Housing Lottery Launches for 4212 Park Avenue in Tremont, The Bronx

 

The affordable housing lottery has launched for 4212 Park Avenue, an eight-story residential building in Tremont, The Bronx. Designed by Nikolai Katz Architect, the structure yields 64 residences. Available on NYC Housing Connect are 13 units for residents at 80 percent of the area median income (AMI), ranging in eligible income from $75,189 to $168,320.

Amenities include an elevator and a shared laundry room. Residences are equipped with intercoms and patios or balconies. Tenants are responsible for electricity, including stove and heat.

4212 Park Avenue in Tremont, The Bronx via NYC Housing Connect

At 80 percent of the AMI, there are two studios with a monthly rent of $2,040 for incomes ranging from $75,189 to $108,560; six one-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $2,173 for incomes ranging from $81,909 to $122,160; three two-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $2,583 for incomes ranging from $97,406 to $146,560; and two three-bedrooms with a monthly rent of $2,962 for incomes ranging from $112,698 to $168,320.

Prospective renters must meet income and household size requirements to apply for these apartments. Applications must be postmarked or submitted online no later than November 26, 2026.

Fast Buses: Mayor Mamdani Breaks Ground on Project to Speed Up Buses and Make Streets Safer on DeKalb and Lafayette Avenues

 

Project will speed up buses for 18,000 daily B38 riders and create safer connections for cyclists and pedestrians 

 

Redesign will deliver faster, more reliable commutes and safer streets from Downtown Brooklyn to Bed-Stuy and Bushwick 

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn today announced the start of construction on a redesign of DeKalb and Lafayette avenues in Brooklyn that will speed up bus service for 18,000 daily riders on the B38, create protected bike lanes and make streets safer for everyone who uses them.

The project will redesign DeKalb Avenue from Broadway to Flatbush Avenue and Lafayette Avenue from Ashland Place to Patchen Avenue. Both stretches will feature 2.7 miles of new offset and curbside bus lanes, protected bike lanes and other safety upgrades to improve bus speeds, strengthen connections for cyclists and make streets safer for pedestrians.

The redesigns are part of Next Stop: Fast Buses, Better Service, Mayor Mamdani’s historic partnership with Governor Kathy Hochul and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) to make bus service faster and more reliable across 175 bus routes, nearly 75% of the city’s bus network.

“New Yorkers shouldn’t have to choose between getting where they need to go on time and getting there safely. On DeKalb and Lafayette, we’re putting that principle into practice with fast buses, protected bike lanes and safer streets,” said Mayor Mamdani. “New Yorkers deserve a city that respects their time and puts their safety first — and our administration isn’t waiting a moment to build the streets that do just that.”

“Every New Yorker deserves fast, reliable bus service and safer streets. Your zip code shouldn’t determine whether you have access to high-quality, affordable transportation — and that’s what we’re working to deliver on DeKalb and Lafayette avenues,” said NYC DOT Commissioner Mike Flynn. “The redesign of DeKalb and Lafayette will increase bus speeds and improve reliability for bus riders while creating safer routes for all road users and calmer corridors for pedestrians.”

“Under this Governor and this Mayor, Brooklyn’s at the center of a bus revolution,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber. “And not a moment too soon for the 18,000 New Yorkers who count on the B38 every day for a safe and speedy commute.”

The project will deliver improvements in neighborhoods where reliable, affordable transportation is essential. Within a quarter-mile of the B38, 80% of residents commute to work by public transit, bike or walk, and a majority of households do not own a vehicle.

Since 2021, crashes on DeKalb and Lafayette avenues have injured 841 people, including 47 who suffered severe injuries. One person has been killed.

