What’s News, Breaking: Thursday, May 11, 2023

May 11, 2023 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

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MANHATTAN D.A. WILL CHARGE FORMER MARINE
WITH MANSLAUGHTER IN JORDAN NEELY DEATH

MANHATTAN — The former Marine who placed a homeless man into a fatal chokehold in the subway system last week will be charged, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced on Thursday afternoon. The Associated Press, BBC and other news agencies report that U.S. Marine Daniel Penny will be charged on Friday with manslaughter in the death of Jordan Neely, who was well-known among commuters for his sendups of Michael Jackson. Neely, who reportedly suffered from mental illness, appeared belligerent toward Mr. Penny, whose defense attorneys say he could not have anticipated that his actions to subdue Mr. Neely would lead to his death.

However, witnesses to the May 1 incident said that while Neely was acting aggressively toward other subway passengers, he had not physically attacked anyone before Mr. Penny placed him in the chokehold.

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NEW PLAYSPACE UNVEILED; GIANTS QUARTERBACK DAN JONES CELEBRATES OPENING WITH GROUP

NY Giants QB-Dan-Jones_Courtesy-The-Child-Ctr-of-NYNY Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (pictured) and Deputy Brooklyn Borough President Kim Council also joined the festivities. Photo: The Child Center of NY.

BROWNSVILLE — The Child Center of NY on Thursday, May 11, celebrated the unveiling of a new youth-designed outdoor playspace at its Residential Treatment Facility in Brownsville, with a New York sports celebrity present for the debut. The 9,000-square-foot space is the culmination of a months-long partnership between The Child Center of NY, BOSS, and KABOOM!, a national nonprofit committed to ending playspace inequity. The layout, drawn from ideas that community members — including youths — presented during a design day last August, features a customized football turf, basketball court, and more.

The Child Center’s RTF is a coeducational program in a welcoming, supportive environment that serves young people ages 12-18 who have had multiple psychiatric hospital placements or have been involved with the juvenile justice system.

Volunteers put the finishing colorful touches on the playspace. Photo: The Child Center of NY.

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GREEN-WOOD DISPLAYS MEMORIAL TO COVID VICTIMS

SUNSET PARK — Green-Wood Cemetery will host a participatory art project, created by the NAMING THE LOST Memorials artist team, called “THE MANY LOSSES FROM COVID-19” throughout May, in memory of the more than 79,000 New Yorkers who passed away during the pandemic, as well as the more than 1.1 million deaths nationwide. The memorial will stretch for 200 feet along the fence outside its main entrance, and will feature a space for members of the public to join in its creation — community members are encouraged to add the names of loved ones to the display, as well as tributes mourning the losses of intangible things, such as time, relationships, experiences or wellbeing.

The memorial will be on display from May 3 to May 29; the cemetery was set to hold a dedication ceremony on May 11 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., with a link to a livestream and more information available on the cemetery’s website.

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CONGRESSIONAL BILL WOULD CREATE GRANT PROGRAM
FOR HEALTHIER, CLIMATE-FRIENDLY SCHOOL MEALS

NATIONWIDE — The day after she urged United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack to work with schools on creating plant-forward menus, Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-7/northern Brooklyn) joined Rep. Jamaal Bowman, Ed.D (D/Bronx & Westchester) on Thursday, May 11, in reintroducing the Healthy Future Students and Earth Pilot Program Act. This bill would create a voluntary grant program for school districts to help schools provide healthier, climate-friendly, and culturally appropriate plant-based entrée options to students. The bill, which aims to improve children’s health and fight climate change, would cover the cost of culinary training and technical assistance for school food service operators and staff, and procurement of plant-based sources of protein and milk from socially disadvantaged producers, local producers, and women, veteran, and beginning farmers, among other provisions.

One new provision would require school districts to provide a non-dairy milk substitute to children without a disability if a parent or guardian makes a written request to the school district.

