Anti-ICE Agitator Doxxes ICE Officer in North Carolina

 

The doxxing attempt comes at a time that ICE officers are facing an increase in assaults, vehicular attacks, and death threats

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement regarding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after an anti-ICE agitator doxxed an ICE law enforcement officer.

On March 23, ICE received a report about a postcard being mailed to ICE officers neighbors that read “Beware! Your neighbor is an ICE agent” with a photo of a neighboring ICE officer’s face in an attempt to doxx him.

Our law enforcement officers are now facing an 8,000% increase in death threats against them and a more than 1,300% increase in assaults against them while they put their lives on the line to remove public safety threats from American neighborhoods.

“Our ICE law enforcement officers are now facing an 8,000% increase in death threats against them and a more than 1,300% increase in assaults against them while they risk their lives every single day to remove murderers, pedophiles, rapists, terrorists, and gang members from American neighborhoods,” said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. “Comparing ICE day-in and day-out to the Nazi Gestapo, the Secret Police, and slave patrols has consequences. The men and women of ICE are fathers and mothers, sons and daughters. They get up every morning to try and make our communities safer. Like everyone else, they just want to go home to their families at night. The violence and dehumanization of these men and women who are simply enforcing the law must stop.”

The public can report doxing and harassment against ICE officers by calling 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or by completing ICE’s online tip form.

Motorcycle Gang Associate Sentenced To Over 12 Years In Prison For Role In Methamphetamine Trafficking Ring

 

Approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine and four firearms seized

A Byfield man has been sentenced in federal court in Boston for his role in a conspiracy to distribute crystal methamphetamine. 

James Adams, a/k/a “Jimmy,” 43, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor, IV to 151 months in prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release. In December 2025, Adams pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine and one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams and more of methamphetamine. 

Adams was one of four individuals charged in connection with a large-scale methamphetamine trafficking ring operating in Eastern Massachusetts by members and associates of the Unknown Bikers Motorcycle Club.  

In approximately October 2023, law enforcement received information about drug trafficking activities of a large-scale methamphetamine supplier in the Eastern Massachusetts area. Over the next several months, Adams was identified as a drug trafficker who distributed methamphetamine to customers throughout Eastern Massachusetts. Controlled purchases of methamphetamine we conducted with Adams, as well as from his co-conspirators James Snow of Tewksbury, Danielle Steenbruggen of Peabody and Daniel Loughman of Wakefield. Approximately 10 pounds of methamphetamine and four firearms were seized throughout the investigation from controlled purchases, motor vehicle stops and search warrants.

Adams is the second defendant to be sentenced in the case. Steenbruggen pleaded guilty in August 2025 and, in November 2025, was sentenced to 93 months in prison. Snow pleaded guilty on Dec. 1, 2025 and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 23, 2026. Loughman pleaded guilty on Dec. 2, 2025 and is scheduled to be sentenced on April 1, 2026.

Justice Department and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices Reach $3 Million Settlement with Georgia Professional Licensing Boards for Alleged Violations of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act

 

The Justice Department announced that it has entered into an agreement with 42 Georgia state licensing boards (“Georgia Boards”) to resolve allegations that the Georgia Boards failed to recognize the out-of-state professional licenses of servicemembers and their spouses, in violation of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (“SCRA”).

This settlement is the first of its kind and will provide up to $3 million in compensation to servicemembers and military spouses whose applications for licensure were improperly denied or delayed. The settlement also requires the Georgia Boards to adopt new policies that comply with the SCRA and provide a streamlined application process for servicemembers and military spouses who are already licensed in another state. 

“Members of the military and their families already make great sacrifices to defend our nation – they should not have to sacrifice their professional careers or financial well-being because the military requires them to move,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This groundbreaking settlement ensures that servicemembers and their spouses stationed in Georgia can have their out-of-state licenses recognized without facing unnecessary hurdles. Licensing authorities in other states should take note of this settlement and ensure they comply with the SCRA.”

