WORLD WORLDWIDE USA NewYork NY NewYorkCity NYC thecity THE CITY News Journal Update - The Mob Is Making a Comeback in Construction as Demand for New Housing Grows

 

View this email in your browser If you know anyone who might like this newsletter, send it to them. If this was sent to you by someone else, subscribe here — it's free!  Dear New Yorkers, Amid a drumbeat for more housing in New York City, the mob is staging a potentially hazardous and costly comeback in the city’s construction business. The evidence of its renewed involvement has quietly unspooled in a series of recent corruption prosecutions across the city — including ones that involve significant affordable housing and high-rise hotel projects.  One case ended with the conviction of James Cahill, an ex-head of the powerful state building trades council who worked alongside former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and other top officials to engineer labor agreements for major projects. Cahill admitted taking $100,000 in bribes and was caught on tape consorting with mobsters.  All the cases present stark evidence of a shift by organized crime toward aligning with nonunion contractors that employ untrained workers and have lengthy records of on-the-job accidents, including fatalities.  The cases spotlight the sophisticated manipulation of government programs aimed at promoting women- and minority-owned businesses, as well as widespread cheating on workers’ compensation payments in schemes that have left injured employees without insurance protection.  Added up, the mob’s comeback presents a series of risks — to safety, cost control and adherence to regulation — to the widely advocated building projects endorsed in principle by Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams.    Read more here. Sponsor message Some other items of note: More than 50 years after he lost his life serving as a peacemaker in the South Bronx, the intersection of East 165 Street and Rogers Place in Longwood has been officially renamed Cornell “Black Benjie” Benjamin Way. The corner is where Black Benjie was killed trying to mediate a conflict outside of a middle school between rival gang members. His martyrdom led directly to the Hoe Avenue peace treaty that significantly lessened gang violence in The Bronx. Want to get a street in your neighborhood named after someone? Here’s how. Or, let us talk you through it on TikTok or Instagram. Anticipating possible storms and heat waves that strain the grid, ConEd recently ran a simulation of a disruptive event to drill its response — and let THE CITY watch as it unfolded. City Council primary elections are coming later this month, in redrawn districts. Look yours up in our Know Your District tool, which includes candidates as well as information about how redistricting shaped your area. Did you know? The Bronx’s District 11 is a bit different. It now encompasses more of Wakefield, and added about 7,500 voting-age adults to bring its population closer to the citywide average for Council districts. For the latest local numbers on COVID-19 hospitalizations, positivity rates and more, check our coronavirus tracker.  Weather scoop by New York Metro Weather Monday's Weather Rating: 9/10. All right! High temperatures in the mid to upper 70s and a nice breeze will make for a pleasant day. Dew points remain manageable, with only a few isolated storms possible this afternoon. The vibes are very, very good! THE KICKER: Advocates who used to provide donated items to asylum seekers at the Port Authority opened a brick-and-mortar space called “Little Shop of Kindness” last week at 12 West 40th St., near Bryant Park. Everything inside is free. Thanks, as always, for reading. Make it a great Monday. Love, THE CITY P.S. If you liked something about today's newsletter, or didn't, let us know at zshah@thecity.nyc Sponsor message THE CITY's work is made possible, in part, through the support of our sponsors. Interested in becoming a sponsor of THE CITY? Contact us here.  Copyright © 2023 THE CITY, All rights reserved.