Mayor Mamdani Wins 90-Day Extension to Protect Small Retailers Nationwide from New Federal Requirements

 

Agreement with Trump administration gives bodegas and small retailers more time to meet new requirements that threatened their ability to accept SNAP and serve more than 36 million Americans 

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani today announced that, following negotiations with the Trump administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will delay the start of enforcement of a new rule requiring SNAP-authorized retailers to meet expanded stocking standards. Although the rule was originally required to be implemented Nov. 4, the 90-day extension gives bodegas and small retailers across the country additional time to comply.  

  

“When hundreds of bodegas came to our administration asking for help, we stood with them. These neighborhood businesses are the backbone of our small business economy and an essential source of affordable food for more than one million New Yorkers — and 36 million Americans — who rely on SNAP,” said Mayor Mamdani. “Without more time, many of these stores risked losing the ability to accept SNAP — threatening their livelihoods and making it harder for families to put food on the table. I am grateful that President Trump has agreed to delay beginning enforcement of this rule, and we will continue fighting to protect our neighborhood businesses and the New Yorkers who depend on them.” 

  

“When we met with bodega owners at City Hall last month, we heard from them directly about how they wanted to comply with the new federal rule, but that they didn’t have the resources, the guidance or the time to do so,” said Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su. “We told them we would fight for them and we meant it. Now this extension gives them a welcome reprieve and time to make these changes. Our smallest businesses are a foundational part of our administration’s commitment to economic justice. We will continue to engage with bodegas across our city to build a city for all.” 

 

“In response to federal changes putting thousands at risk of losing their SNAP benefits, our administration has made unprecedented strides to ensure nobody in New York City goes hungry. We knocked 10,000 doors, connected with New Yorkers through 40,000 calls and established resources to help those affected navigate the new rules,” said Deputy Mayor of Health and Human Services Dr. Helen Arteaga. “Today’s announcement is an important step toward keeping nutritious food accessible to vulnerable New Yorkers. We look forward to continuing to work with our federal partners to protect New Yorkers experiencing food insecurity.” 

 

“Bodega owners keep asking us the same questions: which products count, where to buy them, and where to put them,” said SBS Commissioner Kenny Minaya. “This extension will give bodegas more time to learn about the rule and get into compliance. Our administration is committed to supporting all small businesses with free compliance education through our expanded NYC Business Express Service Team program. We encourage any bodega owner with questions to call us at 888-SBS-4NYC.” 

  

“This Administration understands that running a bodega today isn’t easy. Between rising costs, changing federal regulations and the everyday challenges of running a small business — our bodegas have a lot on their plates,” said Mom and Pop Czar Delia Awusi. “Today’s announcement of a 90-day extension of the compliance deadline will be met with a sense of relief by many of our bodega owners. It gives them some much-needed breathing room to prepare for these changes.” 

  

Today’s announcement comes one week after Mayor Mamdani publicly called on the USDA to delay enforcement of the rule on behalf of hundreds of New York City bodega owners and convenience store retailers. Business owners had warned that they needed more time to understand the requirements, secure qualifying products and make necessary investments.  

  

The City will work closely with USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service, the New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to reach store owners, provide guidance and ensure they have the support needed to meet the new requirements before enforcement begins.  

  

The USDA’s final rule requires SNAP-authorized retailers to meet expanded stocking standards, including offering at least seven varieties of food in each of four categories: dairy, grains, proteins and fruits and vegetables. The USDA did not issue implementation guidance until Sept. 4, leaving businesses with just two months to meet the new requirements.  

  

Without adequate time, neighborhood stores and bodegas risked losing their ability to accept SNAP, threatening the viability of businesses that rely on the program for a significant share of their sales. Bodega organizations estimate that SNAP purchases account for 15-20% of a typical New York City store’s sales, with some Bronx owners reporting figures as high as 30%.   

  

The loss of neighborhood SNAP retailers would leave New Yorkers with fewer places to buy groceries and deepen existing food deserts in the city. Combined with the new federal work requirements, enforcement of the stocking rule threatened to create additional barriers for New Yorkers who rely on SNAP to feed themselves and their families. The 90-day delay gives these essential neighborhood businesses more time to comply while continuing to serve their communities.  