“The agreement we are announcing allows servicemembers and their spouses to focus on what is most important when military service sends them to Georgia,” said U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia Theodore S. Hertzberg. “Federal law requires every state to recognize hard-earned professional licenses when our warfighters must uproot their families in service to our country. This settlement ensures that servicemembers and military spouses can work in their chosen and trained professions free from bureaucratic hurdles, unnecessary costs, and burdensome waits. I am proud that my office, alongside the Justice Department and the two other U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in Georgia, worked together with our state partners in the Secretary of State’s office, the Attorney General’s office, and the Governor’s office to make it easier for our brave fighting men and women to call Georgia home.”

“As a U.S. Army veteran and reservist, it is a particular honor to announce that our servicemembers are guaranteed the full protections of the SCRA,” said U.S. Attorney William R. “Will” Keyes of the Middle District of Georgia. “I am grateful for our strong partnership with state officials in reaching this resolution, which ensures that servicemembers and their spouses with professional licenses can relocate to Georgia and continue their careers and lives here more smoothly.”

“This settlement will provide monetary relief to military spouses whose professional employment opportunities have been limited because of the state of Georgia’s unnecessary delays and red tape,” said U.S. Attorney Margaret “Meg” Heap of the Southern District of Georgia. “More importantly, this settlement clears a path now and in the future for military spouses to pursue continued employment when they move with their servicemember to our community. We are grateful for the work of our staff in the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia, and to the staffers in the Northern and Middle Districts and the Civil Rights Division for their tireless, detailed work on reaching this settlement. All of our communities are stronger today because of their efforts.”

An investigation led by the Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Middle District of Georgia and the Southern District of Georgia, uncovered multiple complaints from servicemembers and military spouses regarding the Georgia Boards’ previous refusal to recognize out-of-state professional licenses. As a result, servicemembers’ spouses were unable to work in their professional fields or earn money for their families after relocating to Georgia on military orders. One military spouse, for example, had to drive to a neighboring state to work because the Georgia Board did not recognize her professional license as required by federal law.

Since January 2023, the SCRA has required state licensing authorities to recognize the out-of-state professional licenses of servicemembers and military spouses who relocate to a new state due to military orders. The law is intended to remove barriers to employment and improve the financial readiness of military families. Many military spouses work in fields that require licenses and must move across state lines every two to three years due to their spouses’ military orders. The SCRA provides that if a servicemember or military spouse holds a covered license, the new state must recognize the license as valid and may not impose requirements beyond those set forth in the statute.

The United States estimates that up to 5,000 servicemembers and military spouses may be entitled to compensation under this settlement. The professions covered by this settlement include teachers, nurses, electricians, plumbers, cosmetologists, barbers, opticians, massage therapists, physical, occupational, and speech therapists, pharmacists, social workers, and many more.

The investigation and resolution of this matter were led by attorneys from the Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marissa Fallica and Aileen Bell Hughes of the Northern District of Georgia in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Offices for the Middle and Southern Districts of Georgia.

Any servicemember or military spouse who applied for a professional license from one of the Georgia Boards after January 2023 and who may have been wrongfully denied rights guaranteed by the SCRA should contact the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia at USAGAN.CivilRights@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-4626.

The Department’s enforcement of the SCRA is conducted by the Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section in partnership with U.S. Attorney's Offices throughout the country. Since 2011, the Department has obtained over $487 million in monetary relief for over 149,000 servicemembers through its enforcement of the SCRA. For more information about the department’s SCRA enforcement efforts, please visit www.servicemembers.gov.

Attorney General James Co-Leads Bipartisan Coalition Urging Congress to Pass Legislation to Protect Communities from Illicit Xylazine

 

New York Attorney General Letitia James co-led a bipartisan coalition of 40 other attorneys general in calling on Congress to pass the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act. The bipartisan legislation would classify the dangerous animal tranquilizer xylazine – which is often mixed with fentanyl and other opioids – as a federal controlled substance to better protect communities and reduce opioid overdose deaths. In a letter to House and Senate leadership, Attorney General James and the coalition explain the dangers of illicit xylazine, which is causing an increasing number of opioid overdose deaths, and argue that federally classifying xylazine as a controlled substance is essential to helping law enforcement stop the spread of the drug.