In 2026, the Mamdani administration has advanced major projects to speed up bus service and improve street safety across all five boroughs, including:

• The Bronx: Fordham Road, 161st Street and Tremont Avenue 
• Manhattan: 34th Street, 116th Street, Madison Avenue and Lexington Avenue 
• Brooklyn: Marcy Avenue, Flatbush Avenue, Utica Avenue, Church Avenue and Linden Boulevard
• Staten Island: Victory Boulevard 
• Queens: Broadway

Together, these projects reflect the administration’s commitment to building a transportation system that works for the millions of New Yorkers who rely on buses, bikes and sidewalks to get around — with faster commutes, more reliable service and safer streets in every borough.

BRONX MAN SENTENCED TO 8 ½ YEARS IN PRISON FOR STABBING FORMER FRIEND

 

Victim Was Stabbed Approximately 20 Times 

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced that a Bronx man has been sentenced to eight and half years in prison for repeatedly stabbing an acquaintance. 

District Attorney Clark said, “This defendant was invited into the home of the victim, a woman that he knew. He stabbed her over a dozen times while her daughter was in the next room. Fortunately, the victim survived this vicious attack. With this sentence, I hope she can heal from this life-changing encounter.” 

District Attorney Clark said that the defendant, Christopher Joseph, 23, was sentenced today to eight and half years in prison and five years of post-release supervision by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Timothy Lewis. The defendant pleaded guilty to Attempted Murder in the Second Degree on September 16, 2026. An Order of Protection has been issued barring the defendant from having any contact with the victim.

According to the investigation, on March 22, 2025, the defendant was with the victim inside her apartment on East 225th Street when, without warning, Joseph stabbed her in the face, neck, hand and abdomen while her daughter was in the next room. The victim sustained approximately 20 stab wounds and was hospitalized for 48 days at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi for treatment. The defendant was apprehended by police shortly after the attack at a nearby subway station covered in blood.

District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detective Michael Gonzalez of the 47th Precinct Detective Squad for his work in the investigation. 

Utah Minor Recovered by Law Enforcement After Oregon Man Allegedly Transported the Victim to Engage in Criminal Sexual Activity

An Oregon man is now in federal custody and charged in a criminal complaint with transportation with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity after he allegedly met a Utah minor online in May 2025, drove to Utah to pick up the victim, and then transported the victim to his residence across state lines.  The minor was recovered by law enforcement at the residence on Nov. 1.

“Anyone engaged in the sexual exploitation of a minor will be held accountable,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “This arrest is the first step toward bringing the accused to justice and relieving the pain endured by the victim and her family. This Department of Justice will never stop investigating and prosecuting individuals engaged in vicious predatory behavior.”

“This individual is charged with transporting a minor to another state to engage in criminal sexual activity, a minor who was missing for a year and a half until Oregon police recovered her based on information provided by the FBI,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “According to the criminal complaint the minor was groomed on gaming platforms and engaged in acts of self-harm and sexually explicit activity. To anyone targeting and exploiting children: this FBI and our partners are coming for you. We are using every tool at our disposal to combat nihilistic violent extremism, bring offenders to justice, and protect America’s most vulnerable. I want to thank the FBI Salt Lake Field Office, the Oregon State Police, and federal prosecutors for their outstanding work on this case.”

“Our priority in this case was the safe return of the minor victim,” said U.S. Attorney Melissa Holyoak for the District of Utah. “Those who allegedly exploit and prey upon the most vulnerable members of our communities will be relentlessly investigated and held accountable. I want to thank the FBI and our local law enforcement partners in Oregon for their swift efforts to safely recover the victim and for their continued partnership as we pursue justice for the victim and the victim’s family.”

Adam Hunter Harmel, 39, of Huntington, Oregon, was charged in a federal complaint on Nov. 2 in the District of Utah. He had his initial appearance on the complaint on Nov. 4 at the U.S. District Courthouse in Boise, Idaho. 

