City & State New York 04022018

NY PENSIONS STILL FUND CIGARETTES AND GUNS WHAT GOT RIPPED FROM THE BUDGET

B E WA R E UNDERDOG

BITES! IT ’S JOHN DEFR ANCISCO’S LAST CHANCE

CIT YANDSTATENY.COM

@CIT YANDSTATENY

April 2, 2018

City & State New York

April 2, 2018

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EDITOR’S NOTE

JON LENTZ Editor-in-chief

John DeFrancisco is not likely to become the next governor of New York. The state Senate deputy majority leader would first need to persuade Republican county chairs – or perhaps their committee members – to shift their allegiance away from Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro, his fresh-faced primary rival. Then he would have to pick up the fundraising pace to compete with the $30 million campaign war chest of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the likely Democratic nominee. Finally, he would have to overcome the state’s vast Democratic voter enrollment advantage.

But as one would expect from one of Albany’s most experienced and assertive lawmakers, DeFrancisco isn’t shying away from the fight. He has attacked the governor at every opportunity, scrutinizing his spending proposals, slamming his economic development programs and seizing on the corruption conviction of a former senior aide.

Agree or disagree with his conservative views on same-sex marriage and guns, the upstate lawmaker is also a man driven by his principles – while the incumbent always seems to be testing the political winds and adapting to what’s expedient.

Which approach to governing is best? It’s up to GOP officials – and then, perhaps, the voters – to decide.

CONTENTS STATE BUDGET ... 6

What’s been pulled from the spending plan?

ENERGY ... 28

Should you sign up with power companies like Green Mountain Energy?

WINNERS & LOSERS ... 34

Who was up and who was down last week

GRAFFITI

Tagging someone’s property doesn’t make it yours ... 8

JOHN DEFRANCISCO Why no one wants him to run for governor

... 10

PUBLIC SECTOR UNIONS Could unionizing managers be the future of organized labor? ... 18

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CityAndStateNY.com

The

April 2, 2018

Latest SINGH-ING ON DE BLASIO New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio isn’t on trial, but Harendra Singh had plenty to say about him on the stand. The restaurateur testified during the corruption trial of former Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano that he bribed the mayor and funneled thousands in illegal campaign contributions through “straw donors” – and that de Blasio allegedly knew about them. But in a 2015 recording, Singh said he didn’t know anything about “any politicians,” adding that he “could make s–t up, but it would be all lies.”

STATE BUDGET SILLY SEASON

The

President Donald Trump’s administration decided to include a question on citizenship as part of the 2020 census, despite concerns that it will deter immigrants from participating and result in an undercount. The decision could have a huge impact on New York, especially New York City, which is home to more than 3 million immigrants and could lose some of the $7 billion it gets in federal funding due to undercounting the population. State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is leading a multistate lawsuit to stop the citizenship question from being included.

Slant podcast

A Q&A with developer and MTA board member

Scott Rechler

The

2020 CENSUS

C&S: Does the dynamic between Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio come into play in the MTA board?

SR: There’s always been state-city challenges between the mayors and governors of many different administrations. And I think that’s played itself through, from what I understand, at the MTA at different times. I will say, over the last number of months, we’ve seen a good consensus and teamwork of trying to figure out the problems with the New York City members and the non-New York City members, and there are the county members, of trying to address some of the challenges. At the last MTA board meeting, I put forth the concept of trying to have a dialogue and a vocal consensus in support of congestion pricing. And not only did we have members of the city vocally support it, we had members of the counties vocally support it, and I think that’s a great step.

C&S: There’s been a lot of tension over the Gateway Program. The federal spending bill included some indirect funding for it.

As the chairman of the Regional Plan Association, where are we with the program?

SR: What we received in the last budget has kept Gateway on life support. I wouldn’t say that’s something to be optimistic about, but at least we’re on life support, versus the alternative, which would be horrific. (President Donald Trump) also made it clear that he doesn’t want to fund a $30 billion project to the New York region. But if I were in this position, I would actually go out and say, let’s now negotiate on his terms a little bit, and let’s try to resize the Gateway project to a level that’s more of the $10 billion to 12 billion. It can be value engineered to a level where it makes sense and get that rolling, particularly the critical parts related to where we have the tunnel failure in the mix.

Kicker

“I’m NOT running

FOR governor, I’m running FOR mayor.

SCRATCH THAT. FLIP IT.” — gubernatorial candidate CYNTHIA NIXON, mistakenly naming the wrong office for which she is running, via the Daily News Get the kicker every morning in CITY & STATE’S FIRST READ email. Sign up at cityandstateny.com.

FELIX LIPOV, A KATZ, BLVDONE, TANIAVOLOBUEVA, LEV RADIN/SHUTTERSTOCK; CITY & STATE

As the state neared the April 1 deadline to pass a massive $168 billion budget, a coyote was found on Tuesday napping in the New York State Museum, just down the concourse from the Capitol.

The animal enthralled political onlookers, gaining the moniker “Budget Coyote” and its own Twitter account. The next day, as the state Department of Environmental Conservation released the coyote back into the wild with a clean bill of health, a state police officer arrested Daily News Albany bureau chief Ken Lovett for talking on his phone in the lobby of the Senate Chamber, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo personally showed up to #freekenlovett.

And after about a 30-minute stint behind bars, Lovett too was released and wrote a first-person account of his brush with the law.

FELIX LIPOV, A KATZ, BLVDONE, TANIAVOLOBUEVA, LEV RADIN/SHUTTERSTOCK; CITY & STATE

April 2, 2018

Andrew Cuomo’s biggest gaffes

City & State New York

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Last month, Gov. Andrew Cuomo joked that Jewish people don’t have rhythm and shot down a query about his relative lack of small-dollar campaign contributions as “small questions.” Here are some of his more memorable off-the-cuff remarks – whether they were misguided or simply misconstrued.

“I am the government.”

In 2011, his first year as governor, Cuomo was talking about his high poll numbers in a radio interview when he made a bold assertion: “I am the government.” He did acknowledge that the state Legislature is also part of the government, adding that he meant “on the executive side.”

And the point he was trying to make was that support for him personally reflected renewed support for state government. But political foes quickly pounced, the Daily News mocked up the governor as Louis XIV, and City Hall and The Capitol – City & State’s predecessor publications – even turned the sound bite into a ring tone.

“EXTREME CONSERVATIVES” In a January 2014 radio interview, Cuomo alienated many upstate New Yorkers with a broad critique of the state’s “extreme conservatives.”

“Who are they? Are they these extreme conservatives, who are right to life, pro-assault weapon, anti-gay?” he said. “Is that who they are? Because if that is who they are, and if they are the extreme conservatives, they have no place in the state of New York, because that is not who New Yorkers are.”

Among the conservative politicians and right-wing commentators who seized on the statement was Ed Cox, the state GOP chairman, who called on Cuomo to apologize to “New York’s good conservatives and Catholics” and for “poisoning New York’s politics with divisive rhetoric.”

“IT’S MY COMMISSION.” When Cuomo set up the Moreland Commission to Investigate Public Corruption, he told reporters that it would be completely independent. “Anything they want to look at, they can look at – me, the lieutenant governor, the attorney general, the comptroller, any senator, any assemblyman,” he said. “They have total ability to look at whatever they want to look at.” But when reports arose that he was meddling in its investigations, he changed his tune. “The Moreland Commission was my commission,” he said. “It’s my commission. My subpoena power, my Moreland Commission. I can appoint it, I can disband it. I appoint you, I can un-appoint you tomorrow.”

“YOU DO A DISSERVICE TO WOMEN.” In December, the governor was asked about what changes he might make after a sexual harassment lawsuit was filed against Sam Hoyt, a former state economic development official who had been appointed by Cuomo. “You have it going on in journalism, what are you going to do differently?”

Cuomo told Karen DeWitt, the public radio reporter who had posed the question. “You miss the point.

When you say it’s state government you do a disservice to women, with all due respect, even though you’re a woman. It’s not government, it’s society.”

Republicans quickly denounced what they called the governor’s “sexist rhetoric,” while others called his response a textbook case of “mansplaining.”

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CityAndStateNY.com

April 2, 2018

WHAT GOT RIPPED OUT OF THE STATE BUDGET And what’s still under consideration

TENSIONS RAN HIGH in the state Capitol – and not just because of the detention of a coyote and a rogue reporter in Albany. State lawmakers scrambled to pass a $168 billion package of budget bills before a self-imposed deadline of Friday afternoon, in anticipation of Jewish and Christian holidays over the weekend.

Some lawmakers reported that Gov. Andrew Cuomo would seek an extender bill to temporarily fund the state government until May, punting negotiations until after the religious holidays – and the April 24 legislative special elections – but few embraced that option. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said that he and Cuomo agreed to no budget extenders, with the idea that blame for a possible shutdown would fall

on Democratic state Sen. Simcha Felder and state Senate Republicans.

As lawmakers tackled the final sticking points, here are the measures that, at press time, were in – and out – of the budget.

What’s uncertain Without naming names, Heastie released a statement suggesting that budget talks were being stalled by Felder, who caucuses with the state Senate Republicans to aid their narrow majority.

Felder has called for eliminating state Education Department guidelines for private schools, such as yeshivas. Felder, whose district includes a large population of Orthodox Jews, has advocated on behalf of yeshivas, which have been criticized for

their often lax education standards.

Another sticking point was the sale of nonprofit health insurer Fidelis Care, which is run by the state’s Roman Catholic bishops, to Centene Corp. The Cuomo administration has claimed that the state is entitled to recoup much of the costs from the sale, and is now looking to capture the “excess reserves” from Fidelis.

Although lawmakers were loath to incur the wrath of the Catholic Church, funding was needed to fill a budget shortfall.

Education has also been a major issue in the budget debates, with more than $25 billion allocated to individual school districts. However, it was not yet known how that money would be divided, and school boards were hoping to avoid a

YVONNE BAUR, TIM MASTERS/SHUTTERSTOCK

By GRACE SEGERS

YVONNE BAUR, TIM MASTERS/SHUTTERSTOCK

City & State New York

April 2, 2018

budget extender bill in order to approve their budgets before April 19.

A commission that would examine whether state lawmakers should get a pay raise was also under consideration.

What’s in The budget was set to boost school aid by $600 million, double what Cuomo proposed in his January State of the State address, and increase total school funding by $1 billion.

One of the early bills related to transportation and environmental issues included a provision allowing for manufacturers of self-driving cars to have another year to test their vehicles in New York.

Other provisions included requiring lactation rooms for breastfeeding mothers in government-owned buildings and installing diaper changing stations in men’s and women’s bathrooms.

The budget was also expected to include a measure touted by Cuomo that would remove firearms from people convicted of domestic violence, despite some wariness from state Senate Republicans. A provision that would update the state’s sexual harassment policy in the workplace was also

agreed to, although some advocates said it didn’t go far enough.

Although a proposal to fully implement congestion pricing in New York City to raise revenue for the MTA stalled, lawmakers seemed set to approve a surcharge on taxis and for-hire vehicles for rides below 96th Street in Manhattan. A controversial proposal on value capture to help pay for the MTA was still under consideration. The budget was also expected to include $250 million for the New York City Housing Authority and would install an independent monitor at NYCHA as well as authorize the city to use design-build for authority projects and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.

The budget was also likely to introduce an optional payroll tax for businesses to circumvent the effects of the new federal tax law.

Legislation that made it illegal for police officers to have sex with detainees was also included in the budget bills passed by the state Legislature on Friday morning.

What’s out Cuomo’s controversial proposal to grant the state expanded power to develop the area around New York Penn Station re-

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ceived significant pushback from city lawmakers, and will reportedly not be included in the budget.

Although many of the tax hikes proposed by Cuomo in his January budget address as “revenue raisers” were rejected by state Senate Republicans, a proposed tax on opioid manufacturers was still under consideration.

The budget was also not likely to include a measure that would extend the statute of limitations in civil and criminal child sex abuse cases. Certain gun control measures pushed by Assembly Democrats will also be excluded.

Several ethics reform measures were left off the table, including addressing the socalled LLC loophole, which allows donors to circumvent campaign contribution limits by donating through multiple limited liability companies. A proposal to increase transparency into state spending on economic development projects was also likely to be left out.

Cuomo rejected a bailout request from the del Lago Resort & Casino, which asked for state funding after it made less than its projected revenues during its first year. Early voting and bail reform also dropped out.

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Our Perspective

that they are valued by the people of New York and New Jersey and will allow hard working men and women to finally support themselves and their families with their airport job. And, this action sets an example for all food service employers throughout New York and New

By Stuart Appelbaum, President, Jersey.

Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, RWDSU, UFCW “Airline catering workers at Newark Liberty International Airport earn as low as $9.75 an ens of thousands of workers at New York the Port Authority excluded thousands of hour and at LaGuardia and JFK $13.00 an City’s airports have a reason to rejoice this workers represented by RWDSU Local 1102 hour. We work hard and should be making Spring – they just secured the highest and UNITE HERE Local 100, creating a wage targeted minimum wage in the country. After gap in the workforce. The Port Authority’s action what all other airport workers make. That is what equality and fairness is all about,” said intense organizing by a coalition representing remedies this oversight for over 40,000 Shirley Drennon a RWDSU Local 1102 members from RWDSU, UNITE HERE Local 100, workers. Most importantly, it recognizes that and RWDSU Local 1102, the Port Authority over 7,600 RWDSU and UNITE HERE members member and station attendant at Flying Foods at John F. Kennedy International Airport. passed a resolution to steadily increase workers’ who work in airline catering, and airport Employers can afford to treat their base wages to $19 an hour by 2023. For these concessions and kiosks have a right to fair pay workers decently, pay them a fair wage, and workers – many of whom had been earning the for a fair day’s work. act as responsible members of their minimum wage – this will represent a dramatic The action by the Port Authority of New communities. It’s no excuse to pay workers the improvement in their jobs and their lives. The York and New Jersey – and the leadership of bare minimum simply because they work in proposal is set to be enacted at the June 28th New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and New the food service industry. And, when board meeting after a 60-day public comment Jersey Governor Phil Murphy – are to be period. Workers would start to see wage commended. Service workers at LaGuardia, JFK workers join unions, and support each other, they can increases towards the end of summer 2018. and Newark Liberty, are key to the success and demand and win the dignity Four years ago, the Port Authority raised security of our region’s airports. Raising wages wages for security officers and baggage has the potential to positively impact the lives of and respect on the job that handlers at the airports in New York due to tens of thousands of workers at these facilities. they deserve. successful efforts by SEIU local 32BJ. However, Raising the wage floor shows these workers

Equality at Last for Airport Food Service Workers

T

www.rwdsu.org

COMMENTARY 8

CityAndStateNY.com

G

ROWING UP IN New York City in the 1990s, I knew a lot of graffiti writers. But until recently, I never had heard of anyone who operates under the delusion that by scrawling a tag in spray paint on a wall that that person actually claims legal ownership of it.

Graffiti is vandalism, after all, and eventually walls are inevitably painted over, or covered up by stickers, posters or other graffiti. The risk that a property’s rightful owner would clean or paint over your tag is, like the risk of arrest, inherent to the craft.

But some graffiti artists are now so fragile and entitled that they argue tagging someone else’s premises gives them legal power

April 2, 2018

over how it is used. What’s even stranger is that these claims aren’t automatically being met with the dismissal they deserve.

Whatever the law allows, though, graffiti writers who sue anyone for using or destroying their work are ultimately damaging the future of their own art form.

To see why, you have to first know about two recent high-profile graffiti-related lawsuits in New York City. The first was a pyrrhic victory for graffiti when a group of spray can artists who had painted pieces on the famous 5Pointz building in Long Island City won a $6.7 million award in February.

U.S. District Court Judge Frederic Block ruled that by whitewashing the walls of his

own building – which he was soon tearing down anyway – owner Jerry Wolkoff had unfairly destroyed recognized works of art.

He awarded $150,000, the maximum damage allowed under the Visual Artists Rights Act, for each of the works destroyed.

Wolkoff allowed graffiti to flourish on his building for more than two decades and, as he learned, that good deed could not go unpunished. Graffiti artists say they want legal walls, but when someone is generous enough to give them one, this is how they show their appreciation.

In January, Jason Williams, a Los Angeles-based artist whose tag is Revok, sent a cease-and-desist letter to clothing retailer

City & State New York

April 2, 2018

TA G G I N G SOMEONE’S PROPERT Y D O E S N ’ T A C T U A L LY

GUILLAUME FEDERIGHI

M A K E I T YO U R S Graffiti lawsuits are making things worse for future street artists

By BEN ADLER

H&M, complaining that the company had shot a commercial in front of a mural he had painted at a Brooklyn playground. H&M, Williams’ lawyer contended, used the work without his approval and the letter threatened legal action in the absence of “an amicable settlement.” In March, H&M filed suit asking the same court in Brooklyn where the 5Pointz case was adjudicated to rule that they did not infringe on Williams’ copyright. In response, street artists and their supporters organized on social media to boycott H&M and the company quickly backed off, telling HuffPost that they were withdrawing the suit and working to reach an agreement with Williams.

But the company’s initial reaction was understandable. Williams believes H&M does not have the right to film in a public playground without first coming to an agreement with him because he had illegally painted a mural on the wall. H&M’s production company asked the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation whether it needed to pay royalties for the mural. The department responded that the mural was illegal and that they had no idea who had painted it. So Williams’ contention appears to be that any time he illegally tags a wall, merely checking with the wall’s rightful owner is inadequate.

Instead, a film company must use its crystal ball to track him down to offer him money.

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“The impact of the suit may well echo far into the future,” notes the website Artsy about the 5Pointz case. “(The judgement) gives other graffiti artists hope that they could find success bringing cases under the statute.”

The impact will indeed echo, but not only in the way the graffiti community might hope. Here is one obvious downside for the art form that the selfish practitioners who sued Wolkoff appear not to realize or care about: If Wolkoff’s punishment for allowing graffiti on his building is that he loses his rights of ownership, what landlord will ever want to follow in his footsteps?

If graffiti artists can sue a private citizen for painting over their works, and they can sue a company for filming a commercial in a public park where they painted illegally, what’s next? Will they start suing city governments for painting over their illegal works in public parks? After all, if it’s unfair to graffiti writers for their recognized work to be buffed, and being the setting for a TV commercial is undoubtedly recognition, what’s to stop Williams from suing the parks department the next time they paint over a wall that they own? Again, a perverse incentive will be created, whereby the city – like private landlords under the 5Pointz ruling – must paint over graffiti as quickly as possible to avoid it becoming a “recognized work” and liable to legal expropriation.

Will graffiti writers also sue independent filmmakers for shooting low-budget features on location, because they had the misfortune to film in front of a vandal’s painting?

It’s easy to side with scrappy artists against unsympathetic defendants like rich real estate developers and global corporations, rather than a film student or a struggling bodega owner. But the law makes no such distinction. If artists can appropriate a rich person’s property by tagging it, they can do so to a poor person just as easily.

The irony, apparently lost on many aerosol artists, is that they are constantly painting over each other’s work. “Each of the artists who went up on the walls painted over somebody else’s and they didn’t sue the guy who painted over them,” Wolkoff said. “If I had kept it up for another two years, the ones that sued me would have been gone over and not been there anymore anyway.” As Stephen K. Schuster, a native New York City photographer who has taken photos of graffiti for more than a decade, put it, “To write graffiti is to accept that it is impermanent.”

So, here’s a suggestion for artists who want to control the disposition of their work: Don’t put your paintings on other people’s walls.

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CityAndStateNY.com

April 2, 2018

THE UNDERDOG

People like state Sen. John DeFrancisco.

So why doesn’t anybody want him for governor?

Story by JUSTIN SONDEL Photography by EMILY ASSIRAN

City & State New York

April 2, 2018

SITTING IN HIS CAPITOL OFFICE, John DeFrancisco, the state Senate deputy majority leader, leaned hard to the left in his high-backed, red leather chair, right leg slung over the arm, as he reflected on the biggest challenge of his long political career.

After four decades in elected office, the Republican has set his sights on his highest ambition yet: unseating a two-term Democratic governor in a decidedly left-leaning state.

Blunt honesty, DeFrancisco said, has been the attribute that has served him best. The lawmaker, who is known for dressing down administration officials during budget hearings and needling Gov. Andrew Cuomo, hopes that the trait continues to help him as he embarks on this seemingly monumental task.

“I’ve had one rule in politics: Say what’s on my mind,” DeFrancisco said. “And if people like it, God bless them. If they don’t, they don’t have to vote for me.”

His tell-it-like-it-is style has put him at odds with more than a few Albany bigwigs, Cuomo chief among them. He has criticized the governor on his ties to recently convicted felon Joe Percoco, accused Cuomo of being a “bully” and attacked his economic development programs relentlessly, characterizing them as ineffective and vehicles for pay-to-play schemes.

“I don’t think too many people have given him money over the years that accumulated to that amount because of their love for the governor,” DeFrancisco told the New York Post in February. “I think it’s basically (for) the things that he’s done for various people.”

DEFRANCISCO’S FORTHRIGHTNESS, indeed, has proved effective. The lawmaker, who was first elected to the Syracuse Board of Education in 1977, has won every public election he has ever entered, almost all by wide margins. He hasn’t even faced an opponent, in the general or primary elections, for the last two cycles. In 2012, he routed Green Party candidate Michael Donnelly, taking 86 percent of the vote.

He beat each of his last two Democratic opponents, Carol Mulcahy in 2008 and Kathleen Joy in 2010, by almost 30 points despite a relatively even split between enrolled Republicans and Democrats in the district.

In high school and through his college years, DeFrancisco worked with his father, a house painter who stopped going to school after 10th grade. The early lessons from his dad put him on a path that would

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“A FOXHOLE, I would want If I was ever in

FIGHTING A WAR.

make him a leader, he said.

“I never held a brush until I was going into my senior year of college,” DeFrancisco said of working with his father, who assigned him menial tasks like carrying equipment, washing brushes and steaming wallpaper off walls. “He wanted to make sure that I wouldn’t like it, that I’d make sure to go to college.”

Before becoming deputy majority leader, he had chaired the state Senate’s powerful Finance and Judiciary committees. Before that, he led both the Syracuse Common Council and the city’s school board. Before that, he graduated near the top of his class at Duke University’s law school. And before that – the accomplishment he is perhaps most fond of recalling – he was captain of the Syracuse University baseball team.

For years DeFran, as he is known around the state Capitol, has been building a reputation as a tough, well-versed legislator, garnering respect from politicos across the ideological spectrum.

Stephanie Miner – the former Syracuse mayor, a rising star in progressive circles and a potential gubernatorial candidate herself – rarely agrees with her fellow Syracusan on policy. But the man has character, she said. Though she defeated his son for a spot on the Syracuse Common Council in her first bid for elected office, DeFrancisco was nothing but gracious and kind when she called his office for a consultation on state economic development programs a short time after.

“I really respected that,” said Miner, who is considering challenging Cuomo in the Democratic primary despite former “Sex and the City” star Cynthia Nixon entering the race last month.

It doesn’t hurt that DeFrancisco has a knack for making a room burst out in laughter. Miner recalled one of the diminutive jokester’s favorite punchlines whenever he would introduce her, also of a smaller stature, as a “normal-sized human being” at events.

— state Sen. JOHN BONACIC

For someone with such a long history in Albany, he is uniquely popular. Many legislators gain enemies the more time they spend there – and the more likely it becomes that they will become embroiled in scandal.

He has his rivals. There’s Cuomo, of course. State Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan has endorsed his No. 2 for the gubernatorial nomination, but while the two have not publicly traded barbs since the battle for the state Senate’s top seat, as recently as last year GOP insiders were saying that DeFrancisco was working to undermine Flanagan, according to the Daily News.

DeFrancisco has also been criticized by good government groups for taking special interest money and has been accused of voting for a bill that benefited his private law practice. And he was the man who swore in Pedro Espada Jr. as state Senate president during the infamous coup of 2009 that left the chamber paralyzed for a month.

Despite his biting criticisms and cutting wit – his subjects wilt under his questioning – DeFrancisco’s enemies are few and far between. Whether it’s longtime Republican colleagues or far-left Democrats – even members of his own party standing in the way of his latest and grandest endeavour – most insiders, at least outwardly, seem to like the guy.

Key to that respect is that, maybe saving some attacks on the governor, his critiques are policy-driven, not personal.

And if he is in your corner, DeFrancisco said, he is all in. “If I’m with ’em, I’ll run through a brick wall with them,” he said.

“If I’m not with them, they’ll at least know ahead of time.”

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CityAndStateNY.com

April 2, 2018

City & State New York

April 2, 2018

Tough, honest, loyal, intelligent – these are attributes that are used to describe him again and again. State Sen. John Bonacic, a close friend who has served in the Republican conference with him for two decades, put it this way: “If I was ever in a foxhole, I would want him next to me fighting a war.”

And, there is perhaps no greater odd couple in all of the state Legislature than DeFrancisco and state Sen. Liz Krueger.

He, a staunch upstate conservative who voted against same-sex marriage and gun control legislation, and she, a far-left Manhattan Democrat who has pushed to legalize recreational marijuana, brought together by their passion for debate and quirky sense of humor.

In 2015, they collaborated on one of the more memorable moments in recent Legislative Correspondents Association Show history, filming a skit in which Krueger pressures DeFrancisco into smoking a joint.

“I think it stands out right now because we are living in a world that is so partisan and negative,” Krueger said when asked about their relationship. Like Miner, Krueger said she disagrees with him on any number of policies, but try to get her to say a bad word about him personally and you’ll fail. “I feel that we both understand that being legislators means taking your job seriously, doing your homework, standing on principles for what you believe is in the best interest of the people of New York, being willing to go toe-to-toe with people who disagree with you,” she said.

But now, all that respect seemingly has amounted to little.

For the second time in three years, it looks as though he will be passed over in his quest to move up the Albany totem pole.

Briefly the front-runner for the GOP nod in this year’s gubernatorial race, DeFrancisco watched as county chairs from around the state organized an effort to find another candidate, eventually convincing Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro, who had previously declined to run, to re-enter the race. Over the past month, Molinaro has all but secured the party’s nomination, set to be consecrated at the May convention.

When asked about the move to block his run at the governor’s mansion by his own party, DeFrancisco rarely seemed flustered or angry. He rattled off the scripted lines from the political playbook about respecting the process.

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Despite his outward resoluteness, it must sting to have dedicated so much to an institution, only to be shoved aside.

“It’s frustrating,” he told City & State.

“But look, if I don’t get this nomination, the world’s going to continue to go on for me and I’ll go and do whatever the next thing in my life is.”

IT ALL STARTED TO COME UNDONE for DeFrancisco on a blustery February morning in suburban Buffalo. Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb dropped out of the running for the Republican nomination the night before and did not show up to a GOP gubernatorial debate, organized by the Erie County Republican Committee. Up to that point it looked like Kolb and DeFrancisco would battle it out for the Republican nomination, with the conventional wisdom pointing to DeFrancisco taking on Cuomo in the general election.

