DCA Kicks Off the First of Its 2016 Business Education Days in Brighton Beach

May 13, 2016November 3, 2016 katyusca Press Releases NYC DCA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 12, 2016

DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, ELECTED OFFICIALS AND BRIGHTON BEACH BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT KICK OFF THE FIRST OF DCA’S 2016 BUSINESS EDUCATION DAYS IN BRIGHTON BEACH

Inspectors Issue Advice, Not Violations, to Local Businesses

BROOKLYN – Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) First Deputy Commissioner Alba Pico, Brighton Beach Business Improvement District (BID) Executive Director Yelena Makhnin, staff from the office of Council Member Deutsch, NYC Small Business Services and NYC Department of Sanitation visited more than 100 businesses in the Brighton Beach community of Brooklyn as part of DCA’s 2016 Business Education Day series to educate businesses about key consumer protection laws and licensing requirements. DCA also shared information about the City’s Paid Sick Leave and Commuter Benefits laws.

“Business education is a key strategy in the City’s Small Business First reforms,” said DCA First Deputy Commissioner Alba Pico. “By educating businesses, especially small businesses in immigrant communities, we can ensure they’re compliant with the City’s strong consumer protection laws, licensing laws, and labor-related laws. We’re thrilled to be able to carry out the first of many more business education days this year.”

Read full press release: Business Education Day in Brighton Beach: May 12, 2016

Click here to watch News12 coverage.

News12 Brooklyn Covers Business Education in Brighton Beach

May 12, 2016November 3, 2016 katyusca Broadcast, Earned Media News 12 Brooklyn, NYC DCA

Brighton Beach city inspectors teach instead of ticket
Crystal Walker | News 12 Brooklyn

BRIGHTON BEACH – Several businesses in Brighton Beach got a surprise visit from city inspectors Thursday, but instead of receiving tickets for violations, owners were given a free lesson on how to avoid fines in the future.

The Department of Consumer Affairs educated owners on violations that they were unaware of, so business owners can be prepared the next time they get a surprise visit from a city inspector.

“We’re not issuing violations, our inspectors are going to be going door to door and pointing out where there might be a violation and educating the businesses and sharing a lot of material with them,” says Alba Pico, of the Department of Consumer Affairs.

Click here to watch the video and read the full report.

Click here to read the press release.

Senior Program Officer Grace Louis Talks Free Tax Prep on BK Live

March 15, 2016October 28, 2016 katyusca Broadcast, Earned Media BK Live, NYC DCA, Tax Season

BK Live
Brian Vines

I coordinated an interview with BK Live and Grace Louis, senior program officer at NYC DCA’s Office of Financial Empowerment. With a month to Tax Day, it was important to emphasize the City’s free tax preparation services and the many options available for Brooklynites.

DCA Announced More Than 17,200 Mexican Nationals in NYC Received Financial Education and Counseling

March 15, 2016November 3, 2016 katyusca Press Releases Immigrant Community, Mexican Consulate, NYC DCA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 14, 2016

CONSULATE GENERAL OF MEXICO, DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND CITI RELEASE NEW REPORT:
VENTANILLA DE ASESORÍA FINANCIERA PROVIDES FINANCIAL EDUCATION AND COUNSELING TO MORE THAN 17,200 MEXICAN NATIONALS IN NEW YORK CITY

The Second Anniversary of the Financial Counseling Window Kicks Off the Consulate’s Financial Education Week 2016

NEW YORK, NY – Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) First Deputy Commissioner Alba Pico, Consul General of Mexico Ambassador Sandra Fuentes-Berain and Citi Community Development released a report today, Ventanilla de Asesoría Financiera: Program Insights for the Field, showing the results of the first year of the Ventanilla de Asesoría Financiera (Financial Empowerment Window). In just one year, the Ventanilla provided financial education or counseling to more than 17,200 Mexican nationals in New York and helped nearly 1,000 Mexican nationals file taxes for the first time in the United States. To date, these numbers have more than doubled. The financial empowerment at the Ventanilla has touched the lives of more than 44,000 Mexican nationals in New York City. The announcement took place at the celebration of the second anniversary of the Ventanilla, which also kicked off the Consulate’s fifth Financial Education Week. The first two years of the program were made possible through the generous support from Citi Community Development in partnership with the Cities for Financial Empowerment (CFE) Fund and the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City. Counseling services are provided by Ariva.

“The Mexican community is one of the largest immigrant groups in New York City and while our Financial Empowerment Centers reach a high number of New Yorkers, we still had not reached this community,” said DCA First Deputy Commissioner Alba Pico. “Addressing income inequality is a key priority for Mayor de Blasio and this program is one of the ways to address that. We’re proud of the great milestones we’ve reached and look forward to not only increasing the number of Mexican nationals we reach but helping other municipalities and consulates implement this program using the findings of this report.”