“Xylazine makes deadly opioids like fentanyl even deadlier, and it is rapidly spreading to every state in the country,” said Attorney General James. “We need every tool at our disposal so we can investigate and stop the spread of this dangerous drug to protect our communities. This bipartisan legislation is a commonsense and necessary step to help law enforcement get xylazine off our streets.”

Xylazine, widely known by its street name “tranq,” is a non-opioid veterinary tranquilizer used for large animals, including horses and deer, and is not approved for any human use. Xylazine is not an opioid and therefore does not respond to the overdose reversal drug naloxone, greatly increasing its lethality when mixed with opioids. In recent years, xylazine has been mixed with illicit opioids, most commonly fentanyl.

Attorney General James and the coalition argue that the lack of information on xylazine’s development, distribution, and related deaths makes it difficult to track and stop the spread of the drug. The Combating Illicit Xylazine Act would classify xylazine as a controlled substance, would allow the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to track the manufacturing of the drug, prevent diversion, and mandate public reporting. With more information on the development, distribution, and use of xylazine, law enforcement professionals would be better equipped to fight against this rising threat. Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the legislation with strong bipartisan support. In their letter, the attorneys general urge Congress to immediately pass this legislation to help address the opioid epidemic and save lives.

The letter is led by Attorney General James and the attorneys general of Arkansas, Connecticut, and Tennessee. Joining the letter are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming, American Samoa, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

THREE YOUTHS INDICTED FOR MURDER IN FATAL SHOOTING OF 16-YEAR-OLD CHRISTOPHER REDDING, WOUNDING OF TWO TEENS

 

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark announced that three youths have been indicted for Murder, Manslaughter, Assault, and other related charges in the fatal shooting of a 16-yearold boy and wounding of two other teens on a Kingsbridge street. 

Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark said, “A promising boy was cut down by a bullet and another boy and a girl were wounded as they ran from gunfire near a busy intersection at 5 p.m. The defendants are 17 and 19 years old. This is another heartrending loss of our young people to death, trauma and prison. We must stem the flow of illegal guns.” 

Bronx District Attorney Clark said the defendants, Anthony Caballero, 19, his brother, Shawn Caballero, 17, and Zion Martinez, 19, all of the Bronx, have been indicted on seconddegree Murder, first-degree Manslaughter, two counts of Attempted Murder in the second degree, second-degree Criminal Possession of a Weapon, two counts of second-degree Assault, first-degree Reckless Endangerment and second-degree Reckless Endangerment. 

Anthony Caballero and Zion Martinez were arraigned today by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Pamela Goldsmith and remanded. Shawn Caballero was arraigned on March 9, 2026, by Bronx Supreme Court Justice Gayle Roberts and remanded. They are due back in court on June 18, 2026.

According to the investigation, on February 11, 2026, at approximately 5:10 p.m. at the intersection of Broadway and West 238th Street, the defendants acted in concert with each other, in that they discharged a firearm down West 238th Street, fatally striking Christopher Redding, 16 and striking a 13-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy as they and others were attempting to run away. Christopher Redding suffered a gunshot wound to the back and the surviving victims suffered gunshot wounds to their legs.

District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detective Christopher White of the 50th Precinct Detective Squad, NYPD Detective Jonathan Burke of Bronx Homicide Squad, and NYPD Detective Edward Barrett, Bronx Warrant Section, for their work in the investigation.

An indictment is an accusatory instrument and not proof of a defendant’s guilt.

MAYOR MAMDANI LAUNCHES UNIVERSAL CHILD CARE PARENT SURVEY

 

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced the launch of the New York City Parent Survey, a first-of-its-kind effort to give families a direct role in shaping the future of universal child care.

As Mayor Mamdani takes historic first steps toward delivering universal child care across the city – beginning this fall with 2,000 free 2-K seats and more than 1,000 new free 3-K seats – the survey will play a central role in gathering input from families and incorporating it into program design.

Over the next ​two ​weeks, families will receive postcard invitations to participate. The survey will also be available online at ​nyc.gov/parentsurvey. ​All families with young children are encouraged to respond. The survey opens March 31 in English and Spanish and will remain open through ​April 13​. A summary of results will be released ​later this year​.

