Category: Dan Donovan

Every Staten Island Elected Official Joins Borough President Oddo in Signing onto Letter to Governor and Mayor saying: “Thank you; We Need More Help” on Opioid Epidemic

1/12/2017

“Thank you; we need more help,” is the message of a short letter drafted by Borough President James S. Oddo and signed by every other elected official on Staten Island to Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio.

The letter, dated January 10, 2017 and addressed to Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio reads in total as follows:

“We sincerely thank you for all you have done to help us fight the opioid epidemic plaguing Staten Island.

“We desperately need more help.

“We are hopeful we can all get in the same room in the near future to figure out how we can do even more.”

Ironically, within hours of sending the letter, the Governor sent out a press release announcing a slew of new proposals in his State of the State to combat this epidemic state wide.

“I certainly welcome the Governor’s new proposals, and look forward to learning more about them,” said Borough President Oddo. “In fact, they are an indication of how important it is to get in the same room to discuss all our efforts and discuss what more can be done. At our December 2, 2016 meeting I hosted at Borough Hall, my colleagues and I agreed that the crisis is so pervasive and serious that we must be working with the highest reaches of the state and city government to solve it. This letter appealing to the Governor and Mayor for their direct engagement with us asks just for that. Does the request reflect a bit of chutzpah on our part? Perhaps. But the cause is that important and the consequences of inaction too serious.”

Besides Borough President Oddo, the bipartisan group of elected officials signing onto the letter was: District Attorney Michael McMahon, Congressman Dan Donovan, State Senators Andrew Lanza and Diane Savino, Assembly Members Michael Cusick, Matthew Titone, Nicole Malliotakis, and Ron Castorina, and Council Members Steven Matteo, Joe Borelli, and Debi Rose.

BP Oddo announces funding for new videotaping system for District Attorney’s office

9/25/2014

On Thursday, September 25th, Borough President James Oddo announced that he has allocated $380,000 in capital funding to the Staten Island District Attorney’s Office. The money will fund an overhaul of the videotaping system which produces footage for Grand Jury proceedings, trials and for use in their control room, line-up room, and witness room, as well as their media and conference center into a video recording system. The new system will replace the old system, last updated in 2005, which has fallen behind current industry standards.

“One of the first people I met with after becoming Borough President was District Attorney Dan Donovan,” said Borough President Oddo. “I wanted him to know that we at Borough Hall were committed to doing everything we could to assist him in his critical role as chief law enforcement officer on Staten Island, including help with capital dollars. Technology has come a long way in a few short years and it’s imperative that the District Attorney’s Office utilize an up-to-date system.”

The project will digitize the recording process, making high quality imaging available during necessary proceedings. Cameras and audio equipment will be replaced in the line-up room, the witness room and the media and conference center. In addition, the control room will get a total overhaul of equipment, which will improve the image quality and sound, converting the analog-based video-taping system into a server-based HD video-recording system.

In addition, an archive system will make it much more time efficient for prosecutors to locate footage needed for their cases. The new system will allow the DA’s office to export victim/witness/defendant videos directly onto ADA’s computers and create a more secure method of storing interviews.

“This much-needed upgrade will bring the outdated technology in my office into the next century. Interviewing victims, witnesses and defendants is the foundation on which strong cases are built,” said Richmond County District Attorney Daniel M. Donovan, Jr. “I want to thank Borough President Oddo for this capital funding, which will allow my office to better serve the people of Staten Island.”

BP Oddo Donates Cell Phones to Survivors of Domestic Violence

4/9/2014

Borough President James S. Oddo joined District Attorney Daniel M. Donovan, Jr. to present 80 used cell phones to Safe Horizon on April 9 at Borough Hall. The Borough President’s office collected the cell phones last year at a drive held at Borough Hall.With reports of domestic violence incidence rising to staggering levels on Staten Island, the phones will be used in the event of emergencies for victims to call 911. From 2009 to 2012, Staten Island reported a 51.9 percent increase in domestic violence, according to Division of Criminal Justice Services data.

Safe Horizon is the nation’s largest provider of residence for victims of domestic violence and their families, operating nine shelters across New York City. The donated cell phones will be distributed to domestic violence victims for use in emergency situations.

“I’m pleased that members of the Staten Island community stepped up and donated their used cell phones,” noted Borough President Oddo. “These phones will provide a lifeline to victims, giving them a safe way to connect with the police in case of emergency.”

“Any one of these 80 cell phones generously donated by Borough President Oddo to Safe Horizon could be the very lifeline that quickly puts a victim in touch with emergency responders in their most dire moment,” noted Daniel M. Donovan, Jr., Richmond County District Attorney. He noted that it is a crime to try to take a phone away from someone who is calling for help and that as a community, we need to change the way we think about domestic violence. “If you saw someone breaking into your neighbor’s basement window, you would call the police. If you hear your neighbor beating his wife, you might not want to get involved. We have to change the way we think about this. It’s a crime,” he said.

“Safe Horizon applauds Staten Island and Staten Island Borough President James Oddo for their leadership in supporting survivors of Domestic Violence. The phones donated will make an impact for victims who have been isolated by abuse and violence for too long,” said Erika Arias-Moreno, Director of Staten Island Community and Criminal Justice Programs at Safe Horizon.

NEWS

Every Staten Island Elected Official Joins Borough President Oddo in Signing onto Letter to Governor and Mayor saying: “Thank you; We Need More Help” on Opioid Epidemic

BP Oddo announces funding for new videotaping system for District Attorney’s office

BP Oddo Donates Cell Phones to Survivors of Domestic Violence

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