https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_x4kKyNyBc
Today on Talking Politics, the latest on Iran, do we have a state budget, is Mayor Mamdani the new Robert Moses using the Cross Bronx Expressway to divide the Bronx Police Precincts and why is he hiding from reporters, then Anthony Rivieccio tries to find out if Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz got shredded in Woodlawn with his guest the founder of the Unity Democratic Club in Riverdale. Live at 12 pm or anytime on YouTube at the link above
The forecast for Wednesday evening is clear and bright. It's the perfect backdrop for a magical night beneath the stars at Springtime Shindig!
This is your last chance purchase tickets for Van Cortlandt Park Alliance’s biggest fundraiser of the year. Your presence helps make this special evening possible and directly supports the programs, stewardship, and community initiatives that keep Van Cortlandt Park thriving.
Showing up for the Shindig means showing up for the park and for millions of New Yorkers who rely on it as a place to learn, gather, explore, and recharge.
Enjoy delicious food and drinks, music, community, and an unforgettable evening celebrating the beauty and impact of Van Cortlandt Park.
We hope to celebrate with you on Wednesday, May 27th!
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Here's this week's edition of the VCJC News and Notes email. We hope you enjoy it and find it useful!
Shavous schedule (#2)
The survey of your preferences for our events - please fill in (#5)
The links to our new social media accounts - please follow us (#8)
Our request for a Google review (#9)
If you require an aliyah or would like to lead services, read from the torah or haftorah please speak to one of the gabbaim.
The Shabbos kiddush will be sponsored by Jackie Leventhal marking the anniversary of her husband’s, Howie’s, Yahrzeit. It will be dairy in celebration of Shavuos.
Come join us for services and stay to enjoy the kiddush and the company.
Yizkor donations
It is customary to make a charitable donation in conjunction with Yizkor. If you wish to donate to VCJC as part of your Yizkor observance, it can be done in person at the office, by check, or online through our website
No cost to attend and no prior experience is needed.
Shabbos parsha
The festival of Shavuot (or Shavuos, in Ashkenazi usage; ShabhuÊ¿oth in Classical and Mizrahi Hebrew Hebrew: שבועות, lit. “Weeks”) is a Jewish holiday that occurs on the sixth day of the Hebrew month of Sivan (late May or early June). Shavuot commemorates the anniversary of the day G-d gave the Torah to the entire Israelite nation assembled at Mount Sinai, although the association between the giving of the Torah (Matan Torah) and Shavuot is not explicit in the Biblical text. The holiday is one of the Shalosh Regalim, the three Biblical pilgrimage festivals. It marks the conclusion of the Counting of the Omer.
The VCJC is working to build and grow for its next century in Van Cortlandt Village. If you have had a good experience with us or recognize our value to the community, please consider telling the world about it. Go to our Google Business Profile and leave a review. Thanks!
Please help with information about buildings
As part of rebuilding the membership and congregation, the Board of Trustees would like your help. There are a lot of either new or renovated buildings being put up in our catchment area. We would like to seek the cooperation of the owners / developers of those properties in publicizing these opportunities to live near an orthodox synagogue. If you are aware of any of these buildings, please provide what information you can about them. This could include the address, any contact information that might be posted, and any information about the building itself (size, type, etc.). Additionally, if you are aware of vacancies in existing buildings or of houses for sale, please let us know about that as well.
Our mailing address is:
Van Cortlandt Jewish Center
3880 Sedgwick Ave
Bronx, NY 10463
This pedophile came into the country illegally under the Biden Administration
The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement after a criminal illegal alien in Missouri was sentenced to 25 years in prison for raping and impregnating a 12-year-old girl. He was also initially charged with production of child pornography.
According to local reporting, the Greene County Sheriff’s Office arrested Brayanne Escobar-Guarnizo, a criminal illegal alien from Colombia, on September 22, 2024, after receiving a call from a woman who said that he impregnated her 12-year-old daughter. Authorities obtained photos and messages confirming that the suspect repeatedly made advances on the 12-year-old, including asking her for nude photos and videos.
He was charged with production of child pornography and sexual exploitation of a minor, pleading guilty to the latter charge in August of 2025.
On May 18, 2026, Escobar-Guarnizo was sentenced to 300 months – a total of 25 years – in prison. This sentencing was the result of an investigation that was led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), along with state and local law enforcement.
“This dirtbag was charged with production of child pornography and sexual exploitation of a minor after he raped and impregnated a 12-year-old girl,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “Thanks to the investigative work of ICE law enforcement officers and our state and local partners, this child predator has now been sentenced to 25 years behind bars. This illegal alien NEVER should have been allowed into our country by the Biden Administration. Under Secretary Mullin, we will continue to target criminal illegal aliens and get them OUT of our communities.”