“Last year, New Yorkers made it clear: universal child care is not a luxury, it’s a necessity and it cannot wait. The same spirit of community-driven decision-making will guide how we build this system,” said Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani. “Every parent and caregiver deserves a voice in shaping the care their families rely on.”

“When families have access to quality care and education from the very beginning, children arrive at kindergarten ready to thrive,” said Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels. “This survey is an opportunity to make sure the system we are building truly reflects what our families need, and I encourage every parent and caregiver to take a few minutes to make their voices heard.”

The survey is a project of the New Practice Lab at New America and is funded by the Robin Hood Foundation. It is expected to be the largest representative survey of New York City parents of young children to date. It asks parents and primary caregivers about their current child care arrangements, preferred schedules and settings and priorities for early childhood education.

About the Survey

The survey takes about 15 minutes to complete and covers topics including current child care arrangements, parental leave preferences and preferred types and hours of care.

Households that receive a postcard ​can visit nycparents.norc.org and enter their PIN to access the survey ​and receive a digital payment for completing it. ​​Other families can visit ​nyc.gov/parentsurvey​ for a chance to participate. ​

All responses are anonymous and voluntary. Data will be kept strictly confidential, and no personally identifiable information will be shared with the Administration.​ ​Sampling and data collection are led by ​NORC at the University of Chicago​, a nonpartisan research organization.

The New York City Parent Survey is part of a nationwide effort by the New Practice Lab to strengthen connections between policymakers and families of young children.

DEC AND NEW YORK SEA GRANT ANNOUNCE $85,000 NOW AVAILABLE FOR MARINE AND COASTAL PROJECTS

 

Applications for Conservation, Education, and Research Small Grants Due May 19; Applicant Guidance Webinar Offered on April 21

Program Funded through a Marine and Coastal District of New York Environmental Custom License Plate Initiative 

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), in partnership with New York Sea Grant (NYSG), announced the availability of $85,000 in small grant funding to support projects advancing the mission of the Marine and Coastal District of New York (MCD) Conservation, Education, and Research Board. The grants support projects that help increase participation in marine recreational fishing and promote research, public awareness, and appreciation of the State’s marine and estuarine resources, and encourage conservation of marine fisheries. 

“Maintaining and managing New York State’s living marine, estuarine and anadromous resources is vital to protecting and enhancing our region’s diverse and self-sustaining populations for future generations,” DEC Division of Marine Resources Director Martin Gary said. “DEC’s continued partnership with NYSG is helping achieve our conservation and recreation objectives and new projects funded by these grants will provide New Yorkers with more opportunities to enjoy the uniqueness of our coastline.”

The MCD’s Environmental Custom License Plate initiative entirely funds this small grant program, with $25 of each annual vanity plate fee supporting the MCD Conservation, Education, and Research Fund. Information on how to order a custom MCD vanity plate is available on the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles website. 

“As a subscriber to the license plate myself, I’m proud that NYSG partners with the DEC on this dynamic and impactful program that benefits the people and communities that rely on and enjoy New York’s marine waters, coasts, and associated resources,” said Director of NYSG Becky Shuford. “Purchases of the plate support important services for coastal and marine conservation and communities in New York, including opportunities for environmental stewardship, education, and sustainable use and conservation of natural resources.” 

“We are thrilled to be involved in a second round of this funding opportunity,” said MCD Research Board Chair Melissa Dearborn. “Six projects were supported in 2019 to deliver wonderfully diverse and engaging projects across the Marine and Coastal District. We thank the New Yorkers who subscribed to the MCD license plate, making this small grant program possible as a testament of our commitment to stewardship by way of community involvement, to conserve the resources that define our beautiful coastal region.” 

One project funded in 2019 was an ADA-Complaint Bait Station. Friends of the East River Esplanade constructed the El Barrio Bait Station, enabling anglers along the East Harlem Esplanade to clean and safely handle their catch, and use the guide to identify common fish. The ADA-compliant prototype designed by Jacobschang Architecture uses solar power to accommodate anglers who fish after dark, and a pump to supply non-potable water to clean catch. 

