time for business to get out of the business of health...

D IA M O ND D I S T R I C T

MONTHLYVol.52September 2014

52

47th St. BID AnnuAl MeetIngMonday Oct. 6, 2014, 9:30 AMMcGraw Hill Center - 2nd FloorAvenue of the Americas, Between 48th & 49th St., 49th St. Entrance

Save The

DaTe

Safety & Security For Jewelers - Part 2

CRIME PREVENTION ADVICE FOR JEWELERSBasic Security Recommendations When Carrying Jewelry Off-Premises

Employers – especially small businesses – have been suffer-

ing under the weight of skyrocket-ing health costs for decades. While the Affordable Care Act eases the blow somewhat, the fundamental problem remains: We have an employer-based healthcare system that is largely at the mercy of big insurance companies. We are the only country in the

world with a system like this. And it’s all an accident of history.

During World War II, the federal government froze wages. To compete for workers, some employers hit on the idea of offer-ing to pay for health coverage for their workers – and the idea caught on.

The Affordable Care Act expands coverage by mandating and rewarding some employer-based coverage, creating health insurance exchanges and subsidies to help those who are not covered by employers, and expanding Medicaid.

It’s a good effort, but unfortunately it still leaves insurance companies fundamentally in charge – with rising premiums, high deductibles and co-pays, and restricted provider networks and

Time For Business to Get Out of the Business of Health CareSingle Payer Means More Money for Business, Better Health for EveryoneBy Assembly Member Richard N. Gottfried, Chair, New York State Assembly Health Committee

1. Never resist in a robbery. There are many instances of sales-persons being punched, kicked, stabbed or knocked to the ground, sending the injured salesperson to the hospital.

2. Jewelry merchandise left in an unattended vehicle is an easy target for gangs and often means that there will be no insur-ance coverage. DO NOT LEAVE GOODS IN AN UNAT-TENDED VEHICLE. Do not leave jewelry merchandise in the trunk or on the seat of your car, even for a minute, when you run into a store or go on an errand.

3. Many off-premises robberies of traveling salespersons occur in parking lots, often when going to or from hotels, where they

have been followed after making sales calls. Sometimes the sales calls were made on the previous day and the salespersons were not hit until the next morning after they have left the hotel. SALESPERSONS MUST TAKE EVASIVE DRIVING ACTION AFTER EVERY SALES CALL, AND BEFORE RETURNING TO THEIR HOTEL, HOME OR OFFICE.

4. Salespersons must try to see if they are being followed by using such evasive driving tactics as driving very slowly, by driving around the block, by making u-turns or pulling into a bank or fast food parking lot. Are one or more cars following you?

Continued on page 8

Assembly Member Gottfried

Continued on page 9

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New York State Ban of Sale of Ivory Signed Into Law

Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation that amends New York State’s en-vironmental law to ban the sale of ivory in New York State. The ban includes;

mammoth ivory, elephant ivory, and rhino horn sales. This New York State legisla-tion enhances federal efforts to tighten the ivory trade ban that exists on a federal level. The new law has a permanent ban on the sales of these products. There are very few exceptions to the new law. The legislation authorizes New York’s Depart-ment of Environmental Conservation to issue permits for the sale of the following items made from these products:• Musical instruments (string, wind and piano) manufactured prior to 1975• 100 year-old antiques comprised of less than 20 percent elephant ivory with

documented proof of provenance• Elephant ivory where transfer of ownership is for education and scientific pur-

poses including to a museum authorized by special charter from the legislature • Elephant ivory where transfer is to a legal beneficiary of a trust or estate

All other sales of these products are now banned in New York State. The law also has increased penalties for violation, including: a fine of $3,000 or 2x the value of the article, whichever is greater, for the first offense, and a fine of $6,000 or 3x the value of the article, whichever is greater for the second offense. Selling articles with a value in excess of $25,000 is now classified as Class D Felony which comes with a penalty of up to 7 years imprisonment.

This law goes into effect immediately. Existing license and permit holders may sell ivory and rhino horn as defined on their licenses and permits until the cur-rent licenses or permits expire. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is directed to provide additional information on following this new ban within 30 days.

