THIS WEEK IN THE NEWS
March 3 to March 7, 2014
TOP HEADLINES
Schneiderman & Gun Safety Advocates Partner with Facebook and Instagram to Curb Illegal Gun Sales Online
Attorney General Schneiderman was joined by gun safety groups nationwide in announcing their partnership with Facebook and Instagram to curb illegal gun sales on those platforms. Under newly implemented policies, Facebook and Instagram will not permit users to post offers to sell or buy guns that indicate intent to evade background checks, and will block minors from viewing posts advertising firearm sales. Furthermore, the sites will implement education checkpoints and a targeted ad campaign to inform users of their responsibilities under the law.
This story was widely covered both locally and nationally, including in the Los Angeles Times, the New York Daily News and Forbes Magazine. You can also watch the Attorney General’s interview on this news with ABC World News Tonight here.
Schneiderman Lists Top 10 Consumer Fraud Complaints Of 2013
For National Consumer Protection Week, the Attorney General released a list of the top 10 consumer fraud complaints received by his office in 2013 – and included some helpful tips on how to avoid these scams in the future.
Check out these clips from CBS 6 Albany and WHEC Rochester. Remember, you can always report any consumer complaints to the Attorney General’s Office here.
Schneiderman Returns $2.2M To Underpaid Car Wash Workers In Settlement With Two NYC Chains
Attorney General Schneiderman was joined by New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Public Advocate Tish James, City Councilman Ritchie Torres and labor rights advocates to announce his office’s settlement securing $2.2 million in restitution for 1,000 car wash employees who were underpaid for over six years. The Lage and Magalhaes car wash chains own and operate 21 stores in New York City, Long Island and Westchester.
Read the New York Daily News article breaking this story. You can also watch the full press conference here.
Schneiderman, Rep. Serrano & NYPD Commissioner Bratton Announce the Introduction of Smartphone Theft Prevention Act in U.S. House of Representatives
Joined by Congressman Jose Serrano and NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton, Attorney General Schneiderman made a two-fold announcement on efforts to end the growing trend of smartphone thefts: Rep. Serrano has introduced a bill that will implement necessary “kill switches” on all smartphones to make them inoperable after theft, and Commissioner Bratton will be joining and helping to lead the Attorney General’s Secure Our Smartphone (S.O.S.) Initiative worldwide. The Attorney General was also joined by the family of Megan Boken, who was killed during a smartphone theft in 2012, to share her story and advocate for an industry solution to this violent epidemic.
Learn more from the Huffington Post or watch the video from this major announcement.
Schneiderman Reaches Agreement To End Racial Discrimination At Oneida County Nursing Home
The Attorney General reached a settlement with an Oneida County nursing home to protect the rights of its African-Americans employees, after the facility reassigned all African-American nurses to another unit and posted an order that read “No Colored Nurses” to accommodate the racially discriminatory preferences of a resident. Check out the Syracuse Post-Standard story on this case.
Schneiderman Announces Arraignment of Wall Street Advisor For Stealing $4.3M From Investors
Attorney General Schneiderman announced the arraignment of a Brooklyn investment adviser, who allegedly stole at least $4.3 million from his clients in year-long, Ponzi-style scheme. The adviser faces up to 25 years in prison for felony charges brought by the Attorney General’s Office.
Schneiderman Supports Marriage Equality In Multi-State Supreme Court Brief
The Attorney General joined 14 other state attorneys general in filing a brief with the Supreme Court defending marriage equality in an appeal of the successful challenges to Utah and Oklahoma’s same-sex marriage bans.
Schneiderman & DEC Commissioner Martens Announce First Grants From Greenpoint Community Environmental Fund
Attorney General Schneiderman and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced the first grant awards from the $19.5 million Greenpoint Community Environmental Fund, created from a 2011 settlement with ExxonMobil over its massive oil spill in the area. This initial round of funding will invest nearly $600,000 in high-quality, locally led projects to “green” Brooklyn. Learn all about the awarded projects here, or read more in the Greenpoint Gazette.
Schneiderman Announces $310 Million In Settlement To Benefit Purchasers Of Devices Containing DRAM Memory Chips
Through settlements with chip manufacturers, who allegedly engaged in a price-fixing conspiracy, the Attorney General’s Office has created a $310 million fund to benefit victimized consumers. If you purchased a computer or video game console containing a DRAM chip, you might be entitled to some money.
To file a claim, or for more information about the settlements, visit www.DRAMclaims.com or call 1-800-589-1425.
In Other News…
Attorney General Schneiderman returned to Washington Heights for his office’s labor rights forum.
Check out the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle’s editorial on the Attorney General’s Pennies for Charity report, encouraging donors to be aware of where their money’s going.
The Attorney General also welcomed Dr. Guy Ben-Ishai, his office’s new Chief Economist.
Upcoming Events
Please join us for a Brooklyn Community Forum on March 24, and the 29th Annual New York Crime Victims Candlelight Vigil on April 6. See fliers for complete details.
For more information on AG Schneiderman and other Politics hit us up at RandyKFisher@gmail.com.
