTime project has been mishandled. It is ironic that a program dedicated to eliminate waste and fraud is the same program costing taxpayers millions of dollars. The Mayor has been fiscally irresponsible with these contracts from the beginning. The answer isn't in cutting city funding or programming, the answer lies in proper management of funds," said Council Member Jumaane Williams.
“CityTime is a waste of time,” said Council Member Daniel Dromm. From the very start since the Mayor first tried to implement it, CityTime has been a disaster with cost spiraling to almost $1 billion. Now we find out that, in fact, CityTime is rife with fraud. We need to get rid of CityTime and redirect the money towards saving jobs.”
WHEN: Friday, December 17, 2010
3:00PM
WHERE: steps of City Hall
###
December 17, 2010
Contact: Aja Worthy-Davis at (212) 788-7081
Council Members Letitia James, Melissa Mark-Viverito, Jumaane Williams, and Daniel Dromm Hold Press Conference To Condemn $80M Embezzlement of City Funds By Citytime Contractors
Call On Administration To Cease Outsourcing Municipal Jobs Without Proper Oversight of Contractors; Urges MTA To Reconsider $120M SAIC Contract
New York, NY— On Wednesday, December 15, 2010 four Citytime consultants were charged with embezzling $80Million from the City of New York through steering public funds to consulting firms who funneled the money to shell companies controlled by the consultants and their families. Ironically, Citytime is a timekeeping system used by some City agencies to monitor payroll fraud and abuse. Currently, Science Applications International Corp (SAIC) is the main contractor for the Citytime timekeeping system.
Council Member Letitia James has been a long-time critic of the Citytime project, which has been rife with accusations of administration and management errors that have seen consultants such as the accused paid exuberant prices. In opposition to the operational mismanagement— as well as the ballooned cost of the project ($68 million projected at its onset to more than $738 million)— Council Member James joined Local 375-DC 37 the Civil Service Technical Guild at a press conference in September 2010 to call on a freeze to any further rolling-out of the project, and a full assessment to be performed on the project. Following the press conference, New York City Comptroller John Liu announced that an agreement had been reached with the administration to give SAIC a June 2011 deadline to complete original work on the project before receiving minimal funding for maintenance and support services.
Following yesterday’s events, Comptroller John Liu called for an emergency session of the Payroll Administration Board of Directors and further urged the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to take care in selecting a SAIC as the final contractor for its new radio communications system.
“I applaud the federal prosecutors for this indictment, but it should not have taken this amount of time to expose,” said Council Member Letitia James. “The fact that this complex scam was able to take place under the radar of the administration is proof of just how out-of-control the greed of some consultants has become. It is time to stop using public funds to continue these poorly managed, poorly supervised private enterprises. The City must stop outsourcing jobs without having the resources or inclination to manage the contractors.”
“This scandal highlights the dangers of the Bloomberg administration’s over-reliance on private contracts,” said Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito. “The extent and duration of this embezzlement calls into question the administration’s commitment to truly scrutinize the private contractors and consultants that are getting rich off of taxpayer dollars. In the wake of this news, it is time that we examine these large contracts even more closely, instead of sitting back and waiting on the federal government to find other instances of corruption.”
"I am outraged that the money that was supposed to be going to consultants working with the CityTime project has been mishandled. It is ironic that a program dedicated to eliminate waste and fraud is the same program costing taxpayers millions of dollars. The Mayor has been fiscally irresponsible with these contracts from the beginning. The answer isn't in cutting city funding or programming, the answer lies in proper management of funds," said Council Member Jumaane Williams.
“CityTime is a waste of time,” said Council Member Daniel Dromm. From the very start since the Mayor first tried to implement it, CityTime has been a disaster with cost spiraling to almost $1 billion. Now we find out that, in fact, CityTime is rife with fraud. We need to get rid of CityTime and redirect the money towards saving jobs.”