Escobar-Guarnizo entered the United States illegally in 2023 under the Biden Administration.
The Proposed Settlement Requires a Divestiture Package That Will Preserve Competition for the Supply of Ready-Mix Concrete
The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division announced that it will require Taiheiyo Cement Corporation and its subsidiary CalPortland Company to divest three ready-mix concrete plants along with related assets to address antitrust concerns arising from CalPortland’s proposed $712 million acquisition of ready-mix concrete assets from Vulcan Materials Company.
The civil antitrust lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to block the proposed transaction. At the same time, the proposed settlement filed alongside the complaint, if approved by the court, will address competitive concerns that the transaction would likely cause higher prices, lower quality, and less favorable terms for buyers of ready-mix concrete.
“Ready-mix concrete is a key input for construction and infrastructure projects across the country that are critical to strengthening the American economy,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Omeed A. Assefi of the Antitrust Division. “The Division’s pursuit of structural remedies in this case provides a signal to the broader market about how to structure transactions that deliver efficiency to the market while protecting competition that benefits consumers.”
As alleged in the complaint, CalPortland and Vulcan are two of the leading suppliers of ready-mix concrete in San Diego County, already a highly concentrated market. Ready-mix concrete is essential to home construction, where it is used in foundations, driveways, patios, and swimming pools; commercial construction, where it is used in offices, hotels, warehouses, multi-family residences, and other commercial businesses; and infrastructure projects like bridges, tunnels, and highways.
The proposed settlement requires CalPortland and Vulcan to divest three ready-mix concrete plants in San Diego County to Holliday Rock Co., Inc., an American company with significant experience in ready-mix concrete and other building materials. Holliday Rock is expected to hire certain key CalPortland and Vulcan employees that today support the divested businesses.
Taiheiyo is a Japanese corporation with its headquarters in Tokyo. Taiheiyo operates in the United States through CalPortland, a corporation with its headquarters in Las Vegas, Nevada. Taiheiyo reported total revenues of more than $5.5 billion for fiscal year 2025.
Vulcan is a corporation with headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama. In 2025, Vulcan reported total revenues of approximately $7.9 billion.
As required by the Tunney Act, the proposed settlement, along with a competitive impact statement, will be published in the Federal Register. Any person may submit written comments concerning the proposed settlement within 60 days following the publication to Soyoung Choe, Acting Chief, Defense, Industrials, and Aerospace Section, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 450 Fifth Street NW, Suite 8700, Washington, DC 20530. At the conclusion of the public comment period, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia may enter the final judgment upon finding it is in the public interest.
Three unlicensed marijuana dispensaries in Massena, New York were closed after an investigation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration after receiving information from law enforcement in Massena. The announcement was made by DEA New York Enforcement Division Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam, First Assistant United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III, , FBI Special Agent in Charge Craig A. Tremaroli, HSI Special Agent in Charge Erin Keegan, IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Harry Chavis, USBP Chief Patrol Agent Robert Garcia, St. Lawrence County District Attorney Gary Pasqua, St. Lawrence County Sheriff Rick Engle , Clinton County Sheriff Dave Favro, Massena Police Chief Cody Wilson, Plattsburgh Police Chief Jarrod Trombley.
“With the assistance our law enforcement partners, the DEA New York Enforcement Division conducted an operation which targeted three illegal and unlicensed marijuana dispensaries and numerous locations in upstate New York along the Northern Border” stated DEA New York Enforcement Division Special Agent in Charge Farhana Islam. “This operation resulted in the seizure of over 1000 lbs. of marijuana and THC related products, 40 pounds of suspected Methamphetamine, and approximately 20 illegal firearms, including assault style weapons and firearms equipped with extended magazines. Thanks to the strong partnership between the DEA and our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, we are securing our northern border, dismantling illegal operations, and holding accountable those responsible for flooding our neighborhoods with illicit drugs and violence.”
“Since appointed to lead this office, it has been my priority to improve collaboration between federal partners and local law enforcement.” Said First Assistant U.S. Attorney John A. Sarcone III. “This operation is a shining example of that collaboration. Let this operation serve as a warning to anyone who believes they can exploit this region for criminal activity: the full resources of the federal government, working alongside our state and local partners, are now aligned, coordinated, and committed to shutting these operations down.”