Eligible projects include youth marine fishing camps or clubs; coastal and shoreline cleanups and other coastal restoration activities to improve shoreline access; citizen science; signage; programs to increase public awareness about marine and coastal sport fishing and heritage; piloting technology or methods to support conservation; activities to increase engagement in fisheries management planning; and developing tools to improve public access to marine and coastal resources and related services. 

Grants will be administered as Cost Reimbursable Awards (CRA), with project budgets ranging between $1,000 to $15,000. Projects selected for funding must be completed within 12 months. 

Grant applications are due by May 19, 2026. Full details about the grant opportunity, including project eligibility requirements are available on MCD’s Small Grant Program website. 

MCD will host an applicant guidance webinar on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Interested parties are encouraged to register for the webinar here. 

The funding announced today complements Governor Kathy Hochul’s recent actions to support nature-based and green infrastructure projects designed to reduce flood risk and enhance community resilience to extreme weather. 

About New York Sea Grant 

New York Sea Grant, a cooperative program of Cornell University and the State University of New York, is one of 33 university-based programs under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Sea Grant College Program. Since 1971, New York Sea Grant has promoted coastal vitality, environmental sustainability, and citizen awareness about the State’s marine and Great Lakes resources. New York Sea Grant maintains offices across Long Island including its main office at Stony Brook University. Visit NY Sea Grant for updates on Sea Grant activities.                            

MAYOR MAMDANI, CTO GELOBTER AND FREDERICK O’REILLY HAYES PRIZE FOUNDATION HONOR FOURTH ANNUAL HAYES INNOVATION PRIZE WINNERS

 

Award recognizes innovative City workers who are delivering for all New Yorkers   

  

Awardees measured the impact of the City’s congestion pricing program, strengthened food oversight in homeless shelters, modernized cemetery management at Hart Island and provided 24/7 access to lifesaving overdose supplies   

Today, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI) Commissioner Lisa Gelobter and Jonathan Weiner, president of the Frederick O’Reilly Hayes Prize Foundation, honored 12 public servants with the fourth annual NYC Hayes Innovation Prize for their cutting-edge efforts to reimagine government and deliver tangible results for New Yorkers. 

The winning projects — spanning eight City agencies — represent breakthroughs in affordability, government accessibility and public safety. Honorees were selected from 74 nominations across more than 30 agencies. Each winner received a $1,000 cash prize funded by the foundation. OTI and the Frederick O’Reilly Hayes Prize Foundation co-sponsored the awards.  

“Delivering public goods requires public excellence, and the public servants we honor today embody that excellence — not as an abstract ideal, but as daily work in service of 8.5 million New Yorkers. Across our City government, workers are finding new ways to make this city more affordable, more accessible and more just. The recipients of the Hayes Innovation Prize show what it means to build a government that works for working people,” said Mayor Mamdani. “I’m proud to recognize their service and grateful for the care they bring to this city every day.”

“Public servants are the backbone of our city, and this award recognizes the innovative and substantial work they have accomplished to make a real difference in New Yorkers' lives,” said Deputy Mayor for Operations Julia Kerson. “The recipients of the Hayes prize embody government excellence, and what is possible when public servants go above and beyond for the people they serve. Today, we celebrate their example.”

“There is no challenge too big for New York City’s amazing public servants,” said CTO and OTI Commissioner Lisa Gelobter. “Thanks to their bold vision and leadership, this year’s Hayes Prize winners achieved remarkable results that made our city more affordable, our government run better and our streets safer for New Yorkers. In addition, our honorees deserve acclaim for raising the bar for government excellence and inspiring their colleagues to pursue their own greatness. Congratulations to all of our Hayes Prize winners!”

“Great work in public service is seriously under-recognized in our society,” said Jonathan Weiner, President, Frederick O’Reilly Hayes Prize Foundation. “The Fred Hayes Prize Foundation congratulates this year’s Prize winners for their remarkable work relatively early in their careers in our City’s service and is enormously pleased to recognize their efforts.   We welcome them into the distinguished company of those who have been awarded the Prize going back to 2005.  Like these former Prize winners, their projects have been innovative and marked by talented and deep use of analytics. Named after Fred Hayes, the City’s brilliant budget director in the Lindsay administration, the Prize Foundation is solely supported by those who have worked with Fred and are delighted to see first-rate commitments to public service in succeeding generations.”