WHEN: Friday, December 17, 2010
3:00PM
WHERE: steps of City Hall
###
Thursday, December 16, 2010
CM James Comments On Federal Indictment of Citytime Contractors; $80M "Scam"
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
December 15, 2010
Contact: Amyre Loomis (718) 260-9191
FEDERAL PROSECUTORS CHARGE SIX IN $80 MILLION CITYTIME FRAUD
Statement by Council Member Letitia James
“I applaud the federal prosecutors for this indictment, but it should not have taken this amount of time to expose. The $80Million in funds stolen from the City of New York could have been used to fund day care centers, firehouses, municipal workers, senior centers, and the list goes on. Every penny should be accounted for and this travesty lies at the feet of the Administration who failed to uncover this massive fraud, when I first sounded the alarm two years ago. The fact that this complex scam was able to take place under the radar of the administration is proof of just how out-of-control the greed of some consultants has become. It is time to stop using public funds to continue these poorly managed, poorly supervised private enterprises. The City must stop outsourced jobs without having the resources or inclination to manage the contractors. Until that happens, the MTA should cancel its $10 million contract with CityTime today.”
###
December 15, 2010
Contact: Amyre Loomis (718) 260-9191
FEDERAL PROSECUTORS CHARGE SIX IN $80 MILLION CITYTIME FRAUD
Statement by Council Member Letitia James
“I applaud the federal prosecutors for this indictment, but it should not have taken this amount of time to expose. The $80Million in funds stolen from the City of New York could have been used to fund day care centers, firehouses, municipal workers, senior centers, and the list goes on. Every penny should be accounted for and this travesty lies at the feet of the Administration who failed to uncover this massive fraud, when I first sounded the alarm two years ago. The fact that this complex scam was able to take place under the radar of the administration is proof of just how out-of-control the greed of some consultants has become. It is time to stop using public funds to continue these poorly managed, poorly supervised private enterprises. The City must stop outsourced jobs without having the resources or inclination to manage the contractors. Until that happens, the MTA should cancel its $10 million contract with CityTime today.”
###
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
CM James Applauds Comptroller Liu On CityTime Action
On Tuesday, September 21, 2010, Council Member Letitia James joined Local 375, DC 37, the Civil Service Technical Guild representing City engineers, architects, scientists, chemists, and other technical specialists in opposing the administration’s Citytime payroll project. From the onset, the Citytime project has been rife with accusations of administration and management errors that have seen “consultants” paid exuberant prices. Furthermore, the initial cost of the project ($68M) has ballooned to an estimated $700M over-budget last fiscal year. The current proposal is a 3-year contract that includes two SAIC contracts, and funding for ongoing operations. It would cost more than $100M.Council Member James joined the guild in calling on a freeze to any further rolling-out of the project in terms of both additional funding and application to new City agencies. In addition, she called on a full assessment of the project to be performed as soon as possible, following the audit performed by Comptroller John Liu, to determine whether it would be most cost-efficient to return payroll duties to City workers.
Council Member Letitia James has been a long-term opponent of the Citytime project, from her tenure of Chair of the Contracts Committee where she held two hearings on the project, as well as one on the general outsourcing of service jobs to the private sector. She continues to introduce legislation concerning the City's outsourcing of service contracts that may be able to be performed by municipal workers.
Council Member James applauds Comptroller Liu on standing firm on his opposition to the project overall. The Comptroller recently announced his agreement with the administration to give SAIC a deadline of June 30, 2011 to complete all original work on the program. If that is completed, the program will receive up to $32M for maintenance and support services alone. There will be no further rolling-out of the project at this time, and if SAIC fails to meet this deadline, $3M in damages will be assessed against the City’s payment.
You can read more about the new agreement here.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
CM James Appointed Chair of NYC Council's Sanitation Committee
**For Immediate Release**
January 25, 2010
Contact: Aja Worthy-Davis at (212) 788-7081
Council Member Letitia James accepts new Chair appointment of Council’s Sanitation Committee; she leaves her post as Chair of Contracts Committee with satisfaction
“At the Stated Council meeting this past Thursday, January 21, the City Council voted 47-1 to appoint committee chairs to over forty committees and subcommittees. During this re-shuffling, I was named chair of the Council’s Sanitation Committee, having formerly chaired the Contracts Committee.