According to court documents, beginning in or about May 2025 and continuing until Nov. 1, in the District of Utah and elsewhere, Harmel allegedly transported the minor victim with the intent to engage in sexual activity with the victim. On or about Aug. 20, 2025, FBI Salt Lake City received information that the minor victim had disappeared in May 2025. During the investigation, the FBI learned that the minor victim was allegedly groomed on gaming platforms that are commonly used by Nihilistic Violent Extremist (NVE) Groups members to solicit sexually explicit photos and maiming photos. The grooming then transitioned to other social media applications. On Nov. 1, the FBI received a tip about the possible location of the minor victim and that the victim met Harmel on a social media application in May 2025. As alleged in court documents, Harmel kept a knife under his pillow to prevent the minor victim from escaping. 

The case is being investigated by the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office in conjunction with the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force. Valuable assistance was provided by the Oregon State Police. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jawayria Z. Auchter for the District of Utah and Trial Attorneys Justin Sher and James Donnelly of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case. 

A complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.  

Bear Mountain Ice Rink is Opening for the Season

The Palisades Interstate Park Commission (PIPC) announced the opening of the Bear Mountain Ice Rink for the 2026-27 season. Voted Best of the Hudson Valley from 2020 to 2024, the rink is a favorite recreation destination for thousands of families each weekend.

Bear Mountain State Park has hosted outdoor ice-skating since 1922, when the first facility was constructed at the edge of Hessian Lake near the Bear Mountain Inn. In 1928-29, the first rink at Bear Mountain hosted an estimated 500,000 people and served as home ice for West Point’s hockey team. The current rink was built in 1955, close to the location of the original and nestled against Bear Mountain. Tens of thousands of people come each year to skate and take in views of the Hudson River and the picturesque Bear Mountain Bridge. Just 45 miles north of Manhattan, the Rink not only provides family skating time for visitors but is also used by local schools and as a Learn to Play location for the New York Rangers. 

“Nothing beats skating outdoors,” said PIPC Executive Director Joshua Laird. “With vistas towards Bear Mountain and the Hudson River, it’s hard to imagine a more beautiful setting for an afternoon of skating than under the Hudson Valley sky at the Bear Mountain Rink. All are welcome to join us for a day of skating, rides on the Bear Mountain Carousel, and hiking before warming up later at the Hikers Café or 1915 Bar & Restaurant at the Bear Mountain Inn. The rink remains open during our ongoing construction of park improvements in the area.”  

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) is currently constructing new picnic areas, public restrooms, and a multi-level destination playground at the Hessian Lake area of Bear Mountain State Park as part of a $25 million rehabilitation project. During the project’s duration, parking at Lot #2, nearest to the rink, will be limited. Visitors are advised to use Lot #1 or follow a parking attendant’s directions.

With a season that extends into March, the rink is open for six public skating sessions on Fridays and Saturdays and five sessions on Sundays, with additional sessions on holidays. On Fridays and Saturdays, visitors can enjoy skating under the nighttime sky with a last session starting at 8:00 p.m. The rink is available for rent by area hockey teams and for private events at other times. A variety of food and beverage options will be available for purchase from the Bear Mountain Inn’s Food Truck at the Rink on holidays and weekends. 

Public Skate Session Normal Hours of Operation (Friday – Sunday) 

• 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
• 12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
• 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
• 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
• 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
• 8 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. (Fridays & Saturdays) 

Admission: $5.00 per person (children age 4 and under skate for free)

Skate Rentals: $10/pair 

Skate Sharpening Service: $10 

All skate sessions are weather permitting. Members of the public are advised to visit the Bear Mountain Ice Rink website (https://www.bearmountainicerink.org) prior to their arrival for current rink conditions. Bear Mountain State Park’s vehicle use fee of $10 per vehicle at the park entrance is waived from Thanksgiving Day through April 1, 2027. 

Bear Mountain State Park is one of 21 parks and nine historic sites in New York and New Jersey that are operated by the PIPC. Established in 1908, Bear Mountain is one of the oldest state parks in New York. The park receives some two million annual visitors who come to picnic, hike the Appalachian Trail, swim at the pool, visit the Zoo, and more. PIPC works with OPRHP to manage these parks for public recreation and to protect natural and cultural resources. 

