FBI: GHANIAN INFLUENCER WITH 3.4 MILLION “FOLLOWERS” at one time ON INSTAGRAM, CHARGED FOR ROLE IN ROMANCE SCHEME AND EXTRADITED FROM UK TO US

Posted on May 16, 2023 by John Bailey

WPCNR FBI WIRE. From the U.S. ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

Mona Faiz Montrage Received Over $2 Million in Fraud Proceeds and Pretended to Marry One Victim to Further the Fraud Scheme.

Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), announced the unsealing of a six-count Indictment charging MONA FAIZ MONTRAGE for her role in a series of romance schemes and for laundering the proceeds of those schemes.

MONTRAGE was arrested in the United Kingdom on November 10, 2022, and was extradited from the United Kingdom on May 12, 2023. MONTRAGE will be presented before U.S. District Judge Paul A. Crotty, to whom the case is assigned, Monday.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “As alleged, Mona Faiz Montrage was a member of a criminal conspiracy that specifically targeted older Americans through romance scams. These scams can be both financially and emotionally devastating for vulnerable victims. Thanks to the efforts of our law enforcement partners, Montrage was arrested abroad and has been brought to the United States to face justice.”

FBI Assistant Director in Charge Michael J. Driscoll said:

“We alleged Monday that Ms. Montrage participated in multiple romance scams – often targeting elderly victims – resulting in more than $2 million in fraudulent funds under her control. Romance scams – especially those that target older individuals – are of major concern. The FBI will be tireless in our efforts to hold fraudsters accountable in the criminal justice system.”

As alleged in the Indictment and other publicly filed materials:[1]

From at least in or about 2013 through in or about 2019, MONTRAGE was a member of a criminal enterprise (the “Enterprise”) based in West Africa that committed a series of frauds against individuals and businesses in the United States, including romance scams.

Many of the Enterprise’s romance scam victims were vulnerable, older men and women who lived alone.

The Enterprise frequently conducted the romance scams by sending the victims emails, text messages, and social media messages that deceived the victims into believing that they were in romantic relationships with a person who had, in fact, a fake identity assumed by members of the Enterprise. Once members of the Enterprise had successfully convinced victims that they were in a romantic relationship and had gained their trust, they convinced the victims, under false pretenses, to transfer money to bank accounts the victims believed were controlled by their romantic interests, when, in fact, the bank accounts were controlled by members of the Enterprise.

MONTRAGE is a Ghanaian public figure who rose to fame as an influencer through her Instagram profile, under the username “Hajia4Reall,” which at one point had approximately 3.4 million Instagram followers and was among the top 10 profiles with the most followers in Ghana.

MONTRAGE received money from several victims of romance frauds whom members of the Enterprise tricked into sending money. Among the false pretenses used to induce victims to send money to MONTRAGE were (i) payments to transport gold to the United States from overseas; (ii) payments to resolve a fake FBI unemployment investigation; and (iii) payments to assist a fake United States army officer in receiving funds from Afghanistan.

As to one victim, MONTRAGE used her real name and spoke to the victim several times by phone. MONTRAGE sent the victim a tribal marriage certificate purporting to show that MONTRAGE and the victim had been married in Ghana. The victim sent MONTRAGE approximately 82 wire transfers totaling approximately $89,000 to purportedly help with costs associated with MONTRAGE’s father’s farm in Ghana.

In total, MONTRAGE controlled bank accounts that received over $2 million in fraudulent funds from the Enterprise.

* * *

Photo: Wikipedia

MONTRAGE, 30, of Accra, Ghana, is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, one count of wire fraud, one count of money laundering conspiracy, and one count of money laundering, each of which carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

MONTRAGE is also charged with one count of receipt of stolen money, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and one count of conspiracy to receive stolen money, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of MONTRAGE will be determined by a judge.

Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the FBI. Mr. Williams also thanked the United States Marshals Services, the National Extradition Unit, United States Customs and Border Protection, and the FBI Legal Attaché in London for their assistance in the investigation. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs of the Department’s Criminal Division provided significant assistance in securing the defendant’s extradition from the United Kingdom.