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TEEN DATING AWARENESS WALK TAKES ITS MESSAGE
ACROSS BROOKLYN BRIDGE

DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN — A coalition of teenagers, parents, and community members from across the five boroughs want to make the public aware that youths are particularly vulnerable to sexual assault and teen dating violence, which together affect one in three teens. As part of the awareness campaign, they are marching across the Brooklyn Bridge this coming Saturday, May 13, to take a stand to prevent these crises, and taking part in the 11th annual NYC Teen Dating Violence Awareness Walk™ ― the largest march of its kind in the entire country. The Healing Center, an intervention and prevention non-profit, is sponsoring the walk, which will begin with a rally at Korean War Veterans Plaza in downtown Brooklyn. Registration starts at 10 a.m. and a rally with representatives from the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, among other speakers, will be sharing their stories.

A national survey recently found that many victims of sexual violence, stalking, and intimate partner violence were first victimized at a young age.

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BROOKLYN CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION URGES
SWIFT DISBURSEMENT OF SHELTER AND SERVICES FUND

CITYWIDE — The remaining $360 million of the newly-authorized Shelter and Services Program need to be disbursed quickly, wrote Rep. Dan Goldman (NY-10) and several colleagues in the Brooklyn Congressional delegation in a letter they sent on Thursday to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Criswell and Regional Administrator Warrington. These funds are used to support local government and nonprofit organizations in New York sheltering migrants and underwriting-related activities. Signing the letter with Rep. Goldman were House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-8/Bed-Stuy-to southeastern Brooklyn), Congressmembers Nydia Velázquez (D-7/northern Brooklyn) and Yvette Clarke (D-9/central Brooklyn), and Congressmembers from other boroughs, Jerrold Nadler (D-Manhattan), Grace Meng (D-6/Queens), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-Queens/Bronx), and Ritchie Torres (D-Bronx).

Congressman Goldman recently called on FEMA to increase their emergency allotment of $30.5 million to provide food, medical care, and support to incoming migrants. New York has spent over $1 billion in the care of over 60,000 new migrants.

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STATE AGENCIES’ OVERTIME COSTS AND HOURS
SEE MAJOR INCREASE

STATEWIDE — Overtime costs at state agencies rose 47.2% to more than $1.36 billion in 2022, attributable in part to workforce reduction, setting a new record, according to a report that State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli released on Thursday, May 12. Overtime hours increased 11.1% to $22.2 million over the same period, while overtime earnings comprised 7.5% of total payroll spending in 2022, a significant increase from the previous 4.6% average from 2013-2021.

During the 10-year period, the average annual number of employees working for the state, excluding the SUNY and CUNY university systems, declined from 160,829 employees in 2013 to roughly 142,396 in 2022 — a drastic reduction from 15 years ago when the state workforce size was over 180,000.

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ATTORNEY GENERAL JAMES SUES GUN PARTS MAKER
FOR VIOLATING STATE LAWS

STATEWIDE — State Attorney General Letitia James on Thursday, May 11, filed a lawsuit against the gun accessory manufacturer MEAN LLC (Mean Arms) for aiding the illegal possession of assault weapons in New York, including the weapon used in the mass shooting in Buffalo in May 2022. Mean Arms is a Georgia-based company that makes, sells, and distributes the MA Lock, which they define as a shear bolt mechanism designed to lock a detachable magazine in place on a semiautomatic rifle. The company sells the MA Lock to New York buyers directly and through third-party sellers, deceptively and falsely claiming that the product makes weapons compliant with New York’s gun laws.

New York law bans the possession of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition.

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HEALTH INSURERS WHO INFLATED STUDENT RATES
MUST NOW MAKE REIMBURSEMENTS

STATEWIDE — Four major health insurance companies that serve college students must abide by the terms of settlements with the New York State Department of Financial Services for inflating rates and using unapproved policy forms. As part of its annual review of student health insurers in the New York market, DFSS found Aetna Life Insurance Company, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of New York, Wellfleet New York Insurance Company, and 4 Ever Life Insurance Company each charged unapproved rates to students covered under blanket health insurance contracts with educational institutions.

DFS also fined 4 Ever Life and Aetna for using unapproved policy forms and rating factors for premiums. Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, and Wellfleet will reimburse $3.2 million to students.