During my tenure as chair of the Contracts Committee, my overall goal was to strengthen the power of small businesses to do business and contract with the City. In that regard, I consider one of the most important bills to ever come before the Contracts Committee during my time at the New York City Council to be Local Law 129, (signed by Mayor Bloomberg in 2005). This law established the City’s goal to buy more goods and services from certified minority and women-owned business enterprises (MWBEs). This represented more opportunities for certified MWBEs to bid on public contracts, increase their capacity, and effectively contribute to the City's economy.
Additionally, under my chairmanship, the Contracts Committee held hearings on compliance with and expansion of MWBE programs; the outsourcing of public services to the private sector, especially as it affected both service workers throughout the City of New York, as well as the City costs for potentially unnecessary private labor; the effectiveness of HRA back-to-work programs; and the City’s contracts in regards to the procurement of public educational materials. Most recently, the Contracts Committee held a hearing regarding the Office of Payroll Administration’s CityTime contracts, a payroll system that has been criticized as being overly costly and difficult to manage.
My plans are to apply the same kind of intense focus in my position as Chair of the Council’s Sanitation Committee. I look forward to developing a better understanding of the issues regarding sanitation throughout the City of New York, as well as working with the administration and sanitation experts to concentrate on new and innovation ideas regarding Citywide sanitation, and improving upon quality of life issues for constituents.
It continues to be my pleasure to serve as the 35th District Council Member in the New York City Council, for Brooklyn residents, and for every person residing in the five boroughs that my office is able to help.”
January 25, 2010
Contact: Aja Worthy-Davis at (212) 788-7081
Council Member Letitia James accepts new Chair appointment of Council’s Sanitation Committee; she leaves her post as Chair of Contracts Committee with satisfaction
“At the Stated Council meeting this past Thursday, January 21, the City Council voted 47-1 to appoint committee chairs to over forty committees and subcommittees. During this re-shuffling, I was named chair of the Council’s Sanitation Committee, having formerly chaired the Contracts Committee.
During my tenure as chair of the Contracts Committee, my overall goal was to strengthen the power of small businesses to do business and contract with the City. In that regard, I consider one of the most important bills to ever come before the Contracts Committee during my time at the New York City Council to be Local Law 129, (signed by Mayor Bloomberg in 2005). This law established the City’s goal to buy more goods and services from certified minority and women-owned business enterprises (MWBEs). This represented more opportunities for certified MWBEs to bid on public contracts, increase their capacity, and effectively contribute to the City's economy.
Additionally, under my chairmanship, the Contracts Committee held hearings on compliance with and expansion of MWBE programs; the outsourcing of public services to the private sector, especially as it affected both service workers throughout the City of New York, as well as the City costs for potentially unnecessary private labor; the effectiveness of HRA back-to-work programs; and the City’s contracts in regards to the procurement of public educational materials. Most recently, the Contracts Committee held a hearing regarding the Office of Payroll Administration’s CityTime contracts, a payroll system that has been criticized as being overly costly and difficult to manage.
My plans are to apply the same kind of intense focus in my position as Chair of the Council’s Sanitation Committee. I look forward to developing a better understanding of the issues regarding sanitation throughout the City of New York, as well as working with the administration and sanitation experts to concentrate on new and innovation ideas regarding Citywide sanitation, and improving upon quality of life issues for constituents.
It continues to be my pleasure to serve as the 35th District Council Member in the New York City Council, for Brooklyn residents, and for every person residing in the five boroughs that my office is able to help.”
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
A Message from Council Member James: NAACP and African-American Community in NYC
The following is an open letter by Council Member James sent to the NAACP.
To begin, I would like to commend the NAACP on 100 years of important advocacy and service to African American communities all across the US. In New York, our evidence of the NAACP’s legacy is found in New York chapter president Hazel Dukes and in Brooklyn president Karen Boykin-Towns, whose work and commitment to justice has benefited us all.
The 100th anniversary is another milestone that we can add to the series of accomplishments and historical events that make 2009 a significant year in history. With the election and inauguration of Barack Obama - our nation’s first African American President - the role of the NAACP in providing trails for us all to blaze deserves much credit and gratitude.
But as the old saying goes, we may have come a long way, but we still have a long way to go. 2009 also marks the 20th anniversary of the groundbreaking film Do the Right Thing, a creation of Brooklyn’s son Spike Lee. The issues that surfaced in the film still cause us all to think about the implications of race relations and inequality. Since Mayor Bloomberg honored the NAACP this week, the question must be asked: is the Mayor doing the right thing for communities of color in New York City?