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, and welcomes over 86 million visitors annually. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer app or call 518.474.0456. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, the OPRHP Blog or via the OPRHP Newsroom.  

Attorney General James Warns Student Loan Borrowers About the Risks of Loan Consolidation

Following Trump Administration’s Changes to Federal Student Loans, AG James Urges New Yorkers to Get Free Unbiased Advice Before Consolidating Loans

New York Attorney General Letitia James issued a consumer alert warning federal student loan borrowers about consolidating their loans following recent changes to federal law enacted by the Trump administration. Loan consolidation is the process of taking out one new loan to pay back other pre-existing loans. After consolidation, old loans are paid off in full, and the borrower is responsible for making payments on one new loan. As a result of the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA), borrowers face new risks and irreversible consequences from loan consolidation. Attorney General James is urging New Yorkers to beware of misleading advice about loan consolidation and report those offering inaccurate guidance or pressuring borrowers to consolidate their loans to the Office of the Attorney General (OAG).

“The federal administration’s policies have created new risks and financial consequences for borrowers who consolidate their loans,” said Attorney General James. “Anyone considering loan consolidation should do their research and beware of anyone attempting to pressure them to consolidate. I urge all New Yorkers to report any fraudulent practices to my office.”

Borrowers have commonly sought to consolidate their loans to lower monthly payments, access certain loan programs like Public Service Loan Forgiveness, or get loans out of default. But as a result of OBBBA, beginning July 1, 2026, a new consolidation loan can permanently limit a borrower’s repayment options and cut off paths to loan forgiveness. Attorney General James is warning borrowers that they may receive misleading or inaccurate advice that consolidation is required or may be financially beneficial. For many borrowers, that advice is wrong and could be costly.

Before consolidating their federal student loans, borrowers should know:

• Consolidation can change eligibility for repayment plan options. Starting July 1, 2026, if a borrower consolidates their existing loans, they will be treated as a new borrower, even if their older loans were paid under previous income‑driven plans. New borrowers cannot use the old repayment plans such as Income-Based Repayment, Income-Contingent Repayment, or Pay As You Earn. Instead, they only get one income-driven payment option: the new Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP).
• Consolidation risks losing time previously earned toward income-driven cancellation. Borrowers will spend more time in repayment because RAP offers loan forgiveness after 30 years, which is longer than the 20-25 years offered under older income‑driven plans.
• Parent PLUS borrowers face the greatest risk. The OBBBA also prevents Parent PLUS borrowers that consolidate loans after July 1, 2026 from accessing any income-driven repayment plan. Instead, parents who consolidate Parent PLUS loans after July 1, 2026 will have only the Tiered Standard Plan as a repayment option. The Tiered Standard Plan is not eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.
• Consolidation as a means out of default still carries risks. Borrowers experiencing default still have the option to consolidate out of default, but consolidating out of default carries the same risks of limiting repayment plan options and losing time previously earned toward income-driven cancellation. Loan rehabilitation may be the more favorable option to place loans back in good standing.

Attorney General James encourages borrowers who were pressured to consolidate or received misleading or inaccurate advice regarding consolidation from a servicer, debt relief company, or anyone else to file a complaint with OAG. In September, Attorney General James warned New Yorkers about fraudsters using changes to student loan programs in order to mislead and take advantage of borrowers.

New Yorkers can get free help with their student loans from the Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program (EDCAP), which consumers can contact by phone at 888-614-5004 or by email at edcap@cssny.org. More information is available in the OAG’s Student Lending Guide and from the National Consumer Law Center’s Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project. 