OTI and the Hayes Prize Foundation launched the Hayes Innovation Prize in March 2023 to recognize excellence in public service. To date, 68 public servants have received the award. For the second consecutive year, winners were recognized in two categories: Innovation and IT Leadership. A distinguished panel of past recipients of the Frederick O’Reilly Hayes Prize, which started in 2005, and recipients of the  Technology & Innovation Award selected this year’s winners. 

This year’s prize winners are (in alphabetical order): 

INNOVATION 

Roxanne Anderson of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), who implemented the City’s first Public Health Vending Machines (PHVMs) that provide 24/7 access to lifesaving harm reduction supplies conveniently and anonymously to address the overdose crisis meet the goals outlined in the mental health plan for NYC. Since June 2023, the City’s first four PHVMs have been utilized over 42,000 times and dispensed 4,500 nalaxone kits, in addition to other harm reduction and health and wellness resources.

Pavel Ilin of the NYC Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity, who spearheaded the complete rebuild and launch of the new My File NYC, a digital platform that gives  New Yorkers a safe and secure place to store their vital documents and share them when applying for City services. My File is currently in use by families applying for shelter through the Department of Homeless Services’ Family Intake Center – Prevention Assistance and Temporary Housing (PATH). My File will be introduced to the Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s Set Aside Housing program later this year.

Shawn Inshan and Mallory Rutigliano of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), who pioneered a first-of-its-toolkit with a Resiliency Exposure Inventory and Resiliency Exposure Forecast designed to understand whether communities, infrastructure and environments are sufficiently protected from climate risks. This initiative serves the City’s Broader Climate Budgeting effort, which includes climate considerations across investment decisions, and is already being used to assist with policy and project planning with the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice, the Parks Department and the Economic Development Corporation. 

Joel Owhe of the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), who led the development of the FDNY Job Safety Analysis (JSA) application, a groundbreaking internal tool that digitized and standardized the process for documenting, reviewing and analyzing safety practices across training operations. Joel transformed a once paper-heavy and reactive system into an agile, digital platform that enhances the department’s ability to train, evaluate and safeguard its members. 

Caleb Wendling and Julia Klauss of OMB, who expanded the flood insurance coverage of overlooked City-owned buildings with a pathbreaking approach — using mapping software, Python scripts and direct outreach — to create a new and fully comprehensive list of all City assets. Their work has helped double the number of City-owned buildings covered by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) from 212 at the start of 2024 to more than 430, with hundreds more expected.

Kenyatta (Kym) Williams of the NYC Human Resources Administration (HRA), who managed the Cemetery Management and Tracking System — a modern, integrated platform to manage burial records, plot mapping and public access for burial operations at Hart Island, the City’s municipal cemetery and the final resting place for more than 1 million New Yorkers. As a result, families can now more accurately search burial records dating back to the 1970s, visualize the burial site on a digital map, schedule visits online and receive automated confirmations and reminders — features that did not exist before. 

Matthew Yarri of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), who developed a real-time performance dashboard and data analytics framework for New York City’s congestion pricing program — one of the City’s most transformative transportation initiatives in a generation. Matthew’s dashboard equipped MTA leadership with the systemwide insights — not just MTA operations, but cars, buses, bridges and tunnels — needed to monitor impacts, communicate results and build public trust from day one as traffic patterns began to shift. 

IT LEADERSHIP

Claire Boyd of the Department of Finance (DOF), who transformed the Property Modeling Group’s technical capabilities at DOF to enhance efficiency, analytical rigor and long-term sustainability across operations. In addition to expanding the scope and effectiveness of DOF’s core IT capabilities, Claire’s leadership strengthened the City’s capacity for fair, data-driven property tax assessment. 