The case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mitzi Steiner and Kevin Mead are in charge of the prosecution.

The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

IMPROVISED IMMIGRANT SOLUTION: LATIMER OUTLINES HIS HOUSING OVERFLOW OF NYC IMMIGRANTS PLAN: 1. NEW ASYLUM COURT 2. TEMPORARY RESIDENCE ONLY. 3. RIGHT TO WORK. 4. COUNTY POLICE MONITORING

Posted on May 16, 2023 by John Bailey

COUNTY EXECUTIVE GEORGE LATIMER OUTLINES HOW HE BELIEVES IMMIGRANT OVERFLOW FROM NYC SHOULD BE HANDLED IN THIS CLIP FROM HIS MONDAY AFTERNOON BRIEFING YESTERDAY. HE BELIEVES THE COURT SHOULD HAVE JURISDICTION OVER ALL 7 COUNTIES IN THE MID-HUDSON REGION. HE EXPLAINS IN THIS 11 MINUTE FOLLOW UP TO HIS STATEMENT ON SATURDAY. TO SEE THE CLIP CLICK ON THE WHITE ARROW ABOVE.

The highlights: County Executive George Latimer in his Weekly Westchester Briefing introduced his solution to what must be done to house immigrants in an orderly manner in Westchester and, he said surrounding counties in the mid-Hudson region.

He called for

Swift establishment of an Asylum Court to determine if the overflow of immigrants New York City is seeking to place in Westchester and surrounding counties were eligible for asylum.
If asylum was granted, the residences had to be temporary.
Any of the overflow of immigrants New York City is seeking to be housed should be allowed to work and get paid jobs.
Westchester County Police would establish monitoring of the places were residents were temporarily placed to allay the neighbors of the placement facilities chosen of fear of the temporary residents.

The establishment of the court he suggests would appear to have to have either approval of the New York State government and perhaps congress in Washington (which has not acted on these immigration issues in two years.

Mr. Latimer suggested that justices for such a court as he suggests could come out of retirement, or present judges could be trained in immigration law.

GEORGE LATIMER MONDAY “WESTCHESTER WEEKLY BRIEFING” MAY 15 LIVE ON TAPE PRIME TIME LATIMER EVERY WEEK, REBROADCAST 24/7 ON WPCNR.COM & WWW.WPCOMMUNITYMEDIA.ORG YOUR “LATIMER NEWS NETWORK”

Posted on May 15, 2023 by John Bailey

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82M3NWS250Y

NY NYC ECONOMIC REPORT–JOBS RETURN TO NYC 5 MONTHS INTO 2023: SHOWS, RESTAURANTS, CONSTRUCTION, TOURISM LAG

Posted on May 15, 2023 by John Bailey

Office of the New York State Comptroller News

May 12, 2023

DiNAPOLI: NYC HAS RECOVERED NEARLY ALL PRIVATE SECTOR JOBS EXCEPT RETAIL, RESTAURANTS, CONSTRUCTION TOURISM

New York City has recovered 99.4% of private sector jobs it lost in the pandemic, but unevenly across key industries, according to an analysis released by New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.

“The city’s job recovery is good news,” DiNapoli said. “We are seeing strength in the securities, transportation and warehousing and office sectors, but retail, restaurants, construction and tourism continue to lag the national recovery. We need these sectors, which employ hundreds of thousands of workers, to also regain their full pre-pandemic strength to ensure the city’s economic recovery is more robust and inclusive of all New Yorkers.”

Comptroller DiNapoli monitors several industries vital to the city’s comeback and provides monthly updates on the New York City Industry Sector Dashboards, which he launched last year. Key findings across the arts, entertainment and recreation, construction, office, restaurants, retail, securities, tourism and transportation and warehousing sectors include:

Arts, Entertainment and Recreation 85%

The arts, entertainment and recreation sector saw an uptick in employment in March of 2023.
The sector has recovered only about 85% of pre-pandemic jobs, lagging the national job recovery rate for the sector of 96.4%.
Broadway reopened in September 2021 and makes up one of the largest shares of arts jobs but has been slow to come back. Attendance exceeded pre-pandemic levels for the first time in January of 2023, but has since remained below pre-pandemic levels.