DEC REGION 2 HIGHLIGHTS $10 MILLION GRANT AWARDED TO LOCAL WATER QUALITY PROTECTION PROJECT IN NEW YORK CITY

Department of Environmental Conservation

Local Grant Award Part of $249 Million in Grants Awarded to 181 Water Quality Protection Projects Across New York State   

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Region 2 celebrated Governor Kathy Hochul’s recent awarding of a $10 million State grant to support the New York City Department of Environmental Protection’s Wastewater Treatment Improvement project, through DEC’s successful Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) program. The grants support projects that help protect drinking water, update aging water infrastructure, reduce contributors to harmful algal blooms, and improve aquatic and terrestrial habitat in communities statewide. 

“Governor Hochul continues to support critical water infrastructure projects in New York City by making a $10 million investment in essential New York City infrastructure,” DEC Region 2 Director Antonia Pereria said. “This significant funding from the Water Quality Improvement Project program will help New York City upgrade their wastewater treatment facility and make it more resilient to climate change.” 

About the project: 

New York City Department of Environmental Protection, $10 million – The City will rehabilitate six final settling tanks and related systems at their Port Richmond Water Resource Recovery Facility in Staten Island. The project will improve the water quality of Newark Bay and make the facility more resilient to climate change impacts.    

The WQIP funds are part of more than $249 million in grants recently announced by Governor Hochul for 181 projects statewide that help protect drinking water, update aging water infrastructure, reduce contributors to harmful algal blooms, and improve aquatic and terrestrial habitat in communities statewide. More than $206 million of the funding will support water quality improvements for environmental justice communities which may be disproportionately impacted by environmental pollution. This announcement supplements more than $10 billion in water infrastructure improvements and clean water project investments by New York State since Governor Hochul took office. 

More than $42 million of funding provided through the 2022 Clean Water, Clean Air, Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act will be used to implement 49 WQIP projects. A full list of WQIP grant awards can be found here.   

Additionally, more than $2.9 million will help support 42 statewide projects through DEC’s Non-Agricultural Nonpoint Source and Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Planning Grant (NPG) program. NPG projects help pay for the initial planning of water quality improvement projects, such as undersized culvert replacements and green infrastructure technologies, State permit-required storm sewer mapping, and stormwater management planning in urban areas. NPG projects will reduce the amount of polluted stormwater runoff entering lakes, rivers, and streams, and improve resiliency against the impacts of climate change. A full list of grant awards can be found here. 

Sources of Funding  

WQIP is primarily supported by the State's 2022 Clean Water, Clean Air, Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act, Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), and Clean Water Infrastructure funding. The 2026-27 enacted New York State Budget maintains the EPF at $425 million and includes an additional $25 million from the Sustainable Future Program to provide a record $450 million for critical environmental programs, such as land acquisition, farmland protection, invasive species prevention and eradication, enhanced recreational access, water quality improvement, and an aggressive environmental justice agenda.      

New York's Commitment to Clean Water   

Under Governor Hochul, New York State continues to increase its historic investments in water infrastructure. The enacted 2027 budget announced by Governor Hochul sets the national standard with a transformational $3.75 billion water infrastructure investment plan, building on $10.6 billion provided to clean water infrastructure projects since 2021. To leverage these investments and ensure ongoing coordination with local governments, the Governor supports the Environmental Facilities Corporation’s Community Assistance Teams in coordination with State agencies to provide proactive outreach for one-on-one consultations to help municipalities prepare strong applications. New Yorkers can view projects benefiting from DEC’s water grant programs using the interactive grant data portal.      

About the Consolidated Funding Application    

The grants were issued following completion through the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) process. The CFA was created to streamline and expedite the grant application process. The CFA process marks a fundamental shift in the way State resources are allocated, ensuring less bureaucracy and greater efficiency to fulfill local economic development needs. The CFA serves as the single-entry point for access to economic development funding, ensuring applicants no longer have to slowly navigate multiple agencies and sources without any mechanism for coordination. Now, economic development projects use the CFA as a support mechanism to access multiple State funding sources through one application, making the process quicker, easier, and more productive. Learn more about the CFA here.