  

Earlier this year, Mayor Mamdani launched an unprecedented citywide outreach campaign to help New Yorkers navigate sweeping federal changes to public benefits, including SNAP and Medicaid. Since January, the administration has knocked on 10,000 doors, made 40,000 person-to-person phone calls and launched an online resource, NYC.gov/workrules, to help New Yorkers understand the changes and how they may be affected.  

  

Through these efforts, the City has assisted more than 220,000 New Yorkers at risk of losing SNAP benefits. More than 98% of eligible SNAP recipients in New York City have maintained access to food assistance.

Florida Man Pleads Guilty to $42M Durable Medical Equipment and Cancer Genetic Testing Fraud on Medicare

 

A Florida man pleaded guilty today to a $42 million fraud on Medicare involving false claims for durable medical equipment (DME) and cancer genetic testing. He also pled guilty to fraudulently obtaining a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Chad Monroe, 48, of Tarpon Springs, Florida, conspired with others to submit fraudulent claims for DME — such as knee, wrist, ankle, and back braces — and cancer genetic testing that Medicare beneficiaries did not want or need. Monroe and his co-conspirators opened three DME companies, Maksix Medical Products Inc., Orthotech Atlanta, LLC, and 1st Choice Medical Supply LLC, which they used to submit over $26 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans, and TRICARE.

Monroe directed co-conspirators to lie on Medicare enrollment documents to hide Monroe’s ownership of and role at the companies. To generate the doctors’ orders for DME and genetic testing, Monroe paid purported telemedicine companies’ illegal kickbacks. Monroe, through his company Health and Life Networking LLC, sold the doctors’ orders for genetic testing to co-conspirator laboratories, which paid him over $15 million in illegal kickbacks. 

Monroe also directed a co-conspirator to submit a fraudulent PPP loan for over $30,000 in which he and his co-conspirator lied about, among other things, the ownership of 1st Choice Medical Supply LLC to qualify for the loan.

Monroe used the proceeds of the fraud scheme to fund a lavish lifestyle, including by purchasing a 47-foot yacht valued at over $600,000 called “The Rogue Shark,” a Cadillac Escalade, and other luxury vehicles. In connection with the charges, the government seized the yacht and more than $1 million.

Monroe pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud and one count of wire fraud. A sentencing date has not been set. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the health care fraud conspiracy and 30 years in prison on the wire fraud charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald of the Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Special Agent in Charge Isaac M. Bledsoe; Special Agent in Charge Rodney Crawford of the FBI Tampa Field Office; Department of War Office of Inspector General’s Defense Criminal Investigative Services (DCIS) Acting Special Agent in Charge Nakia M. Alexander of the DCIS Southeast Field Office; and Acting Special Agent in Charge Charles Miller of the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Florida Field Office made the announcement.

HHS-OIG, FBI, DCIS, and IRS-CI investigated the case.

Assistant Deputy Chief Catherine Wagner, Deputy Chief D. Keith Clouser, and Trial Attorney Paul J. Koob of the National Fraud Enforcement Division’s Health Care Fraud Section are prosecuting the case.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the Fraud Division. The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

The Department of Justice’s Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, currently comprised of nine strike forces operating in federal districts across the country, has charged more than 6,200 defendants who collectively billed federal health care programs and private insurers more than $45 billion since 2007. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/fraud/health-care-fraud-section.

A New Era for Greenpoint: Mayor Mamdani Completes McGuinness Boulevard Redesign

 

Parking-protected bike lanes now stretch the full length of McGuinness Boulevard, from Meeker Avenue to the Pulaski Bridge 

  

Redesign shortens pedestrian crossings, reduces reckless driving and slows turning drivers

Mayor Mamdani joins NYC DOT Commissioner Flynn, Greenpoint residents, advocates and elected officials days after his inauguration in January to commit to completing the original redesign of McGuinness Boulevard. Credit: Mayor’s Office 

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn today announced the completion of the McGuinness Boulevard redesign, delivering parking-protected bike lanes along the entire corridor, from Meeker Avenue to the Pulaski Bridge. 

  

The redesign makes McGuinness Boulevard safer for everyone who uses it. The improvements shorten pedestrian crossing distances, slow turning vehicles and prevent dangerous driving, while providing a protected connection for thousands of cyclists traveling through Greenpoint. 

