Latest news with #Bronx-based
New York Post
a day ago
- Business
- New York Post
Small businesses say they are already feeling the pain of tariffs: survey
Small business owners say they face mounting pressure from tariffs — which have exacerbated existing struggles with gaining access to new funding because of policy uncertainty, according to a Goldman Sachs survey released Thursday. More than a third of small businesses (36%) said they feel negatively impacted by tariffs, with another 38% anticipating adverse effects in the future, the study found. Of those impacted or expecting impacts, a striking 77% of small business owners attribute their concerns primarily to the uncertainty stoked by President Trump's tariff policies, the survey found. 4 Small business owners surveyed by Goldman Sachs say they face mounting pressures from tariffs. insta_photos – The survey was done by Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Voices — the Wall Street firm's national advocacy initiative designed to help entrepreneurs engage directly with policymakers. The results underscore challenges posed by Trump's constantly changing tariffs. The administration has imposed a universal 10% levy on most nations, while hitting major trading partner China with a 30% tariff, while it negotiates better deals with all the countries. There are also additional 25% tariffs on imported automobiles and car parts and a 50% levy on steel. Jessica Johnson-Cope, who runs the Bronx-based private security firm Johnson Security Bureau, noted the pressing reality facing small firms. The third-generation business provides services on construction sites, a sector sensitive to fluctuating trade policies. 'I anticipate that the prices of uniforms will increase because our vendors import them,' Johnson-Cope told The Post via email. 4 More than a third of small businesses (36%) are already feel negatively impacted by tariffs with another 38% anticipating adverse effects in the future. AFP via Getty Images 'I also expect a big hit when we purchase a new armored truck. Had we purchased it last year, a new truck would have cost approximately $150,000. Now, the price will probably be closer to $200,000.' She said tariffs are causing direct disruptions through increased prices as well as indirect challenges through delayed projects. 'Some of our construction customers are postponing pending projects until there is a greater level of certainty around the tariffs,' she said. The uncertainty over trade policy is compounded by broader anxieties centered around access to capital. The survey reported that 81% of small businesses seeking loans or credit lines in the past year encountered difficulty securing affordable financing. High interest rates have led 49% of small businesses to halt expansions and 41% to restrict new business endeavors, the survey found. 4 President Trump has argued that tariffs are necessary to spur domestic manufacturing. AFP via Getty Images Johnson-Cope detailed a personal experience illustrating these struggles. 'Several years ago, a slow-paying client nearly bankrupted us. Without access to affordable capital, we had to take out a high-interest loan just to stay afloat,' she told The Post. 'That expensive debt limited our ability to grow — we couldn't expand or pursue new opportunities, and our future growth was effectively stalled.' Tax policy complexities further compound these challenges, with 82% of small business owners believing the federal tax code favors large corporations. Johnson-Cope and her peers call for straightforward, predictable policies, highlighting that 'when the tax code is overly complex or constantly changing, it makes long-term planning difficult.' Despite these considerable obstacles, optimism persists. The Goldman survey showed that 75% of small businesses remain upbeat about their trajectory, with 72% forecasting growth in 2025. Many are incorporating artificial intelligence to boost efficiency, although 42% lack the resources and expertise for successful deployment, according to the survey. 4 Despite uncertainty surrounding tariffs, three in four small business owners say they anticipate growth this year. olezzo – Johnson-Cope told The Post that addressing tariffs, capital access and tax simplicity is crucial. She emphasized the critical need for small businesses to have a consistent voice in policymaking. 'Small businesses are the engine of the American economy. We are job creators, innovators, and the heartbeat of our communities — we deserve for our voices to be heard, not just as a one-off for a single piece of legislation, but day in and day out as policymakers craft ideas that can limit or expand our chance to grow,' Johnson-Cope said. The Post has sought comment from the White House.
New York Post
22-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Far-left, anti-Israel Bronx activist group shockingly cheers accused DC Jewish Museum terrorist Elias Rodriguez, encourages more violence
A far-left, anti-Israel group in the Bronx disgustingly cheered the suspected terrorist accused of gunning down the two Israeli Embassy staffers in an antisemitic attack. The Bronx Anti-War group said what alleged gunman Elias Rodriguez 'did is the highest expression of anti-Zionism' and 'We need more Elias Rodriguez in this world' in a pair of social media posts on Thursday. The shocking statements quickly drew fire from local leaders, including Bronx Rep. Ritchie Torres. Advertisement 3 Chicago native Elias Rodriguez was arrested shortly after the deadly shooting outside a Jewish museum in Washington D.C. Katie Kalisher via Storyful 3 A series of tweets sent by @BXAntiwar following the shooting. The Bronx Anti-War Coalition is 'a Bronx-based group made up of working-class people who are anti-imperialist and led by people of color' X/@BXAntiWar 'The Bronx Anti-War coalition, which has been harassing me since October 7th, has described the murderous targeting of Jews as 'the highest expression of anti-Zionism,'' Torres said in a statement. Advertisement 3 Israeli embassy staffers Yaron Lischinsky and fiance Sarah Milgrim (pictured) @yaron_li/X 'Violence is not a bug but a feature of virulent Anti-Zionism.' Rodriguez, 31, was charged with fatally shooting Sarah Milgrim and her boyfriend Yaron Lischinsky Wednesday night shortly after 9 p.m. outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC. The coalition is described as a Bronx-based group made up of working-class people who are anti-imperialist and led by people of color. They push for 'resisting state violence while advancing decolonization.'