Under the Bloomberg administration, many issues affecting communities of color remain critical challenges, but go seemingly unaddressed. In 2004, data from the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that half of Black Men in New York City are unemployed. Since that time the administration has taken on extremely limited efforts to address this crisis. In fact, this week the New York Times revealed that the unemployment rate for Blacks in New York City has increased at a rate four times greater than the rate for whites in the city. At 14.7% unemployment for Blacks, the Black-White gap in New York is increasing at one of the fastest paces in the country. While unemployment amongst Black New Yorkers was soaring by 167%, the Mayor ignored communities most in need, and invested $45 million in city dollars to provide job training to those on Wall Street. Unfortunately, the administration continues to do far too little to close the gap and the promote diversity and in equality in the city.
The administration’s efforts at improving diversity and promoting equality can best be determined through the city’s Women and Minority Business Enterprises (WMBE) program. The percentage of procurement opportunities for WMBE’s remains distressing. As head of the City Council’s Contracts committee, I have witnessed the administration fail to take a more active approach in increasing business opportunities for women and minorities. Moreover, minority representation in Mayor Bloomberg’s administration still remains a major challenge. Unfortunately the Mayor’s administrators do not adequately represent the demographics of the New York City that many of us know. This city is in dire need of more administrators who actually relate to the experience of average New Yorkers.
Finally, over half century after the landmark Brown vs. Board of Education decision, fought for victoriously by the NAACP, the City of New York still remains burdened by persistent segregation. In fact, according to a study by the University of Florida, New York City has experienced the least decline in segregation rates. Very little policy or discussion has emerged from this administration to target the continuing patterns of segregation in the city’s housing.
Mayor Bloomberg, do the right thing, honor the NAACP’s legacy substantively - address the issues that the NAACP has been fighting for these past 100 years - as you finish the remainder of your term. These issues still remain a critical challenge for our city, but far too often it seems these challenges are met with a blind eye and deaf ear.
Finally, and most importantly, congratulations to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People on its 100 years of invaluable service, not just to African Americans, but for all Americans. Beyond 2009, I am certain the NAACP will keep up the critical work it began a century ago and continue to make the United States more just for all. I am certain that the NAACP will continue to provide the same level of support and inspiration to many, for at least another 100 years to come.
Sincerely,
Letitia James
Member of the City Council
To begin, I would like to commend the NAACP on 100 years of important advocacy and service to African American communities all across the US. In New York, our evidence of the NAACP’s legacy is found in New York chapter president Hazel Dukes and in Brooklyn president Karen Boykin-Towns, whose work and commitment to justice has benefited us all.
The 100th anniversary is another milestone that we can add to the series of accomplishments and historical events that make 2009 a significant year in history. With the election and inauguration of Barack Obama - our nation’s first African American President - the role of the NAACP in providing trails for us all to blaze deserves much credit and gratitude.
But as the old saying goes, we may have come a long way, but we still have a long way to go. 2009 also marks the 20th anniversary of the groundbreaking film Do the Right Thing, a creation of Brooklyn’s son Spike Lee. The issues that surfaced in the film still cause us all to think about the implications of race relations and inequality. Since Mayor Bloomberg honored the NAACP this week, the question must be asked: is the Mayor doing the right thing for communities of color in New York City?
Under the Bloomberg administration, many issues affecting communities of color remain critical challenges, but go seemingly unaddressed. In 2004, data from the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that half of Black Men in New York City are unemployed. Since that time the administration has taken on extremely limited efforts to address this crisis. In fact, this week the New York Times revealed that the unemployment rate for Blacks in New York City has increased at a rate four times greater than the rate for whites in the city. At 14.7% unemployment for Blacks, the Black-White gap in New York is increasing at one of the fastest paces in the country. While unemployment amongst Black New Yorkers was soaring by 167%, the Mayor ignored communities most in need, and invested $45 million in city dollars to provide job training to those on Wall Street. Unfortunately, the administration continues to do far too little to close the gap and the promote diversity and in equality in the city.