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OFFICIALS SLAM MAYOR FOR SHELTER RULE CHANGE

CITYWIDE — Following an announcement on Wednesday by Mayor Adams that provisions of the state’s “right to shelter” law that guarantees private housing to families on the same day they arrive at shelter system offices would be suspended owing to the ongoing influx of asylum-seekers from the southern border, other elected officials criticized the mayor’s decision, as well as a lack of support from the state and federal governments. Comptroller Brad Lander wrote in a press statement, “With more support from Washington and with overdue action from the Adams Administration to provide the assistance that will help asylum seekers get on their feet and move out of shelter, we can face this challenge with both compassion and common sense,” while Public Advocate Jumaane Williams wrote, “The mayor attempting to weaken those rights now — in a moment of immense need for so many asylum seekers — is a misguided and harmful action in the face of the real, urgent challenge exacerbated by a lack of decisive and timely state and federal action… We need Democratic leaders on all levels of government to focus on getting the support needed to uphold the right to shelter, not undercut it.”

The Legal Aid Society and the Coalition for the Homeless also condemned the decision in a joint statement: “We recognize the efforts from City staff to avoid putting people in harm’s way, but we’ve learned through experience that congregate shelters put families and children at risk… Mayor Adams is heading down a dangerous road. The City has other options, including implementing recommendations we have offered many times since last summer to transition those residing in shelters to permanent housing.”

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CITY BACKS OFF ON PLANS TO SEND ASYLUM SEEKERS UPSTATE

CITYWIDE — The city has paused its plan to send a group of asylum seekers to a hotel in Orange County on Wednesday after meeting stiff resistance from its Republican officials, reports Gothamist, although a spokesperson for the mayor said that the administration had not discarded the idea and would be looking into ways to move forward with it, while Governor Hochul has indicated interest in further plans to house migrants in cities throughout the state. Orange County had implemented an executive order that would prohibit hotels from accepting the migrants and on Wednesday had police stake out the hotel, which county leaders have said the mayor’s office had booked without informing them of the plan.

Nearby Rockland county has offered similar resistance, despite assurances from city officials that NYC would pay for four months of the costs associated with the asylum seekers; Rockland’s executive also issued an executive order banning hotels from accepting migrants, and the Rockland town of Orangetown obtained a temporary restraining order halting the city’s efforts.

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HOCHUL WAIVES CIVIL SERVICE EXAM FOR CERTAIN CRITICAL JOBS

STATEWIDE — Governor Kathy Hochul on Wednesday announced that civil service exam requirements have been temporarily lifted for thousands of state jobs in critical areas through the Hiring for Emergency Limited Placement Program, with positions opening in fields such as direct care, nursing and support work. The decision comes as a result of a workforce shortage in state government roles that Hochul says is hindering the state’s ability to meet the basic health and safety needs of New Yorkers; workers hired under the program will be transferred into the standard state career track after one year.

The governor also announced a Virtual Career Fair, to be held on Thursday, May 11, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., featuring a variety of state agencies with a special focus on the many positions immediately available under HELP, along with an informational session on the program for jobseekers; job postings, application forms and more information on HELP can be found on the Department of Civil Service’s official website, while registration and information on the career fair can be found through the Department of Labor’s website.

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HOUSEWARMING CELEBRATION AT NEW SUPPORTIVE RESIDENCE

NEW LOTS — Residents, city officials and support providers on Wednesday celebrated a housewarming at a newly opened supportive housing complex in New Lots, developed with city funding on a former vacant city property under the Department of Homeless Services’ Minority and Women-Owned Business Building Opportunity program. The building offers 71 total homes, with 43 supportive homes for formerly homeless single adults living with a severe mental illness or substance use disorder and 27 affordable homes for low-income community members, as well as amenities like 24/7 staff, a landscaped courtyard and a computer lab; Services for the UnderServed will provide support to residents referred by the Department of Homeless Services, including case and medical management, counseling and community integration.

“Allowing us to serve as stewards of formerly city-owned land is a great honor… In addition, we acknowledge the hard work and contribution our local electeds played, especially Inez Barron, in designing this property to be a great example of supportive housing,” wrote Chris Bramwell, managing partner of the building’s developer CB-Emmanuel Realty, which specializes in constructing supportive housing complexes; Barron assisted in shepherding the proposal through the approval process.

Officials and leaders helped plant a tree at the new supportive housing complex’s housewarming celebration. Photo: Services for the UnderServed.