CBS News
26-03-2025
- Health
- CBS News
NYC funeral home company hit with another lawsuit over overseas burial mix-up
A second family is now suing a New York City funeral home company for what they call an unforgivable mix-up -- the wrong body being shipped out of the country for burial. It was a shocking discovery for the family at the worst possible time. While mourning the death of the children's father, 39-year-old Elder Emilio Garcia, and watching his funeral in Guatemala via live stream, they saw the body in the casket wasn't him. In his place was the body of a 96-year-old woman, identified as Carmen Maldonado . The Rivera Funeral Home in Corona, Queens had sent the wrong body to Guatemala, where Garcia, a Queens waiter and father of four who died of a heart attack, was to be buried alongside his parents. "It's completely irresponsible the way they have handled those bodies," said Leonor Valenta, Garcia's sister. Valenta said to make matters worse, the funeral home seemed to have no idea where his body was. "It was completely heartless. They were very stubborn with us. He never left the funeral home. He was there the whole time," Valenta said. What's more, Maldonado's body was supposed to have been sent to Ecuador. Maldonado's family only found out she was mistakenly sent to Guatemala via a TikTok post. Both families are now suing Bronx-based RG Ortiz Funeral Homes, which owns Rivera and other locations. "The funeral home denied they made a mistake," said attorney Philip Rizzuto, who now represents both families. "I think the funeral home was hoping no one would find out about it, and they never would have told either family if this video didn't go viral." The company was named in nearly 100 lawsuits and last year was cited by New York City for 82 violations. The Department of Health, which oversees funeral homes, said its investigation is seeking fines and the potential revocation of licenses. "They tortured the family. They didn't just fix it immediately," Rizzuto said. "They're taking advantage of them at their most vulnerable time of their lives." "This was no mistake. It was negligence on their part and something that cannot be forgiven," Valenta said. An attorney representing RG Ortiz Funeral Home said he had no comment on the series of complaints against the business. The Garcia family is seeking a jury trial, they say, to send a message. It took 10 days for the mixed-up bodies to be properly buried in the correct countries.
Politico
17-03-2025
- Health
- Politico
Physicians vie for a greater share of NY's MCO tax proceeds
Beat Memo A new tax on managed care organizations is expected to net $3.7 billion over the next two years for Medicaid, and health care industry stakeholders all have different ideas for how the state should use it. SOMOS Community Care, a Bronx-based physician network, will bring hundreds of primary care doctors to Albany this week to push its proposal: a $300 million independent physician investment fund. Physician associations would apply for funds to expand service offerings, create 'risk reserves' so they can enter more advanced value-based payment contracts, distribute staff bonuses or invest in technology for quality improvement, for example. The program would be funded at $300 million annually for three years and administered by Medicaid managed care plans, in keeping with guidance from the state Department of Health on how funds should be allocated. 'Family doctors are the front line of prevention and wellness, especially those that serve Medicaid patients,' Ramón Tallaj, board chair for SOMOS Community Care, said in a statement to POLITICO. 'We maintain health care, not sick care, which significantly improves patient outcomes and saves money.' 'By investing in independent primary care, New York can ensure that doctors across the state can provide the care our communities need, treat conditions before they are critical and make our entire system more effective and efficient,' Tallaj added in the statement. As SOMOS officials note, hospitals have typically been the primary beneficiaries of the state's investment pools for health care facilities — and that's the case under Gov. Kathy Hochul's executive budget proposal for the MCO tax proceeds. SOMOS is among several organizations pushing for primary care doctors to get a larger piece of the pie. Under Hochul's proposal, $50 million from the tax would support an increase in the Medicaid physician fee schedule, and $10 million would support enhanced rates for health clinics and federally qualified health centers. ON THE AGENDA: — Monday at 11 a.m. The New York State Coordinating Council for Services Related to Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementia will meet. — Monday at 4:30 p.m. The Senate and Assembly will hold a budget meeting on mental hygiene. — Tuesday at 1 p.m. The Senate Health Committee will meet. — Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. The Senate and Assembly will hold a budget meeting on health. GOT TIPS? Send story ideas and feedback to Maya Kaufman at mkaufman@ and Katelyn Cordero at kcordero@ Want to receive this newsletter every weekday? Subscribe to POLITICO Pro. You'll also receive daily policy news and other intelligence you need to act on the day's biggest stories. What you may have missed — Six years ago, Rockland County was at the center of the worst measles outbreak in the U.S. in decades. Now as the disease is on the rise nationally, health care workers are putting pressure on local officials to take action, POLITICO Pro reported. Just 62 percent of children countywide received one dose of the measles vaccine by the age of two, compared with 81 percent statewide, according to state data as of Jan. 1. A group of 31 doctors and nurses sounded the alarm in a letter to Rockland County Executive Ed Day on Thursday. Day oversaw the local response during the 2018-2019 measles outbreak. 