New York State now joins New Jersey, where the New Jersey State Legislature this year approved a bill prohibiting most sales of ivory (elephant, hippopotamus, mammoth, narwhal, walrus, or whale) and rhino horn. New Jersey’s governor, Chris Christie signed the bill into law on August 5, 2014.

LegisLative Update

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The Diamond District Monthly is published monthly by the 47th Street

Business Improvement District.

4 SEPTEMBER 2014 DIAMOND DISTRICT MONTHLY4

ExEcutivE committEEHarvey Nagin – Nagin JewelryPresidentSteven Grauer – Gold Art 18 Kt LLc Chairmanmichael toback – myron toback inc.Vice ChairmanDennis marlow – Solitaire creations SecretaryRobert Hadi – ABS Partners Real Estate, LLcTreasurer Richard Winick – manny Winick & SonKen Kahn – KenArt RealtiesRichard Friedman – i. Friedman & SonsRonnie vanderLinden – Diamex inc.Jeffrey mordekai – Petra Jewelers

BoARD mEmBERSS. David Belsky – S.D.Belsky AssociatesChair Audit Committee Jay Holzer – Dyckmans chris ipek – Altin RealtyRaizy Haas – Extell Development corp.Lucy orozco – valley National Bank matt Selig – Leo ingwerJohn Kocak – unique SettingsYale Zoland – Zoland’sDanielle Azeroual – Premier RealtyAdnan Aydin - Futurama Jewelry ExchangeJack Elo – the Elo Groupmoris Yero Shalmi – ABcmarc Beznicki – Kingmark JewelersAlon mor – mor DiamondsJules Fleischer – Jewelry by Alexander Sammy Abramov – AA Pearlmichael oistacher – manhattan Gold & Silverisaac chetrit – Yadidi GroupSunny Yung – central management corp.memhet Gulay – city Property DevelopmentAdam Abramson – Abramson Brothers

Bill de Blasio – mayorScott Stringer – New York city comptroller Gale Brewer – manhattan Borough President Daniel Garodnick – council memberJohn Glaister – ResidentReuven Kaufman – Diamond Dealers club

StAFFmichael Grumet – Executive DirectorNatalia cheviakova – Administrator Director

DIAMOND DISTRICT MONTHLY SEPTEMBER 2014 5 5


DDC’s First India Diamond Week Hailed a Resounding SuccessEvent Creates a “Positive Impact” on International Diamond Trade, says the GJEPC Vice-Chairman, Pankaj Kumar Parekh

The four-day exhibition of the first India Diamond Week at the Diamond Dealers Club (DDC) in conjunction with the

Gems & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) came to a resoundingly successful conclusion. Significant business transactions and new connections were made on the DDC’s Trading floor by U.S. and overseas participants, including DDC members and exhibitors from abroad.

The four-day exhibition, following on the heels of Antwerp Diamond Week and Israel Diamond Week, welcomed dia-mantaires from India to the U.S. This is the DDC’s third major initiative in only a few months to draw new audiences and forge bonds between diamantaires at the center of the diamond trade to New York City’s Diamond Dealers Club.

The GJEPC’s Vice-Chairman, Pankaj Kumar Parekh, shared his enthusiasm for the event. “We jumped on the privilege to partici-pate when it was offered to us. Our relationship with the DDC is very strong. We complement each other and can’t survive without one another. The event was so successful that India diamantaires are already eager to come back to the DDC next month!”

To formally mark the occasion, DDC President Reuven Kaufman welcomed guests at a cocktail reception and network-ing event on Wednesday evening. “I was thrilled to see all the tables, all the aisles, completely full,” he said as he addressed the crowd. “By hosting India Diamond Week, and other shows at the DDC, we are witnessing new relationships forming, busi-ness deals happening – our trading floor coming alive again.”

The show exceeded the expectations of India Diamond Week exhibitors. Many expressed gratitude for being invited to participate and for reaping the rewards of doing business in real-time. Ashok Nadoda of Shree Ramkrishna Exports Pvt. Ltd, one of the largest diamond manufacturers in India, said this was a totally new experience for them. “This is the destination for us to meet our customers and grow our business. We do more than fifty percent of our business online. By being here, this is the best way we can meet people, which helps increase our business tremendously,” he said.