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HALF-MARATHON KICKOFF AT BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK

BROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK — The New York Road Runners Club is kicking off its 41st annual Brooklyn Half-marathon, which will take place on Saturday, May 20, with an official Pre-Party open to the public at Pier 2 in Brooklyn Bridge Park next week, featuring food and local beer, music, a Running Lab offering course breakdowns and strategies from club coaches, motivation exercises and expert advice on race preparation and recovery, and more. Runners will also be able to pick up their race numbers at the event, as well as finding their spot on the Runner Wall, which will list the name of every runner participating.

The celebration will take place on Wednesday, May 17, through Friday, May 19, from 11:00 a.m. until 9:30 p.m.; events are free and open to the public, non-runners included.

Road Runners Senior VP of Events and Race Director Ted Metellus will DJ for attendees.

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REP. VELÁZQUEZ LEADS EFFORT TO PROMOTE
PLANT-FORWARD MEALS IN SCHOOLS

NATIONWIDE — Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-7/northern Brooklyn) led 23 of her Congressional colleagues in sending a letter to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack, urging the agency to work with schools to facilitate plant-forward menus featuring nutritious, climate-friendly and culturally appropriate options. The lawmakers stress in the letter that providing increased access to plant-based and non-dairy milk options will, among other goals, align with USDA’s mission “to serve all Americans,” and its vision to properly nourish the nation’s children, spur economic development and preserve the environment; furthermore, such changes advance USDA’s core values of respect, dignity, equity, and inclusion. There is a range of cultural, ethnic, religious, and physiological needs for plant-based options, particularly in Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) populations, who have been diagnosed with lactose intolerance.

The letter comes as the USDA undergoes its most recent revisions to ensure that the Child Nutrition Program meal patterns align with the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

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NEW DEMOCRATIC-SPONSORED BILL WOULD REFORM IMMIGRATION, CREATE A PATH TO CITIZENSHIP

CENTRAL BROOKLYN AND WASHINGTON, DC — The U.S. Citizenship Act of 2023, a bill in Congress that Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (D-9/central Brooklyn) and Rep. Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA) newly introduced on Wednesday, May 10, lays out a bold, inclusive, and humane vision in reforming the United States immigration system. The legislation would equip the country to responsibly manage the border through smart and effective investments, address the root causes of migration that force people to leave Central America and restore the United States’ commitment to human rights. It would also provide millions of hardworking, undocumented immigrants with a pathway to earned citizenship, including Dreamers, Temporary Protective Status (TPS) recipients, and essential workers, and would prioritize family reunification.

The Democratic Congressional leaders also responded to the GOP-sponsored Child Deportation Act (H.R. 2) that would seem to negate the goals of The U.S. Citizenship Act of 2023.

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PARK LAUNCHES INTO SUMMER WITH KITE FEST

DUMBO — This Saturday is the one day of the year when Brooklyn Bridge Park’s ban on kite-flying is lifted — for the park Conservancy’s Kite Festival, a bring-your-own-kite celebration of cultural kite traditions featuring educational experiences, kite-building workshops and arts performances to kick off the summer season. Experiences on offer, aside from hundreds of colorful kites, include face-painting, stiltwalkers, inspecting kite-captured microbes in petri dishes, motorized propeller and robotics projects and more.

The festival will take place on Saturday, May 13 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m at Pier 5 (the one with the soccer fields) in Brooklyn Bridge Park; those who don’t have kites of their own can buy one on-site or make one there; more information can be found on the BBP Conservancy’s website.

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BAM’S GALA CELEBRATES THREE WHO HELPED BUILD ARTS CENTER’S MISSION

BAM HISTORIC DISTRICT —Three arts pioneers in their respective fields will be feted Wednesday night, May 10, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM)’s annual Spring Gala: Musician David Byrne, Filmmaker Spike Lee, and BAM Board of Trustee Claire Wood are longtime advocates for the arts who have proven themselves integral to BAM’s mission. The Annie-B Parson and Paul Lazar co-produced gala, taking place at the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House, will feature a special performance from Grammy award-winning artist St. Vincent.