But at the debate, it felt as though all the oxygen had been sucked out of the room with no serious Republican rival to DeFrancisco remaining, Erie County Republican Party Chairman Nicholas Langworthy said.

“I took the pulse of my organization and witnessed that in person,” Langworthy said. “They were hungry for another face.

They were hungry for another candidate.”

And so, he and other county chairmen around the state began the behind-thescenes work of finding another candidate, ultimately luring Molinaro, who planned to officially kick off his candidacy on April 2.

“There’s a group of people that, for whatever reason, decided that he’s the guy,” DeFrancisco said in early March as GOP county chairs were flocking to Molinaro.

The reason, Langworthy said, boils down to a fear that DeFrancisco’s long voting record, which includes many votes tied to omnibus legislation like the budget and catchall legislative packages passed at the end of a session, termed “The Big Ugly.” That means a lot of “yes” votes on progressive policies that have been pushed through by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who will likely head the Democratic ticket for a third time this fall.

Langworthy said he admires DeFrancisco, offering praise in the same vein as most people when asked about the deputy majority leader. But in this political moment, those attributes and accomplishments can actually be a hindrance, he said.

“I think what people were hungry for was really someone who could credibly

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CityAndStateNY.com

speak as an outsider to the Albany culture,” Langworthy said. “How could someone credibly speak to the need to change the Albany culture if they’ve been on the scene for many years?”

Jeanne Zaino, a professor of political science at Iona College and longtime Capitol observer, agreed that DeFrancisco’s record could be a political albatross.

“If you’re going to argue to clean up Albany and that the governor hasn’t done what he said he was going to do when he first ran, I think it’s very tough to do if the person you put up is DeFrancisco,” Zaino said.

Molinaro, who is nearly 30 years younger than DeFrancisco, was also a state legislator, but served only five years in the Assembly minority, where he was was able to take political stands without affecting the outcome of a vote because of the Democrats’ vast majority in the chamber. In ad-

April 2, 2018

linaro offers a fresh face that gives Republicans a better chance at taking down Cuomo. “I get how Albany works,” he said. “I understand why someone sometimes in a tight majority has to vote for certain things. But, it doesn’t put you in the best position to win and draw clear differentiation from the governor and his policies.”

While that strategy may prove a winning one – several sources pointed to the effect Donald Trump’s outsider status during his campaign is having on the way the parties are approaching the election cycle – it baffles some.

DeFrancisco bristles at the idea that a former member of the state Legislature is considered an outsider by the party.

“You can spin it any way you want,” he said. “But, to me, the most important thing is: Can the person run the state of New York?”

this guy has,’” Gallivan said. “There’s nobody who can hold a candle to this guy.

He’d be hired as the CEO.” Zaino, too, questioned the growing trend of running outsiders.

“I will tell you as a political scientist and somebody who observes these things, I find it frustrating, not just in this race in New York, but in this time in U.S. politics, that we don’t value expertise and people who have put in the long hours and the many, many years,” Zaino said.

“People are scrambling to find an outsider because they’re looking for some kind of savior.”

LATE LAST MONTH, THE SENATOR was still pushing to secure the nomination, despite the long odds. He sent out a letter to every Republican committee member, which detailed his accomplishments, asking them to consider bucking

“ If we were in thePRIVATE SECTOR , we would look upon a guy like

DEFRAN MY GOD,

and say, look at the experience this guy has.’

HE’D be hired as THE CEO .”

— state Sen. PATRICK GALLIVAN

dition, he has been away from Albany for most of Cuomo’s tenure, resigning from the state Legislature to take his seat as county executive at the beginning of 2012.

For DeFrancisco, being part of a narrow majority with a governor of the opposite party has meant that he has had to vote for unpalatable items as part of legislative packages in order to keep the government functioning or as part of a deal to pass legislation he supported.

“At some point you’ve got to govern,” DeFrancisco said.

Langworthy said that while he is sympathetic to DeFrancisco’s situation, Mo-

DeFrancisco, who has committed to running through the Republican convention in May, argues that his qualifications should make him the clear choice. A leader in the Senate who also founded a highly successful law firm and spent years as a respected litigator, he said that his public service and private sector experience make him uniquely cut out to beat Cuomo.

State Sen. Patrick Gallivan, a Republican colleague, agreed, saying DeFrancisco’s resume makes him the best option for the party. “If we were in the private sector, we would look upon a guy like DeFran and say, ‘My God, look at the experience

the recommendations from their county chairs and to vote with their guts.

“I ask that you vote your conscience regardless of any pressure you may feel to support one candidate over another,” he wrote. “The party must have the best candidate – one who can go nose to nose with Andrew Cuomo and soundly defeat him.”

And to this end, his colleagues in the Senate argue, his experience as a litigator and proven record of calling Cuomo out publicly make him better suited to confront the tough-talking governor.

Bonacic was reluctant to criticize Molinaro for being kind and polite, but

R,

ce

April 2, 2018

City & State New York

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CityAndStateNY.com

April 2, 2018

questioned whether his personality would be well-suited for taking on Cuomo. “I think Molinaro is a nice guy,” he said.

“There’s no way he matches up with DeFran’s ability to debate the governor.”

As the convention draws nearer, DeFrancisco continues to travel the state

cisco and Molinaro. At last accounting, the governor had more than $30 million on hand. DeFrancisco had $792,000, money saved up over the course of many noncompetitive campaigns, while his recent note to committee members claims that total has since surpassed $1.5 million.

ging economic development programs as well as the possibility of third-term voter fatigue.

Gerald Benjamin, director of his namesake Benjamin Center at SUNY New Paltz, said that Cuomo continues to have all the advantages of incumbency – name

“ I LIKE John DeFrancisco. But I

WOULD NOT VOTE for him .” seeking support, despite his many responsibilities at the state Capitol. But even if he somehow pulls off the upset and gets committee members to go against their leadership by giving him the nomination, he still faces a herculean task.

The governor has commanding leads over all potential challengers, according to a recent Siena College Poll. Cuomo’s campaign funds dwarf those of DeFran-

Molinaro had just $100. Though both have undoubtedly raised more money since the January filing date, they won’t be able to come close to competing with Cuomo’s well-oiled fundraising machine.

Nonetheless, while the idea that Cuomo might see his massive leads slip away seems like a fantasy, he is as vulnerable as he has been since first winning the governor’s office, beset with scandals and flag-

— state Sen. LIZ KRUEGER

recognition, a massive war chest – but will not find the path to victory nearly as clear as it was four years ago.

“I still think he’s the favorite,” Benjamin said of the governor. “But it’s not going to be easy.”

It’s hard to gauge just how sincerely DeFrancisco believes in his chances and how much is bluster, given the daunting realities. But his friends and colleagues

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April 2, 2018

maintain that, true to form, his words are sincere.

“He thinks there needs to be a vigorous discussion about public policy in New York state,” Miner said. “And I agree with him. The state has serious issues.”

WALKING SWIFTLY AND STEADILY from a committee room to the floor of the state Senate, taking purposeful slugs of his flavored seltzer water along the way, DeFrancisco conveys a calm confidence.

After 26 years in the Senate, he seems as comfortable running the floor debate as he would be carrying on a conversation over the family dinner table. During a heated discussion on the Senate floor over a controversial gun legislation package being pushed by Senate Republicans, DeFrancisco rocked in his chair, oscillating between peeking at his phone and shuffling through a stack of paper as he carried out the rules of order, looking up only in brief spurts, like a litigator in a courtroom.

Despite his sometimes tough guy persona, DeFrancisco can bring levity in the most serious of situations. During the gun control debate in the wake of the school

shooting in Florida, he had a Democratic legislative aide doubled over laughing, even as voices were raised and insults lobbed from one side of the Senate floor to the other.

With the writing on the wall, DeFrancisco seems to waffle between clinging to the idea that he can pull off a miracle and using this opportunity to push Cuomo’s buttons one last time. He has made economic development projects and targeted tax breaks pushed by Cuomo, many of which have come under recent scrutiny for both pay-to-play scandals and unmet expectations, a key focus as he moves forward with what will likely be his swan song.

And, he admits, Cuomo’s advertising buying power will likely drown out any press coverage DeFrancisco is able to garner in an effort to get his message out.

“No matter what I do, with $30 million in the bank, the fact of the matter is the governor is going to be able to say whatever the hell he wants,” DeFrancisco said.

The lawmaker is all but consigned to leaving politics if his gubernatorial ambitions are stifled.

Let there be no doubt, he has every intention of running the best race he can.

“My reputation and my nature is such that I’m going to go after this as hard as anybody can possibly do it,” DeFrancisco said.

But it’s also clear that he has considered the possibility of slowing down, something that seems incompatible with his nature. He jokes that an increased presence at home might cause his wife stress.

And he doesn’t seem to be a man well-adjusted to idle time.

Life at the state Capitol without DeFrancisco would take some getting used to, his old friend Krueger said.

“I do think he will be a loss to the Senate,” she said. “I like John DeFrancisco.

But I would not vote for him.”

A presence in the grand halls of the state Capitol for a quarter century, the Albany institution is nearing the likely end of his public life in the same pragmatic manner that has garnered him respect throughout his long career. Maybe he’ll get more into fishing. He and his wife Linda would likely travel more.

“They want me, they want me,” DeFrancisco said. “If they don’t want me, I’ll survive. The world is not going to end.”

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April 2, 2018

PUBLIC UNIONS

SECTOR

City & State New York

OR

VICTOR MOUSSA, SORBIS, HOLLANDOG, A KATZ, BRAVOKILOVIDEO/SHUTTERSTOCK; PATRICK CASHIN/MTA

April 2, 2018

19

LAST YEAR, New York’s public sector unions sought to block a state constitutional convention, warning that it would give their enemies the opportunity to erode critical labor protections.

The unions won that fight, but now they’re confronting a more formidable challenge which they have little ability to counter: the U.S. Supreme Court, which is expected to make a ruling in the Janus v. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 case that would diminish their membership and reduce their clout.

Indeed, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has warned that the ruling could “effectively end public labor unions” – although experts said that claim was somewhat exaggerated.

Of course, it’s not all bad news for public sector unions, which form the backbone of a robust labor movement in New York. Politicians have rallied around unions, standing with them on Janus, supporting workers striking against Charter Communications and joining a push for higher wages for airport workers.

Cuomo has also taken steps to bolster unions, however symbolic, including allowing the deduction of labor dues from state taxes and pushing for a School of Urban and Labor Studies at CUNY in the state budget.

But the Janus ruling will likely force unions to adapt and the impact could reverberate across New York’s political landscape, where unions still play a major role.

In this special section on public sector unions, we hear from key government officials and take a look at a new union in New York City that could be a model for how the labor movement strikes back.

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CityAndStateNY.com

April 2, 2018

April 2, 2018

GET ON

City & State New York

21

BUS

THE

MTA bus managers union could be a model for growth as the labor movement faces an uncertain landscape A new

ROMAN TIRASPOLSKY, MIKEDOTTA, BRAVOKILOVIDEO/SHUTTERSTOCK

By BOB HENNELLY

FOR DECADES THE share of workers represented by labor unions has been on the decline. Today, factoring in both the public and private sectors, unions represented just 10.7 percent of the American workforce last year, down from one-third 50 years ago.

Yet, in 2017, there was a slight uptick over the previous year, with 262,000 new union members enrolled, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Drilling deeper into the data, in 25 states, including in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., the percentage of unionized workers actually increased.

None of these states matched the performance of Hawaii, which saw the percentage of unionized workers jump from 20.9 percent to 22.9 percent in just one year. Most of the growth was less than one percent of the workforce in each state.

But growth is growth. And it is only logical that the labor movement, which has been on the defensive for decades, would need to explore its own underreported success stories if it wants them replicated.

Where is this growth? Is it possible, 18 years into the 21st century, to actually create a new union?

In conversations with veteran labor leaders, what’s clear is that finding fertile ground for getting unorganized employees to take the risk of collectively organizing means thinking out of the box.

One newly formed union in New York is the United Transit Leadership Organization, which was just formally recognized in November. Mario Bucceri, the UTLO’s lead organizer and now its president, worked with the Subway Sur-

face Supervisors Association, an existing union representing Metropolitan Transportation Authority bus supervisors, which saw an opportunity to organize their bosses, the MTA’s nonrepresented superintendents and assistant general superintendents.

Bucceri and the SSSA saw that 400 managers were getting paid less and had inferior benefits than the unionized workforce they were managing.

“The biggest challenge was overcoming the widespread belief out there that the men and women in these management-type jobs could not be organized,” Subway Surface Supervisors Association President Michael Carrube told The Chief-Leader last year. “But if you are going to grow this movement, you have to organize the unorganized no matter what the job title.”

22

CityAndStateNY.com

In a recent phone interview with City & State, Bucceri said that all he needed was a 30 percent show of interest from the bargaining unit, but he ultimately got more than 55 percent.

“All we wanted was to get parity,” Bucceri said. “So you have all these supervisors that are below superintendents. Why would they move up when their average salary as a supervisor is $127,000 and you have superintendents that are making a lot less than than that, between $99,000 to $115,000?”

He noted that other benefits vary widely as well, with his newly unionized managers paying far more to receive the

April 2, 2018

UTLO members describe the impact of the pension disparity on their retirement, which can be as much as tens of thousands of dollars.