Restaurants 95.5%

As of March 2023, the restaurant sector has recovered 95.5% of pre-pandemic jobs, slightly below the rest of the state at 97.3%, and the nation, which has already fully recovered.
At the height of the pandemic, restaurants lost 73% of jobs compared to 22% in the rest of the private sector.

Retail 87%

Retailers have only regained 87.4% of jobs in New York City compared to the nation which fully recovered its retail jobs as of March 2023.
The retail sector saw a 33% drop in jobs between March and April 2020 due to pandemic and mandatory closures of non-essential retail businesses.
The city’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 financial plan does not expect the sector to recover its pandemic job losses before 2027.

Tourism 15% OFF PREPANDEMIC ECONOMY

The sector has yet to recovery nationally, and tourism employment in the city is still nearly 15% below the pre-pandemic level at the end of the third quarter in 2022.
Hotel occupancy was about 74% in 2022, far below pre-pandemic levels.

Construction DOWN 8% OF ITS PREPANDEMIC PACE –RISING INTEREST RATES HURTING RIGHT NOW

As of March 2023, the construction sector has yet to regain 8% of its pre-pandemic jobs. Year-to-date activity in 2023 lags the same period last year, although construction activity was strong in 2022.
At the onset of the pandemic, the construction sector lost 46% of its jobs compared to only 22% for the private sector, as New York State paused nonessential construction.
Over the last year, the sector has been hit by the rising interest rate environment influenced by the Federal Reserve’s actions to combat high levels of inflation.

Securities IN THE MONEY

The securities sector did not see a notable drop in employment at the onset of the pandemic, as employees were able to shift to remote work.
While the sector has experienced fluctuations in employment, job growth in the city continues to surpass that of the rest of the state. The sector is currently 6.4% larger than in 2019.
Sector profits reached $25.8 billion in 2022, 55.8% less than the prior year.

Transportation and Warehousing

The sector has recovered pandemic job losses despite being hard hit at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Employment growth was especially strong in warehousing and storage, and courier and messenger services, due to increased demand for e-commerce.
The Port of New York and New Jersey surpassed Los Angeles and Long Beach, California to become the biggest port by number of large shipping containers.

Office

The office sector, which includes the information, financial and real estate, and professional and business services industries regained pandemic job losses by January 2022.
As of March 2023, jobs in the sector were almost 4% above the pre-pandemic level in 2019.
Workers continue to return to the office, with the latest data showing an office occupancy rate of nearly 60% on peak days such as Tuesdays. However, concerns over commercial office space linger as vacancy rates remained at 22.2% in the first quarter of 2023.

These dashboards follow a series of reports DiNapoli’s office released over the past two years on the effect of the pandemic on these sectors.

Job levels April 23

Dashboards

Arts, Entertainment and Recreation

Industry Sector Reports

Arts, Entertainment and Recreation (issued in February 2021)

Construction (issued in June 2021)

Office (issued in October 2021)

Restaurants (issued in September 2020)

Retail (issued in December 2020)

Securities (issued in October 2021)

Tourism (issued in April 2021)

HEY MOM!

Posted on May 14, 2023 by John Bailey

(This is for all you Moms out there. We know what you go through!)

“HEY MOM!”

Hey Mom– Bring me two waters so I’m set?

Where’s my underarmor? And my visor?

Are my tights washed? My skates are dull.

Hey Mom, can you call the advisor?

Hey Mom, I wasn’t yelling at you.

I didn’t mean to! You were yelling at me!

You never let me do anything my friends do

Hey Mom, would you chill, lighten up, just do!

Hey Mom, I don’t like the way this looks for the prom –

I don’t like the color, how could you think this was me?

I just can’t wear this, it’s this, it’s that it’s…Oh, Mom!?!

Hey Mom, I’ve been studying all morning getting knowledge.

Can’t I go out, I’ll be back by ten?

But, I know the material, gone over it again and again.

Oh, Mom – I hate my life! I can hardly wait until college.