BAM, situated at the nexus of three downtown Brooklyn neighborhoods, has for more than 150 years been a performing arts venue offering world-renowned programming in theater, dance, music, opera and film, showcasing the work of emerging artists and innovative modern masters.

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ROBOT WILL SERVE YOUR COFFEE AT NEW BOTBAR CAFÉ

GREENPOINT — A bot barista may soon be serving your morning mocha if your route takes you along Manhattan Avenue in Greenpoint. BotBar Coffee, opening at 666 Manhattan Avenue, will be capable of making up to 50 beverages per hour and waving at customers, according to EATER NY. Robotic wait staff have become a growing trend among restaurateurs, particularly as a solution to hiring shortages and employee retention.

However, labor advocates charge that the robots are replacing minimum-wage workers who still have to pay their bills; and, there’s the question about whether they are equipped to accept cash payments in a city that prohibits cashless businesses.

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BOROUGH PRESIDENT CELEBRATES BROOKLYN’S JEWISH HERITAGE

BOROUGH HALL — The Lag b’Omer festival might have concluded, but the celebration of Jewish heritage continues in Brooklyn this Thursday when Borough President Antonio Reynoso hosts an event at Borough Hall. The May 11 celebration, running from 6-8 p.m., will pay tribute to Brooklyn’s diverse Jewish-American heritage.

Attendees might also be interested in exploring the programs of the Brooklyn Jewish Historical Initiative, which is currently holding an art contest for youths to chronicle Jewish life in the borough’s neighborhoods.

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BED-STUY RESTORATION TAPS NEW DIRECTOR TO HELM BILLIE

BED-STUY — The Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation on Tuesday announced it has selected Shadawn Smith, a 20-year professional in governmental community and arts roles with a focus on uplifting the African diaspora, as its next Executive Vice President for Arts & Culture, overseeing all arts and cultural activities on Restoration’s campus; as well as as Executive Director of The Billie Holiday Theatre, helming the recent National Medal of Arts recipient as the theater celebrates its 50th anniversary. Smith will officially assume her new role on June 1 and kick off a listening tour to understand what the Central Brooklyn arts community would like to see in Restoration’s cultural programming, ahead of the release of Restoration’s cultural and headquarters upgrade plans.

Smith previously held senior roles at NYC & Company, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the City Council and the Department of City Planning; the corporation wrote in a press statement that Smith will play a crucial role in its plans to create a modern and comprehensive performance space for African American artists and audiences centered around the historic theater.

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COUNCIL’S VERNIKOV SUED OVER TWITTER BLOCK

BAY RIDGE — Councilmember Inna Vernikov on Monday was hit with a lawsuit by an irate constituent who was allegedly blocked by Vernikov on Twitter after the constituent sent harsh criticisms in the councilmember’s direction, reports the New York Daily News – a move that has previously landed former President Trump and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in hot water with the courts, which in both instances ruled that lawmakers who block violate the first amendment by restricting citizens from viewing government communications based on political positions. The constituent, Anzhela Pinkhasov, a self-described “vocal critic” of Vernikov, claims that as Vernikov’s Tweets “involve a public interest and matters of official capacity, such as public safety, public housing, sanitation, among other topics,” the councilmember is subject to the same restrictions as Trump and Ocasio-Cortez were determined to be.

The plaintiff in the successful suit against Ocasio-Cortez, to whom she was required to issue a formal apology, was former Brooklyn Rep. Dov Hikind – a prominent supporter of Vernikov. The Daily News reports that he did not respond to a request for comment on this matter.

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DEADLY EAST NEW YORK FIRE TRACED TO ACCELERANT BEING USED TO MAKE VAPE DISPENSERS

EAST NEW YORK — The early morning fire in East New York that killed two family members and critically injured three of the children on Tuesday, May 9, is now believed to have been inadvertently ignited by a man making vape dispensers to sell, the NYPD has told the Daily News. NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig said on Wednesday that the blaze was a “terrible accident,” although the investigation continues after an accelerant was found on the scene, leading law enforcement to rule the fire initially as arson. Law enforcement later learned that the husband and father, 37-year-old Mufeed Al Haddad, was assembling homemade vape dispensers to sell; he escaped with only burns and a first-floor family evacuated safely.