Mitesh Zaveri of Hari Krishna Exports Pvt. Ltd, commended the DDC for conceiving and creating the show. “We didn’t know what to expect and we’re very pleased with the results,” he said. “We sold a nice amount of goods. Now that we participated in this show, we’ll come up with new goals so we can sell more next time.”

Local wholesalers and diamond companies noted that the DDC’s India Diamond Week presented them with an oppor-tunity to network face-to-face, build new relationships and maintain bonds with companies they don’t usually interact with in person, which is critical to business and making deals.

“I think the U.S. market works hand-in-hand with the Indian

market,” said Penina Rapaport of the Rapaport Group. “We’re seeing a lot more development with Indian companies, which is why it’s very important to have India Diamond Week. People really appreciate shows at the Diamond Dealers Club.”

Henry Desai of Bluerays Inc., a local manufacturer and wholesaler said, “It’s important to build new relationships and maintain bonds with these companies.”

WFDB and DDC Honorary President, Eli Izhakoff, attended the reception on Wednesday evening. “It’s a pleasure for me to see the reemergence of the DDC. The manifestation of this event, following the recent shows, brings people together to create new energy on the trading floor. I’m looking forward to watching the DDC continue to blossom under Reuven Kaufman’s careful and dutiful guidance.”

About the DiAmonD DeAlers Club (DDC)The Diamond Dealers Club (DDC) is the largest diamond trade organization in the United States, and one of the leading diamond exchanges in the world. The DDC works diligently to support and encourage the growth of the U.S. diamond industry. The mission of the DDC of New York is to foster the interests of the diamond, colored stone and jewelry industry by providing, regulating and maintaining a facility as the DDC; fostering just and equitable principles in trade; establishing and promoting industry-wide standards of disclosure; disseminating accurate and reliable information; carrying out the activities and objec-tives of the organization in accordance with the laws of the State of New York and the U.S.

Left to right; Reuven Kaufman, Eli Izhakoff, Pankaj Kumar Parekh


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out-of-network charges. We all pay more because we are paying for insurance company profits, administrative costs, and overhead on top of paying for health care.

As long as insurance companies drive the system, New York’s businesses and employees will continue to struggle with skyrock-eting costs and no accountability.

We can do better. We can cover everyone, provide better coverage, and save billions through publicly sponsored, single-payer health coverage – like an improved version of Medicare for everyone.

Like many other key services, health care should be a basic right, not a “benefit” or a commodity.

Although Washington is gridlocked, individual states have long served as “laboratories of democracy.” In New York, State Senator Bill Perkins and I have introduced a single-payer bill called “New York Health” (A5389-A/S2078-A).

New York Health would provide comprehensive, universal health coverage for every New Yorker and would replace the current system of private insurance company coverage.

Good for business. Health insurance premiums from 2003-2013 have increased 89% with little to show for it. New York Health would reduce costs for employers – large and small – by taking them out of the business of buying health coverage. Most employers subsidize their employees’ insurance premiums, even as commercial insurance drives up rates with no accountability. Small businesses in particular have no leverage with insurance companies when it comes to bargaining rates.

New York Health would make New York dramatically more job-friendly, especially for small businesses, start-ups, low-margin businesses. A progressive taxation system would cost business owners – particularly small business owners – much less than they pay now. That means more profit for businesses and more take-home pay for employees.

Patients and Doctors making the decisions. Under the current system, patients and healthcare providers are at the mercy of insurance bureaucrats. Worse yet, few of those bureaucrats even have the appropriate medical knowledge to rule on particular pro-cedures. Under New York Health, only patients and their doctors – not insurance companies – would make health care decisions.

Comprehensive coverage. All New Yorkers would be cov-ered for all medically necessary services, including: primary, preventive, specialists, hospital, mental health, reproductive health care, dental, vision, prescription drug, and medical sup-ply costs. This would be more comprehensive than commercial health plans today.

Paid for fairly. Today, insurance companies set the same high premiums, deductibles, and co-pays, whether it’s for a CEO or a receptionist. Small businesses have no leverage with insurance companies, and a big successful company actually pays less than

a small business. New York Health would replace this regressive system with broad-based revenue. There would be a graduated tax on payroll (paid by both employers and employees) and on non-payroll taxable income – all based on ability to pay. For most employers and individuals, it will be a substantial reduction in what they now spend for health care. Most people’s take-home pay and employer profit margins will go up.

Less administrative waste, better care, more accountability. The total cost would be tens of billions less than what we now spend, because we wouldn’t be paying for huge insurance company administrative costs and profits or for the time and paperwork of dealing with insurance companies. Health coverage would be accountable to the people of New York, not to insurance company stockholders.

The most affordable solution. A 2009 report by New York State found that a single-payer plan would have the lowest cost for providing universal coverage, compared to plans relying on insurance companies and employment-based coverage.

The current system is broken beyond repair and does not serve the best interests of patients, healthcare professionals, business, labor, or taxpayers. No amount of around-the-edges solutions can fix the underlying problem. As long as commercial insurers run the system, we are hostage to big insurance companies.

Support is growing for a common sense, single payer solu-tion. A report by the non-partisan organization Public Citizen shows how a state single-payer plan can be enacted even with federal laws like the ACA and Medicare. Vermont has enacted a single-payer system that is expected to start up in 2017, pending federal approval.

New York Health is good for employers – especially small businesses, good for working families, and good for healthcare professionals. It’s time to move beyond patchwork fixes and enact real reform, providing affordable, quality care to all New Yorkers.

New York Health: You and your health care providers work to keep you healthy, and New York Health pays the bill.

Assembly Member Richard Gottfried is chair of the NYS Assembly Committee on Health.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

NYC: 242 West 27th Street, New York, NY 10001, 212-807-7900Capitol: 822 Legislative Office Building, Albany, NY 12248, 518-455-4941GottfriedR@assembly.state.ny.uswww.Assembly.state.ny.us/Gottfriedwww.RichardGottfried.orgT: @dickgottfried

Time For Business to Get Out of the Business of Health Care Continued from Page 1


Safety & Security For Jewelers - Part 2 Continued from Page 1

5. If you are being followed, call 911 and say “I am about to be the victim of an armed robbery” and if possible make your call obvious to the suspicious persons. When criminals see you using your cell phone after you have spotted them, they are less likely to pursue you because they may fear you have called the police.

6. Don’t fall for distractions. If someone approaches you for change or directions, consider yourself a crime target and move on swiftly.

7. If you experience trouble with your car trunk lock, door lock or ignition key, or have a flat tire, radiator trouble or are bumped by another car, consider yourself a crime target. Immediately get yourself to a place of safety.

8. South American gangs watch retail jewelry locations. When you arrive at a location carrying jewelry, drive around the area and look for suspicious groups of males who may be sitting in nearby vehicles. Park as close to the main entrance to your destination as possible, and do not enter or exit by a rear or secluded entrance.

9. Jewelers should not take valuable jewelry merchandise to their homes.

10. Whether riding in a taxi, shuttle bus, or by any means of trans-portation, keep all jewelry merchandise with you, not in the trunk of the taxi or storage compartment of the bus or van.

11. Even if you are not carrying jewelry merchandise, if you are visiting jewelry premises and are carrying a bag of any sort, you are a target. The criminals that stake out jewelry premises may mistake the bag you are carrying, whether an attaché case or your gym clothes, for a bag containing jewelry merchandise. When you can, avoid carrying a bag of any sort.

12. Gangs have been known to place GPS devices on the autos of salespersons. There are electronic devices available to detect the presence of GPS devices. Salespersons should also inspect underneath their vehicle from time to time.

The Jewelers’ Security Alliance (JSA) is a non-profit trade association providing crime prevention information and services to the jewelry industry. JSA, founded in 1883, has 23,000 member locations and works closely with the FBI and law enforcement agencies throughout the U.S.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

John J. Kennedy, President Jewelers’ Security Alliance 6 East 45th Street, #1305 New York, NY 10017 USA 212-687-0328 or 1-800-537-0067 e-mail: [email protected] website: www.jewelerssecurity.org

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Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Julie Menin announced that as of July 1, a wide-ranging

package of nearly two-dozen reforms have been implemented to bring much-needed relief to thousands of New York City’s small businesses. The reforms fulfill Mayor Bill de Blasio’s campaign promise to reduce onerous fines on small businesses. The business relief package will reduce the number and cost of fines, increase transparency and fairness, and greatly expand the education of and outreach to businesses. While these reforms will aid the majority of law-abiding businesses, DCA will ensure a rigor-ous structure of oversight and fines for the types of businesses and practices that raise health concerns and for businesses that flout rules, engage in predatory behavior, or negatively affect the public’s well-being.

“Small businesses are the heart and the economic engine to this City, and following the Mayor’s lead, DCA is commit-ted to making our operations fairer, simpler and less onerous on law-abiding businesses,” said DCA Commissioner Menin. “The reforms will create an easier environment for businesses to operate in our City while at the same time ensuring that we remain vigilant in our work protecting consumers and keeping the marketplace fair.”

“The Department of Consumer Affairs is taking action to end the game of “gotcha” that has characterized past relationships with many small businesses. These new steps will not only re-duce fines, but educate business owners as to how they can meet inspection standards,” said Kathryn Wylde, President & CEO of the Partnership for New York City.

“Commissioner Menin understands that issuing warnings instead of fines, and giving businesses a chance to correct viola-tions is the best way to ensure the quality New Yorkers deserve without creating additional burdens on business owners. I applaud Mayor de Blasio for working with businesses and sup-porting our job creators.”

“We welcome and embrace this show of support by Mayor de Blasio, Commissioner Menin and DCA,” said Fernando Mateo, President of Hispanics Across America, which represents thou-sands of small, minority-owned businesses in the City. “This is a godsend to small business. It‘s like oxygen to a patient who is suffering.”

From these specific reforms, DCA is expected to meet the Mayor’s fine reduction goal of 21 percent, or approximately $5 million, while at the same time making it easier for small businesses to learn about their regulatory responsibilities and to interact with DCA. Owners will be able to direct their hard-earned money that previously went to onerous fines, towards reinvestment into their businesses, which will strengthen and promote economic growth within their communities.

“From my experience as a small business owner, to my years as a consumer protection lawyer, and as head of a community board who listened to all sides of an issue, I understand how important it is to balancing the needs of small business owners and protecting consumers throughout New York City. This pack-age does just that,” said DCA Commissioner Menin.

Key reforms thAt hAve been enACteD inCluDe:

reforms designed to reduce the number and cost of fines:

• ReducedNumberofViolations: » DCA will only issue one violation for any piece of informa-

tion missing from a required sign, the receipt or record book, instead of one violation for each missing piece as it had in the past. A second violation will be issued if the sign or required record book is missing completely or a receipt isn’t provided. For example, a sign that has six dif-ferent components used to receive six separate violations. Under the new policy, there will be just one violation for any missing pieces of information.

» DCA has also changed policy regarding individual price posting, which will benefit bodegas, small groceries and general retail stores.

• ReducedSettlementAmounts: DCA will reduce the amount that a business can settle a violation for in numerous indus-tries.

• CurableViolations: The “Cure Law,” which went into effect June 30, gives DCA an unprecedented opportunity to allow businesses to correct first-time violations for many signage violations, which represent more than 100 different violations

Department of Consumer Affairs Announces Sweeping Small Business Relief Package to Overhaul Small Business Regulation and Ramp Up Business Outreach

Reforms Will Reduce the Number and Cost of Violations, Cut Red Tape, and Empower Businesses with Education, Fulfilling a Long-standing Commitment by Mayor Bill de Blasio to Break From the Past and Support New York City’s Small Business Community

Continued on page 13


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National Immigration Forum’s The Bethlehem Project is an initiative by the non-profit that advocates for the value

of immigrants and immigration to our nation. They currently work with businesses nationwide to bring free citizenship services to the worksite. They provide information workshops and legal assistance to help eligible green card holding employees and their families become US citizens. For more information contact Jennie Murray, Director of Integration Programs, [email protected] or see their website http://immigrationforum.org/bethlehem

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issued by DCA. Beginning July 1, first time violator businesses have 30 days to correct these violations and avoid having to pay a fine. For example, a nail salon that does not have its refund policy posted when the business is inspected would have previously faced a $250 fine, but if they submit proof that they have posted one within 30 days, they will not have to pay anything. This opportunity will affect about 20 percent of all violations issued by DCA.

• issuing Warnings: DCA will also be going beyond the Cure Law and will issue warnings instead of violations for additional violations not covered by the law, such as not having the DCA license number on all printed materials, and not stating the reason for the range of price variations on a price list.

reforms designed to increase transparency and fairness:

• InspectionChecklists:Previously, businesses would com-plain that they did not know what DCA was looking for in its inspections. For the first time ever, 41 easy-to-read checklists that inspectors use to conduct patrol inspections are posted online at nyc.gov/BusinessToolbox, so that businesses can learn what inspectors require. The 10 most common checklists are being translated into Spanish, Chinese, French, Creole, Korean, Russian, Bengali and Arabic. All others will be translated into Spanish.

• InspectionsinPreferredLanguage: Businesses can now request that that their DCA inspection be conducted in the language of their choice. Inspectors carry a card with them that allows business owners to point to a language using a translation service on the phone. The point-to card has 10 languages, but inspections can be inspected in any language provided by the City’s translation service. DCA has Spanish and other language-speaking inspectors.

• NewOnlineRoutingTool: Previously, some neighbor-hoods were overburdened by inspectors, while others were under-inspected. DCA will now be using internal mapping technology to ensure equitable distribution of inspections across the city.

reforms designed to increase business education:

• OpenHousesandCommunityOutreach: DCA will increase the number and frequency of Open Houses when small busi-nesses can come in for training, and will expand its presence at community events. DCA will strengthen its partnership with Business Improvement Districts to disseminate information to their members about DCA activity and policies.

• “AskanInspector”: Starting July 21, a DCA inspector will be in the Licensing Center daily to answer questions from businesses about rules and regulations. DCA will also be expanding this program to its borough offices.

• LawsandRulesAlerts:DCA will proactively engage business when new rules or laws are enacted that will directly impact them.

• LegalOmbudsman: A newly created role in our Legal Divi-sion will be dedicated to answering questions for businesses and helping navigate complicated rules.

• BusinessesEducationDays: Our DCA inspectors will in-crease the amount of “Business Education Days.” On these days inspectors will be going door-to-door to businesses to hand out information and answer any questions business owners might have.

• FinancialCounseling: DCA will offer convenient financial counseling services to small businesses.

• other improvements: DCA offers the City’s first and only online live chat option, which enables New York businesses to easily ask questions during business hours without having to visit DCA’s Licensing Center or take time away from their customers to call in a question.

FirmandResoluteonConsumerProtectionWhereitMatters:

• Whetherexpiredmedicinesorstoressellingtobaccotominors, DCA will remain as vigilant as ever in protecting consumers. The Agency is currently involved in several ag-gressive initiatives to crack down on scams, abuses, fraud and unlicensed activity through investigation and other tactics. DCA urges New York City consumers with consumer protec-tion issues to call 311.

DCA enforces the Consumer Protection Law and other related business laws throughout New York City. Empowering consum-ers and businesses to ensure a fair and vibrant marketplace, DCA licenses about 80,000 businesses in 55 different industries. Through targeted outreach, partnerships with community and trade organizations, and informational materials, DCA educates consumers and businesses alike about their rights and responsi-bilities. New York City businesses can visit the Business Toolbox at nyc.gov/BusinessToolbox and are encouraged to share sug-gestions about other business services they would find useful by on DCA’s social media sites, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.Formoreinformation,call311orvisitDCAonlineat

nyc.gov/consumers.

Department of Consumer Affairs Announces Sweeping Small Business Relief Package to Overhaul Small Business Regulation and Ramp Up Business Outreach

Continued from Page 11


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71 West 47th Street, Suite #1002Ph. 212-921-7661

www.ArgyleInsuranceAgency.comRobert A. Lejman, Licensed NYS Insurance Broker

• SpecializinginStandaloneJewelryInsuranceforyourclientspesonaljewelry.• AlsoofferingJewelersBlockPolicies.• KeepJewelryOFFHomeowners&RentersInsurance,bettertohaveaseparatepolicy!• OurpoliciesofferWorldwideCoverage,NoDeductible,All-Risks.• OurpoliciesareAgreedValue,ratherthanthelessdesirableReplacementPolicies.• Incaseofaloss,youoryourclientreceivestheInsuredValue,notaReplacementitem.• FormostStandaloneJewelryPolicies,wecanquote&insuresameday!

Call or stop in to inquire or pick up an application. We can also email an application to your Client.

Your clients can be insured before they leave the Distict!

time for business to get out of the business of health...

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