Hey Mom – But I did call and let you know

Don’t you understand, I couldn’t call at that time.

No, you can’t not let me go – it’s a great band

Oh, Mom – I hate you! You never understand!

Hey, Mom, please don’t embarrass me at the game

By screaming so loud, it’s just so tacky

But, hey mom, I like that you’re over there in the stand

Watching me play, you know that don’t you Mom, you understand?

Hey Mom, can you get me to the rink

At 5 – I know you have to take off from work early?

Thanks, Mom, I’m so sorry but the team has a special thing

I have to be there, thanks Mom – I love you—really.

Hey, Mom, please when you pick me up at the dorm

Don’t come inside. Just wait outside, call me on the cell

I’ll be right down — it’s the norm.

Don’t ring the bell!

Hey, Mom, I’ve read the classifieds

There are no jobs, I can’t make all those calls.

Well, OK, I guess I can send that resume you made for me (sigh).

OK, I’m lost, where’s the post office, down Lexington to what?

Hey Mom, well I’m bringing my friends by,

Don’t let Dad embarrass me with his jokes, OK?

I’ll just die if he’s silly again — you won’t let him do that?

You’ll talk to him about that?

All right, Mom I’ll take that extra course.

But I’ve just been going to school for months it never ends!

Can’t I have a little vacation, I don’t know what’s worse

Can’t I spend a little time with my friends?

You do like him, Mom?

Oh, I hoped you would.

Yes, I really do

I am so glad you do too!

Hey Mom, can you take care of the kids this weekend?

We’re going to Vermont with a friend.

And Mom, the cats get kibble in morning and meat at night,

We love you mom, sorry for the short notice, talk to you tonight.

Hey Mom, I’m sorry I can’t see you Mother’s Day.

Are you all right, what will you be doing today?

Going to a play – great – you know we love you in every way?

Though we may not show it you’re always with us

even when you’re away.

Thanks, George, We Needed That. We need a permanent Westchester “House the Helpless” facility for victims of all misfortune.

Posted on May 13, 2023 by John Bailey

THE IMMIGRANT TRAIN. THE GREATEST NEWS PHOTOGRAPH I HAVE EVER SEEN. IT BREAKS YOUR HEART! IT SPEAKS TO YOU. IT FORCES YOU TO CONFRONT YOUR CONSCIENCE. YOUR FEAR. YOUR COURAGE. IT WAS TAKEN BY INTREPID PHOTOGRAPHER ALEJANDRO CEGARRA OF THE NEW YORK TIMES.THANK YOU FOR TAKING IT MR. CEGARRA at great risk!

34 WAYS WESTCHESTER COUNTY CAN STEP UP,

HELP THE UNWANTED, LIFT UP PEOPLE TERRORIZED BY THEIR COUNTRIES,

SAVE CHILDREN, PARENTS AND MAKE THEM AMERICANS FOR LIFE LIKE “US.”

JUST DECIDE TO DO IT! BECAUSE IT’S RIGHT!

NOW.

WPCNR NEWS & COMMENT. By John F. Bailey. May 13, 2023:

George Latimer wrote this in an opinion Friday shared by the county with WPCNR:

The people who are migrants are in dire need. Our city neighbor is trying to address that need. They, too, need help. Realistically, we have limited resources and can help to a limited degree. If we can manage some numbers, with proper services and controls in place, we, too, can help. We do not have the resources to take on overwhelming numbers — if other places, everywhere each do a modest share, we can make this influx manageable.

This is by far the strongest statement made by any leader in this state than I can remember.

Thank you, George Latimer. We needed that. This was tough for you to do.

Somemebody had to say it, and you did it!

Westchester needs permanent “Housing for the Helpless.”

Now, Westchester, it is up to you. Help. Take In. Lift Up, Save.