  

Just days after his inauguration on Jan. 3, Mayor Mamdani joined community leaders and safe street advocates to reaffirm the City’s commitment to completing the original redesign — a project long championed by neighborhood residents who fought to make their streets safer. 

  

“A new era has begun on McGuinness Boulevard. For too long, this street was defined by danger and the loss of loved ones. Today, it stands as a testament to what a community can accomplish when it refuses to accept that loss as inevitable,” said Mayor Mamdani. “With parking-protected bike lanes running up and down the boulevard, we are making it safer for pedestrians, cyclists, drivers and families. This victory belongs to the people of Greenpoint — especially the community members and advocates who turned grief into action and fought to ensure that no more families have to endure the pain of losing a loved one on this street.” 

  

“This project delivers safety benefits for everyone — whether you are walking, biking or driving — with a design that helps stitch Greenpoint together instead of dividing it,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. “It was made possible by the tireless advocacy of residents who have lost too many neighbors and loved ones to traffic crashes on McGuinness. Mayor Mamdani made this project his first safety announcement because we wanted to send a clear message: We are ushering in a new era of local government that listens to its people and delivers for them, not one that makes decisions through backroom deals.” 

Deputy Mayor for Operations Julia Kerson and NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn join elected officials and community members to break ground on the McGuinness Boulevard redesign on May 27, 2026. Credit: NYC DOT 

McGuinness Boulevard is a critical cycling connection between Brooklyn and Queens, serving more than 4,000 daily riders during the summer months. The completed redesign includes one travel lane in each direction, a parking-protected bike lane in each direction and a curbside lane for parking and loading on both sides of the boulevard. 

  

Mexican Cartel Leader Known As “Tony Montana” Sentenced for Armed Drug Trafficking as Part of Homeland Security Task Force Initiative

Antonio Oseguera Cervantes Is Brother of Former Top Cartel Leader Known As “El Mencho”

Antonio Oseguera Cervantes, 67, of Michoacán, Mexico, a career drug trafficker for several Mexican cartels, was sentenced today to 270 months in prison for international drug trafficking and firearm offenses.   

“For more than two decades, Antonio Oseguera Cervantes helped fuel one of the world’s most dangerous drug trafficking organizations, flooding America’s communities with deadly drugs while enriching himself and his associates,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Oseguera Cervantes’ sentence sends a clear message to criminals around the world that the Department of Justice is committed to the total elimination of drug cartels and transnational criminal organizations, including the CJNG.” 

“The sentencing of Oseguera Cervantes demonstrates that no cartel leader is beyond the reach of American justice,” said Administrator Terry Cole of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). “Oseguera Cervantes was far more than El Mencho’s brother. He played a significant role in building CJNG into one of the most violent foreign terrorist organizations in the world, trafficking massive quantities of dangerous drugs that have devastated American families and communities. Together, DEA and the Homeland Security Task Force will stop at nothing to hold those who lead, finance and enable these cartels accountable.”

According to court documents, Oseguera Cervantes distributed cocaine and methamphetamine for importation into the United States and supplied chemicals to methamphetamine laboratories, initially for the Milenio Cartel and later for the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG). Oseguera Cervantes joined the Milenio Cartel in around 2002, shortly after serving a federal prison sentence for conspiracy to distribute heroin in the United States. He was then deported to Mexico, where he resumed his illicit activities. As a leader of the Milenio Cartel, he oversaw narcotics sales, protected cartel territories from rival groups, and supervised and maintained methamphetamine laboratories. In 2010, after the Milenio Cartel’s top leader was arrested, its military faction separated to create the CJNG. Oseguera Cervantes’s brother, Nemesio, also known as “Mencho,” was a co-founder of the CJNG, who led the cartel from its inception in 2010 until he was killed in a Mexican military operation in February 2026. Oseguera Cervantes reported directly to Mencho and worked with a CJNG-aligned cartel named Los Cuinis. Oseguera Cervantes also managed CJNG’s drug proceed collection and laundering and was armed with a pistol when collecting proceeds and attending meetings to discuss drug trafficking.

Oseguera Cervantes pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine for importation into the United States as well as using, carrying, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking conspiracy.  