The administration’s efforts at improving diversity and promoting equality can best be determined through the city’s Women and Minority Business Enterprises (WMBE) program. The percentage of procurement opportunities for WMBE’s remains distressing. As head of the City Council’s Contracts committee, I have witnessed the administration fail to take a more active approach in increasing business opportunities for women and minorities. Moreover, minority representation in Mayor Bloomberg’s administration still remains a major challenge. Unfortunately the Mayor’s administrators do not adequately represent the demographics of the New York City that many of us know. This city is in dire need of more administrators who actually relate to the experience of average New Yorkers.
Finally, over half century after the landmark Brown vs. Board of Education decision, fought for victoriously by the NAACP, the City of New York still remains burdened by persistent segregation. In fact, according to a study by the University of Florida, New York City has experienced the least decline in segregation rates. Very little policy or discussion has emerged from this administration to target the continuing patterns of segregation in the city’s housing.
Mayor Bloomberg, do the right thing, honor the NAACP’s legacy substantively - address the issues that the NAACP has been fighting for these past 100 years - as you finish the remainder of your term. These issues still remain a critical challenge for our city, but far too often it seems these challenges are met with a blind eye and deaf ear.
Finally, and most importantly, congratulations to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People on its 100 years of invaluable service, not just to African Americans, but for all Americans. Beyond 2009, I am certain the NAACP will keep up the critical work it began a century ago and continue to make the United States more just for all. I am certain that the NAACP will continue to provide the same level of support and inspiration to many, for at least another 100 years to come.
Sincerely,
Letitia James
Member of the City Council
Thursday, April 2, 2009
CM James Reports Mayor Bloomberg Stimulus-Funded Brooklyn Infrastructure Projects
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Brooklyn, NY)– Council Member Letitia James is pleased to report that Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced the City’s selection for infrastructure projects this week, which will receive financial backing from the $261 million of federal transportation funding, allocated through President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. As chair of the Contracts Committee, and co-chair of the Infrastructure Task Force, Council Member James advocated for all infrastructure projects receiving funds, specifically the descriptions below of plans within the 35th Council District. She has held several meetings with Edward Skyler, Deputy Mayor for Operations, and has kept pressure on the Bloomberg Administration to ensure these projects were prioritized.
Infrastructure projects supported by federal stimulus funding will supplement the City’s current capital plan. The federal stimulus dollars mean that the City gets projects moving quickly to rebuild infrastructure, creating jobs for thousands of people– exactly what the New York economy needs at this time. Strategic investments in essential infrastructure will help promote necessary economic development. President Obama, Congress and the City government are delivering real change to all five boroughs - more info. can be found at www.nyc.gov.
Improvements to the Brooklyn Navy Yard - The project will reconstruct several roadways in the Navy Yard area and upgrade water and sewer systems. The new roads will allow for the reopening of the historic Sands Street gate, providing more efficient pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle access to the Navy Yard. This includes better access to the A/C/F trains, adding much needed parking, facilitating additional industrial development, and improving water conservation, storm water run-off management and landscaping. Total project cost: $35.4 million - construction bid March 2009, and estimated completion summer 2011.
Streetscape Improvements to Flatbush Avenue - This project includes streetscape improvements along Flatbush Avenue from Tillary to Hanson Place, including new street and pedestrian lights, an elevated landscaped median in the street, and new pedestrian crosswalk refuges at medians. The project also includes sewer and water main upgrades. The project will create a more pedestrian friendly atmosphere for one of Brooklyn’s major thoroughfares and support additional private development in the area. Total project cost: $23 million - construction bid April 2009, and estimated completion June 2011.
Reconstruction of Eastern Parkway - The project involves reconstruction of the roadway from Washington Avenue to Grand Army Plaza to improve the street, which is currently in deteriorated condition, and improve safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicular traffic. The reconstruction will reduce the frequency of future resurfacing and repair work, which can cause lane closures. The project will improve access to several cultural, recreational and educational institutions, including the Brooklyn Museum, The Brooklyn Botanical Garden, the Brooklyn Public Library, and Prospect Park. Total project cost: $12 million - construction bid fall 2009, and estimated completion Spring 2012.