At the January public meeting, MTA board member Peter Ward, who is also president of the New York Hotel and Motel Trades Council, expressed concern over the UTLO members’ plight and volunteered to lead a committee that would chart a resolution to the long-standing pension disparity.

“What I am hearing is that we have employees who, through no fault of their own, are being treated differently than other groups of employees,” Ward said.

IS IT POSSIBLE, 18 YEARS INTO THE 21ST CENTURY, TO ACTUALLY CREATE A NEW UNION? same medical benefits. “And then there’s the commuter pass,” he said. “Supervisors, hourlies, cleaners, helpers, everybody gets a commuter pass and the managers are not entitled to that.”

And, unlike the rest of the workforce that superintendents manage, they don’t get time and a half for working more than eight hours, according to Bucceri. “They are forcing superintendents and assistant general superintendents to work more hours and not get paid for it and they are getting away with it,” he said.

Perhaps one of the longest simmering grievances for these previously unrepresented managers was the vast disparity in their pensions and the pensions of the unionized workers they managed.

Dozens of UTLO members originally worked for private bus lines that the MTA absorbed in 2005. At the time, they were told by the MTA officials that recruited them that they would be integrated into the more generous pension system with the rest of the authority’s workforce. But that never happened.

The UTLO is now pressing its case with regular appearances at the monthly public MTA board hearings, where

“And as they enter their golden years and should be retiring to a much-deserved retirement, they can’t make plans – and the plans they do make are economically disadvantageous to them (compared) to the co-workers they supervise.”

Yet, Bucceri said the UTLO is doing more than advocating for improving members’ compensation, health care and pension benefits.

“Right now, I have been involved with a lot of discipline stuff that has been going on and we have been very successful on working deals out for these guys,” Bucceri said. “They want to demote people. They want to dismiss people.

They wanted to give suspension time like 10 days, 20 days. We were able to work something out. Now you got union representation. That’s one of the biggest things, is the security of a having a union represent you when you are in a hearing.”

UTLO is also in the final stages of a drive to win the right to represent 600 managers that work in the subways.

“There are a lot of other titles I want to go after once I am done with the subways,” he said. The UTLO is also plan-

ning to make a pitch for Metro-North Railroad and Long Island Rail Road managers too.

John Samuelsen, the president of the Transport Workers Union and former head of TWU Local 100, said that the UTLO zeroing in on the vast pension disparity between its members and the rest of the MTA unionized workforce “totally exemplifies the importance of the trade union movement.” Samuelsen said a bus driver’s pension is probably $25,000 a year more than that of the superintendents that manage them.

Samuelsen said his union expects to add close to 2,000 white-collar and high-tech jobs within the MTA that are outside the stereotypical image of the blue-collar union workers portrayed in the media.

“The telecom specialists are highly educated and very technically skilled and they were given some benefits by the MTA that high-level managers had but they did not have union protection,” Samuelsen said in a phone interview.

“Yet, even though they were treated with a level of deference by the company in terms of some benefits they received, as soon as the MTA came under any financial pressure, and they could not extract concessions from the union, they turned their guns on them.”

Arthur Cheliotes, the president emeritus of Communications Workers of America Local 1180, which primarily represents municipal supervisory and administrative employees, has seen his local’s membership doubled to close to 10,000 workers over his 38-year tenure.

Part of the growth strategy included branching out into organizing nonprofits like Planned Parenthood, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Human Rights Watch.

“Generally speaking, people have an image of unions as representing factory workers when in fact probably the majority of unions today represent service workers,” Cheliotes said. “But the image out there is different.”

In the case of the nonprofits, Cheliotes said the union knew going in that the workforce was not just motivated by money. “You don’t join these nonprofits because you’re in it to make the money.

You join it because you believe in what they are trying to do,” he said. “But what we point out is, are they exploiting you because of your commitment? And the question is, what should be your reasonable compensation?”

■

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CityAndStateNY.com

April 2, 2018

PBA AND NYCHA

BOB LINN Commissioner, New York City Office of Labor Relations

C&S: Members of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association protested New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio last week. Why does the PBA always seem to give City Hall and the administration so much trouble?

BL: It’s probably incorrect to say the de Blasio administration. Since (Patrick) Lynch has been head of the union, they’ve gone to arbitration four times. Once with Giuliani, two with Bloomberg and once with us. And before that, Lynch’s predecessors went to arbitration also numerous times. A negotiated settlement with the PBA is highly unusual! In fact, we have settled most of the years of labor

contracts that we’ve had in dispute with the PBA. C&S: In March, Politico New York wrote about the generous contract for Teamsters Local 237 workers at the New York City Housing Authority, suggesting it contributes to deferred maintenance and cost overruns. Could we expect a change to their contract after the current one expires on May 29?

BL: The major issue that the city would like to move forward on is we believe we should be providing (maintenance and custodial) services to tenants on a much broader basis than just Monday to

Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. And I expect that we will be successful in this next round of bargaining.

C&S: How is your office preparing for the U.S. Supreme Court Janus ruling, which could impact the ability of unions to collect dues from members?

BL: We in New York City are firmly committed to collective bargaining. So we will be supportive of the unions to help them make sure that they have the ability to collect dues from their members and that they can participate in active labor negotiations as they do and as I think they will continue to do.

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OFFICE OF LABOR RELATIONS

24

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BOOSTING RANKS C&S: How do you think the Janus Supreme Court case will impact New York?

PA: No doubt about it, the Janus ruling will dramatically affect the unions in New York and impact their ability to gain members. I have encouraged the unions to make a push to sign up new and additional members during this time to boost their ranks and curb the potential for negative effects.

PETER ABBATE JR. Chairman, Assembly Committee on Governmental Employees ASSEMBLY

OFFICE OF LABOR RELATIONS

City & State New York

April 2, 2018

C&S: Do you think Assembly Bill 7601A, which aims to streamline the process of joining a public sector union, will pass the state Legislature, and if so, how will it affect public sector unions?

PA: As the sponsor of the bill, I certainly hope that we can pass it again in the Assembly and have the Senate join us this year in doing so. This legislation will give the public sector unions a clearer route and an easier way to sign up members, and to retain them, which they will need if the Supreme Court rules in favor of Janus.

C&S: What are other priorities for this session regarding public sector unions?

PA: As with every year, I look for ways to strengthen New York’s protections for the men and women who make our city, state and municipalities work. The Government Em-

ployees Committee usually has a large agenda that impacts so many titles and employees from across the state.

C&S: Do you think New York’s pension fund should divest from fossil fuels?

PA: The importance of our pension funds and the responsibility of managing them cannot be overstated.

New York has done a great job of keeping our fund solvent and strong, while some states have run into issues.

Divesting from anything must be done meticulously, under the guidance of the comptroller and the professionals he employs to analyze the effects.

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April 2, 2018

GUNS, TOBACCO

AND

New York’s pension funds still invest in some controversial corporate entities

By BEN JAY

IN JANUARY 2013, just weeks after the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli announced that he would freeze the state pension fund’s investments in gun manufacturers.

“The New York State Common Retirement Fund will not buy stock in companies whose primary business is manufacturing firearms for commercial sale,” DiNapoli said at the time. “After the terrible events in Newtown, it is clear that the national movement toward greater regulation of firearms manufacturers will impose significant reputational, regulatory and statutory hurdles that may affect shareholder value.”

By 2014, the fund had sold off its shares of Smith & Wesson Holding Corp., the country’s largest producer of pistols, and Sturm, Ruger & Co. Inc., America’s largest overall firearm maker.

The state comptroller has targeted other companies along similar lines.

“The Fund maintains specific ‘restricted lists’ of companies whose business practices pose an unjustifiable risk to the Fund,” a spokesman for DiNapoli wrote in an email.

“The Fund has restricted lists regarding the following issues: tobacco, private prisons,

turn for public sector retirees, giving him little leeway to let politics determine his investment strategy.

The New York State Common Retirement Fund is worth more than $200 billion, and more than 1 million current and retired state employees pay into it and depend on it.

The state comptroller is its sole trustee, and he’s legally bound to protect the interests of the fund’s participants above all else. That means the fund has to have enough money to continually pay everyone’s pension checks.

“As trustee of the New York State and Local Employees Retirement System, the Comptroller is charged with the fiduciary duty to manage and protect the retirement funds,” state Sen. Martin Golden, the chairman of the Civil Service and Pensions Committee, wrote in an email to City & State.

“The Comptroller must act as a prudent investor. Assets in the retirement funds should be acquired and sold based on that standard, not a political agenda. The future of State and Local employees is at stake.”

Because of this, the tension between political considerations and the fund’s investment portfolio can be tricky to navigate.

In March 1996, then-state Comptroller H. Carl McCall declined to divest from tobacco

gun manufacturers, Boycott/Divest/Sanction of Israel and certain lines of business in Iran and Sudan.”

But as a practical matter, divesting from controversial companies or industries is not so simple – even after high-profile incidents, such as the Florida school shooting in February that left 17 dead, increase the political pressure to do so.

Since the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012, the state’s massive retirement fund actually increased its investment in at least one gun manufacturer. Between 2016 and 2017, the fund doubled its shares of Olin Corp., a Missouri-based company that owns the Winchester brand of rifles and ammunition.

Unlike Ruger and Smith & Wesson, firearm sales make up only part of Olin’s business, and because of this, Olin is not on the state pension fund’s restricted list. While Winchester accounted for just 13 percent of Olin’s 2016 revenue, the brand is a major producer of small caliber ammunition, holding several contracts with the military, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and numerous other law enforcement agencies.

Additionally, the state comptroller is charged with ensuring a certain rate of re-

PAJOR PAWEL, ANTONIOMAS, CATALINA M/SHUTTERSTOCK

FOSSIL FUELS

PAJOR PAWEL, ANTONIOMAS, CATALINA M/SHUTTERSTOCK

City & State New York

April 2, 2018

stocks. However, he did agree to hold off on increasing the fund’s tobacco investments, citing the high potential for lawsuits against tobacco manufacturers, which could directly harm the values of those stocks and, by extension, the fund.

When running against McCall for the Democratic nomination for governor in 2002, Andrew Cuomo castigated the comptroller for not using the pension fund as a political tool and accused him of “social indifference.” (McCall eventually won the nomination before losing the general election to incumbent Gov. George Pataki.)

DiNapoli has been somewhat more willing to use the fund’s investments for political ends, including an attempt to pressure Chevron into settling a massive environmental lawsuit in Ecuador around 2011.

More recently, he has been wary of divesting from fossil fuel companies, despite pressure from Cuomo.

“As a long term investor, we prefer engagement with companies to improve behavior on environmental, social and governance issues,” DiNapoli’s spokesperson wrote.

“That’s our initial tool for reducing invest-

ment risks when we perceive a company is engaged in risky practices.”

Those overseeing New York’s pension funds also note that they don’t actually select many of the specific companies they invest in. According to DiNapoli’s spokesperson, most of the state fund’s stock purchases were made as “passive” investments, in which the fund’s managers invest in index funds that contain stocks from hundreds or thousands of different companies from a wide variety of industries. In index funds, investors do not pick and choose individual stocks to purchase.

However, the fund does work with some external managers to pick specific stocks for “active” investments aimed at outperforming the market.

While the state fund’s restricted lists do not apply to its passive investments, the restricted lists of New York City’s five pension funds do. Unlike the state comptroller, New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer isn’t the sole trustee of those funds, so he doesn’t have the same power that DiNapoli does.

However, he does work with each fund’s board to plan their investment strategies,

NEW YORK STATE COMMON RETIREMENT FUND INVESTMENTS Private prisons

Tobacco

$10,490,382

$285,976,904

$225,258,045 $7,992,463

2012

2017

Firearms

$8,583,563 $5,484,606

and can urge them engage with or divest from specific companies or industries.

“We actively engage companies to fight for responsible business practices that foster economic success. But we don’t hesitate to use every tool in the toolbox consistent with our fiduciary duties to the hundreds of thousands of city workers who count on us for a secure retirement,” Stringer wrote in an email. “That means, for us, engagement and divestment work hand in hand. And when we identify a threat to the long-term interest of the pension funds and we decide to divest, we remove the company from the entire portfolio, regardless of whether it’s in an active or passive account.”

Other pension funds are confronting the similar questions.

The New York State Teachers’ Retirement System, which is not managed by the state comptroller and is not subject to the same restrictions, held about $31.2 million worth of Olin shares and $2.6 million of Ruger shares as of Dec. 31. In December 2012, the fund held nearly $3.4 million and $3 million in Ruger and Olin, respectively, according to The Associated Press.

The Teachers’ Retirement System of the City of New York – one of the five funds overseen by the city comptroller – hasn’t held stock in Smith & Wesson or Ruger since 2012, while the New York City Employees’ Retirement System and the Teachers’ Retirement System are planning to divest of their fossil fuel holdings by 2022.

Tobacco manufacturers like Philip Morris, Altria, Reynolds American, British American Tobacco and Imperial Tobacco can all be found in the state fund’s 2017 portfolio, and its stake in Reynolds American doubled between 2015 and 2016. Likewise, the fund’s 2017 portfolio also included shares of GEO Group and CoreCivic, America’s two largest private prison operators. CoreCivic, which was known as Corrections Corporation of America until October 2016, was the subject of a high-profile investigation by Mother Jones that found widespread abuses in a privately run Louisiana prison. According to the state comptroller’s office, all of these were made as part of passive investments.

“Divestment is very complex and is a last resort when all other options are unsuccessful. Divestment requires a case-by-case economic analysis to determine whether divestment is in the best interest of the Fund,” DiNapoli’s spokesperson wrote. “Rarely has the Fund divested, and it did so only when satisfied that the Fund’s investment returns would not be negatively impacted.”