Read the full press release: Ventanilla de Asesoria Financiera Results

DCA Warns New Yorkers About Predatory Tax Preparer Tactics

March 9, 2016November 3, 2016 katyusca Press Releases NYC DCA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 8, 2016

NATIONAL CONSUMER PROTECTION WEEK: DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS WARNS NEW YORKERS ABOUT PREDATORY TAX PREPARER TACTICS

The City Announces Results of Annual Tax Preparer Inspections and Encourages Eligible New Yorkers to File for Free

Federal, State and City Consumer Protection Authorities Recognize National Consumer Protection Week

Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) First Deputy Commissioner Alba Pico today, as part of National Consumer Protection Week, issued a warning to New Yorkers about predatory tax preparer tactics, including overcharging, hidden fees and filing without permission. As part of the City’s annual tax preparer inspections, DCA conducted more than 350 targeted inspections citywide and issued violations to two in every five income tax preparers inspected. Top violations included failing to post prices for their services, misrepresenting their qualifications and violating other consumer rights. First Deputy Commissioner Alba Pico also encouraged New Yorkers who earned $62,000 or less to take advantage of the City’s free tax preparation services. DCA made the announcement at a press conference with the Better Business Bureau Serving Metropolitan New York, the New York State Office of the Attorney General and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

“Every New Yorker should know their rights before going to a paid preparer to file their taxes,” said Department of Consumer Affairs First Deputy Commissioner Alba Pico. “For a number of years, refund anticipation loans disappeared thanks to federal regulations but they are back in a new way this year. The products are supposed to be free of interest and the cost isn’t supposed to be passed on to the consumer but, as we all know, things are rarely “free.” With the most common violation at tax preparers being related to the price list, we want consumers to be very vigilant about what they are being charged to file their taxes. If you earned $62,000 or less, we encourage you to take advantage of the City’s NYC Free Tax Prep program and get back the full refund you deserve.”

Read the full press release: Warning Against Predatory Tax Preparers

The City Encourages New Yorkers to Use IDNYC to File Their Taxes for Free

February 25, 2016November 3, 2016 katyusca Press Releases Financial Empowerment, Immigrant Community, NYC DCA, Spanish, Tax Season

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 24, 2016

AMERICA SAVES WEEK: CITY ENCOURAGES NEW YORKERS TO USE IDNYC TO FILE THEIR TAXES FOR FREE AND OPEN A BANK ACCOUNT TO SAVE THEIR REFUND

Bronx Event Highlights Free Tax Prep during America Saves Week and Opening a Bank Account Using IDNYC

BRONX, NY – Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Acting Commissioner Alba Pico and Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) Commissioner Nisha Agarwal today joined Spring Bank President Eric Pallos and Ariva Executive Director Irene Baldwin to encourage New Yorkers to use their IDNYC to file their taxes for free and, as part of America Saves Week 2016, open a bank account where they can save their refund. New Yorkers who earned $54,000 or less with children, or $30,000 or less without children, can file their taxes for free at one of more than 200 in-person sites across the city, like the Ariva site at Spring Bank in the Bronx. IDNYC is accepted as the photo ID needed to file your taxes. Spring Bank also accepts IDNYC as a primary form of identification to open a bank account.

“Tax season is a very crucial moment for many families with lower and moderate incomes as their refund is often one of the largest checks they’ll receive all year,” said DCA Acting Commissioner Alba Pico. “We encourage New Yorkers, especially the immigrant community in the Bronx, to know that they can use their IDNYC to file their taxes for free and they can also use tax time as an opportunity to save and open a bank account using their IDNYC.”

Read the full press release here: IDNYC and Free Taxes for New Yorkers

DCA Announces Results of Multipronged Approach to Combat Predatory Employment Agencies

September 2, 2015November 3, 2016 katyusca Press Releases NYC DCA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 1, 2015

LABOR RIGHTS WEEK: DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS ANNOUNCES INITIAL RESULTS OF ITS MULTIPRONGED APPROACH TO COMBAT PREDATORY EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES

Consumer Affairs Releases Multilingual Job Hunter’s Bill of Rights

Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Julie Menin today announced the results of its multipronged and aggressive approach into predatory employment agencies as part of Mayor de Blasio’s commitment to reduce inequality in New York City. In the first year of the new approach, DCA initiated more than 225 investigations into licensed and unlicensed employment agencies, issued more than 400 violations, and secured more than $77,000 in restitution for 269 consumers who were charged illegal and predatory fees. The announcement coincides with Labor Rights Week, during which DCA has also released its new multilingual Job Hunter’s Bill of Rights, enabling New Yorkers looking for a job at an employment agency know their rights.

Read full press release: Predatory Employment Agencies Announcement

Click here to see media coverage.