The DEA’s Special Operations Division Bilateral Investigations Unit Los Angeles investigated the case. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance to Oseguera Cervantes’ February 2025 transfer from Mexico to the United States pursuant to Mexico’s national security law. The Justice Department thanks the Government of Mexico for its assistance in securing Oseguera Cervantes’ presence in the United States for prosecution.

Chief Kaitlin Sahni of the Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Unit (NDDU) and Trial Attorneys Lernik Begian, Douglas Meisel, and Maryann McGuire of the Criminal Division’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section (MNF) prosecuted the case.

MNF’s mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations.

MNF’s Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Unit investigates and prosecutes the top command and control elements of international drug cartels, drug trafficking organizations and related transnational criminal organizations.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) 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.

Attorney General James Joins Coalition Suing Nation’s Largest Distributors of Veterinary Supplies to Ensure Fair Health Care Prices for Pet Owners

 

Merger of Covetrus and MWI Will Likely Lead to Higher Prices for Veterinary Care Across the Country

AG James Joins FTC and 12 Other States in Suing to Block Merger

New York Attorney General Letitia James today joined a bipartisan coalition of 12 other states and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in suing to stop one of the nation’s largest distributors of medications and supplies for veterinary clinics, Covetrus, Inc. (Covetrus) and its affiliates, from acquiring their competitor, MWI Veterinary Supply, Inc. (MWI). The two companies compete intensely for market share, offering competitive prices, discounts, and incentives to both independent and corporate-owned veterinary clinics throughout the country. Attorney General James and the coalition argue that Covetrus’ acquisition of MWI will give Covetrus the power to set higher prices, provide lower-quality services, and control more than half of the veterinary clinic distribution market nationwide. As a result, pet owners throughout New York and the nation are likely to pay higher prices for care. Attorney General James and the coalition are seeking a court order ruling the merger illegal and preventing it from being carried out.

“A trip to the vet should never break the bank,” said Attorney General James. “Pet owners are already paying enormous prices for care, and this merger would threaten to drive costs even higher. I won’t allow big corporations to buy out their rivals and make veterinary care even harder to afford. We’re taking action to enforce the law and block this merger.”

Covetrus and MWI are two of the three largest veterinary clinic distributors in the country. The companies advertise themselves as one-stop shops for veterinary clinics that can provide practices with all the equipment, supplies, and medications they need. Covetrus and MWI compete fiercely for customers, targeting both independent clinics and large corporate practice groups that can sometimes comprise hundreds of practices across multiple states. The two companies offer lower prices, rebates, and incentive packages for clinics to use their services, and corporate groups will often play the two companies against each other to negotiate lower prices. These lower prices are often passed on to consumers in the form of more affordable care.

Attorney General James and the coalition allege that Covetrus’ acquisition of MWI will substantially reduce competition among distributors to all veterinary clinics and specifically among distributors to large corporate practice groups. Covetrus and MWI are among the few nationwide distributors with the scale necessary to serve corporate veterinary practice groups that have large numbers of clinics. These corporate practice groups prefer to contract with one distributor that can serve all their locations and can typically purchase 65 to 90 percent of their supplies from just one company. The large volume that these contracts entail allows corporate practice groups to negotiate significant discounts from distributors, which can be passed on to pet owners. However, if Covetrus is allowed to purchase MWI, it will have unmatched market power to demand higher prices from these corporate practice groups.

Covetrus and MWI also compete by investing in customer service for the clinics they contract with. The two companies provide in-clinic support from experienced sales representatives and invest heavily in their sales and customer support services to assist clinics in caring for their patients. Purchasing MWI will all but eliminate any incentive for Covetrus to continue to invest in customer service, which could lead to lower quality services for pets and their owners.

Attorney General James and the coalition allege that the merger would allow Covetrus to control more than 50 percent of the relevant markets for veterinary clinic distributors, in violation of both the FTC Act and the Clayton Act. The two companies have already agreed to a temporary restraining order that prevents them from completing the merger before December 4, 2026. Attorney General James and the coalition are seeking a preliminary injunction from the court to further halt the merger, and ultimately a ruling declaring the merger illegal and preventing it from being carried out.

Attorney General James joins in filing this lawsuit with the FTC and the attorneys general of Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, and Texas.  