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2012

2017

2012

2017

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With reporting by Rebecca C. Lewis.

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CityAndStateNY.com

April 2, 2018

ENERGY

WANT TO PAY A BIT MORE FOR GREEN ENERGY? IT’S NOT SO SIMPLE. Welcome to the bewildering world of ESCOs.

By BEN ADLER LIVE IN ONE of New York City’s crunchy enclaves like Park Slope, Brooklyn, for long enough and you will undoubtedly be accosted by representatives from Green Mountain Energy Co. You may even see them so often that you can recognize them from afar, the moment you spot young people in dark green shirts tabling on the sidewalk or in a movie theater lobby.

Green Mountain is one of New York’s roughly 150 energy service companies, or ESCOs, from which consumers can buy electricity. Many ESCOs, including Green

Mountain, pitch their services to potential customers as a way of going green. The details vary, but the idea is always to direct your money toward cleaner or renewable energy, such as wind and solar. Sign up at the table in five minutes and, for a few extra dollars per month, you can help save the planet.

But there are so many ESCOs to choose from. How does a consumer choose? Greenwashing – the practice in which companies hawking everything from gasoline to dish soap claim their products are environmentally friendly to gain a market advan-

tage – is widespread throughout the economy. So it’s hard to imagine that ESCOs are immune, especially since it is a notoriously shady industry often marketed by sales representatives who work on commission. So how does anyone even know that the companies claiming to use clean or renewable energy actually are doing so?

The short answer is that the consumer usually doesn’t. To personally investigate the claims made about energy sourcing would be impossibly confusing for the average person. “What are you supposed to

City & State New York

BLUE PLANET STUDIO

April 2, 2018

do, go look at their Securities and Exchange Commission filing?” asks Russ Haven, general counsel at the New York Public Interest Research Group. “Trust the salesperson at the other side of the phone?”

Of course, eco-friendly certification systems, such as LEED for buildings, have sprung up in other sectors. But for the overwhelming majority of ESCOs, their public declarations about energy sourcing for each of their products are not independently verified.

The only widely respected independent certification company for ESCOs is Green-e, a program of the Center for Resource Solutions, a San Francisco-based nonprofit. Jeff Swenerton, the Center for Resource Solutions’ communications director, said the nonprofit requires a company to turn over everything from contracts with energy providers to marketing materials during its verification process, which he described as costly and “an administrative hassle” for the companies.

Since most consumers are unaware that Green-e exists, it does not necessarily pay off for a company to obtain the certification. Hence, in New York, only two companies are certified by Green-e for residential green energy products: Ambit Energy has a 100 percent wind option called Ambit Green Northeast, and Constellation NewEnergy has a 100 percent wind option called Wind Power. (Green Mountain Energy has Green-e certification for products aimed at commercial consumers, who tend to be more interested in seeing the certification. Consumers can look up online what certified programs are available in their ZIP code.)

Curious customers can, with some difficulty, find disclosures from ESCOs on the source of the power they are selling on a state website. Those who do might be surprised to discover that most of the energy sold by Green Mountain, and many other nominal sustainable energy providers, does not come from renewable sources.

That does not necessarily mean that any of them are lying. Often, when someone signs up with an ESCO, the customer does not actually buy green energy but only the renewable energy credits, or RECs, generated by green energy providers.

Here’s how it works: In North Dakota, for example, wind is ample but the energy cannot be plugged into the New York grid. So a North Dakota wind farm sells wind energy to Midwestern consumers. When it does, it creates a credit for the environmental benefit – the carbon savings compared to the standard utility energy fuel mix – that can be bought by people elsewhere. This helps

defray the extra cost of generating renewables and makes it economical for the wind farm to offer its energy to the local utility at a competitive price. Green Mountain’s most popular program in New York, for instance, offers “100% clean, renewable wind energy,” but what it actually sells is the equivalent number of RECs needed to offset the carbon footprint of your energy consumption. But the disclosures on the Public Service Commission’s website do not account for RECs. The result is that on Green Mountain’s environmental disclosure label in 2016 – the most recent year of data available – it said the company used 4 percent coal-fired power and 45 percent natural gas. Those fossil fuels are the two major sources of carbon emissions from electricity generation.

Even the low-carbon energy provided by Green Mountain overwhelmingly comes from sources like nuclear and hydroelec-

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The Public Service Commission, which regulates ESCOs, has been very slow to address deceptive ESCO sales practices. It did pass a rule in 2016 preventing ESCOs from selling to low-income consumers, in order to protect those customers from being misled and hit with an unexpectedly big bill. The Public Service Commission said it may eventually take some similar regulatory action regarding clean energy claims. “The provision of renewable energy products by ESCOs is one of many issues that we have expressed concern about as part of our ongoing investigation into ESCOs,” commission spokesman James Denn wrote in an emailed statement. “We have prohibited ESCOs from serving low-income customers unless they can guarantee a savings, and we are reviewing the residential and small business market to make sure customers get

PLENTY OF CONSUMERS ARE PROBABLY UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT WHEN THEY SIGN UP FOR A PLAN THEY ARE ACTUALLY BUYING GREEN ENERGY ITSELF. tric power that face widespread opposition among environmentalists due to their other ecological downsides.

Some ESCOs offer consumers the opportunity to pay a premium for clean energy, even down to the level of choosing a particular solar provider. This is perhaps a distinction without a difference, since even that energy goes into the consumer’s local utility mix. Technically, it cannot be directed from one power plant to one particular house.

Generally speaking, environmentalists view the REC system as a legitimate means of supporting renewable energy expansion.

Plenty of consumers, however, are probably under the impression that when they sign up for a REC-based plan, they are actually buying green energy itself.

And who is even checking the RECs to make sure they are only being sold once?

Not anyone, necessarily. Companies can attempt to check on it themselves, of course.

Green Mountain engages an outside auditor and posts the clean bill of health on its website. But many companies may not even do that. And how does one know whether to believe the company’s auditor?

the services and products as advertised, including renewable energy offerings.”

Russ Haven, the New York Public Interest Research Group general counsel, said that until the commission takes action, environmentally conscious consumers should make sure any green energy product is Green-e certified. But, he argued, verification should be taken over by the government. “We think the PSC can do it administratively and, in fact, should have,” Haven said, referring to the 2016 rule. The PSC, Haven said, should provide an online marketplace, similar to an Obamacare health insurance exchange, in which consumers can comparison shop between the different ESCOs and view government-issued report cards on whether the companies are living up to their claims.

For its part, Green Mountain Senior Manager for Product Innovation Sam Telleen said, “While not all of our products are Green-e branded, every single one goes through a Green-e process.” Swenerton, however, offered a different take on any products that have not been certified by Green-e: “Buyer beware.”

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CityAndStateNY.com / PUBLIC and LEGAL NOTICES

April 2, 2018 For more info.

Call 212-268-0442, ext. 2039 Notice of Formation of 174-176 1st Avenue Owner LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/14/18. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: c/o Highpoint Property Group, 20 West 22nd St., Ste. 1601, NY, NY 10010, Attn: Drew Popkin.

Purpose: any lawful activities.

Notice of Formation of 84 2nd Avenue Owner LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/14/18. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: c/o Highpoint Property Group, 20 West 22nd St., Ste. 1601, NY, NY 10010, Attn: Drew Popkin.

Purpose: any lawful activities.

Notice of Qualification of TruSight Solutions LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/20/18.

Office location: NY County.

LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 06/26/17. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC, 237 Park Ave., 21st Fl., NY, NY 10016.

DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808.

Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, Div. of Corps., John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St. - Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of EVERSEPT GP II, LLC. Authority filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 3/16/18. Office location: New York County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 11/30/16. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 444 Madison Ave, Fl. 22, NY, NY 10022. DE address of LLC: 1013 Centre Rd, Ste 403-B, Wilmington, DE 19805.

Cert. of Formation filed with DE Secy of State, 401 Federal St, Ste 4, Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of formation of FUTURE: LOCAL LLC, name amended to MODERN COMMONS, LLC. Arts of Org filed with Secy of State of NY (SSNY) on 3/7/18.

Office location: NY County.

SSNY designated as agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail copy of process against LLC to: 610 W. 110th St., Ste. 3C, NY, NY 10025. Purpose: any lawful act.

Application for Authority of KK Style & Associates, LLC filed with the Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 2/20/18. Formed in NJ on 2/9/18. Office loc.: NY County. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The address SSNY shall mail copy of process to 535 W. 23rd St., SPH 1P, New York, NY 10011. The office address required to be maintained in NJ is 1255 River Rd., Edgewater, NJ 07020. Cert. of formation filed with Elizabeth Maher Muoio, Acting State Treas., 33 W. State St., Trenton, NJ 08608.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of CDIC Holdings LLC. Authority filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 3/6/18. Office location: New York County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 2/28/18.

SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to: 240 Riverside Blvd, 17B, NY, NY 10069. DE address of LLC: 1013 Centre Rd, Ste 403-B, Wilmington, DE 19805. Cert. of Formation filed with DE Secy of State, 401 Federal St, Ste 4, Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of Counter Culture Hospitality Group, LLC filed with SSNY on 9/18/17.

Office: NY County. SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to LLC: 1710 First Ave, #121, 10128. Purpose: any lawful act or activity.

April 2, 2018 Notice of Formation of Popular Brands and Company LLC. Arts of Org. filed with Secy of State of NY (SSNY) 12/27/17.

Office loc: NY County. SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Jameel Lancaster, 380 Saratoga Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11233.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of Valibac, LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY 3/7/18. Office loc: Westchester County. S S N Y designated as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Isaac Chestnut, 10 Stratford Rd, White Plains, NY 10603. Purpose: any lawful act or activity.

Notice of Formation of Agorai LLC. Arts of Org. filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 2/27/18. Office location: New York County. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 187 Wolf Rd, Ste 101, Albany, NY 12205.

The name and address of the Reg. Agent is Business Filings Incorporated, 187 Wolf Rd, Ste 101, Albany, NY 12205.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of 155 East 38 Holding LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with NY Dept. of State on 1/11/18. Office location: NY County. Sec. of State designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: 560 5th Ave., NY, NY 10036, principal business address.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of ROSE URBAN FUTURES LLC. Arts of Org. filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 3/2/18. Office location: New York County.

SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 44 W. 28th St, Fl. 8, NY, NY 10001.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of CS ADJACENT INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LP Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/01/18. Office location: NY County. LP formed in Delaware (DE) on 02/09/18.

Duration of LP is Perpetual.

SSNY designated as agent of LP upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to c/o CapitalSpring, 575 Lexington Ave., NY, NY 10022. Name and addr. of each general partner are available from SSNY. DE addr. of LP: Corporation Service Co., 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of LP filed with Secy. of State, State of DE, Dept. of State, Townsend Bldg., Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of EMERGING VARIANT PARTNERS A GP LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/16/18.

Office location: NY County.

LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 02/12/18. Princ. office of LLC: 3 Columbus Circle, 15th Fl., NY, NY 10019. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Attn: Santiago Jariton at the princ. office of the LLC. DE addr. of LLC: c/o Corporation Service Co., 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808.

Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State of the State of DE, Div. of Corps., John G. Townsend Bldg., Federal & Duke of York Sts., Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of STERLING TECHNOLOGY CONSULTANCY LLC. Authority filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 3/6/18. Office location: New York County.

LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 12/8/15. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 1831 Delaware Ave, Wilmington, DE 19806. DE address of LLC: 3 Tanglewood Ln., Newark, DE 19711. Cert. of Formation filed with DE Secy of State, 401 Federal St, Ste 4, Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of 155 East 38 Owner, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with NY Dept. of State on 1/11/18. Office location: NY County. Sec. of State designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: 560 5th Ave., NY, NY 10036, principal business address.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of KRP CREATIVE LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/07/18.

Office location: NY County.

Princ. office of LLC: PO Box 20011, NY, NY 10011. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the addr. of its princ. office. Purpose: Fashion industry consulting.

Articles of Organization for Suede Collective, LLC filed with SSNY; 5/12/17. Office: NY County. SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to LLC: 60 W 57th St, 2A, NY, NY 10019.

Purpose: any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of Madison Two LLC. Arts of Org. filed with New York Secy of State (SSNY) on 2/26/18. Office location: New York County. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 392 Long Hill Dr., Short Hills, NJ 07078.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of Niniola LLC. Arts. Of Org. filed with SSNY 1/4/18. Office loc: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Ibrahim Bawa, 433 Marion St, 2R, Brooklyn, NY 11233. Purpose: any lawful act or activity.

Notice of Qualification of REEC 325 East 118th Street LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/28/18. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 10/07/15.

SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to c/o Brandon Miller, Real Estate Equities, 18 E. 48th St., Penthouse, NY, NY 10017. DE addr. of LLC: c/o Corporation Service Co., 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with State of DE, Secy. of State, 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of 321 TACO LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 07/28/17. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Hemang Champaneria, 57 Robin Hood Rd., Clifton, NJ 07013.

Purpose: any lawful activities.

PRIETO, LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY 08/10/17. Office loc: NY County. SSNY designated agent upon whom process against LLC may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to: US Corp. Agents, Inc. 7014 13th Ave., #202, BK. NY 11228.

Purpose: Any Lawful Act. Notice of Formation of COLOR&CO NYC LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/12/18.

Office location: NY County.

Princ. office of LLC: 10 Hudson Yards, NY, NY 10001.

SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT A LICENSE, NUMBER 1307996 FOR AN “EATING PLACE BEER LICENSE” HAS BEEN APPLIED FOR

BY THE UNDERSIGNED TO SERVE BEER AT RETAIL IN THE DELI GROCERY/CAFE UNDER THE ALCOHOL BEVERAGE CONTROL LAW AT LUCERO FOOD CORP. D/B/A JOE JUNIOR RESTAURANT, LOCATED AT 167 3RD AVENUE, NEW YORK, NY 10003.

NEW YORK COUNTY, FOR ON PREMISES CONSUMPTION. LUCERO FOOD CORP. D/B/A JOE JUNIOR RESTAURANT

Notice of qualification of Scribner Management, LLC. Authority filed w/ Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 2/16/18. Organized in Alaska on 12/30/17. NY Off. loc.: New York Cnty. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 1231 Nrthn.

Lights Blvd. #911, Anchorage, AK 99503, which is also the address to be maintained in Alaska. Arts. of Org. filed w/ Alaska Sec. of State, PO Box 110806, Juneau, AK 99811.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of All City ARCS LLC. Authority filed with NY Dept. of State on 12/14/17.

Office location: NY County.

Princ. bus. addr.: 420 W. 45th St., 6th Fl., NY, NY 10036. LLC formed in DE on 12/12/17. NY Sec. of State designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: Cogency Global Inc. (CGI), 10 E. 40th St., 10th Fl., NY, NY 10016, regd. agent upon whom process may be served. DE addr. of LLC: CGI, 850 New Burton Rd., Ste. 201, Dover, DE 19904. Cert. of Form. filed with DE Sec. of State, 401 Federal St., Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: any lawful activity Notice of Qualification of Chalkstream GP III, LLC. Authority filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 3/16/18. Office location: New York County.

LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 3/9/18. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 444 Madison Ave, Fl. 22, NY, NY 10022. DE address of LLC: 1013 Centre Rd, Ste 403-B, Wilmington, DE 19805.

Cert. of Formation filed with DE Secy of State, 401 Federal St, Ste 4, Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of L’Officiel Fund LLC. Arts of Org. filed with New York Secy of State (SSNY) on 3/16/18. Office location: New York County.

SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 390 Park Ave, Fl. 7, NY, NY 10022.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of ELEMENT SOLUTIONS LLC. Authority filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 2/20/18.

Office location: New York County. LLC formed in Illinois (IL) on 10/22/03. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 111 8th Ave, NY, NY 10011. IL address of LLC: 651 W. Washington Blvd, Ste 201, Chicago, IL 60661. Cert. of Formation filed with IL Secy of State, 501 S. Second St, Rm 350, Springfield, IL 62756. The name and address of the Reg. Agent is CT Corporation System, 111 8th Ave, NY, NY 10011.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

PUBLIC and LEGAL NOTICES / CityAndStateNY.com

April 2, 2018 Notice of Formation of I GET AROUND, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/06/17. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Marcia Regen, c/o Make It Nice Hospitality, Eleven Madison Ave., Ground Fl., NY, NY 10010.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of TLI Bedrock, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/28/18. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o the LLC, Attn: President, 708 Third Ave., Number 28, NY, NY 10017.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF Stuart Altman Realty LLC. Arts of Org filed with Secy of State of NY (SSNY) 2/23/2018.

Office loc: NY County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to LLC: Stuart Altman, 2 Allen St, Suite 3G, NY, NY 10002. Purpose: any lawful act or activity.

Notice of Formation of WF Industrial I LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with NY Dept. of State on 2/20/18. Office location: NY County. Princ. bus. addr.: 80 8th Ave., Ste. 1602, NY, NY 10011.

Sec. of State designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail process to: Cogency Global Inc., 10 E. 40th St., 10th Fl., NY, NY 10016.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of CZOE WASHINGTON PL, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/28/18. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 121 Washington Pl., NY, NY 10014. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the addr. of its princ. office.

Purpose: To own and manage real estate in New York.

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF The Law Office of Stuart Altman PLLC. Arts of Org filed with Secy of State of NY (SSNY) 8/6/2002. Office loc: NY County.

SSNY designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to PLLC: Stuart Altman, 2 Allen St, Suite 3G, NY, NY 10002. Purpose: any lawful act or activity.

Notice of Formation of Tiro Digital, LLC filed with SSNY 11/21/17. Office: NY County.

SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to LLC: 340 E 23rd St, 9A, NY, NY . Purpose: any lawful act or activity.

Notice of Qualification of The Lilia New York LLC. Authority filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 3/1/18. Office location: New York County.

LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 2/26/18. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 111 8th Ave, NY, NY 10011. DE address of LLC: 1209 Orange St, Wilmington, DE 19801. Cert. of Formation filed with DE Secy of State, 401 Federal St, Ste 4, Dover, DE 19901. The name and address of the Reg. Agent is CT Corporation System, 111 8th Ave, NY, NY 10011.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of Four Hudson Square LLC. Authority filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 2/28/18. Office location: New York County.

LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 2/26/17. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 111 8th Ave, NY, NY 10011. DE address of LLC: 1209 Orange St, Wilmington, DE 19801. Cert. of Formation filed with DE Secy of State, 401 Federal St, Ste 4, Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of 215 N 10 Partners LLC. Authority filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 8/8/17. Office location: New York County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 8/4/17. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 148 Madison Ave, Fl. 16, NY, NY 10016. DE address of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808.

Cert. of Formation filed with DE Secy of State, 401 Federal St, Ste 4, Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

CITYANDSTATENY.COM PUBLIC NOTICE New York City Dept. of Consumer Affairs Notice of Public Hearing Notice is hereby given, pursuant to law, that the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs will hold a public hearing on WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25TH, 2018 at 2:00 P.M. at 42 Broadway, 5th floor, on a petition for WILLYBURGER, INC to ESTABLISH, MAINTAIN, AND OPERATE an unenclosed sidewalk cafe at 373 GRAHAM AVE in the Borough of Brooklyn for a term of two years.

REQUEST FOR COPIES OF THE REVOCABLE CONSENT AGREEMENT MAY BE ADDRESSED TO: DEPT. OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, 42 BROADWAY, NEW YORK, NY 10004 ATTN: FOIL OFFICER

Notice of Qualification of WMQS GLOBAL MANAGEMENT LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/09/18.

Office location: NY County.

LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 03/06/18. Princ. office of LLC: c/o Millennium Management LLC, 666 Fifth Ave., 8th Fl., NY, NY 10103. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co. (CSC), 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: c/o CSC, 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with DE Secy. of State - Div. of Corps., John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St. - Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: Any lawful activity .

PUBLIC NOTICE New York City Dept. of Consumer Affairs Notice of Public Hearing Notice is hereby given, pursuant to law, that the NYC Department of Consumer Affairs will hold a public hearing on WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25TH, 2018 at 2:00 P.M. at 42 Broadway, 5th floor, on a petition for COLIEMORE INC to ESTABLISH, MAINTAIN, AND OPERATE an unenclosed sidewalk cafe at 1640 2ND AVE in the Borough of Manhattan for a term of two years.

REQUEST FOR COPIES OF THE REVOCABLE CONSENT AGREEMENT MAY BE ADDRESSED TO: DEPT. OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, 42 BROADWAY, NEW YORK, NY 10004 ATTN: FOIL OFFICER Notice of Qualification of GPIF WANN MEZZ BORROWER LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/27/18. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 03/05/18.

Princ. office of LLC: 777 Main St., Ste. 2260, Fort Worth, TX 76102. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207-2543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808.

Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, Div. of Corps., John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St. - Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: Holding company.

Notice of Formation of Jones Tech, LLC filed with SSNY 2/20/18. Office: Westchester County. SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to: Legalinc Corporate Services Inc, 1967 Wehrle Dr, Ste 1 #086, Buffalo, NY 14221. Purpose: any lawful act or activity.

PUBLIC NOTICE AT&T proposes to modify an existing facility (new tip heights 263’) on the building at 80 Lafayette St, New York, NY (20180338). Interested parties may contact Scott Horn (856809-1202) (1012 Industrial Dr., West Berlin, NJ 08091) with comments regarding potential effects on historic properties.

PUBLIC NOTICE AT&T proposes to modify an existing facility (new tip heights 69’, 73’, 75’ & 80’) on the building at 136 Hicks Street, Brooklyn, NY (20180341). Interested parties may contact Scott Horn (856809-1202) (1012 Industrial Dr., West Berlin, NJ 08091) with comments regarding potential effects on historic properties.

Notice of Formation of Dolan Software Company LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy of State (SSNY) 1/24/18. Office loc: NY County. SSNY designated agent upon whom process against LLC may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to: LLC, Box 4924, St Paul, MN 55101. Purpose: Any lawful act.

Notice of Qualification of MTG HOLDINGS LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/15/18.

Office location: NY County.

LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 03/07/18. Princ. office of LLC: 23 Ludlow St., NY, NY 10002. NYS fictitious name: MTG STRATEGIC HOLDINGS LLC. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC, Alexander Olch at the princ. office of the LLC. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St. Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Brenda Smith + Associates, LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with SSNY 1/16/2018. Office loc: NY County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process against LLC may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, Attn: Brenda Smith, 487 Amsterdam Ave, #2S, NY, NY 10024.

Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

Notice of Auction Sale is herein given that Access Self Storage of Long Island City located at 29-00 Review Avenue, Long Island City, N.Y. 11101 will take place on WWW.STORAGETREASURES. COM Sale by competitive bidding starting on April 6, 2018 and end on April 19, 2018 at 12:00 p.m. to satisfy unpaid rent and charges on the following accounts: Contents of rooms generally contain misc.

Household goods and other effects. #428Tommy Seaton, #816Angel Crutchfield, #2114- Max Corsillo LLC, #2448- Avery Bock, #3121Benjamin Wollner, #3703- John Campbell, #4319-1- Quinsessa Harrison, #6108Jignesh Patel, #6229- George Buzhar.

The contents of each unit will be sold as a lot and all items must be removed from the premises within 72 hours. Owners may redeem their goods by paying all rent and charges due at any time before the sale.

Notice of Formation of Oscar D. Rodriguez MD, PLLC. Arts of Org. filed with New York Secy of State (SSNY) on 2/27/18. Office location: New York County.

SSNY is designated as agent of PLLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 25 Robert Pitt Dr., Ste 204, Monsey, NY 10952. Purpose: Medicine.

Notice of Qualification of AVALON COLUMBUS CIRCLE RETAIL, LLC. Authority filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 3/14/18. Office location: New York County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 3/12/18.

SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to: 111 8th Ave, NY, NY 10011. DE address of LLC: 1209 Orange St, Wilmington, DE 19801. Cert. of Formation filed with DE Secy of State, 401 Federal St, Ste 4, Dover, DE 19901. The name and address of the Reg. Agent is CT Corporation System, 111 8th Ave, NY, NY 10011.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Illumin8 Agency, LLC Arts of Org filed with SSNY 02/02/2018.

Office loc: NY County. SSNY designated agent upon whom process against LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: US Corp Agents, Inc, 7014 13th Ave, Ste 202 Brooklyn NY 11228.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of P ONE THREE PRODUCTIONS LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/09/18.

Office location: NY County.

SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to: c/o Paracorp Incorporated, 2804 Gateway Oaks Dr. #100, Sacramento, CA 95833-3509.

Purpose: any lawful activities.

Notice of Formation of Khepri Capital, LLC. Arts of Org. filed with New York Secy of State (SSNY) on 3/5/18. Office location: New York County.

SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 452 5th Ave, Fl. 23, NY, NY 10018.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

STITES LAW, LLP filed with SSNY 12/18/2017. Office loc: NY County. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process against LLP may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to: Stites Law LLP, Attn: Steven L. Stites, Esq., 150 Broadway, St. 512, NY, NY 10038.

Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

31

Notice of Qualification of NKSFB, LLC. Authority filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 3/12/18. Office location: New York County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 2/12/18.

SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to: 111 8th Ave, NY, NY 10011. DE address of LLC: 1209 Orange St, Wilmington, DE 19801. Cert. of Formation filed with DE Secy of State, 401 Federal St, Ste 4, Dover, DE 19901. The name and address of the Reg. Agent is CT Corporation System, 111 8th Ave, NY, NY 10011.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

App. for Auth. (LP) ATL II Advisor LP. App. for Auth. filed w/ Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 3/12/18. LP formed in DE on 2/21/18. Office Location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LP upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o The Partnership, 320 Park Ave., #1600, NY, NY 10022, registered agent upon whom process may be served.

Purpose: Any lawful act/activity.

Notice of Qualification of Antin Infrastructure Partners US LLC. Authority filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 2/21/18. Office location: New York County.

LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 2/6/18. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 374 rue Saint-Honore, 75001 Paris (France). DE address of LLC: 1209 Orange St, Wilmington, DE 19801.

Cert. of Formation filed with DE Secy of State, 401 Federal St, Ste 4, Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of CAPTAIN DONS, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/23/18.

Office location: NY County.

LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 02/21/17. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, Attn: Marjorie J. Friday, 1285 Ave. of the Americas, NY, NY 10019-6064. DE addr. of LLC: Corporation Service Co., 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State, DE Div. of Corps., John G. Townsend Bldg., 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

PUBLIC NOTICE AT&T proposes to modify an existing facility (new tip heights 56’) on the building at 101 Van Buren St, Brooklyn, NY (20180335). Interested parties may contact Scott Horn (856809-1202) (1012 Industrial Dr., West Berlin, NJ 08091) with comments regarding potential effects on historic properties.