34 THINGS WESTCHESTER CAN DO NOW to

HOUSE THE HELPLESS

Every school public and private elementary or middle school or high school has gymnasiums, CAFETERIAS, classrooms that not used at night and could increase capacity during the day. The schools have students filled with humanity eager to help. Set up cots and enclosures to help the families. It is simply a matter of deciding we are going to do this.
There are empty hotels long since closed by covid. The Rye Town Hilton. The Arrowood. They SIT EMPTY. The county should rent them from the owners and house the immigrants there. They are empty. Better yet BUY THEM or lease wings of them for permanent ‘HOUSING FOR THE HELPLESS,” to benefit victims of fire, flood, storm damage–always there to help the helpless.
Every functioning hotel with vacances in it shoud make those rooms available on a long term basis. (Mayor Adams of NYC is trying to do this. Let’s make this a permanent model.)
Every apartment owner who has apartments not rented should make them available for occupancy by these immigrants in need. If present tenants do not like it, let them out of their leases.
Every house of worship, cathedral should open their sanctuaries to house immigrants. Save them. What would Jesus do?
Every city hall should open up their unused floors and underused city property to house them.
Professional sports arenas and stadiums should open their vast spaces to house them and feed them (plenty of concession stands). Where are the Yankees and the Mets on this issue. The Knicks and Rangers are done…MSG has plenty of space.
The empty theaters in the county and of course can house them on dark nights.
Warehouse owners…where are you?
Home owners like me, who have empty rooms, can take families in. A clearing house could be set up. I raise my hand!
The entertainment studios around Nassau, Westchester should open empty sound stages for housing.
The Westchester County Center vaccinated thousands now it is back for entertainment, it could house families on the floors under the main floor.
Office buildings not fully rented up should convert those office spaces for immigrants.
The County Airport that no longer has the general aviation rentals they used to have could convert that black top into housing.
The County Office building could house immigrants overnight ( a reach but hey, it is a big building.
The County Courthouse is not used at night. The court rooms could sleep persons the offices with their posh couches could be places to sleep.
Beach facilities could be used to house immigrants to sleep them overnight.
Camps in Westchester could house immigrants in the evenings after the campers go home and meals could be served there.
Colleges campus could open their dorm facilities in evenings (colleges are closing now).
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS facilities that shelter trucks, could shelter immigrants.
Every unrented, unleased commercial space in the county could be converted into temporary housing
Hospitals now relieved of the crush of covid (except for White Plains Hospital) could use their private rooms unoccupied to house families and also examine them for health issues
Playland could house folks in the Playland Ice Casino.
Glen Island could house them in the restaurant facility
Tents could be set up in the Westchester Parks.
Country Clubs could make their facilities available, PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT
Use the County Fund Balance to purchase foreclosed homes to house immigrants.
Set up a Open Homes Bank Roster, Owners volunteering their homes to share with “Our New Americans.”
Target illegal housing with rooms, and “eminent domain” these long-tolerated properties and seize them as a permanent “Westchester Housing Bank.”
CLOTHING FOOD INDUSTRIES SHOULD DONATE CLOTHING TO THE BRAVE, THE INTREPID, THE OPPRESSED WHO ARE TURNING TO US, SAYING PLEASE HELP US.
WORK THE PHONES TODAY CALLING ALL ORGANIZATIONS, CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, CLUBS, COMMUNITY GROUPS, DEVELOPERS AND ASK HOW CAN THEY HELP NOW
MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS SHOULD ORGANIZE GO FUND ME PAGES.
BILLIONAIRES SHOULD DONATE A BILLION EACH.
DECLARE A HUMANE EMERGENCY — RESCIND ZONING LAWS TO PUT HOUSING FOR THE HELPLESS PERMANENTLY IN THEIR COMMUNITIES BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

Every suggestion here will be ignored as being impossible.

But none of them are.

You just have to want to do it.

Let’s do it!

All In!

ALL IN: WESTCHESTER TO THE RESCUE: COUNTY EXECUTIVE STATES WESTCHESTER WILL HELP RESETTLE NYC IMMIGRANTS

Posted on May 12, 2023 by John Bailey

George Latimer. Westchester County Executive On the Record. WPCNR Media Library Photo by WPCNR

WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. MAY 12, 2023 Opinion From the Westchester County Executive George Latimer.