Elan Carmel of the Department of Social Services (DSS), who directed the execution of a citywide initiative to strengthen oversight of food and nutrition services within Department of Homeless Services (DHS) shelters. Working closely with the Office of the Medical Director and DHS Food Services, Elan designed and implemented a new module within the Building Compliance System that digitizes the process for tracking food ordered, received, discarded and evaluated for quality — improving the dining experience for shelter residents by ensuring meals meet quality standards and client expectations.

Mike Kutzma of the MTA, who led the design and implementation of the MTA Data Lake Program, a suite of infrastructure and applications that serve to enable analytics at scale across the MTA. The platform that Mike and his team built was responsible for the MTA’s ability to provide accurate, next-day reporting on the new congestion pricing program within days of the program’s launch. 

The finalists for this year’s awards include:   

• Janelle Blount and Raja Pathuri of HPD  
• Chris Gettings and Emily Torem of DOHMH  
• Ayesha McHugh of NYC Housing Authority (NYCHA)  
• Momina Min of NYC Public Schools  
• Theodore Mullally of DOHMH  
• Dana Nelson of NYC Emergency Management (NYCEM)  
• Matthew O’Malley of Department of Small Business Services (SBS)  
• Jayabalaji Rubalingam of the MTA  
• Bharti Sharma of NYC Health + Hospitals  
• Courtney Yu of NYCHA  
• Khusro Zafar and Brunnell Velazquez of the Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC)  

“Public health is too often described as 'invisible,' including innovative programs like our public health vending machines that put essential health supplies like naloxone kits directly in the hands of New Yorkers with no questions asked,” said NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin. “Mission-driven staff like Roxanne are the backbone of the lifesaving work happening every day at the NYC Health Department as we continue our efforts to reduce overdose deaths across New York City. This prize is well-earned and helps make the work of public health heroes, like Roxanne, more visible to the people we serve.”

“Building a government that works for the people of New York City takes public servants who are undaunted by the serious challenges before them. This year's Hayes Prize winners have shown that creative approaches, new technology, and dedication to the work can lead to transformative outcomes that make life better for New Yorkers,” said DSS Commissioner Erin Dalton. “Congratulations to all of this year’s winners, especially Kym and Elan who have done so much to improve DSS services by leveraging technology to improve data collection and client experience. I look forward to building on this incredible progress and exploring how we can continue to enhance services with new technologies."

“The Hayes Innovation Prize recognizes Claire Boyd's leadership in tackling a key Department of Finance challenge: improving access to data for property valuation models used to assess over 1.2 million New York City properties annually,” said Department of Finance Commissioner Richard Lee. “Through her leadership, Claire streamlined data sharing across siloed systems using tools that are more efficient, transparent and reliable, while enhancing our ability to evaluate model accuracy across property types. These advancements are dramatically improving how we deliver fair, data-driven property tax assessments for New Yorkers. Together with her fellow honorees, Claire’s work highlights a broader commitment to innovation across this administration — one rooted in practical solutions and a strong sense of public service. Celebrating the achievements of these city employees is important, as it underscores how new ideas in government can meaningfully enhance the services people rely on every day. Congratulations to Claire and all of this year’s honorees on this well-earned recognition.”

“The FDNY congratulates Firefighter Joel Owhe on this well-deserved recognition from the Hayes Prize Foundation,” said FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore. “His work reflects the innovative thinking that makes the FDNY stronger every day. His application has improved a critical safety process within our department, helping us better evaluate training operations and protect our members.”

“We are thrilled that Pavel is being recognized for his leadership on the launch of the newest version of My File NYC,” said Carson Hicks, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity. “Pavel’s work is modernizing how New Yorkers can prove eligibility for City benefits and services, streamlining internal agency operations and strengthening collaboration across agencies to better serve New Yorkers.”

About the Frederick O’Reilly Hayes Foundation

The Frederick O’Reilly Hayes Prize Foundation is supported by private donations from former city employees and officials, many of whom worked for or with Frederick O'Reilly Hayes, the city's budget director in the late 1960s. Fred was a visionary who encouraged innovation, analysis, and commitment to the excellent management and delivery of public services. He was also dedicated to recruiting and mentoring young talent in city government.