'We take the health and safety of our residents incredibly seriously and strongly disagree with the assertions made by the uninformed signatories of the letter,' Rockland County spokesperson John Lyon said in a statement. 'The County is taking action and has been communicating directly with hundreds of healthcare providers, community leaders and local elected officials to encourage immunization.' Odds and Ends NOW WE KNOW — The New York City Health Department is investigating two pet cats that died after being infected with bird flu. TODAY'S TIP — Got asthma? It's time to start preparing for spring allergy season. STUDY THIS — Medical device manufacturers have to report adverse events within 30 days, and a new study found most late reports were submitted by a small number of companies. What We're Reading — Patients who try to quit benzodiazepines like Xanax are suffering extreme anxiety, memory loss and intense physical pain. (WSJ) — Keeping with Kennedy's advice, measles patients turn to unproven treatments (New York Times) — At NIH, 'everyone is on edge' as they brace for deep cuts and more centralized control. (STAT) Around POLITICO — CDPAP subcontractors press for more time to switch to new system, Katelyn Cordero and Maya Kaufman report. — Europe's drug shortage plan looked like a win for the EU and U.S. — until Trump got involved, Helen Collis and Lauren Gardner report. — Senate Republicans stymie Democrats' bid to pass bipartisan health package, Ben Leonard reports. MISSED A ROUNDUP? Get caught up on the New York Health Care Newsletter.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
AOC hit with ethics complaint over $4,550 payments for dance ‘training'
A watchdog has slapped an ethics complaint against 'Squad' Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, accusing her of misusing taxpayer funds on dance 'training.' Americans for Public Trust, a private watchdog group that targets corruption, alleged that Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), 35, tapped into her Member Representational Allowance to shell out $3,700 to 'Juan D Gonzalez' and $850 to 'Bombazo Dance Co Inc' for what was described as 'training' in December. The watchdog on Tuesday sent a complaint to the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) and argued that the rep made the payments in 'contravention of federal law and the standards of the House of Representatives.' Ocasio-Cortez had dismissed concerns about the two December 2024 payments and seemingly implied they were campaign expenses instead, which the watchdog argued backs its case that the funds were misappropriated. '100% wrong. None of this is taxpayer money, this is an FEC filing. Be loud and wrong about something else. Try again next time,' she wrote on X Saturday in response to a critique. The Post was unable to find references to 'Juan D Gonzalez' or 'Bombazo Dance Co Inc' in Federal Election Commission records of Ocasio-Cortez's congressional campaign disbursements. Americans for Public Trust disputed Ocasio-Cortez's assertion that the payments were made with campaign cash by pointing to a section in the 1120-page list of House disbursements between Oct. 1, 2024, and Dec. 31, 2024. 'Representative Ocasio-Cortez has made expenditures from her official office account that she herself contends should have been reported to the FEC, presumably because they were made for campaign purposes,' the watchdog wrote in its complaint. 'If it is revealed that Representative Ocasio-Cortez has demonstrated a pattern of using her taxpayer-funded MRA to pay her campaign expenses, we further request a full investigation be commenced by your office.' Bombazo Dance Co Inc. is a Bronx-based youth dance organization. Video posted on Bombazo Dance Co Inc.'s Facebook page showed the progressive darling banging on drums and dancing with patrons at the company in December. Details of the 'Juan D Gonzalez' who received payments are not immediately clear. Member Representational Allowance is a fund that the House provides members to help foot the bill for official expenses related to staff compensation, travel, rent, printing documents, mail, equipment and more. In fiscal year 2023, the House allocated roughly $810 million for the Member Representational Allowance, according to the Congressional Research Service. Americans for Public Trust is calling on the OCE to conduct a more thorough review of the congresswoman's use of allowance funds. The Post contacted Ocasio-Cortez's press team for comment. Ocasio-Cortez has faced ethics complaints in the past. Two years ago, she was probed over the 2021 Met Gala over revelations that she received a free ticket to attend the star-studded New York City charity event. She also received a discounted rate for renting a white Brother Vellies dress designed by Aurora James that featured the bright red words 'Tax the Rich' as well as a handbag that she carried at the gala. Reps are restricted under ethics rules from receiving free gifts, barring certain exceptions, but the Met Gala was not one of them. Staffers 'could not explain' the discount, and the OCE unanimously recommended that the House Ethics Committee conduct further investigation of whether she had accepted 'impermissible gifts.' The Bronx and Queens-based rep was also hit with a complaint backed by the Heritage Foundation in 2023 claiming that she was 'falsely accusing' and 'defaming' Chaya Raichik, the woman behind the Libs of TikTok X account. At the time, Ocasio-Cortez publicly accused Raichik of lying in a 2022 post with her claim that a hospital in Boston was 'offering 'gender affirming hysterectomies' for young girls.' The Heritage Foundation accused the congresswoman of 'lying and disseminating disinformation' about Raichik.