SANCTUARY INSANITY: DHS Blasts Sanctuary California for Releasing Illegal Alien Gang Member Arrested for Assault and Robbery

 

This illegal alien is an admitted active member of the Logan Heights Gang

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement condemning sanctuary politicians in California for refusing to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and releasing an illegal alien gang member whose criminal history includes arrests for assault with a deadly weapon, robbery, and other crimes.

On November 5, ICE lodged a detainer asking California politicians to not release Julio Cesar Vazquez Hernandez, an illegal alien from Mexico, after he had been arrested by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office for domestic violence – violation of a restraining order. His criminal history includes a conviction for driving under the influence and prior arrests for participating in criminal street gang, assault with a deadly weapon, robbery, and theft. He has admitted to being an active member of the Logan Heights Gang.

Despite ICE lodging a detainer with San Diego Central Jail, sanctuary politicians refused to honor it and RELEASED Hernandez back onto the streets. He currently remains at large.

“Time and time again, sanctuary politicians openly and recklessly choose to endanger their constituents by releasing illegal aliens into their communities,” said Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “Despite ICE lodging a detainer, San Diego sanctuary politicians released this illegal alien gang member from Mexico whose criminal history includes domestic violence, driving under the influence, and assault with a deadly weapon. If sanctuary politicians put an end to these heartless policies and started working with us, we could make their communities safe again. It’s no coincidence that 7 out of the top 10 safest cities in the country cooperate with ICE.”

Hernandez illegally entered the United States at an unknown date and location.

Under Governor Gavin Newsom, California has become a hotbed of illegal alien crime. Some of the recent illegal alien crimes in the sanctuary state include:

• In October, ICE arrested Mario Jesus Valdez-Flores, a FIVE-time deported illegal alien from Mexico, in Kings Beach, California. His criminal history includes convictions for driving under the influence and transport/sell narcotics/controlled substance, as well as arrests for first-degree robbery, conspiracy, and assault with a deadly weapon.
• In September, ICE lodged a detainer for Chamkaur Singh, an illegal alien from India, after his arrest for causing a semi-truck crash that killed two people in Ontario, California. He had been granted a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) by Gavin Newsom’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
•  In July, ICE lodged a detainer for Gokhan Bagci, an illegal alien from Turkey, after his arrest for sexually assaulting a 6-year-old girl at a daycare in Sacramento, California.
• In May, ICE lodged a detainer for Joaquin Escoto Vazquez, an illegal alien from Mexico, after his arrest for fatally stabbing two women and a baby in Modesto, California.
• In May, ICE lodged a detainer for Manvir Singh, an illegal alien from India, after he was arrested for causing a semi-truck crash that killed two people near Lodi, California.
• In May, ICE arrested Aman Kumar, an illegal alien from India, who had been released by sanctuary politicians in California after causing a hit-and-run accident that injured a 4-year-old boy in Fresno, California.
• In May, ICE lodged a detainer for Wilfredo Jose Tortolero-Arriechi, an illegal alien from Venezuela, after he had been arrested for fatally stabbing a social worker in a hospital in San Francisco, California.
• In April, ICE arrested David Antonio Aviles Perez, an illegal alien from El Salvador and MS-13 member, in San Diego, California, who has an international warrant for aggravated murder and had previously been arrested in California for assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a controlled substance, and petty theft. 
• In February, Governor Newsom pardoned Somboon Phaymany, an illegal alien from Cambodia who had been convicted for attempted murder and assault with a firearm. 
• In January, ICE lodged a detainer for Enrique Bautista Vasquez, an illegal alien from Mexico, after he had been arrested for raping an autistic girl in Cathedral City, California.
• In December 2025, ICE lodged a detainer for Brayan Alva-Rodriguez, an illegal alien from Guatemala, after he had been arrested for causing a drunk driving crash that killed an 8-year-old girl in San Diego, California.
• In December 2025, ICE lodged a detainer for Hector Balderas-Aheelor, an illegal alien from Mexico who had been previously deported FOUR times, after he was arrested for causing a felony hit-and-run accident that killed an 11-year-old boy on Thanksgiving morning. 
• In November 2025, ICE lodged a detainer for Humberto Munoz-Gatica, an illegal alien from Mexico, after he was arrested for driving under the influence and hit-and-run following a fatal crash that killed a 71-year-old man in Orange County, California.
• In October 2025, ICE lodged a detainer for Beto Cerillo-Bialva, an illegal alien from Mexico, after he was arrested for murder following a drunk-driving crash that killed six people in Napa County, California.
• In June 2025, ICE arrested Cuong Chanh Phan, an illegal alien from Vietnam, who had been convicted of second-degree murder for his involvement in a mass shooting in 1994 that killed two teenagers and injured seven others at a graduation party in San Marino, California.
• In June 2024, Partap Singh, an illegal alien from India, caused a multi-car pileup while driving an 18-wheeler recklessly in San Bernardino, California, after he had been given a CDL by Newsom’s DMV. The crash seriously injured 5-year-old Dalilah Coleman and several others.