The success of Operation Weed Out demonstrates the incredible partnerships at every level of law enforcement on the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF). When we leverage our resources, we're able to deliver impactful results like this seizure, that undoubtedly make our communities safer. The North Country communities should know this collective team is laser focused on finding the individuals responsible for trafficking dangerous drugs and weapons on our streets and ensuring they are brought to justice.
Special Agent in Charge of IRS-CI New York Harry T. Chavis, Jr. Stated: “We remain committed to ensuring that every business operating in this district follows the law and puts community safety first. These unlicensed dispensaries chose profit over public health, and our team worked closely across agencies to trace the financial flows behind their illegal operations. By following the money, we are able to disrupt the profit incentives that drive this conduct and make clear that such schemes will not be tolerated,”
St. Lawrence County Sheriff Rick Engle Stated: “This was a great law enforcement collaboration with our federal and local partners to help keep our community safe, especially the youth of the community. This collaboration ensures that illegal marijuana shops don’t continue to operate in our county.”
“This case is a perfect example demonstrating the impact of strong interagency partnerships. The multi-agency members Safely executed a well-designed plan after an in-depth methodical investigation resulting in a much safer community.” Said Clinton County Sheriff David Favro
According to civil forfeiture complaints filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, Uncle Crandy’s, Vape Bank/All the Smoke Massena, formerly known as 1 Willow Cannabis Co., and Famous A’s were distributing marijuana and marijuana products without obtaining the necessary licenses from the State of New York. Each dispensary also allegedly sold products prohibited by New York State law. For instance, Famous A’s sold THC products that look like candy bars; Uncle Crandy’s sold THC gummies advertised as containing more than 10 times the limit; and Vape Bank/All the Smoke Massena, formerly known as 1 Willow Cannabis Co. Bank, sold marijuana products with cartoon labels. Uncle Crandy’s and Famous A’s also allegedly distributed marijuana to an underage law enforcement officer.
The DEA, FBI, HSI, IRS-CI, Massena Police Department, St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, and Plattsburgh City Police Department are investigating the case with the assistance of the United States Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Brown is handling the civil forfeiture.
A 41-year-old citizen of Cuba living in the Southern District of Texas, is set to make his initial appearance in Houston on multiple charges for allegedly using threats, violence, and other coercive means to compel four Cuban nationals to engage in commercial sex acts for his financial gain.
According to court documents, Michel Cedeno-Castillo used false promises of lucrative employment in the United States to entice four victims to travel from Cuba to Texas. After the victims arrived in the United States, Cedeno-Castillo allegedly transported the victims within the Southern District of Texas knowing and in reckless disregard of the fact that they had entered the United States in violation of the law. He then allegedly used threats of violence, physical abuse, and other coercive means to compel the victims to engage in commercial sex acts for his monetary benefit.
“The defendant has been indicted for luring vulnerable women from Cuba to the United States with promises of financial stability only to force them to have sex with men for money for his monetary gain,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Michel Cedeno-Castillo will now face these human trafficking charges. No matter where it originates, the Criminal Division will pursue sex traffickers who target and exploit vulnerable victims.”
“Cedeno-Castillo allegedly lured women with lies and forced them into prostitution,” said Acting U.S. Attorney John G.E. Marck for the Southern District of Texas. “Any human trafficker who tries to flee the United States should know that we will work with our international partners, pursue every legal avenue, and wait as long as it takes to bring them to justice. The Southern District of Texas does not give up.”
“The successful apprehension and extradition of this alleged sex trafficker sends a powerful message of deterrence to transnational criminal organizations across the globe that are involved in human trafficking,” said Special Agent in Charge Lucia Cabral-DeArmas of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Houston Field Office. “HSI and our law enforcement partners are committed to eradicate this modern-day form of slavery from society and will bring every resource we have to bear to track you down and hold you to account for your alleged crimes.”
Cedeno-Castillo is charged with sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, importing an alien for immoral purposes, conspiracy to transport an alien in the United States for financial gain, transporting for purposes of prostitution, extortion, and cyberstalking. If convicted, he faces a minimum penalty of 15 years in prison and up to life in prison.
The HSI Houston Field Office is investigating the case. The U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Investigative Strike Team provided valuable assistance.
Acting Deputy Chief Leah Branch of the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ekua Assabill for the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case. The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs worked with the Government of Panama to secure the arrest and extradition from Panama of Cedeno-Castillo.