The lack of a coherent federal strategy to deal with immigration into the United States forced the issue to the front doorstep of those states and towns that span our southern land border. This is not unprecedented in our national history: the ports of New York City, Boston and San Francisco faced the same influx of poor, oppressed people seeking a better life in America over an extended span of time more than 100 years ago.

Then, as now, a significant portion of the existing American population wanted nothing to do with the newcomers. The immigrants looked different. They spoke a different language. They may have worshiped a different religion. Those already here made no connection to their own family immigration stories and treated the newcomers as aliens, strangers and dangerous to their way of life.

“They are not us.”

“We owe them no entry.”

“If they are suffering poverty or persecution in their land, we cannot be expected to take them all in.”

That mantra has become once again the firm policy of one of our political parties, and no coherent strategy can be constructed with such opposition.

A rational strategy is essential

In the book of Matthew, given that sacred scripture is often quoted to support other political policies, the disciple who writes is clear: when you offer food and drink, shelter and compassion to the stranger, you have done so to the Almighty. Eternal reward or punishment is meted out depending on your response.

A rational direction of immigration can make America stronger, not weaker.

How Westchester will respond

I am the chief elected official of a suburban county of one million people directly north of New York City. As the city exceeds its capacity to handle the flood of people in need, they have turned to their neighbors for help. Political philosophy applies — and some neighboring counties want no part of the problem and fight any shared assistance vigorously.

My administration in Westchester County sees this in pragmatic terms. The people who are migrants are in dire need. Our city neighbor is trying to address that need. They, too, need help. Realistically, we have limited resources and can help to a limited degree. If we can manage some numbers, with proper services and controls in place, we, too, can help. We do not have the resources to take on overwhelming numbers — if other places, everywhere each do a modest share, we can make this influx manageable.

There are some of our residents and not just a few, who will bitterly oppose any such rational response, however well managed and limited that may be. And there are as well many other residents who support compassion and rational responses to this.

I don’t doubt we’ll see at the next Election Day how we are judged.

And I don’t doubt that when the political careers are over, and when our time on this planet is over, we will be judged again.

All of us. Every single one of us. Judged for how we treated our neighbor.

George Latimer is Westchester County Executive.

ALBANY’S $5 BILLION DOLLAR BUNGLE TONIGHT AT 7 EDT ON www.wpcommunitymedia.org or FIOS CH 45 COUNTYWIDE, WHITE PLAINS OPTIMUM CH 76

Posted on May 12, 2023 by John Bailey

THE PRESIDENT COMES TO VALHALLA

SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS ON THE 2023-24 $256.6 MILLION BUDGET

COVID DATA DISAPPEARING AS PANDEMIC EMERGENCY ENDS

BUDGET BLUES FROM ALBANY AND WE PAY THE PRICE. CSEA CONTRACT SIGNED

COUNTY EXEC CONFIRMS ALBANY TAKES AWAY $30 MILLION IN MEDICAID FUNDS. GEORGE LATIMER EXPLAINS THE ALBANY SURPRISE..BUT BUT BUT THAT’S THE TIP OF THE RED ICEBERG.

PROFESSOR STEPHEN ROLANDI, ALBANY BUDGET OBSERVER REVEALS SHOCKING STATE DEFICIT NEXT THREE YEARS: $5 BILLION SHORT!

THE GUNDEMIC: GUN DEATHS GROW AS PERMISSIVE GUN LAWS TAKE AFFECT

STEPINAC CELEBRATES 75TH ANNIVERSARY. BICYCLE SUNDAYS BACK

WE’RE RIDIN ON THE RAILROAD AGAIN 200,000 A DAY ON METRO NORTH AND LIRR

JOHN BAILEY AND THE NEWS

THIS WEEK EVERY WEEK

ON WHITE PLAINS WEEK SINCE 2001 A.D.