In addition to the crimes committed by illegal aliens in California, Governor Newsom’s sanctuary policies have had disastrous consequences in other states as well. These include:

• In September, ICE lodged a detainer for Manjit Singh, an illegal alien from India, who was charged with aggravated vehicular homicide after causing a semi-truck crash that killed a woman in Brown County, Ohio. He had been granted a CDL by Newsom’s California DMV.
• In July, ICE lodged a detainer for Axel Eduardo Chavez-Marroquin, an illegal alien from El Salvador, after he was arrested for murdering a veteran in Utah. He had twice been arrested in California for domestic violence – in Santa Ana in 2024, and then in Laguna Niguel in 2025 – but despite ICE lodging detainers against him both times, California sanctuary politicians released him from jail and back into the community.
• In January, ICE lodged detainers for Gunpreet Singh and Jasveer Singh, criminal illegal aliens from India, after they had been arrested for smuggling more than 300 pounds of cocaine in a semi-truck in Putnam County, Indiana. Governor Newsom’s DMV had given both men CDLs.
• In December 2025, ICE arrested Gerson Emir Cuadra Soto, an illegal alien from Honduras and MS-13 member who is wanted in his home country for a quadruple homicide, in Grand Island, Nebraska. He had been given a driver’s license by Newsom’s DMV.
• In November 2025, Rajinder Kumar, an illegal alien from India who had been given a CDL by Newsom’s DMV, jackknifed his semi-truck and trailer on a highway in Deschutes County, Oregon, killing a newlywed couple. ICE arrested Kumar in April 2026.
• In August 2025, ICE lodged a detainer for Harjinder Singh, an illegal alien from India, after he made an illegal U-turn in his semi-truck and killed three people in St. Lucie County, Florida. Singh had obtained his CDL in Newsom’s California.

Governor Hochul Announces Cutting Edge AI Company Aaru Will Expand in New York City, Creating Over 650 New Jobs

Home Grown AI Company Chooses New York for its Research and Development Hub and Will Grow its Workforce Tenfold

Under Governor Hochul’s Leadership, New York has Passed the San Francisco Bay Area as the Nation’s Largest Tech Talent Market

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that Aaru, a Manhattan-based AI company that helps businesses test new products and ideas before bringing them to market, will expand its operations in New York City and create over 650 new jobs over the next five years. The company plans to keep growing in New York and will invest in the State to make New York the home of its research and development operations. The company will lease and build out more than 27,000 square feet of office space near Union Square, growing its workforce from about 60 employees today to more than 700.

“When the most promising AI companies choose where to grow, they are choosing New York, and Aaru is the latest proof of this,” Governor Hochul said. “We’ve made big investments in computing power, research and talent and companies are bringing jobs and investment here because of it. Aaru started here, it’s growing here and it’s creating hundreds of good-paying jobs for New Yorkers.”

Aaru’s founders are remaining in New York City and are building its next phase here due to the State’s talent, its proximity to global business and a strong innovation ecosystem. New jobs will span software engineering, computer and information research, product development, enterprise sales, client management, and corporate operations.

To ensure this expansion happens in New York, Empire State Development has offered Aaru up to $13.12 million in performance-based Excelsior tax credits in exchange for 650 jobs and $109 million in research and development expenditure commitments, reinforcing New York State’s mission to supporting innovative companies and creating high-quality, good paying employment in emerging technologies.