The investigation and indictment were supported and prosecuted by Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Department’s lead effort in combating high-impact human smuggling and trafficking committed by cartels and Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). A highly successful partnership between the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), JTFA investigates and prosecutes human smuggling and trafficking and related immigration crimes that impact public safety and border security. JTFA’s mission is to target the leaders and organizers of Cartels and TCOs involved in human smuggling and trafficking throughout the Americas. The Attorney General has elevated and expanded JTFA to target the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating not only in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, but also in Canada, the Caribbean and the maritime border, and elsewhere. Led by the Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, the Office of International Affairs, and the Office of Enforcement Operations, among others, JTFA has dedicated prosecutors from the Southern District of California; District of Arizona; District of New Mexico; Western and Southern Districts of Texas; Southern District of Florida; Northern District of New York; and District of Vermont. JTFA also partners with other USAOs throughout the country and supports high-priority cases in any district. All JTFA cases rely on substantial law enforcement resources from DHS, including ICE/HSI and CBP/BP and OFO, as well as FBI and other law enforcement agencies. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 455 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling and/or trafficking; more than 400 U.S. convictions; and more than 345 significant jail sentences imposed, and forfeitures of substantial assets.
This investigation is also part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of U.S. law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Houston comprises agents and officers from ICE HSI; FBI; DEA; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; U.S. Marshals Service; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Department of Transportation; IRS Criminal Investigation; Interpol/Department of State; and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas leading the prosecution.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Department of Justice’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) joined State partners in Verona, Oneida County, to remind recreationists to Clean, Drain, Dry their boats, trailers, fishing gear, and other equipment before launching in New York’s waters to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS). Starting Friday, May 22, boaters will see the blue vests worn by Watercraft Inspection Stewards, also known as boat stewards, at more than 220 boat launches and decontamination stations throughout the state.
“New York’s waters are vital to our ecology and economy, and recreating responsibly in New York’s abundant lakes, ponds, and streams is a critical component for preventing the spread of invasive species,” DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. “DEC supports stewards to help educate and connect with hundreds of thousands of people along waterbodies statewide, and all boaters can protect the environment and follow the useful instructions to Clean, Drain, Dry and help prevent aquatic invaders.”
Last year, DEC’s boat stewards connected with 430,000 recreationists, conducted more than 220,000 watercraft inspections, and intercepted 8,717 aquatic invasive plants and animals while raising awareness about AIS. As part of an expansion to the Watercraft Inspection Steward Program (WISP), DEC is stationing boat stewards and a new decontamination unit provided by the New York State Canal Corporation at the Cove Road boat ramp in Verona. Opened in 2023 in partnership with the New York State Canal Corporation, this launch offers direct access to Oneida Lake—the state's largest inland lake and a popular fishing destination. The initiative aims to combat the spread of invasive species already present in the lake, such as the round goby and water chestnut, and prevent new invaders.
Aquatic invasive plants, such as the water chestnut, harm ecosystems by shading out native plants, decreasing dissolved oxygen, and increasing sediment buildup. Similarly, invasive fish like the round goby threaten biodiversity by carrying diseases, preying on native fish eggs and fry, and out-competing native species. Beyond ecological damage, these species can create significant negative impacts on water recreation and local economies.
New York State Canal Corporation Director Ben Walsh said, “Keeping invasive species out of the Canal System and the rest of New York's waters isn’t just an environmental priority, it’s a community one. When boaters take the time to Clean, Drain, and Dry their equipment, they’re helping to preserve recreational opportunities and healthy ecosystems that residents and visitors can enjoy for generations to come.”
Over the last few years, boat steward programs have expanded from the Finger Lakes and Adirondack Regions to Western New York, the Catskills, the Mohawk and Hudson Rivers, and Long Island. More than 220 locations have active boat stewards and employ over 280 people. The programs are administered by academic institutions, lake associations, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (Parks), and Regional Partnerships for Invasive Species Management (PRISMs) at both public and private launches.
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Acting Commissioner Kathy Moser said, “New York State Parks is proud to support efforts to prevent invasive species from entering our lands and waters through education, stewardship and strong partnerships. We encourage the boating public to follow these simple guidelines and take precautions to protect our natural resources. Through this collaborative effort with DEC and the Canal Corporation, we can continue raising awareness and ensuring these treasured places remain healthy and accessible for generations to come.”
All New York residents and visitors have a role to play in protecting state waters from invasive species. Visit DEC's website for more information on how to Clean, Drain, Dry boats, fishing gear, and other equipment. A step by step guide for ridding boats and equipment of AIS with video can also be found on DEC's YouTube channel.
All water recreationists are advised to follow these steps to help prevent the spread of AIS:
The WISP program is funded by the State Environmental Protection Fund (EPF). The $425 million EPF included an allocation of $18.5 million to combat invasive species. The EPF is a critical resource for environmental programs such as land acquisition, farmland protection, invasive species prevention and eradication, recreation access, water quality improvement, and environmental justice projects.