32

CityAndStateNY.com / PUBLIC and LEGAL NOTICES

Notice of Formation of Klug Law Firm PLLC. Arts of Org. filed with New York Secy of State (SSNY) on 1/12/18. Office location: New York County.

SSNY is designated as agent of PLLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 585 Stewart Ave, Ste 302, Garden City, NY 11530. Purpose: law.

Notice of Formation of Anthony Lujack MD, PLLC. Arts of Org. filed with New York Secy of State (SSNY) on 2/27/18. Office location: New York County.

SSNY is designated as agent of PLLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 25 Robert Pitt Dr., Ste 204, Monsey, NY 10952. Purpose: Medicine.

Notice of Formation of Chatham Square Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, PLLC. Arts of Org. filed with New York Secy of State (SSNY) on 3/7/18. Office location: New York County.

SSNY is designated as agent of PLLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 2-26 50th Ave, Apt #3D/E, Long Isl. City, NY, 11101. Purpose: Dentistry.

Notice of Formation of MORITZ, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/21/17. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 54 Riverside Dr., NY, NY 10024.

SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the addr. of its princ. office.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of T. ELENTENY HOLDINGS, LLC. Arts of Org. filed with New York Secy of State (SSNY) on 2/5/10. Office location: New York County. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 285 W. Broadway, Rm 500, NY, NY, 10013.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Application for Authority of Technical Adventures LLC filed with the Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 2/13/18. Formed in NJ on 6/30/04. Office loc.: NY County. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. The address SSNY shall mail copy of process to 210 Haven Ave., Ste. 101, Scotch Plains, NJ 07076. The office address required to be maintained in NJ is 14 Chestnut St., Stirling, NJ 07980. Cert. of formation filed with Ford M. Scudder, Acting State Treas., 33 W. State St., Trenton, NJ 08608.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

APP FOR AUTH for SEARCH22 LLC App for Auth filed with SSNY 1/22/2018 LLC. Registered in Delaware on 9/28/2017 Off. Loc.:New York Co. SSNY designated as agent upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY to mail copy of process to The LLC, 200 East 28th St., 2F, New York, NY 10016.

Purpose: Any lawful act or activity.

Notice of Formation of TRIUMPH TUTORS LLC. Arts of Org. filed with New York Secy of State (SSNY) on 2/15/18. Office location: New York County.

SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 50 E. 8th St, #2T, NY, NY 10003.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of 257-263 W 34th STREET LLC. Arts of Org. filed with New York Secy of State (SSNY) on 2/23/18. Office location: New York County.

SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to: 7 Mercer St, Fl. 2, NY, NY 10013.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of NEW POLY ENTERPRISES LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/21/18.

Office location: NY County.

SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to Olivia Shao, 175 W. 12th St., Apt. 6-F, NY, NY 10011.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of Kimberly Chu, LCSW, PLLC filed with SSNY 12/15/17.

Office: NY County. SSNY designated agent of PLLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to PLLC: 295 Central Park W., 1A, NY, NY 10024 . Purpose: any lawful act or activity.

Notice is hereby given a license, number 1309221 for on-premises Liquor has been applied for by the undersigned to sell liquor at retail in a Restaurant under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Law at 566 Tenth Avenue, New York, NY 10036 for on premises consumption.

Green Fig Express, LLC dba Green Fig Express PUBLIC NOTICE AT&T proposes to modify an existing facility (new tip heights 53’) on the building at 2525 Beverly Rd, Brooklyn, NY (20180301). Interested parties may contact Scott Horn (856809-1202) (1012 Industrial Dr., West Berlin, NJ 08091) with comments regarding potential effects on historic properties.

CITYANDSTATENY.COM

Notice of formation of IMAGE CASCADE PUBLISHING, LLC. Arts of Org filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) 12/26/17 Office loc: NY county. SSNY designated agent upon whom process may be served and shall mail a copy of process against LLC to principal business addr: 420 Lexington Ave. Ste. 300 NY, NY, 10170.

Purpose: any lawful act.

April 2, 2018 PUBLIC NOTICE AT&T proposes to modify an existing facility (new tip heights 231’, 324’ & 354’) on the building at 125 Park Ave, New York, NY (20180210). Interested parties may contact Scott Horn (856-809-1202) (1012 Industrial Dr., West Berlin, NJ 08091) with comments regarding potential effects on historic properties.

Notice of Qualification of Brickman Manager VII, LLC. Authority filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 10/31/17.

Office location: New York County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 6/30/17.

SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to: 111 8th Ave, NY, NY 10011. DE address of LLC: 1209 Orange St, Wilmington, DE 19801.

Cert. of Formation filed with DE Secy of State, 401 Federal St, Ste 4, Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of AGR X LLC. Authority filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 2/9/18. Office location: New York County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 2/5/18. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 245 Park Ave, Fl. 26, NY, NY 10167. DE address of LLC: 1209 Orange St, Wilmington, DE 19801.

Cert. of Formation filed with DE Secy of State, 401 Federal St, Ste 4, Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

SCHOEN SURVEY RESEARCH LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 01/31/2018. Office loc: NY County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 111 Park Avenue Apt 6A, NY, NY 10128.

Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

Notice of Qualification of Domain Commodity Technologies LLC. Authority filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 12/21/17. Office location: New York County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 12/8/17. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 459 W. Broadway, Apt 4S, NY, NY 10012. DE address of LLC: 1013 Centre Rd, Ste 403-B, Wilmington, DE 19805.

Cert. of Formation filed with DE Secy of State, 401 Federal St, Ste 4, Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of Ruby J LLC. Arts of Org. filed with New York Secy of State (SSNY) on 2/20/18. Office location: New York County. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 589 8th Ave, Fl. 10, NY, NY 10018.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of DHEHF LLC. Arts of Org. filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 2/20/18. O f f i c e location: New York County.

SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to: 1122 Franklin Ave, Ste 406, Garden City, NY 11530.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of 150 Wooster PH LLC. Authority filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 3/14/18. Office location: New York County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 12/4/17.

SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to: 111 8th Ave, NY, NY 10011. DE address of LLC: 1209 Orange St, Wilmington, DE 19801. Cert. of Formation filed with DE Secy of State, 401 Federal St, Ste 4, Dover, DE 19901. The name and address of the Reg. Agent is CT Corporation System, 111 8th Ave, NY, NY 10011.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of 1515 Broad Street, LLC. Authority filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 12/20/17. Office location: New York County.

LLC formed in New Jersey (NJ) on 3/24/03. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 22 Maple Ave, Morristown, NJ 07960.

NJ address of LLC: 22 Maple Ave, Morristown, NJ 07960.

Cert. of Formation filed with NJ Secy of State, 33 W. State St, Fl. 5 Trenton, NJ 08608.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of Hampshire Partners Fund VI, L.P.. Authority filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 12/20/17. Office location: New York County. LP formed in Delaware (DE) on 4/9/03. SSNY is designated as agent of LP upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 22 Maple Ave, Morristown, NJ 07960. DE address of LP: 160 Greentree Dr., Ste 101, Dover, DE 19904.

List of names and addresses of all general partners available from SSNY. Cert. of Limited Partnership filed with DE Secy of State, 401 Federal St, Ste 4, Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of Film Expo Group LLC. Authority filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 2/28/18. Office location: New York County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 10/1/15.

SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 111 8th Ave, NY, NY 10011. DE address of LLC: 3500 S. DuPont Hwy, Dover, DE 19901. Cert. of Formation filed with DE Secy of State, 401 Federal St, Ste 4, Dover, DE 19901. The name and address of the Reg. Agent is CT Corporation System, 111 8th Ave, NY, NY 10011.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of KASPICK & COMPANY, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/07/18. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 12/17/97.

Princ. office of LLC: 730 Third Ave., 12th Fl., NY, NY 10017.

SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 122072543. DE addr. of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808. Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State of the State of DE, Div. of Corps., John G. Townsend Bldg. 401 Federal St., Ste. 4, Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Qual. of SOLAIA, LLC, Authority filed with the SSNY on 06/16/2017. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in DE on 08/26/2016. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: C/O Sleep Studio, LLC 295 Fifth Avenue, Ste 1112, NY, NY 10016. Address required to be maintained in DE: 1209 Orange St. Wilmington DE 19801. Cert of Formation filed with DE Div. of Corps, 401 Federal St., Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

Notice of Qualification of ASML US, LLC. Authority filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 1/9/18. Office location: New York County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 9/28/00.

SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to: 111 8th Ave, NY, NY 10011. DE address of LLC: 1209 Orange St, Wilmington, DE 19801. Cert. of Formation filed with DE Secy of State, 401 Federal St, Ste 4, Dover, DE 19901. The name and address of the Reg. Agent is CT Corporation System, 111 8th Ave, NY, NY 10011.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of Craft Bio LLC. Arts of Org. filed with New York Secy of State (SSNY) on 2/14/18. Office location: New York County. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 25 Robert Pitt Dr., Ste 204, Monsey, NY 10952.

The name and address of the Reg. Agent is Vcorp Agent Services, Inc., 25 Robert Pitt Dr., Ste 204, Monsey, NY 10952.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of Bloom Dermatology, PLLC. Arts of Org. filed with New York Secy of State (SSNY) on 10/12/17.

Office location: New York County. SSNY is designated as agent of PLLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 15 W. 53rd St, Apt 31C, NY, NY 10019. Purpose: medicine.

TCC TELEPLEX LLC, Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 03/16/2018. Office loc: NY County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Dennis Novick, 45 Rockefeller Plaza, Ste 2000, New York, NY 10111.

Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

Notice of Formation of Noga Restaurant, LLC. Arts of Org. filed with New York Secy of State (SSNY) on 10/19/17.

Office location: New York County. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 120 Allen St, NY, NY 10002.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of Moddy Kiluvia, MD, PLLC. Arts of Org. filed with New York Secy of State (SSNY) on 10/2/17. Office location: New York County.

SSNY is designated as agent of PLLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to: 19 W. 34th St, Fl. PH, NY, NY, 10016. Purpose: medicine.

Notice of Formation of ACCEL DIRECT FUNDING LLC. Arts of Org. filed with New York Secy of State (SSNY) on 11/8/17. Office location: New York County. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 382 Greenwich Ave, Ste 2, Greenwich, CT 06830.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of KIP Partners LLC. Authority filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 1/19/18. Office location: New York County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 1/16/18.

SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to: 1430 Broadway, Ste 1603, NY, NY 10018. DE address of LLC: 1013 Centre Rd, Ste 403-B, Wilmington, DE 19805.

Cert. of Formation filed with DE Secy of State, 401 Federal St, Ste 4, Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of ifund Direct Funding LLC. Arts of Org. filed with New York Secy of State (SSNY) on 11/8/17.

Office location: New York County. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 382 Greenwich Ave, Ste 2, Greenwich, CT 06830.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of Daniel J. Zimmerman, M.D. Psychiatry Services PLLC. Arts of Org. filed with New York Secy of State (SSNY) on 2/22/18. Office location: New York County.

SSNY is designated as agent of PLLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to: 265 E. 66th St, #39G, NY, NY 10065. Purpose: psychiatry.

PUBLIC and LEGAL NOTICES / CityAndStateNY.com

April 2, 2018 Notice of Qualification of 306 EAST OWNER LLC. Authority filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 12/8/17. Office location: New York County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 12/6/17. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 216 E. 45th St, Ste 1200, NY, NY 10017. DE address of LLC: 1013 Centre Rd, Ste 403-B, Wilmington, DE 19805.

Cert. of Formation filed with DE Secy of State, 401 Federal St, Ste 4, Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of TAH 2018-1 Depositor LLC. Authority filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 3/7/18. Office location: New York County.

LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 2/14/18. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 111 8th Ave, NY, NY 10011. DE address of LLC: 1209 Orange St, Wilmington, DE 19801. Cert. of Formation filed with DE Secy of State, 401 Federal St, Ste 4, Dover, DE 19901. The name and address of the Reg. Agent is CT Corporation System, 111 8th Ave, NY, NY 10011.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Auction Sale is herein given that Citiwide Self Storage located at 4555 Pearson Street, Long Island City, N.Y. 11101 will take place on WWW. STORAGETREASURES. COM Sale by competitive bidding starting on April 6, 2018 and end on April 19, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. to satisfy unpaid rent and charges on the following accounts: Contents of rooms generally contain misc.

Household goods and other effects. #3L24 – Andres Helm, #7S02 – The Shoreham Hotel, #9P40 – Bruton Gallery, #3P09 – Bruton Gallery, #1A11 – Tyondai Braxton & #5J10 – Egidio Perea.

The contents of each unit will be sold as a lot and all items must be removed from the premises within 72 hours. Owners may redeem their goods by paying all rent and charges due at any time before the sale.

Notice of Formation of CASA ST LLC. Arts of Org. filed with New York Secy of State (SSNY) on 1/5/18. Office location: New York County. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 15 Maiden Ln., Ste 2005, NY, NY 10038.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of Lightflats LLC filed with SSNY 1/17/18. Office loc: NY County.

SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to: US Corp Agents, Inc, 7014 13th Ave, Ste 202, Brooklyn, NY 11228.

LLC princ bus add: 150 W 56th St, Apt 3609, NY, NY 10019.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of Bloomfield 2007, LLC. Authority filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 12/20/17. Office location: New York County.

LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 3/5/07. SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 22 Maple Ave, Morristown, NJ 07960. DE address of LLC: 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808.

Cert. of Formation filed with DE Secy of State, 401 Federal St, Ste 4, Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of CPC V, L.P. Authority filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 2/9/18.