Citywide Sidewalk Repairs for all Boroughs - The project will repair sidewalks that are damaged by curbside trees in locations throughout the City. The damaged sidewalks cause inconvenience and safety concerns for property owners, who are responsible for the condition of their sidewalks. The sidewalk repairs, done at no cost to the homeowner, will maximize the strength and durability of the sidewalks, while minimizing the damage to tree roots. One-, two-, and three family homes occupied by the owner are eligible for this program. Total project cost: $3.7 million, construction bid spring 2009, and estimated completion summer 2010.
The City of New York’s economic plan focuses on making investments in neighborhoods that will create more jobs, as well encourage greater economic opportunity now, and when projects are completed. In order to maintain transparency and accountability when using stimulus funding, the funds allocated to the City can be followed on the “Stimulus Tracker” located at the official New York City web site.
Contact: Amyre Loomis at (718) 260-9191
###
(Brooklyn, NY)– Council Member Letitia James is pleased to report that Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced the City’s selection for infrastructure projects this week, which will receive financial backing from the $261 million of federal transportation funding, allocated through President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. As chair of the Contracts Committee, and co-chair of the Infrastructure Task Force, Council Member James advocated for all infrastructure projects receiving funds, specifically the descriptions below of plans within the 35th Council District. She has held several meetings with Edward Skyler, Deputy Mayor for Operations, and has kept pressure on the Bloomberg Administration to ensure these projects were prioritized.
Infrastructure projects supported by federal stimulus funding will supplement the City’s current capital plan. The federal stimulus dollars mean that the City gets projects moving quickly to rebuild infrastructure, creating jobs for thousands of people– exactly what the New York economy needs at this time. Strategic investments in essential infrastructure will help promote necessary economic development. President Obama, Congress and the City government are delivering real change to all five boroughs - more info. can be found at www.nyc.gov.
Improvements to the Brooklyn Navy Yard - The project will reconstruct several roadways in the Navy Yard area and upgrade water and sewer systems. The new roads will allow for the reopening of the historic Sands Street gate, providing more efficient pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle access to the Navy Yard. This includes better access to the A/C/F trains, adding much needed parking, facilitating additional industrial development, and improving water conservation, storm water run-off management and landscaping. Total project cost: $35.4 million - construction bid March 2009, and estimated completion summer 2011.
Streetscape Improvements to Flatbush Avenue - This project includes streetscape improvements along Flatbush Avenue from Tillary to Hanson Place, including new street and pedestrian lights, an elevated landscaped median in the street, and new pedestrian crosswalk refuges at medians. The project also includes sewer and water main upgrades. The project will create a more pedestrian friendly atmosphere for one of Brooklyn’s major thoroughfares and support additional private development in the area. Total project cost: $23 million - construction bid April 2009, and estimated completion June 2011.
Reconstruction of Eastern Parkway - The project involves reconstruction of the roadway from Washington Avenue to Grand Army Plaza to improve the street, which is currently in deteriorated condition, and improve safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicular traffic. The reconstruction will reduce the frequency of future resurfacing and repair work, which can cause lane closures. The project will improve access to several cultural, recreational and educational institutions, including the Brooklyn Museum, The Brooklyn Botanical Garden, the Brooklyn Public Library, and Prospect Park. Total project cost: $12 million - construction bid fall 2009, and estimated completion Spring 2012.
Citywide Sidewalk Repairs for all Boroughs - The project will repair sidewalks that are damaged by curbside trees in locations throughout the City. The damaged sidewalks cause inconvenience and safety concerns for property owners, who are responsible for the condition of their sidewalks. The sidewalk repairs, done at no cost to the homeowner, will maximize the strength and durability of the sidewalks, while minimizing the damage to tree roots. One-, two-, and three family homes occupied by the owner are eligible for this program. Total project cost: $3.7 million, construction bid spring 2009, and estimated completion summer 2010.
The City of New York’s economic plan focuses on making investments in neighborhoods that will create more jobs, as well encourage greater economic opportunity now, and when projects are completed. In order to maintain transparency and accountability when using stimulus funding, the funds allocated to the City can be followed on the “Stimulus Tracker” located at the official New York City web site.
Contact: Amyre Loomis at (718) 260-9191
###
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