TONIGHT AT 8 ON WPTV’S “PEOPLE TO BE HEARD” THE WHITE PLAINS 2023-24 SCHOOL BUDGET VOTE COMING UP COUNTYWIDE FIOS CH 45 AND OPTIMUM WHITE PLAINS CH.76 & www.wpcommunitymedia.org

Posted on May 11, 2023 by John Bailey

JOHN BAILEY INTERVIEWS DR. JOSEPH RICCA SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS ON THE SCHOOL BUDGET VOTE MAY 16 — THE FUTURE OF THE BUDGET GOING FORWARD, THE TAX SAVINGS, SCHOOL AID, IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY YOU SHOULD VOTE FOR THE BUDGET.

ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR BUSINESS, ANN VACCARO-TEICH ON THE NUMBERS

BACK TO THE OFFICE AGAIN! WE’VE BEEN RIDING ON THE RAILROAD ALL THE LIVE LONG DAY MTA ANNOUNCES BEST RIDERSHIP SINCE MARCH 2020 DASHING DANS AND DINAHS ARE COMING BACK TO THE OFFICE.

Posted on May 11, 2023 by John Bailey

GOVERNOR HOCHUL ANNOUNCED MTA COMMUTER RAILROADS SET POST-PANDEMIC RIDERSHIP RECORDS ON SAME DAY

LIRR and Metro-North Both Carried More Than 200,000 Riders on Tuesday, May 9

LIRR Carried Over 200,000 Riders in a Single Day 27 Times Since Opening of Grand Central Madison (pictured above)

Metro-North Surpasses 200,000 Riders in a Single Day for First Time Since March 6, 2020

Governor Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday, the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad set post-pandemic ridership records on Tuesday, May 9. LIRR carried approximately 221,290 riders on Tuesday, marking the 27th time the railroad has eclipsed 200,000 riders in a single day since the opening of Grand Central Madison. Metro-North hit the 200,000-rider mark for the first time since March 6, 2020, carrying approximately 205,069 riders on Tuesday, smashing the previous record of 195,086 on April 19.

“We have continued to make historic investments in our commuter rail services and the MTA – the life-blood of New York City,” Governor Hochul said. “From opening Grand Central Madison to securing more than $1 billion in sustained funding for the MTA, I am committed to expanding service and bringing riders back to the nation’s largest transit system.”

The LIRR records follow a 41 percent service increase in February 2023 that accompanied the opening of Grand Central Madison. Prior to the full opening of Grand Central Madison on February 27, the LIRR had exceeded 200,000 riders in a single day only twice since the beginning of 2023.

The Metro-North record follows a strong month of April, in which Metro-North set post-pandemic ridership records on consecutive days on April 18 and 19. The railroad also had a record-high level for Monday ridership, carrying 180,789 riders the day before yesterday, nearly 7,000 more than the previous best Monday on April 24.

MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said, “The ridership records keep coming, and they validate everything the MTA has been doing to make the commuter rails an attractive option—more frequent service, fare discounts, and with Grand Central Madison, an incredible new facility and a shorter commute.”

Metro-North Railroad President and LIRR Interim President Catherine Rinaldi said, “While discretionary travel has been an important part of the railroads’ recovery, it’s clear that in-office work is returning, and we are thrilled to see both railroads shattering their previous weekday post-COVID ridership records. With the opening of Grand Central Madison, the expansion of CityTicket, and the recent introduction of the Combo Ticket, it is clear that the railroads are simply the best and most convenient way to move around the region.”

The ridership records on both railroads come on the heels of their best month since 2020. Preliminary ridership statistics indicate that in April, both the LIRR and Metro-North carried a combined 9.46 million riders and posted their highest average weekday ridership since the pandemic began.

On an average weekday in April, the LIRR carried 200,915 customers. Grand Central Madison has already passed major iconic facilities like Boston South Station and Chicago Union Station in the rankings of busiest commuter railroad facilities. On April 24, the LIRR reinstated full-time, year-round service at Mets-Willets Point station to encourage riders to take mass transit to Citi Field events and provide Queens residents with an alternative travel option.

Metro-North carried 180,174 riders on an average weekday in April. On April 18, Metro-North reached a pandemic-era ridership record with 194,549 customers. The record was broken a day later, on April 19, when Metro-North carried 195,086 riders. The consecutive ridership records culminated in the railroad reaching its three-day ridership high since the pandemic of 193,111.