Under Governor Hochul’s leadership, New York City and State are attracting the world’s most advanced companies. Since 2024, fintech industry leaders like PayPal and iCapital have committed to creating thousands of jobs and expanding their presence in New York City. Additionally, The London-based AI voice startup ElevenLabs announced plans to create 230 jobs in Downtown Manhattan, while Radical AI announced it would transform an office into an advanced materials science lab and add 115 new jobs in Brooklyn. CBRE’s 2026 Scoring Tech Talent report found that the New York Metro area employs nearly 395,000 tech workers, surpassing the San Francisco Bay Area for the first time in the report’s thirteen-year history. New York City’s tech sector has added jobs at nearly ten times the rate of the city’s overall economy.

Mayor Mamdani Announces NYC Public Schools Surpass State Class Size Compliance Target

 

 73.4% of classes now meet state class size requirements, exceeding the state’s 70% target for the 2026-27 school year 

 

133 additional schools have achieved full compliance, doubling the number of schools where every class size meets the state limit 

 

Milestone follows $244 million investment in teacher hiring and $1.5 billion capital funding under the Mamdani administration 

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) Chancellor Kamar Samuels, alongside School Construction Authority President and Chief Executive Officer Celeste Ramirez, today announced that 73.4% of City public school classes now comply with the state’s class size law, surpassing the state’s 70% target for the 2026-27 school year. 

 

The achievement delivers on a key campaign promise by Mayor Mamdani and marks significant progress toward ensuring every student has the space and individual attention they need to succeed. 

 

An additional 133 schools are now fully compliant with the class size law, doubling the number of schools where every class meets the state limits. More than 640 schools have reached at least 90% compliance, and more than 1,120 schools have reached at least 70% compliance. Meanwhile, the number of schools at or below 50% compliance has fallen by more than 230. 

 

“The days of overcrowded classrooms and students struggling to get the attention of their teachers are coming to an end. Today, we are delivering on our promise to make smaller class sizes a reality for more New York City kids,” said Mayor Mamdani. “Through a $244 million investment in teacher hiring and $1.5 billion in capital funding, we are building the classrooms that every student deserves.”  

 

“I know from my days as a teacher and a school leader that students learn best when instruction is tailored to their unique strengths, needs and goals. Smaller class sizes help make that a reality,” said Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels. “I am deeply grateful to the Mamdani Administration, the SCA and our labor partners at the UFT and CSA for their collaboration and commitment to this effort, including significant capital and hiring investments from the City. Together, we have reached 73.4% compliance, exceeding the state’s target and making our students’ day-to-day classroom experience more rigorous, engaging and personalized.” 

 

This milestone was made possible by a $244 million investment in teacher hiring in the Mamdani Administration’s budget, alongside $1.5 billion in new capital funding for future class size compliance. This brings the total capital funding dedicated to smaller class sizes to more than $7.6 billion and will create a total of 41,000 seats in smaller classrooms.  

 

Class size compliance increased across every grade band, with the largest gains in middle school, where compliance rose 7.2 percentage points. Compliance increased 6.4 percentage points in fourth and fifth grades, 4.9 percentage points in kindergarten through third grade and 4.8 percentage points in high school. 

 

Among classes that have not yet reached compliance, just over one-third exceed the legal limit by only one to three students. The share of classes exceeding the limit by six or more students has fallen from 17% to 12%. The City achieved this progress without relying on exemptions. 

 

“Smaller class sizes mean more opportunities for students to receive individual attention, build meaningful relationships with their teachers, and get the support they need to succeed,” said School Construction Authority President and Chief Executive Officer Celeste A. Ramirez. “At the School Construction Authority, we are proud to be a partner in this historic effort, working closely with the Mayor and NYC Public Schools to identify and maximize space, create new classrooms, and make strategic investments in our school buildings. Surpassing the State’s 70 percent compliance threshold is an important milestone, but our work is far from finished. We remain committed to delivering safe, modern and welcoming learning environments that give every New York City student the space and opportunity to reach their full potential.” 

 

“We are getting closer to every New York City student getting the benefit of being in a smaller class. Students, parents, and educators all say the difference is exhilarating. Students love the additional individualized attention. Educators love having more opportunities to forge the personal connections with students that are the foundation for all learning, “ said United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew.