Hikind and Lazar Close to the Line

There are several serious issues here aside for the potential illegal use of government funds. If in fact Joe Lazar had his sons set-up a consulting/lobbying firm before he left the employ of the state for the purpose of doing business with those that he was advising in an official capacity that may also be a violation of the law. What's more, Joe, who then joined the firm, would have been barred from lobbying the state for one year. So what exactly did he do at the newly created family firm? Finally, I looked at the city, state and federal filings. Neither Joe, Solomon, or Mark Lazar are registered anywhere as lobbyists. This flies in the face of the "negotiating with government" services that the Lazar Family Consulting Group claims to provide on their website at www.lazarcg.com/services.html

NYCwiseguy,
You sure use a lot of space to say nothing. You also left out some claims like, "If in fact Mr Lazar murdered somebody, that would be a serious issue." Why do you think the word negotiating is synonymous with lobbying? I suggest you go out and buy a good dictionary and then have somebody read the definitions for the two words to you. Just possibly you may understand that they are not the same function.

LegalEagle,
You are partly correct. While negotiating can sometimes be a lobbying activity it may not be one as well. It all depends on the circumstances. While lobbying is a legal term, without a legal equation of the two activities, lobbying and negotiating, it would be permitted in many circumstances. For example walking may be jaywalking and may not depending on the situation. That is why allegations without any facts are so misleading and unfair. Anybody can say anything they want without any facts to back it up. Either put up or shut up.

Here is the definition in New York State Legislative Law §1-c
{ Lobbyist: The term "lobbyist" shall mean every person or organization retained, employed or designated by any client to engage in lobbying }

I don't see it saying "to engage in negotiating"

http://www.lazarcg.com/SAMHSA_PRESS_RELEASE_2005.html

SAMHSA AWARDS 1.2 MILLION DOLLAR GRANT TO
NACHAS HEALTH AND FAMILY NETWORK FOR SERVICES
TO HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS

The Lazar Consulting Group (www.lazarcg.com), announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Mental Health Services
(CMHS), has awarded a three-year $1.2 Million grant to Nachas Health and Family Network. Nachas has a long history of assisting Holocaust survivors accessing mental health services. Mark Lazar, said that The Lazar Consulting Group, had been working with Assemblyman Dov Hikind to identify an organization in the community who could accomplish the mission of reaching out to Holocaust survivors. “A very important component of this grant is the
recognition, by SAMHSA, that the trauma of the Holocaust has been passed on to the next generation”, said Solomon Lazar, “and that it is necessary to address this often forgotten need”. Assemblyman Hikind has for many years
been a committed advocate for Holocaust survivors and their families, himself being the son of holocaust survivors. The Lazar Consulting Group coordinated the selection of the provider organization, with the submission of the grant
application to SAMHSA. This award is one of only eleven, nationally.

The program will address the needs of Holocaust survivors and their older adult children. It will increase outreach and engagement to Holocaust survivors and their aging children for mental health services. This will result in improved
mental health and wrap around supportive services to this aging population.
One of the unique elements of this grant is that it also addresses the needs of the second generation, who themselves are older Americans who were
subjected to the results of the trauma suffered by their parents.

A recently completed study, at the Abarbanel Mental Health Center (affiliated with Tel Aviv University’s Sackler School of Medicine), Geha Mental Health Center in Petach Tikvah, and the Israeli Defense Forces Medical Corps, and published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, documented that
aging, but still traumatized, Holocaust survivors are 3.5 times more likely to attempt suicide, than those elderly who did not suffer through the Holocaust. It
is believed that this study was the first on the rate of suicide attempts among elderly Holocaust survivors. The findings refute previously held beliefs, which
suggested that Holocaust survivors naturally had more endurance than the general population. A common fact about posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
is that it is not immediately apparent.

“Research has shown that suicide prevention and early intervention efforts are successful at saving lives. Treatment is effective and lives can be saved,” said
Sharon E. Carpinello, R.N., Ph.D., Commissioner of the New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH). OMH produced and coordinates SPEAK, a public education and awareness campaign designed to help New Yorkers become more familiar with the risks and warning signs of suicide, and to give them the
information and resources they need in order to help themselves, their friends, loved ones, neighbors, and others.

Lloyd I. Sederer, MD, Executive Deputy Commissioner for Mental Hygiene for the City of New York, said, "The effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder are
not always immediately apparent, and too many older New Yorkers don't recognize their need for or ability to access quality care. This grant is an
important step in improving the identification and treatment of mental illness in
older New Yorkers."

"Nachas has been in the trenches, working hands-on with Holocaust survivors, who are trying to navigate complex bureaucratic and reparations issues”, said
Assemblyman Dov Hikind. “Their incredible team has become family to elderly Holocaust survivors who frequently have no one else to turn to, and they consistently provide compassionate services and complex case management
for survivors. They continue to fulfill their mission in an exemplary manner."

I'm not a lawyer, but the following two phrases from the above press release, sure seem like lobbying to me:

"Mark Lazar, said that The Lazar Consulting Group, had been working with Assemblyman Dov Hikind to identify an organization in the community who could accomplish the mission of reaching out to Holocaust survivors."

"The Lazar Consulting Group coordinated the selection of the provider organization, with the submission of the grant
application to SAMHSA."

Dear Anonymous,
Where there's smoke, there's fire...I'm sure this will all catch up with Joe Lazar & family eventually. Happily for me, I reside in Manhattan and don't have to contend with your corruption.