Public Awareness Campaign Encourages New Yorkers to Get Financial Counseling at the City’s Financial Empowerment Centers

June 12, 2014January 14, 2015 katyusca Press Releases Financial Empowerment, NYC DCA, Press Release, Public Awareness Campaign

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 12, 2014

DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS LAUNCHES PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN TO ENCOURAGE NEW YORKERS TO GET FINANCIAL COUNSELING AT THE CITY’S FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTERS

Advertisements Feature the Stories of Real New Yorkers Using the City’s Financial Empowerment Centers to Tackle Their Debt, Save for the Future, Improve Their Credit, and Open Bank Accounts

Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Julie Menin today announced the launch of “You Can…,” a public awareness campaign that lets New Yorkers know that they can go to one of nearly 30 Financial Empowerment Centers across all five boroughs to get free, one-on-one, professional financial counseling. The campaign features five clients and their stories about how counselors at the City’s Financial Empowerment Centers helped them take control of their debt, save for the future, improve their credit score, and open bank accounts. The advertisements are running in the city’s subway cars and stations, as well as online and in a dozen citywide and community newspapers in every borough, both in English and Spanish.

Read the full press release: FEC Public Awareness Campaign Launch

Paid Sick Leave PSA – Español

Video June 10, 2014August 25, 2016 katyusca Video Scripts Bureau Blank, NYC DCA, Paid Sick Leave, PSA, Public Awareness Campaign, Spanish, YouTube

Paid Sick Leave PSA

Video June 10, 2014August 25, 2016 katyusca Video Scripts Bureau Blank, NYC DCA, Paid Sick Leave, PSA, Public Awareness Campaign, YouTube

NYC Launches Phase II of Paid Sick Leave Public Education & Outreach Campaign

June 6, 2014January 14, 2015 katyusca Press Releases Bureau Blank, NYC DCA, Paid Sick Leave, Press Release, Public Awareness Campaign, Spanish

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June 6, 2014

NEW YORK CITY LAUNCHES SECOND PHASE OF ITS PAID SICK LEAVE PUBLIC EDUCATION AND OUTREACH CAMPAIGN

Department of Consumer Affairs Expands Outreach Efforts and Rolls out Advertising Campaign to Alert New Yorkers that Covered Employees can Begin Using Accrued Leave on July 30

NEW YORK —Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Julie Menin today officially launched the second phase of the City’s paid sick leave public education and outreach campaign to help employees and employers understand their responsibilities and rights. Under the law, certain employers now must provide sick leave so employees can care for themselves or a family member. These employers must allow covered employees to begin using accrued leave on July 30, 2014.

Read the full press release: Paid Sick Leave Phase 2 Campaign Launch

NYC DCA Paid Sick Leave Ads

Image April 1, 2014January 13, 2015 katyusca Marketing Bureau Blank, NYC DCA, Paid Sick Leave

Grand Opening Event of the Ventanilla de Asesoría Financiera at the Consulate General of Mexico

March 10, 2014January 14, 2015 katyusca Press Releases Financial Empowerment, Immigrant Community, Mexican Consulate, NYC DCA, Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 10, 2014

DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF MEXICO IN NEW YORK CUT THE RIBBON ON THE VENTANILLA DE ASESORÍA FINANCIERA TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL COUNSELING SERVICES TO MEXICAN NEW YORKERS

Financial Counseling Window Opening Kicks Off the Consulate’s Financial Education Week

Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) First Deputy Commissioner Alba Pico, Ambassador and Consul General of Mexico Sandra Fuentes-Berain, and President of the Mexican National Agency for the Protection and Defense of the Users of Financial Services Mario Di Costanzo today cut the ribbon on the first Ventanilla de Asesoría Financiera (Financial Counseling Window) at the Mexican Consulate of New York and kicked off the Consulate’s Financial Education Week. The Ventanilla will offer one-on-one financial counseling to Mexican New Yorkers, provide access to a broad network of services at the Consulate, and help Mexican nationals and families living in New York City achieve greater financial security. The program is made possible through generous support from Citi Community Development in partnership with the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund and counseling services are provided by Ariva and Qualitas of Life Foundation.

Read the full press release: Mexican Consulate Ventanilla Launch

DCA Announces Home Improvement Contractor as Top Complaint for 2013

March 6, 2014January 14, 2015 katyusca Press Releases NYC DCA, Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 6, 2014

DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS (DCA) ANNOUNCES HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTRACTORS ARE THE TOP COMPLAINT FOR 2013

DCA Mediates More Than 3,750 Consumer Complaints and Secures More Than $5.8 Million in Restitution for New Yorkers in the Past Year

The Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) today announced home improvement contractors were the agency’s top complaint in 2013. DCA received more than 530 complaints about home improvement contractors and secured almost $3.45 million in restitution for consumers. DCA made the announcement at a press conference with the Federal Trade Commission, the Better Business Bureau and other Federal and State agencies and organizations in order to alert New York consumers to the top consumer complaints of the past year and to educate them on how to avoid becoming victims of these and other scams in 2014.

Read the full press release: Top Complaints_HIC

NYC Makes it Easier for NYers to File Taxes for Free

February 4, 2014January 14, 2015 katyusca Press Releases Financial Empowerment, NYC DCA, Press Release, Public Awareness Campaign, Tax Season

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 4, 2014

THE CITY MAKES IT EASIER FOR NEW YORKERS TO FILE TAXES FOR FREE WITH MORE SITES THAN EVER BEFORE AND VIRTUAL SITES WHERE FILERS CAN DROP OFF TAX DOCUMENTS AND PICK UP COMPLETED RETURNS LATER

Department of Consumer Affairs Kicks Off the City’s Annual Tax Campaign and Urges Any New Yorker Who Made $58,000 or Less to File for Free

Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) today launched New York City’s 12^th Annual Tax Credit Campaign. The tax season has begun and the IRS is now accepting 2013 returns. This year, the City has more free ways to file a return than ever before with the expansion of the Virtual VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program. Fast, easy and convenient, Virtual VITA sites are coordinated by the Food Bank For New York City and taxes are completed by IRS-trained preparers. They allow filers to drop off their tax documents and return later to review and file the completed return. Across the five boroughs, there are 100 free sites, both virtual and traditional and eligible New Yorkers also have the option to file for free online at nyc.gov/taxprep. The SaveUSA program is also offered at select VITA sites for its seventh year. SaveUSA is unique savings program for tax filers that offers a 50 percent match if they deposit at least $200 of their tax refund into a SaveUSA account and maintain the deposit for one year.

Read the full press release: Tax Season 2014 Launch