Office location: New York County. LP formed in Delaware (DE) on 11/22/17. SSNY is designated as agent of LP upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 1001 Pennsylvania Ave, N.W., Ste 220 S., Washington, D.C. 20004. DE address of LP: 1209 Orange St, Wilmington, DE 19801. List of names and addresses of all general partners available from SSNY. Cert. of Limited Partnership filed with DE Secy of State, 401 Federal St, Ste 4, Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of TL TARGETED FUND, LP Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 02/02/18. Office location: NY County. LP formed in Delaware (DE) on 01/31/18.

Princ. office of LP: 330 Madison Ave., 24th Fl., NY, NY 10017.

Duration of LP is Perpetual.

SSNY designated as agent of LP upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to Attn: Jesse Ro at the princ. office of the LP. Name and addr. of each general partner are available from SSNY. DE addr. of LP: c/o Corporation Service Co., 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808.

Cert. of LP filed with Secy. of State of the State of DE, Div. of Corps., John G. Townsend Bldg., Federal & Duke of York Sts., Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of Maxanak, LLC. Arts of Org. filed with New York Secy of State (SSNY) on 2/7/18. Office location: New York County.

SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 589 8th Ave, Fl. 10, NY, NY 10018.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Azarmsa Consulting LLC Art. of Org. filed with SSNY 6/23/17.

Office: Westchester County.

SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served and shall mail copy of process to: US Corp Agents, 7014 13th Ave, Ste 202, Brooklyn, NY 11228.

Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

STORAGE Midtown Moving & Storage Inc. will sell at Public Auction at 810 East 170 Street, Bronx NY 10459 at 6:00 P.M. on APRIL 10, 2018 for due and unpaid charges by virtue of a lien in accordance with the provisions of the law and with due notice given all parties claiming an interest therein, the time specified in each notice for payment of said charges having expired household furniture & effects, pianos, trunks, cases, TV’s, radios, hifi’s, refrigerators, sewing machines, washers, air conditioners, household furniture of all descriptions and the contents thereof, stored under the following names: -AZZOUAY, HUSSEIN -ALLEN, SHARON -ABBOUSH, SUNNY -BEGANSKI, ALEKSANDR -BARKER, STANFORD -CLARKE, KIMBERLY -CUNDIFF ROBERT/LANE ROBIN -CARTON, TIMOTHY/ RAME JALAL -DAVID, MARKZWANG -FREEDMAN, FRANCIS -FERRERAS JESSICA/FERRERAS AUGUSTIN -GUACHON, FREDDY -GERMELUS, MIRIAM -GOMEZ HELEN/JON E. GOMEZ/ NICOLE GOMEZ; JOHN DOE -HYU CHA CHUN -JOVELL, DOMINGA JULIA -KRATZENBERG, DEBRA A -MIRENBERG, ALLEN -MARTINEZ, ARIEL -MINA, IRENE -MERRIT LUANA -MADESIR, CARMEN -MCALLISTER, TRACY -MCQUEEN, ANJETTA -NATHANIEL, ARLENE -REYES, YACQUELINE -RUSSO, LILLIAN -SHKRELI, MIRELLA -STANLEY, MAUREEN O -YOUNES, ATEF -EYADA, WALID -DELA CRUZ, LEANDRO -SWEET, JARIS -STEED, ALISON -RODRIGUEZ, LUZ -OTERO, MIGDALIA -MYERS WESLEY/ MYERS WILLIE AND RANDY -JONES, ODESSA ACCOUNTING PROCEEDING FILE NO. 2017-1145/A CITATION THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

TO: Unknown Distributees, Attorney General of the State of New York, Victoria Cruz, New York City Human Resources Administration.

And to the heirs at law, next of kin and distributees of Lucille Wallach, if living and if any of them be dead, to their heirs at law, next of kin, distributees, legatees, executors, administrators, assignees and successors in interest whose names and places of residence are unknown and cannot, after diligent inquiry, be ascertained by the petitioner herein; being the persons interested as creditors, legatees, devisees, beneficiaries, distributees, or otherwise in the estate of Lucille Wallach, deceased, who at the time of her death was a resident of 211 East 79th Street, New York, New York 10021.

A petition having been duly filed by the Public Administrator of the County of New York, who maintains an office at 31 Chambers Street, Room 311, New York, New York 10007.

YOU ARE HEREBY CITED TO SHOW CAUSE before the New York County Surrogate’s Court at 31 Chambers Street, New York, New York, on May 1, 2018 at 9:30 A.M. in Room 503, why the following relief stated in the account of proceedings, a copy of summary statement thereof attached hereto, of the Public Administrator of the County of New York as administrator of the goods, chattels and credits of said deceased, should not be granted: (i) that her account be judicially settled; (ii) that the Surrogate approve the reasonable amount of compensation as reported in Schedules C and C-1 of the account of proceedings to the attorney for the petitioner for legal services rendered to the petitioner herein; (iii) that a hearing be held to determine the identity of the distributees at which time proof pursuant to SCPA Section 2225 may be presented, or in the alternative, that the balance of the funds be deposited with the Commissioner of Finance of the City of New York for the benefit of the decedent’s unknown distributees; (iv) that the claim of the New York City Human Resources in the amount of $ 133,616.06 for public assistance rendered to the decedent in the form of Medicaid be allowed and paid; (v) that the persons above mentioned and all necessary and proper persons be cited to show cause why such relief should not be granted; (vi) that an order be granted pursuant to SCPA Section 307 where required or directed; and (vii) for such other and further relief as the Court may deem just and proper.

Dated, Attested and Sealed. March 20, 2018 (Seal) Hon. Rita Mella, Surrogate. Diana Sanabria, Chief Clerk.

Schram Graber & Opell P.C. Counsel to the Public Administrator, New York County 11 Park Place, Suite 1008 New York, New York 10007 (212) 896-3310 Note: This citation is served upon you as required by law. You are not required to appear. If you fail to appear it will be assumed that you do not object to the relief requested. You have the right to have an attorney-at-law appear for you and you or your attorney may request a copy of the full account from the petitioner or petitioner’s attorney.

Notice of Formation of CAESAR MANAGEMENT LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/20/18.

Office location: NY County.

SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to Laxmipathi Garipalli, 11 Colts Gait Ln., Colts Neck, NJ 07722.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of SHC HERITAGE PARTNERS, LLC. Arts of Org. filed with NY Secy of State (SSNY) on 4/23/10. Office location: New York County.

SSNY is designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 1779 2nd Ave, #6F, NY, NY 10128.

Purpose: any lawful activity.

Notice of Qualification of HARVEST EDGE GRPE I, LLC Appl. for Auth. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/05/18. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in Delaware (DE) on 02/28/18.

Princ. office of LLC: Harvest Volatility Management, LLC, The Graybar Bldg., 420 Lexington Ave., Ste. 2620, NY, NY 10170.

SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC, Attn: Curtis F. Brockelman, Jr., 420 Lexington Ave., Ste. 2656, NY, NY 10170. DE addr. of LLC: c/o Corporation Service Co., 251 Little Falls Dr., Wilmington, DE 19808.

Cert. of Form. filed with Secy. of State of the State of DE, Div. of Corps., John G. Townsend Bldg., Federal & Duke of York Sts., Dover, DE 19901.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT A LICENSE, SERIAL # 1308902 FOR A “RESTAURANT WINE LICENSE” HAS BEEN APPLIED FOR BY THE UNDERSIGNED TO SERVE BEER/WINE AT RETAIL IN THE RESTAURANT UNDER THE ALCOHOL BEVERAGE CONTROL LAW AT DAO THONG CORP. D/B/A BORAN

BY DAO THONG, LOCATED AT 462 COURT STREET, BROOKLYN, NY 11231.

KINGS COUNTY, FOR ON PREMISES CONSUMPTION.

33

Notice of Formation of 4EN CHARLES LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/27/18. Office location: NY County. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o Corporation Service Co., 80 State St., Albany, NY 12207, regd. agent upon whom and at which process may be served.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of 443 GREENWICH 5G LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 03/27/18. Office location: NY County. Princ. office of LLC: 443 Greenwich St., Unit #5G, NY, NY 10013.

SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to the LLC at the addr. of its princ. office.

Purpose: Any lawful activity.

Notice of Formation of Ocean Block Real Estate, LLC. Arts.

Of Org. filed w/ Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 3/14/18.

Office in NY County. SSNY designated agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to c/o The LLC, 404 5th Ave., 3rd Fl., NY, NY 10018, registered agent upon whom process may be served.

Purpose: Any lawful act/activity.

Notice of Qual. of AURA HEALTHCARE LLC, Authority filed with the SSNY on 02/28/2018. Office location: NY County. LLC formed in CT on 03/17/2011. SSNY is designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 347 W. 36th St, Ste 1601, NY, NY 10018. Principal Office Address of the LLC: 347 W. 36th St, Ste 1601, NY, NY 10018. Cert of Formation filed with CT Sec. of State, 30 Trinity Street, Hartford, CT 06106.

Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

CITYANDSTATENY.COM

DAO THONG CORP D/B/A BORAN BY DAO THONG

LEGAL NOTICES? WE CAN PUBLISH! CALL DANIELLE 212-268-0442, EXT 2039 LEGALNOTICES@ CITYANDSTATENY.COM

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CityAndStateNY.com

April 2, 2018

CITY & STATE NEW YORK

Who was up and who was down last week

PRODUCTION creativedepartment@cityandstateny.com Creative Director Guillaume Federighi, Senior Graphic Designer Alex Law, Graphic Designer Kewen Chen, Junior Graphic Designer Aaron Aniton, Digital Content Coordinator Michael Filippi, Multimedia Director Bryan Terry

LOSERS KEN LOVETT State police evidently did not “Lovett” when the veteran Albany reporter was talking on his phone in the lobby of the state Senate Chamber. He got arrested and sent to the Capitol lockup. But Gov. Andrew Cuomo promptly showed up for Lovett’s release, then held an impromptu press conference with the gathered press about the budget, the first one in weeks. So in exchange for a half hour behind bars, Lovett got Cuomo talking, #freekenlovett trended on Twitter and received a cupcake.

OUR PICK

OUR PICK

WINNERS

Powerful decision-makers huddled together behind closed doors, discussing who will win and lose, and the political world is watching, waiting … sounds a lot like our weekly meeting to pick Winners & Losers! But at least we have women in the room. Our roundup might not be worth $168 billion, but we guarantee it’s more fun to read than budget bills.

EDITORIAL editor@cityandstateny.com Editor-in-Chief Jon Lentz jlentz@cityandstateny.com, Managing Editor Ryan Somers, Senior Editor Ben Adler badler@cityandstateny.com, Digital Editorial Director Derek Evers devers@cityandstateny.com, Copy Editor Eric Holmberg, Senior Reporter Frank G. Runyeon frunyeon@cityandstateny.com, Staff Reporter Jeff Coltin jcoltin@cityandstateny.com, Digital Reporter Grace Segers gsegers@cityandstateny.com, Editorial Assistant Rebecca C. Lewis rlewis@cityandstateny.com

ANTHONY TESTAVERDE This staffer managed to cross a line even state Sen. Marty Golden couldn’t tolerate. Golden’s past antics – from allegedly impersonating cops, mocking gay and fat people, offering “feminine presence” seminars and generally offending people – pale somewhat compared with Testeverde likening teen survivors of the Parkland shooting to genocidal Nazi Adolf Hitler. So, he’s fired.

ADVERTISING Vice President of Advertising Jim Katocin jkatocin@ cityandstateny.com, Account/Business Development Executive Scott Augustine saugustine@cityandstateny.com, Account/Business Development Executive Danielle Mowery dmowery@cityandstateny.com, Event Sponsorship Strategist Danielle Koza dkoza@cityandstateny.com, Sales Associate Cydney McQuillan-Grace cydney@ cityandstateny.com, Junior Sales Executive Caitlin Dorman EVENTS events@cityandstateny.com Sales Director Lissa Blake, Events Manager Sharon Nazarzadeh, Senior Events Coordinator Alexis Arsenault, Marketing & Events Coordinator Jamie Servidio

Vol. 7 Issue 12 April 2, 2018 NY PENSIONS STILL FUND CIGARETTES AND GUNS WHAT GOT RIPPED FROM THE BUDGET

B E WA R E

THE BEST OF THE REST

THE REST OF THE WORST

KEVIN COTTRELL

CHARLES HYNES

MELISSA DEROSA

KEITH RANIERE

TIMOTHY DOLAN

LIUBA GRECHEN SHIRLEY

DAVID WEPRIN

THOMAS WILMOT

The Port Authority officer got almost $215K in OT. But when will he spend it?

Unlike Andrea Stewart-Cousins, she’s in the room on state sex harassment policy.

The Catholic cardinal flexed his political might to block the Child Victims Act. Who drives into Manhattan from Queens?

For them, he killed congestion pricing.

UNDERDOG

BITES! IT ’S JOHN DEFR ANCISCO’S LAST CHANCE

The ex-Brooklyn DA got fined $40K for using city property on the ’13 race he lost.

The Nxivm cult leader was finally arrested last week and charged with sex trafficking.

The Dem challenging Pete King got no love from the Women’s Equality Party.

The owner of the del Lago casino wanted more state funds. No dice, Cuomo said.

WINNERS & LOSERS is published every Friday morning in City & State’s First Read email.

Sign up for the email, cast your vote and see who won at cityandstateny.com.

CIT YANDSTATENY.COM

@CIT YANDSTATENY

April 2, 2018

Cover direction Guillaume Federighi Cover photo Emily Assiran

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