The Al Haddad family, whom neighbors and witnesses said had immigrated here from Yemen, ran a corner store and are well-liked, the Daily News reported.

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POLICE SEEK SUBWAY SLASHER

NEW LOTS — Police are searching for an unknown man who on the afternoon of Saturday, May 6 approached a 34-year-old male victim on a 3 train at the Van Siclen Avenue station, engaged him in conversation and then slashed him multiple times about the hands, face, arm and head, causing heavy bleeding, before fleeing out of the train station. The sought individual is described as having a beard and glasses and was last seen wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, shorts and a purple baseball cap.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers website at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, or on Twitter @NYPDTips.

Have you seen this man? All tips given to police are strictly confidential.

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK: THE CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS RANKS LOWEST FOR INFLATION SURGE

CITYWIDE — New York City ranks among those with the smallest rise in inflation, coming in at #23, according to the latest report from the personal finance website WalletHub. Titled “Cities Where Inflation is Rising the Most,” the report tracks where inflation poses the biggest problem; to determine this, WalletHub compared 23 major Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) across two key metrics involving the Consumer Price Index, which measures inflation. The Consumer Price Index for the latest month for which data is available was compared to the CPI for two months prior and one year prior to show how inflation has changed in the short and long term.

Both the lists for highest and lowest inflation increases spanned the continental US and included Honolulu, Hawaii, which ranked 19th. Two Florida cities — Miami and Tampa (#1 and 4, respectively) — were among those with high inflation upticks.

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STATE SENATE PASSES LEGISLATION TO PROTECT VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE

STATEWIDE — A legislation package that the New York State Senate passed on Tuesday, May 9, would strengthen the rights of victims of domestic and sexual violence and strengthen protections for survivors. The legislation would require statewide housing authorities to give domestic violence survivors the same preference as other prioritized populations; allow prosecutors to access orders of protection issued in association with sealed prior domestic violence cases in the instance of re-offense; require extreme risk protection orders to be added to the statewide computerized registry of protection orders; and, expand eligibility for victims and survivors of crime to access victim compensation funds, among other provisions.

Several Brooklyn senators sponsored or supported the bills, including Julia Salazar (D/WF-18) in northern Brooklyn, Kevin Parker (D/WF-21) in central and Eastern Brooklyn, Zellnor Myrie (D-20) and Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D-23/Coney Island peninsula), and Andrew Gounardes (D-26/western Brooklyn), who announced the bill’s passage.

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SANTOS DEFIANTLY REFUSES TO DROP RE-ELECTION BID FOLLOWING ARRAIGNMENT ON FRAUD CHARGES

CENTRAL ISLIP — Rep. George Santos, now a defendant in a 13-count fraud indictment, has not only pleaded “not guilty,” but has also refused to drop his re-election bid. Santos, a first-term Republican whose district encompasses much of Nassau County and part of Queens, was arraigned Wednesday and released on $500,000 bond, after which he called the prosecution’s case against him a “witch hunt,” according to the Associated Press.

If convicted, Santos faces 20 years imprisonment, during which time he can run for public office but can’t vote for himself. According to an amended New York law, only felons not currently serving time are eligible to register for voting.

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GOLDMAN RELEASES STATEMENT ON SANTOS CHARGES

WASHINGTON — Congressman Dan Goldman late on Tuesday issued a statement regarding the news that controversial Rep. George Santos had been criminally charged by the U.S. Department of Justice, commenting that the charges appeared related to an ethics complaint submitted by Goldman previously. “As a former prosecutor, there were glaring red lights in Santos’s campaign disclosures, and I applaud the DOJ for working diligently to investigate them. Now that Santos has been indicted, it is incumbent on Speaker Kevin McCarthy to eliminate the stain of Santos on this hallowed institution by removing him from Congress immediately. We cannot wait any longer,” wrote Goldman, who has been strident in his criticism of the Long Island Republican, who was revealed to have lied extensively about his background, heritage and qualifications earlier this year.

Update: Santos on Wednesday morning surrendered himself to authorities in Islip; the charges were revealed to be “seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of money laundering, one count of theft of public funds, and two counts of making materially false statements to the House of Representatives,” as determined by a grand jury; further reporting to follow.